Notes
MSTCA Invite. Ran the 1000. Goal coming in was to qualify for DIIIs, beating the standard of 2:49.24. Having previously run 2:50.6 early in the season, I was confident that I could achieve this. My plan was to try and run as close to even 33 second splits as possible and to compete well in my heat, going for the win if it was there. I was reasonably sure that the quality of competitors would be such that if I was in the mix in my heat, I would accomplish my goal.
Pat C was in the heat before me and ran really well, winning his heat and running 2:45.
I was seeded 7th? in my heat, and was thus on the outside of the normal starting line. After two "stand ups", the gun went off. I got out in a good position, second or third. However, the entire barrel ended up beating us to the cut in, putting me in the middle of the pack. Regardless, I came through the 200 in 31, which if anything is a little quick. I tried to slide up as best as I could over the next lap, coming through in 64 (33). The next lap was more of the same, coming through in 1:37 (34). I know that this was a good time to be in at the 600 (I had been thinking that I would be more around 1:39) and was feeling confident that I would qualify. I had just moved up past a pack, and Z told me to go right up and get on the next one. There was one kid who I realized was slowing me down somewhat in front of me, and I moved by him and tried to get after the next bunch. The 800 was 2:13 (34)- still pretty consistent. At this point, I knew that I just needed a strong final lap and I would run the time I wanted. The Mansfield kid whom I had previously passed came running by me, and I tried to do the best I could to go with him, although he ended up gapping me by 1.5-2 seconds.
This was a terrific race for me. Qualifying individually for states has been my goal since freshman year, and at last I have accomplished it. 2:47 is also a pretty decent time. I am definitely improving my ability to race. Today, there was little to none self- pity or anguish; instead, I remained almost completely focused on racing, thinking things such as when I needed to pass kids or when I wanted to focus on sitting on someone for a half lap. Z was saying that I still need to work on my arm carriage. I think, however, that looking at pictures and videos (hopefully the race video will be posted on LIVE from the RLTC soon) that my form is improving, but there is still lots of room for work.
We have two weeks until the League Meet, where I am running the 600, and then another week until DIII's. Z says we will get in some good speed work (including the League race) during this time, and that he thinks I can run 2:43 at DIIIs. While I think that is not an entirely likely outcome, I do think that I will run faster, and think that I can at least improve to 2:45.