AM: We got out to the meet and I watched some of the 3200 races before finally going for a warm up. I did the same warm up I did yesterday, then took my stuff over to the bull pen and waited until they called us over. Today it was on/off raining, and a lot colder than yesterday, so they let us keep our warm stuff on until we were by the line. Eventually wet took it off and we lined up. The gun went off and I got a great start. I was right on Jake's shoulder and there was no one ahead of us. Right around 250 Conner took the lead, and I went with him. I passed Conner somewhere in lap 3 I think, and took control. I wanted to be aggressive in this 3200, seeing as lately I feel like I'm lacking that in my racing. I held the lead until 800 to go . I hit a 4:33 first mile and was just starting to feel the pace. I maintained my pace as well as I could and managed to hold off Conner with a few surges, but with 800 to go when Conner passed me I was really feeling the pace. I went with him as well as I could, but soon Jake passed both Conner and I, and started to push the pace. I could see them slowly breaking away, and I was giving everything I had to try and stay with them, but they broke away, and as soon as they got about 20 or so meters away from me, they suddenly started to gap me a lot faster, which means right there is where I totally lost contact and slowed down. I could tell I slowed way down and with 400 to go was giving it what I had. With 100 to go Chuk caught and passed me and I didn't want what happened yesterday to happen again, and managed to out kick him. I finished in 9:16.9. I would consider this race better than yesterday, but I know I still didn't do as well as I could have. I should not have let Jake and Conner get away, because as soon as I lost contact I slowed way down. This was a PR at elevation for me, so I was happy with that, but I didn't have the break through race I know I can have like the 1600 at Davis or the 3200 at Arcadia. I can feel that I still have one great race left in me, and luckily I was invited to Great Southwest, and will have one last chance. I know my time won't be great because it even higher in elevation, but I'm not really concerned with that. I just want to race really well, and I know that the time will follow. I did about 4 miles cool down with Bill, Chris, Natalie, and Susannah, then ate something and took an amazing nap before I was running the 800. I didn't have high expectations for the 800, seeing as I am not an 800 runner and I had already given what I had in the 3200. I warmed up about a two miles with strides, then did the same thing at the bull pen. It was sunny for this race, which was nice. My biggest challenge in this race was to get out well, and then just give anything I had left over. I was in the slower heat of 800's, and was in the second alley. Right off the gun I didn't get out fast enough. I was last in my alley, and fell right in the middle of the pack. I passed John and a few other guys, and managed to hold my position for the rest of the race, then in the last 50 meters I out kicked someone. Finished in 2:00.73, so not a fast time, but I gave it what I had so I wasn't too discouraged. After I went on about three miles cool down with Bill, Chris, Sarah, Megan from Bountiful, and Ben (who now holds every distance record in track and field for utah). That was a fun conversation, Ben is a cool, charismatic guy and Megan is such a cool girl. Hopefully she can run with us this summer! Finally we got back to the stuff and so ends my high school season! I had some disappointment with my races at state, but overall I'm overjoyed with my season. I ended Cross Country and Footlocker on a bad note, and I redeemed myself in track. I had some great season highlights and set some awesome PR's. I can now cross out all the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the season too! I feel such an overwhelming sense of gratitude to my Coach, Bill Cobler, because without him I couldn't even dream of being where I am. He changed me from just a typical, back-of-the-pack JV runner, to the athlete I am today. But he hasn't only changed me as an athlete, but as a student and person as well. Running has been the greatest achievement of my life so far, and now I am proud to say that running is a part of my life that I will keep for as long as I able. I can't wait to see where running will take me next. Thanks Coach.
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