The Renegade

So today I had the AP Psych exam, which meant I got to sleep in, so more rest. Test went pretty well, and we got donuts in between sections. I was about 15 minutes late to practice, but I didn't miss much. I just did my warmup jog while the rest of the team did drills. On my warmup I felt full of energy, with more bounce in my stride than I've had in a long time, I felt amazing. The workout: 10x400, 3 min 400m jog. The sky was completley clear and was hotttt. I went 70, 70, 69, 67, 69, 67, 69, 66, 69, 63 for 67.9 average, so my best average yet. It was really tough, I'm still not used to this kind of temp (high 60s) and I dunno, I just pushed myself. I've never done this workout where I didn't run over 70 once, so I'm proud of myself. Also it's another indicator that I can break 4:40, which will be in a week and a half at region, although I'll be running for place. Signed up for JV Region, I am racing a 400 and a 200, the 400 as a fitness test, and the 200 for fun and one really intense stride. Also our HJP Ragnar team got signed up today woohoo.

Team warmup, core, and then an easy run out to the river walk, turning around early. Than I did 3 100m strides and jogging laps in between. Finally I worked on blocks with Coach Strand and Tyler, it was kinda fun. Today was very warm and I felt it, but it'll be closer to 80 tomorrow. Excited. Gonna show some JV sprinters what's up!

Today was pretty fun. I waited in the only shady place by the press box for like 3 hours before it was time for the 400, and then I barely got time to warm up, oops. So a half mile warmup, plus the team warmup earlier. I thought I would blow everyone away, but then I saw Ethan Hurst was doing it. Luckily I remembered how to set up blocks lol and got out of them good. I didn't feel too great for any of it. I was in lane 6 which meant I was the rabbit. Got to the final turn and there were three guys in front of me, Ethan, and a Ben Lomond and Juan Diego guy. I thought I was going to run a really slow time, like a 56 or 57, but they were just 400 specialists who were faster than me haha. Time was 54.8, which is too bad because my coach told me it was 53 high. Than I jogged around the infield and got as much mileage as I could before the mile. I asked Dan Line to put me in the slow heat so I could pace some people. Wore my road flats for it. I started by taking my brother through the 800 in 3:04 (was sposed to be 3 oops) so he could break six. Than I sprinted ahead to Anthony Darley to help him get under 5:40. I screamed in his face alot (endcouragingly) and made sure he didn't slow down, he sped up every time, and I ran the poor kid into the ground, literally. Fun stuff. Time was 5:44 oops. Than right after I had the 4x4 and I felt really good for it, the mile was a good warmup actually. Stayed in the roadies because my old MD spikes sucked for the 400. We had a gigantic lead when I got the baton (anchor leg) and we didn't even have our normal 4x4 team. I felt really relaxed the entire time, and my team was being really loud so that was great. Split a 55, it was really fun. Jogged two laps and left.

Today was somewhat of a pre to the premeet. We did our half mile warmup, drills, and then 4x200 with 200 jogs. Jack did mine with me. What I did was a race simulation. I started in lane 7, where I will be for the 800, (made sure it was the right stagger line), and took the first 200 exactly how I plan to start, running perfect tangent off the break line and being pretty aggressive with a solid pace. That was a 27.5. Jogged a 200. Next one we used a flying start, as with all the rest and worked on just settling in and cruising, that one was a 29.9. Jack pushed me a little harder on the next one, with was a another 27.5, which is fine, because that part of the race is arguably the worst. Last one was basically all-out, it was a 26 flat, which I am pleased with since I was in my trainers for it. Prolly the fastest 200 I've ever done if you don't count the 400, and even then... 

We then went on delightful 20 minute cooldown (Lost the darn GPS watch on Saturday) on the that dirt road in River Heights and stopped at Merlin-Olsen park. Good stuff, I am pretty confident about Saturday. I am still signed up for the mile, but am focusing on the 8, in which I am in heat 10 out of 12. It ranges from 2:02.01 to 2:04.01. There have consistently been at least 4 guys in that heat to break 2 in the past, it's gonna be close. Also our medley is in Golden Hour.

Slept on the way to the meet, so that went by quick. When we got there we were super early and we were able to get on the track. Jogged a couple laps, and then spiked up and I did a 200 the way I will start my race tomorrow, than a couple 100s. Felt good and the track feels just as smooth and fast as I remember it being. Then I did a loop just over two miles around campus. Chilled out for the rest of the day. If you were there, you know about the three long lightning delays. If you weren't all you need to know is that is was super annoying. Glad I didn't have an event. Good job to all the two milers who ran today. 

Today was pretty good. I didn't eat alot for breakfast because I wasn't hungry. Got to the track and they were in the middle of the girls miles, so I had some time. It was fun watching races. Based on the results of that and Herriman, it looks like I have a pretty set chance of qualifying on Wednesday. Enough about that. It started to rain at the beginning of the girls 800, but by the time the boys 800 came around after a track break, it was clearing up and the sun was peeking out. I got warmed up, it was nice being in one of the last heats, plenty of time to get ready. On my warmup jog my legs felt really good. Mentally I was just excited to race, and had brushed off some of the stress of running a certain time, and it's a good thing I did. Shoutout to Collin Morrison, met him in the bull pen. Got out there and it was the same feeling I remembered. Walking out there and the sun is shining bright, the stands are filled, and a few people letting me know they are there with a word of encouragement. I got to watch Isaac break the tape with a 2:00.6, and Tyler ran 2:02.99. I was actually in the middle alley, not outside like I thought. The gun went off and I shot to the front of my alley and hit the breakline in third. 28 first 200. 30 second 200. I held third until the 400 and then people started to move, and I was fifth or sixth. I was already starting to feel it at the 200 to be honest, but it only slowly got worse. Felt like I had a better kick than at Cache-Box when I hit 100 left. I started to move up on Aidan Troutner (the little Timpview kid that kicks butt in the distance races) and some other guys, but I wasn't able to pass them before the line. Felt strong, but I really have to improve even more on being intense and focused at the end of the race. I saw the board with ~10m left and saw 1:5X. When I crossed I thought I saw it changing from 1:59 to 2:00, but I guess it's hand timed because I came in at 2:02.13 exactly, so not what I completley wanted but it was my third resort to just PR, because I knew it would happen, and noone has the right to complain about a PR. This just puts alot of pressure on me at Region. The region top times now stand at 1:58.09, 2:00.26, 2:00.69, 2:02.13, 2:02.99, 2:03.99, and 2:04.7. We'll see how that goes. Ran the 4x4 and split a 53! It didn't feel that fast, but I feel like what made the difference was that I didn't slow down on the backstretch while I was figuring out where my teammate was. We ran 3:32 and state qual is 3:31 dangit. But yeah as long as we don't get DQd for some reason we will get there at region (only five teams and 3 of them suck). After the boys invited mile I cooled down with Spencer, Hayden and Eric up to the MTC and back. I didn't end up running the medley but the team did good, fifth in the invited section. 

Ran to from the bus to Chipotle in American Fork when we stopped, mile round trip. 

Taper workout today. I lifted the ever so slightest bit in seventh just so my muscles don't stagnate (with a half mile warmup) then in practice after our team meeting it was half mile, drills, and hip drills while Coach went and picked up his daughter. I worked out with 4/8 guys today to get some more speed goin. It was 2 500s with 5 minutes rest. First 300 was at 800 pace (or faster) and then we floated for 100m and kicked it in the last 100. We all did it in our spikes (Tyler, Isaac, and I) Isaac led the first one and we hit 300 in 42 he said, but I'm not completely sure about that. It felt pretty controlled. Then I think he misheard the instructions and thought we were supposed to jog, so he slowed way down and I slammed into him, but kept going. The 100 was probably mile pace. Last straight actually felt like I was running in a 400 or something. Next one I led and the 300 was 44, it was pretty tough, felt like I was in the middle of an 8. At this point Isaac pulled up next to me, but then tucked in for the float section. We hit the 100 and we were racing to the line, it was almost like an actual race for real. He beat me, and it turns out he was taking it more controlled, but I was all out like I was supposed to be. S'okay, that was pretty good, mentally really easy workout. Sean said we looked good too. Hopefully it primed me for region well. Mile cooldown around the school and then iced the lower legs, I was too wimpy to do the full body. 

Premeet in seventh hour. I did 3 laps, changed into the victories and jogged to the waterfall. Was going to do just 2 400s but halfway through the first one my shoelace came undone, so I made it a 200, think it was like 33, felt relaxed. After that I did a harder one that was a 68 and then more relaxed which was 72 (don't worry, being in a race always takes off a few second per lap with the exact same effort) Cooled down to three and left.

Good day. My legs actually felt pretty good before the race. It was the first event of the day so that was nice. Before I knew it the girls were racing and it was almost my turn. We did the mini waterfalls again but it was five for each, which was way too much, it sucked. So I didn't make an effort to get to the front off that, I let them get in fron of me and then made sure I didn't get boxed in after the break line. First 200 felt alot better than usual. We came through in 67,  but it felt more relaxed than at Davis. I was in fourth. We hit 800 in 2:17 and I think I was still in fourth at this point, with Payton Bailey right in front of me, and Jack and Luke up ahead. I moved into third with 2 laps to go, and held it till 1200. By this point I think Jack had dropped Luke. When we hit 1200 Colby Hamson had passed me and Nate Medsker passed me very closely and kind of cut me off, it was annoying but I'm not mad. So I was in fifth with a lap to go, not a good place. I was still in fifth with 200 to go, but then Luke blew up and we all passed him. 100 left I was in third, and Nate passed me and Colby. So I was in fourth, and I looked over my shoulder and Luke was not close at all, so I think I relaxed a little bit unintentionally. If Luke was still up there and I was in fifth I think I probably could have passed Colby and gotten fourth, but lukily I didn't have to. The timing system glitched during the race and they didn't get our times, but Nate said he got about 4:34, so I was probably 4:36, and that's what they put me down as,  a 4:36.00, but I don't feel like that's my real PR, I'm just never going to know for sure, and I'm actually pretty pissed about it. I have to beat it at state. After the race the pain in legs lingered for a really long time and I could hardly stand, it was bad. 800 and 4x4 tomorrow. It was beautiful weather today by the way!

Just had the thought that this was 19 seconds faster than my race at region last year, which was also a PR.

Just finished off arguably the best meet of my life! My mom thankfully let me sleep in today so I got solid sleep. It was about 10 degrees warmer than yesterday so it was crucial that I stayed out of the sun, so I did. My legs actually felt semi-tired during the day. When it was time for the 800 I didn't feel too good on my warmup. We did two heats so we actually got our own lanes, it was sick, that takes away so much stress that comes with that event. The gun went off and I think I hit the break line in first, and I led till Ethan Hurst took the lead maybe 200 in. At 300 Jack passed me, but I still didn't feel too bad. I felt better than ever at the 400 mark. Turns out the leaders came through in like 61, which could put me at a 62! And yeah, the backstretch didn't feel as bad, but Isaac passed me there and it put me in fourth. On the curve I looked over my shoulder and I had a huge gap on 5th place, so I just tried to maintain it. What really would have helped me is if I had tried to pass Jack (he took 3rd) maybe I could have finished closer to him or beat him. Ethan ran a 1:59, Isaac was really close to breaking 2, Jack ran a 2:00.51, and I came in a second later at 2:01.51, with Tyler at 2:03 something. Fun fact: 2:00.51 would have taken 4th at the Region 5 meet last year, so that's pretty cool to think. 2-5! And then Jack got interviewed for a long-a time cuz they want to do a feature article on him. I next had the 4x4 prolly 20 minutes later. Felt okay. I was the third leg and I got the baton in second. I pretty much maintained the distance and I split a 52 high. At this rate I'll be in the 51s for the state 4x4! We got second, but three of us ran the 800, and the other two that ran the 800 also ran the 400 before and the 200 just barely. I think we got like 3:34, but we will wreck at state and hopefully get medals. Last time racing on the home track *sniff sniff*. Cooled down a half mile during awards. Great job to everyone who raced today! No matter what region you are in, I read your report, just lettin you know, this race entries section is convenient. 

Just checked and it looks like our region is the second most competive in 3A Distance to Region 9 (Southern Utah). Makes feel a little cooler.

.5 and then lifts in seventh hour. I was thinking about going on a trail run, and it turns out Coach Strand had the same idea, so we took two vehicles to Logan Canyon, one of which was Strand's car which he had me drive lol. High of 81 I think today, and it definitely felt like it. Good stuff, we had Paul and Kalin with us even though their season is over. We just went 4 easy, and then pace was prolly high 7s.

I slept in today and it was too hot to run, so waited till dusk. Took a little longer to get out though because I finally got my senior pics taken lol. I did 6 miles out to Trapper Park, east on the river trail, and then back on Park Ave. and by Woodruff. Threw in about 5 one minute tempo pushes toward the end cuz I was bored. 7:06 ap. Felt really weird to head out for a run from the house because I haven't done that in a while with practice or races all week long. Real flashback to the summer training grind, especially the sleeping in and waiting till the evening. I'm almost excited to run higher mileage again, but I really don't want track to be over.

Decent workout today, also the last real workout I'll ever do in high school. In seventh hour I jogged .5 and did hurdle drills cuz I was bored. It was pretty hot and uncomfortable, despite how it felt early in the day, and there was a stronger wind blowing south. We had a team meeting then did our warmup in drills and hip drills while we waited for Strand to pick up his kid. The workout: 8x400 pretty simple same as always. I wasn't expecting so much volume so I had just brought my trainers and my spikes. We hooked up some music to the speakers because there is no soccer coaches around to get mad about it, but the playlist I chose wasn't as good as I thought and it was kinda weird lol. So I did the first four in my trainers. those were 71, 70, 70, and 69. Felt kind of off balance, it was odd. Then I spiked up and ran 65, 66, 64, and 62. I didn't feel too great during any of this workout, but it was the best I have ever averaged for 400s (67.1) and think I can be feeling really good four days from now as long as I do everything I can to get ready. Cooled down .5 barefoot. I'm really going to miss having practice every day, I guess I'll just have to enjoy it the best I can while it lasts, which would be two days now that I think of it.

Pretty ordinary practice. We warmed half a mile, did drills and then 3 on the river trail, prolly 7 minute pace, then practiced 4x4 handoffs. Then we had a great pancake dinner for everyone going to state, it was real fun.

Short day byt fun practice. We warmed up a half mile, and while most did strides, I helped Coach Strand run a fast 800. I rabbited for 400m and was supposed to take him out in 59. Well it ended up being about 57, oops! It went well though, he broke 1:58! Kalin and I hand-timed him at .6 and .5 so we added a little bit to be safe, so like 1:57.9. It was hot today! I'm okay if it's like that at state, especially since one of my races is in the morning, but it looks like it'll be pretty gusty the whole time... Cooled down with Coach on the turf. 

We have a Senior assembly later ( it's the last day of school for us) and I don't think I'll have time to run so I did a short workout during lunch. Jogged a half mile, did drills and spiked up. Then a 200 with a tailwind, felt pretty relaxed but still fast, that was a 27.9, then I jogged a lap and did an all-out 200 into the wind, and that was a 26.04, so really satisfied with it, and it felt good. Then I cooled down two laps backwards. Cant believe that was my last time running on the home track before my last hs race, everything is starting to hit me hard. Andrew Wheating posted a poem on Instagram that felt super fitting for today:

Before you lace'm up,
Stop and admire your work.
The hours of running,
The days you hurt.

Impressive isn't it?
Your dedication and thirst.
Now throw it out the window,
Be hungry for first.

There's no outline to racing,
No perfect recipe.
There's a 1st and a last,
Where do you want to be?

Take a minute to visualize,
Make that last lap fast.
Now tie up your shoes,
Time to kick some a$$.

(I added in the $$ if I were wondering :). We have our Senior banquet at 6:30 so the bus leaving at 8, so it'll be kinda tight but I'll try and make the best of it. 

Last night the L banquet went longer than expected and even after leaving early we didn't leave Logan until about 8:30. We got to our hotel and it was probably the nicest one I've ever stayed in for a running trip, and it was two blocks away from the track. Went to sleep at 11 and woke up a few times during the night for some reason, maybe because of how hot it was in our room, I dunno. Woke up, ate breakfast, and headed over to the track. It was basically perfect weather, overcast and no wind, maybe 60 degrees. I gave myself plenty of time to warm up, but before I knew it, I was in the bull pen. I felt pretty good on my warmup. We started walking out onto the track and Jack was not with us. I knew he was at the track so I was worried, but a couple minutes later he walked out to the starting line. I was pretty dang nervous. Started on the second waterfall. Got out and I wasn't trapped in luckily. Came through in 66 flat, with the lead pack right in front of me. It felt weird to be running with all the southern utah guys who's blogs I've been following or a while. I felt okay I guess. Tried to keep pushing it on the second lap and I was at 2:15. At that point I was excited because I thought I could run a 4:30 or 4:29. I think I fell off in the next lap, kind of lost the lead pack all together. Don't remember what that split was. With a lap to go I was right next to Carl Peel from North Sanpete, who is basically a former teammate of Jack's. I stayed with him on the backstretch but he pulled away and I just died, it was so tough. I kind of mentally fell apart too and was just thinking about how good it would be to finish, and two more guys passed me right before. It was dissapointing not to PR in my last race of that event but at least I matched it, and Colby and Nate ran way worse than last week, so I'm glad I was able to hold it together. Laps were 66, 69, 70, 70, all progressively slower. Afterwards my legs hurt so bad and I had to be on the ground, I layed on the grass for a while and my legs were really wobbly when I tried to stand. Jack took 6th by really close margins. Great job to everyone. After that we went and chilled at the hotel, it was nice. Our boys medley took second (after Dixie got DQd), to Bear River by like .01, it was really cool, Jack split a 1:57.

Today was a lot better than yesterday, but I am also really sad that high school track is over for good. One thing I forgot to mention from last night was that Dave the pole vault coach took us all through a relaxation and visualization excersise which I thought was thought was great. I tried to walk myself through the 800 in real time from the bull pen to the finish line. In it I broke 2 of course. I got to sleep from 11:00 pm to 10:30 am, which was nice but I missed the 3200 which Jack and Anna were running in. I guess it rained really hard? Lol but I think it stopped right before I woke up. Walked over by myself and got in with no problem. Then I just chilled and watched races for hours, snacked on stuff and had a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. 

We started warming up somewhat early; we were outside the bullpen for a lot longer than yesterday. But it finally came time to get in there. All three of us Logan dudes were in the slow heat ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th. For some reason I felt pretty calm, still nervous as heck, but in a calm way. We started on a normal waterfall with I thought was interesting. I decided I wasn't going to be super aggressive from the start, and I still got out well, almost was boxed in on the backstretch, but I found a hole and got out of it. Hit 300 and I pushed it a little more and was in like 5th place, but a pack was breaking away from me. Came through in 61.4, could've gone out a bit quicker. With 300 to go the lead pack had about 5 meters on me, and I fought to catch up, and I did. With 200 to go Paul Blackhurst and Piercen Maez faded off and it was Jack, Isaac, and I from there to the finish. I feel like I could have focused on passing Isaac and run a little faster, but I was just amazed I was up there with them, and hearing the announcer say our names and schools, Logan, Logan, Logan, was really cool. Looked up after crossing and saw it was just changed to 2, and I knew I was on the bubble for sub-2. Jack and Isaac both went 1:59. My second lap was a 58.8. They had them stay by the podium while the next heat went. Turns out it was a slow day for the 3A boys 800. Jack and Isaac were 4th and 5th. 6th place (Ethan Hurst) ran a 2:00.22. I ran a 2:00.23. Super dissapointing in that aspect, but I PRd by over a second, which was also .01 off what the state qualifying standard was this year. And I didn't think I had a prayer to score points individually at state, let alone almost medal. Coach said that was the highlight of the meet for him, and a lot of people were impressed with us. I was interviewed by the Herald Journal too, that was actually the guy that first told me how closely I missed medaling. 

Now it was time for the 4x4. We headed over to warmup as soon as 1A girls started, but that was a mistake. Coach told us to go sit down, and we hung around at our tent for a good half hour. In the meantime I found Eugene (Nathan), shout outs to you yer a beast. When we went over there we had the perfect amount of time to warmup. The wind had picked up but not too bad. We were in yeah bull pen for a while. The bull pen during relays is fun when someone drops their baton tho lol. I was the second leg, and we were 2nd in the slow heat. I got it and ran out hard, was in second on Stansbury's shoulder after the breakline. Chilled  there and then kicked it in in first. Felt strong on the final curve but I felt like I was about to blow up hard when I hit the straightaway. Coach told me I split a 53, I feel like it was really fast, I dunno. We ran a 3:30 high, and at first we thought we were 5th based on the second heat, but a lot of teams were 3:30 low, so we were 9th. Blew away out heat though. Really emotional afterwards. This is freakishly long so I'll write my reflection and crap I'm an entry tomorrow. 

Paced my 5th grade brother in his school's annual mile, that is helped him to keep running the whole way lol. And he didn't stop ever and he ran a 9:33. 

It already feels weird not having anything serious to train for this coming fall. Hopefully I'll still have some drive this summer because I want to progress in fitness still, specifically aerobically. I'm going to take at three days to a week of no running (counting today) this week, and then I'll try and raise my mileage and do some sick runs. Also I'm obligated to keep running so I don't let the HJP Ragnar team down haha. I might go to the #ConnorBallerClassic 5K in a few weeks, we'll see, but after Ragnar (which I geuss is still happening?) I'm definitely doing the BSF Freedom Run, that is one of the best and underrated races in the valley, and then I don't know a half marathon or maaaayybe a marathon. I'm excited to see what I can do after having some reall good thresholds this track season, and hopefully I can bring that under 6 minute pace. I hope to get my mileage into the mid 50s consistently by July, but injury prevention is first priority. Looks like I have to get a job but I can defnitely get all my running in if it's just part time and hopefully I can schedule it around any races. And then I'll start school at USU, and maybe run in the meet to walk on in xc if I feel like I've improved enough. If that doesn't work out than I'll look into walking on in track which I have a better chance at (17:39 vs 2:00). Then I will serve a full time mission and won't really worry about running too much but I'll do it when I can, and we'll after that. 

For about a year and a half I wasn't very engaged in the blog because I didn't think people read it and I used it as a personal training log only. But then after this xc season I started to meet people on it and engage with them and it made it really fun, so thanks everyone for that, now I usually go here before I go on Strava (which I still use also). It's also made this track season more fun than it would be. Love you all and I hope you stay will me as I start this new journey.  

AM: 4 miles out and back on a dirt road by my grandparents house, 7:05 ap. And I know that because I finally got a new running watch! It felt somewhat pushed and I felt tired towards the end with heavy breathing, but I think it's great that I could just jump out of bed and run at that pace today. Had to wear my bulky lunar eclipses but it was fine. Great weather up here, got pretty hot. I would have gone more if I had the time but I didn't get up early enough. Great to be back! Shooting for just below 40 this week tand that should be pretty easy.

PM: Easy 2 mile loop in the dark after driving home cuz I wouldn't settle for a 4 mile day. Legs felt pretty good, took it easy at 7:27 pace. I think I'll be doubling alot more this summer expecially when I raise my mileage.

Today was like a typical summer day for me, but hopefully I don't make it a habit again. I slept in and then hit the road at noon, when it was probably in te 80s for temps. Just ran around town, up to Old Maine where I tried to get a segment CR on the footpath but stopped to get ready to sprint within the segmens #stravaprobs then I ran through the sprinklers and dropped down to the canal trail then down to the island and ran up cliffside hill and cut over to he nature park and went straight home from there. I had alot of stops for various reasons, but it was still an okay run. 7:27 average.