Season 2/3 is officially history - Time is racing.
The indoor track....admittedly, it was the past few years, especially there was a struggle. In America, I had my first contact with a track competition - and then right in the hall on a 200m track, which is also crooked. I still remember the first time I stood on the track like a scared rabbit, and the spiral took its course - I couldn't get out of it until two weeks ago. The race there is intense and also very physical.
How two weeks ago my competition weekend went, so now my very last indoor competition should be a success. :) I was pretty confident and felt like it.
Thursday 02/16/23
3 am - Good morning! The early time was just right for me; it was not that much different from my usual time of getting up.
4 am - Bus departure from Oxley to the airport in Fort Lauderdale.
6:30 am - Flight FLL to Atlanta
9 am - Van pick up - and dinner break.
10:30 AM - 2 1/2 van ride to Birmingham, Alabama.
12:30 PM - Arrival!
After some rest, we went for a run, and not much happened after that :)
Friday 02/17/2013
Rest day! We had a casual, short run in the morning, and the rest of the day was free. I did some work and brought the uni stuff up to speed.
Saturday 02/18/23
Race day 1 - The race day started at 3 pm with the short distance heats. My start was at 18:55- the 5,000m (finally something longer).
In the morning, I had a short run, and after that, I alternated between eating, working, sleeping, and eating. After a long day, it was finally time to warm up. I was the only one from our team who ran the 5,000m.
Twenty-three girls were at the start - and with a small 200m track, that's quite a lot. It was tight at the starting line. My tactic was simple: the same as two weeks ago, just run.
The starting shot was fired, and barely 10 seconds later, the 2nd shot - there was a fall—everything from the beginning. (I have never experienced something like that at a 5, haha).
The 2nd start was successful, even if it was still turbulent around. Twenty-five laps had to be done.
The race took its course; I was always active and awake. The pace was leisurely - slow....this tactics race is nerve-wracking. For the first 3 kilometers of the race, I was pushed even on the outside of lane 3. Chaos. Back and forth, there were some place changes to find a position - that already cost energy.
Finally, the move came from the first girls, and the pace picked up a bit - 2 athletes pulled away. My bet, I thought to myself - and my reaction followed (4 weeks ago, I could never have hoped for this). I had some distance but ran my pace lap after lap, with success: I got closer to 2nd place. I calculated several times if I had not miscounted and in which position I was. 400m before the finish, I overtook her and just hoped to keep the place.
Goal: 2nd place - silver - and a PR of 16:58min for the 5,000m.
I did it, a medal at Conference Champs!!! I didn't expect this. Purely physically, I could have done this performance four years ago; there's just more than "running." It is an absolute relief; I am so happy.
The time is okay, but not the best. I was hoping for a faster opening pace. Well, in Conference, the time is only secondary.
After my race, our DMR (distance medley relay) ran 3rd!!! Awesome.
After the run, we had dinner, and I went to bed very late. Thanks to the late caffeine tablet, my night was accordingly short ;)
Sunday 02/19/23
Race day 2 was the time for most distance girls to run the 3,000m. The starting signal was given at 2:20 pm.
Shortly before that, our Jess got the championship title in the 800m. I am so proud of her!!! Jess deserved that.
The 3,000m was split into three heats. I got to start in the 3rd and final heat because I am one of the top 12 times at a distance this season.
The starting gun went off, and it was much quieter in the field - which was nice. I found myself at the back of the pack in the first half but was able to fight my way up to 4th place. And fun fact: Admittedly, I was about to drift off, then only one song came into my head - well, then "Layla" was sung for a lap until I regained my composure. It worked - I could finish the race well even if my final speed were insufficient, and I finished in 5th place. - new PB 9:43 min.
Happy and satisfied!!!!
Monday 02/20/23
Our plane took off only at 22:30 - arrived at 01:30 Tuesday morning. In short: a long day.
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So, that was it now with my "Indoor Track - career,"; even if I slowly found the fun in it. I know how it goes now; a Meet would still be excellent....then is undoubtedly still some time to drop on all distances!!! I heard there are indoor meets in Germany too ;)
Anyway, I can go home from Birmingham with more than a smile. I am relieved, proud, and happy. Of course, the 2nd place is precious to me, but not everything. Also, the times are ok, but still not to my full capabilities.
What am I most proud of? The development that no one sees, that no one feels. The past few years have been corrosive, challenging, and frustrating. It was depressing to see me be a training champion and not perform in competitions - with destructive behavior at its finest.
What drove me was the thought that, eventually, it will click. Finally, I'll get the hang of it, and then I can run - then I can race - and then....I'll become a machine.
Maybe it was the car accident three weeks ago when I got hit. I guess I did get hit on the head, and it erased some stuff from my head. Haha
I'll take it - and hope I can keep building on it. Last weekend was another step in the right direction. There is room for improvement, but I will learn with each competition. I am hungry for more.
Thanks to all of you who have always believed in me, had patience and supported me daily.
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