Welcome Back Track!

Middle Distance Runner- Sea Wolf

No, I have not decided to be a middle distance runner. However, the song is catchy and I did run a middle distance length race for my first race on the track since I graduated from Eastern.  For those keeping score; the last race was the NCAA West Preliminary round at Austin, Texas.  That was May 27, 2010. 604 days passed between the time I ran a struggle-fest in Austin and when I decided to return to the track here at the University of Minnesota.  

Now there is a reason for this gap in time.  My last track season was to say the least a disaster.  I don't put blame on anyone but myself.  (Well, I blame the ice patch that I slipped on that led to me twisting my knee while landing on it that caused a bone bruise, but that is another story.)  It was tough when you know what kind of shape you are in and that you are ready to run great on the track. Instead, you sit out the better part of winter training stuck on an elliptical or bike. (Jordan Curnutt, I love you for staying by my side during those times and being my cross training workout buddy). After this demoralizing season I decided that I wanted to road race. I wanted nothing to do with track. It always seemed to be the figurative death of me. 

For some reason I decided that going straight to the marathon was a genius idea (ok I never said I was the worlds most intelligent person). It turns out, my love for the marathon is quite the same as the track. So what does one do? He goes back to the track.  Which is exactly what I did this past weekend.  A couple of weeks ago I was looking to start my track campaign off with an indoor track meet. I always enjoyed running the mile  during the indoor season so I decided to open with one at UM. When I called the coach I didn't know what shape I was in. It is tough when you have only done three solo workouts.  You don't want to overestimate yourself and then get killed during the race, but at the same time you don't want to be racing against kids who should probably find a different event, something like say bench warming.   Well after talking with the coach we decided to put my seed time down for 4:15 and see where that got me. The next day checking out the heat sheets I found out I was in heat 2.  At first I was annoyed. I knew I was faster. Or did I think I was faster? After talking it over with a good friend of mine I decided to stay in heat 2 as it would be a good rust shaker after so much time off the track.

I felt confident going into the race. Something that has not been a typical feeling prior to races lately.  This was something I was actually excited to do. I decided that I would try and get out mid pack and see how the first lap or two played out.  This plan, like many, did not seem to work.  Right off the gun I was cut off and forced to run off the back of the pack.  I figured this would be fine as long as we went through in a respectable time. We went through the first lap (200 meter track) in :31. This was fine, but this is when things started to become a problem for me.  Guys in front of me couldn't decide if they were running a race or trying to high five each other in excitement.  It felt choppy, stop and go.  I couldn't take it.  I have always preferred a steady pace and not a choppy one.  This was too much.  As we passed through the second lap (400 m) I hit :63.  This was still respectable, but I needed to get out of the mess that was in front of me.  I tried to pass, but got nudged out of the way.  Ok, I thought, I will make another move here in a second.  Well, as I tried again, I got nudged...again.  I was getting irritated at this point. I couldn't find a comfortable pace because guys in front of me kept slowing down, but I couldn't get around because each time I tried I would get either cut off or pushed.  Finally, I reached my boiling point.  I gave the kid who had cut me off three successive times a nice back rub, ok it was a good push, but you get the picture.  As I tried to go around again with roughly 500 meters to go he once again got in my way.  I decided that the friendly thing to do was tell him something along the lines of "struck off" although I used a different word then struck.  It rhymes with it and is four letters. Yes, I said that in the race. After this he seemed to get the drift that I was pissed and I finally got around him. This was a little late in the game though as there was little over 300 meters to go now.  I tried to make a move on the leaders but I was just too far back.  I finished in a time of 4 minutes and 20 seconds.  It was not a time I was exactly excited about, but I had positives from the race. 

I have, as previously stated, only ran three workouts. None were track workouts.  I finished my race put my hands on my knees for about two deep breaths and then walked off the track.  I was not tired, and not quite fatigued.  I knew if I didn't have to spend over half the race waiting for a black hole to devour the kid in front of me, I might have ran stronger.  But, this is racing, and to be honest, I forgot how to race on the track.  It was a learning experience and I am ready for my next race.  The next one will be better.  I will be more aggressive off the start and put my hold on the race.  In roughly 3 weeks time I will take another stab at the mile.  Hopefully I will have a more enjoyable race to tell you about.