Week of: October 27th - November 2nd
Monday: 500's
Tuesday: I don't remember
Wednesday: Polish relays on track (cement oval)
Thursday: 3 ish mile workout I think?
Friday: 3-ish miles with the team dressed up (this time in costumes)
Saturday: States @ Belfast
Sunday: nope
Coach BK said I need to mention the polish relays we did on Wednesday, because he was on my team! We did 200's in teams of 3 so your rest was as long as it took the other people to go around (which after a few seemed like none). It was Adam Fisette, me, and Coach. Anyway, I was dreading these and started out a little slow because I didn't want to waste it all on the first few, but being the competitive little person that I am, I passed Jonah (Jones, Jaron's brother), and just wanted to win (even though it wasn't a race) haha. So I ended up having a pretty tough (but good) workout because I had people to run with on my leg.
STATES!
I can't even believe we're already through with it. I can't believe how far our girls went, and I'm so ridiculously happy with the day in general. I accept that we got beat by other teams, that we aren't the best runners in Maine, and that we couldn't catch Brewer. None of that matters though, because we ran our own races, we were the best runners we could be, and Brewer is just amazing. I can't even explain how proud of everyone I am. Shelby and Gwen ran together and both ran 21:16 which is absolutely amazing considering at the beginning of the year they were trying to break 23 together. I'm glad that they could stick together, and I'm sure it helped because they're both (no offense) a little shaky mentally, but when they're together it's like they're unstoppable! It was such a good feeling to know that we gave it our all, and finished strong coming this far. I couldn't ask for more, and I have hope that we can make it to NE's next year.
Again I had the nervous-peeing feeling at the beginning. I don't know why but it's just every time the starter says “there will be two commands”, because that's when I know it's going to start soon, and I'm going to have to start running, make it through the race, and feel mass amounts of pain.
The gun went off, and knowing that I had a 6:01 first mile at regionals (way too fast) I thought I
was starting slower, and I wanted to start slower but I ended up with even a faster first mile than regionals and it was an oops on my part. It's hard in big meets though when there are 20 people sprinting ahead of you and you're like, “wait, I should be ahead of those people.” In the first 200 meters or so there were so many people in front of me I felt like I was going to get last (not really, but you know what I mean), and I was really stressing at that point because I have been trying to control my starts, and keep them contained and well paced. I passed Kathleen McMahon when we got onto the dirt, then Kate Spies at some point, she was flying. I ended up running just behind Vicky Hewey, who was just behind Amelia Lundkvist. Then we got into the woods and Amelia rolled her ankle and yelled..... well, let's just say she yelled. So I kind of panicked for a second and I wasn't sure what to do, because now I was just running with Vicky. I stayed right behind her for a lot of the race, and coming into the last 800 I really tried to push it and stick with her. We crested the hill coming into the finish and I looked at the clock and made a mistake by settling for a PR instead of really pushing it to try and beat her. I couldn't help it.. I saw the clock and I finished hard, but I feel like if I hadn't been so interested in what the clock was saying then I could have thrown in a little extra and maybe passed her. I ended up running 19:37 and getting 8th. I was 12th over-all so I get to run NE's next weekend! I was so happy with my race. I should have eaten more though, I ate a little oatmeal at 7:00 and then nothing from then until my race... oops again. I was running on gatorade. I didn't finish states last year, so this race was even better than it normally would have been.
It still seems surreal to me that I'm past the 20 minute barrier. It's like it just suddenly happened and I just did it again, but I don't know how. I keep thinking back to my freshman year and it's freaking me out. I was trying to break 25:00, then 24:00, 23:00, and at FOC freshman year I ended up running a 21:37 and getting 8th in the (freshman) race. When that happened I felt like I was on top of the world. I wasn't looking at what other girls were running, I was just running for me, and it felt great. It's kind of like that now except I feel like I have more expected of me, which isn't a bad thing. I'm surprised that I still have enough energy to want to keep improve, and work harder each year. I can't believe I'm a junior. I started doing XC when Adam Deveau's mom, Michelle, told me I had “a beautiful stride”, and that I should really consider running cross country in high school. Her daughter Sarah is in my grade and she started the same time I did. I guess I'm so overwhelmed because when I was a freshman I was looking at all these people (Erica Jesseman, Hilary Maxim, etc.) running these ridiculous times and I was just kind of jogging my little 5k trying to finish the race.. haha.
We did something really strange before the race today.. we did a stride out, then we prayed. I'm not religious, but we just did a thing where we went around and said something really quick. It was really cute actually, people were saying things like: “thank you for letting me be a part of this team, I love you guys”, and “please let us all have a good race since this is my last one.” I said: “please don't let anyone fall.” Honestly though, I didn't want anyone to fall. It kind of made me feel sad, and like I wanted to run the race not only for myself, but for all of them and coach as well. I think I did that though, and I'm so glad that I had a best. Next is Manchester, where I had a pretty good race at the invite, and I hope I do better this time.
We get our varsity back next year minus Hannah West, and we're all pumped for it already.
Congrats to everyone that ran, and to everyone for a great season. Thanks to everyone that came to watch and cheer. Also good luck to Maine at NE's. Heather Spurling is my hero, bye!