Blogs : Beth Lutz

Hard Memories

It was Indoor Conference this weekend. This was both exciting and hard at the same time. Exciting because our team did really well and had a lot of great performances. My distance teammates dominated, scoring 50 out of a possible 156 points in the four distance events (mile, 3k, 5k, DMR). The 3k especialling was an impressive showing, with people coming in 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 6^th. And this is in the WIAC Conference, not exactly a gimme type event.

On top of that, our team as a whole placed 2^nd behind LaCrosse, which was (I was amazed when I found this out) the first time ANYONE besides LaCrosse or Oshkosh has finished in the top two since 1984. 1984! UW-Milwaukee and Marquette were both still in the WIAC Conference in 1984. That’s crazy. It’s just a tribute to some big-time performances and all the hard work that everyone on this team has put in.

So, exciting stuff. But at the same time really, really hard because I wasn’t a part of it. I remember Indoor Conference last year. It was at UW-Whitewater and I doubled the 5k/3k. The 5k I placed 3^rd, which was good, but I was with the leaders until about 5 laps left and then I let them get away in the process of running a time that was slower than I wanted. I was feeling a little low, and nervous about the 3k (I remember worrying about whether I would even place in the top 8 for the event, because pretty much everyone was doing it) and by the time it finally rolled around in the evening on Saturday I was close to either bouncing off the walls or experiencing a mental shutdown.

The race started and I was in a large pack up front; we all went through the 1600 in around 5:26 and that was when Kristin Painter (from LaCrosse—she had won the mile that day) made her move, separating from the head of the pack. At that point I knew I had a decision: I could stay tucked in behind the pack…or I could go. Remembering the 5k from the previous day I knew that I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least try this time, so I passed around the outside of the pack and went after Painter.

The 3k was the second to last event, so there were a bunch of people lined up around the outside of the track cheering people on. It’s funny, but the clearest image I have in my head is of Chip Schneider, our head coach, going crazy each time I went around the track and was still with Painter. The rest of the race is pretty much a blur, but I remember Painter pulling away a little at the end to win, and me crossing the finish line seeing the clock read, “10:00, 10:01, 10:02…” My first thought finishing was, “Is Coach Falk going to be mad that I let someone get away from again?” (Hey, I had just finished a hard race. I wasn’t thinking too clearly.) Then Coach Falk came over and was all excited and the time I had just run started to sink in and that, that’s when things started to change.

It was the first time I felt like I had reached “the next level”, the one where I could be competitive, not just with myself, but on the national level. It was also crazy fun. Anytime I think back on that memory I always smile.

I love competing. I love racing against the best, testing yourself against others with the goal of coming out on top. And it’s really hard not to be doing that right now.

hard memories

12:33 PM, March 6, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Your cross-training is amazing, Beth! You are such a hard worker and so dedicated. I admit it drives me crazy sometimes, but it is so admirable. Be encouraged! This won\'t last forever! I am praying for you. :)
<br> Mom
<br> \"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.\" Heb. 12:2-3

typo

2:20 PM, March 6, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Nikki Cahen won the indoor 5K last year and also placed in the mile and 3K. Painter was in the mile and won the 3K.

Untitled Comment

8:29 PM, March 6, 2008 .. Posted by lutzba

Ah yes, good catch. I got indoor and outdoor conference winners mixed up in my head. Either way, some very good runners there.