Holly van Dalen: The Indoor Season
Hey Kiwis,
Well the indoor season has now come to an end...and the outdoor season is about to begin!
The last time I blogged I had just run my first indoor race of the season, when I raced a 3km in Boston and ran 9.28. The weeks following this race, I was able to get good and consistant training, milage and workouts in to help me progress through indoors. Three weeks after Boston we had Conference where I ran and mile in the DMR and a 3k the following day. This weekend proved to be good for me where I was able to ran hard through training...Our DMR team was strong and we won the race. The mile leg for me felt good...I ran approx 4.48 and felt very relaxed doing it. This was a good indicator for me as to where my fitness was at - 1500s and miles have always been distances that I have raced in the past on the track, and it is these shorter races where I can see improvement in my fitness also, even when my training is focused toward the 3 and 5k. I ran the 3k the next day, where I won the race in 9.32. I went into the 3k with a race in my legs from the day before, however, the aim was just to get into a relaxed pace and feel comfortable. I was pleased with this performance as I ran solo and felt very relaxed at the pace. It, ultimately, gave me great confidence that my body could run a 3k at that pace and feel fine - a race that was a confidence booster for the week ahead where I was to run a 5k.
It was six days later when I went into New York City, to the Armory Indoor track, and ran the 5k. The weather proved to be somewhat of a disaster as a huge snow storm hit NY. We got to the track, which was a blessing due to the dangerous road conditions, and my 5k was the 2nd race scheduled. Lucy came to pace me through the 3k as an unattached runner...due to the snow outside we ended up warming up inside on the track. I felt fine and I had complete faith in my fitness and what Andy believed that I could run. The aim was to go out in 9.40 pace (16.10ish pace) and just to keep pushing to the end in order to get the auto time for the NCAA Nationals. Lucy did a great job in pacing me through the 3k and we ended up going through in 9.32...I was unaware of the time we went through the 3k in but knew I was on pace and felt really relaxed at this point. There was no questioning or doubting in my mind throughout the race and so when Lucy dropped out at 3k I just kept going. I was able to fix my eyes on other girls in the race who I was catching so that helped to pull me along in the final laps of the race. I crossed the line in 15.55 which was a 18 second PB and the auto-time for the NCAA Indoor Nationals. I was really pleased with the performance and was really excited to get the auto time for Nationals.
My body recovered well in the following few days, however it is an effort like this that takes a lot out of the system. On the Tuesday after the race my body really shut down as a result of tiredness that crept up on me a few days later. I took the following week to just recover from tiredness and a cold that came as a result...I just had to relax my body in order to move onto Nationals the following week. I was able to do a workout on the Monday before Nationals where I did some 800m reps. We travelled on Wednesday to Arkansas...and my race was on Friday night.
For me, the NCAA Indoor Nationals proved to be an experience and another learning curve in my career as an athlete. It is here, at the NCAA Nationals, where the competition is just so great that one has to come and really perform on the day. I did not have it in me to perform to my best ability on the day and was disapointed with my performance and how it turned out (I came 14th in the NCAA 5km). However, I know that one race and one day does not determine the athlete I am and can be. I am really pleased with my overall performance for the Indoor season and have great hopes for the NCAAs in my future. It was such a blessing to be at the NCAAs this indoor season where I was exposed to the competition that I am going to be up against again soon in upcoming seasons. Through all the great ups and the not-so-great downs this indoor season has given me confidence in my ability and endurance, experience at racing at the NCAAs and faith that there is a lot more to come in the future! And so....the Outdoor season begins!
For the Outdoor season I am focusing on the 5k and Lucy is focusing on the 1500m. Lucy will be racing this coming week to open up her season and I will start to race in a few weeks. Thanks for all the NZ support and we both wish you all well for the races this weekend at the NZ Champs...we look forward to seeing all of the results!
We will blog again soon!
God Bless,
Holly van Dalen
Well the indoor season has now come to an end...and the outdoor season is about to begin!
The last time I blogged I had just run my first indoor race of the season, when I raced a 3km in Boston and ran 9.28. The weeks following this race, I was able to get good and consistant training, milage and workouts in to help me progress through indoors. Three weeks after Boston we had Conference where I ran and mile in the DMR and a 3k the following day. This weekend proved to be good for me where I was able to ran hard through training...Our DMR team was strong and we won the race. The mile leg for me felt good...I ran approx 4.48 and felt very relaxed doing it. This was a good indicator for me as to where my fitness was at - 1500s and miles have always been distances that I have raced in the past on the track, and it is these shorter races where I can see improvement in my fitness also, even when my training is focused toward the 3 and 5k. I ran the 3k the next day, where I won the race in 9.32. I went into the 3k with a race in my legs from the day before, however, the aim was just to get into a relaxed pace and feel comfortable. I was pleased with this performance as I ran solo and felt very relaxed at the pace. It, ultimately, gave me great confidence that my body could run a 3k at that pace and feel fine - a race that was a confidence booster for the week ahead where I was to run a 5k.
It was six days later when I went into New York City, to the Armory Indoor track, and ran the 5k. The weather proved to be somewhat of a disaster as a huge snow storm hit NY. We got to the track, which was a blessing due to the dangerous road conditions, and my 5k was the 2nd race scheduled. Lucy came to pace me through the 3k as an unattached runner...due to the snow outside we ended up warming up inside on the track. I felt fine and I had complete faith in my fitness and what Andy believed that I could run. The aim was to go out in 9.40 pace (16.10ish pace) and just to keep pushing to the end in order to get the auto time for the NCAA Nationals. Lucy did a great job in pacing me through the 3k and we ended up going through in 9.32...I was unaware of the time we went through the 3k in but knew I was on pace and felt really relaxed at this point. There was no questioning or doubting in my mind throughout the race and so when Lucy dropped out at 3k I just kept going. I was able to fix my eyes on other girls in the race who I was catching so that helped to pull me along in the final laps of the race. I crossed the line in 15.55 which was a 18 second PB and the auto-time for the NCAA Indoor Nationals. I was really pleased with the performance and was really excited to get the auto time for Nationals.
My body recovered well in the following few days, however it is an effort like this that takes a lot out of the system. On the Tuesday after the race my body really shut down as a result of tiredness that crept up on me a few days later. I took the following week to just recover from tiredness and a cold that came as a result...I just had to relax my body in order to move onto Nationals the following week. I was able to do a workout on the Monday before Nationals where I did some 800m reps. We travelled on Wednesday to Arkansas...and my race was on Friday night.
For me, the NCAA Indoor Nationals proved to be an experience and another learning curve in my career as an athlete. It is here, at the NCAA Nationals, where the competition is just so great that one has to come and really perform on the day. I did not have it in me to perform to my best ability on the day and was disapointed with my performance and how it turned out (I came 14th in the NCAA 5km). However, I know that one race and one day does not determine the athlete I am and can be. I am really pleased with my overall performance for the Indoor season and have great hopes for the NCAAs in my future. It was such a blessing to be at the NCAAs this indoor season where I was exposed to the competition that I am going to be up against again soon in upcoming seasons. Through all the great ups and the not-so-great downs this indoor season has given me confidence in my ability and endurance, experience at racing at the NCAAs and faith that there is a lot more to come in the future! And so....the Outdoor season begins!
For the Outdoor season I am focusing on the 5k and Lucy is focusing on the 1500m. Lucy will be racing this coming week to open up her season and I will start to race in a few weeks. Thanks for all the NZ support and we both wish you all well for the races this weekend at the NZ Champs...we look forward to seeing all of the results!
We will blog again soon!
God Bless,
Holly van Dalen