AM: Got over to the race and I started to warm up. I was the only one racing today, so I warmed up by myself, just getting into racing mode. I did some strides and drills by the basketball courts and got my spikes and headed over to the bullpen when the called my race. I was in the fasted Rated Mile, so I thought I was in an appropriate race. Like yesterday, they were very prompt with the races and we were taken over to the starting line right on time. The race went out decently fast and I got a mediocre position. Unlike yesterday where there were three aisles of starts for the 4X1600 to accommodate 30+ runners, there were only 11 of us on the one curved line, and I had hip #1, so I had tons of room on the line in lane 1. Anyway, I just stayed on the inside for the first lap, and I hit a 64. I was about sixth or so at this point. There was a lot of movement going on for the lead and for the inside, but I just sat as far inside as I could and went with the group. The last lap rolled around (I was about 7-8th) and a spot opened up and I scooted out to lane 2 and swung around some guys with 300 to go and slid into sixth. I started to close on the two guys in front of me, and swung off the final curve and kicked hard past them finishing fourth in 4:20.17.My splits were pretty consistent, 64, 65.5, 66, 64.5. (Those are approximate)
I definitely did not feel as good after this race as I did after yesterday's mile. I also didn't feel quite as fresh for today. More than anything that scared me for the two mile later. I'm indifferent about this race, really. I did PR and that's good and all, but I feel like I could have run so much faster. I kind of feel like I never got mentally 'in' to this race. I really wanted to break 4:20, but this was a full mile, so for a 1600 I guess I did. Anyway. I cooled down to get to 6 for the morning, and then we went and got some food and then spent some time at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, before returning to the hotel where I took an ice bath and relaxed some more for my race later. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/295454472
I would like to note that this will be the longest entry I have ever written.... We finally got back over to the race and I immediately started to warm up. It was darkening fast and I was excited to race under the lights. On my warm up I mentally prepared and told myself that I wasn't going to mentally skate by this race like I did the mile earlier. I made sure to do everything I could to get myself mentally 'in' to this race. In the back of my mind I had the fact that I have already raced twice looming, but I just told myself that I am well tapered and am just as fresh for this race as the first. After some strides and drills, I grabbed my spikes for the last time and headed into the bull pen. I was seeded 11th this time, and they promptly worked us over to the starting line. There were more of us in this race, so they divided us into the three aisles. I was the first one on the second aisle. The gun went off and I got out in front of my aisle. When the three merged, I settled into the front of the pack and eventually worked my way inside. There was a lot of pushing and the bottom of my foot got kicked/scraped several time by guys running to close behind me, so it was a really tight pack. There was guys running in front by a couple meters, but the entire race the announcer kept saying "so and so is in the lead, but right on his heels is that pack of 20 boys," so I knew that there could potentially be some falls. It seemed like after every curve, guys would try and move around one another to get a better position, and every time that happened, lane one in front of me would open up nice and clear, and I would just scoot up and continue running on the inside. I did that literally after every curve, so I had a good position for the majority of the race. We hit the mile in 4:36-37, and the pack was still really tight. After this point, I totally forgot about times and just focused on not tripping with all the guys around and behind me. I never realized that the pace was getting faster, just that I had to keep running in lane one. With about 900 to go I swung around a huge pack of guys and settled into outer lane one running right on the heels of the two leaders. Two guys, I think, surged at some point in lap 7 and one took the lead and the other crammed himself between me and the two previous leaders. With 500 to go I swung around more guys and got into 3rd. I ran right behind him and with 300 to go swung on him and just gave it what I had. The leader had broken away and was 20 or so meters ahead of me, and with 100 to go I kicked hard and closed that gap to exactly 1 second. I finished and felt strong while doing so. I have never really felt like that before. I don't really know any splits, but a 4:37 first mile means a 4:30 second mile, which makes me happy:) Plus, my last lap was a 62, which also made me happy :) (I know I mentally skated the mile because my last 400 was two seconds faster in the 3200 than the mile) I was happy with second and as I was crossing the line, looked for the first time since the mile at the clock and saw 9:07.94. I am really happy with this race. A PR by 28 seconds, and another medal :) I was aggressive and focused on just racing, and in the end the time came with my place. The only thing I could have done better in hindsight was not let the leader break away and have him beat me, but overall I am still pretty pleased with the race. The best feeling in the world comes when you have a great race under high pressure, so the rest of the day I was on cloud nine :) After my race I watched Ben pull out an insane kick and win the 3200 over Montoya with an incredible 8:45.74. That race was an absolute pleasure to watch and I am so happy for him. He is now US #1. After that race I cooled down with Chuk and Jaydn for like 20 minutes. They talked to me about UVU and the program there, and we talked about other things as well. After that I cooled down a bit more with Bill until I got 6.5 for the afternoon and then we went to dinner. Just overall a great racing day and I am so happy we came out here to Arcadia. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/295454463
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