Last Post

Well this is my last post. All of my WISE materials are due tomorrow, which I haven't even started. Got to get on that.  I did not meet my goal of 49 sec. just yet. I am not sad nor discouraged that I didn't reach it. I'm going to continue with this goal to college. I am officially a Ithaca College Bomber now! I am going to continue to wok hard so I can get that 49 and then approve on that time as well. My fastest time this year I believe is a 52.4. Compared to last year I have shaved more than a second off my fastest time, which was 53.7. I had an awesome season. I am actually still running because our 4by1 relay team made it to states because of a first place win at state qualifications and a time of 42.9 sec.

I will be honest and say that I did get something out of this WISE experience. I learned how to work individually more, working through my frustrations, and learning a few things about myself and life.

Thank you for reading my thoughts, reflections, and what I've learned. Thanks for following along on my journey through this project.

Mentor Meeting 12

We brainstormed ideas about my presentation.

• Whether I want to have the entire presentation out on the track and print out pictures or use iPad's to pass around. Or make a powerpoint, print it out and pass that out as well.
• Have half the presentation inside and then go outside to the track for the other half.
• All my ideas I was going to use for the powerpoint, I don't necessarily need to put it in a powerpoint. I can have all my ideas on a note cards or something or that sort.
• Ideas - 15 min talk 15 min run
• If do it outside - demonstrate some stuff
• workout - show plyometric jumping and talk about leg strengthening  show hand-offs and talk about why it is important 
• research - Adrian stuff that he told you - focused on shins - show part of it - one demonstration (bosu ball) - Ms Kruger said she wants to see it  :)
• Research - starting blocks. 

After done running - demonstrate ice bath - research from Kim about how to treat injuries.

Connections - workouts...Adrian workout...helps shins...frustrations 

Put 400 times last which will lead to demostation 

Chris's Presentation

Today I was a student evaluator for my WISE peer Chris. His project was on the Basic's of Cooking. His presentation went well. Me knowing Chris well, and him being so lazy (haha), he could have done a lot more with his overall project.

Here are some things he could have improved on:

• Organization of his presentation
• Wrote more clearly in his journal and added more details and reflections
• Journal could have also used some more visuals
• Try to find ways to make his project more interesting or fun for himself

That just being a few things and there could be others, I personally would say he pulled it off alright. It may not had been the best but at least he put some thought into it.

The food he had made, and passed it out during his presentation, was absolutely amazing. I loved it.

Hey Chris, if you wouldn't mind, I would like some more food, thanks. Good job bud!

Debrief on Sample Presentation - In-Class Journal Entry

Questions:

What would you like to borrow from the sample?

• I would borrow his confidence and loud voice.

What was a particular strength of the sample?

• His presentation was very organized and time efficient. It was also very detailed. 

What will you do differently.

• I don't think there is anything I will do differently. I will make sure my presentation is organized and detailed and present it with a sense of confidence. I will try my best!

The Goal

I am a little sad to say that I did not reach my goal of breaking 50 sec. in the 400 meters. The closes I got to it was 52.4. For about a years worth of work, I shaved of one second off my best time last year which was 53.7 which is still pretty good. Back at my old school in Buffalo, I ran track, but the preparation and workouts don't really compare to what I did at Ithaca High School. If I would have started track here in Ithaca, I know for sure I would have made my goal no problem because of how hardworking I am. Now that I'm about to graduate, I will carry my goal with me to college. I will continue to work hard and if I stay with it, who knows how fast I'll be running in my college years to come.

But I am still excited to do my demonstration at my presentation, it's going to be awesome. I will be running a full out 400 and I'm getting some track friends to run with me so people can see how I look during races.

Overtraining

I have been putting in work way before my track season started just so I would have a good chance of reaching my goal of breaking 50 sec. in the 400 meters. It all started in late November early  December where I would I go to the team workouts at the high school. I can't remember if it was everyday but it was for at least 2 days a week. Then that went into pre-season which started in late January. We would lift on Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's and run up at Barton Hall on Tuesday's and Thursday's. I even participated in indoor track meets at Barton, organized by the Finger Lakes Runners Club. Season soon started and I felt more ready than ever.

Ever since then, I've been to every track meet, and ran at least 3 races, 2 of those including a 400. Everything was going well, I was making personal records and then surpassing those and making more. Now I'm at the end of my season which 2 more meets to go. The last 400 I run may be on May 30th, which is state quals. and the time I need to go to states would be a 49. I know I'm not going to get that time because my body can't keep up with the stress I've been putting on it any longer. I'm at my limits. I've been working too hard and haven't been given any time to rest. That internal push I had all season is no more.

Due to my "overtraining", for right now, I am not going to get any faster, nor better. Here is a article to backup the regression I've been noticing.

Click here to see article

From the article I learned:

Overtraining syndrome is a collapse in performance that occurs when the body gets pushed beyond its capacity to recover.  If my body doesn't get the opportunity to repair itself, than my hard work will eventually be doing more bad than good. Overtraining causes performances to drop and injuries to rise, as well as sleep disturbances. A drastic change in mood can be a sign that someone is overtraining. Getting enough sleep (ideally 8-9 hours) and giving your body the nutrients it needs are important. "You should have the same commitment toward your recovery as you do toward your workouts."

Ithaca College Track

I was admitted to the Ithaca College Men's Track team!! Jim Nichols, the head coach said he will be sending me a more complete letter detailing when their track and field meeting will be held on campus and information about their medical sports screening process. I am an official Bomber now, I can't wait! Coach Nichols also sent me Individual Top Marks for outdoor track and to compare that to my track season at the high school, I know that I will do very well and excel when my IC track season starts; indoor and outdoor.

For the summer, I plan to run with the summer XC crew at the high school under Coach Bernstein from time to time to keep up my endurance and to hopefully even increase it. I will do strength training as well so I don't lose all I gained from running track.

I'm excited, for I believe more opportunities lie ahead of me and my future.

"IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A BOMBER!"