Hitting My Stride

A little over two weeks ago I competed at the Occidental Invite in Eagle Rock (Los Angeles Area). The Occidental meets are always well run and fantastic races with good competition. It was my first race on the track in over a year and I had all the self-doubts and butterflies that come with that.

Workouts had been going well, almost better than I expected given the amount of pain I had been in just a few weeks ago. However, there were things that were difficult to do and my body was still playing catch.

Keeping an extremely open mind - thanks to Coach Paul and Natasha - I headed into the race clear minded and focused on getting myself ready to compete. It was a huge boost to have lots of familiar faces around too. A good contingent of athletes from UCLA were there to compete and Forest Braden (the Boise Bruiser), mentor and friend, was also there to coach and compete. I enjoyed catching up and taking in the atmosphere of a meet again.

I wasn't only there to compete however. Natasha was also there to throw down in her first 1500 in ages. So I had to bring both my competitor and cheer hats. Natasha competed brilliantly and was rewarded with a new personal best! Very exciting!

I was next. I warmed up, performed my drills, and took all the strides I needed. Stepping to the line just before the gun I quickly remembered all the times I thought running might be impossible. "Just run" I said. Bang, the gun went off and before I knew it it was over. I won't ever remember this race for how fast I ran - slow in comparison to what I've accomplished before - but it will mark another milestone in my personal climb to find out how good I can become with a little hard work and a lot of determination.

I'm happy to say I'll have more racing opportunities heading into the summer - so look out for me! I have some confidence and I'm hitting my stride at a good time!

Track? What is that?

I'm really looking forward to racing on the track again this weekend. Fortunately I'm able to take advantage of the tail end of the collegiate racing season and enter an open meet at Occidental College. Although I raced it sparingly in college my favorite event remains the 1500. How can it not? Compared to all the laps in a 10k it's over before it starts!

Since I have been testing out how my back responds to training again I have purposely avoided setting any sort of expectations on what I could/should accomplish. Everything has been taken one step at a time with blinders on. If I don't look forward into the future and project where I want to be I can avoid being disappointed if I haven't met a self-imposed standard.

I'm not shirking away from hard work or limiting my ability to reach a new level of fitness. If I maintain a positive attitude and take each day one at a time then I will find over time that I have dozens upon dozens of days strung together with positive work and steady training.

And isn't that a distance runner's manifesto? We champion our sport as always giving back what you put into it. I may not be at the top of my game today or tomorrow, but after hundreds of positive and resilient days of training I will be.

So, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, stay positive. Be patient and take each day one at a time, they add up. Finally, persevere through the small (or big) ups and downs that will undoubtedly cross your path - find solace in the fact you will answer the challenge, when many would not.

To the track! It's back!