Blake Bennions running

Most the guys from Varsity went up to Alta ski resort to run, we didnt go that fast but it's Alta so its never an easy run. Still, I  felt way better than I have ever felt on one of these runs. I actually felt good the entire time, I was really sore but I felt really good. It was a nice run, although when I first got out of school it was hard to even get myself to go, it was one of those days where you're just not feeling like a run. But I think those are some of the most important days to run on. I wasn't really expecting an Alta run today but I'm really really glad I did it. When I found out the pace going up was  only a few seconds slower than my average alta run I was amazed, I think I broke a wall this past week. I'm really looking forward to running again tomorrow. I think today was possibly my favorite run so far in my 21 months of running. This is a really important season to me and my development as a runner, possibly the most important of high school. I really don't think 99th in a utah only meet that didn't even include the best school in the state is ok, especially when I'm running for Alta. I need to keep improving, and improving fast. I had goals coming into the season, and I've achieved some of my goals like running 50 miles in a week and doing 10 campground loops at Alta. Now I need to achieve my goals in the races. I need to run with more courage and energy, and race smarter, instead of just trying to finish decently I need to kick through the finish. My goal for grass relays is 10:30. I'm pretty sure it's over a minute faster than last years but if I want to be able to run a sub 16 minute time on the Utah State Cross Country Championships in less than 2 months I need to start racing like I can, I won't be that dissapointed if its 10:40 but I really want a 10:30. My team needs me to run a good leg. If I can run faster than 10:30 I will be very happy. Tomorrow is going to be great, I will make sure to be working my hardest.

Today we did 5x800s with a 400 at the end. I guess I forgot that we were doing a 400 at  the end but I still pulled off a 70. First we warmed up 2 miles, then we stretched out and did some striders. My 800s went like this: 2:43, 2:37, 2:30, 2:36, 2:20, and my 400 was a 70. So it was a good workout, the first 4 800 repeats felt pretty easy and good, and for the last one my goal was to run with Kramer (He was hitting 2:20s, and he did a 6th 800 10 seconds faster after the last 800 we did.) I achieved my goal, and I am happy about that and I gave it my all so that was also good. The 400 went pretty well, I think I hit a decent time, I think closing a 5k with a 70 probably isn't too bad. In between the 800s I walk/jogged 400 meters, I jogged about half of it. Overall I am pleased with how I did on this workout, I feel like I didn't hold anthing back on that last 800 and 400. Then we cooled down for 15 minutes, I'd say about 1.5 miles. I will do some core today as well. Tomarrow is a 2 a day so I'm happy about that. I'm very excited for Grass Relays at American Fork this weekend, I want to see what I can do and what my team can do.

Am:4.5

Pm:7.1

No time for run summary, but nice easy day.

Am- We did flying 40s, overall about 4.6 miles. We did 8 flying 40s with 800m recovery after each one. Sprinting just makes me feel good and energized, especially when it's only 40 meters. Half of the senior class at Alta was out for the last few laps and they cheered for us which felt really cool, especially because we never have much of a cheer section.

Pm- I did another 4.6 or so when I got home from work. The route I made of my neighborhood is somewhere between 4.5-5 miles but it's a nice easy course. Well I take that back, it's more like 2.2-2.5 but I run it twice for these runs. I also walked for an hour and a half at work today, and I will tomorrow, and I did yesterday. I think that probably adds on a good 10 miles per week. Tomorrow is pre-meet, I am very excited for the meet! I really believe I can achieve the goals I have set for myself.

We did the lower loop as a warm up and then 2 400 meters like we want to start out tomorrow, I hit just under 70 which is probably faster than I want to go out tomorrow. I'm pretty excited for tomorrow, I guess all I can do now is prepare to have a good race.

I'm just going to forget this day existed and try harder, work harder, and I'm not going to let anything stop me from getting faster. I think I'm going to run another 4-5 miles tonight because A. I'm pissed at how terrible I did B. I want to hit 50 miles this week and C. I just need to work off the abomination of the "race" I ran today. I'm also going to do a ton of core, I think doing lots of really tough core helps my mental toughness.