Monday, June 30, 2008

By

-

November 19, 2008

No sleep last night.
I honestly planned on getting a few hours sleep before today’s travels but life doesn’t always go according to plan.

4:30AM
We arrive at the airport to check-in.
Why is it that everything seems funnier when you’re completely exhausted?

There’s likely a neurological reason, but in any case the quirky people joining us in the airport at this “oh-so-pleasant” ass-crack of dawn kept us amused until our flight departed Regina (YQR) for Toronto (YYZ).

My brain is scrambled. I wake up numerous times completely disorientated.
YYZ to Chicago (ORD)
ORD to Detroit (DTW)
Rent a car in Detroit … drive to Windsor.

Happily crash in bed at the Riverside Radisson Hotel.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

By

Cassie Hawrysh

-

November 19, 2008

RACE DAY – 1:40PM Douglas Park, Regina, SK.

“Well I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you but I’m sure I don’t have to, if I know you as well as I do, if you want to do something, you will do it!” –Courtney Burns (friend of more than 11 years)

Until Wednesday, I was certain today was going to either make or break me. I was suddenly told that if I didn’t run 63.00 seconds or less, then I would no longer be going to compete at Olympic Trials. Now I know otherwise – but that changed nothing.

My heart still made its way into my throat, and my body went into competition overdrive.
The weather was beautiful! With sweat dripping between my shoulder blades I asked someone special (Janz Stein) to pin my number on my back. It’s a routine for me. It doesn’t ever have to be the same person, it just always has to be someone close to me – kind of for good luck.

No coach here again today, family duties call. I understand.

Without hesitation I pushed out of the blocks.
The first few hurdles came without thought.
By the 6^th I have started to wonder why I can’t seem to force myself to just use my left lead leg. Whatever. Keep my abs tight, get over the hurdle with whatever I have left.
My lead on the group becomes apparent, and maybe part of me wishes I hadn’t noticed.
Running scared often works much better.
I finish first with an official time of 1.03.44
0.5 seconds faster than my first race.
So, I didn’t break 63 … *sigh*… BUT I every muscle in my body knows I can at Trials!!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

By

Cassie Hawrysh

-

November 19, 2008

Full warm-up at the track.

Aaron and I discussed the always present cross-wind, and pumped each other’s tires about how great tomorrow is going to be!

We’re right you know … didn’t you get the memo?

Speed limits are non existent on race day! 😉

Thursday, June 26, 2008

By

Cassie Hawrysh

-

November 19, 2008

*I found out today that Carla’s personal goal for me was to get me to officially run a straight 400m in under 60 seconds. After having a speed workout the day before, and still managing to bust it out – she made a point of letting me know she was very proud!No coach today. I got the workout over the phone – a flushing workout of eight 200s, tempo paced and barefoot in the grass.

I am beginning to feel ready…

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

By

Cassie Hawrysh

-

November 19, 2008

Track and Field is most commonly referred to as an individual sport. When informed I was now a track athlete, an old volleyball coach of mine told my current coach that it was no surprise, because (according to this individual) I suited an individualized sport better. I remember feeling a great deal of resentment when Carla shared that with me. And maybe a part of me actually worried that the statement was true …maybe I was best at only worrying about myself…
That feeling didn’t last long, and today was yet another reminder as to just why I know reality often differs from perception.

One of my other training partners, was in fact not at practice yesterday and hence, had not yet heard the troubling news about un-met standards. One of the other girls in our group decided to email her at work and let her know …
This didn’t go over well in my mind. Needless to say, she was upset. And without a coach in sight to help her deal with her new situation I did my best to console her … but I soon remembered that I am in that same boat…

No matter what happens though, we will be okay.

The point is that it doesn’t matter that we run in separate lanes, jump and throw at different measurements, or even warm up alone at a competitions – we’re literally all in this together. No matter what level we’re training at we all are share an emotional investment to athletics that should always be appreciated as a group sport.

Today’s practice was speed-hurdles: Once over 3 hurdles, once over 5 hurdles, once over 7 hurdles and then a straight-up 200. My legs were feeling fast, my push over the hurdle aggressive, and my speed was in a good time range. Unfortunately those things don’t guarantee a great hurdle race. The clichéd phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff” need not apply – athletics are primarily based on all the small stuff – so we sweat it.

Monday, June 23, 2008

By

Cassie Hawrysh

-

November 19, 2008

*sniffle – sniffle* *cough * Are you kidding me? A cold!? *sigh* Fantastic!

I could only manage to get in a half day at work, so I napped for the afternoon, but Carla convinced me to come do a warm up this evening. However she had she had some potentially heart-breaking news to share with the group today.

We had all recently traveled to Calgary Alberta to compete in the CALTAF classic.

It was actually my first 400m Hurdle race ever, and I tore it up with a 1.03.9 to take bronze – against girls who have been racing this event outdoors for years! That moment took a seat as my coach explained that due to a miscommunication three of us – Aaron, Amanda and myself – had yet to make Athletics Canada standard which would allow us to go to Nationals.
What?!
Apparently, we were supposed to race that same weekend in Prince Albert, SK and had we gotten first or second at that meet, we would be granted passage – no matter the time. *side note: there were no 400mH races even held at the P.A. meet* (ya, figure that one out).
Either way, we chose to compete at a different meet and now I personally, am short of the standard by 00.9 seconds.
Luckily, I race here in Regina this Sunday. One last chance.

Despite my sickness, I found some added energy today as Aaron and I ran 6 reps of 200m (with 4 minute break intervals) in our flats. I think the burst of speed may have had something to do with the new level of heat the fire lit under my ass just reached!
No pressure.

Friday, June 20, 2008

By

Cassie Hawrysh

-

November 19, 2008

The power of group motivation never ceases to amaze me.

Friday – Circuit day.
Sometimes, the trouble with having a coach that has two toddlers and approximately three-hundred other commitments is that she can’t make it to practice. Fridays in the summer are particularly busy for her. I remember totally freaking out inside the first time Carla told us she wasn’t going to make it … but this was more than three years ago now…. Luckily today, due to everything she has and continues to do, I have grown up a great deal, both as an athlete and an individual.

The workout today consisted of bunch of abdominal work and a few too many metres. Ha! The circuit she had us do works like this – core work – run – core work – run – core work – run – core work – run – hurdle hip mobility. The runs, originally, were supposed to be 200m sprints but yesterday Carla informed me she would like some 400m’s in there too.
The other two girls working out with me today only had to do 200s, so I thank the running gods that my 400mHurdle workout partner Aaron was there to remind me that running a few extra metres could mean a few milliseconds off our race time. Smart guy!

There wasn’t anything too pleasant about running today –and I would have loved to have Carla there urging me to push harder – but finishing a workout knowing that we pushed each other through it is brings a different kind of satisfaction.