Where do I even begin with this race, finishing off my running as a secondary school student, this was the bang I needed, following my PB two days prior on the track I had recovered, refuelled, rested and focused onto this event being the one I have competed in for the many years prior with the hopes to continue improving in the years like this one.
I knew going into the race too that a lot of my main competitors specialise in the 800m and 1500m which overlap or are similar times to this race for their finals if they made it so would less likely come, leaving me with the girls who are more focused on this type of running. As soon as I got there I could instantly tell I was one of the only racers in long distance events with the type of shoes I wore compared to others but you could say that’s an advantage on my behalf, this race is a mix of high performers and more mellowed runners in their everyday sneakers.
The course well marked and I had done a few jogs around parts so I was comfortable with it, only with a few more turns than normal but that’s not to worry as there was lots of straights too and minimal elevation.
The race went out but I could tell they didn’t want to go as hard as I pushed them striding to the front first and pushing the pace, again running my own race because I know my wheels only turn to a certain speed but can hold them for longer.
After about 500m is when I settled into 6th and the front group of 4 went and the single girl ahead sat there too and we held the same positions the whole way round. The pace was fast and my legs could feel the lactic acid build up very fast and it turned into a mental battle very quickly, about half way I started to hurt and went into the final lap but could push and as soon as the last km came I knew that any pain or doubts I had needed to be forgotten.
I just needed to give it everything otherwise the girls behind would catch me at the end, something I struggle with is believing in myself and I always justify why it’s ok if I don’t beat them but I shouldn’t let myself think that as if I do it lets it happen, gritting at the pain and getting my legs moving as fast as I could I strode over the line in a that was 1:14 faster than my years previous but that’s PB came with a cost of pain and instance muscle weakness when I hit the ground.
I finished 6th compared to the 24th in the previous year where I was just happy to make averaged pace of sub 4minute pace but this year my average was 3:40s, more than I could be pleased with and I came out of it still running and happy not like last year injured and under-fueled not able to run for 2 and a half months after.
To this that this was done through less than a years training is more than exciting to me and my confidence going into University and the next level of racing in what I want to compete. My Cool Down post race was more of a shuffle hardly breaking the 6:30 pace with the amount of muscle spasm and pain they where in, but nothing a jog, swim and slow walk couldn’t fix before I drove to the airport for a early flight the next morning to Aussie, a reward to say the least, here comes 2025!
– Jessica Bray