Big day!!!

[Tommy Heikkinen]

So tomorrow is the district track meet, and it's kind of a big deal. Top 4 from each event advance to the regional meet, top 4 at regions advance to the state meet. So this is the first step on the path to success. Unfortunately it is one hell of a big step.

I run the mile and the 2 mile. In the mile we have a kid who runs a 4:15, a kid who runs a 4:20 and a kid who runs a 4:30. I run a 4:35 so that doesn't give me much leeway in case I missed someone who would come and kick my ass. The 2 mile is even worse. From one school there are 4 kids who run under 10 minutes (9:09, 9:15, 9:30, 9:55) with another kid with a 10:10 pr. All from ONE school. So I really don't think I'm going to advance with my pr only being a 10:07. So I have to beat these kids plus all the unknowns...so I'm not sure whether I can make it.

The really bad thing is that even if I make it to the regional meet the competition would be even tougher and I stand even less of a chance of advancing to state.

However, considering that by some miracle I manage to make it out of regions, it still wouldn't matter.

I can't run at the state meet.

On may 8th is the state meet in Orlando, FL. Also on may 8th is my IB calculus final exam. i'm not sure how much you know about IB (International Baccalaureate), but if I don't sit for the exam I don't graduate from high school. I can't take it early, I can't take an alternate exam on another day, I can't adjust anything about the timing of the test. It goes from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM, so assuming I leave right after the exam I could be in orlando in 8 hours incorporating a time zone difference. That would be too late.

So ultimately even if I succeed I get fucked.

[cody daneille]

na matthew is right its all mental and dood you got that like white on rice, just come natural. and heathers right f state. youll murder that exam and be one of the best runners...winner winner chicken dinner SON!

[Matthew]

You got it Heather is right 7 sec is nothing. The hardest part mental. Good luck even if you do advance but dont get to race at state.

[Heather!]

psssh. 7 seconds is nothing. you can do it.

[Tommy Heikkinen]

I would object to that observation except that right now I'm wearing a shirt with three equations on it which, when solved, are the letters "RPI", which is an engineering college I almost applied to. So I guess I am kind of a nerd...(I only managed to get a 3 on AP lit though haha)

I think I need about a 7 second pr to advance to states, which although improbable is definitely possible, but I'll let you know in a week how that goes!

[Heather!]

oh shit tommy's a math dork. jk. i ended up getting a 4 on that exam ( but it wasn't just me being a genius even though i totally am... i had a really amazing teacher).

but hot damn! congrats on your track meet!

[Tommy Heikkinen]

Well I made it out of districts!

I ran a 4:37 in the 1600 and placed 4th, with 5th place 11 seconds behind me. So really I barely advanced and don't really stand a chance at advancing out of regions, but what the hell I'm happy with it!

I've been dealing with all of this IB bullshit for a while now, but its one of those things you have to accept. It's some "all knowing organization" that is (according to them) never wrong. They aren't as bad as AP is though. I have to take about 10 exams over the course of 2 weeks, plus one more AP calculus (yes I'm taking AP and IB calc). so essentially my life is put on hold while I take the tests.

By the way, how did you do on that AP lit exam? ;)

[Heather!]

wow dude. ib is some rough shit. i wasn't in that program (though i did rock all the ap classes) but my mom teaches some classes along with some myp (middle years program... for kids trying to get into ib or something) and holy crap... looks less than fun for sure. but i'm totally impressed by anyone completing that program.

i wish you all the best with the district and regional meets, but to be honest? fuck state! seriously! you're so young and you have so much time to do amazing things as far as running goes... obviously, you're not really gonna get another shot at this test and i know how imortant it is and how much work has gone into it. i don't want to be the type to tell other people what they should and should not do (for real... for my ap lit exam i got so incredibly stoned... but i'm a genius so it didn't matter... i'm just saying i know i'm not especially qualified to shovel out advice on academic success... anyway...), but at this point in your life, your education should definitely come first.

if only institutions could realize that certain people are special and need things to be scheduled around them... seriously, it's pretty lame that either ib or the folks who schedule state didn't communicate 'cause i'm sure you're not gonna be the only one in that boat and you'd think that they'd have something that obvious figured out, right?

okay kiddo. good luck (today i guess?) and get cracking with that calculus!

[SaveRun]

Good luck tomorrow!