NCAA 'Round 1' - Austin, TX.
Well it's lucky I didn't write a blog right after Conference (last weekend) as for the last 5
days I thought my season was done and haven't run a step, but today I got the news that
my 14.11 was good enough for the National Qualifying meet in Texas which are the
prelims for Nationals that are now going to be straight finals in Eugene.
After Oregon we had accepted that I wasn't going to get in to the meet as my 10k was shit
and I was ranked like 70th in the 5k with only 48 going to the National Qualifier. With that
in mind we went into Conference just wanting to run hard and hopefully get a medal. I
ran as hard as I could but didn't have the legs in the last 8 laps and ended up 4th in the 10k.
I really think the 10k only 2 weeks before was still in the system but it was my first one so
was a bit of a learning curve before and after the race. The next day I ran the 5k which was
one of the hardest things I have done. Was very shattered after the 10k but wanted to try
and get some points for the team. The race went out pretty fast as there was a lot of fresh guys
in it - I ran 2.55 for the 1st km and was out the back picking up t-shirts. Got pretty rough but
rallied in the last km to be 10th. 2 spots out of scoring but it was a solid effort. Was a very hot
New Mexico day at altitude.
We really thought there would be no chance I'd make it to the NCAA Qualifier, especially not
in the 5 but out of the blue it happened. Some might wonder why I just didn't keep training just
in case but I ended up being 76th on the list, with 48th being 14:00. It is also the first year of this
system so we couldn't look back and say "well, 14.10 made it last year on the list so lets keep it
going just in case". The 5k was without doubt the deepest event in the West, and it seems like
a lot of the guys seem to think their best shot is in the 10, although there are still 26 guys at
14:00 faster. The 10 is pretty stacked too but looks the the 5 and 15 are the deepest events.
So today I threw the trainers on and rolled out for a easy 50'. Was anything but easy but it won't
take long to get back into it. The break will probably end up being pretty good for me as in the
last two weeks of the season I ran two 10km's and 5km with the last two races at altitude. The
shit food and piss probably wasn't the best for me but at the same time I'm going into next weekend
with nothing to lose and very excited. Not so excited about how hot it is in Austin but not racing
until 8.45pm so shouldn't be too bad. Not sure what the goal is going to be. I only ran one 5k
during the season but believe I was in shape to get close to 14:00 so am not intimidated by those
guys. I'm just going to get stuck in and give it everything.
So yeah, pleasant surprise today. Not often your season ends and then starts back up again part
way through your break!!
Good luck to all the other kiwis competing at both the Qualifiers. Going down the list from the West
haven't spotted any other kiwi names but a few aussies - seems the NZ'ers are all out East!!
d-wal
days I thought my season was done and haven't run a step, but today I got the news that
my 14.11 was good enough for the National Qualifying meet in Texas which are the
prelims for Nationals that are now going to be straight finals in Eugene.
After Oregon we had accepted that I wasn't going to get in to the meet as my 10k was shit
and I was ranked like 70th in the 5k with only 48 going to the National Qualifier. With that
in mind we went into Conference just wanting to run hard and hopefully get a medal. I
ran as hard as I could but didn't have the legs in the last 8 laps and ended up 4th in the 10k.
I really think the 10k only 2 weeks before was still in the system but it was my first one so
was a bit of a learning curve before and after the race. The next day I ran the 5k which was
one of the hardest things I have done. Was very shattered after the 10k but wanted to try
and get some points for the team. The race went out pretty fast as there was a lot of fresh guys
in it - I ran 2.55 for the 1st km and was out the back picking up t-shirts. Got pretty rough but
rallied in the last km to be 10th. 2 spots out of scoring but it was a solid effort. Was a very hot
New Mexico day at altitude.
We really thought there would be no chance I'd make it to the NCAA Qualifier, especially not
in the 5 but out of the blue it happened. Some might wonder why I just didn't keep training just
in case but I ended up being 76th on the list, with 48th being 14:00. It is also the first year of this
system so we couldn't look back and say "well, 14.10 made it last year on the list so lets keep it
going just in case". The 5k was without doubt the deepest event in the West, and it seems like
a lot of the guys seem to think their best shot is in the 10, although there are still 26 guys at
14:00 faster. The 10 is pretty stacked too but looks the the 5 and 15 are the deepest events.
So today I threw the trainers on and rolled out for a easy 50'. Was anything but easy but it won't
take long to get back into it. The break will probably end up being pretty good for me as in the
last two weeks of the season I ran two 10km's and 5km with the last two races at altitude. The
shit food and piss probably wasn't the best for me but at the same time I'm going into next weekend
with nothing to lose and very excited. Not so excited about how hot it is in Austin but not racing
until 8.45pm so shouldn't be too bad. Not sure what the goal is going to be. I only ran one 5k
during the season but believe I was in shape to get close to 14:00 so am not intimidated by those
guys. I'm just going to get stuck in and give it everything.
So yeah, pleasant surprise today. Not often your season ends and then starts back up again part
way through your break!!
Good luck to all the other kiwis competing at both the Qualifiers. Going down the list from the West
haven't spotted any other kiwi names but a few aussies - seems the NZ'ers are all out East!!
d-wal