Italian National Finals

With a temperature of 93 degrees, and humidity at 36% - Finals were more ideal racing conditions than the previous days prelims.

I ended up drawing lane 4 for the finals and felt like I was ready to run fast. I got out well the first 6 hurdles. I was moving very efficiently, keeping 15 steps between hurdles. The last few races when changing step patterns from 15 to 16 steps between hurdles I have done a better job at making the transistion much smoother.

I ended up hitting hurdle 8 in the race with both my lead leg and my trail leg, and so I think that killed a bit of my momentum, but it did not break me - I stayed on my feet!

 I ended up 3rd over all and it was still a good race. I thing there are a few things that I need to fine tune and with Kyle arriving on the 31st of July I think we can really get to work on those things. It always feels good to know that you still feel like you can go faster and it is only small things you need to adjust to drop some time.

Just to give you an idea of how hot it was the day before, or how hot it felt like it was the fastest time yesterday was 58.

Picture on the awards stand after the race

Now preparations for Moscow can begin - but to be honest they began months and months ago in the fall when I was doing all my tempo runs and lifting weights, and all of that stuff building my base to carry me through the season. It's true what they say - "Preparation day by day keeps the heart ache away". There's nothing worse than knowing that you could have prepared better but CHOSE not to.