Notes
Bay State Invitational at Wrentham Developmental Center. Z sat the 7 runners who ran at Bowdoin last weekend, so I ran in the DII Varsity race with Coner, Pat Cunningham, Eric, Pablo, Greg, and Trevor. The course was three loops on a field, a few rolling hills and sharp turns, but generally really fast. I was nervous going into the race, wanting to do well, break 18, and maybe even place high enough to get a medal. With this in mind, I got out hard off the line, trying to get myself towards the front and into the top 30. I did so as the straightaway began to narrow. However, I felt like I was running fast, and already people were passing me. I continued to get passed as the first mile continued, although I felt like I was moving. I tried to run with a few kids, but I could only stay with them for a short time. I believe Pat Cunningham caught me at the mile, which was at 5:15- 4:40 for the leaders. I knew then that I was running too fast. The race continued the same way for the next mile, with kids passing me in droves and me just wanting it to be over. Coner passed me at the mile and half, Eric and then Pablo at about 2 and half miles. I was actually working to stick with Eric when I got a cramp on both sides of my stomach, removing any last kick I could have.
All in all, this was another terrible race. I can't remember what a good race is like- I'm not sure I've had any since the time trial. Still, as always, I need to move past it and find what I can learn from this race.
1. I gave up on the race early on. This might have been either because I was sore going into the race, or because it went out so fast, but very soon into the race I had stopped thinking about running a PR or finishing well, and was merely allowing the race to happen to me. This negative attitude certainly didn't help me any- I need to remain positive during the race.
2. The race got out too fast for me to have been running. 5:30 for the first mile would have been closer to ideal. I should have ran with Coner at the start, and allowed him to lead, confident that I could stick with him. Most of the kids who went flying out must have fallen back as the race went on- I just wasn't in a position to catch them. In this scenario, being a little more conservative at the start and then catching people as the race went on would have been a better plan.
I really don't want to think about this race anymore. I believe that next week is a rest week, which I suppose is a good thing- I have been sore lately. There are two regular season meets left, at least one of which I probably won't be running with. There's also Brown, which I can DEFINITELY PR at. If for some miracle Z puts me in the Championship Race, I will just need to hang on to PR. If he puts me in the JV race, I will get a chance to go win. After that, I will hopefully get to continue racing during the championship season. A good race at Brown could still vindicate me- all hope for XC is not lost yet.