The Renegade

12x400 today, with the 3 min 400 jog of course. Weather was decent, we had some shade. After all our warmup crap and the ridiculously short half mile warmup, we started. I did the first four in my trainers, also I shadowed Jack because he didn't have a watch. The splits for this workout were all over the place, especially in the first half. The ones in my trainers were 71, 72, 67, and 73 all consistently two seconds behind Jack. I don't know why he sped up to 65 on that one but it was good to know that that one was fast and that I wasn't already that tired. Wearing trainers really does add to the difficulty, but I just didn't want to do too much volume in my flats. Skipped the jog after number four and got my Streak on. Went 69 for five, it it sucked, I think not being able to jog after the previous rep did a number on my heart. After six which was about a 70, I was shot, and took way too long of a recovery, probably four minutes. But that got me back on track sort of. Next two 71 and 69, and still sucked, especially that 69, but I just told myself I ony had 4 reps left so it didn't seem so bad. The last four reps went 68, 69, 68, 66 (last two were approximate because of watch problems). On these one I made sure to stay relaxed on the backstretch. I didn't feel that energy at the end to run a crazy last rep, but I guess a good workout should stay relatively even. I was going hard tho. That was a 69.4 avg.

I've learned my lesson for next time we do quarters: Feel it out the first few reps instead of trying to keep up with Jack, it'll make for a miserable workout. I did a mile cooldown barefoot with Jack, Keith, and Anna. Followed by icing the lower legs in the whirlpool (full tub wasn't ready). There was like 5 of us using it at the same time lol, good times chatting with the boys. Also I did some cleans in gym so maybe that affected me? I dunno. This week last year was when I started to get injured, and I spent the next week on the ellipiptical, so I'm gonna be superstitious about it and be reaaally careful. If it can happen in cross country (getting injured same week in two years) it can happen in track. 

Ugh very low energy run today, but it was fun. After our warmups and a bunch of core and strenght work, we headed out to the canal trail. Super slow pace but we had a nice group with us, which usually never happens. We went to the part where the sidewalk begins, turned around, and at one point we left the trail and ran to Keith's house to say hi to his goats. The momma and papa goats were there but the babies were being taken for a walk or something so didn't get to see the babies, oh well. Then we ran back to the school and did 4x100 accels. It was pretty hot, but I don't know if I'm excited for the rain later this week, especially with Cache-Box. The run was 7:49 ap, but I didn't feel too great so it's fine. 

Pretty good workout today! Most of the team was at Preston for a JV meet so we had a small group, but it was good cuz we could start faster. Coach was gone so I had to explain the workout. It was 2x1600 @ something between threshold and 3200 pace (5K or 10K pace?) and then 8x150. The weather was great cept for a little wind, it was over cast, and had been raining all day. First mile was 5:43. Between was an 800 within 5 minutes of rest. The next mile was 5:39. We started off way faster on that one (80 vs 86), but it basically evened out.

Changed shoes and got recovered, jogged a lap, and we started our 150s. The rest was finishing the lap (250m) then waiting till 2:15 to go. Jack and I took turns leading the first 4. I started off with a 23.7, so pretty slow.  Then Jack led and we ran 22. The next two were 21.7 and another 22. After that Jack flipped a switch and I sort of followed, it was a 19.7.  This was when it started to feel remotely hard. The last three were 18.9, 19.4, and 19.6.  Jack was ahead of me by .5-1 seconds on those. 20.9 average for me, which would be a 27 high 200m, and I think I should have pushed it more on the first ones, they felt pretty controlled. Then sun came out too! Cooled down 800. 

In seventh hour I did 3 easy miles on the treadmill (there was a blizzard). I had to do it in the creepy basement/dungeon because the baseball team was using the ones in the main weight room. For practice we had a team meeting inside and then we did had to do four laps around the tiny basketball court, which maybe added up to a 400, maybe, lol. After warmups us distance runners were told to wait by the doors to outside, and we waited around a bit and coach was coming, so I said screw it, and I ran straight outside into the ever treacherous storm and "sprinted" a lap for premeet/strides for Cache-Box tomorrow. Turned out to be a 69 but with how bad it was you could probably convert it to a 55. After that I left because I didn't have anything else to do and the rest of my team were being wimps and complaining, as always. I didn't want to be around that. 

Good thing I didn't start my full blown pre race rituals tonight, because I got like five texts and snapchats at the same time from teammates and coach that the meet was cancelled and postponed to Monday. I'm kind of pissed because I'm not used to that happening, but more than pissed I am thankful because tomorrow = 52 degrees and VERY windy. Monday = 63 degrees, sunny, and calm. The event I will be fresh for will be the 800 open, and I know I can finally PR if all goes to plan, no bad weather to hold me back, and a pretty quality field. It's an 11 month old PR. The other two PRs went down during indoor. 

Today was a great confidence booster, that's for sure. In light of having no meet, we did a our Providence and River Heights threshold. The weather was pretty nice, nice enough for a track meet if it wasn't so windy. Felt pretty good warming up there, and we started pretty soon. We had a tailwind starting out, but I wasn't really thinking about that, I was just thinking about how good I felt (it was also mostly downhill) I was in front of Paul this time and he wasn't too close on my heels. Kalin was with us too I think. So I think we were 5:45 avg coming to the first turn, and then we hit that and there was more of a cross wind, and it was uphill for three straight blocks, that part is usually pretty bad. First mile was about 6 flat. At the turn to head north, I instantly realized why I felt so good at the start. There was a massive headwind. So I had to fight against it for maybe a good .75 miles, half downhill half uphill, until I hit the left turn and it was slightly downhill and not nearly as much wind. I finished pretty good there. My watch died after mile 1, but Coach was timing us and I got 18:25, so about a 6:08 average. Felt good enough to do a bonus mile, down south and back uphill with a headwind. Ran about a 6 flat, so my first half mile must have been 2:45ish. This is great because the last two thresholds before this were terrible and I was afraid I burned. But without this awful wind, I probably would've averaged close to 6 flat maybe? Dunno but I cant wait for Monday. 

When we got back Coach Strand wanted to time trial a 400 for himself, so Jack and I helped him out. Jack ran in front of him on the backstretch with the headwind and I ran with him the last 150. He came around to me and I started way early because I was afraid he was going super fast, but he blew up, wish I had ran next to him and screamed in his face lol. He ran a 51 mid-high. Pretty impressive if you ask me! Took a shin icebath after.

Nice steady run in the early PM today, from home. Beautiful day, it was just verry windy. South blowing winds, and the start of my run I was going south, and let me say I didn't feel like I was doing anything at all, just letting the wind push me at an effortless sub-7 pace. That was along 10th west to Icon, then I turned onto the river trail going west, and found a sweet new extension that led to this new park called Trapper Park, nice lush grass and stuff. I also saw two HUGE cranes on the river around there, didn't know there were cranes here. Then I turned around, passed Icon, and ran the original river trail stopping to get a drink at the dog park. Ran back home through Willow Park and past Woodruff. Great run! Now I've just gotta make sure I don't get tight over the weekend, I've never had a Monday meet before so we'll see how that goes. 7:07 ap.