I was super excited to run today! Because the 1600 was the first event, we were able to do a warmup on the track and we did about 3/4 a mile including stretches. The day before I did plenty of visualization and I had checked the heats and times. I had the perfect strategy figured out and hoped it would flow great. Conner told me to go all out on the last 800 instead of 600 which I wasn't positive if I would follow that, but I guess I did.
When we finally got called I wasn't fully ready, so I brought all my stuff and spikes into the bullpen place. I was seeded for second, but our times were all so close. We did leg swings and our stretches next to the track. While doing so, I looked over and noticed Vickie was running her last lap and cheered her on because she did amazing! As we walked over to the starting area I thought about power-stances that my teammates told me about and tried to stand up tall and straight which actually did give me confidences. When we finally were able to do our striders I was feeling really good.
Now to the race- It all still feels like a dream because I'm so shocked about the time I got. We started and I got boxed in a little, which didn't effect me, it made me want to pass them all. Of course our 200 was fast and on the back stretch I caught the two leading girls. I stuck with them the second lap. I was going WAY fast though because I looked up at the screen and remember thinking they were fast, but I felt good! When we hit the 800 I just went. That lap felt amazing- a little too amazing. I was hoping the girl behind me didn't catch me. The last 400 I was ready to give up, but I felt like giving up wouldn't make the race worth it- I didn't know if I'd be able to keep the pace. The gun scared me, too. The last lap I tried sprinting and it was hard. The final 200 I felt as if I didn't have enough in me, but I just kept going. I tried to sprint and I could hear a lot of yelling and cheering which I didn't know if it was for me or the girls behind me. I wish I could have gone faster, but when I finished I knew I put in my all because I was DEAD. I was so happy, though! Normally after a good race I have a runner's high, but I was so tired my body couldn't get very excited.
All the girls in my heat did amazing, too. Afterwards, I grabbed my stuff and went on a cool down with Katelyn. We both had a fun chat and then hung out all day at the track.
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