Nick Symmonds: Anticipation
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry 15)
Posted June 17th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Nick Symmonds
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds
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Ive always tried to keep my mind focused on my most immediate competition and generally to keep it from drifting towards thoughts of other upcoming races. I find that if I get caught up in thinking about the Trials or the Olympics or any other race, I’m distracted from the
nearest challenge and the valuable opportunities it may present to learn and grow as an athlete.
So now, with my last race before the trails out of the way, I am finally free to let my mind focus on what I need to do in the prelims. At this point there is not a whole lot more I can do to build my strength and only a little more sharpening to do on the speed side. Really, I am just going to try and get as much rest as I can and make sure that on June 27th my legs are as fresh as possible. I know now that the most important thing I can do to be prepared is to just take care of my body and do my best to ensure that nothing tragic happens.
By tragic I of course am talking about catching a cold or crashing my motorcycle. The first is easy taken care of through good nutrition and lots of rest and the later was graciously handled by Coach Gags who, upon seeing me on my 1983 Honda told me that I was an absolute idiot and that I wouldn’t be allowed at the track until the bike was safely in his garage.
With that distraction out of the way I am free to sit and imagine myself toeing the line at my first Olympic Trials. Often, this makes
my heart start racing and I get a dull ache in my gut and I know that I need to compartmentalize this thought until its time to draw
adrenaline from the nerves i.e. the day of the race. I’m able to do so and draw much comfort by reliving the races Ive run this season again in my mind.
As I look back to Penn Relays I remember how hungry I was to race. Though leading from the gun was certainly not typical I just had this itch in my legs and I knew the only way to get some relief was to just blast three laps as hard as I could. I want that same feeling as I warm up for each round of the Olympic Trials.
Though it is a bit painful still to look back at the 1500m races I ran this spring, I’m reminded of how damn strong I became over the long winter months. Despite not running as fast as I wanted to in this event I learned a more important lesson; everything happens for a reason and all I need to worry about are the things I can control. From meet directors shuffling athletes between races to spiked knees, this spring was frustrating at times but I feel I did well rolling with the punches.
Finally, I look back at the sharpening I have done over the last few weeks. I ran my fastest season opener ever (1:46.1) and ran with much courage at Pre. Though I didn’t finish as high as I would have liked at the Prefontaine Classic I know now that I needed to run that way to learn AGAIN that patience is what wins races. And last night, I had the pleasure of competing head to head against a good friend and a great athlete in a 600. It was a gorgeous evening at Hayward Field and though I was unable to pull off the win against Matt Sherer, we pushed each other to a fantastic time (1:14.41 to 1:14.47).
This last interval was the keystone to the intricate archway that has been our training over the last year. I can only speak for my self, but I feel completely prepared to compete at the Olympic Trials. I am now eagerly counting down the days until I have the opportunity to prove that I belong on the 2008 USA Olympic Team.
-Nick
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Tags: 1500m, 800m, coach gags, elite athlete blog, elite athlete blog series, hayward field, nicholas symmonds, Nick Symmonds, Olympic Trials, Pre Classic, Prefontaine Classic, running blog, tfs elite athlete blog series, the final sprint elite athlete blog series, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series, u.s. olympic track & field trials
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The Final Sprint
Thanks Nick, for reminding me that everything happens for a reason. Something so simple and yet so powerful. I am preparing for a few big events and have had several setbacks this season. 1st a calf injury and just last week I was told I had bursitis. I just need to be patient and pray that the peces come together in time to allow me to perform my best come race day.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:30 pmAlways a pleasure to read your columns, Nick! As I’m struggling with a groin injury right now, it helps me a lot to read how elite athletes cope with temporary setbacks. Wish you all the best at the trials - I’m confident we’ll see you compete in Beijing! :-)
June 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pmyou have a MOTORCYCLE?? are you craaazy? kick some asssss this week!
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm