Track and Field Blogs - Lee Consolo

I wanted to go back in time for a second to write down a blog about one of my most memorable track meets. One memory that will probably stick with me for a while and one that I would like to share with you. So after Penn Relays and Hot Dog Day Saturday the AU team had to deal with the heat and a bunch of D1 competitors at the Cornell Big Red Invite. I didn't know what to expect from that race. All I knew was that it was a hot day, people were tired, and it was gonna be tough but I stayed focused. The 400 was earliar than usual, I think I raced around 12:50 or something like that. Hudack held my blocks for me, Elisabeth waited at the 300 mark to cheer me on along with her dad and the whole team was all around me. How could I fail? I was pretty pumped. The 400 always gets me excited. Its short, but sweet. One lap of guts and speed and endurance. There is a wall in the 400 meter run, it usually comes around the 300 mark. Thats when you start to feel pain. Thats when your brain is like so want to just ease on in or do you want to increase the pain? Most of the time I say okay hard part! But that time was different. The gun went off, went out hard and floated down the second 100. Third 100 meter I saw Elisabeth and her dad and got real pumped and passed some of the D1ers. Take that! I came down the last 100 meter straight away and the race was over. The time was 49.80! Ah, at long last that sweet goal of mine was complete. I am pretty sure I jumped up and down like a crazy person. I might have even done a dance. All my hard work had paid off. All those funny plyos I did with my mom and dad helping in Thailand paid off. They were proud as well.

Last summer I really wanted to break 50. I was tired of being in the 50s. While I was away in Thailand last summer I was constantly looking up 400 meter training excercises and tips and tricks on how to break it. I remember spending time in the gym in Bua-Yai, a village 6 hours north of Bangkok and training hard. I met some awesome friends and they didn't understand the big deal of running really. Soccer was the hottest thing in the world over there. Either way, we trained together and eventually I had to head home. I still think the fact that in Thailand running is called "Wing."

Anyways after a tough XC season I built the base I needed to hang in there when that 300 meter rolled around. Indoor I got hurt but eventually came back at and did some serious work on speed.Everything really came together at the end of the year and I was really proud of myself. I guess thats why I am writing this small story. Later on Id run 49.9 at the state meet pre lims and 50.2 in the finals (coming in 2nd place thanks to matt case..ahh) but then at ECACs id run 49.83, close to my pr (also beating matt case hehe). Our 4x4 would also claim a school record with me running a split of 49.3.

I am glad to be in the 49 range. I am going to work extra hard my last year of college to be in the 48 range..who knows maybe with all this mileage im doing Ill get to the 47s. I know Im going to be doing some 800s and 1500s but ultimately I feel it will all come back to the 400 meter run. Unless my 800s and 1500s are magical. Then I am going to have to make some decsions. But until then..I have an entire XC season ahead of me.

One thing at a time.