Liberty Bell XC - NIKE Twilight Invitational
Location: Cedarcrest Golf Course, Marysville, WA
Date: 10.1.16
Distance: HS 5000m. A beautifully manicured golf course, generally flat, lots of corners, with two big downhills and one longer uphill (in mile 2). Weather varied from beautiful fall to wet and soggy. Miles 1 and 3 were fast-- Mile 2 had some hill work and slowed it down for all.
JH... A wet, high-spirited, loud, crazy-fun, costumed parade under the lights--with absolutely no chance of us getting times or places or any race commentary for you individually!
JUNIOR HIGH: Well, that was quite an event! We're sure hoping all the junior high racers had fun -- because that "race" was one big party. We loved your effort with the costumes (from tomatoes to the Mad Hatter and more) and your willingness to warm up in a total downpour. We are proud of your ability to stay focused (and brave) when the thousands of high school students descended on the start line, and we flat out are in awe of your ability to hold your own out there. Thanks for being so willing to go with the flow and finding the fun in the craziness. We'll have three more "normal" races -- don't worry! As always, Liberty Bell had the best cheering crowd of the day in you all -- and we hope you were inspired by seeing so many big high school races. That will be you in a year or two!
PS If anyone has photos of JR High please pass them along. Too wet for my camera!
SERIOUS OPEN RACE: The “serious” open race lived up to it’s billing, and Wes was excited to make a mark on the season and to get his first race off and running. Patience is tough when two Roosevelt Rough Riders spring away from the start, but suffice it to say that both finished almost a minute after Wes when all was said and done. The weather was great to kick things off and it was fun and informative to see where Wes will fit in with the rest of the group when he dons a Liberty Bell uniform for the first time this week!
Wes: 17:08, 2nd place, 1st mile 5:12 - 5:31 pace
As noted above — you tried to be smart but those first-race energies can easily happen. To a coach, we were impressed with your mid-race poise after the fast first mile, and you did a great job of hanging tough in that 2nd-4th position even as others tried to challenge, pulled slightly away, or dropped back through the race. A solid kick at the end put an exclamation point on the race, and you opened up 15-20 seconds on several runners that were close with 800m to go. Welcome to the racing Wes, and we’re excited to unleash you on the rest of the League!
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS - Freshman and Sophomore: The largest race of the day by far with 357 runners. Easy to get lost and sometimes hard to pace things in a huge field with lots of unknowns — but the weather held and it was excellent XC weather!
Henry: 20:30, 168th place, 1st mile 6:24 - 6:36 pace
About 10 sec. per mile faster than your 5k debut in Idaho and you are getting a feel for the distance and your racing savvy for sure. Great to see you and Simon getting out together and challenging that pace just a bit more in the first mile and you still were moving well in the final 800m of the race. Some challenging hills this weekend in Leavenworth. Steady and strong on the ups and use the downhills for momentum and tempo.
Simon: 20:42, 181st place, 1st mile 6:24 - 6:40 pace
Right on par with the race in Idaho, but a much faster first mile (almost 30 seconds) and in a large field with some challenging navigation. Keep pressing a bit and the second half will feel better in another week or two as we trade some finishing speed for interval volume. I missed the gap with Henry, but Tim will be back in the mix this week and hopefully another yellow jersey will give you guys even more to target when moving through the crowded field at Leavenworth.
Logan: 21:57, 247th place, 1st mile 7:03 - 7:04 pace
Amazingly even paced between that 1st mile and your overall pace. Keep pushing your comfort zone just a bit more on the front end and see what you have left in the tank with a first mile even 10 seconds quicker. Still looking light and full of life at the end so keep creating mini-races wishing the pack to move you through the group.
Michael: 23:34, 308th place, 1st mile 7:05 - 7:35 pace
Awesome Michael! Nearly 20 seconds per mile faster than Coeur d’Lane, and you are working hard to drop some time. Fast again in the opening mile but just about right for getting sucked along in a larger field. A totally different race next Sat. in Leavenworth, but steady on the hill and run the down hills strong. You will break 23 minutes at Oroville or Leagues!
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS -- Freshmen and Sophomores: Lucy and Sage joined a big field of 247 9th and 10th grade racers. The weather was perfect for this one -- a little warm sun, dry, and the grass was fast. Most of the other girls on the line were running for MUCH bigger high schools and had more company. We're glad you two had each other and you made starting box 33 look fierce and relaxed!
Lucy: 22:02, 30th place. 6:43 first mile, overall pace of 7:05
What an awesome first 5K! For someone who has never raced more than a mile, you made it look like you knew what you were doing. You got out perfectly -- fast enough to have some room to run, but comfortably, too. Then you did just a fantastic job of moving up throughout the race. You ran an awesome last 600 meters and the smiles on your face before, after, and even during the race tell us you'll be eager to come back for more! That's good news! Congrats!
Sage: 27:09, 185th place, 8:29 first mile, overall pace of 8:44
So great to see a happy post-race! Thanks for showing Lucy the ropes on the warm-up and starting line and thanks for continuing to chip away at your thoughts about racing. You looked relaxed and determined out there and we could see you racing the mini-races throughout the course. Let's build on that this week for what will also be a fun and crowded field at Leavenworth!
VARSITY BOYS: For the first time since State 2014, LBHS just raced four 4 guys under 6 minute pace. If you throw Wes into the mix, then we’re at five — and Carter was at 6:01 pace, Cade at 6:03 and Lazo just a step behind at 6:13. THIS is how deep we are and this is what you should know! This year we could put all seven runners below that mark in Pasco and eight if we could run them. This is the kind of “rising tide” that floats all boats. The team is faster and you are faster. Only 7 points behind Anacortes this weekend and we’ll see them again in Leavenworth. Keep pushing boundaries and look forward to the Championship phase of the season in a few short weeks!
Eli: 16:46, 16th place, 1st mile 5:17 - 5:24 pace
Yes! The race you’ve been patiently anticipating :) Great to see you smiling out there and the folks at Brooks with the #runhappy slogan will be psyched as well! A great move just before the 2 mile and you are consistently handling that faster first mile but still holding form throughout the race. Much lighter and smoother on your feet as well — and we aren’t done yet with the bulk of our harder workouts.
Walker: 17:36, 47th place, 1st mile 5:30 - 5:40 pace
A fine second 5k Walker and we’re glad to have you back in the racing mix. Still lots to learn with picking your spots — especially in a big field - but that 5:30 start seems about right and you still looked aggressive and light on the final big downhill. You looked a little lonely out there with going into the first hill in that second mile, but did a nice job of catching a group at the base of the second hill. Patience with the kick at the end and it will come with a taper and a little more 5k race development by season’s end.
VARSITY GIRLS: Excellent racing today and a well-deserved 3rd place trophy to boot! You were only beaten by two 2A high schools, Sehome (a perennial powerhouse out of Bellingham with LOTS of girls on the team) and Anacortes (who only had 4 points on us). 4th place was more than 100 points back -- and with mostly 1A and 2A schools in the race you made quite a statement about just how good little Liberty Bell is. We'll see Anacortes next week at Leavenworth, and it will be fun to show them an Eastern Washington course — how fast we can run hills! With 155 finishers in the race, you had a crowded start line and you all handled it easily. Hope you continue to savor this really incredible journey you are on as a team -- and remember the true satisfaction comes in doing it together. Warming up we said that today was for the joy of sport and to tackle the little races you would have throughout the whole 5K. You EACH did that -- we could see it -- and we could also see your love for running in the heart you all showed in the last mile.
Novie: 18:30, 1st place, 5:54 first mile, overall pace of 5:57
Another week of super solid running -- leading again from wire to wire. You got out really well -- but you were still relaxed and comfortable. You ran three tight miles -- all real close in pace, which was not easy with that 2nd hilly mile. You always own the uphills but it was equally terrific to watch you really open it up on that last long downhill. Nice! You made that look like a lot of fun. Thanks, too, for being such an awesome teammate -- you lit up when you heard your team was running well! Awesome.
Gretta: 19:45, 9th place, 6:07 first mile, overall pace of 6:21
So glad those toes didn't bleed this week -- and certainly that fierce-looking blood stain on your spikes absolutely intimidated everyone around you. You are running so strong this season -- you just look like you are "in" every race. Nice job with some small surges when you needed them. We know you like to run from the front and get out -- maybe this week we could try just backing off a second or two on that first mile and see if it gives you a little more at the end. You’ve got a lot of speed for a big kick and we'll want to make use of that at State!
Athena: 20:33, 14th place, 6:26 first mile, overall pace of 6:37
We're really excited to see you getting out in a good position in mile one and then putting the pedal to the metal as you like to in miles 2 and 3. You ran that long uphill brilliantly -- just like on the Palm's driveway and that made the difference in your excellent finish position. You are running faster than last year -- at the Erik Anderson Invite last year on a similar fast golf course, you ran 30 seconds slower than this (and there were pretty much NO hills)! Imagine what that will mean in a few weeks. All good. Keep the joy coming and keep believing.
Icel: 20:53, 24th place, 6:34 first mile, overall pace of 6:43
So great to have you back -- you are an important part of this team pack! You held it all together well all race, and while we know you felt like your head wasn't quite in this one enough, but keep some perspective and focus on the good. You are running amazingly well this year -- at the Erik Anderson Invite last year (similar fast golf course) you ran 22:03. So before you beat yourself up too much, remember you are on a trajectory that takes you to places you weren't even thinking of last year in cross-country. We've got 4 more weeks to keep experimenting and you'll be ready in November -- we are certain of this!
Ava: 21:24, 37th place, 6:31 first mile, overall pace of 6:53
You looked like you were completely in the "flow" of this one. It was dialed right in and you did a terrific job of turning off the voices in your head and taking it step-by-step. We saw some terrific surges at key moments (that big downhill!) and you held excellent running form throughout. You, too, are running faster than last year -- your Erik Anderson Invite (on a similar golf course) was more than 30 seconds slower than this. Yes, we now are talking about big lofty team goals -- but don't see that as pressure. Embrace it for the fun it can be -- because you are right there contributing EVERY week and you are on pace for a stunning end of season.
Rivers: 21:33, 44th place, 6:30 first mile, overall pace of 6:56
Chin up, Rivers. This was a very solid race, even if you feel like it wasn't THE race you wanted. The fall (and quick pick up) in that last half mile definitely can take you out of your rhythm, so chalk that one up to a fluke. Let's instead focus on the fact that you ran 12 seconds per mile faster than Couer d'Alene and almost exactly as fast as the 2 mile Ellensburg race. THAT’S solid and you should feel good about your progress. We love that you care and that you have high expectations, just remember all the good things you are doing and know that it will all come together -- it really will!
Taya: 22:22, 68th place, 6:43 first mile, overall pace of 7:12
It was really great to see you in the Liberty Bell pack there at the beginning -- and great job hanging in again for a very very excellent finish position. Each week you will get stronger and the second half of your races will start to feel easier. It will happen without you even thinking about it. We noticed a very strong kick this week through those lit-up arches and we suspect you are going to LOVE the hills at Leavenworth next Saturday.
SERIOUS OPEN RACE: The “serious” open race lived up to it’s billing, and Wes was excited to make a mark on the season and to get his first race off and running. Patience is tough when two Roosevelt Rough Riders spring away from the start, but suffice it to say that both finished almost a minute after Wes when all was said and done. The weather was great to kick things off and it was fun and informative to see where Wes will fit in with the rest of the group when he dons a Liberty Bell uniform for the first time this week!
Wes: 17:08, 2nd place, 1st mile 5:12 - 5:31 pace
As noted above — you tried to be smart but those first-race energies can easily happen. To a coach, we were impressed with your mid-race poise after the fast first mile, and you did a great job of hanging tough in that 2nd-4th position even as others tried to challenge, pulled slightly away, or dropped back through the race. A solid kick at the end put an exclamation point on the race, and you opened up 15-20 seconds on several runners that were close with 800m to go. Welcome to the racing Wes, and we’re excited to unleash you on the rest of the League!
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS - Freshman and Sophomore: The largest race of the day by far with 357 runners. Easy to get lost and sometimes hard to pace things in a huge field with lots of unknowns — but the weather held and it was excellent XC weather!
Henry: 20:30, 168th place, 1st mile 6:24 - 6:36 pace
About 10 sec. per mile faster than your 5k debut in Idaho and you are getting a feel for the distance and your racing savvy for sure. Great to see you and Simon getting out together and challenging that pace just a bit more in the first mile and you still were moving well in the final 800m of the race. Some challenging hills this weekend in Leavenworth. Steady and strong on the ups and use the downhills for momentum and tempo.
Simon: 20:42, 181st place, 1st mile 6:24 - 6:40 pace
Right on par with the race in Idaho, but a much faster first mile (almost 30 seconds) and in a large field with some challenging navigation. Keep pressing a bit and the second half will feel better in another week or two as we trade some finishing speed for interval volume. I missed the gap with Henry, but Tim will be back in the mix this week and hopefully another yellow jersey will give you guys even more to target when moving through the crowded field at Leavenworth.
Logan: 21:57, 247th place, 1st mile 7:03 - 7:04 pace
Amazingly even paced between that 1st mile and your overall pace. Keep pushing your comfort zone just a bit more on the front end and see what you have left in the tank with a first mile even 10 seconds quicker. Still looking light and full of life at the end so keep creating mini-races wishing the pack to move you through the group.
Michael: 23:34, 308th place, 1st mile 7:05 - 7:35 pace
Awesome Michael! Nearly 20 seconds per mile faster than Coeur d’Lane, and you are working hard to drop some time. Fast again in the opening mile but just about right for getting sucked along in a larger field. A totally different race next Sat. in Leavenworth, but steady on the hill and run the down hills strong. You will break 23 minutes at Oroville or Leagues!
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS -- Freshmen and Sophomores: Lucy and Sage joined a big field of 247 9th and 10th grade racers. The weather was perfect for this one -- a little warm sun, dry, and the grass was fast. Most of the other girls on the line were running for MUCH bigger high schools and had more company. We're glad you two had each other and you made starting box 33 look fierce and relaxed!
Lucy: 22:02, 30th place. 6:43 first mile, overall pace of 7:05
What an awesome first 5K! For someone who has never raced more than a mile, you made it look like you knew what you were doing. You got out perfectly -- fast enough to have some room to run, but comfortably, too. Then you did just a fantastic job of moving up throughout the race. You ran an awesome last 600 meters and the smiles on your face before, after, and even during the race tell us you'll be eager to come back for more! That's good news! Congrats!
Sage: 27:09, 185th place, 8:29 first mile, overall pace of 8:44
So great to see a happy post-race! Thanks for showing Lucy the ropes on the warm-up and starting line and thanks for continuing to chip away at your thoughts about racing. You looked relaxed and determined out there and we could see you racing the mini-races throughout the course. Let's build on that this week for what will also be a fun and crowded field at Leavenworth!
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS - Junior and Senior:
Tim was our lone representative in this race -- but the new bright yellow singlet made him easy to spot! This was one of the bigger fields on the day with 257 finishers. The sun was still out and the grass was still relatively dry and fast!
Tim: 20:47, 151st place, 6:11 first mile, overall pace of 6:41
This was a very impressive effort, Tim. You went out really really hard and quickly realized that pace wasn't going to be sustainable. You then did an excellent job settling in and finding your pace and your race. That's not easy to do. You didn't panic and you didn't get down. You just made adjustments until you found your zone. You then went on to have a really excellent race and set a great example for everyone to remember — that you can always adjust a race plan and make a good one out of it.
Tim was our lone representative in this race -- but the new bright yellow singlet made him easy to spot! This was one of the bigger fields on the day with 257 finishers. The sun was still out and the grass was still relatively dry and fast!
Tim: 20:47, 151st place, 6:11 first mile, overall pace of 6:41
This was a very impressive effort, Tim. You went out really really hard and quickly realized that pace wasn't going to be sustainable. You then did an excellent job settling in and finding your pace and your race. That's not easy to do. You didn't panic and you didn't get down. You just made adjustments until you found your zone. You then went on to have a really excellent race and set a great example for everyone to remember — that you can always adjust a race plan and make a good one out of it.
VARSITY BOYS: For the first time since State 2014, LBHS just raced four 4 guys under 6 minute pace. If you throw Wes into the mix, then we’re at five — and Carter was at 6:01 pace, Cade at 6:03 and Lazo just a step behind at 6:13. THIS is how deep we are and this is what you should know! This year we could put all seven runners below that mark in Pasco and eight if we could run them. This is the kind of “rising tide” that floats all boats. The team is faster and you are faster. Only 7 points behind Anacortes this weekend and we’ll see them again in Leavenworth. Keep pushing boundaries and look forward to the Championship phase of the season in a few short weeks!
Eli: 16:46, 16th place, 1st mile 5:17 - 5:24 pace
Yes! The race you’ve been patiently anticipating :) Great to see you smiling out there and the folks at Brooks with the #runhappy slogan will be psyched as well! A great move just before the 2 mile and you are consistently handling that faster first mile but still holding form throughout the race. Much lighter and smoother on your feet as well — and we aren’t done yet with the bulk of our harder workouts.
Walker: 17:36, 47th place, 1st mile 5:30 - 5:40 pace
A fine second 5k Walker and we’re glad to have you back in the racing mix. Still lots to learn with picking your spots — especially in a big field - but that 5:30 start seems about right and you still looked aggressive and light on the final big downhill. You looked a little lonely out there with going into the first hill in that second mile, but did a nice job of catching a group at the base of the second hill. Patience with the kick at the end and it will come with a taper and a little more 5k race development by season’s end.
Emerson: 17:59, 61st place, 1st mile 5:30 - 5:47 pace
Wrap it up and bottle it! Whatever you did mentally for this one we want to push “play and repeat” for Districts and State. Some different courses with hills and unique distances this week. Not so serious a race on Tuesday — but think about your mental prep and keep relaxed and fast without getting too excited about a fine performance. You are doing a lot with extra ski team work - so with a bigger picture view towards feeling good at the end of the season we REALLY want you to slow down on Threshold/Tempo days in the next few weeks. Much appreciated :)
Peter: 18:20, 79th place, 1st mile 5:43 - 5:54 pace
Another stand-out effort with a legit 5k pace under 6 minutes. You got out strong again and raced well with the group. There seems to be some natural movement between you and Carter but that grouping is a good ballpark for starters that seems to lead to good overall performances for you both. So great to see you handling these faster opening miles and looking forward to see you match up again with Tonasket and Brewster in the week ahead.
Carter: 18:42, 97th place, 1st mile 5:43 - 6:01 pace
Back in the driver’s seat and running strong. Congrats (well after the fact) on a pretty huge day with the SAT and a solid race. Two of your best complete races of your high school career between Couer d’Alene and Twilight and we’re really excited to see you consistent week-to-week and dealing well with some faster early miles.
Cade: 18:54, 105th place, 1st mile 5:39 - 6:05 pace
We’ve talked a bit already, but patience is the rule of the day. Your 6:03 paced effort today is not unlike your 5:59 race at Spokane from last year and you know that your body is adjusting/not yet right. The next few race courses vary too much for pace comparisons so we’ll key on other things and know that big steps in the right direction can happen in the next several weeks. In 2014 senior Willy Dugay ran 6:03 pace on an early Oct. weekend at Kettle Falls. At Districts he ran 5:42 pace, and at State, 5:37. Keep that kind of progress in mind and it it will happen. Positive wins out and patient trust in your body and training will get you there.
Lazo: 19:19, 131st place, 1st mile 6:03 - 6:13 pace
Another steady performance Lazo and something you will build on for sure through the end of the season. Nearly a minute faster than Idaho, and as mentioned above you can be knocking on the door of that 6 minute mark by season’s end. Smooth and fluid on your kick to the finish. Get that rhythm rolling a little earlier on the pre-finish down hill at Leavenworth next weekend!
Wrap it up and bottle it! Whatever you did mentally for this one we want to push “play and repeat” for Districts and State. Some different courses with hills and unique distances this week. Not so serious a race on Tuesday — but think about your mental prep and keep relaxed and fast without getting too excited about a fine performance. You are doing a lot with extra ski team work - so with a bigger picture view towards feeling good at the end of the season we REALLY want you to slow down on Threshold/Tempo days in the next few weeks. Much appreciated :)
Peter: 18:20, 79th place, 1st mile 5:43 - 5:54 pace
Another stand-out effort with a legit 5k pace under 6 minutes. You got out strong again and raced well with the group. There seems to be some natural movement between you and Carter but that grouping is a good ballpark for starters that seems to lead to good overall performances for you both. So great to see you handling these faster opening miles and looking forward to see you match up again with Tonasket and Brewster in the week ahead.
Carter: 18:42, 97th place, 1st mile 5:43 - 6:01 pace
Back in the driver’s seat and running strong. Congrats (well after the fact) on a pretty huge day with the SAT and a solid race. Two of your best complete races of your high school career between Couer d’Alene and Twilight and we’re really excited to see you consistent week-to-week and dealing well with some faster early miles.
Cade: 18:54, 105th place, 1st mile 5:39 - 6:05 pace
We’ve talked a bit already, but patience is the rule of the day. Your 6:03 paced effort today is not unlike your 5:59 race at Spokane from last year and you know that your body is adjusting/not yet right. The next few race courses vary too much for pace comparisons so we’ll key on other things and know that big steps in the right direction can happen in the next several weeks. In 2014 senior Willy Dugay ran 6:03 pace on an early Oct. weekend at Kettle Falls. At Districts he ran 5:42 pace, and at State, 5:37. Keep that kind of progress in mind and it it will happen. Positive wins out and patient trust in your body and training will get you there.
Lazo: 19:19, 131st place, 1st mile 6:03 - 6:13 pace
Another steady performance Lazo and something you will build on for sure through the end of the season. Nearly a minute faster than Idaho, and as mentioned above you can be knocking on the door of that 6 minute mark by season’s end. Smooth and fluid on your kick to the finish. Get that rhythm rolling a little earlier on the pre-finish down hill at Leavenworth next weekend!
VARSITY GIRLS: Excellent racing today and a well-deserved 3rd place trophy to boot! You were only beaten by two 2A high schools, Sehome (a perennial powerhouse out of Bellingham with LOTS of girls on the team) and Anacortes (who only had 4 points on us). 4th place was more than 100 points back -- and with mostly 1A and 2A schools in the race you made quite a statement about just how good little Liberty Bell is. We'll see Anacortes next week at Leavenworth, and it will be fun to show them an Eastern Washington course — how fast we can run hills! With 155 finishers in the race, you had a crowded start line and you all handled it easily. Hope you continue to savor this really incredible journey you are on as a team -- and remember the true satisfaction comes in doing it together. Warming up we said that today was for the joy of sport and to tackle the little races you would have throughout the whole 5K. You EACH did that -- we could see it -- and we could also see your love for running in the heart you all showed in the last mile.
Novie: 18:30, 1st place, 5:54 first mile, overall pace of 5:57
Another week of super solid running -- leading again from wire to wire. You got out really well -- but you were still relaxed and comfortable. You ran three tight miles -- all real close in pace, which was not easy with that 2nd hilly mile. You always own the uphills but it was equally terrific to watch you really open it up on that last long downhill. Nice! You made that look like a lot of fun. Thanks, too, for being such an awesome teammate -- you lit up when you heard your team was running well! Awesome.
Gretta: 19:45, 9th place, 6:07 first mile, overall pace of 6:21
So glad those toes didn't bleed this week -- and certainly that fierce-looking blood stain on your spikes absolutely intimidated everyone around you. You are running so strong this season -- you just look like you are "in" every race. Nice job with some small surges when you needed them. We know you like to run from the front and get out -- maybe this week we could try just backing off a second or two on that first mile and see if it gives you a little more at the end. You’ve got a lot of speed for a big kick and we'll want to make use of that at State!
Athena: 20:33, 14th place, 6:26 first mile, overall pace of 6:37
We're really excited to see you getting out in a good position in mile one and then putting the pedal to the metal as you like to in miles 2 and 3. You ran that long uphill brilliantly -- just like on the Palm's driveway and that made the difference in your excellent finish position. You are running faster than last year -- at the Erik Anderson Invite last year on a similar fast golf course, you ran 30 seconds slower than this (and there were pretty much NO hills)! Imagine what that will mean in a few weeks. All good. Keep the joy coming and keep believing.
Icel: 20:53, 24th place, 6:34 first mile, overall pace of 6:43
So great to have you back -- you are an important part of this team pack! You held it all together well all race, and while we know you felt like your head wasn't quite in this one enough, but keep some perspective and focus on the good. You are running amazingly well this year -- at the Erik Anderson Invite last year (similar fast golf course) you ran 22:03. So before you beat yourself up too much, remember you are on a trajectory that takes you to places you weren't even thinking of last year in cross-country. We've got 4 more weeks to keep experimenting and you'll be ready in November -- we are certain of this!
Ava: 21:24, 37th place, 6:31 first mile, overall pace of 6:53
You looked like you were completely in the "flow" of this one. It was dialed right in and you did a terrific job of turning off the voices in your head and taking it step-by-step. We saw some terrific surges at key moments (that big downhill!) and you held excellent running form throughout. You, too, are running faster than last year -- your Erik Anderson Invite (on a similar golf course) was more than 30 seconds slower than this. Yes, we now are talking about big lofty team goals -- but don't see that as pressure. Embrace it for the fun it can be -- because you are right there contributing EVERY week and you are on pace for a stunning end of season.
Rivers: 21:33, 44th place, 6:30 first mile, overall pace of 6:56
Chin up, Rivers. This was a very solid race, even if you feel like it wasn't THE race you wanted. The fall (and quick pick up) in that last half mile definitely can take you out of your rhythm, so chalk that one up to a fluke. Let's instead focus on the fact that you ran 12 seconds per mile faster than Couer d'Alene and almost exactly as fast as the 2 mile Ellensburg race. THAT’S solid and you should feel good about your progress. We love that you care and that you have high expectations, just remember all the good things you are doing and know that it will all come together -- it really will!
Taya: 22:22, 68th place, 6:43 first mile, overall pace of 7:12
It was really great to see you in the Liberty Bell pack there at the beginning -- and great job hanging in again for a very very excellent finish position. Each week you will get stronger and the second half of your races will start to feel easier. It will happen without you even thinking about it. We noticed a very strong kick this week through those lit-up arches and we suspect you are going to LOVE the hills at Leavenworth next Saturday.
