Hey Flrunners! I cannot believe the bulk of season has already passed and it is down to the home stretch! This part of the season is personally my favorite, because everyone is done experimenting with different events and we start to see main focuses. However, a lot has happened in the past few weeks, some big meets and very fast times!
A few of the girls and I traveled up to FSU three weeks ago to experience top-notch competition and new experiences. My main focus was the 3200 and then finishing off strong with a solid 1600. My 3200 race plan did not go exactly as planned, as I found myself leading to falling back in sixth with only a lap to go. At this point, if I am ever down and out, I have to think of how I will feel when I am finished. I knew if I finished in sixth, I would be disappointed in myself and we all know what that feels like. I decided to change that and just go for it. Why not? I found myself racing for every inch down the home stretch for the title with Emma Rudman and we each had collapsing finishes. I know it is common for me to fall after a race, but to have my competitor fall right with me says a little extra. Congrats to Emma and everyone else on terrific races!
The next day for the 1600, I had the goal of focusing on only myself. No racers, no teammates, not even coaches. Sometimes I have to shut everything and everyone else out to stay on track. No pun intended. I decided to lead from the very beginning and not look back. This resulted in a big smile on my face crossing the line in a season best, giving me extra hope and motivation for the meets to come!
The next big meet was Florida Relays, but I had the county meet in between. My coach and I decided to see if I could handle the distance triple along with a quick relay at the end. Somehow, I was able to do it, and our 4 by 4 relay team even took the title in the final 100 meters! This was a great night with my team, and as a senior I especially enjoyed winning the team title with a pretty special group of teammates and coaches.
Florida Relays came next, and my main focus was the 1600. I had a race plan that I knew would succeed or bust. I knew in order to try to PR, I had to go for it from the very beginning, and just start hitting the necessary splits. Through lap three I was almost on my goal pace and then I started shutting down. I fought through the next 300 meters and found myself in a foot race once again. Emily Harding had an incredible surge and never let up, with an outstanding time of 4:56! I tried to fight for second and ended up getting third. I walked off the track knowing that that was all I had that day and I had to keep my head up. Much easier said then done.
From this race alone, I learned that you win some and you lose some. Not every race will turn out how you would like it to, but these failures lead to extra motivation and the resurgence to come back stronger. It lights new fire to become the best I can be. All you have to do is find it in your heart, which will shift mental gears, and in turn physical gears. The final meet before our district meet this Wednesday was Wally Keller. I only ran the 800 to attempt to get a quicker mark this year and was able to cross with a 2:14. Definitely not satisfied yet, but it’s a step closer to the big picture!
Best of luck to those competing in districts this week!
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