I knew a week b4 Nationals that my proud record of 5 golds in 5 4x800m relays{ Charlotte 06,Orono 07,Spokane 08,Sacramento 10 and Berea 11}would not be added to in Lisle 12.
Originally on paper we had the makings of a kick arse 4x800m myself,Nick,Charlie and A N Other......but fate has a funny way of sticking it's nose in,Nick and Charlie opted to go Ad Hoc along w/ Scott Weeks and Lance Elliot to take a crack at the M40 American Record,which doubles as the World Record.
Not to worry we still had a decent 4x800m team,me, Rob,John and Mark....strike two,Mark Carver pulled out a week b4 w/ an injury leaving us w/ only 3 available 4x800m runners....but w/ Bill Yelverton available a 4x400m was doable.
I haven't ran a 4x400m since Millrose last year and frankly having moved up to 5,000m trying to get 400m speed was about as much fun as root canel,I hadn't planned to resume 4x400m racing till I turned 50 but frankly I'd rather run 4x400m than no relay at all......
For a third and almost final act of defiance Rob Schwartz pulled a hammy on Friday in the 400m and was out of the relay and we were up shits creek w/out a paddle or a 4th runner.....enter Nick
Very graciously Nick offerd his services after the Ad Hoc 4x800m to run a leg on the club 4x400m so we could run....there is no I in team!!!
Drawn in lane 6 w/ all 8 lanes filled we knew ahead of time a medal wasn't a lock,due to the make up of our team we had to run in the M30-39 race which had 4 teams,ourselves,So Cal,TNT and Nubian Striders,throw in the universal 4x400m powehouse Southwest Sprinters it was clear we'd have to earn our medal.
Thanks to a strong leadoff leg from Bill we were 3rd at the first handoff,running second was a new experience for me as I've ran all my previous 4x400s at either 3rd or 4th so the three turn stagger was new to me and meant I needed to stay in my lane till the top of the back straight.
Third at the hand off, I was relegated to 4th by 200m as TNT's second leg went by me,I had no idea where 5th place was but I wasn't planning on looking around to find out just get to the exchange zone and hand off to Nick.
Managed a respectable 61.1 split more or less what I ran at Ichan on June 12th,not bad after two 800m races and a 1,500m in four days.
Nick and John took care of business to bring the baton around safely and bring us home in 4th overall in 3.56.5. but good enough for bronze behind Nubian Striders and TNT in the M30-39 age group and give me a 3rd bronze at Nationals alltime and bring the curtain down not only on Nationals but also the outdoor track season{I do still have the Greater Philadelphia Track Pentathlon next Sunday but that's a multi event not a single race}
Not a bad weekends work if I say so myself,thanks to Bill for stepping in to the brink and giving us a chance to run 4x400m,ditto for Nick for going beyond the call of duty,to Rob for taking care of all the paperwork and for John anchoring us.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Dying By The Sword At Nationals.....Again!!!
I can still recall my first Masters Nationals in Charlotte in 06,sitting in the stands on Sunday morning watching the 1,500m finals,I knew then the following year I wanted to be out there running the metric mile and sure enough in Orono I finished 3rd overall by won the silver as the 2nd place runner was a non US citizen.
A year later in Spokane I won my first major 1,500m race,in high school I was runner up in 78/79 in my junior and senior years.
In Sacramento I won another silver but had to watch from the sidelines last summer in Berea as my anemia forced me to run 5,000m/10,000m at Nationals,that seems like a lifetime ago now.
Coming into Sundays final I had a seasons best 4.21.2 set three weeks ago in Oregon,it earnt me the #5 seed but I knew I could go faster if need be like I did in the 800m on Saturday,could I get on the podium?
On paper it came down to a head to head between the gold and silver medalists from Thursdays 5,000m Andrew Duncan and Francis Burdett and Saturdays 800m Landen Summey and me,add Daniel Monteau w/ the second fastest seed time 4.14. and there was the battle for the bling.
My feeling was Andrew Duncan was the pre race favourite and Daniel Monteau would go w/ him,if I could tuck in behind them and hang on for the ride I could be ok.
From the gun I tucked in behind them and went through the opening 300m in 52 seconds and the opening 400m in 70 seconds,it was all going to plan.......
Cue Francis Burdett and then Landen Summay relegating me to 5th by the 500m mark,this was not the time to panic.
2.05 at 700m and 2.22 at 800m a 70/72 split it was going to,plan split wise.
Technically I lost the race at the bell,I should,ve sat back in 5th as we went through 1,100m in 3.15 and maybe if I was in 4th I would've but 5th was 2 spots off the podium and it's possible I paniced.
I blew by Landen and Francis to reclaim 3rd,heard 3.30 at 1,200m for a 70,72,70 set of splits and began setting my sights on Andrew and Daniel.
W/ 200m to go I was already running flat out where as if I'd bided my time and kicked now I could've really made a splash.
w/ 110m to go Landen Summay blew by me and I had nothing to come back at him w/ but while his momentum nullified me it also carried him past Daniel Monteau who now began to unravel infront of me up the home straight.
I truly believe if I had another 10 meters I'd have caught Monteau for the bronze and I have the data to back that up,the difference between third and fourth was 6 100ths of a second,4.18.0-4.18.6,yes it was that close!
To have lowered my seasons best by 3 seconds is pleasing but to have missed out on a medal is gaulling,I pride myself on my kick finish but what I need to work on is when to kick for the third time since Spokane 08 I kicked too soon,this was the first time over 1,500m and I need to work on that.
There are those who say"you learn nothing from a loss"I think that's bollocks what I learnt on Sunday was have faith in my finishing kick and not to unleash it too soon,I relish the next 1,500m race whenever it is,trust me this defeat will motivate me long after the season is over.....
A year later in Spokane I won my first major 1,500m race,in high school I was runner up in 78/79 in my junior and senior years.
In Sacramento I won another silver but had to watch from the sidelines last summer in Berea as my anemia forced me to run 5,000m/10,000m at Nationals,that seems like a lifetime ago now.
Coming into Sundays final I had a seasons best 4.21.2 set three weeks ago in Oregon,it earnt me the #5 seed but I knew I could go faster if need be like I did in the 800m on Saturday,could I get on the podium?
On paper it came down to a head to head between the gold and silver medalists from Thursdays 5,000m Andrew Duncan and Francis Burdett and Saturdays 800m Landen Summey and me,add Daniel Monteau w/ the second fastest seed time 4.14. and there was the battle for the bling.
My feeling was Andrew Duncan was the pre race favourite and Daniel Monteau would go w/ him,if I could tuck in behind them and hang on for the ride I could be ok.
From the gun I tucked in behind them and went through the opening 300m in 52 seconds and the opening 400m in 70 seconds,it was all going to plan.......
Cue Francis Burdett and then Landen Summay relegating me to 5th by the 500m mark,this was not the time to panic.
2.05 at 700m and 2.22 at 800m a 70/72 split it was going to,plan split wise.
Technically I lost the race at the bell,I should,ve sat back in 5th as we went through 1,100m in 3.15 and maybe if I was in 4th I would've but 5th was 2 spots off the podium and it's possible I paniced.
I blew by Landen and Francis to reclaim 3rd,heard 3.30 at 1,200m for a 70,72,70 set of splits and began setting my sights on Andrew and Daniel.
W/ 200m to go I was already running flat out where as if I'd bided my time and kicked now I could've really made a splash.
w/ 110m to go Landen Summay blew by me and I had nothing to come back at him w/ but while his momentum nullified me it also carried him past Daniel Monteau who now began to unravel infront of me up the home straight.
I truly believe if I had another 10 meters I'd have caught Monteau for the bronze and I have the data to back that up,the difference between third and fourth was 6 100ths of a second,4.18.0-4.18.6,yes it was that close!
To have lowered my seasons best by 3 seconds is pleasing but to have missed out on a medal is gaulling,I pride myself on my kick finish but what I need to work on is when to kick for the third time since Spokane 08 I kicked too soon,this was the first time over 1,500m and I need to work on that.
There are those who say"you learn nothing from a loss"I think that's bollocks what I learnt on Sunday was have faith in my finishing kick and not to unleash it too soon,I relish the next 1,500m race whenever it is,trust me this defeat will motivate me long after the season is over.....
Monday, August 6, 2012
The Return Of The {S}loane Ranger
It felt weird last year in Berea not to be running the 800m at Nationals,my first time not duking it out over 2 laps at Nationals and truth be told not only did I not think I'd not be running 800m this season,I didn't forsee 800s in my future period....then came a spectacular "crash and burn" in the 3,000m at Indoor Nationals which meant a serious rethink.
The simple truth is 800m has been my best event since the summer of 76 in my freshman year in high school,it just took me 36 years to realize that I'm a natural 800m runner....what can I say I'm a slow learner.....but not a slow 800m runner!!
Having easily advanced to Saturdays final w/ a comfortable 2.11.3. I was ready to throw down,w/ the 5th fastest seed time I knew I had to run above what I'd been running all season,the good news for me was I believed 6x600m repeats 14 weeks out of 16 since training for Outdoor Nationals begun had prepared me to do just that.
Once again I found the lane assignment a little cockeyed,my "reward" for winning my heat was lane 2 w/ heat one winner Landen Summay inside me in lane 1,I'd like to see Nationals adopt the Olympic/World C'ships policy of rewarding heat winners w/ middle lanes,Landen would've had lane 4 w/ me in lane 5.....I doubt we'll ever see that happen....but you never know.
From the gun the defending M45 champ Landen Summay quickly made up the stagger and took the lead,I knew his 2.03 seed time was not only "as advertised" but also a tad too rich for my blood as we broke from our lanes at the top of the back straight Michael Scholtz from lane 3 and William Mason from lane 5 got ahead of me to put me 4th but off the podium as we made our way to the 200m mark.
I didn't catch my split as I was more concerned w/ the distance between Michael in 2nd and William in 3rd but coming up the home straight I moved off the rail to the outside of lane 1 to set myself up to make my move.
61 at the bell which has been my bench mark all summer I overtook William to claim bronze at least and while I had said at my last meet in NYC on Aug 24th I'd willingly take a pair of bronzes in both the 800m and 1,500m I wasn't willing to just settle and continued my persuit of indoor runner up Michael Scholtz.
I did hear 1.31 at 600m which meant I was holding pretty much 30/31 second 200 splits which is not too shabby if I say so myself,rounding the turn for home I knew a third silver at 800m was mine for taking and to add icing on the cake my time of 2.06.1. was a seasons best by 2 seconds but also my fastest time since Feb of last year indoors at The Armory 18 months ago.
I'm thrilled w/ the silver and my time it's the culmination of four months of blood sweat,blisters but no tears, though there were days of sheer frustration on the track and getting to the races.
To put things in prespective on May 14th I ran flat out at a college meet at Swarthmore but could only muster a 2.11.7. and wound up DFL....Dead Fucking Last!!,fast forward 12 weeks and a lot of hard work and no shortage of self belief to a 2.06.1. a seasons best and a third silver at Nationals since 08,Seb Coe knew a little something about finishing 2nd in major 800m finals.....time to crack open my Steve Ovett biographies and read what it takes to win an Olympic 800m final and ready myself for next season!!!
The simple truth is 800m has been my best event since the summer of 76 in my freshman year in high school,it just took me 36 years to realize that I'm a natural 800m runner....what can I say I'm a slow learner.....but not a slow 800m runner!!
Having easily advanced to Saturdays final w/ a comfortable 2.11.3. I was ready to throw down,w/ the 5th fastest seed time I knew I had to run above what I'd been running all season,the good news for me was I believed 6x600m repeats 14 weeks out of 16 since training for Outdoor Nationals begun had prepared me to do just that.
Once again I found the lane assignment a little cockeyed,my "reward" for winning my heat was lane 2 w/ heat one winner Landen Summay inside me in lane 1,I'd like to see Nationals adopt the Olympic/World C'ships policy of rewarding heat winners w/ middle lanes,Landen would've had lane 4 w/ me in lane 5.....I doubt we'll ever see that happen....but you never know.
From the gun the defending M45 champ Landen Summay quickly made up the stagger and took the lead,I knew his 2.03 seed time was not only "as advertised" but also a tad too rich for my blood as we broke from our lanes at the top of the back straight Michael Scholtz from lane 3 and William Mason from lane 5 got ahead of me to put me 4th but off the podium as we made our way to the 200m mark.
I didn't catch my split as I was more concerned w/ the distance between Michael in 2nd and William in 3rd but coming up the home straight I moved off the rail to the outside of lane 1 to set myself up to make my move.
61 at the bell which has been my bench mark all summer I overtook William to claim bronze at least and while I had said at my last meet in NYC on Aug 24th I'd willingly take a pair of bronzes in both the 800m and 1,500m I wasn't willing to just settle and continued my persuit of indoor runner up Michael Scholtz.
I did hear 1.31 at 600m which meant I was holding pretty much 30/31 second 200 splits which is not too shabby if I say so myself,rounding the turn for home I knew a third silver at 800m was mine for taking and to add icing on the cake my time of 2.06.1. was a seasons best by 2 seconds but also my fastest time since Feb of last year indoors at The Armory 18 months ago.
I'm thrilled w/ the silver and my time it's the culmination of four months of blood sweat,blisters but no tears, though there were days of sheer frustration on the track and getting to the races.
To put things in prespective on May 14th I ran flat out at a college meet at Swarthmore but could only muster a 2.11.7. and wound up DFL....Dead Fucking Last!!,fast forward 12 weeks and a lot of hard work and no shortage of self belief to a 2.06.1. a seasons best and a third silver at Nationals since 08,Seb Coe knew a little something about finishing 2nd in major 800m finals.....time to crack open my Steve Ovett biographies and read what it takes to win an Olympic 800m final and ready myself for next season!!!
A New Sensation
Masters Nationals 4x400M Club Relay
3/4
3.56.8
Nice shiney bronze to end the weekend
More details to follow
3/4
3.56.8
Nice shiney bronze to end the weekend
More details to follow
Seasons Best,But Not Good Enough To Get On The Podium
Masters Nationals 1,500M M45 Final
4/17
4.18.6{seasons best}
More details to follow
4/17
4.18.6{seasons best}
More details to follow
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Gold For Ennis,Gold For Farah,Silver For Forde
Masters Nationals M45 800M Final
2/8
2.06.1.{seasons best}
61/65
Full account to follow
2/8
2.06.1.{seasons best}
61/65
Full account to follow
Friday, August 3, 2012
Advancing To The Final
800M Prelim
Heat 2
1/8
2.11.3
65/66
No repeat of the 06 Charlotte 800M prelim drama as I eased my way into Saturdays final.
Only the top 2 from each semi final were automatically into the 8 man final w/ the 4 fastest losers and after watching the opening semi produce a top four of 2.06-2.08 I knew I had to make sure of a top 2 finish to be sure of advancing.
No worries,eased to the front of the field as we broke at the top of the back straight after running the opening 100M in lanes{drawn in lane 2} and controlled the race from there.
Reached the bell in a comfortable 65 seconds w/ a decent size lead,began to ease off w/ 250m to go and shut it down w/ 100m to go.
Job done I'm into the final, based on the opening semi it'll be a lively race,I said b4 leaving Philly I may have to produce a seasons best just to make the podium.....the good news is I know over the last 16 weeks I've trained to do just that......
Heat 2
1/8
2.11.3
65/66
No repeat of the 06 Charlotte 800M prelim drama as I eased my way into Saturdays final.
Only the top 2 from each semi final were automatically into the 8 man final w/ the 4 fastest losers and after watching the opening semi produce a top four of 2.06-2.08 I knew I had to make sure of a top 2 finish to be sure of advancing.
No worries,eased to the front of the field as we broke at the top of the back straight after running the opening 100M in lanes{drawn in lane 2} and controlled the race from there.
Reached the bell in a comfortable 65 seconds w/ a decent size lead,began to ease off w/ 250m to go and shut it down w/ 100m to go.
Job done I'm into the final, based on the opening semi it'll be a lively race,I said b4 leaving Philly I may have to produce a seasons best just to make the podium.....the good news is I know over the last 16 weeks I've trained to do just that......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
