I got up at about 6:30 and got a medium sized
breakfast and the left. I sat by myself on the bus at first, but
then a bunch of people started getting on, and I was lucky enough to have Meb
sit right next to me. I talked to him until we got to the course,
and it was way cool. It was one of the best parts of
the trip. We got to the meet, and I sat in the tent area with the
West guys. We talked and just tried to not be nervous. Once the
girls race started I went on a warm up with Kramer, and later we ran with Ben,
Zach, and Troy. We got to see most of the girls' race, and it was a fun
one to watch. After that I did some stretches and some strides and we had
the announcements. It was cool to be announced before a race. I lined
up at the line between Andrew Gardner (who has taken 4th and 6th at this race
these last two years) and Ben Saarel.
The gun went off, and I knew that I wasn't going to have
any trouble with being boxed in because there was plenty of room and only 40 people.
In the first 800m I was in the back with Poli and Kramer. I wasn't
feeling like I was racing here. I just kept thinking I was at nationals,
and had made my goal. This was just going to be a fun race. At 800m
I was 2:22 and in 3rd to last after passing a few guys. The group was
packed, and the pace was perfect. I was planning on getting ahead of a
few guys before the first mile mark, but it was almost impossible to pass
anyone. Everyone had the same strength as me, it seemed. I
passed a few guys, but I was still at the back. First mile: 4:52.
Right after the first mile mark we hit the hill, and
that's where I passed a few people. I got up a ways and could now see the
leaders separating us. Then we hit the downhill. I was not ready
for a downhill this steep. I would've rather ran up it than down
it. I got passed by one person, but no one else really gained anything
here on me. The race didn't really change much until the next mile
mark. Mile 2: 10:00 (slower than I wanted, I wanted to hit all sub-5
miles)
At the 2 mile mark I caught up to the back of the
long line that could be considered the chase pack. Ben Saarel was leading
it. I made my move at this mile mark though. I passed many of the
west guys and caught up to where I needed to be. I kept my pace, mostly
passing people, but I kept going back and forth with Zach Perrin, which was
good for both of us. After the second hill I was feeling it and I slowed
down a bit too much; one of my mistakes. I then hit the downhill and kept
a good pace and heard a race director point to me and say 14. I didn't
know where I passed the next three guys, but at the end Zach Perrin flew caught
a few seconds on me in just that last 200m. I almost passed Andrew
Gardner near the end, but he barely crossed the line before me. I later
heard I was 13th, or 14th, but at the results I found I was 12th. Other
guys from Utah: Kramer took 16th(barely missing all-American) and Ben took
4th. The west team took 2nd out of 4, but only lost by 4 to the
south. Next year we'll beat them!
My time was slower than I wanted, but my
place was great. The course isn't hard, and its down in elevation so I
was hoping to run faster, I still had a good race. I just feel like
I had something left at the end and I wasn't that sore afterward. I
finished strong this season and definitely can't complain. My goal was to
make it to Nationals, and I made it so I can't complain. Also,
I'd like to thank everyone for the support and help along the way.
Afterward I did a cool down with Kramer and Summer. This race was a great
opportunity and I'm really excited for next year. It was also a lot of fun enjoying the activities Foot Locker had for us, staying at the Hotel Del Coronado, etc.
Me with Meb Keflezighi 
Ryan Hall 
Hotel Del Coronado 
Before the Race 
Warming up With Kramer 
Race 
After the Race: Utah Runners
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