KIMbia Athletics

After Chris ran 7:47.03 to place 8th in the 3,000m at Rieti, Italy on Sunday, he sent this post-race analysis:

I pretty much changed seasons just by traveling. I went from 50’s in London to 80+degree weather in Italy. This place is beautiful and I would love to actually enjoy it on vacation some time.

So down to the business of the race: I’m disappointed, but encouraged at the same time. I was saying before the race that I was feeling good and just had a good feeling about the meet and this place, and I’ve always heard that you run better when you’re in good temperament. Anyhow, I had no clue on the pace of the race, but I decided that was a good thing, and that I would just get in line and follow, look at the splits early on and then just race thereafter.

This could have been my downfall, though, because I went from being really brave in the race to apprehensive midway through. My first 4 laps went as follows: 58, 1:59, 3:00 and 4:01. When I saw the 4:01 I noticed that the front pack was pulling away, and I had a decision to make. The person who was in front of me was Abraham Chebii, who is a pretty smart racer, and I saw that he was checking off, so I thought that would suit me well. Plus, I thought if I went with the leaders I would not finish. (This was where my apprehensiveness came in.)

Unfortunately, Chebii started running 64-points, and this took us completely out of the race. By the time I figured this out, it was too late for a fast time. I still decided it was important to race, and with 650 to go I took the lead of our group and started chasing down those in front of us who were dying off. Unfortunately, I was gun shy here, too, and didn’t really go for home from 600 out like I normally would. This allowed Chebii and another guy to latch on me and outkick me down the stretch.

I am happy about the fact that these guys put some distance on me and I was able to get it back towards the line. I’m happy that I never blew up in the race, just got stuck in no man’s land. I am, however, unhappy with the fact that I was so gun shy to race as I have in the past.

Oh well, it’s behind me and I need to concentrate on my race tomorrow in Zagreb, Croatia. Once again I have no idea who is in the race (other than Matt) and I have no idea what the pace is.

I am hoping to be admitted to the World Athletics Final. Right now I’m on the bubble, but that one should be a sit-and-kick race, so maybe I’ll actually get a chance to use the kick that I trained for all year. I do have a kick, but I’m just not strong enough to get to use it at the end. If I can take anything away from this year it is that I will be much more focused next year with my training and I will focus a lot more on strength. It doesn’t matter how good one’s foot speed is if you can’t be anywhere close to use it, or go anaerobic too soon and take it away.

Once again thanks for all the support, and I’m definitely looking forward to getting home for some rest on Sunday.