World Athletics Champs next on to-do list
I cannot think how many steps I have taken to get to this point.
I have been running for 20 years and in just the past month I have covered 580km – let alone how many steps my legs and feet have carried me over the span of my running life.
Crossing the line in a time of 31:45.02 on the evening, May 5, was perhaps the happiest, satisfied, relieved, and emotional feeling that I have yet experienced in my 26 years.
The race is 10,000m: 25 laps of the track, 40 competitors in the race, and the meet is called Payton Jordan, which is held at Stanford University in California, US.
My race start time was 9:55pm on a Friday evening.
Warming up in the complete darkness, dressed in layers of clothing, I could not have predicted what the next hour would bring.
I was nervous, really nervous, but I was excited too. I was really keen to get out there and put all of my hard training to the test.
I had just completed week number 35 of full-time training as a professional athlete, where I have trained every day, most days two-to-three times per day. Completing many, many tough sessions, long runs, hill reps, and gym sessions averaging anywhere between 100 to 150km per week every week. No exceptions or excuses.
The race itself went by so quickly. There were a lot of girls keen to run quick, and many went off hard and fast at the start.
Laps went by, suddenly we were passing through the 5km mark, I knew it was quick enough but I didn’t want to see the time, I was happy with how I felt; calm, relaxed and in control.
At the 6km mark one of the Japanese girls I was running with completely blew up, started crying and breathing extremely loudly. She remained on the pack for a few more laps. I found it hard to relax with the drama hot on my heels.
The overall pace quickened a little with the remaining laps to go. I still felt great. I had 600m to go and the pace quickened again and as I passed the bell lap with one lap to go I was certain I was on pace for a fast time.
Coming down the home straight I caught a glimpse of the clock and knew for sure I was going to achieve the standard.
It was the greatest feeling, I wanted to savor every step out there. 31:45.02. A 41-second personal best time.
It was 30 seconds under the World Champs and Commonwealth Games A standards and it would move me up to 3rd all-time on the New Zealand ranking list – behind Kim Smith and Nyla Carroll. After years of near misses, I have finally qualified for my first major senior championship.
I cannot stop smiling.
Camille grew up in Cambridge and lives in Hamilton. She is a middle-long distance runner training as part of the Melbourne Track Club in Australia.