Katie Rainsberger: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Katie Rainsberger posted the nation's fastest 5K of the season to date at Desert Twilight on October 2nd. Colorado Track XC file photo by Alan Versaw.

Last year's Desert Twilight saw Katie Rainsberger and Dani Jones take it to finish line together. Together, they ran a breathtaking pace of just over 16:40 for 5K. It was the kind of show you tuck neatly into the memory banks, figuring it won't likely be repeated in the near future.

In the year that followed, Dani Jones signed with the University of Colorado and graduated. Rainsberger, though, had another year of high school eligibility remaining. And, almost since last year's Desert Twilight wrapped up, it was in the plans for Rainsberger to return to Desert Twilight this year.

It's also been more or less a foregone conclusion around Colorado that Rainsberger would accomplish some special things this fall. The first big hint of that came on September 24, when Rainsberger demolished the course record at the Coronado Cougar Classic with a 17:05.

The next stop in Rainsberger's season would be the return trip to Casa Grande, Arizona, where she edged Dani Jones at the finish line last year.

"After running 17:05 at the Coronado meet a week before, I knew I was in really good shape and could go down to Desert Twilight with a confident mindset. I definitely wanted to improve from last year but knew it'd be difficult because Dani Jones wouldn't be there to push me."

Did she go down with any expectations? Her confession that she went to Desert Twilight "slightly tapered" would cast a strong hint in that direction.

But, there's a big difference between being fit and having expectations and actually delivering the goods when the gun goes off. There is a long line of accomplished high school distance runners who need no introduction to that idea.

"I've been doing my intervals back in Colorado at or below 5:15 pace, so I knew what that felt like to run that speed [16:23], but it was a mental challenge to keep that pace during the second mile. I can usually start and finish well, but I've really been working at my middle third.... It was more difficult this year staying mentally strong when I didn't have anyone right beside me... so I just focused on the cart ahead of me and my effort."

And, she did manage to keep that pace through to the end. Now, having that time on deposit in the bank takes some the pressure off.

Rainsberger looks forward to the state meet in less than three weeks with no time expectation other than "racing faster than I did at pre-state." And, just as importantly, state serves as a springboard for advancing what is now a very promising set of team prospects:

"Coming so close to Desert Vista was a definite confidence booster for our girls team this year. We knew we had the potential to do something special, but we hadn't all raced together since pre-state and were unsure how we ranked up against national level teams. We are all really excited for State and NXR-Southwest over these next few weeks."

That, in itself, would be plenty for any high school girl to keep in mind. But, Rainsberger has another matter to tend to as well. This weekend, she makes her final recruiting visit. The pool of possibilities has been narrowed to three--Michigan, Stanford, and Oregon--and she intends to make her commitment in the November early signing period.

It begins to look like a lifetime's worth of excitement packing itself into the next two months for Katie Rainsberger.