Thursday, July 15, 2010
New Blog to read
Hey everyone! Here is the link to the upcoming blog about Mt.Blue XC by Addie Cullenberg and Mali Obomsawin. Everyone should read it. Okay!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Maine Class A State Championship 2010
Our 4x8 relay team regained Gwen Beacham, where we didn't have her at KVAC's because she was sick. We knew that with Gwen we could potentially cut our time by 10 seconds, but we ended up cutting off almost 30! We were seeded to get 8th place ove
rall.
First leg was Gwen Beacham, who led for a lot of the race giving us a really nice starting position to the relay. She ran about 2:30. She handed off to Louisa Stancioff who split a 2:36 and then passed off to Addie.
Addie split 2:29 and when she handed off to me I think we were in second, but Hannah Pierce of Massabesic was really close to me in the hand off and I knew she was going to sprint passed me, and she did. She stuck in front of me for most of the race, and I just kept telling myself to stay right behind her so when it came to the kick I would have something left to go with. Coming around the 3rd corner she started to look behind her and I still wasn't sure if I'd be able to speed up for the last 200m. When we came around the last corner I just got this burst of energy and I knew that if I wanted 2nd place then I'd have to have a good kick. I passed her then, and tried to open up a gap. I ended up splitting 2:25 which was my goal! It's also my best 800 time ever.
After I finished they came over to me and Addie told me about breaking our school record!! The school record was 10:01.69... we ran 10:01.25!! It was from 2001. I'm so excited about it!! I never thought we would do that! It was just a great race and we all pushed ourselves so hard, and I'm so happy!
After this I had the mile. I was seeded 2nd in the slow heat. I hadn't run the mile much this season and my previous run time was 5:40 so that's what I was ranked with. I've never liked the mile, but my coach put me in it because I had to leave the meet early to go to Massachusetts, and these were the events that I had time to do.
I didn't know how the race would go where the fastest seed was 5:38. I really wish that Meaghan and I could have been in the fast heat. I think that if you meet the automatic standard for the state meet then you deserve to be in the faster heat, especially where the heats were divided up in weird amounts. This also happened in boys' races. My coach tried to get it changed for everyone, but nothing was done about it.
We had so much trouble with the start. First people kept jogging up to the line before it was time, then we were on the line ready to go, and his gun didn't work. So finally we got it all set and the race took off. I think I started out in 4th or 5th, and I really didn't know how to run the race. I wanted to kind of keep a steady pace but every so often, girls would sprint past me to move up, and I didn't want to do that! Coming into the last lap Michelle took the lead, and I didn't know what I had left for the finish. I tried to stick where I was and again wait until the 200 to go mark to see what I had left. When we turned the corner I just tried to sprint in, and Meaghan passed me to take 2nd. I was neck in neck with a Mt.Ararat girl but passed her at the very last second, to get 3rd in the slow heat with 5:34, which placed me 9th overall I believe.
I left immediately after that, and sat in a car for a few hours which really hurt my legs. The next day I called my coach to talk to her about how the rest of the meet went, and she told me that no school in class B ran faster in the 4x8 than we did... which means we are the 2nd team in the state overall!
In accordance, we qualified for New Englands. As soon as she told me that I was excited but a little uneasy. New Englands is the same day as our graduation. I didn't say anything the first time I called, but I called her back later to ask when the deadline was, because I was considering missing graduation to go to NE's. I told her I'd think about it some more and call her back within an hour or so. I thought about it a lot. I considered this worst case scenario: we make the trip to CT, and I miss my graduation.. we all run our worst times, and place dead last, hypothetically resulting in me feeling like I should have gone to graduation.
Then I realized that even if we did badly, I would still want to be there. I've never qualified for NE's in outdoor track, and we just set the SCHOOL RECORD!! On top of that I love traveling, and hotels! I realized that I am going to be happier in CT, running and watching the sport I love. I just feel like I belong there with my team and my coach, giving us another chance to run faster and the opportunity to race at NE's. I'm sad about missing graduation, but when I think about what graduation means to me, it's not the event that matters. I might miss graduation, but I'm still going to celebrate with my friends and I'm still going to get my diploma! I just won't be sitting there that day, that's all. Kelton is also going to NE's, so we are definitely going to celebrate somehow while we're in CT.
So our 4x8 team will be in CT this weekend - me, Addie, Gwen, and Louisa. I'll hope for the best, but even if we don't have the best, it will still be.....THE BEST!
Congrats everyone who is advancing to NE's this Saturday!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
KVAC's 2010
What a long day! I woke up at 5:07 and was at the high school by 6:15 to leave. Everyone ended up falling asleep on the bus and it's never been so quiet! I was laying down with my legs off the seat and I have never gotten such a great nap while on a bus. I did not want to wake up!
We had a slight change of plans when we found out that Gwen Beacham was sick. We didn't think she was coming at all, but she did! We switched her out of the 4x8 so she could just run her open events where she wasn't feeling well. We put Eliza Richard in her place, and she ended up doing really well running a new best time. I think that we all did well in the 4x8 actually - and we ran around 10:29, which is our best time this year I believe, which is great because we didn't even have Gwen. I split 2:27 which I was happy with. It felt a lot slower because going into it I was so sleepy and out of it. We placed third which was nice because we were seeded 4th.
Gwen(above) ended up running the mile, ranked 6th with Addie ranked 7th. It was such an amazing race. Even though Gwen is sick she still ran a new best of 5:31 and place 2nd!! Addie ran 5:45ish and later ended up having a great race in the 800 running 2:32 to place 5th!
It was really cool to see the guys mile with Will breaking the record and Kelton coming in second. I always feel like anything can happen when they all race each other, but today was a good day. Will ran 4:14 I believe, and Kelton ran 4:16.
When the hurdles finally came around, I was getting really nervous. I knew that today was my last day running them, and therefore my last chance to break our school record. Now I'm still not sure if I broke the record, because we forgot to write down what it was. Unfortunately, I think that it's something like 48.2, and I ran 48.6. My first time breaking 49!!!! Allison ended up winning class B in a new record of 44.x !! It was so insane.
I'm so happy about that, but after I finished I just wanted to cry because I can't even explain how many things went wrong in the race. To sum it up, I basically messed up every hurdle with my footing and form, and had to sprint for my life in between to make sure I was still on pace. I can only go over the hurdles (correctly) with my left leg, even though I'm supposed to be able to go over with both. So I ended up going over one of the hurdles with my right leg, and it was disastrous. I thought I was going to face plant... that, and I jumped a couple extra feet in the air to clear whatever large wall I thought I was trying to get over.
So I've got mixed feelings about that. I placed 2nd which I didn't know until they called podium. I guess I'm just really frustrated because I wanted my last hurdles race to be something good to remember, and even though the time is good for me, I just keep thinking about how badly the actual race went.
My next event was the two mile, which ..I don't even know what to say about it. I was feeling bad by time this came around. A couple minutes before the start of the race I realized I had to pee really, really badly. It wasn't a nervous-pee-feeling, I really just had to go. At the start of the race, I was in last for a bit. I didn't know what to do - I felt like I was going to pee myself, and I'm not really okay with doing that in front of tons of people! I had a slow start, and eventually I started passing people on the corners when I could. I was seeded 6th, and I got 6th with a less than satisfactory 12:20. Coach and I had talked about me aiming for sub 12. It just didn't happen. As soon as I finished I ran to the bathroom and peed for a long time. So my last 2 mile of my high school running career - not so hot. I'm not upset. I am happy though, that I did not pee myself.
The 4x4 usually come
s shortly after the two mile, but since there were so many races we had awhile before it started. I thought I would like having time between but it ended up being worse. Even though it feels like it sucks running a 400 right after a two mile, it always works for me because my legs are still in 'go' mode and I'm just ready to sprint and be done. I don't have time to think about it, I just have to go. This time was harder, and I had too much time to think about the race. I don't know what my split was, but I am certain it was not my best. We placed 5th, and ran about 4:29 I believe.
All in all the meet was kind of long and dragged on. I definitely should have gotten more sleep last night. I'm still pretty happy about going under 49 in the hurdles, and I wish I could do them at states. Speaking of states; I will be doing the 4x8 and the mile. After that I will be heading to Massachusetts.
Congrats everyone on a great day - and for new records and PRs!
We had a slight change of plans when we found out that Gwen Beacham was sick. We didn't think she was coming at all, but she did! We switched her out of the 4x8 so she could just run her open events where she wasn't feeling well. We put Eliza Richard in her place, and she ended up doing really well running a new best time. I think that we all did well in the 4x8 actually - and we ran around 10:29, which is our best time this year I believe, which is great because we didn't even have Gwen. I split 2:27 which I was happy with. It felt a lot slower because going into it I was so sleepy and out of it. We placed third which was nice because we were seeded 4th.
Gwen(above) ended up running the mile, ranked 6th with Addie ranked 7th. It was such an amazing race. Even though Gwen is sick she still ran a new best of 5:31 and place 2nd!! Addie ran 5:45ish and later ended up having a great race in the 800 running 2:32 to place 5th!
It was really cool to see the guys mile with Will breaking the record and Kelton coming in second. I always feel like anything can happen when they all race each other, but today was a good day. Will ran 4:14 I believe, and Kelton ran 4:16.When the hurdles finally came around, I was getting really nervous. I knew that today was my last day running them, and therefore my last chance to break our school record. Now I'm still not sure if I broke the record, because we forgot to write down what it was. Unfortunately, I think that it's something like 48.2, and I ran 48.6. My first time breaking 49!!!! Allison ended up winning class B in a new record of 44.x !! It was so insane.
I'm so happy about that, but after I finished I just wanted to cry because I can't even explain how many things went wrong in the race. To sum it up, I basically messed up every hurdle with my footing and form, and had to sprint for my life in between to make sure I was still on pace. I can only go over the hurdles (correctly) with my left leg, even though I'm supposed to be able to go over with both. So I ended up going over one of the hurdles with my right leg, and it was disastrous. I thought I was going to face plant... that, and I jumped a couple extra feet in the air to clear whatever large wall I thought I was trying to get over.
So I've got mixed feelings about that. I placed 2nd which I didn't know until they called podium. I guess I'm just really frustrated because I wanted my last hurdles race to be something good to remember, and even though the time is good for me, I just keep thinking about how badly the actual race went.
My next event was the two mile, which ..I don't even know what to say about it. I was feeling bad by time this came around. A couple minutes before the start of the race I realized I had to pee really, really badly. It wasn't a nervous-pee-feeling, I really just had to go. At the start of the race, I was in last for a bit. I didn't know what to do - I felt like I was going to pee myself, and I'm not really okay with doing that in front of tons of people! I had a slow start, and eventually I started passing people on the corners when I could. I was seeded 6th, and I got 6th with a less than satisfactory 12:20. Coach and I had talked about me aiming for sub 12. It just didn't happen. As soon as I finished I ran to the bathroom and peed for a long time. So my last 2 mile of my high school running career - not so hot. I'm not upset. I am happy though, that I did not pee myself.
The 4x4 usually come
s shortly after the two mile, but since there were so many races we had awhile before it started. I thought I would like having time between but it ended up being worse. Even though it feels like it sucks running a 400 right after a two mile, it always works for me because my legs are still in 'go' mode and I'm just ready to sprint and be done. I don't have time to think about it, I just have to go. This time was harder, and I had too much time to think about the race. I don't know what my split was, but I am certain it was not my best. We placed 5th, and ran about 4:29 I believe.All in all the meet was kind of long and dragged on. I definitely should have gotten more sleep last night. I'm still pretty happy about going under 49 in the hurdles, and I wish I could do them at states. Speaking of states; I will be doing the 4x8 and the mile. After that I will be heading to Massachusetts.
Congrats everyone on a great day - and for new records and PRs!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Meet @ Leavitt 5/21 =)
Addie thought I should put in here somewhere that on the way to the meet, we were being one with the bus. So you know, just moving with the bus, not stopping ourselves from hitting our heads on the seat, falling over, the whole sha-bang. I wonder if shabang is actually a word. I'll use it anyway. SHABANG.This was a great meet in a lot of ways. Our team was really strong in most events. I did the 4x8, 300 hurdles, 2mile and 4x4.
Our 4x8 was sweet! We cut our total time down from a 10:50 something to 10:30 something. I don't even know how that happened, but it was nice. I was last leg after Gwen, Louisa, and Addie and I ran a 2:33 which is my best 800 this year so far, so that was nice. We won the event with a pretty solid lead and it really set a good positive note for the day.
Gwen and Addie ran the mile pretty alone, and mostly stride for stride! Gwen finished a couple seconds ahead of Addie and it was a really great race.The hurdles made me pretty nervous. I've been trying to break our school record all season, and I got really psyched up for it on Friday. To break the record I'd have to run a pretty low 48, which to the best hurdlers in the state is a bad day. Maybe I can borrow Allison Fereshetian's 45.xx that she ran at the meet. I don't know if I should insert 'lol' or a little 'haha,' but you get the idea. She had an amazing race! I ended up running 49.03 which is a lifetime best for me! My previous best was 49.3x. It seems like such an insignificant difference, but to me it means a lot to me. Up ahead Ally was owning me by four seconds (again, lol) but I was really just doing my own thing, and my hurdles have never been as smooth as they were at this meet! Usually I start out so nervous that I stutter step and pony hop the first few, or the corner hurdles but I only had maybe one that got messed up. Again, most hurdlers have their form aced and they look so cool when they just glide over them really quickly.. but that hasn't happened for me (yet)! My form has improved by maybe 1% since last year, but... I'm working on it! So, new lifetime best - and I owe a lot of that to Ally. If she wasn't there I wouldn't have tried as hard.
Next came the lovely two mile. WOOOOOOOO! I'm just kidding, I hate this event more than I hate milk. It's alright though because.. well no never mind it's not alright MY GOSH THIS EVENT SUCKS!!!!!!! I have one more run of it though - KVAC's. Me and two of my teammates were seeded 1-2-3. I was seeded with 12:19 and then Abby Lochala and Emily Reed (our lovely racewalkers!) were 2 and 3. I didn't know how I was going to get through it mentally because for one thing it's usually hard to get through it anyway! Then there was no one for me to run with. I didn't know how I was going to get myself to go faster if there was no one there for me to catch. I figured I would settle into the slowest pace I could.
I went through the mile in 5:58, and after that first mile I was ready to fall over like I do after every 4x4. That grass was looking pretty comfortable to me! I just kept considering ways I could break my ankle or smash my face off the track. I know it's only two miles, and I know I'm not out there running any Abbey Leonardi pace, but it doesn't matter what pace you're running - it hurts! Somehow I ran faster at this meet, completely alone, than I did at our last meet where I had Morgan Beede to catch. I ended up running 12:14, which isn't my best, and I'm confident that I could run much faster, but I just don't, I can't! Cross country is different.. it's FUN! Track is track. I can't explain why I'm better at cross country other than saying that cross country is adventurous, track is not.
I was anchor of our 4x4 as always! We ended up winning, but I don't remember what our time was. I split my best time this season in 1:03! I was so happy because I was so dead after the two mile. I was so glad when the meet was over!! It's such a good feeling.
I did one of my cool downs in the woods on the cross country course, and I got really sad thinking about how high school cross country is over, and how track is about to be over. I have one more full track meet left - KVAC's. I'm only going to be running two events at states if that.. I have to leave early. I'm ashamed to say why, but I guess I'll just say I have one last big thing planned with my senior friends, that I've already paid a non refundable $155 for (had I not already paid it might be different, but I'm a cheap skate. I'm going to be leaving for MA early on in the day. I know how stupid it makes me seem, but for me the big thing about it is that it's track, not cross. If it were cross I wouldn't even think of doing it.
Oh, prom was on Saturday! It was really fun. My legs are dead from dancing like a crazy person on crack. It was a really nice last prom.
I need to break the hurdles record at KVAC's. See you there!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Meet @ Skowhegan 5/13!
I'M HAPPY!!Today was such a nice day! Beautiful, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I did the 4x8, 300H, 3200, and 4x4. Our 4x8 was a good team: Gwen Beacham, Louisa Stancioff, Addie, and me. We were trying to shed some time and I think we shaved a lot from last meet.. over 10 seconds. YAYY!!
After that we painted our legs with some car-window paint that I had in my bag, you know.. to gain some extra speed and luck and all that. I feel like I'm such a fool for superstition that it may have actually helped me mentally somehow. I like weird random team things like this.Then I had some time until the hurdles and I was getting pumped and ready. We were all very dead after the 4x8 probably because Addie, Gwen and I didn't drink anything all day which was DUMB of us! Lesson learned. I was in the third lane heat one. I've been trying to get under sub 50 before championship meets and today I did 49.5 and placed first which makes me veryyyy happy!!! It's not crazy good but I still get really excited and happy when I go under 50, just because I remember how long it took me last year and how excited I was then. That, and the fact that I'm not really a hurdler.
Kelton ended up winning and getting our school record today in the 800 with 1:58, with Luke Fontaine taking 2nd.The two mile was deathly.. you know? Just.. ouch.. never ending..etc. It was combined guys and girls which I liked. Girls were started on the higher pole. My goal was to try and stick with Morgan Beede throughout the race. I ended up running right behind her for most of it but she pulled ahead and ended up 10 seconds ahead of me in the finish. She ran 12:09 and I ran 12:19 (unofficially). I'm alright with that time, since my best time from last year was 12:10, and when I did it in indoor I ran 12:40 something. I'm thinking that I like the mile better. I mean don't get me wrong I hate them both a lot, but I'm saying mile over two mile for sure.
Gwen took first in the 800 with a 2:36 I believe. She also won the mile in 5:47 both races being run quite alone.
The 4x4 came super quickly after the two mile. It was like... catch my breath, walk to my stuff and get a drink, 4x4 on the line. I was the anchor, with Gwen, Eliza, and Addie. When Addie handed off to me we were a significant amount behind Cony, but I tried to close the gap as much as I could. I ended up running 1:05.xx which I'm happy with because that's around what I usually run, and because the two mile was very tiring.
Next meet is under the lights!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Meet #3 @ Lewiston 5/4
Events: 1600, 300H, 200m, 4x4I wanted to switch it up a little and I opted out of the 4x8 this meet so I could be fresh for the mile. I'm really glad I did because in the past meets, the 4x8 really has tired me out before the mile. Our 4x8 was Addie, Gwen, Ruth Leopold, and Eliza Richard. They ended up in second behind Cony which was really good.
They told us there were two heats for the mile, but then they called us all to the line and said they had combined it. I was seeded third behind Abby Mace and Taylor Burr. The start was polled and we were in the first pole. It wasn't annoying this time and I stuck in third for most of it. I went to try and pass Taylor a couple times but I didn't feel like I had the energy, and Abby didn't pull away until later on in the race. I ended up passing Taylor on maybe the third lap and just tried to stick it out. My goal was 5:40 and that's what I ran, so I'm pleased with that. Abby ran 5:27. Taylor was in third, then Gwen and Addie came in 4th and 5th with 5:54 and 5:59!
The hurdles also went pretty well. Ally Sue didn't run them because she ran the 400 (in 60.xx!). So I was seeded in second behind a girl from Maranacook but I ended up getting first in 50.xx. I think I could have gone sub 50 but as soon as I got onto the stretch I kept looking at the clock.
Next was the 200, which was really strange for me. I've done it once but that was at UTL last year. I was lane 1 in the 5th heat next to Ally Sue. I didn't know what to expect but it ended up being alright. I got 4th place with 29.17 behind Ally Sue and two cony girls. My legs felt so tiny by time I got to the finish. I was just thinking.. what was I doing in that race?!?!? I'm the little person second from the right in the picture.
I was pumped for the 4x4 because it's fun and it means the meet is almost over! Me, Gwen ( pic. left), Addie, and Eliza ran it. I was anchor and got handed the baton in 3rd place. I passed a girl from Leavitt and then a Cony girl was quite a bit ahead so I just tried to stick there. I ended up splitting a 64.xx which made me really happy. I was a sprinter for this meet, minus the mile.Addie took first in the 800! We were screaming so loud for her and she got into first place with about 90m left. It was really exciting!
Kelton took 2nd in the mile to Luke. The race started with Briar Beede from Cony leading the first couple laps, and no one wanted to push the pace. They were going through the half in nearly 2:30. They finally picked up the pace after someone from Lewiston tried to take the lead. Luke won at the end of the kick.
Abby Mace took the two mile in 11:51 with Morgan Beede taking 2nd in 12:29.
Everyone had a really good day. We were all pretty cheery and optimistic which worked really well for everyone as opposed to how "blah" we were last meet. I have turf toe on my left foot and it's really bothering me. I went hiking with Shelby on Sunday at Tumbledown and I think that might be how I got it. It's from being on your toe or putting too much pressure on it and it makes your tow knuckle(?) hurt. Yesterday didn't help, but right now I'm in physics icing it so hopefully it gets better soon.
I just heard that Abbey Leonardi ran 10:37 in the two mile and I am freaking out. That's CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hiking pics:
Friday, April 30, 2010
Meet #2 @ Maranacook 4/29
Due to our rescheduling of the Cony meet that was on Monday, we had two meets this week. It was rough for all of us having a meet Monday and then having a meet yesterday as well. But you know... C'est la vie. :)
My events were: 4x8, mile, 800, and 4x4.
(**Gwen Beacham was unable to attend this meet**)
Going into the 4x8 I didn't want to take it as hard as I did last meet, because it took a toll on me when the mile came around. I was anchor again and I think my split was around 2:40, but I really have no idea. We had a lead when I got the baton and ended up in first. Addie was our first leg and she got us on a good pace.
By time the mile came around the wind was out of control. Pole vault was actually canceled because of that. Running my cool down/ warm up I was being blown all over the place. I was seeded third behind Abby Mace and Taylor Burr. There was a double pole start and being in the first pole ended up being difficult for me. When it came time for the second pole to cut in, they were all going so fast that they easily cut in, putting Taylor Burr and I pretty far back in place. We waited until they slowed down a bit to go around them and that was maybe mid second lap, but I didn't get into the third position until nearly the end of the third lap. When we got onto the backstretch the wind was just horrid. I don't really have an ideal body mass to be running in strong winds. It felt like my time was faster than on Monday but it was actually two seconds slower; 5:54 I think.
I was pretty frustrated after that. I know that it's the beginning of the season, but I can't imagine why I felt so terrible after running a 5:54. I wasn't breathing that hard when I finished, but I just felt dead. We did have a meet Monday, but it still doesn't make sense to me. I was just not there.
The 800 took awhile to get started because of some re-runs of the 100m. We had quite a few girls in it. There were two heats of the 800, with 16 in the first heat.. and since I didn't have a seed time I was given number 16. The double poles were 1-10 on the first and 11-16 on the second. I was told I could cut into the line of the third lane (or fourth?) so I knew I would have to do that if I wanted to get into a good position. As soon as the gun went off I took a couple strides and cut in. Coming up to the cone where we could cut in, I saw Abby and there was a small gap between her and the next runner so I wanted to get in there. I slowed down a little because I didn't want to cut in, into first place. I don't know if I could have but I wanted to tuck into second, especially to draft on the backstretch. I stuck with Abby for longer than I thought I would be able to. It seemed like she was saving a lot for the end, because I was dying and she seemed pretty conserved. Going into the second lap I started to lose her when we turned onto the backstretch. She was still somewhat close but she finished three seconds ahead of me. Her time was 2:33, and mine was 2:36.
Addie ended up being put in the second heat (with about 5-6 people) because she had no time. She led the entire race by quite a large margin, and finished with about 2:41. It kind of sucked that she had to run it alone but she still ran a good time despite that.
After the 800 we were all dreading the 4x4. It was a bad day in terms of our optimism. I feel like we got better though as the meet went on. I got pumped for it when it was almost my leg. I was anchor again, and EL had three or four girls' teams running in the race. When I got the baton we were in 5th place behind the EL teams. I wasn't far from the girl ahead of me so I really sprinted to catch her as soon as I could. Ahead of her was another EL girl, and I didn't know if I could catch her, but I came up quick and ended up passing her. Ahead of that girl was another EL girl who kept looking behind her so I felt like I could catch her. Coming around to the finishing stretch I passed her and placed our team second. It felt so good. I was like.... in the zoneeee. My split was around 65 I believe.
Next meet is Tuesday at Lewiston. Good luck everyone!
My events were: 4x8, mile, 800, and 4x4.
(**Gwen Beacham was unable to attend this meet**)
Going into the 4x8 I didn't want to take it as hard as I did last meet, because it took a toll on me when the mile came around. I was anchor again and I think my split was around 2:40, but I really have no idea. We had a lead when I got the baton and ended up in first. Addie was our first leg and she got us on a good pace.
By time the mile came around the wind was out of control. Pole vault was actually canceled because of that. Running my cool down/ warm up I was being blown all over the place. I was seeded third behind Abby Mace and Taylor Burr. There was a double pole start and being in the first pole ended up being difficult for me. When it came time for the second pole to cut in, they were all going so fast that they easily cut in, putting Taylor Burr and I pretty far back in place. We waited until they slowed down a bit to go around them and that was maybe mid second lap, but I didn't get into the third position until nearly the end of the third lap. When we got onto the backstretch the wind was just horrid. I don't really have an ideal body mass to be running in strong winds. It felt like my time was faster than on Monday but it was actually two seconds slower; 5:54 I think.
I was pretty frustrated after that. I know that it's the beginning of the season, but I can't imagine why I felt so terrible after running a 5:54. I wasn't breathing that hard when I finished, but I just felt dead. We did have a meet Monday, but it still doesn't make sense to me. I was just not there.
The 800 took awhile to get started because of some re-runs of the 100m. We had quite a few girls in it. There were two heats of the 800, with 16 in the first heat.. and since I didn't have a seed time I was given number 16. The double poles were 1-10 on the first and 11-16 on the second. I was told I could cut into the line of the third lane (or fourth?) so I knew I would have to do that if I wanted to get into a good position. As soon as the gun went off I took a couple strides and cut in. Coming up to the cone where we could cut in, I saw Abby and there was a small gap between her and the next runner so I wanted to get in there. I slowed down a little because I didn't want to cut in, into first place. I don't know if I could have but I wanted to tuck into second, especially to draft on the backstretch. I stuck with Abby for longer than I thought I would be able to. It seemed like she was saving a lot for the end, because I was dying and she seemed pretty conserved. Going into the second lap I started to lose her when we turned onto the backstretch. She was still somewhat close but she finished three seconds ahead of me. Her time was 2:33, and mine was 2:36.
Addie ended up being put in the second heat (with about 5-6 people) because she had no time. She led the entire race by quite a large margin, and finished with about 2:41. It kind of sucked that she had to run it alone but she still ran a good time despite that.
After the 800 we were all dreading the 4x4. It was a bad day in terms of our optimism. I feel like we got better though as the meet went on. I got pumped for it when it was almost my leg. I was anchor again, and EL had three or four girls' teams running in the race. When I got the baton we were in 5th place behind the EL teams. I wasn't far from the girl ahead of me so I really sprinted to catch her as soon as I could. Ahead of her was another EL girl, and I didn't know if I could catch her, but I came up quick and ended up passing her. Ahead of that girl was another EL girl who kept looking behind her so I felt like I could catch her. Coming around to the finishing stretch I passed her and placed our team second. It felt so good. I was like.... in the zoneeee. My split was around 65 I believe.
Next meet is Tuesday at Lewiston. Good luck everyone!
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