Ma Renaissance

Meet:

Prelims: 6.4h (still waiting on the FAT on Sunday?)
Finals: (6.5-6.6h?) 6.84FAT–long story

I am still waiting to see if I might have made it to states as my prelim time was most definitely faster than my finals time. Basically, in the finals the guy had us in the set position 5-6 seconds (no joking) and I flinched. Instead of getting a FS called or having us stand up, he shot the gun right after I flinched my butt up and rocked back, leaving me in the blocks and behind from the gun. I ended up getting 4/6 in the first heat of finals and 8th overall (I guess the long set hurt everyone in my heat as we were supposed to be in the “fast” heat, but the long set along with myself choking it up didn’t help). My prelim wasn’t the best, but not bad either. The way the whole starting area was set-up was just a joke (the finals shows just one problem with the very long holds along with crappy blocks, etc.) and came out of the blocks 3rd or 4th of 5 and turned it on midway to win the race.

Right now, the meet results show me 8th in the finals, but with a time of 6.64, which very well could be a typo, but who knows as my prelim was much faster than the run in the finals, so who knows. I’m not too pissed, but definitely not pleased with my performance.

Mon/Tues: Low intensity low volume stuff to relax before beginning prep for the outdoor season.

Wed:
Medball
Sprints ~400m total volume, max v focus
Plyos
Weights: Powercleans and Squats

Thurs:
Mobility
Medball
PNF

Tomorrow:
Sprints

Prep has been going well with 2-3 high intensity days a week, focusing on smooth running and block clearance. I’m leaving my competitions to act as the majority of my SE work and, until today, have not run farther than 60m. A big focus has been put on fitness that will help carry me through the long season. Lower body weights are at accumulation (slightly higher volume and significantly lower weight) to maintain a good stimulus, but to let for more focus on the track. Upper weights are still relatively heavy for strength stimulus, though no overreaching. Plyos are also at accumulation and done sparingly. I am not great at them anyways, so the stimulus is not as beneficial.

Today: Time trial
Conditions: Strong crosswind, ~36-37 (possibly lower) degrees F (very cold)

Result: 1st @ 11.14h

I looked up at the clock @ about 70m and was exhausted (haven’t done over 60m–again) and just relaxed the way home. The guy (jav coach) timing said that he made sure to stop it after I had completely passed the line to make sure it was no BS-time. I am mildly happy. Lots of work to do with the SE and general race prep, but I cannot complain. For these conditions, not much more I could ask for and I’ll have to just let the results come.

Afterwards I did:
1 x [20, 40, 60]
2 x [25, 40]
-Hops
-Squats
-Bench x 1 x 235 (no warm-up, just to get stimulus)

IT Band has been extremely tight lately, but only hurts when the knee rotates. Working on fixing that at the moment.

Had a meet today… conditions: awful (very cool and wet). Warmed up way too early (45minutes+ early). It was more the meet was way delayed as opposed to me warming up early, oh well.

100m: 11.2h
4x100m: ?? (ran fine)

The kid who won is a sub 11 FAT runner and ran a hand time PR of .2 @ 10.63 today despite conditions… I tensed up a bit and didn’t run my race… need to learn to be a champion. It’s early, so plenty of room for improvement.

Today:
11.6
24.1

Want to kill myself
Meet this Thursday

11.3 (1st)
23.0 (rounded up) (1st)
44.2 w/ shit handoffs 4x1 (1st)

Much happier with the results today. My 100m COULD have been a disaster as the jokester holding my blocks choked and they slid way back. To put into perspective how bad it was, 2 kids who ran 12.5+ were out by at least a meter on me and I was not equal with the 2nd place guy (11.7) until ~50m and then just smoked it. 4x1 went well–finally replacing the 1st leg who is a good guy, but slow, for the next meet. 200m was nearly a 1 second PR (pr previously of 23.9h). A kid was talking shit so I had to have some pride and run better. I was way ahead after the first 100m, but absolutely died. Still won, but was almost caught because of my horrid speed endurance.

11.6
23.8

MASSIVE wind. I ran in a meet last year with a -4.2 wind and this wind was not even comparable (everything was being blown around). It was -6 at a minimum. I am reasonably happy as I took 1st in the 100m over a 11.1 guy even with a so-so start. Died in the 200m, as usual, but more speed endurance work will put me in good terms with that.

Last few meets:

Last Tuesday:
100m: 11.3h into wind
4x1: ??
4x4: 53.x split

Not bad for my first 400m in the last 2 years and on a very shitty track. Did some hurdle hops after this.

This past Tuesday:
100: 11.1h (11.02 rounded)
4x1: 43.5h!! (.5 pr for us)
200: 23.0 (another 22.92 rounded)

Today:
100m comp:
Prelims: 11.1h
Semis : 10.9h (10.83 rounded!)
Finals : 11.1h

Both the prelims and finals were in the low 11.02-11.03 area rounded up to 11.1. I was pumped about my semis time and almost took down some kids who have definitely been impressive on the track/field so far (6’6hj @ 5’8/9" guy for example). I need to relax a bit more, but I was definitely happy about the PR. Took 4th overall at a big invitational, so I’m happy. Rained like hell before and during the 4x1 (even after the rain delay), so time was not good (44.6) and 43.7 won it even though the second place team ran a 43.2 on Tuesday. Oh well. Almost surprised I ran so well since yesterday I flew out to Chicago for a visit (had to wake up at 4am) and didn’t get home this past morning until 3:30 because of flight delays! Big things are coming, once I taper down.

Training right through all of this with plyos via hurdle ups and broad jumps on away meets and lower body lifting after home meets with upper body the day after.

Damn man… Good work bro… You’re comin along nicely! 10.9h is no joke… Keep it up!

11.2h (11.12 rounded up) in freezing, pouring rain. Shut it down hard at 90m to not risk an injury. Start was bad–not sure why. The blocks and set-up was bad (along with puddles), but still was behind relatively compared to the other guys.

Ran 4x1 frozen basically… not a good idea, but not my choice.

11.0h
43.4h (with a huge bump that knocked one guy out of his lane)
22.8h
52.0 relay split

Didn’t even feel fast today (pretty flat) and was sick almost all week. Big next few days though. Friday I have a huge invite with probably 3 rounds of the 100m (if I make finals), and a 4x1. Monday I will have 1,2,4x1,4x4 and wednesday I will have 2 rounds of the 100m and 1 4x1.

Adidas Baldwin Invitational
(biggest single day invite in the country for high school)

Prelims: 10.9h (cut jets 15m out)
Semis: 10.6h!!!
Finals: 11.33fat (11.1h)

Finals had some headwind and I basically just choked (the kid who got first place was in my semis heat and we both got 10.6h, yet I got 6th in the final and even that was close w/ the guys behind me when I should have, with some self respect, gotten top 3). Semis had a nice tailwind, but not an illegal amount and it was just a perfectly ran race. In reality, I probably should have gone 10.8 or 10.7h in the prelims if i ran through, but I shut down hard since all I needed to do was win the heat. Finals was another story. The video will tell more, but supposedly every stride was hitting well in front of my hips. I basically choked under the pressure there, but I cannot be angry with a huge PR.

4x1: 43.85fat – really bad hand-off, starved (hadn’t eaten all day), cold, shitty running basically

Basically i missed out on getting some nice adidas bags (given out to top 3), but I did get a cookie at least (given to medalists in individual events) with the medal?

Great job, all that training you’ve been putting in is really showing up with the times you are running! You’ve got more in you, and keep on impressing.

Regional Qualifier today
Prelims: 11.1h
Finals: 11.1h (7th place)

I sucked today, period. My hamstring has been hurting since Saturday (probably from the running Wednesday and Friday) and was still hurting today a bit, especially when running. I did not perform especially well and barely qualified for the regional/conference meet. It’s pretty sad because other than the two kids who took 1/2, I have beaten every other runner at least once (one of them I have beaten 4 times head to head), yet I didn’t do well today. Whatever, we’ll see what happens at conference (pretty sad I get 6th at a meet way bigger than conference, but I get 7th at qualifiers…).

Made it out of team champs without injury, luckily…

Shittiest day ever for a meet. Windy, raining, and freezing.

100m: 11.1h
200m: 22.6h
4x100m: 43.9h?
4x400m: not sure split, in the 51’s or 52’s I believe

I was surprised about the 200m PB in the conditions (literally puddles on the track and slight crosswind) and after running 2 races, but I should have done much better in the 100m. I had a substantial lead until I was passed at the 60m point (guy went on to run 10.9h). I’m not really surprised, considering my hamstring is hanging on for the ride at this point.

Not much else to say except, we lost the meet. Cared a little bit, but not a whole lot–not going to lie. Individual conference championship is next week and I am looking to qualify for states in the 100m (11.19fat) along with running sub 11fat (if I accomplish this, then I’ll obviously accomplish the first as well).

ART therapy saturday–savior. He said he will have it fully operational for next week, so I’m pumped.

Good to hear man, like I said earlier, your times are just impressive. After seeing how hard you work it’s really cool to see the results your putting up, with shitty conditions and a questionable leg and all. I hope that ART gets you back to firing on all cylinders and I’ll be looking forward to hearing about your results next week. Keep on it.

Thanks for the support.
Hamstring hurt a bit more yesterday and today I had the therapy. Besides doing some ART everywhere (hamstrings, quads, hip flexors), Dr. Tullock did some manual massage and some accupuncture w/ stim on the needles. We did some glute activation drills and he used an “activator” on my left ankle/calf/glute. I will do some ultrasound, most likely, later this weekend and will do light movements tomorrow to get some more blood flow. Monday will be my last true workout until district/conference meet. The plan is an extended warm-up, 1-2x30m, 1x60m, 1x120m from a stand + some medball throws followed by an ice-bath. Tuesday will be something like to generate recovery, maybe some stim on the hamstring, and Wednesday will be pre-meet.

Well the last few days have been interesting.
Monday’s last session wasn’t the best. The 30’s were just bad and the 60m was alright. The 120m felt great and completely smooth. Tuesday I felt completely recovered and all. Today I did my pre-meet and my starts were better, but not quite where I want it to be. My hamstring still hurts a bit, but I generally feel ready. I feel more ready than I ever have–we’ll have to see what comes from that time wise.

3rd place in districts/WPIAL finals
I’m going to states baby!

Prelims: 11.18fat
Finals: 11.32fat

Times are not the best. It rained most of the morning and even a bit during my warm-up, leaving the track pretty soaked, chilly temps, and a significant headwind in both the prelims and finals. I came up big when I needed to and I’m happy. I could go on, but I won’t. This means so much to me, I can’t really put it in words here. I’m feeling great and, when I get the conditions, will go sub 11. Life is good.

Congrats, Davan! Hard work pays off, you deserve it bud… Keep it up!