It’s been a little over a week since USA champs. I am finally done decompressing from one of the most exhausting weeks of the year and ready to dive into how the championship went. Let’s get into it with some race recaps first.

The Prelim

We found out two days before that I was in the third heat. Top 3 in each heat automatically qualify, and then the next 3 fastest times of all three heats combined get through to the final. This means that the third heat has the biggest advantage in terms of getting 6 guys through because we know exactly how fast the previous two heats are run. However, this doesn’t mean that the third heat ALWAYS sends 6 guys through to the final. Most years It feels like the third heat isn’t usually the fastest. I felt pretty calm seeing my heat. There were some heavy top end hitters in all three heats but overall they seemed pretty even. The first heat ended up being the quick race of the day, with Yared Nguse and Joe Waskom dominating that section. The second heat was the slog fest of the day. Watching from the side tunnel of Hayward Field, our prelim saw a 64 second first 400 and knew that the second heat was only sending top 3 though. Finally, it was my turn to take the track. I was really nervous. For anyone who has run prelims, you know the pressure is on. And almost every year, there are a few heartbreaking stories of the top athletes who don’t get through. I really didn’t want to be one of those athletes.

We all lined up for the prelim and went through introductions. The first thing I noticed was that there was a little bit of a breeze in Hayward. I had floated the idea of leading if the first two races were slow, to make sure our heat got 6 guys through. On the starting line, I abandoned that idea and told myself to be in good position to make top 3 with 300m to go. That’s it. We got out on the slower side of things. I think we were right around 1:00 and then 2:00 through 800m, so nothing crazy. I started to get a little boxed with 600m to go, and found myself on the rail but with not a ton of daylight or room to run. It felt claustrophobic, which sometimes is a good motivator to get out and run free. We all really started to move with 300m to go and I found myself chasing the front runner, Henry Wynne with 150/200 to go. With about 90m to go I looked to my right and saw Cole Hocker and Cooper Teare on my shoulder. Not exactly the two runners you want to be kicking with for a last spot into the final! They both surged past me, but I kept distance with them for 30m. MY arms were swinging, and I was trying to maintain form knowing I was currently in 4th. Agonizingly, I was gaining ground on that group of 3 on the inside and I knew that there was still a fight left over the last 30m. I wasn’t thinking at this point, as you’re in completely adrenaline/fight mode. I snuck on the inside with a few steps left and gave it the best lean I could (see photo below.) I knew I made it in immediately but I hung around with Henry to check the clock and sure enough, Drew Hunter in second place popped up. What a relief. I was pumped. It’s never easy to make a US final these days and I think a part of me thought with 100m to go I would be one of the first athletes out. I had so many people come up to me afterwards and say “way to fight that last 50m.” That meant a lot.

I did an interview with Citius after the race, you can find that here.

The Final

We had a day to recover after the prelim. I had a tough night of sleep after the race as I was pretty hopped up on adrenaline and caffeine. I laid pretty low most of the day and got some treatment later on because the body was a bit stiff. I talked a bit with my dad about the plan for the final. We kept it pretty simple. If it’s slow be up towards the front of the race. IF it’s on the faster side of things put yourself in the middle of the race. I was pretty satisfied with that.

Race day morning was as usual. Had a later breakfast, played some cards with the team, and went for a 10 minute shakeout around 11:30. I always love race day shakeouts for later races. It’s a good chance to get rid of the unnecessary nerves, dream big, and get the body moving before the big dance. I told myself on this run that I was going to run to make the team tonight. Regardless of the result, I would be proud walking out of Hayward tonight. Quiet confidence.

Everything was going pretty smoothly. My back was a little stiff so I got some treatment before heading out to warmup. I warmed up in the cemetery right next to Hayward, which is where all the all time U of O greats have run throughout the years. They took us under Hayward for some last minute strides. I was feeling pretty calm and grateful. I wasn’t as nervous as I was for the prelim and I felt like I was as ready as anyone else in the field. I kept telling myself to focus on the race plan. They took us out and did intros and I said “I love you Ella” during my introduction. She obviously didn’t see this because they didn’t show me during the live broadcast but it helped calm me down at least! I said my usual last minute starting line reminders and then smiled as I do before every race, reminding myself that this is just running and that I love to compete. Off we went. I was in a great spot to start the race. I was in about 4-5th and right where I wanted to be. I thought the race would be fast so I figured this would be good spot to pick off people but not leave much work to catch up if I was further back. I unfortunately held this good position for about 300m and then the entire field started to box me in/go around me. I was definitely frustrated because I felt like I got off the line well and was in position to finish well. With about 600m to go I knew it was now or never so I started to go and the pack went too. At this point I knew I wasn’t in an ideal spot being further back and boxed in but I thought, get on the rail and see if a spot opens up and people start to come back. With 300 to go everyone was all out and at that point there seemed to be a breakaway of the leaders. I moved up two spots in the last 300m but was too far back and not in contention for top 3. I finished hard closing in 40 seconds for my last 300m. I was 8th. Not what we wanted.

If you want to watch the race, you can find that here.

Race Reflection

I think if you were to say a few months ago I would finish 8th in the US, I would look at that as a failure. Now I am sitting here about a week removed and although quite disappointed, I don’t look at it that way. I said in my last newsletter, I just wanted to run a race I didn’t regret— I believe I did that. Especially in the prelim, where I truly felt like I willed myself to fight for every inch in the last 100m. I do think I ran my best race in the prelim, which isn’t what you want but I also felt like I had to do that in order to make the final.

I need to figure out how I can make that next jump. Guys like Yared and Joe Waskom made me look silly the last lap! How can I get closer to them? I need to figure out how I can trust coach and trust the work I have put in. I need to do that for weeks and months going into these big races. I need to not finally believe I can make a team on the shakeout the morning of the race. I have to run like a veteran and not leave my best race of the championship in the prelim. The limiting factor in my running isn’t my training, it’s getting my mind right and believing that I can really do this. Most of the year, I felt like I was clawing back into good form. I am there physically; but I do think that sometimes I get on the line and don’t quite feel like I belong with all the other great runners. I’m not entirely sure how I properly manifest that authentic confidence. That is something I will have to work on over the next year so I am ready to make a team. It’s a non negotiable to compete at this level. If I leave that on the table, I won’t be proud of my career.

I had a good conversation with Brian after his steeplechase race. He asked me what he felt like he needed to do in order to be the best runner he can be. I told him that I thought he was doing everything right: he has trained like a beast this year and has made huge leaps in his mental game. The results for him this year weren’t at all bad, but neither him or I feel like we’re running at the ability we believe we’re capable of. The only thing I told him, and maybe this was me echoing advice for myself as well, was that he needed to be patient. He had a breakthrough last year and tried some different training this fall (running a half marathon) and has made some awesome leaps in practice. I think him and I both think that our best running hasn’t happened yet, despite doing everything we can to be our best. I trained like a 1500m runner for the first time ever starting this fall. IT was different than what I have done in the past and I feel like I am starting to figure it out, even if the results don’t show.

I am walking away from this weekend motivated. The rest of the Summer I have lots of fun races. The pressure is off— there are no teams to chase and no goals other than running fast and trying to win. WE have a huge year coming up for me and my team. There is a lot of transition going with our team and myself. We have new faces coming into the fold and other teammates leaving for various life reasons. This is uncharted territory for us—but it feels like we’re heading in the right direction. We have big goals for the Olympic Year and that process starts now. One of our largest struggles as a team this year has been finding that shared mission/purpose to why were out here competing and representing Tinman Elite. I miss that. A big goal of mine is to try and cultivate the culture of our “why” and help channel that into the Olympic Year. We all want to be on the starting line again with no doubt about why were doing this and who we’re running for. It was the fuel that propelled us to some of our best races and I think getting back to that would provide some vigor for myself and our team. You can’t fake culture…so it’s time to work on it. And that starts with myself!

I have a tentative race scheduled lined up for the rest of the Summer. I wanted to share that with all of you so you can come out and watch if you’re in the area for any of the races.

July 22nd - Sound Running 1500m (California)

August 4th - Ed Murphy Classic 1500m (Tennessee)

August 18th - Falmouth Mile (Massachusetts)

September 3rd - Padua 1500m (Italy)

September 4th - Bellinzona 1500m (Switzerland)

September 10th - 5th Avenue Mile (NYC)

Obviously there is lots to be excited about and share with all of you this Summer. I am excited for a little trip to Europe with the family and I will definitely be documenting that for all of you. Thanks for coming along.