Let the Racing Begin: Chasing PRs in the 800m | Stride for Stride EP.3

So Jack and Jacob, for this meet, will be running the 800. They're really excited about it, partly because last year they had phenomenal success at Meet of Champions.

My PR from Azusa from last year is 1:53.93. Is it on that competitive level for our Arcadia invite? Not yet. Is it competitive for, you know, state finals? Not yet. If I really try and dig deep and try and be as confident as I can possibly be, I really want to try and hit that sub-1:50 mark. You know, if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I have more opportunities to. But I mean, that would just be stellar for me. I'll just be like, I can actually do this. I can actually really, really compete and compete nationally, actually, rather than just in California. Today I worked check-in at the Unified Track Meet.

Redondo is a really, really fun meet. One, because it's the big invitational you have. It's the first big invitational, so everyone's excited for that. And it's right when it starts becoming night, so like races are starting to happen. And once it— I don't know, once the sun goes down, that's when everything— it's That's when the hype is for the meets. So it's the first real meet that's like at night. So it's just one that everybody loves.

Fuckery. Well, that's what they're playing. I was like, man, if I was on my last lap and I heard the Thick of It, I'd be like, whoa, and I'd drop a 60-second last 3200 lap. Well, because they're playing Thick of It.

Oh yeah, the strat is, yeah, listen to the music and then, you know, cook, right? No, just sit back have fun, and then like, I don't know, last mile just do something, and then last 400 do even more. So that's my strat.

I did—

I think after she passed me, I—

Tempo, tempo, tempo!

Yeah, no, I hate the 32 because of how long it is. I love cross country. I love running a 5K and a 3-mile, but I hate running a 32. So repetitive and just makes me want to like sleep.

Yeah, it's pretty— it's mind-numbing, I would say. Yeah, like you get by the 5th lap, you're like, there's no way I have 3 more, you know?

Yeah, the fact that you can count it out in your head. I literally did that yesterday. I was like, oh, 1, 2, 3, 4. Like I was just counting the laps out of my head every time I would pass the line. I was like, okay, yeah, it's just, it's so boring.

Yeah, I don't know. I'm not adverse to the 32, but when the 16 and the 8 are an option, it's just, you know, those, those are like the ones I prefer. Um, I actually enjoyed my 32 last night. I thought it was really fun even though I kind of underperformed. I think it was really fun.

Easy.

I mean, hey, it's really nice. Feel easy, you know. Now on to the 8s. Yeah, 8s tomorrow. Like, how are they going to— how are they going to run a 1:50 when our 32 times are like 9?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay, you guys have fun.

Yeah.

It was kind of a jokester kind of 32. I mean, I don't know, Jack said he felt terrible the entire time.

I actually, I would say I ran mine pretty all out.

We came into that first mile like a 4:45, 4:50, which was slow, and I was hoping for it to be faster. So then by then I made my, I was leading by the first 800, I think, and then that's when I was kind of like, okay, this is too slow, I need to start picking it up. So I mean, overall it was a great race. It showed how much strength I have, and I felt confident leading winning that race, which I'm happy about, but the only problem that sucks is how slow we went out on that first mile, only because I wanted to go faster.

You guys need to understand, I believe 100% that strength in the 32 equates to strength throughout the season, through CIF. You've got to be able to do it. How do you feel the boys did in the race? Um, the honest answer, is I'm a little frustrated. All of these boys can ride sub-9:20, and that's not an exaggerated estimation of their abilities or what I see in practice. So the fact that they didn't is disappointing to me. As long as it's motivating to them, then the disappointing to me really doesn't matter in the end. As long as they can find something in the performance that will kick it into high gear in other ways, then we're good. I did see some things that were positive, and I need to be a good role model right now because I always make them come up with the positive parts.

We run pretty differently, to be honest. Like Jacob tends to get out hard and stay out there, you know, tends to lead the race and kind of just kill everyone. I tend to, you know, sit in the back for a little bit and then kind of kick, more of a sit-and-kick method. But I think that since we run differently, I think that's what gives us strength like as teammates because like for me, I'm like, oh, there's Jacob, like I'll just chase down Jacob, like I know who he is. Zach, you okay?

You good?

Okay, got it. Are you good, bro?

Good job, gentlemen. Me and him just first crawl 30 meters straight to the back. Yeah, I know, bro. That was like physical with the first time. Oh bro, it was.

All 5 of us got one.

You guys were like 56 6.8. I know, on the first lap. Yeah, so that was your issue.

Yeah.

Okay, but still a good time. And what I liked better is you were competing. Like, that was good. Okay, we're in a good spot, right? Like, when did you run a 1:55?

Really? Yeah, kind of my first real 800 of the season, which honestly, 1:55 out of the gate without 800 training. At this point last year, a week after today, I would have run 1:57 if we're looking at last year, but I'm at 1:55 right now a week prior to that. So honestly, for shape-wise going to Azusa, for sure on easy track to PR. You know, obviously can't be too sure, never know what will happen, but you know, I feel like I can say, you know, I'll probably PR there, and so I'm really hyped about that. Weston, why are you here?

Just 'cause.

I drove down here just for fun. I wanted to see the 800. I gave it all I had, but dude, like, coming off that sickness It was nice to get up towards the front. Yeah. And have you been sick? I took second by point. Oh yeah, you were sick. I forgot. You were, you were, that's right. I was like deathbed sick. Yeah, you should have gone to the hospital. Yeah, no, I'm telling you, you should have went to the, you should have went to urgent care, bro.

Don't thug out a 108 fever.

106.

Nice, nice job.

Next time. I was a little upset as soon as I got out because we got out and I like instant just, and then I stuck in like lane 7 until like 175, and that's when I finally cut in.

Yeah, so that's good.

We needed this. We didn't get out very quick.

It's whatever. Monday we'll talk about the plane.

Yeah, and then we have 2 weeks training and then MOC.

Yep. Okay, Weston update. I feel like I'm always doing a Weston update. All right. Weston is injured, but Weston is Weston, so he's doing every single cross-training thing he's asked to do. Weston has a, a mental fortitude that I would put up against pretty much any athlete. He can lock in mentally in a way that is unique and different. Very, very mature. For a high school athlete. When he is part of the workout and when he is part of the race, even if he doesn't win, he elevates the entire workout and he elevates the race because he's willing to commit 100% to whatever the workout should be or whatever the race or race pace should be. He believes in every single boy on the team. He believes that they can reach the goal that they have for themselves. He believes that they can run the workout the exact way it needs to be run. He believes they can be right there beside of him in the race.

Mentally, I've actually like, it may surprise you, but I feel pretty good right now. I feel like my cross-training, I've been very on top of that. I've been doing really well with the at-home exercises and I've progressed a lot pretty fast. So that is, that's all good for me. Yeah, I'm feeling, I'm hoping that I can return in the next couple of weeks. And, you know, I'm feeling very, I have a positive attitude towards it. I think I'll be just fine when I come back.

The goal that we have as coaches for the season is that you've got to have really good times in all 3 race lengths. You've got to have good 8, you've got to have a good 16, you've got to have a good 32. So right now at Triton, I have all the varsity boys— this is not punishment, this is opportunity— I've got all of the varsity boys in an opportunity to race the 3200. It's in the morning at San Clemente, it's a good track, then it should be a really great time to run a really good 3,200. I'd rather you race at Triton this weekend than race at Trabuco, which is the week before Arcadia. So now I could, I could demand when you race what, but that, I don't feel like that's very motivating. So I need you to think about it, talk about it, come up with a good plan based on when these races are, because I don't want a situation where it's MOC and your race is an hour apart and you're like, I can't do that, coach. All right, go! I said 11:29.9. Can I run this weekend?

Here at 8:57, so just 50 minutes away from girl— and I said 8 runners in contention.

¡Vamos! ¡Vamos!

A little bit harder than the downhill.

Hey, you kicked it that last 800 there. I know.

Almost there, not quite, but I'm tired. I've already done 32. I want to get a good 800 in. That track feels like rocks.

But that was the beginning of a really hard week, so your confidence should be up.

I would say so.

Yeah, that was excellent. Very good.

I wanted to win.

Yes, but you played it really well. Your, your strategy was good. You tucked in, you let him do the work. Couldn't do anything about whether he had it at the end or not, but he hadn't run a 32 this morning.

Okay.

Nice job. It's alright.

I'll live.

Get in a cool-down and go find Marco.

Yeah.

And get our miles in. Yeah.

The reason I have more success in the 8 and the 16 is because there's no time to think, really. You know, it's just you get off the line and you're just racing. With the 8, it's 8 laps and it's a lot more, uh, you know, logical, I guess is the way to say it. So people are like, their strategies, and people are competing and being smart about the race. And you know, just knowing that, like, I get scared to take it out and I get scared to go quick. So I think it's just that I have time to think. I kind of like, my confidence will fall off sometimes. For Azusa, my goals are really just to compete. That field's going to be really fast. You're going to have guys like Alden Morales in that race. Who are just blistering fast, so I think if I can just hang with like the front of that pack, I'll perform. If I don't PR, I'm not gonna worry too much about it. You know, Coach John does a great job at training us to peak for the right time in the season, and Meet of Champions, even though it's fast competition in a fast track, it's beginning of the season really, so we really emphasize on working hard and, you know, performing at the end of the season when it counts.

Both are practicing.

That would have hurt. Marco, Marco, Marco!

Polo!

Alright, runners set, go! Meet of Champions has historically been a place that has phenomenal competition for distance runners.

I think the reason why it's more so like considered like a PR central for distance athletes is mainly because of the atmosphere. I'm personally excited because I'm in the invite section for the 800. Last year in the second heat of the night section for the 800, and that's where my PR is from. But obviously I'm really looking forward to another PR. This weekend. I'm really looking forward to like something really stellar. Obviously, you know, I can't be, you know, too egotistical and say like, I will for sure hit this, I'm gonna blow everyone out of the water. Obviously the main goal in mind is sub-1:50, but obviously the closer goal in mind is having a good PR.

Just go.

What is—

line yourselves up in order, starting with number 1 over here, okay? Take a look at your hip number. I'm just frustrated. Everything was perfect in that race. The first lap of 500. Once we get down to like 300 left, I'm doing fine. I'm staying up with the front, you know, and I just get pushed, pushed, tripped up. I'm like, dang. And then I like hit like a little tiny break. And that's just like something mental for sure. Just sucks, you know. I was really thinking of getting a lot better. You know, I'm not too satisfied with myself today. Even though it was a PR, you know, I know it can be a lot better. And I'm not really collapsing right now, so it kind of just says a lot about, you know, that effort on the last lap. I passed up 2 people at the end, you know, but I shouldn't have you know, have to if I was like racing like, I don't know, less in my head. Like, even if you start your season off really bad and you're in a mental bad spot at the beginning of the season, you just need to get out of it quickly because in the end, like, you can still achieve what you want to achieve if you really put your mind to it, even through the bad things.