This week didn’t exactly go how I
imagined it would.
The week started off on a high,
having returned home from the CVS/Pharmacy Downtown 5K/ USA 5K championships
where I placed 5th by a nose (the wrong side of the nose)! I placed
5th by .02 seconds….going up the final hill – a ¼ mile sprint uphill
to the finish. 4th place was two steps in front of me and 3rd
was 15m ahead. Both women looked like they were just hanging on for the finish.
I saw my opening, I looked up at 3rd place and said “I think I can
do it” and started gunning for the finish line. I passed Sara Hall in 4th
place and was still running as hard as I could closing on 3rd, but then
out of the corner of my eye I saw that Sara hadn’t given up yet. We were both
sprinting with every ounce of energy we had to get to the finish line. I was so
focused on the finish I felt like I couldn’t even see; all the energy was going
to my legs, willing them to carry me ever faster. In the end Sara was able to
just out-lean me at the line and Emily Brown in 3rd place was able
to stay 2 seconds out of reach. My final time: 15:58 and new road 5K PR. I
walked away with my head held high because I knew I gave it everything I had
and was happy to run as quickly as I did considering that I am training for a
marathon, not the 5K. I think this race was a reflection of how strong I am
getting with my training. Hopefully that strength will pay off next weekend in
the Medtronic TC 10 mile/ USA 10 mile Championships, which are hosted by Twin Cities in Motion right here in my own back yard!
However, once hump day rolled
around, what had started out as a great week quickly hit rock bottom. Early
Wednesday morning I got an email from Dennis saying that one of the men on the
Augsburg Cross Country team had been killed in a hit and run late on Tuesday
night. Jason Stevens was a freshman on our team and double majoring in Physics
and Calculus. The team was crushed by sadness and anger. “How can someone just
drive away?” “Why did this happen? The loss of a great friend and strong
competitor brought the Auggies to their emotional knees. Yet, as I watched the
team and tried to be a strong shoulder to cry on, what I witnessed was amazing.
This huge loss brought this team even closer together than they were previously;
they each learned that their teammates were people that they could rely on even
in the toughest of situations. They came back two days later and had some of
the best workouts of their lives. My wish
is that they can continue to honor the memory of Jason by competing with as
much heart and guts as Jason did. Rest in peace Jason, and know that you were
loved by many.
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