KVAC

so yesterday for me was a BLAST! approaching the meet i wasn't sure if i was ready or not because i felt a bit tired and like I couldn't get my legs moving. I had decided to go out fast, the course bottlenecks pretty quickly and so you'll get boxed in otherwise. For some reason I felt like treating today like a USATF meet and not any of the others, which I now realize is a mistake. However I saw the girls start and the adrenaline starting pumping. The girls had a bit of a rocky start thanks to a bad command to the starter, but everyone got off okay. Watching Kate get first REALLY got me pumped. As we approached the starting line to do strides I mentioned to Jake, Nick, and Colin "I'm going out fast, I hope your with me" Jake had already sad that by the first mile we would the four of us be packing, but I wasn't completely positive about this, because usually the races start, i'm 4th for the team and I try to get people to rope onto me as I pass them.

So we did some strides, and on our final one we all circled close and did our chant. It was really nice to finally be at the wiked important meets. So we are on the line ready, the starter gives the command. and BANG off goes the gun. I BOOK it. I was up with the front group for awhile, Liam Cassidy didn't pass me until about where the 200 mark from the finish was (this is very good for me.) I kept close to that group, but more importantly didn't get boxed in at all, so I knew I was running as well as I could. I just kind of went with the flow for the first mile, surging occasionally, and making sure to push up the hills. I reach the mile marker, slap my watch so it will save the time and hear Colin Swan yell out my time "5:20 andy!" this got me wicked pumped and I surged a bit harder. This race was definitely my best so far, and I was having lots of fun. I'll skip ahead cause most of this part is a blur except i remember getting a bit of a cramp and slowing down a bit. Going over the bridge right before the long grass hill is where 2 lewiston kids passed me. I pushed it as hard as I could up that hill, and from the top of that hill to the 2nd mile mark was definitely the hardest part of the course for me. I reached the 2nd mile mark and heard "11:19" From Dakota who was there. I didn't get it, how did I run a faster 2 mile here then at the relays last week? I didn't care, I knew I still had the hardest part of the course left, however it was also a nice downhill before then, so i just let myself go with it. Reaching the hill I pushed, I pushed and pushed it up the hill and felt like I was going to die a the top. But I didn't, and so I kept going, and made it around and back onto the grassy section. As I reached the back side of the grassy field i made a quick look at my watch and saw 16:44, no sub 18 for me today I thought to myself. Either way I started to pick up speed, and when i crested the tiny little hill i starting sprinting, I tried to focus on what coach had told me about keeping my head in line with my body, and that entire time was the clock clicking upwards with the time, and as i got close i saw 17:43 :44 :45 and I crossed the line! I couldn't believe it, I had PR'd on the hardest course we had raced on yet! it was a great race for me, even if the rest of the team only had good ones. They have good enough ones for us to get 4th overall beating Mt. Blue! and giving us a chance next week if everyone else has a good race!