4x800- 2:48 (5th)
The 4x600 is a very fast race for a distance runner to do. There wasn't much air reaching my muscles by the last 1.5 laps.
Before the 4x800, I was told to save something for a kick, and by doing so, I gave myself a fast finish to a slow race. I should have ignored saving anything, and instead ran the way I would have otherwise. My time would have been faster.
12/19/07 vs David Prouty (at Tantasqua) 1 Mile- 5:37 (4th) [3 pts]
1000- 3:21 (8th) [1 pt]
A personal record in every event run probably shouldn't be disappointing.. but I didn't feel my best. The results have me finishing 5th, behind a David Prouty runner that I actually beat. So while the official results (that the date links to) has me finishing 5th and scoring 1 point for Oxford, I actually finished 4th in the mile and scored 3 points. However, in the 1000, the same runner passed me with 40m to go.
My first 400 was my fastest quarter in the mile, something that will change next race. I didn't go out too fast for my abilities, but it was too fast for what my body could do this night. I slowed down a lot in the next few laps before picking it up again towards the end. I stepped on the starting line for the 1000 with bloody feet, and held 2nd for our meet until about 960m into the race, when I was passed, and beaten by 0.3 seconds. If I had increased my speed with two laps left, he would never have been able to keep up with me. It was my fault for not speeding up sooner. What I should've done differently; start off slower in the mile, finish faster in the 1000.
1/2/08 vs Millbury (at Northbridge) 1 Mile- 5:33 (7th) [3 pts]
1000- 3:24 (10th) [1 pt]
So for a quick review of what's happened since Friday December 21; I got sick, couldn't run until practice with team W/T/F. Took Saturday to recover from the 3 good workouts I did. Ran 3 miles on Sunday, meet on Wednesday. So just to clear up that I'd run four times in the 11 days prior to this meet.
Still, the mile brought about a PR, and altogether I was 1 second faster than last meet.
The result of the limited running in the past week or so was limited strength. In both races, I felt weak; I didn't have enough strength. In the mile I was in second place the first half of the race before being passed by Millbury's top runner. I stayed on him until there was about 550m left, he started to get away, so I increased my speed and closed the gap somewhat. I was trying to close it with all I had in the last 300m, and as we made it to the final lap we were both running on top end, and I wasn't quite gaining anything. Then, on the final turn it seemed like a rampaging pack of indians were on the loose, as I went from 3rd place to 7th place in about a tenth of a second. Four guys flew by me on the turn, even though I was pretty much going as fast as I could already. I tried to go faster but I didn't catch anyone.
About halfway through the 1000 the thought came to me that "this really isn't my race." I didn't feel fast enough for it today, and the distance always feels like a strange pace to have to run.
1/9/08 vs Auburn (at Northbridge) 1 Mile- 5:40 (9th) [5 pts]
1000- 3:18 (8th) [5 pts]
My goal in the mile was to get 5 points. I beat every Auburn and Oxford runner, so I did that. I went pretty slow but I got our team the points it needed. In the 1000, I wanted to use everything I had left after the mediocre mile. I ran an alright race, considering it's not one of my best events. It was a 3 second PR. I placed first against Auburn in both races, which was my primary goal tonight. I got the team 10 of it's 34 points (almost 30% of the total). I'm not happy with my times but I'm not worried either. I'm focusing on putting all of my workouts towards running well at the SWCL meet. As long as my times keep going down, I'm not going to worry.
1/16/08 vs Grafton (at Northbridge) 2 Mile-12:11 (10th) [0 pts]
1 Mile- 5:45 (11th) [0 pts]
I decided to do the 2 and the 1 this week. I was hoping to help Neil qualify for the 2 in districts, but I was way too far behind him. He didn't need my help though, he ran a fast race and did what he had to. I wasn't as fast as I wanted to be, and I would improve if I ran the 2 mile again (perhaps next week). Still, it was a personal best by 66 seconds. After the race my stomach and I felt awful, I sat down at the finish line for about 20 minutes before I heard the call for the mile, then I checked in and sat down over there for another 10 minutes (other than a little stretching). Even walking up to the starting line for the mile, my stomach still felt awful. However, during and after the race, I was fine. I felt like I could still run another race after the mile, which means I had way too much left, but it's my first time doubling the 2 and 1 so I didn't quite know how my body was going to feel.
1/23/08 vs Uxbridge and (at) Northbridge 1 Mile- 5:33 (6th) [5 pts]/[3 pts]
1000- 3:18 (6th) [3 pts]/[3 pts]
Ok so I tied two PRs, but if you're being specific, the mile was 0.3 slower and the 1000 was 0.5 faster than my previous fastest times. This was defenitely my best meet of the season so far. I felt great in both of my races and to be my fastest ever in both races is quite an accomplishment. Still, I expect nothing but PRs in my 4 remaining races of the season. I'm going to run even faster.
1/30/08 SWCL League Meet at Tantasqua 1 Mile- 5:29 (8th) [0 pts]
4x800 lead- 2:32 (8th) [0 pts]
Two PR's by 4 seconds each.
Mile splits (thanks Neil): 22 (3/4 lap), 30, 31, 30, 32, 30, 30, 31, 29, 28.
My miles keep getting better and better with each race. I felt a lot worse than I thought I would in the 4x800.
2/9/08 Districts at Fitchburg 1000- 3:14.52 (12th) [0 pts]
After someone stepped on my foot and fell, there was another gun and for the first time ever I was involved in a race in which the competitors had to be called back to the line.. the second time we were off fine (although the starting line stunk like gunpowder the first two laps.)
I was the 4 seed in the slower heat. I think having a chance to 'win' a race got to some of the guys, and they started out too fast. I think I was in 7th place the first three laps. I moved up two spots on the fourth lap, then another spot on either the fifth or sixth lap. I passed someone at the start of the last lap then sprinted by someone on the last straightaway and finished 2nd in the heat. The heat winner was almost a half a lap in front of me.
I wanted 3:13 but I was a second slow of that. I had too much left when I finished. I'm used to running two races (that's all I've done all season). I could've done a 3:12. What I've learned is that for the outdoor season's big meets, I have to prepare for my race by either not doubling up in a dual meet or just going all out in that race while doubling.. I need to see how fast I should be going in that race when I run it alone, as opposed to running another race along with it. Anyway, I got a PR by almost 4 seconds. I expected better but I'm not going to worry about it. I expect much greater performances in the outdoor season anyway.