Track and Field Blogs - Jenny Barringer

So, I heard the word is out. I ran 2:02.56 tonight in Cottbus and got third in the race. I'll give you the play-by-play but with the understanding that when you're IN the race it's sometimes difficult to know exactly how the race is unfolding. So, I'll give you my account conceding that it's my own perspective and not objective:

The gun went off just in time to prevent the ulcer that was beginning to develop in my stomach while I was waiting for the race to begin. I was as nervous as ever. Everyone took off, a lot faster than I'm used to, and I was in close pursuit. It got pretty physical up front, as is to be expected, but I was in a good position and able to ease my way onto the rail and tuck right onto the shoulder of the rabbit just before the 200m mark. I had to make a critical decision in those first 28 seconds over whether I was going to be aggressive and really put my nose in it, or let others dictate the race. The start list had several sub-2 women and a few 2 minute women. So, to little surprise and the delight of my coaches, I chose to put my nose in it. I came through right behind the rabbit in about 59 high, a little slower than the rabbit was instructed but probably perfect for me. The next turn I just tried to stick to the rabbit and then she pulled off shortly after 500 meters. I pushed the straight as best I could and was surprised at how well I could hear my coaches with 200 meters to go. The clock clicked over to 1:30 and with Mark's brief encouragement I just tried to hold my form and hang on. With about 70 meters to go a group of women surrounded me and we all fought to the finish. I didn't have quite enough to pull off the win but came through in a time I was very happy with. I've been training for the steeple and just a few weeks ago I PRed in the 5k. To come out here tonight and run an aggressive 800m (in just my fourth 800 ever) and run another PR in a very very different race, I was really happy with that. I ran through the line and immediately started paying the fines of oxygen debt. I felt like I was having a heart attack and milled around for a while like as lost 5k runner that was just experiencing the pain of an 800m race :).

The race was a lot of fun and let me tell you, Cottbus thought they won the lottery. The USA men's and women's 4x100 teams came and ran at the meet as well. The men ran right before me and it was fun to watch them before I took off. I figured that they would quickly be loading the bus and on their way back to the hotel (I drove separately with my coaches). I was humbled and elated when I came around that first curve and both teams and some of the USA staff were right there on the rail screaming their lungs out for me. When I came back around at 450m and in the lead, they were as loud as ever. It really meant the world to me that they were there cheering for me and excited about my race.

As I have elevated through the levels of Track and Field in many ways it becomes a totally different sport. The time that separates the good and the great becomes more narrow. That little extra effort can pay out a lifetime of glory. The time between intervals becomes less and the time you improve from race to race becomes smaller. The stress is high and the expectations have no limit. Different things shift and become more narrow or less forgiving. It can seem like a different world. But, there are some things that never change. It was so great to have my USA team cheering me on in my race today, even though it was a dinky meet. I still want the comfort and consultation of my coaches before a race no matter how big or small. What is it like to be in Berlin preparing for the World Championships? It's a lot like your favorite week of traveling with the track team to the state meet or those college cross country meets with team meals and the guy's and girl's teams cheering for each other. It's a team here and a lot of the things we appreciate are not far removed from our own high school and college years. As the level changes so do many aspects of the sport but, for me, there's a familiar thread that runs through it all.