Track and Field Blogs - Trevor Dunbar

A big old turd has finally found its way out of my body (hope you guys can understand the metaphor, I worked pretty hard on that). The long time period of frustration, has finally come to a close with a breakthrough performance that I will remember for the rest of my life. 1:56.26. When I hear that time I still can't believe that this would be my 800 time of my junior year. All the nightmares of seeing 2:00 and change are finally over. I believe the tally had accumulated to four 2 flats, which coincidentally is the same amount of seconds I would be under when I got the time.
So onto the strategy. Coming into the race I had figured out that at most major meets everyones MO is to sit behind me and hope to ride me to a fast time and possibly outkick me. However this plan was not working out so well for me or them, because I wanted to break 2 but I also didn't want to lose. These methods usually resulted in a 60 or above opening lap and a narrow win. So, earlier in the week I had asked my good friend Benny Garcia if he could sacrifice himself and take the first lap out in 58. After a few moments of hesitation he agreed and our plan was set. I could not have done the race without him, or another man who made the race; Kevin Smith of Palmer. Ill explain his role in a moment.
BANG!!!
Gun goes off. As planned Benny goes flying out into the lead on the first turn. Adrenaline is flowing through everybody. I file in right behind Benny as does Kevin . The three of us pass the first 200 in 26. Blazing, but feeling smooth. Now what was funny about the plan was that Benny and I hadn't told any coaches or anybody about it. So when the crowd sees Benny (a 2:06 pr) leading the race and in seemingly full sprint it took some time and some puzzled faces to figure out what was going on. So, going into the second lap I pass the rabbit so I can get the inside lane position and I go through my first quarter in 55, but can't really hear cuz everyone is screaming. The last lap I'm just charging and laying it all on the line. On the backstretch Kevin who had been biding his time behind me busted out and threw down a move that put him ahead with 200 to go. By now I don't give a rats ass what my time is I just want to win the race. My competitive juices are pouring through my body. Being my antsy self I don't wait for the traditional sling-shot move, and I pass him on the curve. The last 100 meters I hardly remember but the crowd just lifted me up and didn't allow me to lose. When I found out I ran a 1:56.26 to Smiths 1:56.72. I was the happiest I have been all season.
I can sleep well at night now, because I am a sub 2 runner.

In other news: my 3200 was fairly classic as well. I will be brief on this race. Jake Parisien took it out hard and had me gapped and was looking ready to take me down. I was back getting gapped slowly but surely until the 7th and 8th laps when he came back to me. I took the lead for the first and last time on the backstretch of the last lap and held on to go 9:12.88 to Jake's pr. of 9:17.72. It was quite the afternoon for me, can't wait to see what I can do next!