Follow Cape Elizabeth HS distance star Liam SImpson as he blogs about his senior xc season. Simpson was one of the top xc runners in Class B last fall finishing 6th and leading his team to the state title. Liam was 33rd in the New England meet last fall, and is the 9th fastest returner in the region. Check out Liam in his quest to lead his team to another state title.
Hey Everyone,
I hope everyone’s seasons been going well! Now a meet into the much awaited championship part of the fall, the season has taken on a more serious and competitive tone as we try to earn a place among the top teams in the state.
First things first, the Festival of Champions this year was meet to remember. Obviously, I must give the obligatory congrats to Josef, whose course record performance was something I think the state of Maine has never seen before. Of course, however, it didn’t hurt that the conditions that day were about as near to perfect as they get. With the dryness of the course and the moderately cool air temperature, I knew that it would be a fast race before the gun even went off. The pace went out quick and from then on was unrelenting. I spent the first mile or so catching up to the pack that I was supposed to be with, and then the rest of the race just hanging on for dear life as I tried to preserve my meager lead. I ended up running a PR of 16:00:08. In the final stretch, I checked my shoulder once to see if anyone was coming up behind me, and I’m sure that had I not done that I would have broken 16. However, I was happy with the race and I know how important it is to not dwell too much on the things you did wrong, because you endanger getting mentally worked up about the next race, which in my opinion is never a good thing.
Last weekend was our Western Maine Conference championship at the infamous St. Joe’s course. Noted for being flat and fast over the first two miles, and then devastatingly slow, hilly and painful over the final third, the course proved itself once again to be one of the most challenging for me to race. I thought that as long as I kept right up with the front pack through the first two miles, I would be able to demolish the hills in the back loop and take home the win. But boy, was I wrong. I severely underestimated the sheer hill climbing power of my friend and fellow headband sporter Mr. Will Shafer. I think we both ran our hearts out and he happened to get me that day. This weekend at our regional meet will be a fitting rematch.
Run fast in the postseason,
Liam
