So much depends... on the run you do today!

Nike Cross Regionals - Southwest

Recent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesMichael Finch's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageWeek ViewMonth ViewYear View
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20112012201320142015
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Washington,UT,United States

Member Since:

Jun 16, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

Senior year- Cross Country: 3rd place at state

3.25mi- 16:01

5k-15:10 10th place at Nike regionals (1 second off nationals spot)

Jr year: 1st place at Footlocker West Regional Boys Junior Race.

1 mile: 4:27

2 mile: 9:37

800 meter: 2:02

5K- 16:18

Half marathon: 1:21

Sophmore year: we Won a state XC title for 4A in 2010. And went to regional's finishing 4th

Half Marathon: 1:29

injured most of all this year so no other times fast enough to report.

 

Freshman year:

1 mile: 4:53 

2 mile- 10:17 

5K- 17:45

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

Get in shape for college and stay injury free

Long-Term Running Goals:

Be on Varsity and help the Team do well.

Personal:

I just finished serving a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints this last june 2015. I served in the Laoag Philippines Mission and learned the Tagalog Language.

I will be running Cross Country and Track for Southern Utah University

Love Life, Love to be Positive, and Love to Run.

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Hurricane Orange And Yellow Lifetime Miles: 1038.27
Wisdom Red Lifetime Miles: 457.28
Pena Lifetime Miles: 12.80
Race: Nike Cross Regionals - Southwest (3.1 Miles) 00:15:10, Place overall: 10, Place in age division: 10
Total Distance
9.00

first thing i'll say is that this is the best racing expeirence i've ever had. i truly gave it my all.

thoughout this week i was confident i would make it into top 5 so i would qualify for nationals. but as the race got closer my chances seemed to get slimer because i found out kramer, mock, heslington, and others would be coming, who had been beating me all year. especially after my perfermance at AF, it wasn't looking like i'd be in the mix. But dont think i gave up. i still put in my brain that i could beat them when it counted.

we got to the race at about 7 after a good nights sleep and a rough breakfeast. I felt excited but very nervous. i warmed up 3.5 miles cause i've always done the best when i warm up that distance. and i then mentally prepared.

when i got to the box, everyone seemed to have chosen their spot, and so kindly left me in the back. the officals only cared to let the 2 'elite' people, who i dont know how they chose it, in the front and the rest was first come. so i ended up in the third row.

The gun went off and my box got out fast so i ended up getting out fairly easy. i was in about 100th place and the first mile i just slowly moved my way up through the gaps and made my way to the front group behind cross and ben. first mile was 4:54 and i felt amazing.

through the next mile not much changed. some people dropped off but the front pack was still huge. it was anyones game. no one made any big moves out to the front and i felt i was in perfect position in case anyone did, to get with them. we made a tiny surge coming down the curve and came through at 9:48.

 this is where i started moving up and Jordon cross (2nd at state 3A) , ben saarel (#22 in nation and state champ 3A), bernie montoya (#3 in nation and winner of the dream mile 4:01), luis martinez (#9 in nation and last years winner of this race), I (3rd at state 3A)  picked it up more and i dont know why but i went with them. i just felt like i was flying. the pace was managible and i wasn't afraid of more. coming to the final 1K i was in a solid 3rd behind ben and bernie. i started to fall off pace a bit though but i was giving everything i had. (I think 3mile mark was around 14:45ish) i fell off ben and bernie and was running on my own till the final 600 meters. i could feel people closing on my back. all i could think of was to stay in the top 5, stay in the top 5. every ounce of me was resisting and i kept slowing down. then the group sucked me back and i just fell off. i really was giving everything i had though. the race seemed to play perfect for me, i just couldn't finish it off.

after that i thought i had lost it. 7 people had passed me in 400 meters. i tried hard the catch them in the last 10 meters but didn't and ended up 10th with a 15:10, huge PR. i couldnt think straight for another hour. i had left everything on the course and i have no regrets. i gave it my all and it just wasn't enough. I'm sad about it though cause i dont feel like 10th describes my race. i really felt my race was good enough to qualify for nationals. i mean, last year with this time i would have gotten 2nd overal. this years competion is just so much better. looking at the times i see that i was only 1.61 seconds away from nationals. but that is a long time in racing but it seems short just looking at it.

cooled down about 3 miles but only remember 1 of them. did most of it with Jessica Peterson. she was nice to keep me going in a straight line :)

now my final XC season will come to an end at footlocker. I'm glad i still have one more to shoot for.

Hurricane Orange And Yellow Miles: 6.00
Comments
From Conner Mantz on Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 16:03:37 from 65.130.243.184

Amazing race. Nice job staying with Ben and Montoya for that long. Are you going to Foot Locker?

From Jake K on Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 17:07:47 from 67.177.11.154

Amazing Mike. 15:10 is such a fast time on a XC course. Consider me really, really impressed. I give you all the credit in the world for having the BELIEF that you belonged in that Top 5 and giving yourself a chance to make it happen. You were right there w/ a quarter to go against some of the best guys in the country!! You're part of that crew now... you can run w/ anyone!!

From JamesH on Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 17:22:18 from 208.117.127.7

Awesome job Mike!!

From Holt on Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 19:38:57 from 67.2.248.71

I've said it before, but it is worth repeating... It was the most inspiring amazing race I've ever had the privilege of working with!

From Michael Finch on Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 20:21:22 from 75.169.211.157

Conner: Ya, my coach had me sign up for it in case i didn't make nationals here which i'm glad for now :/

Jake: Thanks jake. you have helped me so much. Giving advice or comments on EVERY race or hard workout i have. That means a lot to me having you say that you're impressed.

James: thanks MR. Holt! :)

Holt: thanks coach. you were there every step of the way with me. Thanks for hanging in there with me the past 4 years :)

From Bill on Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 22:27:51 from 97.117.121.200

It was a great race to watch. You worked very hard and ran a great race. Congrats. I like looking at improvements and out of Utah's top 25 boys you had the 2nd biggest improvement from state. Only Cross who also had a great race improved more. This means you are coming back at the right time and Footlocker might again be a great race for you. Keep focused and enjoy it.

From Jake K on Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 08:42:06 from 155.100.226.191

I decided this one deserves a double comment...

Its so common to finish a race, even after a really good effort, and feel like you left a little something out there. But it sounds like you really gave it everything you had - especially if you don't even remember what happened after the race! Those moments don't happen very often... not just in running, but in life too... to know that you put yourself out there and went for broke, and just fought as hard as you could until the very end. That's something really special.

From Andrea on Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 08:58:53 from 72.37.171.52

Congrats on an amazing race. It's a great feeling to know you gave it all you could in the race. Such an impressive performance!

Have you decided on where you are going for college yet?

From Burt on Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 09:29:33 from 71.216.109.214

Great job Finch! (Even though I was rooting for Kramer Morton.)

I just said that! lol

From Holt on Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 14:42:27 from 204.113.55.41

Burt,

you hurt Mikey's feelings. He came into my room, "Did you see what Burt put on the blog?!"

Great stuff!

From Burt on Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 15:50:36 from 71.216.109.214

Haha! He's a tender little guy. That's what he gets for hijacking his sister's blog. :)

From Michael Finch on Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 17:18:13 from 75.169.211.157

bill: ya cross did very well. i'll just be focusing on footlocker now, cause i still have a chance there!

jake: Ya, this is only the 2nd time i've ever had that feeling after a race. it's not very common but feels amazing when it does!

andrea: no not yet. i have 2 main choices left but i haven't decided which.

Burt/holt: you two should go put on a comedian show! ..but thanks for the thought Burt :)

From Nephi Eschler on Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 19:46:51 from 209.33.192.201

Great job Mike! I'm amazed you kept up with Bernie that long! I actually did a running camp over the summer that he was at and got to run with him (for about the first quarter mile) and he is legit! Which means you're right up there with those guys, you're freaking good, I've got my money on you at footlocker :)

Add Your Comment.
  • Keep it family-safe. No vulgar or profane language. To discourage anonymous comments of cowardly nature, your IP address will be logged and posted next to your comment.
  • Do not respond to another person's comment out of context. If he made the original comment on another page/blog entry, go to that entry and respond there.
  • If all you want to do is contact the blogger and your comment is not connected with this entry and has no relevance to others, send a private message instead.
Only registered users with public blogs are allowed to post comments. Log in with your username and password or create an account and set up a blog.
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Recent Comments: