If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year what would be more likely: Would I run a PR or would I make the World Championship team I would have definitely said PR. In fact I was fairly convinced at the beginning of the year that there was no way I would make the World team without improving on my 27:48 from three years ago, but that’s exactly what I did.

Hardcore track fans love times. Times are sexy. With times you can definitively say “I am this much faster than someone else” or “only this many people are faster than me.” Up until this year my running career highlight was a time. I ran the fastest 10k ever for a NCAA Division II athlete and one of the best 10k times ever for an American in college. My time put me in the conversation for elite American runners and it is something I’m very proud of.

Now my career highlight is making the World Championship team. While this is certainly something that resonates with hardcore fans, the biggest benefit comes from those who know don’t know the difference between 27 minutes and 30 minutes. Competing at the World Championships was an incredible honor and something that I will share with people for the rest of my life.

I would have loved to have run a PR this year. I wish I would have won some of the races that I ran this year (outside of the Jim Bush 1500). I certainly would prefer to having run better at the World Championships (at least avoid getting lapped). I didn’t do any of these things but that doesn’t change the fact that I did something great this year. Even though my PR is the same that it was 3 years ago I can confidently say that I am a better runner than I was 3 years ago.

All this nostalgia aside, if I want to make the Olympic team next year I have to run faster. There is no getting around the fact that the A standard is 27:45 and without the A standard it doesn’t matter what place I am at the trials. With that in mind I am going to spend the time between now and the track season working on my weaknesses and trying to improve my strengths. I hope to run more miles than ever, get stronger in the gym, and improve the little things like sleeping and eating. Hopefully when the time comes I will be more than ready to run under the A standard and finish top three at the trials.