Issue 22

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The Weight of Opportunity

The Olympic Trials mark one of the most important competitions in a professional athlete’s career. If everything goes right, you’ll be fit enough to qualify, healthy enough to get on the start line, and mentally dialed in to compete against the best in the United States. However, lots of things can go wrong: injuries, sickness, stumbles, falls, DQs, tactical mistakes…the list goes on and on. These things happen in regular season meets all the time, but in such cases, there’s always another opportunity right around the corner. You can redeem yourself with a good race the next weekend and forget the past one even happened. This is far from reality at the Olympic Trials. Pressure, attention, emotions, and excitement run high. Friends, families, and track fans come from all over to cheer in Hayward Field, while millions more watch online. A single mistake or misfortune costs you 4 years of waiting for another chance, and that’s given only if you’re fit and healthy enough again to qualify. While competing at the Trials is an extremely special opportunity not to be taken for granted, it certainly comes with a weight of expectation like no other. Today you’ll hear from Tinman Elite on how they handled these expectations at the Trials and what they learned from their experiences.

Olympic Trials Report Cards

This race recap will be a bit different from our normal interview format. For Drew, Katie, Anthony, Savannah, and Joey who competed at the Trials, their races were like a “final exam” that culminated the late fall, spring, and early summer training build. After a final exam in school, you get your report card, and that’s exactly what we did here. One thing this team values is sharing the highs and lows of the sport regardless of the result. We asked each athlete to write their own report card, giving themselves a honest grade on their performance and an explanation of why they chose that grade. We hope you can take away something from the openness and vulnerability that each of them shared in their reflections. Self-evaluation is essential for progress, and whether it was an A+ race or an F, each of these athletes are excited to get back to work and keep moving forward.

Comments: I would give myself a B overall on the weekend. I think execution-wise in the 10k I was perfect-- I did exactly what I intended to do. I held back through 5k and covered moves over the last mile to set myself up to get top 3. I lost my legs over the last 100ms but still dug as deep as I ever have to run with some world class athletes in the final few laps. This was my second 10k ever and I feel like I am just getting my feet wet in this new event. And here's what's crazy: I actually like it. Sure, 25 laps is a lot. But, I feel like the stronger I get the more it feels at home for me, something I haven't felt in a few years.

The reason I don't walk away from this weekend with a B+ or A- is because after the 10k I came down with some sickness that didn't allow me to run the 5ks. It's nobody's fault, but as athletes it is our job to prepare as best as possible for our competitions and this was a failure on my part to not toe the line. I am pretty happy with the Olympic Trials weekend and feel like I can build on this B performance and continue to chase that perfect A the rest of the summer.

Comments: I would give my performance a D+. I would say the 5k was a D- and the 10k was a C. I knew going into the trials that I wasn't back to 100%, but I still expected more from myself in both races. I was super excited when heats for the 5k came out and I saw I was in heat 2, because I would know what time I needed to run to qualify for the final. So walking onto the track I knew what heat 1 had run - as long as our heat was faster than 15:40 top 10 (of 15) would be in. I knew that an honest pace would favor me and where I am in my return from injury.  But, no one wanted to push the pace (I wasn't brave enough either) and it was slow! I wasn't able to hang onto the leaders when the kick happened and I finished 14 out of 15 in 16:37 - only the top 6 made the final. I felt really sad after the race, when I envisioned my season at the start of the year I saw myself being competitive in the 5k final and to fall so far short was a failure. I wish I would've gone to the front and pushed the pace, I still may not have made the final, but then at least I would have put myself in a better position to qualify and run a race I could be more proud of. I recovered well physically and mentally from the 5k and I went into the 10k super motivated and inspired by Drew, Joey, and Anthony. I felt strong and comfortable through 5k but started to fall off the group as the pace picked up around 3k to go. It was a hard race but I am proud of how I finished - this was only my second track 10k so I learned a lot. I went into the Trials seeded 18th and finished 19th. 

Reflecting on my races at the trials I feel mostly disappointed - but also hopeful for the future and confident I will bounce back. Down, but not out! :) 

Comments: In the back of my mind this year I had two big goals: 1) make the Olympic Trials 5k field 2) compete well and give it my all for a spot in the final. I’m glad that my improved fitness and performance led to the achieve of goal 1 but my preparation was not good enough for the second.

In particular I was not adequately ready for a hot race. I should’ve prioritized more getting in some heat training. My blood work came back revealing that I have sludgy/thick blood which causes poor circulation and an increased sensitivity to heat so with some new supplements I am hoping to fix this for next time.

Additionally, I think I underestimated the pressure I would have for myself. Sometimes I feel like I’m behind in my performances and getting to this top level I had so many dreams and expectations for myself in terms of hanging with the top of the race, making the final, and placing high. When I struggled in the heat, I felt like a failure. I’ve set up time with a sports psychologist to start working through some of my negative thought patterns in high pressure situations.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and while I’m frustrated I couldn’t use it better, I know I am making progress. My fitness has greatly improved since I’ve joined TME and my confidence has as well. I have a fantastic team and coaches who have my back and are ready to help me take steps to be at my best!

Comments: The objective for the Trials was to make it into the final, because I knew I was strong enough to come back two days later in a better spot mentally and physically than some of my competitors, and place well. Our training all year was focused on strength and our ability to recover off of lots of volume and hard efforts. Qualifying for the final (somewhat) comfortably, right off my PR and ready to attack another steeple was an exciting feeling, and I executed my prelim almost exactly how I wanted to-- get in comfortably and don't waste any gears.

A large component of grading my success during the Trials was how I approached the races mentally -- for that I give myself an A+. I had a lot of nerves and feelings of doubt the day of the prelim, but I was able to handle those moments with bringing myself back to center; meaning trusting in myself, my training, my coaches, and my teammates. Relying on my routine to help get me locked in for the race turned out to be my biggest asset-- going to the stadium, warming up, etc. -- just going through my routine helped it feel like any other meet, where I was calm, focused, and ready to compete on the biggest stage I've ever been on.

I'm very pleased with my result in the final, but can't help but think I should've been more fearless. It was one thing to take the lead when the pace was slow, but I wish I was thinking more "go with Rooks and Wilkinson when they take off" rather than "survive and don't get last." I learned a lot from championship racing and the mentality I need to bring when it comes to my strategy with that one race alone, and I'll be better off for it, because I do feel like I'm approaching the capability to compete with the guys up front. However, never running a USA final before, I had no idea what to expect or how it could go. I told myself a great day could mean top 3, or it could mean top 10. Getting 7th in my first go was an incredible experience, but I know I'm destined for better. An A- grade in that final probably would've been top 5, where I held on with the guys that did go with the pace, and an A+ would've been top 3; being fearless and finishing on empty.

Next up on The Hammer

We’ll be switching things up from the track and shifting focus to the marathon. If you have specific requests for newsletter content or people you’d like to see interviewed, feel free to leave a comment in the poll section below.

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