It's been a week and a half since the 10k at Stanford Invite, which unfortunately didn't result in the A standard that I'd hoped for. My time of 34:22 wasn't the fast time I wanted and I'd be lying to say I wasn't a little bummed about the outcome. But the race wasn't a total loss - it was definitely a learning experience and some good things came out of it. Can I do some things better next time? Absolutely. Do I wish things had played out differently? For sure. But you can't win them all, and when things don't go your way, you've got to be able to find the silver lining despite all the negative.

The positive I'm taking away from this race is Mile 4. When the pack I was leading came through 5k too slow (16:55), instead of mentally throwing in the towel, I attacked the back half of the race, running some 79s and 80s in the hope of negative-splitting and still having a shot at the A standard. Eventually, pulling the chase pack started to catch up with me and I faded in the last two miles; but I feel like I gave 33:40 a worthwhile attempt. Looking back, I'm able to find a couple takeaways from the race that will benefit me down the road, when I give the A standard another shot in a few weeks at Payton Jordan.

What a 10k in spikes will do to your foot -- OW!

After the race, I hung out in Palo Alto for Day 2 of the Stanford Invite, doing my recovery run with Stanford friends, rooting for the USF mid-distance gals racing the 800, and cheering for my dad's DHS athletes in the high school meet. Although the meet was rainy and wet, it was great to catch up with running friends from across the country!

I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to all the friends, family, and teammates (old and new!) who came to watch the 10k, cheered me on for 25 laps, and sent messages of encouragement before and after the race. You are an AMAZING support system and I couldn't pursue this running dream without you! Thank you!

Since the 10k, it's been back to basics for me -- focusing on getting in solid training, sleeping enough, eating well, and building strength. And somewhere in between my 75 mile week, work, and coaching, I've been having some fun too!

Enjoying lovely SF weather at Dolores Park in the Mission

Coffee date with Kaylin, one of my NBSV teammates :)

Reward for a 75-mile week -- Birite Creamery!

Nothing like finishing a joyful run along Ocean Beach :)

Tomorrow I'll be racing the 10k at the Stanford Invitational, chasing the A standard to qualify for USATF Senior Nationals, held in June in Eugene, Oregon. The A standard in the 10k is 33:40 (

http://www.usatf.org/events/2011/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/entry/qualifyingStandards.asp

), which works out to a pace of just shy of 81 seconds per lap. My current 10k PR is 34:01, so I need to run about a second per lap faster than last year to hit the qualifying mark. Thankfully, training has been going really well and I'm in a lot better shape than I was a year ago, so I think 33:40 is in my wheelhouse. Plus, there's a great field entered and there should be plenty of talented women to run with and compete against. Here's to hoping that the weather improves and this nasty wind and rain go away by race time! (which is 8:58 pm Friday, if you care to know.)

The races unfortunately won't be broadcast live this year (what's up with that Flotrack??) but they promise that all videos will be posted shortly after filming. So, check out

http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238226-2011-Stanford-Invitational

around 10 pm on Friday to see how I did!

Good luck to all those competing at Stanford -- it should be an exciting night of track and field!