David Krummenacker's Journal IV:
Joining The Summer Circuit

(July 18)

Running On Empty

I left for Europe the day following the USATF 800 final. I arrived to a sunny warm day in Stuttgart, Germany. Last year our training camp had seen more than its share of cold and rainy days and I was happy to be met by the sun.

My first couple races were Oslo and U.S.-vs-G.B. in Glasgow, Scotland. Jet-lag doesn’t usually rear its ugly head much with me but this trip it decided it was time for a change. I slept about 15 hours over the course of the first 5 days in Europe and felt every one of the hours I’d missed when I raced.

I felt like my body was on “E” the last 200m of each race. It was discouraging to end up 7th in Oslo [1:45.51; Mulaudzi winning in 1:44.11], and although I was happy to win in Glasgow [1:46.10] I could tell I was in serious need of rest. I came back to Germany and fortunately got just that.

U.S.-Leading Time

I went to Paris and was able to close very well the last 100m of the race. I ended up 4th [U.S.-leading 1:44.30] but felt very good about being able to finish strong. I’d also run my third- or fourth-fastest time ever and was happy things were turning around.

A week later I was in Rome and felt like it was time for a good one. I’d trained really hard in the days leading up to the meet and thought it was time to fly. In retrospect the hard training may have really been preparing me to fly later on, and not necessarily three days later when I’d wanted it to.

I had planned to get out strongly in Rome but I was caught getting shuffled to the back after the first 150m. I spent the next 400m making various moves trying to surge to the front and when I hit the final homestretch, the wheels had been spent. I ended up in a disappointed 8th with 1:44.88 and thought to myself, “No more attempting fartleks during the race.”

Stepping Up To The 1500

The next morning I boarded a flight for the U.K. and was set to race a 1500m in Gateshead the following day. I was pretty tired from the 10 hours of travel when we landed. I thought this is going to be good preparation for racing rounds at World Champs.

Warming up before the race I felt a little flat. I reminded myself that we don’t always have the fortune of feeling our absolute greatest before every race and that I had to fight through the sluggishness.

Since it was supposed to be a fast-paced race I settled into good position after about 200m and prepared to follow the train. We had a field of approx. 18 runners so I didn’t want to get caught hanging out in the back. I felt pretty good the first three laps and had moved from 5th to 4th with 300 to go.

The pace heated up the last 250 and I felt poised to finish strongly… 150 to go the runner in front of me abruptly darted out to lane 2. He tripped me up in the process and I thought I was going down for a moment. Fortunately, two strides later I was still up--albeit my legs sprawling to the side--and was regaining momentum. I passed one runner down the homestretch but had too much room to make up to catch the two runners in the lead.

I ended up 3rd and saw my time of 3:35.15 [another U.S. yearly leader]. I knew at that moment I was in store for a very good 1500 race later this summer when I was fresh.

Taking A Break

I’m back in Germany now training for the next three weeks. Our coach has just arrived and it’s good to have the mastermind around to impart his wisdom and guidance on us. I’m looking forward to the second half of the season and am once again narrowing my sights on the medal stand.

Thanks for reading,

David Krummenacker

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