Minnesota Nice

My first entry I am writing after a long week spent away from home. This Tuesday, April 26th, I ran my very first road mile: the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines, Iowa. I was told that road miles were always very fast and easy to get a “personal best time” because it was a straight shot to the finish line with no curves or turns like a track. Well, supposedly the company sponsoring the meet decided the race needed to end where the starting line was supposed to be. So, of course, the flip-flop of the race transformed the mile from a fast, downhill race, to a completely UPHILL, wind at the face, race. Let’s just say I didn’t get a personal best and my lips turned purple immediately at the finish line caused from the 40 degree winds at my face. I finished in 4th place with a time of 4:49. Granted it was a good experience to have, it was also a painful one.  After the race I traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota with my good friend (and competitor) Heather Dorniden-Kampf where she and her husband Ben live and run... a lot. The happy couple took great care of me, even dropping me off at the Mall of America for 3 hours while they went to work and made bets as to how much money I spent. That place is huge! I made it through maybe a third of the mall before my shopping time was up. We also took Ben out for a celebration dinner for graduating from grad school at University of Minnesota. Congrats Ben! Although they made me sleep in a bed draped head to toe in Minnesota Gopher blankets and quilts (yikes!), I had a great visit with them. Friday morning, Heather and I traveled back to Des Moines to compete at the Drake Relays in the Special Invitational 1500 race today.  I placed 5th and ran a personal best of 4:17.22.

Some of the ladies who competed in the Drake special invitational 1500. Heather (on my right) was my caretaker for the week!

 I am so happy with a personal best, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed after my race. At the beginning of the outdoor 2011 season, I made a deal with myself. A deal that I would never let the race control me...that I would and could control what I do on the track. I don’t care who my competitors are and what they have previously done, I will always go out from the beginning with aggression and a motive...TO WIN. If I can successfully do this in races, I will never have any regrets.  Today, I ran a little scared. I felt unsatisfied to say the least.  For me to go out there in a distance of 1500 in which I am not comfortable was enough to mentally get to me, and I was disappointed in that. This is something I’m still figuring out and has been one of the hardest things for me to conquer. But I’m a rookie and well aware of my weaknesses and I will find a way to put things like this is place when the time comes. Next Thursday, May 5th, I am off to the paradise that is Jamaica to get a tan...oh ya, and race an 800! Last year Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica ran 1:58.1 to win this Kingston Invitational. I am super excited to see the infamous track and field fans of Jamaica and be able to race against some of the fastest half-milers in the world. Hope Usain Bolt is there ;)

Until next time, take it easy.