C Mantz Running

NCAA Track and Field Championships

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Location:

Provo,UT,USA

Member Since:

May 18, 2010

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

NCAA Champ

Running Accomplishments:

Pre-high school: I ran a lot of local 5ks and a few half marathons.  I didn't do a ton of training, but I just had fun, and I got more serious about it as high school got closer.

High school: I enjoyed running a lot, especially cross country.  I originally did track to keep my in shape for cross country.  I ran at Footlocker Nationals, the Adidas Dream mile, Brooks PR Invitational, world xc junior championships, and a few local 5ks. 

PRs: 800: 1:56.80-State Track 2014

1600: 4:10-State Track 2014/Mile: Sea Level-Adidas Grand Prix-4:07

3200:Alititude(~4500ft): 8:57.99-State Track 2014-2 Mile:8:53 at Brooks PR Invitational

5K: New Balance Indoor Nationals(2014) - 14:24

10K:USA Junior Track Championships (2014)-31:01

15K: Blacksmith Fork Freedom Run (aided) 48:10(2013).

Half Marathon: 
Utah Valley Half - 1:11:24(aided)(2012)

Post-mission:

1,500m-3:45

3k-7:50 

5k-13:29

10k-28:18

NCAA finishes:

Cross Country: 10th(2018);

Indoor: 3k-7th(2019) 5k-10th(2019);

Outdoor: 10k-22nd(2018), 4th(2019), 5k-7th(2019)

Long-Term Running Goals:

Make sure I have fun, not get burned out, and get faster.

School records in the 5km and 10km.  

Personal:

Served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from July 2015-July 2017.  I gained 30 lbs. during the service and came back out of shape; however I knew that if the Lord wanted me to once again run competitively, he would bless me to return to fitness. 

I graduated from Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah. I currently run for Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.  

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: NCAA Track and Field Championships (6.214 Miles) 00:31:37, Place overall: 22, Place in age division: 22
Total Distance
11.50

AM-2 easy miles as a shakeout.  

Race-Warmed up, felt kinda sick to my stomache.  Not sure if it was something I ate or not.  In a gist, the race was terrible.  As we were on the starting line, it didn't feel like a race to me.  I even had less butterflies than for a workout.  I just felt strange.  Anyway, we started, and I got out faster than I had planned(I'm sure everyone did), and tried to get into a groove.  Well, I thought it went out fast, so I should try and slow it down to 68-70s and just try to run a more even-paced race so that I could have the energy necessary to kick.  I stayed behind Rory for a bit as he started moving up, and thought that this was perfect.  A fast start meant a lot of people would burn themselves out, which is exactly what I was hoping for.  Anyway, after 2km or so, I got passed by the guy in last place and was suddenly in last.  I tried to relax and try to stay with him, but then I just couldn't.  I felt really low on energy.  At 3200m, I saw I was still under 9:20 (I didn't think this at the time, but it was likely a slow mile as at 1600m I was around 4:27), and I told myself to just try to run 70s and then people will come back to me. Well, the next 200m wasn't a 35, and I realized that I was going really slow.  I tried to put more effort in, but my body wasn't responding. It felt like a nightmare, where you try to run fast, but you move insanely slow.  I felt so out of energy.  After 13 laps, the front pack lapped me.  I had a water cup in my hand and I held it out for McMillan to take, but he didn't because he was afraid of that leading to a DQ (which I''m still not sure if it would have).  Anyway, a couple laps later I saw Rory and Clayton getting lapped on the big screen (which was super disheartening) and they were 200m ahead of me.  I made it a goal to catch up to them because I thought maybe there was someone from another team that was around them that I could beat.  About at this point, coach told me I was done, and I think this was him telling me to drop out.  I told him before the race I was feeling sick, and he encouraged me to not think about it and to do my best.  These laps from 8 to the end were some of the hardest of my life.  I knew my family had flown to watch me, and my coaches and school had invested a lot in having me run at nationals, and I was going so slow.  It was just a terrible experience to have them watch me as I just tried to finish.  After I just felt so disappointed in myself.  I felt terrible about everything.  It was so hard to see a bright-side of life, as I'd put so much effort and sacrifice into this race.  I kept thinking about the homework I'd skipped because I wanted to get to bed early, and how it was all to race well.  

\ It was a real bitter end to the season.  I had a lot of hope going into this to finish in the top 8, but it's sad to say that I wasn't even within 2 minutes of that. There is a lot to be learned though, and gratitude and humility are part of those.  Now in reflection of the race a couple weeks later, I'm trying to focus on cross country, and keep my head up.  I know that the infection I had likely played a major role in the lack of energy in the race (I've felt that I have no energy to run for almost the last two weeks).  I'm hoping things go better in the future.  

Comments
From Paul on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 08:58:58 from 50.203.178.38

Conner, sorry that it was a rough one for you. I hope the bitterness and disappointment passes quickly, and that you can look forward to many more championship races. I definitely had some big disappointments my freshman and soph years, and those made the successes later on sweeter. Keep fighting the good fight.

Cheers,

Paul

From fiddy on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 10:43:37 from 140.107.155.185

I know this race didn't go the way you wanted it, but you had a really great season. It was a huge accomplishment just to make it to that starting line.

From Rob Murphy on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 11:36:47 from 163.248.33.220

I know you're disappointed or you wouldn't be the competitor that you are. As you know, it's a bumpy road to the top sometimes...

Have a great summer and on to XC!

From Shawn H on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 14:58:50 from 12.202.136.194

Big disappointment, I know, Conner. But just think where you were a year ago. You came back overweight from a church mission where you didn't run much, you broke 29 in the 10K, and you made the NCAA final! That's amazing. Most guys would have just red-shirted and tried to get back in shape, but with your talent, dedication, hard work, and confidence, you did so much more. I'm proud of you. As you said, your real love, XC, is coming up. Best of luck for a great summer of training, and I'm excited to see what the future holds.

From Ryan Raff on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 21:38:11 from 107.77.97.130

Proud of you man

From Jason D on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 22:50:39 from 73.144.91.168

Might help to look back over the season and look at the progress you have made. It was less than, I think, a year ago that you came back from little or no running during your mission. Lots of good advice above.

Thankful that you continue to post on this blog and that we can all watch your progress. Best wishes, Conner.

From Glory in the long run on Fri, Jun 08, 2018 at 22:30:04 from 67.2.12.188

I'd love to know a little more about your teammates. Were all 3 of you not feeling good and just decided to run it in together?

From Conner Mantz on Fri, Jun 22, 2018 at 07:40:40 from 66.219.235.76

Thanks everyone, I love the advice and the much needed support. As far as my teammates went, they were feeling pretty bad too, and wanted to jog it in together; however, they didn't decide this until they were over 200m ahead of me, and I just thought if I could catch up to them, then maybe I'd pass someone else. I caught them with 100m to go and then we jogged it in.

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