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.