This is probably going to be a very long post, but it will be my last one so I am going to pretty much go through my entire day today.
I am sure by now you have all seen the results from my race this morning. In case you haven't - I finished 10th in my heat in a time of 10:13 something, not sure exactly. Obviously did not make the final but had the greatest athletics experience of my life and went out there and ran as hard as could for as long as I could.
Yesterday I had a lovely training run. 5 miles easy, strides and drills. I felt really good and was very excited to race today. I think I got a lot of the hard core nerves over with my first couple of days in Barcelona. So going into today I was feeling calm and focused and ready to roll with it. Every athlete has different ways of dealing with nerves, and I tend to have a meltdown (as Paul calls it) a couple of days before I race. Funny really because it usually has nothing at all to do with racing or running. But little things that just irritate the hell out of me. I am sure there are a lot of you out there that do this crazy sport and can completely relate to that. At least I hope so, it sure would be reassuring knowing that I am not the only lunatic out there ...LOL. I still get nervous race day, but usually the good excited nerves.
So race day finally arrives. I had a great sleep last night. I think a little too good and when that 7am alarm went off all I wanted to do was stay snuggled up in bed for just a little longer. Up and out and down to breakfast for 8am. I had a cup of coffee and toast with peanut butter and then off to catch my shuttle bus to the warm up track. This was really happening now. Got to the warm up track and joined up with other athletes competing and the AAI medical staff. While there just chilled out until it was time to warm up. Call room check in is 40mins before race start so all the warming up needs to be done before heading in there. This is something that I need to get used to, and is very new and different than my typical warm up where I just run, stride and get on the track.
My warm up went very well and I felt really good, bouncy and excited to race. Now it was call room time and I checked in and I headed over to the stadium along with all other compeitiors in my heat to call room 2 for final check in, bag checks, spike check, hip numbers and transponder attachment to race bib. Crazy stuff, but I tell you that 40mins flew by and before I knew it I was on my way out to the track to race at the European Champs.
I walked out into the stadium and there was this enormous roar from the crowds, and the sun belting down on top of us. My heart seriously was beating so fast, and I actually could feel my body shaking. I didn't know if I wanted to cry or throw up. It was pretty unreal and something that I have never felt before. There were tons of Irish flags everywhere. I spotted my family straight away with their big huge Irish flag, and as I kept walking around the track to the start I heard lots of people yelling good luck to me. The Irish support was brilliant. Once at the start I got out on the track and did a couple of strides. After being couped up in the call room for the last 40mins I needed that. Finally they called us to the start line and this was it. The TV cameras scanned across the start line of runners for introductions. They came to me and I gave a big wave and 2 thumbs up. The thumbs up were especially for Marcus and Dylan. I give them thumbs up going to bed every night.
The gun went off and I got right into the thick of the race. I felt decent for the first 4 laps, and was in a qualifying position. I haven't seen the race but people have told me that there was actually a break with the first 4, including myself. After the fifth lap/2k I started to feel like the legs were gone, and they were going but I desperateley tried to keep it going as hard as I could. Those barriers never felt so high and trying to lift lead weight over them was ridiculous. I gave it everything and was thrilled to have competed at such an unbelievable meet.
Following my race I was pretty spent and it took a while to get myself feeling normal again. I had a bit of trouble getting off the ground and moving back to the gear pick-up. My head hurt so bad...I was nauseus, sweating profusely, had stars or some kind of fuzzy objects floating around in my eyes in bright orange and yellow colors (I swear it is from the logo banners which are bright orange and probably the last color I was seeing as I finished the race) , and just couldn't get my breath. It was a horrible feeling. I finally got off the track and made my way out of the track. I was hurting pretty bad and just needed to lie down and cool down. I have to say but this is probably the worst I have felt after just finishing a race and sure hope I never feel like that again. It was very hot, and maybe I just underestimated that....who knows. But all I can say is that the AAI medical staff are just unbelievable and they helped me out so much. I hate to be so dramatic or anything like that and I felt silly, but I honestly felt like I could pass out or throw up at any moment and they were there the whole time until I finally felt normal again. Thanks a million.
Despite all the drama ...haha. This was the greatest athletics experience I have ever had, and I sure hope it is not the last. I am very hungry for more championship racing, and look forward to such a great opportunity again. This time around was very last minute and a little un-organized and it was almost perfect. The one thing missing in this whole experience was having Paul, and the kids with me. I am looking forward to having them with me in future events. For everyone else, thank you so much for all your support. Your well wishes really enhanced my experience...until next time!
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