USATF JO NATS and FIRST INDOOR MEET

Melissa(Scarborough), Brenda(TA), Erica(TA), Addie(Mt.B), e, Lauren(McAuley)

USATF

Nationals was really intense. I clearly didn't have the race I wanted - running 21:15 - but the experience was definitely worth it. When we ran the course pre-race day it was all loose snow and it felt similar to running in sand, but slightly worse. The officials said they were not allowed to plow it because it was a park, but they could pack it down. So the day of the race, the snow was pretty packed down so that it was runnable. Unfortunately it had been snowing every day, and snowed the day of the races as well. I have never run a race in anything like that in my life! I ended up running with toe warmers in my spikes. During the race when we were running into the snow it covered your eyelashes and it was hard to see. I kept having to wipe mine, and it irritated my contacts which was not fun!

The start of the race was a very long uphill, which none of us were really sure how to tackle. There's the chance that you take it too hard and die (especially with the 5,000ft altitude in Reno) , or take it too slow and not be able to catch up. After Addie's race she told me that I just needed to get out fast because the course did narrow and that would pose a challenge when getting into position. So I listened, and I think I started out in the top 10. Then what I thought might happen, did happen. When I got to the top I was gasping for air, and that feeling is bad period, let alone in the first 600m of a 5,000m race! After that I was pretty much just telling myself to try to finish and not fall. I went throught the two mile unbelievably slowly, and I was just dying the entire time. Lauren Fecteau and I ran pretty close to each other for most of the race, and finished seconds apart. After that we were all so happy that the race was over for us, and we went back to the hotel and got in the hot tub. Melissa ended up placing 18th which makes her an all-american xc runner (top 25) so that was pretty crazy, especially with all of the factors working against you in that race (altitude, temp., snow, etc.).

We stayed awake for the rest of the night until our 4a.m or so flight back to San Francisco. The whole trip was amazing, and even though I didn't race well I'm still really glad I went. It was officially my last H.S XC race which is weird to say, but I think it was a good thing to end with. I got to hang out with some Maine runners that I don't see very often, which was nice. I was just ready to get to indoor track after that.

DECEMBER 18TH @ UMO

I decided to run the 800m and the two mile. My plan is to qualify early in the season for any event that I might end up wanting to do at states. I know I'm in better shape than I was last season at this time because of my prolonged XC training. I've taken days off here and there to make sure I don't tire myself out too soon in this indoor season.

Having the first meet at UMO made me really happy, because despite the amount of athletes that absolutely hate it there, I love it! I guess it's mostly because I don't care about specific pacing (I can't do it anywhere anyway, so the laps there don't mess me up,) and I just really love running on the banked corners.

My 800m was fun. I got really anxious for it and I had no idea what I'd be able to do for the first meet, but I was shooting for around 2:35. I didn't really recognize anyone in the race so I was just wondering if there would be someone new who I'd never seen before that takes it out hard, etc. but when the gun went off I had so much adrenaline that I just went and didn't hear anyone behind me. I love the 800 indoors. I guess maybe I like the small laps and the fact that you can see the crowds all around the track as opposed to outdoor when it's silent on the far away side. The cheering really gets me pumped. I didn't even notice the other runners when I was going. I was focusing every so often on pulling down my shorts that refused to stay down (deja vu). When I crossed the line I was happy because I was really just dead and hurting, so I knew I gave it my all. The Lawrence coach said I ran about 2:28 which is [I think] the best I've run in an open 800 so I'm pretty pleased. I only focus on the 800 in indoor, because outdoor I have different main events.

After that I had the 3200 which I came close to scratching, because I was having trouble breathing after the 800 (because of the air in the field house). My throat was killing me. Most of you know what I'm talking about. It feels like there are shards of glass in your throat or something (if you wanted a description). I ended up talking to the Lawrence Coach who told me to just try and go for the qualifying standard of 13:00. It seemed like I could do at least that, so I just went for it. Meaghan Collier and Brianne Dunn were also in that race, and I had been planning a strategy with Meaghan (we practice together with Lawrence) and we just decided to try to stick together and go for the standard time. They decided to run guys and girls together, which I was happy about. I would try to stick with some guys that I practiced with from Lawrence.

Unfortunately, I didn't go out fast enough and Meaghan was ahead of me by a pretty large margin. It took me maybe 600m to catch her and then we were running together. I was in the 2nd lane, and the coach yelled that I either had to get behind her or ahead of her, and we kind of just looked at each other. I pulled ahead of her and told her to stick with me and she said alright. After that I didn't notice her fall back slightly but I was working on catching this kid named Jesse from Lawrence who was going at a good pace. I finished in 12:43 I think, which is a relief because now I don't have to worry about qualifying in that. Meaghan also qualified with a similar time which is great. I actually had FUN running the 3200m *WOAH*.

I think next meet I'll probably go for the mile, even though it's one of my least favorite events. I guess I'll just see what happens. Hope everyone's first meet/s went well!