I thought I would be disqualified

Sun, 2/5/17

3M recovery run in 21:50.

Sat, 2/4/17-

What a Hot Mess!

I competed at the Frank Colden Invitational at Ursinus.  I arrived at about 2:00 for my events, which were scheduled for around 3:30 and 4:30.

I check in with cash in hand and declared my intention to run both the 800 and 200.  I got in a great warmup.  I even had time to roll using the ball and the stick!

During the women's 800, I learned that my name hadn't been listed on the 200 meter roster.  I had either missed check in, which could've taken place during my warmup, or someone had goofed.  Whichever the case, I needed to correct the matter.  I went to the registration table to state my case.  After five minutes of waiting, I was placed into heat 11, lane 1 for the 200.

Having resolved this matter, I needed to spike up and run a few strides since the men's 800 meters was fast approaching.  I was in heat 3 (of 4), lane 12 (of 15).

At the start, four guys were placed "up;" the rest of us were on the back line.  My plan was to run 30.5, 31.5 (62), 32.5, and 33.5 (66) for a 2:08.  The gun went off, and I was knocked around like crazy!  I nearly wiped out!  On the backstretch, I found myself in lane 2 trying to make up ground and cut into lane 1.  When I tried to cut in I got pushed front behind.  I surged a bit coming into the homestretch and was able to cut in.  The time was 30/31.  I got passed and then boxed in.  I started using my elbows and experience to push some of those youngsters aside.  I clipped the back of someone's spikes.  All of this and we weren't yet the 400 meter mark.  I was getting frustrated as I hit 62/63 at the 400 meter mark.  I told myself that I was still on pace to hit 2:08.  That's when I got stuck.  I wanted to say out loud "MOVE."  I pushed through the inside and tried to pick up the pace.  I saw 1:35/1:36 at the 600 meter mark.  I needed a 32/33 last 200.  A repeat of the third lap and then some, the last lap sucked.  I thought I would be disqualified as I nearly pushed a kid out of the way as he died in front of me!  And there it was 2:11.59.  Yuck!

I walked away miffed.  I readied myself for the 200.  Eventually, I'd chat it up with a couple of Swarthmore men.  (I had introduced myself to another student while waiting for the 800.  He was in my heat, in fact.)  There were four in our heat, 11, and I had lane 1.  Blah!  Better than lane 6, I thought.  Boy was I wrong.  Whether tired, heavy legs did me in or lane 1, I didn't expect to be so flat and run so modestly.  My 26.00 was a disappointment and reminder that I will be doing speed work this week on Tuesday and Thursday.  If I am to run in the 54-second range, I need to run some sub-20 150s.