Summer of Speed—Racing a 1500

When I signed up for my first 1500 m track race it sounded like a lot of fun. Throw yourself into the ring for 3¾ laps, get your lungs and legs burning, and go home.When I went to the venue yesterday, I felt out of place. A marathon runner at a track meet featuring sprints and relays? Running a 1500 m with zero clue together with experienced middle-distance runners? I am always nervous before any race, but yesterday was different. Yesterday was a mix of impostor syndrome, rookie nerves and excitement. But, I had a plan, and I set out to execute that plan.Racing at nightThe start time for the heat over 1500 m was set to 9:30 pm, close to my usual bedtime. This is the latest I have ever raced. I have a routine for morning races; I have a routine for late afternoon races. Now I have a routine for nighttime races. It is the easiest of all three: go about your day as you normally would, eat a lighter lunch at the regular time, and then have dinner a bit earlier than usual, in my case at…