One of the greatest running-related mood swings I’ve ever experienced was caused when I woke up and saw the heat sheets for the Mt SAC 1500m. Previously, I was in a deep dark funk about the fact that the Puma Mile was not being held this year. I had targeted this race as my race of the spring since last September. I bought my tickets in Feb and with each passing day grew more and more depressed as no news about the event surfaced at all. The final flicker of hope was snuffed out the previous day when Mt SAC updated it’s race schedule, silently but fatally removing “PUMA MILE” from the event list. Then the heat sheets were released, and surprise, surprise, I snuck into the 15th and final slot in the fast heat of the 1500m (I saw the entry list previously, recognized 12 names that I knew had run faster than me or just owned a more prominent name coughGermanFernandezcough). But suddenly I was giddy again. The trip was on.

Most of the week going into the meet was devoted to visualizing  the race. I ended up nailing it in my head, predicting the race would only start when the rabbits dropped, with 5-6 breaking away to compete for 3:35 leaving the pack to struggle for a sub 3:40. Of course, in my head I had me nipping the pack at the line for 3:39.99. Ha!

Like I said, the race unfolded almost exactly as I imagined. However, predictably, my legs weren’t as powerful as I envisioned. Here’s how it went down:

35min prior to race started the 1.5 mile easy warmup. Leg swings, good hydration, 1-2 quick strides on the track with spikes. (OK crazy tangent I have to mention. I swear I just got a little flush of adrenaline and I’m freakin writing this at freaking 8AM…)

1000+ in the crowd which is one of the largest I’ve raced for. Toeing the line I can definitively say I was ready.

Gun went off and I set off at my own pace. 50m in I was dead center of the pack and furthest out (lane 4) so I had to choose to push up or fall back. Out of respect and according to gameplan I eased back and onto the rail (I love the 1500m start! So much time til the curve).

first 2 laps were very comfortable, ultimately I would like to go a half second faster per lap but you can’t do better than my position so no complaints. And we stayed in touch through 900 (800 split was roughly 1:59).

And then the race was on. It took a few seconds for the pace change to get back to me but it definitely picked up into the 56 range over the next 200m and I just stayed in line.

That 900-1300m lap was definitely my fastest, I believe I was close to 56 but “kicking” from that far out snuffed my ability to really get onto my toes (that’s a laughable statement. I never make it onto my toes… yet). If I could have, and been able to will myself 1.3seconds faster I would have been 4th with a 3:39 but it just wasn’t quite there. Final time – 3:41.14

I’m only disappointed in that it was a missed opportunity to do something noticeable  on the national scale but I had a great race and that time will come. The positives are everywhere, my first 800 can be at least a second faster, my kick will develop, and my confidence will only improve with time. It was a great experience, and I can run with these guys.

I also don’t ever feel like I’ve run a time until I run it twice. I am now a 2 time 3:41/3:59 guy and I’m ready to start targeting that next group.

Oh, additional fun fact — I averaged sub-59 pace!

Final comment — As always, the Williams support means a lot. Incredibly comforting and inspiring to see the emails and thoughts. Pumped for this summer!

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