RACE COURSE: 5k. The Gorge Amphitheater. A mix of pavement, gravel and short grass. Start in front of the stage, climb for 800m + to flatter faster grass and big loops in the parking area. Downhill second half but short steep 80m sprint to the finish. A VERY nice day for running. Sunny and fall-like with sweet views into the Columbia River from the stage :)
OVERALL: Surprisingly fun I think even though our first impression might have been a little skewed by the long downhill pavement walk from the bus! We saw thoughtful running in that first 800+ meters, but were generally impressed with everyone’s ability to turn the pace up a notch once the course flattened out. This is easily reflected in the fact that almost everyone ran a negative split for the overall pace as compared to mile number one. Tough and tactical running is a great thing to practice, and we can hit that first mile hard again with a little taper on our legs next week in preparation for those final races at State. Onward and upward!
VARSITY GIRLS: 98 Finishers. Only four runners this week due to colds and caution, so no team score. That being said, the girls would have been right in the thick of it for challenging the eventual team winners, Moses Lake. We saw excellent hill running, lots of patience and confidence, and some great team spirit. Just what we need at this point of the season.
Leki: 20:37, 1st place. 1st Mile: 6:59, Overall pace: 6:38
I hope you are relishing that great race! You ran the opening mile quite strategically, getting out into good position and then letting someone else lead. You took over just around the mile marker, where you knew it would feel good and you could open up - and that’s what you did. You ran the corners and zig-zags with acceleration and you still had a great kick up the hill. I believe you set the course record by something like 90 seconds...amazing! You are finding your racing rhythm and it’s only going to start feeling better and better.
Jori: 21:21, 4th place. 1st Mile: 7:16, Overall pace: 6:52
I have always admired your gritty ability to just go hard at a good pace for the whole race. But, this year your finishes are standing out - and this week was no exception. You and the runner from Wapato just went stride for stride on that one and you never let up for a second. That told me that you are strong, mentally and physically, and ready for the championship season. You also ran super smart at the start -- getting into a good position in the race but not being too anxious. You are a senior racing with a lot of maturity and confidence.
Dashe: 22:16, 11th place. 1st Mile: 7:24, Overall pace: 7:10
While I suspect the early pace on that tough uphill section left you a little tapped out in the middle half of the race, you rallied big time for another strong finish. Your hill climb to the line was simply inspiring! I think Kaydence from Brewster is going to be a good running partner/focus point for you at Districts and I’d love to talk more this week about whether you want to mix up your racing strategy. I believe 100% that with a little tapering over the next few weeks you are going to feel good and fast and when we combine that with your natural tenacity and grit, watch out!
Sandra: 26:02, 44th place, 1st Mile: 8:40, Overall pace: 8:23
Great job running an awesome last mile. You do love downhills and you really opened up and looked the most comfortable in that last part of the race -- which is not easy to do! I know the opening uphill mile and the lack of teammates like Payten or Ayeanna to pace around made the start a little hard to navigate. I continue to believe that you race best when you get out hard (harder than you may want to) and then trust yourself to keep going. Your legs are tired -- they have been working hard -- and they will start to feel better with some tapering. You are racing right around Tri-Cities Prep’s top 3 runners -- which will be a key race for you and us at Districts!
Ayeanna, Payten, Zoe:
Just a quick note to say we missed you! We are glad you are all taking care of yourselves and doing what you need to get healthy and back with us. We’re a small but very mighty team. It’s going to take every single one of us to make this state dream a reality, so keep communicating with us and keep making good decisions about how to care for yourself. We can’t wait to see you back on the starting line at the time trial this week and districts next week.
BOYS: 99 Finishers. 14 complete teams. Liberty Bell 45, West Valley 70 , Moses Lake 77, Pasco 121, Brewster 160...
Will: 16:59, 1st place. 1st Mile: 5:38, Overall pace: 5:28
A new course record for the second week in a row, and excellent pacing/patience on your part in that opening 800m. You didn’t visibly panic when you weren’t at the front right away, but you also worked your way into a better position without expending too much energy. A little before the mile you definitely stepped on the gas, and it was fun watching you use that tempo change to open up on the field and to slowly string along the runner from Oregon that was trying to chase you down. Rhythm in the arms definitely set the pace for this one and you can put that to good use again in both of the next two races.
Graham: 18:07, 7th place. 1st Mile: 6:00, Overall pace: 5:50
Excellent intention and a terrific goal/battle with Juan that pulled you through the early parts of that race. Yes, he motored away from you all of a sudden at the end, but you did an awesome job of reeling him in slowly but surely from the start and made that race by being focused and by making it happen for as long as possible. Juan has been getting faster each race and you came in strong from summer training. That being said a little taper and some focus on speed this week will have you covering his every move in a race like State.
Aksel: 18:11, 9th place. 1st Mile: 6:03, Overall pace: 5:51
Just a great race Aksel. You chased after Graham right from the start. You slowly found your way out of the crowd and you were rolling really well in those flatter sections after the mile. Watching your tempo change when we hit the flats was a noticeable thing, and you also did well to throw in a surge or two just after that first set of hay bales to move a little farther up before the race got too far away. Similar tactics in tracking teammates and in good positioning that first mile will pay huge dividends at State, and the low 17’s are totally within your reach!
Isaiah: 18:13, 10th place. 1st Mile: 6:07, Overall pace: 5:52
A really tough as nails race again Isaiah and no matter what the time you just have to keep racing with your teammates and staying close with whatever it takes in that first two miles. Today you looked really strong, and rather than chasing Carter into the finish your push at the mile helped pull him along through the toughest part of the race. Stay excited about the tight pack running and the relative notion of how close you guys are or your potential to race with “4-5 in the top 10”. That kind of team running is SO hard to beat and will carry you guys really far at State. An awesome final hill climb as well, and that kick of yours too will drop some serious hurt on folks in that final 200m in Pasco.
Carter: 18:46, 22nd place. 1st Mile: 6:06, Overall pace: 6:02
As noted, some races are workout efforts. Kind of a crazy uphill start and this did not really play well for the success that you’ve had in pushing that opening mile over the last couple of weeks. It was a little harder to group things up in the crowded turns as well and our pack was fractured for a bit more time that is usually helpful as well. To your credit, you guys did pack it up a bit heading into the mile, and you and Isaiah especially were helpful to each other in that quieter far-away section. Districts at Okanogan should be more your speed. That flatter, faster opening stretch will let you push early and the pack running should be much easier as well - just like it was when we raced there earlier in the season.
Jackson: 18:57, 27th place. 1st Mile: 6:16, Overall pace: 6:06
Great work again Jackson and you are just running so solid out there. Tons of hard work and success so far in both races and practice. You’ve been steadily notching down the “relative” times (IE this was probably worth and 18:20 or something like that) and the taper is on the way! A little more work to do this week, a necessary qualifier at Okanogan where you can once again shadow that larger pack and stay as close as you can deep into the race, and then we get to get out there and cruise again at State. Great racing all around and awesome final climb up the hill as well!
Tristan: 19:17, 34th place. 1st Mile: 6:23, Overall pace: 6:12
Awesome job in attaching yourself to that group just before the mile and really nicely done as well in passing both of those Brewster runners in that final mile of the race. Yes, you got passed by someone else near the end, but just before two miles you fought to stay with that pack when they just as easily could have gotten away and that made your race for sure. As our 7th runner placing in front of all but Brewsters #1 and #2, you are dumping points on people left and right. Your effort on Saturday was easily worth an 18:45 on a regular course and I can’t wait to see you drop some time again at Okanogan where you were crushing it in the solo 2mi that you ran the last time around.
Kyler: 20:53, 16th place. 1st Mile: 7:06, Overall pace: 6:43
A seriously excellent second half of that race! Almost one minute slower than usual in the first mile, but only 40 seconds off of your current 5k pr. You negative-splitted in a major way and that was crystal clear from watching as you took off after the mile and motored around those flatter, straighter sections of the course. To top it off, your excellent running pushed little “T” to a season 5k PR and I believe that he is bringing you fresh chocolate chip cookies every day this week as a ‘thank you.” No PR for you this week “C-SQUAD” but your effort and racing savvy helped a teammate. Just as good in my book!
Little T: 21:08, PR, 21st place. 1st Mile: 7:07, Overall pace: 6:46
Such a good job in sticking with Kyler when he started pressing in that second half. You made all the right moves to keep in contact during that quieter, farther-away section on the upper parking lots, and you were rewarded with our ONLY PR on the day! You could see it coming in your workouts this last week, and you are doing a better and better job of using your arms to ramp up the pace when you need the quick little surge. Keep thinking about good form and quick arms when we run this week. More time to drop in the race at Okanogan next week for sure and a sub-20:20 effort is not at all out of the question.
Mali: 24:02, 44th place. 1st Mile: 8:10, Overall pace: 7:44
A conservative start on the hill that paid off really well for you in moving up through the race really well over the whole second half. You are stronger than you think after lots of good running this summer and you definitely have more time to drop (and enough strength to carry you through) if you get out just a little bit harder in our final race at Okanogan. The two mile TT on Friday night is a great place to experiment with that slightly harder start -- especially since we are only racing 2 miles and it will be totally flat and predictable on the track.
Taro: 24:18, 53rd place. 1st Mile: 7:52, Overall pace: 7:49
Good to get you back after quite a break from racing. No question a shock to the system with all of the hills, but you still managed to find a good groove up on top and in your own words did a nice job of finding someone to race who was going at your pace. Just a few more workouts and then a final race in Okanogan next Wednesday. It will be fun for you to get back on a familiar course for the second time and to run it again with some more experience. Great job Taro and glad to have you back!
Good to get you back after quite a break from racing. No question a shock to the system with all of the hills, but you still managed to find a good groove up on top and in your own words did a nice job of finding someone to race who was going at your pace. Just a few more workouts and then a final race in Okanogan next Wednesday. It will be fun for you to get back on a familiar course for the second time and to run it again with some more experience. Great job Taro and glad to have you back!
Madison: 26:27, 64th place. 1st Mile: 7:45, Overall pace: 8:30
Although last week going out hard and holding on was successful, this week it seemed harder for you to rally in that second half. We’ll be pulling back a little bit on the amount of work that we do as we taper towards that final meet in Okanogan. Hopefully that sets you up well for another season-ending PR on a course that you know and that you had some good success on earlier this season. Keep rolling that leg out and massaging that quad. Remember shoes for the week and let’s wrap this second season up in style.
