Recovery

Yay for speed. We did the usual warmup stuff and then 1 mile warmup 1 mile speed changes. The speed that I was told was a 3:15 1000 and then 5x500. I wasn't feeling too good because of the heavy wind down the backstretch. We were supposed to start at an 800 pace for the first 200, then run the next 600 at 3200 pace, then back up to 800 pace for the last 200. Blech. I didn't even hear my time because the wind was so strong. For the 500s I wasn't mentally into it. I had a really negative attitude but right before the 3rd 500 I decided that I needed an attitude adjustment so I went out hard with the boys. It really helped me, and when the sprinters jumped in at the 300, I was able to draft off of Leo. Thanks Leo! I did this for the rest of the 500s, started strong and drafted. I felt so good to finally be done, until Bill said to do another 1000. What? Nope. I was furious. As we started I yelled "I hate you Bill!" and then my anger fueled me so I guess it's a good thing. I always run better when I'm angry :) After the 1000 I didn't want to do my 200s so I took my shoes off and had a negative attitude. But then I told myself that I could do it, so I put my shoes back on and ran over to the 200 start, where I ran 4 200s with Emmaline and the boys. Emmaline ran them because she wanted to draft the wind for me, but seeing as she's half my size it didn't really work. I appreciate her effort though! After the 3rd 200 I was suddenly very happy. I felt so good and was ready to take on this last 200. When I was done I ran a backwards grass lap barefoot with Emmaline then she had to go so I ran my second one on my own. The grass felt amazing, especially when the water would splash up my shins. I love running in the mud barefoot :)

Today Susannah came and ran a little bit with us! :) We did the usual 2 laps warmup with stretching and drills, then distance ran 3 laps warmup and 3 laps speed changes. I ran them with Susannah and afterwards Tolbert said that my form was better when I ran with her. :) Since she was just doing a run, she left at that point. I went over to the asphalt hills with everyone else and we ran 12 hills. Tomy's Garmin was being stupid, so he took it off and totally destroyed it. It was actually really funny. Once we finished that I ran a grass lap to bring my 4.5 miles up to 5, then I ran 3 more miles barefoot around the football field. Then I did a few Steeplechase drills by jumping up onto the boxes. I really wish we had the screws for the barriers, because we have barriers and stands, we just can't put them together. It's hard because the boxes are too wide. Oh well. I'm going to do some more step-ups this week.

Today I ran a mile of warmup for the 400 with the Ellies. We stayed on the grass because it's softer. When we changed our spikes, the three of us were put into heat 1. I was lane 3. It was slightly windy at the start, which I wasn't too happy about, but I still started fast, flew down the backstretch, and kicked hard. I don't like the open 400, I prefer being the 2nd or 3rd leg in the 4x400, I always run faster with a baton in my hand, and if I have a bit of a running start. Plus I have more adrenaline because I'm doing it for a team. Anyways, I jogged around in my trainers for a little bit before the medley. We had to change around my team because Sophie's shins were hurting, so we threw in Eleanor for a 200 last second. Emmaline was our 400 runner and she never cut into lane 1, always lane 3, so I had a lot of ground to make up. I didn't make it all up, but I still closed quite a bit. I was really ticked off after because my coach didn't catch my 800 time because he was too busy keeping track of his favorite. But I do know my 800 was faster than that. I ran a little bit of a cooldown and was too ticked off to stay, so I went home and picked up my sweats later.

Today we did the usual stuff and then the distance workout. We ran 6 laps of the bleachers and drills, starting with high knees then buttkicks, powerskips, grapevines, lunges, reaches, and calves. I stayed relaxed and drafted from the boys. Once that was done we ran 2 chasing 300s. My first one was a 51 and I caught the person in front of me and wasn't caught by the person behind me. We switched the order we were in on the next one, and one of the guys passed me. I ran a 50 on this one. Then for the 15 minute cooldown I ran barefoot laps on the football field just because running barefoot is the best.

The usual half mile warmup and drills. Then we ran 1 mile warmup, 1 mile speed changes, and 1 mile cooldown. Simple.

Today was the Davis Invitational! I was in the open 1600, Medley, 3200, and 4x400. First I ran a 1 mile loop warmup by myself in my sweats to warm up for the 1600. Once I checked in I did a couple of strides and got to talk to Miranda. We were both in the 2nd heat. I was seeded 18. I was in the second alley at the start. I went out the hardest in my alley and when I got to cut in I was about 4th or 5th place. My first lap was a 77, then my 800 a 2:41, on pace for a 5:22. I ran my next lap at a 4:04, then I felt like I was dying. Everyone around me was kicking and I slipped a little and ended up with a 5:35. Oh well, it gave me a better 800 time.

I went to our team tent and elevated my legs on the fence for a few minutes, which helped drain the lactic from my legs and helped me save my energy. I was in the Medley with Sam, Merry, and Ellie L. I ran 1 mile warmup before checking us in. When we went to the field we did some strides and then it was time to race. Sam got a really good start, then Merry helped take us up a few places. Ellie held our 5th place position then outkicked the girl in 4th so we were in 4th when I started, and I didn't have that much ground to make up. I didn't want to make it all up in the first lap then lose it all on the second lap, so I took it one girl at a time. When I moved up to 3rd the girl was pretty good about trying to stay with me, so I used one of my better surges on her and focused on 2nd and 1t place, who were battling like crazy. I caught up to them then the Copper Hills girl started to kick like crazy when she realized that I had her. I tried to stay with her but she had a better kick. Oh well, we PR'd and were 4 seconds away from qualifying for state, plus we all got silver medals!

I took my spikes off and walked around barefoot for a minute before putting them back on and running some strides before the 3200. It was really hot outside at this point. I was seeded 1 in the 3200, and at the line some nice lady gave me a cup of water to pour all over myself before starting, which helped. The girl next to me at the starting line ran out hard, but along the first backstretch I took the lead. On the homestretch my cousin Michaela came up to the lead with me, which was fun because I was running with my cousin:) On the 3rd lap Emily from Park City came with us on the backstretch and went for a pass. I tried to tell Michaela to come with, but Emily was moving, so I went with her. After about 100 meters with her I lost her and was on my own and the race suddenly got a lot harder. I think the heat was getting to me. On the 5th lap another girl passed me and I couldn't stay with her for the life of me. Then on the last 200 2 more girls passed me while trying to outkick each other. Yeah, no this heat is bad. Oh well I still got a medal and I'm pretty sure I broke 12:)

During the boys 3200 I didn't bother changing out of my spikes because I was in the 4x400 with Leo, Ellie L, and Savannah. It was enough time for me to prepare. Leo gave us a really good start. I was the second leg, and on my 400 we were in 3rd and the 4th place girl passed me but instead of letting her go I held onto her and had a great handoff with Ellie. She gained on the girl, but their 4th runner was really fast and Savannah had to battle her the whole time. She still did amazing though! I've heard that I ran a 67, but I'm not sure yet.

I was finally done with all my events! My legs are so dead right now. I'm exhausted. I ran 1 mile cooldown on my loop, then put my medals on and went home. Now it's time for a massage!