We just ran three miles down on the grass with no shoes, I felt pretty good didn't really push it till the striders afterwards and even then I wasn't going all out just because I didn't want to wear myself out before the race. As time got closer and closer I got even more nervous about the race. I didn't really know what to expect as far as how fast to go or how these were even set up. We got on the bus and I just tried to keep relaxed and even fell asleep for probably 5 mins till I hear "Look there is a fire"... It's great to wake up to that (; When we started doing our warm up stuff I kind of knew where I was going but I was still nervous being my first race and all. I was watching the girls thinking wow they are going fast... Do I run that fast? We got lined up right when the guy said set for the first time my heart really started pumping.... then he messed up. So the second time he said set I was for sure ready to go even though I was still unsure about how fast to go... but wait another problem with the gun. Third and finally he blew the whistle and we were off! I remember Coach Holt saying you will have plenty of time to catch up. That was my plan I would kind of lay low and see how this whole race pace works then at the end have a final little push. I was with Krenshaw for the start and I was glad that he was there to get my race pace started. I moved my way up just a little bit to Josh and kept with him for what I can remember quite awhile. Everyone on the sides of the course that was pushing us and telling us to go faster made it soo much better, it is really good to have people cheering you on and motivating us to move up spots. Anyway.. when I passed Coach Holt for the first time he told me to pass five guys and I saw Nick in the distance so I ran up counting the guys I was passing and got behind him and I was just behind him for most of the race. I was breathing hard but then again who wasn't.. It wasn't till the third lap when I thought I was slowing down.. After some of the people motivating us right before the track I started to feel it, I hit that track and I thought I was done. I could see Matt up ahead and so I ran ahead of him then I saw Wes and some Cedar kids and somehow I found a little energy and kicked it into gear and sprinted as fast as I could... I was exhausted by the end, my shirt was drenched but dang did I feel good. People told me "oh it feels so good after you just run a race".. I'm thinking pushing the pace for three miles and that feels good? It really does, I felt pretty good till that final track lap before I started pushing it again then I felt even better when finished. It was nice to have the water right there to drink, water tasted sooo good after it too! I ended up finishing 21st overall with the time of 17:29. I am so glad I joined XC it has already been a blast and there is so much more to come! Definitely some good runs today from the 3 mile grass work out to the 2 mile warm up to the race and finally to the mile cool down, just a good day!
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