Race Time!

This Saturday marks the first of three track events that will determine whether Matt will represent the United States at the Rio Paralympic Games later this year.  On Saturday, March 26, Matt will be racing in the 1500 and 5000 meter events at the Gallaudet University Invitational against Division III athletes.  Last year, Matt was the only non-student who raced in the 5,000 and he came in third.  I wonder which place he'll finish in this year?  I plan to be out there cheering him on and yelling splits.  Come and cheer for Daddy's Blind Ambition and keep me company!  The weather report has Saturday's high at 61 degrees and sunny -- great racing and spectating weather.   

The track events start at noon and will be on a rolling schedule.  The point of this race is to qualify for Nationals, which will be held at the end of June.  He'll need to run the 1500 in 5 minutes and the 5000 in 18:30 to be allowed to race at Nationals.  We know that neither of these times will be a problem.  Since this race and the Desert Challenge Games in May are Matt's only races before Nationals, he plans to race them to get a more accurate estimate of his fitness level and capability going into Nationals.  In Mesa he'll run both events, too, but he'll have the benefit of them being on different days.  This Saturday he won't have much of a break between events.  Fingers crossed that the events will be on separate days in Charlotte, too.

Saturday's event location:

Gallaudet University

Berg Track & Field

800 Florida Avenue, NE

Washington D.C. 20002 - 3695

Saturday's Schedule:  (Field events start at 9:30 and track events start at noon with a rolling time schedule.)

                       

10,000 meter run   

4x100 meter relay

1500 meter run

100/110 Hurdles

100 meter dash

400 meter dash

3000 meter run

800 meter run

400 IM Hurdles

200 meter dash

5,000 meter run   

4 x 400 meter relay

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post the results for all those that won't be able to make it.  It will be a long afternoon so the kids will stay with Granma. Here are a few pictures from last year's race.  Boy was it cold!

Saturday's race is sandwiched between the twins' fifth birthday on Friday and Easter on Sunday.  We're looking forward to a wonderful, albeit exhausting weekend!