Outdoor Season Around the Corner

Indoor season ended on a high note and I have been eager to train for the outdoor season. Anyone familiar with Michigan would be able to tell you how frustrating it can be around this time of year, even more so for track athletes. Most runners in the south have already begun racing and training consistently outdoors. For me it’s a different story.

Returning from Germany was difficult. When I got back, I had to go back to work the next day. On top of that I was trying to convince myself that taking the week off was what I needed. Two things helped me take the week off. First, I got fairly sick and was trying to recover from time difference issues. Second, I started looking into my outdoor season schedule, seeing that it will be the longest of my career, concluding in late July or later. One week rest was what I took reluctantly.

After the week of rest I began lifting and hurdle training again. For most, since indoor season was over, training outside would be the logical next step. Unfortunately, in Michigan, there was still over a foot of snow on the ground and the temperatures were hanging out at the -20 C point. This being the case, I was forced to remain inside training in a hallway or on a high school's hard rubber rectangular rec track. Not optimal, but I was glad to be back training.

The time between seasons would end up being roughly 6 weeks for training. One of those weeks was a rest week. Now, in my 4th week of training, I have been able to get on the track once and on the turf football field once. The weather is not looking like it will get better until after the first time I race.

11 days til the first race, I am beyond super eager to race again, but I am more eager to just get outside to train. The first race will be treated as more of a time trial to see where we are following the indoor season and break time. Training is going well, and I am very excited for the outdoor season. Looking at the math with my coach just gets me more excited. My coach’s high level of optimism is always helpful and has really turned my head to some opportunities I am aiming for this summer.

My first race is at Oakland University at the annual dual meet with Oakland and Detroit. This meet has allowed alumni to race and this will be my second year out of school getting to compete. What makes this meet more special to me is that as an athlete, I never had a track on campus. This marks the first meet ever held at my University, and I will get to be part of it!