Update: Chris was in the slower, first qualifying round, and didn’t advance to the final. Jonathon Riley was in the second, faster heat, and got through on time to Sunday’s final. Results
Hello again. So, an update on the luggage situation: Jonathon and I woke up to a phone call that our luggage was downstairs in the lobby, so that probably could have been the best way to wake up this morning!! I opened up my bag and felt like it was Christmas Day, because I could finally change my clothes!
After that great beginning, Jonathon and I went for our pre-meet run and strides. We ran through the great park that they have here It was formed by diverting the river water because of flooding problems, so the river dried up and they decided to turn this area into a enormous green space with many playgrounds, statues, amazing bridges, and fountains. We did a medium 35-minute run followed by 5 strides, and spent the rest of the day relaxing and watching the movies that finally arrived in my luggage.
So now for the important stuff. Tomorrow’s race is early–we race at 10:55 a.m., which is 3:55 a.m. Central Time. I’m not too worried about it because I’m just going to approach it like cross country, and that went alright for me. There are 24 entrants and 12 make the final, with the top 4 from each heat getting the auto bids, and then the next 4 fastest times getting in. I’m pretty confident going into tomorrow because I’ve been getting better and better with each week, and we closed down in 2:26 for the last kilometer in Boston all in the last 800, so that fits well with the prelim.
It is easy to be nervous, though, because it is a new level and a new level of championship that I have never really done before, but I figure that if I race as I always have, I should be fine. Plus I only have to beat half the field to make the final 
If anyone wants to watch the heat tune into www.wcsn.com for live coverage, or tune into the VS channel Saturday and Sunday to catch coverage.
As I said all along this year and last summer, I am not afraid to run with anyone in the world, and in my mind everyone in the world is beatable on any given day. I am just going to put myself in the position to capitalize on that day. I’m excited, a little nervous, but more excited to get out there tomorrow and get through to the final, so I can really have some fun there. Wish me luck, and I’ll talk to you all on the flip side for the reaction of tomorrow’s race.
