Blogs : Matt Eicheldinger

First Outdoor Meet Revisited

This entire academic year I’ve had problems with my laptop. Every once in a while I’ll open up a document that I have saved and it will be “encoded” with triangles, squares, dots, exclamation points, and any other type of shape or design you can think of, leaving me no other choice but to retype everything I have completed. This will be the second time I have tried writing this blog, so hopefully nothing goes haywire.

So obviously, I have some catching up to do. Last weekend marked my first outdoor appearance at the Carleton Relays in Northfield, MN, and I opened it with a 1:56.73 800m. Even though it’s still a mediocre time, I was relatively happy with it since I haven’t run a race in over a month. We crossed the 400m mark in 55 seconds (much faster than I am used to going) but it’s still no excuse for allowing myself to get boxed in with 250m to go, which killed the chance of kicking the last 150m. I fully expect to knock off at least 2 seconds by the time conference rolls around.

I also ran my first open 400m all season at Macalester Twilight last night. I went out way to slow (must be all the distance workouts), and ended up crossing the finish line in a mid 50, a full second and a half off my PR. To make it even worse, Aaron Buzard was in lane 3 right next to me (former University of MN runner, DI All-American 400m @ 45.7 Indoor). He absolutely destroyed my heat, cruising in a 46.49. I ran a horrible race, but it as an honor to run with someone that talented. Plus, it’s always good to get your butt kicked once in a while to make sure you don’t get a big head.

This weekend we will be heading down to the Drake Relays. I will only be competing in the 4x400m and Sprint Medley, unless someone from the sprints crew injures themselves. Our 4x400m is going to get killed (I am the only one below 50 second on our team), but our Sprint Medley should do well. We placed 4^th last year, so we are hoping to place just as high this year.

I better head off and get stuff ready before I leave. I hope you are all doing well, and running fast! God Bless.