Simplot Games – Pocatello, Idaho

Friday, February 19th

After a thirteen hour drive yesterday, Kayla, Lilliana, Salena, and I (along with two moms) arrived in Pocatello, Idaho for the Simplot Games indoor track meet. Trust me when I say that the drive was uneventful, and my bum hurt like no other. We did a morning shakeout run — 2 to 3 miles easy to get the muscles loose before we headed to the track for the first day of prelim events. Kayla, Salena, Lilliana, and I all raced the 4x400m relay prelim together and then competed individually in the open 800m prelim. What’s different about indoor track from outdoor track is that the laps are only 200m long, and they are on a banked surface like a velodrome. After competing and advancing to the finals, we all headed to the movie theater to watch the movie Race with track star Jesse Owens. The inspiration I drew from his struggles, (and triumphs!) carried over into Saturday’s final events, and ultimately lead to my last article about the choice to boycott Olympics or not.

Saturday, February 20th

After a successful day qualifying in prelims yesterday (only top 21 advance from a total of 200+ competitors from the day before) we got to the track. Because the track is so small, the energy in the building was very upbeat and bustling with athletes and fans which was definitely cool to have while racing. While Kayla and Lilly raced fantastically and PRed, I did not; and that is okay. It would be a lie to say that every time I race, I have an amazing time accompanied by a glorious win. It is in the failures that I have gained the most experience and perspective, which have ultimately shaped me as a runner and person, because without failure there is no improvement. Thanks to Simplot I raced on a 200m track for the first time and gained valuable experience for the next time around 🙂

On to New York!

Friday & Saturday, March 11th—12th

Friday I flew to New York City to race in the Indoor National Championships put on by New Balance at the infamous Armory indoor track. I spent the day Friday geeking out track-side just trying to soak up all the energy the fans and competitors brought to the sparkling, dramatic atmosphere. Whether the 200m, 5k, or 4x400m were on the track, fans were on their feet cheering and rooting for friends, favorites, and fans alike. It was my sort of place, my sort of heaven, to be honest. The funniest part of the weekend had to be that my mom got pulled over not once, not twice, but three times in a span of three days… Let’s just say that New Yorkers drive a little differently than us and a right turn on red may or may not be illegal.

Sunday, March 13th

After a long few months of training this winter, I was definitely eager and nervous to compete in my first indoor national championship in the mile— my baby. I love the mile because it’s a mix between cross country endurance, track speed, and pure guts. The track is banked and 200m (like the Simplot track) so the mile is eight laps instead of four like it is during outdoor track. While racing music is blaring, fans are screaming, and teammates are banging on the track sides so the race has an upbeat, motivating pulse that really drives you forward. After pulling away, I won the girls mile in a meet record time of 4:36, ran the third fastest indoor time by a high school girl ever, (the two who have run faster turned professional to run for Nike straight out of high school foregoing collegiate running) and also set a senior class national record (the previous record was set in 1989 by Lynn Jennings, a three time Olympian). It was a very exciting time and I’m super humbled by the experience and opportunity to race against the top milers in the country. After coming up short at Simplot, being able to execute on this stage has me excited for the outdoor season to come.

P.S. The Oregon Ducks, where I’m headed to college next year, won both the Women’s and Men’s NCAA Indoor National Championship as a team that same weekend so, needless-to-say, #goducks 🙂