Blake Bennions running

Am- The team did an easy 4 miles followed by 4 200s and a cooldown lap. I felt really good and the 200s were fun. The morning run was really good and felt nice.

Pm- We went to the gully for a run and got started but a mile and a half or so in we came across an older couple on horses, we startled the horses and one of them bucked off the lady. She was hurt, although not severely, she had the wind knocked out of her and probably a mild concussion. Her husband got off his horse to go help her out and the horses took off. We ran all over the gully looking for them, we got in some very good hard hills. We also averaged in the 6 minute range, we were going pretty fast. It felt really good despite all the stuff that was cutting up my legs. It was a really fun, and it was a really good workout. I am really excited for Nike SouthWest, we are going to do great down there. Off to work!

We did a 4x400m at max effort with 7 minutes in between each. We warmed up 2 miles and did some striders beforehand. The first 400m was good and hard and I ran a :55 second 400 which is the first time I've gotten a new personal record in the 400 since march of freshman year track. So that was awesome, I'm really happy about that. I think on a sunny day with spikes and not having to waterfall start, I could probably get a 54 or 53, I want to run a 53 in track this spring. But I will worry about that later. Right now, I have one thing on my mind, that is Nike SouthWest. I want to run so fast at this race, it means a lot to me. The 2nd 400 was a :58 second one, it was still pretty good but I was starting to feel pretty tired. The 3rd 400 wasn't as good but still ok at 60 seconds, I was still doing decently. The last 400 wasn't very good at 63 seconds but thats because I got boxed out of lane one and I didnt want to waste energy passing 3 or 4 guys in lane 3 on the turns so I ended up running a 63. It still was overall a very good workout and I kept the average at 59 which is good, my goal was to run them all under 60 which I could have done if it weren't for traffic so I am happy with this workout. After the workout we did a mile cooldown. I might do a couple miles tomorrow morning, it depends what time I go to bed tonight. If its before 9:30 I think I will get up at 5:30 or 6 and run a little before school. I am really excited to get going to Arizona.

We did the Best Buy loop with 4x2 minute race pace intervals during the run. We ran well, it was tough but good. My ankle has been hurting ever since I rolled it pretty bad on monday in the gully, I usually roll my ankle a couple of times when we run the gully and it usually doesn't hurt for more than 3 seconds but this one was pretty bad. I rolled not only to the side but forward as well, but it will be ok, especially after taking tomorrow off. I have done some good things this season: A. I did 10 loops at the campground up at Alta ski resort, which was a goal. B. I ran 5-10 50+ mile weeks. C. I ran the gully in 43 minute range. D. I ran a 60 mile week. E. I hit my personal record in the 800m during a workout at 2:08 F. I have run a double gully long run G. I ran a new personal record in the 400m just this week in a workout with a :55 second 400m. H. Although I haven't run the times I have wanted to at any of the races, I did run under 17 minutes a few times, the time I want will come this weekend. This is the most important race of the season, even if we make nationals. In this race, I can earn a lot of good things, I just need to go out there and do my best.

We previewed the course of Nike SouthWest. It was really muddy and the ditches were pretty much rivers. Coach Murphy talked to us about race strategy and what we needed to do. I was pretty excited for the race.

This is really embarrasing to me as an athlete. It was a fun trip though.