Running for Nebraska: January 2011

January 28, 2011

Mind Over Matter

It is interesting just how much you can accomplish when your attitude or mindset on a subject changes. After training for and racing two 5k's on the indoor track, I recently switched to the 1000-1500m training group, focussing on shorter intervals at a much faster pace. I had my first workout with this group on Tuesday and it went really well. I felt a lot more comfortable with the type of workout (we did 200-800-200, 200-600-200, 200-400-200, 100-200-100). In high school I would train with some of the middle distance girls, doing 300 reps and 400m pacing, so switching into this type of workout felt like an easier transition, something familiar. Take it from me, running is mental. It is a mental challenge and a game of confidence, those two aspects can change everything. It is incredible how much more in shape I felt after running only one workout, I know that my body wasn't any different on Tuesday than it was last Friday, but my mentality was completely changed. Switching groups has helped me become a more confident runner and has given me a sense of confidence and assurance that I lacked before. The main lesson I have to share with you readers is this: communication is key, know what works for you. Its as simple as that.

January 8, 2011

11 was always my lucky number

It is 2011 and I'm back in Nebraska and definitely refreshed from the break, ready to start up with classes and practice again. It has been an interesting preparation for track season which officially kicks off this week with the Holiday Inn Invitational this Friday, January 14 - Saturday, January 15. Consisting of mostly smaller colleges, this meet will be a great introduction to getting the feel of a college race on the indoor track. Preparation for this season began with the end of cross country which officially ended November 22 of last year. Since then it has been an interesting journey, from almost being run over on a tempo run by a crazy country man in his old red truck to rolling my ankle in the first track workout indoors and having that set back really challenge me mentally for a few weeks, the road has been long and eventful but the races are just around the corner and I am entering my first collegiate indoor track season. This will also be the first track season I enter with no time goals. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards and after spending some time at home and realizing the two factors that effect my running most: confidence and the source of my motivation; I am entering this season with no time goals, but instead more personal goals such as staying tough in the race and keeping myself in it mentally. If I can keep these two goals on track the rest will come and I am excited to see how this season will unfold. I will kick off the season with the 5k this weekend indoors, twenty five laps here I come!

Why Nebraska?

When I began the college search I knew that I wanted to continue running at the NCAA Division 1 level. I desired a school rich in pride for its sports with good academics as well. I found this in Lincoln, NE. College sports are a very big deal in the state of Nebraska and it shows in the school's facilities and coaching staff. I picked Nebraska because of all it had to offer me as a student athlete and because of the at-home feeling I got on my visit and with the team. Quite a few of my teammates have become a lot faster since their high school PR's and this was a good indicator to me that I could trust in the training tendencies of my long time Nebraska Cross Country coach Jay Dirksen. A graduate of South Dakota State in '68, Jay was an All American steeplechaser and has coached at Nebraska for 28 years producing a total of 3 NCAA National Champions, 1 U.S Olympic Trials Champion, 20 Cross Country NCAA All Americans, 39 NCAA Track and Field All Americans, 5 Big XII Cross Country Team Titles, 6 NCAA Regional Titles and 22 NCAA Cross Country Teams.

Before Nebraska

I ran four years of Cross Country and Track for Great Oak High School under coaches Doug Soles and Daniel Noble. I was a four year letter winner in both sports and went to Nike Cross Nationals all four years. Some notable awards include #1 Freshman in Riverside County in 2006 and Freshman of the Year, as well as the #3 Sophomore in 2007, winner of the Long Beach Invitational, the Mt. SAC D1 sophomore girls champion and Sophomore of the Year. My Junior and Senior seasons I was a team captain and the Most Improved athlete on the track team, Junior and Senior of the Year as well as 1st Team All-League in the SWL, a scholar athlete, a member of the 2008 Riverside County Academic Team winner (gohs xc), part of the CIF Southern Section team champion in 2009, and the tie breaker of Great Oak's 2009 Runner Up accolades at the California State Meet. In track I was the Inland Empire 1600m Champ, held senior records in the 1600m (5:02.54), 3200m (11:09.10), and 3 miles (17:19, xc); and was a California High School Heisman Finalist in 2010.