Saturday, January 1, 2011

Millenium Mile

If anyone read my 2010 year end review, they would know I said I don't dwell on the negative. Well, I'm full of crap! I am dwelling on the negative. I ran like a jack ass today. I was really pumped and thought a 3:59 was possible. I based this assumption on the fact that my best friend,Elijah, ran 4:01 in 2001. He ran 4:19 on the track that year. However, when he ran that time he had only run 4:21 on the track at that point in the indoor season. I really thought I had a realistic shot. He went negative that year running 2:02/1:59. I ran 4:12 that year 2:08/2:04 also going negative. Of course the results say I ran 4:16, which is not true.
Well, after Elijah died of cancer in 2007, I vowed to myself that I would go back to the Millenium Mile, if I was ever in good shape, to try to crack 4:00 in his honor. This was the year. I ran 4:20.07 2 weeks ago at a BU mini meet, so I figured I had a realistic shot. Did I mention they screwed me in those results too?
The race really started yesterday when I made myself crazy with anticipation and I was so anxious that I layed in bed all day and didn't do a damn thing. I made myself feel like I was sick. Today I woke up feeling much better and my body felt great. It was on! Fyffe, Jess, and I drove to the race and arrived early. We got a good warm-up in and I still felt great. I was psyched and ready. I got up to the front of the race start and was set to run 3:59 or bust. Well, I busted. I went out too fast and hit the 800m around 1:57. I was already starting to struggle a bit. This was way too quick! I figured, it's downhill, I can't rig in a downhill race, right? Wrong! I hit the 1200m in around 3:00. I should have been licking my chops. 59 second 400m here I come! Instead I ate a lactic acid sandwich and rigged to a 4:11. I fell from 4th place to 6th place. I felt like dropping out with 200m to go. I almost walked across the line. That sucked! To add insult to injury, the results said I ran 4:13, I was 8th, 3rd in my age group, and they even added a year to my age, 34!! In reality I ran 4:11, was 6th, 1st in my age group(taking out Fyffe) and I'm "only" 33! Oh well. Maybe I could have run 4:02-4:03 if I ran smarter. I should have gone out in 2:02. You live and learn. There were a couple positives today. Fyffe ran an amazing 3:54 coming in 2nd. AWESOME!!! I did get a nice beer glass and hat. I did get a good workout in and it was fun despite my disappointment. Time to move on. I'm over it.

5 comments:

  1. You may not have to wait until 2012 to redeem yourself. If my calculations are right, the next MM should be on 12/31/11 ;) Good job going for it!

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  2. I agree with Glenn. Anyways, I dedicate my effort today to Elijah's sprit. He was there and is the original Keenyan.

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  3. There will be a summer MM in Manchester. Course should be just as fast. You'll do it.

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  4. Hey man, don't beat yourself up over this. You've had some great accomplishments in the last year. It's no big deal to stumble, it's how you pick yourself back up that matters. And you've already proven yourself to be someone who can dust himself off and get back on track. I'm sure Elijah got a little chuckle by your over excitement, but he'll have an even bigger smile when you make it. And you will.

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  5. Thanks everyone. Your comments mean a lot to me. I really am over it and am excited for the next race.

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