Ran well. Will write more when I get back to Utah.
Warmed up 2 miles with Garrett Corcoran and Sam Sorenson who decided to tag along to get some extra miles, then got my spikes and got ready for the race. I didn't know how this race would pan out. I expected myself not to do great. Best case sanario I saw an 8:55, but I didn't feel like that would happen before the race though. At the start line I was right next to Elijah in the worst place to start a race. We were in the first waterfall, in the very far edge. The gun went off, and I got pushed (literally a few times) into lane 3. I tried to keep it smooth. I felt like I got out well, but I was in 2nd last(I had 5 meters on Joe Hardy, who must've gotten out really bad). I got into lane 1 on the backstretch, but couldn't move up at all, so I moved around everyone and got in lane 3 again. Tanner Anderson was right next to me, and we came across 200m at 33. It felt easy. I sped up a little, but was still in lane 3. After watching the video I saw I was too far out in lane 3, I should've cut in just a bit and I still would've been safe on the outside. I came across 400m at 67. Perfect. The next lap I moved up, but still was in the lane 3. I came across 800m at 2:14ish. Again, right on pace. I kept the pace the same, but thought I was going to burn out. I felt good, but I just had a bad mentallity, thinking I can't compete with the top guys, I'm not that good, I don't have that kick. I got into lane two in this lap. I kept my pace. I think I was about 3:22 at 1200m, so still on sub-9 pace. The next lap just happened quickly. I felt great, not hurting at all (I love sea level!) and slowly moving up. I came across the mile at 4:31, just a tad slow, but I knew I could negative split it. I kept the same pace, but my next 200m was a 35. This freaked me out, so I sped up. Not sure where I was on the next lap. 2400m I was at 6:46, and had finally put myself in lane one. Only, I wasn't prepared to be in 3rd place.
I tried to keep up, but then Blake made a move, and my bad mentallity messed me up. I was still running fine though, until about 500m left. I got passed by Garrett Corcoran, and then I went on the outside to pace him back, but someone was there. They pushed me a bit and wouldn't let me get out(I did beat this kid, but I don't know where I passed him again. But I beat him, and that makes me soo happy.) After this a few more kids passed me. I was slowing down, but not because I was tired, but because I kept letting people cut me off. I need to be a bit more aggressive in these bigger races. With 400m to go, I started to kick again. I was at 7:50, so I knew I had sub-9 in the bag. I got passed with 300m to go again by Ian Milder and Andrew Rafla, and I didn't go with them. I was at 8:20 with 200m to go(fast 200m for that part), and then I knew I had it. I should've kicked harder here. With 40m left I saw one kid slowing down, so I passed him right before the finish. It felt good to pass someone at the end. I thought I was 8:55 or 8:56, but then I saw Mantz. . . .8:52.9! I was ecstatic. Afterward I cooled down with Garrett and a huge group of Cali guys, and then a bit more with Blake Haney, and then ran to the hotel with my dad afterward.
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