Snow Canyon Warriors Track

I want to comment on your race at state. I think you have all the physical gifts to run well, and mentally I think you're strong, but I think you can get in the flow a bit more. You know how athletes talk about getting "in the zone"? A great race always has 2 aspects, focus and relaxation. I believe you're very focused, but then there's that intangible outside source that helps us to run well which is not always connected to physical gifts or mental stamina. You mention in your race that you were boxed in until about 1 mile into the race and couldn't get up toward the front. But there were still 2 miles left to run!!! The race is just beginning. You can't win the race in the first mile, but you certainly can go out too fast and lose it. You should feel controlled that first mile, but you sounded like you were pressing because you were worried about being boxed-in. That's not relaxing and letting it flow. Look at Jason Lynch, 2nd in 5A. I watched him be in the top 3rd of the pack to 20th at the mile, 15th at 1.5, 5th with a mile to go and he gets 2nd overall. The fact is he probably maintained a consistent pace and everyone else slowed down. An even pace will still feel like you're going faster throughout because physiologically you are extending more. The guy who came just in front of you, Jamal Tongo, he always goes to the front and runs his first mile too fast and then fades.

Don't you feel like some of your best races you were able to relax and let it flow instead of pressing? It's not that you're not going fast, it's that you can relax and go fast at the same time.

I look forward to see what you can do at footlocker, let it flow!

hmm, 11 miles is a recovery run?...hmm nice.

Good luck with your training for footlocker! It looks like you're going to be ready for a great race!

I was there. Jamal Tongo was in about 25th at the hill. Coming off the hill he went flying past me (and everyone else) at the mile mark, eventually ending up in the top 10.

I guess that was his plan. Pick off guys around the lake and relax on the hill...then hold on for dear life at the finish.

It is true, though. His legs were like jello at the end of the race when he got passed up by Clark Taylor and almost Hayden. He put down a good race, but so did Hayden.

You are right that your time should have been in the 15:30's. Don't let little things throw you off next time, you are better than that. Don't give up because you get boxed because those runners will fade, and don't let little things get in the way like the temperature and altitude. You better than those runner even at altitude. Just look forward to Footlocker's altitude.

It is interesting that you would have been 7th overall last year. This year was really competitive and very fast. But the season isn't over. Time for Footlocker baby!