With fall season's soccer coming to an end, it was time for another arduous and exhilarating season of winter sports. Throughout the entire four years in middle school, my winter season sport has always been swimming. Nevertheless, I decided to take advantage of freshman year and experiment with Indoor Track, a sport I've always had the passion for but never had the opportunity to try (previous school didn't have an indoor track program). Especially as an outdoor track runner in the Spring, I felt like Lawrenceville's Indoor Track program would be a great fit for me with lots to offer and I always had a back-up option to return to swimming my sophomore year. Turns out, Indoor track is absolutely amazing!!! A sport that continuously pushes me, strengthens my mentality, and fully prepares me for both outdoor track and next year's soccer season. Oh and of course, a sport that brings painful joy - the type of joy that I love most :)
Starting November 6th up until November 12th, it was time for trials. All the Indoor Track & Field athletes trained for first couple of days before the actual timed trials. As a 1600M, 800M, and an occasional 400M runner, I trained with the distance group completing around 5 to 7 miles a day and rolling out for a good 30 minutes on a daily basis before the actual timed mile.
During the timed mile, we were split into two different heats. The first heat were for all the returning runner who ran at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJISAA) competition last year. The second heat were for the newcomers and the remaining returning members of the program. With close to no expectations on a fast timed mile, I led the pack for the second heat and finished the trial in first place with a time of 5:13:21. Despite the first place finish, I knew in the back of my mind that I needed to improve my time. I wanted to push myself and train with the athletes who were running sub-5 miles or even sub-4:40 miles rather than taking it easy. I knew I had to improve. I had to improve.
After safely earning a spot on the team that day, I decided to start training with the first volume group. This would mean extra mileage during aerobic runs, quicker tempo runs than usual, and tougher workout sessions in the gym. Running 9km during the weekdays and 18km on Saturdays wasn't something I was use to and it definitely took a few practices for me to get use to it mentally and physically. In the end, the tiredness in the evening, sore muscles, and sleepy study halls were worth it. I instantly generated a new standard and expectation for myself, but most importantly, I developed new relationships with seniors, juniors, and sophomores who I wouldn't have met otherwise. Currently, we have become one family and get closer and closer for every mile we run together.
With constant sweating and pain came constant opportunities. Two days prior to our first meet of the season, I checked the final roster on the field house bulletin board and was selected to run in the Varsity scrimmage, instead of the JV Scrimmage, against Union Catholic High School, Christian Brothers Academy, Lenape High School, and Notre Dame High School - New Jersey track & field powerhouses.
Filled with amalgamated sentiments of excitement and nervousness, I entered the race with one mindset: follow the pack and see how it goes. And that's exactly what I did. I stuck with the pack until the very end and hit a Personal Record of 5:06:17!! It was definitely a better time but this achievement added more to my determined hunger for a sub-5 mile. Sub-5 mile??? Can I shave off a few more seconds by the end of the season?? We'll just have to wait and see :)
I'll keep you all updated on how the practice sessions and upcoming track meets go! Super super excited for the season in January and February!!!
Down Below is the Mile Race Footage:
December 1600M Race Split Breakdown:
- 200M Mark: 36
- 400M Mark: 1:12 (36)
- 600M Mark: 1:50 (38)
- 800M Mark: 2:27 (37)
- 1000M Mark: 3:05 (38)
- 1200M Mark: 3:44 (39)
- 1400M Mark: 4:25 (41)
- 1600M Mark: 5:06 (41)
January 1600M Race Split Breakdown Goal:
- 200M Mark: 36
- 400M Mark: 1:12 (36)
- 600M Mark: 1:49 (37)
- 800M Mark: 2:27 (38)
- 1000M Mark: 3:05 (38)
- 1200M Mark: 3:42 (37)
- 1400M Mark: 4:19 (37)
- 1600M Mark: 5:06 (36)
Upcoming Track Meets in January:
January 8th (Wednesday):
- Plainsboro High School North, Hopewell Valley High School, Hun School of Princeton
January 11th (Saturday):
- Lavino Relays
January 18th (Saturday):
- New Balance Games OR Pennington School, Union Catholic, Stuart Country Day
January 24th & 25th (Friday, Saturday):
- Mercer County Championship
January 30th (Thursday):
- Princeton University Invitational Series #1
Upcoming Track Meets in February:
February 1st (Saturday):
- NJISAA Indoor Track & Field Championship
February 8th (Saturday):
- Lawrenceville Invitational
February 10th (Monday):
- Princeton University Invitational Series #2
February 15th (Saturday):
- Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) Indoor Track & Field Championship
February 18th (Tuesday):
- Easterns States Championship
"To those who much is given, much is expected."
- John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States
"Dreams are free. Goals have a cost. While you can daydream for free, Goals don't come without a price. Time, effort, sacrifice, and sweat. How will you pay for your goals?"
- Usain Bolt, 'Fastest Man in the World'
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