Indiana Runner

The entire Footlocker experience was really great. From the moment I landed I knew that I was going to be taken care of very well. When I first landed the first noticeable change was the weather. Since there were snow flurries that morning when I left from Louisville,

I was suited up with my sweatpants and a jacket. In San Diego I was sweating just standing outside waiting for the bus, but I did enjoy the warmer weather. In the days before the race I made sure I did not get caught up with everything that was going on. I tried to keep

my focus on the race because I wanted to do well and I knew that it would be my last one wrapping up my high school cross country season.

When the day of the race came I was excited and ready to run. The weather was still nice except for it had been sprinkling a little bit. Before the race I just tried to stay relaxed and start visualizing what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to get out fast so I would not have to deal with the large pack of runners as much or at least be out of the congestion the best I could so I would not have to change my pace up as much. 

Standing by our Midwest tent getting ready for my race I watched as the girls came through the last stretch. I was watching up on the big screen and saw the amazing finish that took place, with a girl from the Midwest coming from behind and barely winning the race. Watching that finish got my adrenaline pumping and I then could not wait to get to the line so I could race. While the individuals from each region were getting called out, the sprinkle of rain turned into a shower, but I did not mind and it basically just made the whole race seem right since most of this seasons races took place on wet courses. 

The cannon went off and I got out to a good start. I was a little ways back, but still towards the front of the pack so from there I just wanted to hold my position and slowly try and work my way up. The pace was fairly quick, but I felt comfortable coming through the mile marker. I worked to hold the pace throughout the next mile. A little bit before the two mile mark is when I started to just really start driving and picking up the pace. I had Chris Walden right next to me and we really worked together throughout the race pulling one another along. I feel like he kept me going at times and I believe I somewhat did the same thing for him. We both knew that we were representing not just ourselves and our schools, but the state of Indiana and that also served as motivation to keep pushing through even the toughest parts of the course. While working my way up, I came to a difficult part in the course that is  right around the 2 1/2 mile mark. It was here on the hilly section of the course that I really put it all out there. I thought that if I could just drive up the hill I could make it. I passed a kid going up the hill and starting gaining even more ground on the runners in front of me. After traveling down the steep hill I knew I had a little less then 400 meters to the finish. I was telling myself this was the last 400 hundred I would have in a high school cross race, make sure you don't regret it. From there I gave it absolutely everything that I had and caught another two runners before I finally reached the finish line. Finishing I was exhausted, but also very excited. I had given it the very best that I could on that day and was thrilled to end up were I did. Coming from the Nike nationals only a week prior and finishing in 19th place I was disappointed in how I ran that day, but then to be able to come to Footlocker and have a good race I could not have been happier. It is strange how those things work, but it just shows how important it is to never give up and always keep believing in yourself and your abilities and good things will come. 

Questions 

From WarriorXC09

I have a couple questions

1. Do you have a goal time/place at Footlocker, if yes what is it?

2. Will you try to go out with Verzbicas and any other leaders, or settle back with a chase pack and try to run them down?

Great work this year, and good luck, I believe a win is within reach, me and the rest of Indiana will be cheering for you and Walden.

Tyler's Response:

Going into the Footlocker race I had a goal set for a top 10 finish. I was wanting to break the 15 minute barrier on the course, but unfortunately the wetter conditions made that extremely difficult. My plan was to sit right behind the lead back for most of the race and let them do the work and then try to have a strong finish. Also, thanks for all the support from everyone out there. It was an honor to be able to run in the races at the national level and I was proud to be able to represent the state of Indiana. 

From Kent-GuerinXC

For the runners that want to compete at a high level int he future for both the state meet and the post-season national events; When do you start pulling out speed work?

When were the 400's and the 1600 repeats and workouts of that sort started up?

Tyler's Response:

Going into the state meet my team and I started doing speed workouts and shortening the length, but increasing the intensity, around two weeks away from state itself. Then, gearing up for the post season I personally brought the mileage back up and got some longer runs in coming off of the state meet. After a week or two of longer runs and workouts I got back into the shorter speed workouts varying from 200’s up to a 1600. For me this type of training worked well to peak at the right time, but I believe it can vary between runners depending on how their body responds to different training techniques. 

From CountryBumpkin91

hey tyler, quick question. i've heard rumors that all your success can be traced back to one person...Mackin Matt. is this true? and if so, how cool is Mackin Matt really?

Tyler's Response:

Well I will say this much, Mackin Matt was probably one of the best chaperones on the Nike staff when I participated in the nationals meet. He took the whole Midwest crew of individuals and myself under his wing like a father and I would like to thank him for that. He was definitely a very cool and classy guy, he had all of our backs and by the end of the week I feel as if David Osborn, Martin Grady, and myself all saw him as not only our chaperone, but a true friend. He was beneficial with tips and such at the meet, but I owe most of my success to both of my coaches Jerry Love and Tim Martin. They have helped me become the runner that I am and could not have done it without them.

After not doing as well as I would have liked at the state meet I started to gear my attention towards the Nike and Footlocker regional races. I knew that I could perform much better so I kept up the training and the intensity of the workouts in preparation for the upcoming races.

Going into the Nike race I felt as if I ran well I would have a good shot at making it out. For the Nike race I wanted to get myself in good position within the lead pack and maintain my spot there. I felt great coming through the 4k mark on the course and saw Zack Wills a little ways in front of me. I tried to make up the ground
between us, but in the end it was not enough. When I crossed the finish line, although I had finished in second, I was happy to know I had made the Midwest team heading to Portland. After the Nike regionals I had to get back focused on the training. Footlocker was less then two weeks away and I knew that it would be a tough race.  Again I got some good workouts in and kept up the intensity to keep my
legs feeling strong and in hope of peaking at just the right time.  Footlocker regionals final arrived and I was feeling good. For Footlocker I wanted to again establish myself in the lead pack and put myself in a good position for a finishing kick. Throughout the race I believe I was around 6th or 7th place. Coming through the 2 mile mark I knew it was going to be a race all the way to the finish for myself
and everyone around me. I kept up the quick pace and with around 400 meters to the finish I started to make my final surge. I slightly pulled away from the pack around me and was gaining on the runners in front of me. Crossing the line I really was not sure of what place I had gotten, but was excited to find out I finished 3rd.

With a week until Nike nationals I lightened the workload a bit, mostly doing shorter distances with a faster pace to get my legs turning over. I left for Portland early Thursday morning and got some rest in on the first flight. Heading there I began to wonder what it would be like and how the atmosphere would be once I got there. From the moment I arrived I knew it was going to be a good experience on and off the cross country course. Meeting other runners from all around the United States was especially neat and I made many new friends during the few days I was there. In the race I was not sure exactly what to expect. I knew I wanted to get out fast for the race and be right up near the front and just feel the race out from there. Unfortunately, my attempt to get out at the start of the race did not go as well as I had planned. At the start I thought I was in a good position, but did not get out fast enough and got mixed in with a rather large pack. Working my way up became difficult with the way the course was set up, but I did the best I could with it. In the end I gave it a good effort, but did not finish near were I would have liked to. The Nike race gave me a good experience though and I took away from it a good lesson to carry with me into the Footlocker nationals.

Now that I have a little bit better feel at the national level I am hoping that I can really use that to my advantage in California. I believe Footlocker will give me another great experience and I am looking forward to getting back out there for another shot at a national race and hopes of a higher finish. The competition will be
very strong, but good competition brings out the best in runners and I am sure that competition will be awaiting me head on.

For the race Saturday I believe I am ready and have had the training I need to bring me success, now all it comes down to is stepping up to the line and being ready to give it my all. This will be my last cross race in my high school career so I definitely want to make the most of it and have no regrets when I cross the finish line.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Tyler Byrne