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UAA Championships

October 27, 2012 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Conferences at Genesee Valley State Park. Woke up early got a good breakfast and headed out right on time. Felt a lot like conferences last year, same vibes. Weather got a little cloudy and rainy and it was chilly (it was actually Ithacating out) I felt good in the morning, nothing really going on. Something to think about.

We had a short drive over to the course, we didnt have a ton of time to chill out and sit. THe fans all showed up, then Ma and Pa rolled up right as we got back from the warm up. Felt fine on the warm up just excited to go out there and race on this old course. We did a little pick up (2 min tempo) after stretching to get the HR up. At that point we didnt have a whole ton of time, so we walked over an spiked up on the line. Didnt get a lot of striders in, and my feel were water logged from the wet grass. I cant really describe how I felt before the race. I wasnt thinking about anything, I was just there. Thats not necessarily the mindset to have in the long run. The new jerseys were pretty dope doe. Anyways, the gun went off and we went out hard.

PAcked up well with the back 5 group. We tried to position ourselves in that 50 range. I couldnt tell if we had it or not, but I guess I was just gunning to stay on Drew and Aaron. Aaron and Tony got ahead of us at the 2 mile I would say, and Drew kinda fell off, so I was alone with an Emory pack for a while. I tried to pretend I was with them and work with them. It worked for a while until the 5k. Came in at 5k at 16:40, slower than Oberlin. We went out pretty fast for my standards, and I held that longer, not a good combo for the end of the race. Unfortunatly, I knew I had to avoid no mans land, but I fell right into it around that 3rd lap. The laps started to get monotonous. Its a good course and I thought it would go by fast, but I could tell the end. There was no one around, so I didnt speed up or slow down. I didnt pass or get passed. Same deal as last year... I made as many surges as I could, gunning towards Aaron. I got in pretty close to him, but I couldnt find the true drive to kick it all the way in and pass him. It was a very odd feeling... I dont know how to describe it. Still, I was beat at the end. Barnes asked me if I could have given more. The answer is probably yes. Its so tough to do when caught in the back there. Thats just the story of conference... It would have been nice to get my goal of 40s and break 27, but I still ran hard and with a good attitude. For that I have no regrets. The rest of the guys ran great today too. I want us to make a statement to everyone else and show we belong there. I think we worked towards that for sure.

Cooled down around the field watching the girls and talking to the fam. Legs felt ok at that point, but after I stopped, they cramped up a lot and my Achilles tightened. Needless to say, legs are very tired.

Essentials: Stretch, roll

Not much essentials with trying to shower and get to the banquet. It was pretty quick we got to stretch (and listen to Wash U scream at us) and saw some of the swim meet. Bus ride back went by pretty fast, its a short drive really. Overall a good day and a good trip, a nice break for me. Really, I knew I wanted to be here to compete since freshman year. I did that, I made it here and raced. Didnt really improve my performance from last year, but I and running at a satisfying level for me, especially in my last year that is important. I want to be happy with my performances, and I am. I just know I love to be out there.

This could have been my last XC race. Fitting I feel though, to end it where it started. I am alternate for the rest of the championship season, which is fine since I would have kept running anyways. I dont know how much faster I can get, since I thought the 1000s would help. I hope I didnt peak for Oberlin... Anyways, for the team, I will be ready to do what is needed to help us achieve our goals.

Even if I could have given a little more today, I still know how much I have gotten out of running, and how it has brought me to this point, to this season, to this race. Its amazing. I had some good races this year and some not so great ones, but I still had the right attitude and a good spirit the whole time. I enjoyed myself too, and thats truly why we run.