State Champion. Wow that feels good to say. What an incredible end to a great season. This last week went very well for the Lady Tigers as we built up to our first State showing in twelve years. Coming off of a solid performance at our Semi-State we headed into our final week of team training before our biggest meet of the year. Because of our different levels of training at this point in the season, our coaches had some of us do different workouts from each other for our maximal performance on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, I went out alone for a long run near my house which was different for me because I usually do my long runs with other teammates, but it was also good because it gave me more time to mentally visualize my upcoming race. After my run I spent a long time stretching and rolling; really trying to get my body ready for the rest of the week. Come Monday Anna and I did a hard workout on the track while the rest of our team went out for a straight run. Although the workout was tough it was definitely a confidence booster as we met our goals quite well.
Tuesday and Wednesday we did different types of recovery workouts which were a lot of fun for our team and also gave us a chance to really talk about what we wanted to get out of the meet on Saturday. On Thursday we did a little speed work which I felt great doing. I love those days. The coaches wouldn’t tell us what our goals were or let us time ourselves but I knew I was holding good pace. This was also beneficial for me because I knew on Saturday my race would be based on tactics and feel and not on times (I ended up not checking my watch once during my race at State). By the time Thursday’s workout ended, I just wanted to be in the race already! Friday we did our routine practice and then had a short team dinner at my house as the final one of the season. We had a really good time and after everyone left I did my final packing for Saturday before heading to bed early to get a good night’s sleep.
Throughout the entire week I’d been being asked by everyone at school “You gonna win State, Ash?” or “What are you ranked in the State?” Of course these are slightly awkward questions in my opinion and I didn’t really know how to answer them. Deep down, winning State had been my #1 goal since this summer, but this wasn’t something I shared with most people. I generally keep my specific goals to myself. In my head though, I had already been through the State race a million times! By the time we got on the bus Saturday morning, I kept thinking to myself “Wow, today is the day.” The first bit on the bus ride we all slept a little or just vegged out listening to our iPods. Once we got a little way into it Anna pulled out the huge stack of fake tattoos she had bought last weekend. One more tradition we have to help us relax and feel “legit” before the race. I sported eight different tattoos. I felt good.
Once at the meet, our pre-race routine flew by. We toured the course and pointed out all of our strategic spots to make moves at. Our motto for the day was “Patience”. With the State course, it’s a short climb at the beginning followed by a steady downhill for the next K. This leads to people taking out at overly fast paces early on. From the two and a half K to the two mile, however, is a steady climb up hill. This is where competitors usually start to fade. Then it’s a slight uphill to the 4K and then down a tad before an uphill finish. The course was gorgeous on Saturday, it wasn’t sloppy or anything. My coaches had talked to me about race plan several times leading up to the big day and on Saturday they told me once again to be patient, sit with the other top runners in the State and then move out at the 4K.
When we stepped up to the start line, I was ready to be in the race already. The gun went off and it was on. By the first mile, I had gotten myself into a position I was comfortable with. From there everything went smoothly. I was able to stay relaxed and the pack I was in slowly came up on the initial front runners. By the time the two mile came around, I was feeling good and make a move to the lead. Once I moved out, I didn’t look back. Soon I was hearing “Go Ashley! It’s all you!” I ended up finishing in 18:05, nearly 14 seconds ahead of Sarah Bennett from Carmel who placed second. My first State Championship felt fantastic! Later I was told that I had also broken the State Record and course record… The virtual ‘cherries’ on top! As a team, we placed 11th which wasn’t quite what we wanted but heck we were at State. We only graduate two of our top seven so the Lady Tigers will be strong again next year. The end of our team season is bitter-sweet and I will definitely miss spending every afternoon with those girls. For me, Anna and Brooke, however, our season isn’t over now. We’re heading to Footlocker Midwest in Wisconsin on November 26 and if all goes well I will also be competing in San Diego at Footlocker Nationals in early December.
I couldn’t be happier with this season and our accomplishments as a team and individually. I’ve been truly blessed by God with all the support from my family and friends throughout all my training and I can’t wait to continue my training as I look forward to the next big meets! Right now though, I am taking a few days off from running and soaking in Saturday.
This last week started well, went great in the middle, and then ended with our team making it to the State Championships for only the second time in school history. Those are the kind of weeks I like. - 2011-10-24 11:30:00
What a great day for the Lady Tigers! We had our Regionals today at Oxbow Park in Elkhart and WON for the first time in Warsaw history! It felt great coming back as a junior this year and getting to go up to claim our championship awards after it being just out of reach the past few years when we just barely missed winning. But hey, sometimes that’s the best motivation. So far this year, that has certainly been fueling us; we’ve won the NLC, Sectionals and Regionals in the past two weeks which is huge for us. It feels great to see our team finally coming together and accomplishing great things. - 2011-10-17 11:20:00
In Her Own Words: Ashley Erba - Journal #3
State Champion. Wow that feels good to say. What an incredible end to a great season. This last week went very well for the Lady Tigers as we built up to our first State showing in twelve years. Coming off of a solid performance at our Semi-State we headed into our final week of team training before our biggest meet of the year. Because of our different levels of training at this point in the season, our coaches had some of us do different workouts from each other for our maximal performance on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, I went out alone for a long run near my house which was different for me because I usually do my long runs with other teammates, but it was also good because it gave me more time to mentally visualize my upcoming race. After my run I spent a long time stretching and rolling; really trying to get my body ready for the rest of the week. Come Monday Anna and I did a hard workout on the track while the rest of our team went out for a straight run. Although the workout was tough it was definitely a confidence booster as we met our goals quite well.
Throughout the entire week I’d been being asked by everyone at school “You gonna win State, Ash?” or “What are you ranked in the State?” Of course these are slightly awkward questions in my opinion and I didn’t really know how to answer them. Deep down, winning State had been my #1 goal since this summer, but this wasn’t something I shared with most people. I generally keep my specific goals to myself. In my head though, I had already been through the State race a million times! By the time we got on the bus Saturday morning, I kept thinking to myself “Wow, today is the day.” The first bit on the bus ride we all slept a little or just vegged out listening to our iPods. Once we got a little way into it Anna pulled out the huge stack of fake tattoos she had bought last weekend. One more tradition we have to help us relax and feel “legit” before the race. I sported eight different tattoos. I felt good. 
When we stepped up to the start line, I was ready to be in the race already. The gun went off and it was on. By the first mile, I had gotten myself into a position I was comfortable with. From there everything went smoothly. I was able to stay relaxed and the pack I was in slowly came up on the initial front runners. By the time the two mile came around, I was feeling good and make a move to the lead. Once I moved out, I didn’t look back. Soon I was hearing “Go Ashley! It’s all you!” I ended up finishing in 18:05, nearly 14 seconds ahead of Sarah Bennett from Carmel who placed second. My first State Championship felt fantastic! Later I was told that I had also broken the State Record and course record… The virtual ‘cherries’ on top! As a team, we placed 11th which wasn’t quite what we wanted but heck we were at State. We only graduate two of our top seven so the Lady Tigers will be strong again next year. The end of our team season is bitter-sweet and I will definitely miss spending every afternoon with those girls. For me, Anna and Brooke, however, our season isn’t over now. We’re heading to Footlocker Midwest in Wisconsin on November 26 and if all goes well I will also be competing in San Diego at Footlocker Nationals in early December. 
In Her Own Words: Ashley Erba - Journal #3