Blogs : Eric Simmons

At least that' s over with.

I debated even writing this week's blog because out of everything that happened this week, only 15% of it was good. Sadly, I'm not talking about just track  and school, I'm talking about life, but I don't think I'll get into it too much on here.

For the past two weeks, we have been training through meets. As most of you know, that means we're going into meets having been worked pretty hard and with dead legs, intentionally. Last week, our workout on monday consisted of 500 (64.1, 49.3 split), 100, 300 (36.1), 100, 200 (23.0), 100. On Tuesday, I had 6x50 meter starts off the curve, which may not sound like much but it takes a lot to keep firing out of the blocks. On wednesday, we had 3 600s (1:27, 1:25, and infinity, haha) with somewhere between 8-10 minutes rest. On Thursday, we did handoffs until we got them right. Unfortunately, we didn't get them right, and I ended up doing a speed workout of about 6 60s.

We got to Jacksonville State University and were greeted by the most depressing of conditions. Dark clouds, drizzle, and somewhat cool temperatures were not the ideal conditions for most people. We warmed up and ran the 4x1 first, where only me and Ahmad's first exchange could be classified as positive. The 2nd exchange was more of a 4x1600 meter handoff and the last one was just as bad. We ran 42.4 and won, which is not that great. We were once again running a leg down and the familiarity and timing  between the alternate and the regulars is poor.

Moving alone, I ran the 800. I absolutely hate the 800 and I had a heck of a time trying to get loose, but I refused to end my career on a 2:06 due to scheduling and weather shenanigans. The leader from Alabama State took the first 200 out in like 22/23 and ended up coming through the quarter in 52, and I didn't want any part of that. I got out around 24/25 and came through in 54, which is ahead of the 55 I came through when I ran 1:53 last year. With about 300 left, I passed a few guys and pulled up to about 5th place at the 200 meter mark. Coach Mead yelled out 1:23 when I passed, which is ahead of the 1:24 high or so I was during my pr race. Thoughts of 1:52 something entered my mind so I tried to surge that last 200, but my legs and my mind weren't on the same game plan. Mentally, I thought I could do it because I felt pretty darn good as far as cardio, wind, and all that fitness jazz goes. Physically, the last two weeks of grueling training told on me and I could not lift my legs at all. The dude in front of me looked catchable as he was fading, but I assume I looked like Wacky Wild Inflatable Flailing Arm Man from the Family Guy. I flailed my way to 1:55, which is better than last weeks 2 minute effort, but 2 seconds off my PR. I ran a strong 600 and I feel had I been fresh I could have bested my PR. Nevertheless, I feel a bit stronger. I also feel faster as I don't think in my wildest dreams I could have run 10.8 (even though that's slow for some people). Now, we just gotta put it altogether, which sometimes is as easy as when you were 3 years old and you just knew you would be able to fit that triangle inside of the square shape on that little toy, despite the fact that your parents insisted you could not.

After I ran the 800, Ahmad dropped his time in the 400 hurdles down to 53.45, which is .05 off of provisional. In my eyes, this was the end of the meet. Yes, other people competed in other events, and yes, the 4x400 meter relay was contested. The performances and times are not the issue as to why I'm saying the meet ended after Ahmad ran. After the hurdles, some personal issues from a variety of people seeped into the flow of the meet, and that combined with the weather led to some problems I just don't feel right addressing in this blog.

This saturday, we compete at the Seminole Invitational down at Florida State University where most of us will finally be able to open up in our specialty events. My hopes are that I have fresh legs going into it and that I can hit a solid qualifying mark in the 400 and possibly the 200 to set me up for the remainder of the season. Please stay tuned, hopefully I have some good news to share with you people next time.

what is?

3:17 PM, April 7, 2008 .. Posted by Kimbo Slice

you do know that you posted an empty blog right?