Team Effort
by Kim Conley
July 24th, 2014
The two weeks since my race at the US Championships have included a whirlwind of activity that included enjoying other events in Sacramento, standing as bridesmaid in my sister’s wedding and travel to Europe. I am now in Leuven, Belgium, with and my teammate , where we are basing for the end of my track season, which consists of two more races in Europe.
In the time since the US Championships I have had some time to reflect on my first national time, and I feel very grateful for the team around me that has made chasing and accomplishing that goal a reality.
In the weeks prior to the US Championships we launched the NorCal Distance Project to add some legitimacy and direction to the group of post-collegiate runners assembling in the Sacramento area. Over the winter, when I was focusing on shorter races indoors, I was able to do a significant amount of training with Lauren, who is primarily an 800m runner. That work allowed me to lower my PRs in both the 800m and mile and stands as a major factor behind the final kick I was able to muster in the US Championships 10k.
Many people have asked me since that finish what was going through my head when Jordan passed me with 200m to go. The truth is that I was nervous for most of the last mile and half, thinking that she had a big finish in her and I was playing a delicate game of trying to wind the pace down enough to take the sting out of her kick while also leaving one last gear in my back pocket in case I needed it in the final 100m. When she was still with me at 600m to go I knew that I had lost the first battle and that I had to be prepared for her inevitable move. When it came, there was certainly a moment of doubt that I didn’t have the tools to match her finishing speed. However, at this point in my career I have been in the position of getting passed late in a race and have spent time honing both the physical ability and mental fortitude not to lose the race in that moment. At the Olympic Trials, I let the race get very far away from me, dropping from 3rd place, to 5th place, and eventually to 8th place before snapping out my daze and regrouping to launch a comeback.
I work consistently with a sports psychologist, Dr Paul Salitsky at UC Davis, to develop tools I can use to block doubts and negative thoughts during moments of adversity, and instead I change them into positive cues to keep me connected to the race. After retooling my race plan 24 hours out upon learning that Shalane Flanagan had scratched, I went to the line prepared to dictate the way in which the final stage of the race unfolded. In the race’s closing moments I was forced to change my thought pattern from “oh no, Jordan’s outkicking me” to “just hang on and try to get by again off the final turn” which kept me positive in that moment and focused me on the one element immediately in my control.
Another huge component that helped me rise when it counted was the motivating force of having a home crowd cheering for me. The Sacramento Running Association and running community in Sacramento have been very supportive of my career since I graduated from UC Davis in 2009, and I went into the race very excited to contend for a national title at home and with supporters cheering me on. In addition, I had family from all over the world (visiting for the USA’s/wedding double) along with many members of the UC Davis cross country team, Empire Runners running club from Santa Rosa, not to mention friends from both my high school and college days. Their presence made the atmosphere electrifying and provided the edge I needed to dig down and hang on around that final turn. Once I was on the homestretch that energy helped propel me through to the finish. It was one of the most exciting and satisfying moments of my life-to win at home with so many friends and loved ones to share the moment-and a great culmination to years of work building toward a podium moment.
This past month I was honored to be featured in Running Times magazine, where the theme of the story focused on my consistent rise in the sport and continual progression of my track times across events. I truly believe that this progression is due to the team I have around me that continues to refine the work I do and make me a better athlete year after year. At the end of 2011 I joined Total Sports US, and after I made the Olympic team they negotiated my contract with New Balance. New Balance remains the principal reason that I can afford to pursue running at the highest level. The atmosphere within Team New Balance is one that fosters long term development and allows athletes to make the best choices for their careers. The athletes within the group have a great dynamic and positive energy, and the success we each attain seems to continually inspire and breed success across the team. The supportive environment and emphasis on personal relationships creates a dynamic that keeps me aspiring to achieve more in my career.
The opportunity and responsibility to make the best choices for my career also forces me to look at my time in the sport with an eye on longevity. I am very fortunate to have an excellent chiropractor in Dr Justin Lau at Elite Spinal and Sports Care in Sacramento. I started working with him at the end of 2011, and in the years since I have not yet missed any time from running due to injury. Consistency is paramount when it comes to overall development and progression as a distance runner, and a major force behind my gradual ascension in the sport stems from Dr Lau and the fact that I have now been stacking years of training without unplanned interruption. When I do take time to rest and recover from a season, Drew and I always have a meeting where we discuss the elements of our system that are working and look at ways to refine or improve others. Every year this leads to a meeting with , a muscle scientist with a broad level of expertise in the sport, and a great source of the most cutting edge science and methods to integrate into my overall training regime.
All in all, over the years since I graduated from UC Davis I have been fortunate to build a comprehensive support network around me that has allowed me to continue improving
and achieving at new levels. When I began the journey, my first goals revolved around qualifying for the US Championships, eventually evolving into making US teams, and I am now thrilled to be a national champion. Of course, my team is never done refining and looking to achieve more, and creating the NorCal Distance Project is the next big step in building upon that support network. Due to the many elements we already have in place, combined with great weather and training environment, Sacramento seemed like the most appropriate place to launch our group. I am very excited for our future and the heightened objectives I will reach with teammates and a full time coach working alongside me.
