View Workout (Liam Albrittain)

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DLXXIV

May 10, 2014 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: Humid, swampy, quite similar to last year

Comments:
The team took care of business today at MAC/ISL Championships. The girls got 2nd, the highest finish in school history, in the ISL behind Bullis, with professional-grade performances in pretty much every event, especially the 4x800m which set the tone for the day, beating Visitation after getting challenged for the lead three times. The boys solidified their dynastic dominance, winning for--(and everyone using running-log knows this, I am just recording it for my own memory and for posterity)--the fourth time in a row, missing Tristan, Malik and Kahlil! The class of 2014 has won a total of eight banners in track and cross country. I admire these seniors more than any other class. The boys 4x8 ran beautifully against Sidwell, though being outkicked by their Jason Campbell who had a fantastic day and ran 1:57. The 4x4 was third to Potomac and St. Andrew's, the latter of which Armbruster anchored for the win in 3:29.66. He also ran 1:55--I believe every meet record was shattered today from the 400m to the 3200m and we scored in all of them.
Now, as for MY poor contribution to the whole day, since I have all the splits I think I'll flatter my teammate.

400: 71
I had managed to stop worrying about the weather and for better or for worse, we began. I got out in second for the first 200m, right behind Hale (what a novelty!), thinking that Sidwell would be a non-issue and I would run a speedy first mile and use whatever I had left for a nice, respectable PR that could better my stale, three month old 10:15. Anthony did tell me to expect the pack to come and run with it.

800: 2:29 (78)
By now Patrick, Evan, Jake, Zeke and Griffin had enveloped me and we came around the curve in a tight pack.

1200: 3:43 (74)
At this point the Sidwell pack had begun to pick up the pace and Hale and Griffin had moved ahead, and I tried to obey Anthony and everyone cheering to run with that pack, but like a stupid freshman already found myself dropping off on the back straightaway.

1600: 5:01 (78)
Not so bad, I thought. Now all I have to do is reach those Sidwell guys--who at this point were in a single file line with some distance between them, followed by Zeke.

2000: 6:19 (78)
At this point things were beginning to get painful, and the Sidwell pack farther away. I tried to turn my mind on and concentrate. Anthony said, "You look so relaxed, you're just pissed off in your mind."

2400: 7:41 (81)
I believe at this point Anthony hollered at me to keep my hips forward, and said, "Come on, Liam, it's a least a PR!"

2800: 9:03 (79)
Now I recognized the grim nature of things--nobody close to me. With 600m to go, I refocused and tried to get on my toes (something I'm TERRIBLE at).

3200: 10:18.68 (75)
100m, in coach said to kick now, and not to save it for the last 100m, because I'd having cheering for that. At the 200m mark, I did the same awful thing I did at Bishop McNamara, glancing around the curve and seeing the action at the finish line. Feeling awful, I accelerated as best I could.

Regardless of what Mark and Anthony told me afterwards, I think this was a horrible performance; I'm ashamed to log it. I couldn't even do any better than a race run on a Tuesday in FEBRUARY at MACS! Anthony noted my focus throughout the whole race was terrible, which was true. The way I see it, with a couple exceptions, this season has been one bad performance after another; I'm capable of more and will prove it at States, and frankly am a little tried of watching other people's success all the time.