The whole conference travel experience is surreal. Here I sit on the pull-out bed in the Comfort Suites - Aggieland waiting the entirety of this Friday for the start of my race. That fact alone doesn't seem too out of the ordinary, despite the fact that the DMR kicks off at 9pm; it's the fact that we left on Wedneday morning, staying in the same hotel four straight nights, that makes this experience so unique.
Yesterday, in the blur of excitement, we toured the exceptional facilities, ate a grand Italian dinner at Johnny Carino's, and finally played endless hands of Hearts to pass the time. Now sitting a mere 6 hours from my race, time seems to be speeding by. There's so many things going through my head that make me regret wasting all of yesterday with frivolous activities.
Fears and insecurities mix with eagerness and excitement in the vortex of thought, ebbing and flowing between a high and low confidence tide. Factors as small as lunch choice, previous workouts, and even earlier races work to simultaneously shake and strengthen my confidence. Someone should do an fMRI on the brain of an athlete on the verge of performing in a sport that he knows will hurt his body so bad. That said, there are a few things ingrained in my mind that allow my psychology to slowly weed out the unnecessary thoughts and focus on the even to be run.
No meet is a big meet.
Run fast for fifth.
The sport has no memories.
I'm focused, ready, and anxious to toe the line. Last indoor meet ever!
