Clay and Lisa Burnett

Type: RACE
Race: 1500m
Goal Pace: <4:12, Lisa <4:45
Actual Pace:

Clay: 4:15.02, 7th of 10
(61, 65, 65, 64)

Lisa: 4:43.21, 2nd of 9
(70, 78, 78, 57)

Warm up: 2
Warm down: 0.5
Extra: None

Workout Mileage: 5
Mileage This Week: 45.15
Total Weekly Target: 50

Complete Results >

SUMMARY

Weather: 87 degrees. HOT. Sunny.
Eating: We ate bagel sandwiches and apples about 3 hours before our races.
Arrival: We got to the track at about 11:15 for races at 12:45 and 1:00

Clay's Summary

We arrived at the track and found some shade. We relaxed with the other Elite Blue Shoes Mile runners while the meet progressed. I started to warm up about 30 minutes ahead of race time. The heat was stifling, so I didn't want to overdo it. Macklin and I ran through the manicured, gorgeous Furman campus... quite the place for a warmup and cool down.... it was like running through a golf course or a park with fountains, flowers and beautiful buildings.

I stepped out of the shade after the cool down to watch Lisa run while taking some strides. I felt fairly calm, not very nervous, which was kind of odd as I was nervous in the weeks leading up to the event. The meet announcer took quite a while to introduce the field... most runners had illustrious achievements read aloud such as "Olympic Trials Qualifier", "Sub-Four Miler" (Macklin), "Conference Champion" and "School Record Holder"... it was fair to say that I was the only "Coach" in the field, not to mention the eldest of the group. I was not intimidated, I knew I could run with these guys.

My plan was to run a 60-61 first lap then hang with the pack as long as I could. The gun sounded and I had a great start, but I quickly realized that the great start was pointless because I just wanted to tuck in behind the pack. ERROR 1: Should have used my good start to get in the mix with the pack. I settled into the outside of lane on, and eventually on to the rail at the back of the pack. One runner, Chris Clark, and Olympic Trials marathon qualifier, fell behind immediately. I was right where I wanted to be at the quarter mile, 60 or 61. I stepped behind Gilbert Kemboi and ran the second lap in about 65, hitting the half mile in 2:06. Not exactly what I wanted, I should have moved up or run faster. I was settled on the rail. On the third lap, Kemboi started to fall off the pack and I was lulled behind him. ERROR 2: I let the pack go. I toyed with the idea of making a pass, but then stepped back to the rail, and then he started to slow quite a bit with 600m left, so I made the pass. I hit the three quarter mile mark around 3:10, not thrilled but felt I could run a good last lap. I continued at a solid pace, but never made a decisive move to really kick. ERROR 3: Never made a decisive speed change to kick. I was not passed, but did not pass anyone on the last lap. The lead pack finished from 4:03 to 4:09, I finished at 4:15.

I was disappointed that I did not mix it up more with the pack of Elites, especially with Macklin in the field, I should have stayed in touch. I finished in 4:15.02 which is a PR for the 1 mile, but I felt like I had more and I know I can run faster. It was an improvement on my last race, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. My first lap is perfect. My second lap needs to be better, rather than 65, it needs to be 62. My third lap was better than the 68 at Winthrop, but it was still a 64 and it needs to be a 62. My last lap was "effortlessly determined", I ran hard, hard enough not to be passed, but not hard enough to make myself puke at the end, so it was not hard enough.

I can't wait to get on the track for a 1500m next weekend!