New Balance Nationals Indoor- Weekly Log: March 6 to 12

One of the best parts of this season was qualifying for nationals. While it's unfortunately not too far away, it seems like a great opportunity to race on a great track with great competition, especially as I somehow sneaked into the fast heat of a championship event. Very light week to fully recover from new englands.

Monday: 0.

Tuesday: 5 Miles. 6x400@75s w/60s recovery. Felt good, was surprisingly a little heavy. It was a little humid out which made the breathing hard. Difficulty: 2/5.

Wednesday: 0.

Thursday: 6 Miles. Easy shakeout. Heaviness was back (I guess from not running) but didn't prevent me from feeling smooth. It got better as I progressed.

Friday: 5 Miles, Nationals. I was scheduled to run at 5:40 in the fast heat of the championship 5000. Since I was in the fast heat, I knew the field would be extremely fast and I likely should be near the back and probably would finish in the back. My plan was to try and run consistent 37s but stick with someone for as long as possible (don't drop off everyone early). I was hoping for a time in the 15:20-15:30 range.

Pre-Race
We got there super early (10:15), 7 hours to race. This helped me relax as I knew I had a long, long time. As usual, the time went by quickly. Arrived at the armory at 3. I slightly altered my eating for this one as I had lunch at 12:30, then a lighter meal at 3:45. Usually I try to eat 150 carbs three hours out, but today it was something like 100 carbs five hours out and then 80 carbs 2 hours out. I'm not sure if this was better, but I didn't feel as full as usual right before the race. It was difficult to eat the food 2 hours out because I wasn't very hungry. At 4:15, I did my first warm-up. I had a chance to watch the slow heat of the 5K which reminded me through people fading badly that it was 25 laps, something I've never done before. From then on, I was extremely nervous. The warm-ups didn't help as the warm-up area was two extremely crowded hallways with numerous people walking, running easily and sprinting/striding. There were many times in the warm-up where I had to stop because there wasn't enough room or narrowly avoided slamming into someone. Easily the worst warm-ups I've done in indoor track (not including rushed warm-ups because that wasn't due to a problem with the facility). As it got closer and closer, I became extremely nervous. I was losing all interest and excitement besides having high levels of both for months before the event. Eventually, I used the bathroom for the final time (always nervous about not getting everything out pre-race) and finally went to the check in area. The girls 5K was about 5 minutes in, so it was about 15 minutes to race time.

Great bibs.

I recognized some competitors, but overall barely knew the majority of the field. Usually, there's at least 5 or 6 people I'll know and at least 1 or 2 I know well enough to talk to, but here there was only one runner I had previously seen in person and a few others I had known from seeing their name on the start list or in videos at other meets. This certainly did not ease my nervousness. I finished out stretching and put my numbers on. I was taking my time because I thought I had time, but was suddenly told that I need to get ready now and hurry up. Wasn't thrilled about that. I saw a runner pour water on his head, and since I had been feeling really hot for the last hour the idea was too tempting to pass up. I didn't have water with me (bad preparation) but fortunately there was cold dispensable water for athletes in the waiting area. I poured two cups on my head. We watched an incredible girls race as the top girl broke the indoor national record with a 15:55. I was nervous that I might not even beat that. We did a stride out and were introduced one by one and called up to the line. It was the first time where I've seen my live on a TV in the center as they called my name. Cool, but somewhat scary and nervewracking. All 13 of us were on one line and I could barely get on the line, so it was relieving when they brought us up to the stagger. It was finally time to go.

Race
I was prepared to go out fast from the gun as usual. I had been used to going out no slower than 33, but I wasn't sure what to do here. Two guys in the stagger went out fast while the other hung back a little so I stayed with him. We went through 200 in about 35, and I found myself back of the pack. There was another guy about 10 meters back, I guess taking it out even easier. It turned into a long string of all the competitors as I went through 400 in 72. By 600, the last guy had caught up and passed me and two guys managed to break away and open a 30 meter lead. I was now at the back of the chase pack. Went through 600 in 1:48. Despite being in last, pretty much everyone was right on each other and close to that. Passed 800 around 2:24 and 1000 about 3:00.

I was pretty comfortable and feeling good, yet it didn't feel easy to just hang there in back and it was taking some effort. Usually, when I try to hang on I get right on the person, but here I was at least a good 5 meters back. I hit a few consecutive 36s to close out the 1600 in about 4:49. That was certainly faster than I was looking for, but I didn't know what would happen if I dropped off the pack earlier and ran solo in last. The chase pack soon caught up to leaders at 2K. I went through in about 6:01 and now was having trouble getting right on the last guy. I was about 10 meters back but still feeling good and not falling back anymore or fading. I was surprised to see the original leader and sub-15 minute runner had dropped to end of the chase pack and I was now about to pass him. I didn't really want to pass him, but knew it wouldn't be good to hang on to him as he faded, so I made a small surge around and was no longer in last. While far from exhausted, the number of laps to go seemed insane and I tired to think of it as if I was running 3K. Finish the 3000 first, then think about the laps to go.

The gap between me and the guy in front continued to grow, but I still didn't completely fall off going through 3000 in about 9:06 and 3200 in 9:45. I knew I was on a really good pace and 10 to go didn't even seem that bad. With about 8 to go, I started to get tired. I had slowed tremendously and was now just hoping to hold on. It was hard to figure out splits or project my final time and I was just focused on finishing. I passed another guy who had fallen far back, but wasn't able to do much in a very slow last 1K. I was lapped by the winner with two to go and the next few guys as I hit my final lap. I closed slightly better than the splits I had been running but I knew in the final few laps that my time had gone from low 15s to much slower. I managed to pass a guy in the last 150 and finished in 15:35.99.

Post-Race and Thoughts
My initial reaction was definitely disappointment as I wanted to run low 15:20s and was on pace for much greater than that, but faded badly to 15:35. When I thought about New Englands, this was clearly much better than that and I at least didn't finish out the season on bad note like I have numerous times before. Overall, I think it was okay, maybe slightly leaning towards the good side. I had a big PR, but really didn't hang on for a better time at the end. I'm already thinking about NBNO and if I manage to qualify for the 5K, I definitely want to go under 15:20.

I immediately felt exhausted, hot and thirsty afterwards. It took a little bit to recover, and even the cool-down felt terrible. I was surprised to find out my coaches thought I did really well.

A few other takeaways from this meet/experience:

• Fantastic track. I think this definitely helped keep me going in the middle as it just felt smooth and natural. I like how it was somewhat of a stadium format with people watching above from every side. It was a new experience having my name called in front on that many people then seeing myself on a TV screen in the center. Easily the best indoor track I've ever run on.
• Easily the best website for a meet I've seen. Full-length HD race videos with commentary (see 5K video here), quality pictures, live results, and a listing of everything you need to know.

Saturday: 0. Really feeling it.

Sunday: 0. Same.

Weekly Total: 16 Miles

YTD Total: 418 Miles

Will be taking a week off. I'll work on a indoor recap/outdoor outlook post next.