American Record in Heusden, Belgium
(posted on 07/30/07 at 7:27 am CDT) | Webmaster's Note: I asked Lisa to e-mail me some details about her American Record-setting run in Heusden, Belgium, on July 28, 2007. She complied very quickly (thank you, Lisa!), and I decided to add it as one of her blog entries. Lisa placed 4th to get a 10-second PR in 9:28.75. The old record, held by Briana Shook (9:29.32), had been set at the same venue in 2004. Lisa placed 4th at the USA Championships, so it looks like the American Record holder will not be on our US team for the World Championships. She should, however, stay in good enough standing to be accepted to the IAAF World Athletics Final in September. Here is Lisa's account of her record-setting performance...
I had the opportunity to go to the Pan American Games, but I felt like in order to prepare myself for next year I needed to come to Europe and try to PR in the steeplechase. I talked with my coach Louie Quintana and we felt like I would have more opportunities to run fast if I came to Europe. The day of the race the conditions were perfect. When we got on the track it started lightly sprinkling. The 100m men's race seemed to take forever! The pulled them up once because it wasn't quiet, then there was a false start, then they pulled them up again because the crowd started cheering for the pole vaulter. I was so anxious, I just wanted to start and race! The start was insane. It felt like x-country, there were 22 girls on the starting line, I was right next to Lindsey Anderson. Then some girl who was suppose to be in the 2nd row (not on the starting line because everyone didn't fit), nudged her way between Lindsey and I. So, I just tried to get out and kept my elbows wide. I actually started near the back, because the start was so fast. I came through the first 400m around 74-75. Carrie Messner was rabbiting and she came through in 71 for the first quarter. I felt good and the first mile was over before I knew it, I think I came through the mile around 5:04ish. Then it was time to really focus and I still felt good. I even lost track of the laps, thinking I still I had 3 laps to go I came up to the finish line and realized I only had 2 laps to go! That's the best feeling in the world, it rarely happens in outdoor track. I just kept passing people, not necessarily because I was picking the pace up, but more because they were slowing down. I knew I was going to PR, I was just hoping for low 9:30's! Then I finished and everyone was saying "I think you got the American record, it was close but I think you got it." It's the happiest I felt since making the World Team in 2005. I couldn't believe it! I knew I was in good shape, but I'm more of a realist when it comes to racing. If you had told me to go after the American Record before I raced I would have said, "I think a 10 second PR is a little unrealistic, I'm going to go for a 5 second PR." Not that I don't want to accomplish great things, but I think you need to make realistic goals so you aren't constantly disappointed if you don't reach them. Anyways, it was a great surprise! I hadn't PRed since 2005, before this past month and it made the past 2 years of training seem worth it. When you don't PR for sooo long, you start to wonder if maybe you're doing something wrong, is all this training worth it? Tonight made me realize that I just had to be patient and it was worth it! I think not qualifying for the World Championships was the best thing that could have happened to me. It was a good kick in the butt for me, reminding me that I couldn't get complacent with racing. Now I am focusing on the IAAF World Final in Stuggart, Germany on September 22nd.
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