Folders |
BitterSweet - Canaan Meester-Kitterman
Published by
 Canaan Kitterman (Robert Brown-Twangster)
BitterSweet - That is the way people describe these kind of moments. Thursday night was the 3A Regional 3 meet at Charlotte High School. For me it was the second year to make it this far. I placed 5th in the 1600 and didn't advance in any of my races, including the 4x8.
I would be lying if I said that I wasn't disappointed. I guess, sometimes we all have off race days. I've also heard people call our region, "the region of death", but that doesn't really make me feel any better about not getting out.
I think all runners know the feeling, "I could've done better." or maybe, "I should've done better." I think for me, it's after those races that didn't go as well as planned that I start to think about next time, what will I, or can I do, next time. It turns from feeling defeat to shortly after, feeling even more determined. Because if you are someone who isn't going to give up on running, then there will be a next time.... another race, another goal, another PR. I love running. Running with others who love to run can make running more fun too, and I like that about this sport. I have run with, raced with, and gotten to know a bunch of great athletes and people the last 3 years because of running. But the really nice thing about running is that even if you don't always win the races you run, even if you never take first even once, if you don't place high at your county meet, or advance out of districts, or regions, or if you don't run your best time/race at the state championship, the best thing is you are also your own competition and competitor, and you can always work to improve and beat yourself. There are the races we run against others, and the ones we run against ourselves. You can feel good about winning a race, but you can feel really good about breaking your own PR. If you are someone who loves running like I do then you probably also couldn't ever imagine giving up on something you love so much. Even with the regional disappointment, I had more ups than downs this season. And aside from my own ups and downs, this track season for Florida high school runners has had some AMAZING talent, strength, and examples of what "never give up" looks like in action. From across Florida there have been some awesome stories out of this track season. With the guy's side seeing national leading times and finishes, and the girl's side seeing performances of guts and strength. On the boy's side, heading into state we have 5 runners under 4:20 this season!! (I looked it up on flrunners) With the country's fastest 800 and 1600 times to come from Florida. Congrats Andres! Competition in the 3200 was also impressive, with some runners coming out of my same division 3A; Ace Brown, Tyler Bennet, Courtland Bernard, Carlos Miranda, Bobby Ormsby, Lee Shearer, all running sick fast times and setting PRs. On the girl's side things were also impressive as Emily Edwards accomplished race after race domination, and currently leads the 1600 field state rankings. We've all heard about Taylor Tubbs. I haven't ever met her or seen her race, but I've read articles about her this season. Her story of running with the boys (and beating them!) and having to work extra hard to overcome not always having someone to push her in her training is something I can relate to. Olivia Ortiz advanced to state 1 year after a life changing injury!!! I didn't get past the crowds that night to say congrats Olivia face to face, but CONGRATS OLIVIA!! You always work hard, love running in a major way, and you never give up. You so earned this! And there are other runners who have worked their butts off and seen the results of their hard work too. Setting PRs, advancing further than the year before, and just because they might not be on the national or state leader boards, their personal accomplishments are still worthy of note and congrats!! So congratulations to everyone as we head toward the final meet of the 2013 track and field season.
My season ends with some definite ups. First, I hit most of my goals this season. I ran a PR in the 800, 1600, and 3200. My best 800 was 1:59 on first leg of the 4x800 and our 4x8 team set a new school record by breaking the one we had set the year before. I ran the 1600 and 3200 at USF Invitational, finishing 2nd in the 1600 with a 4:26 and then trying to run a strong 3200 later. The 3200 didn't go quite as well as the 16 because I lost my shoe. As I began to pick up speed on the 5th lap to move up the pack, someone caught the back of my shoe with theirs, and my heal popped out of my flat. I wondered if I should try to get my foot back in my shoe, or just let the shoe fall off.... I lost my shoe. I tried to run without it, but after blowing a hole through my sock one shoeless lap later, I decided the burning feeling of flesh on track was a sign I should probably DNF, and I walked off.
I went on to the UF Relays a couple weeks later. There I was able to keep my shoes on for the whole race and finish the 3200. I PRed in both the 1600 and the 3200 that day. I ran a 4:25 and a 9:49. I had 3 main goals this season, 1. break 4:30 by as much as possible 2. break 10 in the 3200 and 3. place to advance at Regional. Going two for three is.... well, bittersweet. I really wanted to get lower 4:20s, but 4:25 is a good pr over last season I guess. Oh yeah, I had another goal, "don't twist my ankle playing catch before a meet!" I also accomplished that!! so, I actually went 3 of 4.
The other big ups for me and my team were at the Manatee County Championship meet. I won the 1600 and 3200, and our 4x8 team also won at County. But the really cool thing was that for the first time in the 3 years that I have been running at Bayshore High School, the boys track and field team received 3rd place overall and a trophy! We have never placed that well at any meet (maybe a dual meet) and to receive the place and the trophy at our conference meet was pretty sweet. We went on to be district champs in the 4x8, and me in the 1600 and 3200. Having wins as county and district champion in all three of my events is a highlight for sure.
3 days after the sting of defeat at my region meet, I went and ran the Desoto Parade 5k race. I certainly would've preferred to go to states instead, but I was happy to get go back and run the Desoto race again this year. I ran it last year after the regional meet and won it. So, I went, I ran, and I won again! But I did something else that surprised me, I got a new PR!! I finished the 5k race in 15:46!! finally beating the 16 minute barrier I tried so hard to break during XC season. Ok, it would have been nice to do that during XC of course, but it wasn't any less nice to do it yesterday at the beginning of the parade! So I end my season with new prs of; 800m 2:01, 1600m 4:25 and 3200m 9:49 and my 5k (road race) 15:46.
These are highlights of the season that stand out to me. I imagine that all of us have seen in ourselves and our competitors plenty of good reason to look around and say, "2013 has been a great track season."
GOOD LUCK to everyone who competes at state and beyond....Run hard and never give up! (I should apologize to all the field events and runners who do basically any event that is not the distance/middle distance. Or anyone not in 3A probably, because I know there were great things from this track season in other areas of track/field, I'm just not as familiar with them. sorry about not listing them all here).
|
