After world champs i wanted to get away and just relax without thinking about or training for track for a couple days. So i decided to head to Ft. Lauderdale and visit my Brother Alex. It was a good time and i enjoyed spending time with my nephew. He is 16 months now and is running around getting into whatever he can get into. He likes to hide in the cupboards beneath the kitchen counter, and hide cell phones and keys in various places around the apartment. He is a cute kid and i hope i can head back to FL to visit before 2011.
While in Florida i did not train a single day but decided to compete at a meet down in Miami. I figured i might as well stay somewhat active and i figured running over 10 hurdles would be a good way to do so. I didnt run anything special but it was nice to get out there, and it was also nice to have my brother at the meet. It might actually be the first meet he'd ever seen me run at.
As soon as i arrived back in NC i headed straight to practice from the airport and jumped right into things. We had 8x110 meter runs in 12.4 seconds and i was very surprised to see that i was able to finish the workout without feeling as if i was out of shape. I had never been so happy to arrive in Raleigh, NC and practice made me feel even better, because it showed me i could pick up where i left off in February.
Last weekend coach had me run at the Raleigh Relays, and i will continue to run as many weekends as i can. My prelim race was on Friday, we had beautiful weather, and for the first time i raced with the technique id been learning during the Fall. My start was not as aggressive as i would like, but we are making some minor adjustments to it and i wasnt comfortable going all out to the first hurdle. But i did manage to do a lot of other things correct. I felt good until mid race and when i found myself standing up off the hurdle and forgetting to lean. I felt i was clear of the field and so i put it on cruise control and did my usual (horrible habit) jog to the finish line. I crossed the line in 1st place with a time of 13.74 which is without a doubt the fastest ive ever ran in March.
The final did not go so well because i didnt keep my composure midway down the track. I am used to getting a great start and being out in front, but as i was still not comfortable with the adjustmens i wasnt able to get out as aggresivley as id like. I was neck and neck with Drew Brunson over 4 hurdles but i tried pressing over the 5th and finally reverted to old and (bad) techniques over the 6th. I started standing up over top of the hurdle and my lead-leg hamstring came down on the hurdle. It a was clear sign that I wasnt executing what id been taught, but it was a good lesson learned that i have to keep my cool in tight situations. I pulled up at hurdle 6 and continued to walk down and move hurdles with my hand to finally cross the finish line in 21.8 seconds. I was given a DQ though because you are not allowed to push hurdles over with your hands lol.
I wasnt upset with it though and neither was coach because we finally saw a lot of things executed correctly in a race. Coach also realized that i hadn't even started training for 10 hurdles as i had just finished with my indoor season.
I also ran on a 4x100 meter relay at Raleigh Relays (my first 4x1 ever) and we finished 2nd in 40.32. It is not an especially fast time, but is very impressive when you realize that 3 of the legs are hurdlers, and we got no more than 10 minutes worth of relay-exchange practice in. I was very pleased and im certain we will run under 40 seconds and we ever decide to run it again.
So i am very happy that the outdoor season is here, and im feeling confident about the way things are going and where they are heading. Indoor did not go as planned, but it is behind me, i learned a lot from it, and am now focused on this outdoor season.
I run this Friday and Saturday and NC A&T, ill be running the 110 hurdles and for the first time ever the 100 meter dash. We finally have great weather again in NC so im looking forward to a great weekend.
Here is the Prelim race (13.74)
Track and Field Videos on Flotrack
And this is the 4x1 relays (40.32, Lane 2)
