Last State Meet Ever- Weekly Log: May 28 to June 3

Cracking down on the end of the season. Put up some solid numbers so far, but really missing a fast 3000. Big goal of the meet is to crack 8:40. Hoping to break 2:00 in the 800.

Monday: 9 Miles

Had the day off for Memorial day and went for a longer trail run. Trails with Dad in Yawgoog. I forgot how technical the trails were and the rain the night before made all the rock gardens super slippery. This was already too technical in the first place and the slippery surfaces made it slow and not that fun. Decent run. We got lost halfway through and it wasn't much fun after that. Felt tired.

Tuesday: 5 Miles

Track workout. 7x400 @3K pace (70s) w/45s recovery followed by 4x200 @800 pace (30s) w/2min recovery. It was somewhat hot out and even though this seemed so easy on paper, it wasn't. Wasn't really that hard either. Pretty much right on at the beginning before slowly chipping down without really putting in any more effort. 200 were a bit more aggressive and tiring but not bad. Splits: 70/70/69/68/68/67/67/28/28/28/28. Cooldown felt terrible, although its hard to feel good on any cooldown. Difficulty: 2/5.

Wednesday: 8 Miles

Had a English field trip to NYC, so missed practice. Made arrangements to run with John Walker and Dad (who picked us up in New Haven so we would run earlier). Stopped from Haley on the way back and ran the easily lollipop loop on the main trails. Legs were trashed at first but felt better as I went on. We split up halfway as Dad took single-track back. John and I kept a steady, strong effort on the return. Pretty enjoyable to run here at sunset but humid and buggy.

Thursday: 5 Miles

Track workout, last one before states. As I expected this was a quick speed workout. 10x200 at 32s w/60-90s recovery (I really dont remember). Really messed up the splits (apparently ran a 29 on one, but I definitely didn't) and Rock got mad at me. Got into the 32s after that. None of them really felt good even though it should have been super easy. Hit a fast 90% 400 after that in 57s. Difficulty: 3/5.

Friday: 7 Miles

Hot run around town. Legs got super tight to the point where I had to stop and loosen my shoes a few times. That didn't even do the trick. It wasn't until the last 2 miles where I finally loosened up and didn't feel like I was in the second half on an 800. Not how I wanted to feel on this shakeout.

Saturday: 10 (?) Miles

Was pretty nervous for the meet. Felt relaxed before the 4x800, although it was super hot. I would be running a rare leadoff leg which I was a little nervous about because I knew everyone would be super aggressive that first 200. Got this nervousness and the pee out of my system and hopped on the line to race. I felt so drowsy and weak on warm-ups and was hoping this wouldn't mean anything and was just the heat. It didn't.

4x800
Did a pretty good job getting out and stayed towards the front. Kept to the outside as I didn't want to get boxed in for a race this short. Kept to the back of the chase pack with Quentin Viera (EG) in front. Pace felt fast but doable. Coming up to the homestretch I made a surge to get into 2nd and close the gap on Quentin. The first lap seemed fast and with the surge (and going out right behind Quentin, who goes out super fast) I figured it hit some fast split for the 400, but was surprised to go out in 58 high. Oh well, I'll just hammer this next 200 and try to bring it home in 60 for a sub-2. Slowly closed the gap on Quentin. It felt like I had a lot more in the tank and he was slowing down, so I put in a big surge to pass him. He countered it and I just did not have enough to get past him. I tried again on the curve but failed again. I totally bombed the last 200. I felt great the previous 800 but was suddenly feeling the 800 struggle, even if I still felt much better than usual. I even stumbled a bit coming into the final 100. I stayed right behind Quentin who likely wasn't going all out as he's a much better 800 guy than me. Barrington's George Wicker blew by the two of us and took the lead. I told myself not to get passed by anyone else but it felt like everyone was coming for me. I held onto the third. The clock ticked up: 1:58, 1:59... I didn't break 2:00. I managed to sneak over the line and complete the handoff before it hit 2:01, but felt like I didn't hit my potential. Kinda stopped paying attention until suddenly we were on anchor. We were in 3rd(?) when Ryan got the baton and moved up to 2nd. Ryan ran an incredible leg of 1:55 to hold off Sam Toolin. We finished 8:01. I couldn't believe it. Was expecting maybe 4th. I split 2:00.4. Not quite what I wanted, but still a PR, so I'm okay with it.

Felt surprisingly pretty good after that. I remember feeling terrible for the entire wait between the two events last year, so I was happy to feel good. Then my coach told me to go on a cool-down, where I still not feel so good. Tight, heavy and running the slowest pace ever. Whatever, I still have 3 hours. Tried to refuel (lots of water+some bagels and bars). The time went by super quick and I was nervous. I felt okay. I was glad that my legs felt fine. Started having to pee every 5 minutes right before the race, which always happens and it is super annoying and uncomfortable. Minutes before the start, I realized I had to go again. I had my spikes on and we were likely going to be called any minute. Too late to go to the bathroom. This sucks. I thought about peeing in the trees surrounding the track, but it seemed too public. I jogged over and saw a couple guys in the race peeing pretty much right in front of people, so I went for it which was a huge relief. Then an official saw me and I got DQ'd. Just kidding, although I feared that may happen. Of course, it took ages to get from gathering around the official to starting the race, which made me as nervous as possible. The 3000 is always so late in the meet that I never feel like running it, but I couldn't think that today. I tried my best to calm myself and relax. The goal was to hit 69s and 70s every lap to crack 8:40. My coach wanted me to stay outside so I wouldn't get boxed in. I decided when everyone cuts in at the gun, I'll move out and still get in a good position.

3000
This was a really wild race with so much position change that I barely remember anything. Likely most of the placement I say will be inaccurate, so I'll try to focus on the major events. My strategy of going to the outside was stupid and totally failed. I found myself boxed in near the back which is exactly what I didn't want to happen. I made my way around to lane 2 or 3 and slowly moved up. I totally forgot about the guys on the outside lanes and I realized I barely I had any time before they cut in an boxed me in really bad. I had to make a big surge to get in 4th-ish position which didn't feel comfortable at all. Jeffery Pedersen was front running. I half expected everyone to dog the race and make it sit and kick but I suspected Jeffery might try to lead the whole race and win as that's what he did in the 1500 (where he ran an incredible 3:53). I was glad to see but was hoping they'd keep the pace as I really did not feel like moving up. I realized I had to pee just 200 in which made me think very negative thoughts. We hit the 400 in 69 which seemed perfect but felt fast. Not sure where this happened (maybe after 800), but after a brief slowdown Jeffery cranked it up a notch and at first, only Sean Meehan was going with him. Reilly Johnston jumped on the move right after that. It seemed too uncomfortable for me so I stayed leading the chase pack. I slowly caught up until I was running too slow and got passed. It had felt okay to be on the inside because I felt somewhat alone but the next thing I knew I was boxed in. My coach yelled at me to get outside again which made sense because I was dropping spots rapidly. Had to make another huge surge to get back up around 4th but it was exhausting. Started to feel like I normally do in every 3000 ("Why do I still have so many laps to go yet feel so lousy?"). Sean Meehan left us after we went through the mile in 4:38ish. Fell off the pace a little. Ran in a small pack headed by Hendricken's Jack McMahon and Luke Henseler. We passed Jeffery who was fading. We were running super slow and I soon realized I was way off the pacing. I tried to focus just on finishing. With 600 to go, Jack and Luke started a huge kick and I was so exhausted they opened up a huge gap immediately. Coming through in about 7:40, I knew I needed something big to make up for so much lost time, but I felt so dead the last 400. If my kick wasn't terrible enough, Eliot Laidlaw got me in the last 100 and I had no response. Felt like everyone else was going to pass me but fortunately held onto 6th. Finished in 8:50. Super disappointing. Felt off after a mile and never toughed it out enough to get back on track. Came here determined to hit a time but was way off. Really upset about this. Felt like the last possible chance to run fast and hit a good 3000 this season and I just didn't.

Sunday: 7 Miles

Got going late and just ran from the house. Regular moonlight loop. Assumed it was really hot and ran shirtless but it wasn't bad at all. Really, really windy on shore road. Felt okay but not that good. Shoes got tight 3 miles in so I had to stop to loosen them (seems to be a common and incredibly annoying problem). Pace was decent.

Weekly Total: 51 Miles
YTD Total: 761 Miles

Weekly Highlight: Team ran an awesome 4x800, even if it was mostly Ryan. Workout Tuesday seemed solid and Wednesday's run was fun.

Weekly Lowlight: Feel like the entire season has been solid but just missing one key race. This one key race was likely the 3000 at States. My whole season building up this...and I fall apart and run an 8:50??? Just so disappointing. At this point, it's all pretty much over. Can't believe I ran 4:05 and 8:53 in April and am still running the same times now.

New Englands next week. Originally wanted to just get through States then enjoy the rest of the season, but now once again have "a last opportunity" at New Englands. Really hoping to get in the fast heat. It'll probably go out in something ridiculous but there should be someone I can stay with to hit the time I really want and know I'm capable of. If I'm in the slow heat, I'll likely have to lead the whole race and it'll be nearly impossible to run decently.