WOW! This race was.... incredible but bittersweet. I ran 2 shake out in the morning and didn't race until evening. I ran 2 warm up, got my drills and strides in. I couldn't believe I was at Nationals and running against the top girls. I was the only West Coast girl in the race. I was really nervous to be running with a lot of girls who are just as fast as I am. When the gun went off, I immediately thought "rail" and dropped into lane one close to the rail. First lap went by fast and ending the second lap I began to feel pain and realized my two "freebie" laps were over and it was time to work. The third lap, the lead girl began to gap the group. At the beginning of the fourth lap, there were three girls who moved away from the group and were gapping. I realized I was in ninth place and needed to move. At the 200 I moved out and surged to the front. On the straightaway, I closed up the front girls and we were all back in one tight group. Our mile was 5:07. The fifth lap I was running on the outside of the group and trying to keep contact with the front girl. Beginning the sixth lap I felt like we slowed, or I was ready to surge. I hesitated for a second then got gutsy and surged. As I began to move up, a girl from behind was moving at the same time. I took the inside lead and matched her stride. We surged together until the end of the lap and the group came with us. With 800 to go I didn't feel too horrible and was running scared. Every time I moved, the group matched and came with. At the 500 I thought to begin kicking and pick it up. At the 300, the girl next to me passed me and took the lead. It was deja vu of state and I decided not to let it happen again. At the 200 I kicked harder, and at the curve I swung and passed her. I dropped back into the rail and was only thinking of the girl I just passed and didn't know the next girl was so close. About 30 meters from the finish, the next girl came past me and before I knew it, it was over. I was second, by .73 of a second. After the race I felt really good. I had serious runners high and lots of adrenaline that didn't stop until 2 A.M. I was elated I was second at nationals, I got to lead a national race. But I got second, by so little. It leaves a sore spot and some lingering regret, especially now as I look back. I think this was probably my best race and as a true runner I say it was fun! It was a different experience to be back in pack running. I wasn't worried about crashing, pushing by myself, watching the clock tick. I was thinking when to move, where I should be and watching how the girls were running. It was such an amazing experience and really a fun race. Ran 4 cool down and took an ice bath. | 