0.03 seconds. I could let that tear me apart, but how can I complain after finishing 4th in the world? And better yet, in a tactical style race that not many people thought I could run. I will get back to my thoughts on the final, but first the prelim.
It was a perfect night to run and I felt great. I warmed up a little with Goucher and Alistair Cragg, which kept me pretty calm. I really like warming up with people because usually it takes my mind off the race and allows me to relax a bit. The warm-up was different than usual because we had to be in the call room 30 minutes before the start of our race, and there was nowhere to do strides until out on the track. The nice thing about the very efficient time schedule is that you never have to rush to get things done, so I was very relaxed heading to the start line. On our walk over to the start we passed by the long jump right as Dwight Phillips took his first jump. That really helped to get the adrenaline flowing (as if it wasn’t already). Once we got over to the start, we got to watch the last few laps of the first heat, and I was happy with what I saw. It was a good feeling to know that I only needed to be top ten.
I knew exactly what I needed to do going into my heat – run a patient, relaxed, “my” type of race. It didn’t take long for the race to settle into an honest pace. I felt very under control the first 4k. I covered all of the moves in the last part of the race and figured since I was up front, I would get out and run a little bit the last 800 meters. I had been in Osaka sitting in a hotel room for so long that I really wanted to get my legs moving. I could have relaxed a little more in the last 200, but I never felt like I was straining. It was pretty cool to know that Goucher was there too, and that the USA would send three athletes to the final. On the cool down I was thinking to myself that I better run well in the final now that I went out and pushed the prelim. It was a goal to make it to the final but now I wanted bigger and better things!
When finals day finally arrived, I thought I would be more excited; I guess the prelim took more out of me than I thought (emotionally). I had a feeling the soreness would go away once I stepped on the track; at least that has been my experience when doubling. But when I woke up the day of the final I just felt very tired, which is something I’m not used to. I tried to focus on doing the exact same routine I followed during the prelim. Being at the stadium definitely helped wake me up, but now I had another problem – freaking out! My mind was all over the place about what type of race it was going to be (fast or slow), and there was no one around to help take my mind off of things.
Here was my thought process before the race:
Fast race: I figured that it was going to be fast (at least honest) because no one wanted to leave it to a kick with Lagat in the race. I would find a spot in line and just run as comfortably and patiently as possible for as long as possible, while not letting 3rd place ever get away. That doesn’t mean sit right behind him, but stay with the lead pack (however big) until I can’t anymore. Over the last 1k make every effort to fight it out and try to kick with the best in the World and go for the medal. I figured it would come down to whoever was the toughest mentally because the prelim, although not fast, still put lactic acid in people legs.
Slow Race: I won’t lie; I thought I had the best chance at placing well with this type of race. In a slow race I usually take it from around 1k out because I feel I am better at a long grinding kick. However, this year over in Europe and at US champs (racing Lagat) I noticed that whoever is in the lead pushing the pace from that far out is a sitting duck over the last 200. Plus the 3:34 1500 in Athens this year gave me a lot of confidence in my finish. I knew if I waited and covered the moves over the last 1k that I could finish with these guys; I proved that in Stockholm this year.
I was ready for both types of races, but definitely expected a fast race. We were the first running event of the night so when we got out onto the track the crowd was going crazy; it gave me a huge rush of adrenaline. This was the moment I had been waiting for; I had it in the back of my mind that I better run well so it would be worthwhile for all the people that got up so early to watch it live! Talking to Lagat right before the race, he was sure it was going to be fast. I knew I’d have to stay tough early. After doing a couple strides on the track I knew I was not going to have to worry about my legs being tired; I felt great.
The race started and I could not believe how slow the first lap was. Still, I wanted to be cautious since someone could still take it out hard. But it never happened. We jogged the first mile before Limo finally took the lead. I thought, ‘Okay, this is going to be a two-mile race.’ But he never really pushed that hard; just a few surges here and there. With a mile to go, I was ready. I was certain someone would take it from here. Wrong again. I could not believe that with two laps to go, we still were crusigin. Finally, with 700 meters to go, Mo Farah took it hard. I was in great position and covered all the moves easily. I was sticking to the plan just riding the end of the train until the last 70 meters. But with 200 meters to go the front five took two steps and gapped me a little bit – I bet most of you thought I was done. It just took me a little longer to get to top speed, but I was very comfortable and I knew I was ready for a big kick. I cannot explain how cool of a feeling it was to be moving past some of the best runners in the world down the home straight. With 10 meters to go I realized that I had a chance at a medal and I just came up short, .03 to be exact!
I could let .03 run through my mind over and over, but why would I when I just finished 4th in the world! I competed in a type of race that no one thought I could run and smashed a huge mental barrier while doing it. Like I said earlier, I think the slow race gave me the best chance of finishing high, but it also left a lot of other people in it and I was able to hold my ground. I am in no way saying that if the race was fast that I could not have done the same thing. I may not have closed in 52-point, but I would have been right there fighting it out just the same. This race is going to give me a huge boost of confidence in my finish and who knows; maybe this is the type of race I need to let me know that my kick is there no matter how fast the race goes!!
I feel great right now, very sharp and really looking forward to the last two races (Zurich and Brussles). Thanks to everyone for all the support!
