Lakota East sophomore, Dustin Horter, participated in and was highlighted in our Saucony Flo Summer Training Blog. Saucony Flo Summer Training Blog. We do not often have the opportunity to blog during the XC and track seasons, but Dustin has agreed to provide us with his thoughts on his races on a weekly basis throughout this season. In this, the eleventh of the series, Dustin comments on his race in the NXN-Midwest Regionals. He was the #1 Ohio boys finisher, running 11th in 15:25.60.
Thoughts
on Race at Nike Midwest Regional- November 14, 2015
Dustin
Horter
The
day was beautiful. A warm 65-degree day
and no winds; there could be no better conditions. My parents, my teammate Dan Leonard, my coach
Adam Thomas, and I all headed up to Terre Haute, Indiana for a day on which I
didn't know what to expect. Coach, Dan
and I made our way to the magnificent course, ran the first mile, and walked
the other parts of the course. I was
really stoked for this meet because I knew I had some success last year as a
freshman coming in 43rd, but definitely wanted to improve on that this time
around. I warmed up a mile and a half
with Dan, then stretched and did drills.
All of this went the same way as a regular old race day; then all the
runners lined up on the line and the commander shot the gun. Any fear I had immediately went away at the
blast of the gun. I got out great and
was right where I wanted to be, about the top ten or so. I maintained through the first mile, coming
through in a 4:42, a mirror split from my past five races. Then I hung in there with the group of big
dogs heading into the second mile and came through at about a 9:42 from what
I've heard. From there I was just
praying I had something left in the tank to finish off this beast of a
course. I passed Gavin Gaynor at about
the two-and-a-half-mile mark, and I guess you could say that's when I realized
I was probably doing great, the course was just strenuous and made me feel
slow. Then coming around the turn into
the last 400 meters of the race, I just had to run as fast as physically
possible. As my coach said, the person
with the fastest kick is the one who is able to maintain and slow down the
least on that last 400 meters. I was
nearly passed by three other guys, but I held off two of them and the other one
out leaned me. I came a few places short
of Nationals and would've been ecstatic to go to Portland this year but that's what
next year is for; that experience is one I will have to work for. Overall, I felt like Nike this year went by
in a flash but was certainly more enjoyable than last year's twenty degree run. I ended up in 11th place of 375
runners, second team. I am very thankful
God carried me through.
Special Moment: One of my special moments is more of a
thank you to my teammate Dan Leonard, who was not required by any means to come
down to Terre Haute and support me but did so anyway. He definitely made this year's Nike
experience a lot more enjoyable for me without a team there. Another special moment came after the race,
just seeing again all the sportsmanship and handshakes, people being kind to
one another and coming together in such a great sport. Finally, I just want to say
congratulations to the Centerville girls on winning their ticket to
Portland. They all raced a phenomenal
race and I wish them the best of luck at Nationals!
