Sunday night I could feel that I was tired from being outside in the sun as well as running 4 events. I settled into the hotel bed around 8pm and just watched tv until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore (which happened to be 9:30pm).
The next morning I woke up at 7am with that nervous feeling in my stomach. There was so much riding on this one day. After a breakfast of oatmeal, coffee, yogurt and a banana I met my coach and we headed to the track meet.
My coach had figured out what I needed to jump/throw/run in each event in order to get 3400 points. For each event the numbers I needed to hit were either a little below or above my personal records from this season so that helped me to become a little more confident that this could actually happen.
The first event of Day 2 was long jump. I felt that I had fresh legs so I should be able to jump close or over my PR of 4.70m (a little over 15 feet). Once I got my mark I just couldn't seem to get a good run in and wasn't getting near the board that you are supposed to jump off of. I ended up jumping 4.49m which was much lower than I wanted.
The second event was Javelin. I have been practicing recently but there are so many aspects to jav that I just wasn't sure. I was hoping to throw farther than my PR (21.33m) and I did but only by a little bit. I threw 22.03m.
The last event was the 800m.
My coach had figured out that I needed to run a 2:35.42 in the 800m to get 3400 points and the last time I ran the 800m was in indoor in a time of 2:38.04.
Paraphrasing, this is what my coach said to me:
"In all the other events there is some technical aspect, there is something that is out of your control. But this event you can control 100% of it, there is no technical aspect, all you have to do is run. If you believe that you can run fast then you will. You have to believe in yourself."
The girl that ended up winning the Heptathlon was a very good 800m runner. We knew that on a good day when it wasn't 92 degrees out and she hadn't just done heptathlon that she could run about a 2:28. So the plan was for me to stick with her.
There was a strong wind coming off the back stretch (if you visualize the track from the starting line, that would be the first straightaway) and so for the first 200m of the race I was supposed to just keep this girl 3 to 5 feet away from me and then once I reached about 300m I was to slowly reel her in and stay right on her tail. Therefore I could use her for drafting for the beginning of the second lap (basically the 500m-600m area). The wind was perfect for the final straightaway so it would help me to push it in.
Back when I ran Pentathlon in high school (they only do heptathlon in college) they used to line us up by our position for the 800m, so if you were in first place you got the first position on the track because they do a waterfall start. (if any of this stuff is confusing please let me know and I can clarify more).
Well now they changed the rules and they line you up randomly. I was in the 3rd position at the start and before I knew it we had started the race.
The fast girl, as I will call her, elbowed her way to the front of the pack where she managed to trip the girl in front of me, who then almost tripped me. I stayed right with those two girls through the first 200m. I could hear my coach saying "that is perfect, keep it up".
As we entered the second straightaway I passed the 2nd girl and reeled in the fast girl as we passed the finish line and headed into the third straightaway. At this point I was feeling great - my first lap split was about 73 seconds and I just knew I had more in me at that point. I drafted off the fast girl for the straightaway and then we hit the curve. I patiently waited (pushing the fast girl all the while) and when we hit the final straightaway I pulled out and started to pass her. I could tell at this point I was getting tired but I just kept thinking "you want this more, you want to go to the next meet!"
I could pick out my coach's voice the whole time - I honestly have never heard him more positive and encouraging or excited as when he was coaching me. It was amazing and as I crossed the finish line I was exhausted.
The fast girl ended up passing me right at the finish so I came in second but it was the best second place I have ever had because I ran my 800m in....
2 minutes and 33 seconds (2:33.57 to be exact)
A new PR for me!!
After finishing I had no idea if I had actually made the time and I tried to ask my coach but he was dousing me with water from a water sprayer. He finally told me my unofficial time and I just put my head in my hands! I was so happy! I couldn't believe that I had actually done it!
When I told me parents (who had driven to watch the whole 7 events fiasco) it was very emotional. I just felt tears welling up in my eyes because this dream that I had had was finally coming true.
So overall, I came in 4th place with 3422 points and on May 14/15th I will be competing again in Heptathlon!! Friday morning I will be leaving with my whole team to go to the "REAL" state meet. It is a two day event and I am really excited to spend time with my team. At this meet I will get my medal for placing 4th in the state in my conference and I will post some pictures!
Thanks so much for reading this super long post/race report/track meet report! I am still so tired from competing. Yesterday I did a light practice and all my muscles were sore. Having competed Sunday/Monday my whole schedule is off - I can't even tell what day it is!
* Did anyone actually buy this bathing suit that Chic Runner had in her blog? I want it so bad but I am afraid that when I get it and actually put it on my butt will be hanging out!!
**I have had a few of you ask which school I run for and I would love to share that with all of you but I had intended to keep my identity basically a secret on this blog.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Heptathlon Day 1
**Saturday I went to the local meet to just run the hurdles. It was going well until I got to the 7th hurdle where I proceeded to studder step, jump the hurdle awkwardly and then fall to the ground on my side. Not my best performance.**
Sunday morning dawned beautiful and hot. And when I say hot I mean 87 degrees was the high temp for the day. Events didn't start until 1pm to allow any teams to drive in Sunday. I learned that there were only 8 girls in the event which meant that I would score no matter what (since they score the top 8).
The first event was 100m hurdles and I was a little worried because of the previous days performance. I made it over the 10 hurdles but not in the time I wanted. I was the slowest hurdler with a time of 19.15 seconds.
I was working on focusing on one event at a time and at this point in time I was a high jumper. I got my mark and we started off. I jumped the lower heights and was doing ok. I knew that I needed to gain some serious points to make up for hurdles and I was confident that I could do it in high jump. I made it over 1.43m (dont know the conversion) while four of the other girls missed that height. I continued to jump - and everything just came together. I am not even sure how I was able to continue on but it was amazing. I ended up jumping 1.49m (4 feet 10 inches - I think) which I totally had cleared but managed to hit the bar with my calf. I came in third for high jump with a jump of 1.46m.
The next event was shot put which I really enjoy. My coach called me a "powerful woman" and I was hoping to really throw far. Sadly I only threw 9.79 meters (just over 32 feet) but shot put really isn't many points so I just focused on the next event. I also came in second for this event.
The last event of day 1 was the 200m dash. It was getting close to 4pm by this time and I was feeling a bit drained but hoped that I had enough energy to run a sub 29 seconds. I ended up completely forgetting my form for the last part of the run as I was racing the girl in the lane next to me and was so focused on staying ahead of her that I forgot everything else. My time was 29.04 seconds (exactly .01 seconds faster!)
I ended day with 2020 points and just 4 small points out of 4th place. I got a nice ice bath for my legs and also some ice for my hip. It was a good day. I had PR'ed in two of the four events and was feeling confident about the next day and my chances of reaching the 3400 points mark.
That night my coach and I went out for dinner and I had a nice steak dinner. I have heard that carbo loading is over-rated and that eating protein is better for you. Eating protein allows you to maintain a stable glucose and insulin balance and therefor preform better. This outdoor season I have really worked at cutting out the carbs and I think it has helped.
Tomorrow I will post about Heptathlon Day 2! Thanks for reading!
Sunday morning dawned beautiful and hot. And when I say hot I mean 87 degrees was the high temp for the day. Events didn't start until 1pm to allow any teams to drive in Sunday. I learned that there were only 8 girls in the event which meant that I would score no matter what (since they score the top 8).
The first event was 100m hurdles and I was a little worried because of the previous days performance. I made it over the 10 hurdles but not in the time I wanted. I was the slowest hurdler with a time of 19.15 seconds.
I was working on focusing on one event at a time and at this point in time I was a high jumper. I got my mark and we started off. I jumped the lower heights and was doing ok. I knew that I needed to gain some serious points to make up for hurdles and I was confident that I could do it in high jump. I made it over 1.43m (dont know the conversion) while four of the other girls missed that height. I continued to jump - and everything just came together. I am not even sure how I was able to continue on but it was amazing. I ended up jumping 1.49m (4 feet 10 inches - I think) which I totally had cleared but managed to hit the bar with my calf. I came in third for high jump with a jump of 1.46m.
The next event was shot put which I really enjoy. My coach called me a "powerful woman" and I was hoping to really throw far. Sadly I only threw 9.79 meters (just over 32 feet) but shot put really isn't many points so I just focused on the next event. I also came in second for this event.
The last event of day 1 was the 200m dash. It was getting close to 4pm by this time and I was feeling a bit drained but hoped that I had enough energy to run a sub 29 seconds. I ended up completely forgetting my form for the last part of the run as I was racing the girl in the lane next to me and was so focused on staying ahead of her that I forgot everything else. My time was 29.04 seconds (exactly .01 seconds faster!)
I ended day with 2020 points and just 4 small points out of 4th place. I got a nice ice bath for my legs and also some ice for my hip. It was a good day. I had PR'ed in two of the four events and was feeling confident about the next day and my chances of reaching the 3400 points mark.
That night my coach and I went out for dinner and I had a nice steak dinner. I have heard that carbo loading is over-rated and that eating protein is better for you. Eating protein allows you to maintain a stable glucose and insulin balance and therefor preform better. This outdoor season I have really worked at cutting out the carbs and I think it has helped.
Tomorrow I will post about Heptathlon Day 2! Thanks for reading!
Monday, April 27, 2009
RESULTS
The results are in:
3422 (points!)
I did it! I just got back and the last two days have been amazing! Ill report about the whole thing later! Thank you for all your supportive and wonderful comments!!
3422 (points!)
I did it! I just got back and the last two days have been amazing! Ill report about the whole thing later! Thank you for all your supportive and wonderful comments!!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Heptathlon
What if you had one chance to run a race and that chance would never come up again.
How hard would you run today if you couldn't run tomorrow?
These thoughts and variations of this have been running through my head for over two weeks now.
Seven Events
Two Days
One Chance
I am running, jumping and throwing as far as I can just to have another day to compete, another day to run college track!
As one of my coaches says - If you don't go all out then whats the point??
Well I am off! I will be back Monday night with a full report!
How hard would you run today if you couldn't run tomorrow?
These thoughts and variations of this have been running through my head for over two weeks now.
Seven Events
Two Days
One Chance
I am running, jumping and throwing as far as I can just to have another day to compete, another day to run college track!
As one of my coaches says - If you don't go all out then whats the point??
Well I am off! I will be back Monday night with a full report!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Schedule
Happy Friday Morning to All!!
I just wanted to update the schedule for everyone. The next three days are going to be nerve racking as well as exciting. As I type this my stomach is doing flip flops!
Tomorrow (Saturday April 25th) -
There is a meet at a local college and B-rabbit will be chauffeuring me there so I can run the 100m hurdles and then come back home to rest in my apartment. Although I feel confident in my hurdling, my coach wants me to run them one more time just because we have the time.
Then Saturday night at 7:30pm, I will be leaving with my head coach to travel to where the meet will be held Sunday.
Sunday April 26th -
The multis is a two day event. Sunday I will do 4 events and then Monday I will do the last three events. Sunday I will do hurdles, high jump, shot put and then the 200m dash.
Monday April 27th -
Today I will do long jump, throw javelin and run the 800m. After this I will return home with my coach.
I am not sure if I will have access to a computer on the trip. Either way I will report back (hopefully with news that I qualified for the regional meet!) when I get home on Monday night.
I have all the potential, I just have to focus on one event at a time! Every inch, every second, every point counts!
Happy Weekend!
I just wanted to update the schedule for everyone. The next three days are going to be nerve racking as well as exciting. As I type this my stomach is doing flip flops!
Tomorrow (Saturday April 25th) -
There is a meet at a local college and B-rabbit will be chauffeuring me there so I can run the 100m hurdles and then come back home to rest in my apartment. Although I feel confident in my hurdling, my coach wants me to run them one more time just because we have the time.
Then Saturday night at 7:30pm, I will be leaving with my head coach to travel to where the meet will be held Sunday.
Sunday April 26th -
The multis is a two day event. Sunday I will do 4 events and then Monday I will do the last three events. Sunday I will do hurdles, high jump, shot put and then the 200m dash.
Monday April 27th -
Today I will do long jump, throw javelin and run the 800m. After this I will return home with my coach.
I am not sure if I will have access to a computer on the trip. Either way I will report back (hopefully with news that I qualified for the regional meet!) when I get home on Monday night.
I have all the potential, I just have to focus on one event at a time! Every inch, every second, every point counts!
Happy Weekend!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Dinky Dual Meet
Yesterday it was beautiful outside until the track meet started at 3pm! Then the rain clouds slowly started to crawl across the sky and settle themselves above the track.
I was able to high jump (which I also won but also I was the only girl!) and improved from last week but not by much. I just wasn't able to put everything together. I will practice tomorrow and have one more chance to get everything right!
I then ran hurdles which was going great until I came to the 7th (of 10) hurdles! I managed to hit that hurdle which slowed my momentum down greatly. If I can manage to not hit the hurdle I am confident I can run faster!
After finishing the hurdles, the rain really started. It was like the flood gates has opened! I still ran the relay but it was tough with rain and wind blind siding me after 200m!
Overall it was good and now with my new high jump score I have 3394 points! I have been checking weather.com everyday now and it says for Sunday and Monday the temps will be in high 70s!!
Happy Wednesday! I am jealous of all your bloggers out there that have been doing nice outside runs!
I was able to high jump (which I also won but also I was the only girl!) and improved from last week but not by much. I just wasn't able to put everything together. I will practice tomorrow and have one more chance to get everything right!
I then ran hurdles which was going great until I came to the 7th (of 10) hurdles! I managed to hit that hurdle which slowed my momentum down greatly. If I can manage to not hit the hurdle I am confident I can run faster!
After finishing the hurdles, the rain really started. It was like the flood gates has opened! I still ran the relay but it was tough with rain and wind blind siding me after 200m!
Overall it was good and now with my new high jump score I have 3394 points! I have been checking weather.com everyday now and it says for Sunday and Monday the temps will be in high 70s!!
Happy Wednesday! I am jealous of all your bloggers out there that have been doing nice outside runs!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Making Progress
First off - THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS! Saturday was a rough night for me but I got through it. Sunday I woke up and went for an easy 3 miler and felt much better.
Yes it is sad that I was not able to run the relay but guess what? I have talent to compete in 7 events which no other girl on my team has the ability to do!
Today we have a dual meet and I am competing in hurdles, high jump and running the lead off leg of the 4x400m relay. I realize that running the relay is more of a training exercise for me so that I can run the 800m faster. Everything seems to have clicked for me that I am a multi event athlete and I have a chance of a lifetime which I NEED to take advantage of!
Yesterday I looked up the qualifying standards for the regional meet and I realized that I WAS TOTALLY off on my thinking.
Currently I have 3346 points for 7 events
To qualify for the regional meet I need 3400 points (previously I thought there was no way I could qualify because I was looking at the national standards!)
I have a new goal - I WANT to go to that regional meet!
The final countdown has begun - 4 days until I compete! I am filled with nervous excitement and hoping that I can preform to my full potential! I am thankful that this time I can compete (compared to what happened for Indoor and my hip flexor)!
Yes it is sad that I was not able to run the relay but guess what? I have talent to compete in 7 events which no other girl on my team has the ability to do!
Today we have a dual meet and I am competing in hurdles, high jump and running the lead off leg of the 4x400m relay. I realize that running the relay is more of a training exercise for me so that I can run the 800m faster. Everything seems to have clicked for me that I am a multi event athlete and I have a chance of a lifetime which I NEED to take advantage of!
Yesterday I looked up the qualifying standards for the regional meet and I realized that I WAS TOTALLY off on my thinking.
Currently I have 3346 points for 7 events
To qualify for the regional meet I need 3400 points (previously I thought there was no way I could qualify because I was looking at the national standards!)
I have a new goal - I WANT to go to that regional meet!
The final countdown has begun - 4 days until I compete! I am filled with nervous excitement and hoping that I can preform to my full potential! I am thankful that this time I can compete (compared to what happened for Indoor and my hip flexor)!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Warning
Warning: Bitter blog post ahead...
The track meet yesterday was good and bad. The morning was good, the afternoon was bad.
In the morning I threw shot first at 10:30am. I haven't been practicing and managed to get into 5th place. I then had to leave to warm up for 100m hurdles and I didn't get to compete in the finals for shot and therefore couldn't move up my position. The winning throw was 10.07 meters (or something like that) aka RIDICULOUSLY low and if I had thrown in finals I think I could have won it.
I ran hurdles and got a time but it was just horrible and my hip flexor hurt.
Then I did long jump and jumped very consistently so I feel confident going into the Heptathlon next weekend.
The bad part started when I had to watch the 4x400m relay win and wasn't even part of it. It was almost as bad as having to sit out of Pentathlon in Indoor track this year. The girl who took my spot ran well but I hate how my coach didn't even give me a chance. There is a lot more drama to this than I have posted about but let me just say I am SICK and tired of political BS and manipulative girls.
I bet if I didn't do like 4 events every meet that I could run the 400m dash just as fast as the girls on the relay.
In 7 days I will be competing in Heptathlon for the state meet. Then my college athletic career is pretty much over. I am slowly coming to terms with this and will start my 15k training on May 3rd.
In 34 days I will be graduating and will be starting a new portion of my life. I have so much to be thankful for. I had 5 years of competitive college athletics in which I help to set a few records! Its just hard to see all the good things when something I really wanted has been taken away from me for no good reason.
Sorry for the depressed/angry post. Emotionally I am in a really weird place right now. I NEED to get my head together for next weeks competition because Heptathlon is going to take all the physical and emotional strength I have.
**A few weeks ago my best friend gave me a belated birthday gift (Thanks Jackie!). She had made up a basket filled with my favorite things. Included was dunkin donuts coffee, which I has this morning and it was delicious and also Once a Runner by John L. Parker, Jr. I think that is going to be the next book I read! Anyone else read it??
The track meet yesterday was good and bad. The morning was good, the afternoon was bad.
In the morning I threw shot first at 10:30am. I haven't been practicing and managed to get into 5th place. I then had to leave to warm up for 100m hurdles and I didn't get to compete in the finals for shot and therefore couldn't move up my position. The winning throw was 10.07 meters (or something like that) aka RIDICULOUSLY low and if I had thrown in finals I think I could have won it.
I ran hurdles and got a time but it was just horrible and my hip flexor hurt.
Then I did long jump and jumped very consistently so I feel confident going into the Heptathlon next weekend.
The bad part started when I had to watch the 4x400m relay win and wasn't even part of it. It was almost as bad as having to sit out of Pentathlon in Indoor track this year. The girl who took my spot ran well but I hate how my coach didn't even give me a chance. There is a lot more drama to this than I have posted about but let me just say I am SICK and tired of political BS and manipulative girls.
I bet if I didn't do like 4 events every meet that I could run the 400m dash just as fast as the girls on the relay.
In 7 days I will be competing in Heptathlon for the state meet. Then my college athletic career is pretty much over. I am slowly coming to terms with this and will start my 15k training on May 3rd.
In 34 days I will be graduating and will be starting a new portion of my life. I have so much to be thankful for. I had 5 years of competitive college athletics in which I help to set a few records! Its just hard to see all the good things when something I really wanted has been taken away from me for no good reason.
Sorry for the depressed/angry post. Emotionally I am in a really weird place right now. I NEED to get my head together for next weeks competition because Heptathlon is going to take all the physical and emotional strength I have.
**A few weeks ago my best friend gave me a belated birthday gift (Thanks Jackie!). She had made up a basket filled with my favorite things. Included was dunkin donuts coffee, which I has this morning and it was delicious and also Once a Runner by John L. Parker, Jr. I think that is going to be the next book I read! Anyone else read it??
Thursday, April 16, 2009
TIART: Blogaroo
I seriously LOVE to blog which is great because today's topic from Runners Lounge for Take it and Run Thursday is Running Blogs!
Since I started this blog, my old journal has been seriously neglected! I am not big on sharing a lot of personal stuff, I try to stick to the topic of running but as we all know that running affects all areas of life. I started this blog a year ago in July while I was bored at work and I am so glad that I did. It really has been helpful to see my progress in running. Also it has been a great way to save all the memories from running Track.
It is great having a running community where I can read about other runners in many different places! Everyone is so nice and supportive and numerous times I have laughed or giggled while reading a post! Everyday I look forward to opening my Google reader and reading what everyone has been doing!!
On to other important topics - I have some Updates:
1. Yesterday I high jumped and I actually looked like a high jumper! No more chin to chest! No more butt hitting the bar! Besides the meet this Saturday, we have a dinky dual meet Tuesday and I am planning on jumping to see if I can show how much I have learned!
2. Talked to my sprinting coach yesterday. He really helped clear things up for me about the relay situation. My head coach is just set on giving this girl a chance, it still seems kind of fishy to me but i actually like being in this position. The pressure really is not on me, I just have to wait and see how she does! Allison, my teammate, has been really supportive and I am just so grateful to have a wonderful team!
3. Events for This weekends meet:
100m Hurdles
shot put
long jump
Thanks for reading! Keep blogging because honestly I love reading what everyone writes! Happy Thursday!
Since I started this blog, my old journal has been seriously neglected! I am not big on sharing a lot of personal stuff, I try to stick to the topic of running but as we all know that running affects all areas of life. I started this blog a year ago in July while I was bored at work and I am so glad that I did. It really has been helpful to see my progress in running. Also it has been a great way to save all the memories from running Track.
It is great having a running community where I can read about other runners in many different places! Everyone is so nice and supportive and numerous times I have laughed or giggled while reading a post! Everyday I look forward to opening my Google reader and reading what everyone has been doing!!
On to other important topics - I have some Updates:
1. Yesterday I high jumped and I actually looked like a high jumper! No more chin to chest! No more butt hitting the bar! Besides the meet this Saturday, we have a dinky dual meet Tuesday and I am planning on jumping to see if I can show how much I have learned!
2. Talked to my sprinting coach yesterday. He really helped clear things up for me about the relay situation. My head coach is just set on giving this girl a chance, it still seems kind of fishy to me but i actually like being in this position. The pressure really is not on me, I just have to wait and see how she does! Allison, my teammate, has been really supportive and I am just so grateful to have a wonderful team!
3. Events for This weekends meet:
100m Hurdles
shot put
long jump
Thanks for reading! Keep blogging because honestly I love reading what everyone writes! Happy Thursday!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Still Bummed
I am still bummed about the relay stuff...The roster for this weekends meet came out and I am an alternate for the 4x400m relay...whatever that means!
I feel like my coach doubts my ability and thinks that I am still injured and therefore can't run. Well I have been running fine in practice and I have Heptathlon States in less than 2 weeks so obviously I am fine if I plan on doing 7 events in two days!
Yesterdays workout was a welcome relief and helped me to clear my mind. We did 5x400m repeats and for the first time doing this workout I had no hip pain. I feel stronger, faster, and better than ever!
In 10 days I will compete in heptathlon - my first, last and only chance to do something amazing! With graduation a little over a month away and track ending sooner than that I am really starting to realize that I don't have much time left. I think that is why I was getting so emotional yesterday about the relay!
Anyway, today I will be practicing high jump and hopefully no more chin to my chest while jumping!! For the relay - I just have to trust that things will work out in the best way for me. And if my coach gives me the chance to run the relay I will leave everything on the track!
Thanks for all your kind comments! Have a great Wednesday!
I feel like my coach doubts my ability and thinks that I am still injured and therefore can't run. Well I have been running fine in practice and I have Heptathlon States in less than 2 weeks so obviously I am fine if I plan on doing 7 events in two days!
Yesterdays workout was a welcome relief and helped me to clear my mind. We did 5x400m repeats and for the first time doing this workout I had no hip pain. I feel stronger, faster, and better than ever!
In 10 days I will compete in heptathlon - my first, last and only chance to do something amazing! With graduation a little over a month away and track ending sooner than that I am really starting to realize that I don't have much time left. I think that is why I was getting so emotional yesterday about the relay!
Anyway, today I will be practicing high jump and hopefully no more chin to my chest while jumping!! For the relay - I just have to trust that things will work out in the best way for me. And if my coach gives me the chance to run the relay I will leave everything on the track!
Thanks for all your kind comments! Have a great Wednesday!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Track Meet Report and Photos!
We finally were able to have a track meet this weekend...it was sunny outside but it was SOO windy! I seriously hate wind and it made me miss Indoor Track!
My first event was the Javelin Throw. This was my first time throwing it in a real meet and I tried to have a laid back attitude. I just needed a mark so that I could get points for Heptathlon and qualify for the State Meet. My first three throws were ok, nothing special and somehow I managed to get into finals. With all throwing events you have three throws, then the top 8 competitors get three more throws aka Finals to determine the winner! My second throw of finals was perfect and I ended up moving into 6th place! Woohoo!
I found shelter and was able to warm up a bit before heading back out to warm up for high jump. The officials ran the meet sooo slowly and I knew just as we started high jump that the 200m dash was going to be starting as well. Basically the official was retarded and I said that I was going to my running event and he called my name to jump! I was angry but managed to clear the first height before sprinting off to the starting line.
There were blocks in my lane (lane 3) and I quickly began to set them. I was not even ready when the official said "On your mark!" My mind was racing and I was just trying to get myself ready. I slowly got into my blocks and I was sitting back when the official said "Set!" I hadn't even placed my hands down on the TRACK!! Thank goodness the official told us all to stand up because something had gone wrong with another girl! The second time around was much better but my start was not perfect. I managed to place 15th overall with a time of 29.05 seconds.
Once finished with the 200m dash I walked back over to the high jump area and was given a few minutes to relax before being put back into the jumping lineup. I was not mentally focused on my jumping and I realized after the meet and looking at the pictures B-rabbit took that I am not arching my back as I go over the bar (See the second picture for visual) I seem to be touching my chin to my chest as I jump which leads me to stick my butt out and therefore knock over the bar! Funny thing on touching my chin to my chest - not only do I do this in high jump but also when baking a cake. I put my chin to my chest and stir the batter! I don't know what is wrong with me!
The 4x400m relay was the second to last event and I was really looking forward to running it and getting a time. Unfortunately my coach decided to pull us from the relays and we went home. The worst part was that none of the team told the women's relay teams so we started warming up and had no idea!!
In previous posts I have mentioned that I have been upset about the 4x400m relay. To be quite honest I know that I can run it and be on the relay team and help them go to the regional meet but I feel like I am not going to get that chance. Here is why I think that:
Yesterday at practice my head coach came up to me and asked me which events I wanted to do for the conference championship meet this weekend. I still need to do 100m hurdles for heptathlon and have a few options for other events. I asked my coach if he was going to put me in the 4x400m relay and he said no. He said something about there not being a lot of time between now and Heptathlon (aka multis) States and some other stuff I seem to have forgotten.
I feel like he doesn't want me to run the relay because he thinks that because I ran it in Indoor that is the reason I got hurt. I want the chance to run it and I want to go to the regional meet. Basically it is my "Senior Wish" to run and compete on the relay. So this morning I stopped by my coach's office and tried to talk to him about me being on the relay. My only two goals for track was to compete in Heptathlon on Outdoor and run the relay! I wanted those two things so badly and now I feel like I have been pushed aside. I didn't know how to accurately tell my coach how much I want to run the relay.
This weekend, another girl is running the relay with the three other original members. This girl, lets call her Beth, is a good runner and we train together regularly. I have nothing against her, she is a very nice girl but I just think that I could run it faster. We will just have to see how this weekend goes...
And now the moment I know you all have been waiting for - Pictures from the meet!!!
Running the 200m dash
High jump - Please notice the chin to the chest and the pink spikes!
My first event was the Javelin Throw. This was my first time throwing it in a real meet and I tried to have a laid back attitude. I just needed a mark so that I could get points for Heptathlon and qualify for the State Meet. My first three throws were ok, nothing special and somehow I managed to get into finals. With all throwing events you have three throws, then the top 8 competitors get three more throws aka Finals to determine the winner! My second throw of finals was perfect and I ended up moving into 6th place! Woohoo!
I found shelter and was able to warm up a bit before heading back out to warm up for high jump. The officials ran the meet sooo slowly and I knew just as we started high jump that the 200m dash was going to be starting as well. Basically the official was retarded and I said that I was going to my running event and he called my name to jump! I was angry but managed to clear the first height before sprinting off to the starting line.
There were blocks in my lane (lane 3) and I quickly began to set them. I was not even ready when the official said "On your mark!" My mind was racing and I was just trying to get myself ready. I slowly got into my blocks and I was sitting back when the official said "Set!" I hadn't even placed my hands down on the TRACK!! Thank goodness the official told us all to stand up because something had gone wrong with another girl! The second time around was much better but my start was not perfect. I managed to place 15th overall with a time of 29.05 seconds.
Once finished with the 200m dash I walked back over to the high jump area and was given a few minutes to relax before being put back into the jumping lineup. I was not mentally focused on my jumping and I realized after the meet and looking at the pictures B-rabbit took that I am not arching my back as I go over the bar (See the second picture for visual) I seem to be touching my chin to my chest as I jump which leads me to stick my butt out and therefore knock over the bar! Funny thing on touching my chin to my chest - not only do I do this in high jump but also when baking a cake. I put my chin to my chest and stir the batter! I don't know what is wrong with me!
The 4x400m relay was the second to last event and I was really looking forward to running it and getting a time. Unfortunately my coach decided to pull us from the relays and we went home. The worst part was that none of the team told the women's relay teams so we started warming up and had no idea!!
In previous posts I have mentioned that I have been upset about the 4x400m relay. To be quite honest I know that I can run it and be on the relay team and help them go to the regional meet but I feel like I am not going to get that chance. Here is why I think that:
Yesterday at practice my head coach came up to me and asked me which events I wanted to do for the conference championship meet this weekend. I still need to do 100m hurdles for heptathlon and have a few options for other events. I asked my coach if he was going to put me in the 4x400m relay and he said no. He said something about there not being a lot of time between now and Heptathlon (aka multis) States and some other stuff I seem to have forgotten.
I feel like he doesn't want me to run the relay because he thinks that because I ran it in Indoor that is the reason I got hurt. I want the chance to run it and I want to go to the regional meet. Basically it is my "Senior Wish" to run and compete on the relay. So this morning I stopped by my coach's office and tried to talk to him about me being on the relay. My only two goals for track was to compete in Heptathlon on Outdoor and run the relay! I wanted those two things so badly and now I feel like I have been pushed aside. I didn't know how to accurately tell my coach how much I want to run the relay.
This weekend, another girl is running the relay with the three other original members. This girl, lets call her Beth, is a good runner and we train together regularly. I have nothing against her, she is a very nice girl but I just think that I could run it faster. We will just have to see how this weekend goes...
And now the moment I know you all have been waiting for - Pictures from the meet!!!
Running the 200m dash
High jump - Please notice the chin to the chest and the pink spikes!Ok I am done venting and everything...its been a rough day and its only 11am!! I hope everyone else is having a better day! Thanks for reading!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Random Facts
I was tagged by Nicole and Marlene and since I still having trouble coming up with things to write about I decided to fill out the questions!
The rules are:
The rules are:
1. Fill it out
2. Change one question with one of your own
3. Add an additional question
4. Tag 3 other people to do the same
1. What are your current obsessions?
Running Track, Tetris, Reading books2. Which item from your closet are you wearing most often?
My North Face fleece jacket!3. Last thing you bought for myself?
A shirt from Banana Republic and Books from Barnes and Noble4. What’s for dinner?
Sloppy Joe and homemade black raspberry pie5. Say something to the person who tagged you:
Nicole and Marlene - I love reading both your blogs and I am grateful for all the supportive comments you have left on my blog!6. What is one item you could not live without?
My camera - I love pictures!7. Vacation spots you must visit before you die?
All 50 United States8. Three things to do before you die:
a. Read as many good books as I canb. Get married and have a family
c. Live without regrets
9. What are you reading right now?
Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber10. What is the last movie you saw and enjoyed?
Bedtime Stories11. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Swedish Fish and cookie dough
Swedish Fish and cookie dough
12. What’s your favorite smell?
Clean clothes, pumpkin pie, Balsam13. Best thing you ate or drank lately?
The potatoes at Easter brunch yesterday!14. Favorite Quote?
"If you only remember one thing in life, remember this: what's meant to be will always find a way, no matter what time tells all, act on good impulses, don't quit, never ignore the butterflies, and live without regret."15. Describe one of your happiest moments.
Beating the Number 1 team in the Conference my third year in College Basketball!
Beating the Number 1 team in the Conference my third year in College Basketball!
16. Whats one thing you can't go a day with out doing?
Sleeping!17. What do you have an addiction to?
Reading Blogs (among other things)18. Whats your favorite holiday?
Christmas!19. How many pairs of shoes (not just running) do you have??
20!! Wow thats a lot!Tagged:
Lacey Nicole
X-Country2
Jocelyn
The track meet went well this weekend - I am hoping to get some of the pictures that B-rabbit took and maybe post them along with a track meet report tomorrow!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
"Bloggers Block"
I am sorry for my absence all week - I have been suffering from what Felice calls "Bloggers Block". I really haven't been inspired to write anything all week!
I am getting ready to go to my first outdoor track meet this morning.
Events:
Javelin
High Jump
200m
4x400m relay (lead off leg! aka I run first)
I am hoping for lots of sun and very little wind! Hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Easter!
I am getting ready to go to my first outdoor track meet this morning.
Events:
Javelin
High Jump
200m
4x400m relay (lead off leg! aka I run first)
I am hoping for lots of sun and very little wind! Hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Easter!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Change of Plans
We were supposed to have our first outdoor meet this past weekend but due to weather and scheduling problems it didn't happen.
Instead Saturday morning we had "practice" which really was a mini meet. The whole team was there and we ran several events for time.
I ran the 300m with Abby and Alison. Since it was raining we had to run it indoors which means that the times were slightly slower than they would have been if we ran outdoors. The last time I ran a 300m time trail was way back in November; I ran it in 50 seconds.
It is a fairly quick race but the 300m hurts! The last 100m I was trying to catch Alison because she was starting to slow down but I was slowing down too!
My time = 46.3 seconds
Alison = 45.9 seconds
(Speed demon Abby = 44.16 seconds)
We then did a 4x200m relay and it went well; my split was about 28.7 seconds.
Saturday night I watched the NCAA basketball tournament games and ended up falling asleep on the couch at 9:30pm. Obviously I am not a party animal! I had a pretty boring weekend! I looked at the weather for this coming Saturday and it looks like rain again so there possibly wont be a meet this weekend either : (
Instead Saturday morning we had "practice" which really was a mini meet. The whole team was there and we ran several events for time.
I ran the 300m with Abby and Alison. Since it was raining we had to run it indoors which means that the times were slightly slower than they would have been if we ran outdoors. The last time I ran a 300m time trail was way back in November; I ran it in 50 seconds.
It is a fairly quick race but the 300m hurts! The last 100m I was trying to catch Alison because she was starting to slow down but I was slowing down too!
My time = 46.3 seconds
Alison = 45.9 seconds
(Speed demon Abby = 44.16 seconds)
We then did a 4x200m relay and it went well; my split was about 28.7 seconds.
Saturday night I watched the NCAA basketball tournament games and ended up falling asleep on the couch at 9:30pm. Obviously I am not a party animal! I had a pretty boring weekend! I looked at the weather for this coming Saturday and it looks like rain again so there possibly wont be a meet this weekend either : (
Friday, April 3, 2009
Picture Day!!
I went back into the archives of all my photos and decided to go with a little theme. The past week has been a little stressful for me and it has made me realize how important friends are.
So today I am honoring my best friends!
My apartment/roommate Scottie (who I have now lived with for 3 years)
My basketball teammates Jackie and D
My bff Jason (who I have known since freshman year of college!)
My bff Kaylie (aka Winkly who I went to high school with and ran the HM with!)
and of course B-rabbit who I have known since sophomore year of college!
Its raining here - the track meet got moved to Sunday because it is supposed to be 44 and rainy Saturday. Have a good weekend!!
So today I am honoring my best friends!
My apartment/roommate Scottie (who I have now lived with for 3 years)
My basketball teammates Jackie and D
My bff Jason (who I have known since freshman year of college!)
My bff Kaylie (aka Winkly who I went to high school with and ran the HM with!)
and of course B-rabbit who I have known since sophomore year of college!Its raining here - the track meet got moved to Sunday because it is supposed to be 44 and rainy Saturday. Have a good weekend!!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
TIART: Running Shoes
Ohhhh Hello Thursday - so nice to see you again!
Just a quick post here for Take it and Run Thursday from Runners' Lounge!
So I just bought new shoes a while back and I dont even know the name of them. I only buy Asics for running shoes and thats about it. Lets not get me started on shoes. I HAVE TOO MANY SHOES!!
The cycle of my shoes = I buy them, they are all pretty and white. I get one splotch of dirt on them and FREAK out. I continue to run. I reach about 250 miles and then get a new pair!
Today I am sore. Sore legs, sore arms, sore back. I wore my pretty pink spikes yesterday for High Jump and I am thinking I might have to buy another pair of spikes cause those are just not cutting it for jumping.
Hope everyone has a FABULOUS day!!
Just a quick post here for Take it and Run Thursday from Runners' Lounge!
So I just bought new shoes a while back and I dont even know the name of them. I only buy Asics for running shoes and thats about it. Lets not get me started on shoes. I HAVE TOO MANY SHOES!!
The cycle of my shoes = I buy them, they are all pretty and white. I get one splotch of dirt on them and FREAK out. I continue to run. I reach about 250 miles and then get a new pair!
Today I am sore. Sore legs, sore arms, sore back. I wore my pretty pink spikes yesterday for High Jump and I am thinking I might have to buy another pair of spikes cause those are just not cutting it for jumping.
Hope everyone has a FABULOUS day!!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Practice makes Perfect
In the last 24 hours I have practiced "track and field" three times and I am beat!
Tuesday afternoon
6x450m repeats with 350m jog recovery.
I ran with one of the distance girls and I didn't time the runs but it felt like we were pushing it.
Wednesday morning
Starts and resistance running
I woke up early and met the male decathlete (10 events - I am grateful I am a girl) to practice starts out of blocks and then we did resistance running which is just hard to explain.
Wednesday afternoon
High Jump Practice
It was good to high jump again. The bending and jumping made my hip tired and my form got sloppy.
First outdoor track meet is Saturday.
Events:
Long Jump
High Jump
200m
4x400m relay
I am kind of bummed - Since I am just getting back into running with the team and didn't compete in states with the relay team I am not on the 'A' relay now. These first meets are mainly to help everyone get times for events. I am hopeful that I will get my spot back but at the same time I am nervous and worry and that I wont be good enough to get my spot back.
The other interesting part of this is that I am leading off the 'B' relay which means I will be running with/against Abby! My goal is to stay with her and hopefully I can run the 400m in 61 seconds.
In other news, Chic Runner is having a pretty sweet giveaway so go over and check it out! Sorry for the long post! Thanks for reading! Keep running!
Tuesday afternoon
6x450m repeats with 350m jog recovery.
I ran with one of the distance girls and I didn't time the runs but it felt like we were pushing it.
Wednesday morning
Starts and resistance running
I woke up early and met the male decathlete (10 events - I am grateful I am a girl) to practice starts out of blocks and then we did resistance running which is just hard to explain.
Wednesday afternoon
High Jump Practice
It was good to high jump again. The bending and jumping made my hip tired and my form got sloppy.
First outdoor track meet is Saturday.
Events:
Long Jump
High Jump
200m
4x400m relay
I am kind of bummed - Since I am just getting back into running with the team and didn't compete in states with the relay team I am not on the 'A' relay now. These first meets are mainly to help everyone get times for events. I am hopeful that I will get my spot back but at the same time I am nervous and worry and that I wont be good enough to get my spot back.
The other interesting part of this is that I am leading off the 'B' relay which means I will be running with/against Abby! My goal is to stay with her and hopefully I can run the 400m in 61 seconds.
In other news, Chic Runner is having a pretty sweet giveaway so go over and check it out! Sorry for the long post! Thanks for reading! Keep running!
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