Milesplit Arizona Cross Country Journals
Will Firth is having a great start to the 2010 cross country season with 2 big wins so far. Three weeks ago Will won the Sole Sports Invitational, followed by a win at the Ray Wherely Invite and last weekend he took the title at the George Young Invitational. Will looks strong as he crosses the line at each race and is looking forward to a great finish to his prep running career. Keep checking back and discover Will's great sense of humor as he journals about his season.
Journal #1
Will Firth
(Sr., Brophy College Prep)
Journal Entry #2 (October 13, 2010)
Happy day fellow MileSpliters! If you are reading this that means I have made a good enough impression upon you in my first journal to have you come crawling back for more. SUCCESS! I hope that you find this journal as equally inspiring as the last.
You might be saying in your head right now “Man this guy is so cool. He can run plus he is stunningly handsome. If only he had a third amazing quality he could be a TRIPLE THREAT!” Well, I am here to tell you that I indeed have that third quality you have been searching for. I am an AMAZING singer. I could even go so far as to compare it to Susan Boyle on steroids, as well as my cheeky smile. You don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself in my 8th grade talent show.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59TJsJQV06k (This is where my singing career took off)
…
Now that you have confirmed my TRIPLE THREATNESS I would like to share a little story with you about a handsome young man named Will Firth and his race at Twilight. I like to call it: A Little Story About A Handsome Young Man Named Will Firth And His Race At Twilight. By Will Firth.
T’was a day like any other irregular day might be situated. My eyes unlocked to an unsightly florescent red 6:23 staring back at me, an easy to decipher sign that I was to be late to being early for school this fine Friday morning. My eyes wandered to the back of my right hand where I had written a reminder about my French test today at school (A quick study sesh being the reason for my early planned arrival). As I watched the time tick later and later I could feel my exam grade dropping. Je n'ai pas réussi mon examen….
School played out fairly normally. I attended my classes (physically at least), took my tests, and even mindlessly socialized a smidge, all the while I attempted to keep my focus off the approaching race that was to come later that night. Following the last bell ringing I was the first soul to part from school and began my journey home where Mother Firth had graciously made me some delicious food before I found the desire to lie down and take a quick nap.
This “quick nap” turned out to be not so quick and kept me so out like last year’s Gucci for three hours. I awoke around 5:00 pm and little by little began readying myself for the undertaking that was soon to begin.
My Checklist:
· Running shoes
· Racing flats
· Uniform
· Jacket
· Brophy shirt
· Extra Brophy shirt
· Long shorts
· Cooler (Water/Gatorade/powerbars)
· The Stick
· ADRENALINE SOCKS (newly added)
At around 6:10 pm my mother and I packed ourselves into our little Mazda 3 and were off to the races (Literally). Four freeways and an hour and a half later we finally managed to make it to the meet, but not before we made a few wrong turns.
By the time of our arrival the sky had already grown dark, an array of glowing lights flooded the field and dance party music came from every direction; something you are not used to when at a cross country meet. Luckily I was able to find my coach and he escorted me to our tent (I would have otherwise been aimlessly searching for hours). I sat and I chatted about the races that had previously been run and congratulated my teammates who all did exceptionally well. Then it came time to warm up.
(Photo left: Firth crossing the finish line at the Desert Twilight Festival)
This is when it really dawned on me that I was about to run a race. The meet being on a Friday threw off my whole pre race routine, but I made the best I could of it. As we started to jog I was fairly certain that I was going to have a decent race. I made sure to stretch well, put my flats on, and shed my many layers of clothing before heading to the start. I was oddly at peace during the few short minutes we waited on the line for the race to commence (a time that I am usually freaking out).
The trigger was pulled and we were off. The initial pace was fast, but that was to be expected with such a flat course. I was not worried, my focus was to jump into the front group and just stay relaxed; nothing more. I shook my body out, took a deep breath, and went with the leaders.
We flew by the mile marker at around 4:40, again, a time that I was expecting with the level of competition and flatness of the course. At this point Mr.Billy Orman took over the lead and began to pull away. I felt OK and decided that I would take a chance and go with him.
I could tell that my legs were beginning to fatigue but I knew that I had no other choice than to stick with him, unless I wanted to be stuck in no mans land. Well, I ended up getting stuck in no mans land…. I dropped back just before the 2 mile marker and was unable to keep pace with the top three finishers.
I was far enough ahead of the 5th place runner to not fall back further but too far behind the 2nd and 3rd place runners to catch up. Running by yourself in a race is one of the hardest things to do and I do NOT recommend it. I stayed where I was place wise for that last mile although my pace dropped dramatically.
I finished well. I am content with my 4th place finish. Maybe if I ran a tad smarter I would have had a better time, but it is not in good health to dwell upon something you are incapable of producing change of. There are plenty of other fish in the sea (meaning plenty more races to be run, not woman, although there are plenty those as well for you young fellows who are heartbroken).
After the race I made my rounds of hugs/high fives/booty slaps that are customary at each conclusion of a competition and proceeded to go on a cool down run. Finally, I journeyed over to the awards ceremony where all my groupies were awaiting my arrival (which include screaming hormonal pre-teens and Mother Firth).
FIN
IN ADDITION
Because I was so late to submitting this journal The Doug Conley race has already been run. I will therefore discuss that race as well.
(Photo right: Firth at the Doug Conley Invitational)
Doug Conley has always been a race near and dear to my heart. Is it because the color in the medals looks like candy? Maybe. All I know was that coming into this race I really wanted the title.
You see, we all know that top 5 finishers receive plaques. I placed 6th last year…. I had nightmares for weeks! It was time that I earned myself a plaque.
The competition would be tough, I knew that, but I was fairly certain I had a strong chance in winning. I just needed to keep my mind focused and my body relaxed.
The pace went out considerably slower than the week before (at Twilight), something that I think we were all much appreciative of. At the start of the second loop Jorge Martinez tripped and was unfairly forced out of the front group, leaving me and Alejandro Valencia to fight for the win.
Just past the two mile I decided to make a move. Either my move was not strong enough or Alejandro was just too strong, I was not able to pull away at that time. It was not until I made a second move with about five to six hundred meters left to go that I was able to put a little distance between us.
Now, two days later, the whole race feels like a dream. I’m not sure I would believe that it happened if it were not for the plaque sitting in my kitchen that I have so long awaited to receive!
Phew! This was a long Journal!
- Will Firth