Indianapolis -
Coming into the meet I had run 4:17.8 in the indoor mile. I had listened to Eminem 's 8-mile before hand. Lifted each day that week and legs still taxed from the 200 repeats I did two days before.
Now at the starting line, I looked to the right: Notre Dame guys and Butler guys were noteworthy. Looked to my left: on the inside lane there was an Invader and a scrub Hoosier. I looked down. I've got my matching adidas black singlet and blue split shorts and wearing yellow Kennedys about a half size too big.
Gun goes off. I get cut off in the beginning which forced me to the back of the pack. I liked the feel of being back there for whatever reason and didn't start moving up til the third lap but by that time I was only in about 6th. I was a modest 2:07-08 at the half.
But surprisingly I had more energy than I ever remembered having before at this point in a mile race. I extended the legs out and moved up some. Passed by some people settling in and suddenly I am in 3rd-4th and concentrating on the calves of the Invader and the Notre Dame runner.
With 400 to go I pushed up once more to distance myself from fourth. With one and a half laps to go I was now committed. As I pulled up even with the leaders I was very cautious and understandably nervous. But the sudden rush of adrenaline at the bell put me in scalp mode.
"Why not?", I asked myself. "What else did you come here for?"