On the Bubble

(Starting line of the 3000m Women's Steeple)

           I have wanted to update my blog for awhile but haven’t really been able to compile my thoughts into a coherent document so bare with me while I ramble on. Since Oxy I focused on my training while biding my time to compete in my last steeple before the Trials. I would hear about good meets with good competition and would feel a draw to compete but rushing into races would not set me up for a PR performance so I sat back, biting my nails, following results, all the while training.

            For twelve days my husband Levi, was in California competing at four different pole vault competitions. During this time I had a lot of time to train, nap, read, and watch lots of movies…yes I was a little bored but I managed the time well. While at the Olympic Training Center Levi was able to jump a new PR. He cleared 5.52m (18’1.25”) which puts him tied for 19^th right now! I was ecstatic when I heard the news.

            I was finishing up an easy run with my brother Josh. As we were nearing the house we spotted John (my younger brother) on his way out for a run. As he passed by he told me to check my text from Levi. I looked at Josh and said that must be good news. When I got inside I was too nervous to check my phone. I asked Josh if he got a text from Levi knowing if he did it was going to be great news. Josh said yes and as I picked up my phone I heard him yell, 5.52! He got 5.52! I was so proud of Levi thinking he had just punched his ticket to Eugene for the trials. He can still go higher and I can’t wait for his next breakthrough meet where he jumps to his full potential. So long as he stays in the top 24 and so long as the USATF chooses to take 24 vaulters to the Trials I think he can do it in Eugene.

(Levi Keller vaulting at the Olympic Training Center)

(Up and over!)

            When he came back to Seattle I had one week to continue preparing for the Portland Track Festival where I planned to race my last steeple of the season. The week leading up to the meet I had some good workouts but I spent extra time working on the mental side of my game. I studied and diligently took notes from the Sports Psychology text book I am reading and with each day felt more and more prepared to race well.

            Levi and I drove down to Portland Friday through several downpours. When we got to the track I did my pre-meet shakeout run and right when I finished it started pouring again. Lucky day! We ordered some pizza and went back to our hotel and ate it while watching a movie. The next day I woke up, ate breakfast and headed out for my shakeout run. I honestly did not feel good on my shakeout but told myself I would feel better once the day wore on.

            At 1pm we had to check out of our room. My race had been moved from 5:35pm to 7:10pm so I had quite a lot of time to kill. Apparently someone requested that the time of the steeple be moved to a “cooler” time of the evening. They must not have been from the Pacific Northwest because it was cool all day! We headed to Safeway to get some food for lunch, then to Wells Fargo for some banking and then headed to the track. We had brought our futon mattress and laid it down in the back of our pickup truck and were able to rest in the parking lot while we waited. It was actually quite peaceful in my little truck bed. I continued reading my sports psychology book and prepared for my race.

(Our home away from home while we wait the start of the meet)

            When it finally came time to warm up I was ready. Waiting that long can be hard! When I finished my warm up I was told the meet was 12 minutes behind schedule. I didn’t let this bother me. The time came and they lined us up on the starting line. Runners to your mark…oh wait, go ahead do a stride we aren’t ready yet. 15 minutes later we were back on the line. It turns out they were having trouble getting one of the barriers down on the track. The wheels wouldn’t lock in place which wouldn’t be good if someone were to step on the barrier. I could tell some of the women did not like this delay. I felt ready to go even if I had to wait longer. I felt happy, relaxed, yet very focused and sure of my plan. When I feel this way I have good races. I have discovered the perfect amount of nerves that help and don’t hinder my performance.

            When the gun went off I went right into my race plan. The first kilometer do not lead, stay back 2^nd-4^th position. I was in 6^th. I had trouble over a few of the hurdles since I was pushed toward the outside and couldn’t see them well but I was relaxed and conserving energy. The second kilometer, stay on 79’s. Each time I went by my coach I heard him yell 79. Then with 2 laps to go, start my kick and I did. I took the lead and pushed the pace. We had to go if we wanted that 9:55 mark. One girl went right with me. The bell lap I was going all out. Coming into the last water jump I was neck and neck with a girl. She had the inside and had a better water jump than me and came out slightly ahead. But by the last hurdle with just under 100m to go I had caught her. We both were sprinting all out but I wasn’t able to match her and she got me.

(Fast new shoes from Brooks!)

            I ran a PR and a great race. I gave it my all and did the best that I could on the day. It was bitter sweet being so close to the A standard and knowing I could achieve it yet I was just off the mark and now I am left waiting race results across the country to see if I make it in. I am confident if I do make it in that my training is setting me up for a PR at the Trials. For the first time in a long time I am getting to the end of my season feeling sharp and fast. Not fatigued or over raced. I didn’t over race and chase the mark week in and week out which sets me up well for the end of the season but it is risky because I now run the risk of not making it into the Trials.

(When vaulting goes awry)

            It’s funny how things can change so quickly. Before Portland I figured if I could run even one second faster that would get me in the top 24 and thus into the Olympic Trials. I ran 3 seconds faster at Portland, one second off the A standard and am sitting in 24^th right now with several other women doing last chance meets this week with hopes of improving their marks. After Levi jumped 5.52m in Chula Vista, CA I was sure he would be in but a few men have squeaked out 5.53m jumps and he has informed me that the USATF might not take a full field. I am hoping this is not the case. 19^th-23^rd place has jumped 5.52m. If a few guys jump higher, displacing the 5.52m men outside of the top 24 there is a chance the USATF will take a smaller field to the trials. But there is a chance they will take a larger field as well. In 2008 they took 27 men in the vault. But who knows what they are thinking. In my race, I know exactly how many women they will take (assuming less than 24 women get the A standard). If I am 25^th even by .000001 of a second it won’t matter. They will take 24.

            So to sum it up, I am on the bubble, Levi is on the bubble, and my brother John is sitting 23^rd yes, on the bubble. I have visions of all of us making it and that would probably be an Olympic Trials first. Brother, sister, husband, wife all competing for a spot on the United States Olympic Team.

            I have had my sights set on the Trials for a long time. But I am at peace with my season. I have run numerous PR’s and there is nothing more that I can do and I am o.k. with that. I have no control over the other athletes and what they run but I can rest easy knowing I gave it my all and God willing that will be good enough to get me to Eugene and on the starting line. 

My PR Performance at The Portland Track Festival: