Well, the Stanford track may not have been magical for me Saturday night but it was for my team mates!!!!!! My 5k race wasn't really a race and instead it turned into a lonely time trial. Big bummer! As a result, I ran mostly by myself battling a headwind until the last 100m where I was out-kicked (not fun). I have realized that my strength as a runner is also my greatest weakness. Sometimes I am just too stubborn and aggressive. In this situation, I was probably better off saving a fast effort for a different time and place (my coach wisely hinted this beforehand).  It is amazing that at my age I still go through so many growing pains. Over the past year I have been through many growing pains, trying to morph myself into a better and stronger runner. I have had to adapt to a new physical and  mental approach, but I still have some old habits that creep out every once in a while. It has always been ingrained in me to push the limit all the time, because if you don't, well then, you are a wuss. As I am growing, I am learning that there is a time and place for that attitude. Chasing fast times and records is not always in the true spirit of competition.

Watching my team mates run the 10k at Stanford (Chris, Simon, and Tim), showed me what can happen when you just compete. Spectacular performances occur! They have been preparing for this moment their whole careers and they capitalized when it presented itself.  I cried Saturday night over their race efforts because it was beautiful, and to simply put it, could not have happened to three better guys. I am still beaming with pride and feel so fortunate to be a part of this group. Their race reinforced what my coach has been telling me. The training is hard and my body may not like it right now, but it does pay off. They are the proof. I believe it.