The Renegade

So today we were supposed to take a bus to Mantua to do a four-mile tempo, but the driver didn't come in time and a lot of people needed to be back early, so we did 800 repeats at Black-Hawk park. We did a half mile warmup (I would have liked to go a mile) For the varsity group, (pretty sparse today, just me, Damon, and Davis, and two girls, Anna and Olivia), we did 7 of them. At least I had two other guys with me, they ran most of them right with me. Group A (varsity) had 2 minute rests, while everybody else had like 3 or 4 minutes rests, so our workout was far tougher than the JV kids. We ran the first one pretty controlled in 2:51, and the next two at the same effort level, both 2:50. Turned it up slightly for the next two and ran 2:47 and 2:46. That 5th repeat was probable the worst, because I took it easier and just ran with the other two on the next one, ran 2:55. For the last rep, I decided I would go basically all out and try to simulate the end of a race, and I ran 2:33, so pretty fast for me, seeing that a year ago that pace would be 9 seconds faster (per mile) than my mile PR. It didn't even seem like it hurt too much, but maybe it's because I was in the zone. Strava says my average was 5:35 mile pace, so 2:47.  I don't think I mentioned that it was pretty dang hot today. Well it was, and I'm already missing the last weeks cool weather. I did about a mile cool down, so todays mileage was a little low, but I'll make up for it. Goal is 40 this week anyway.

Long recovery run by myself today, in the heat. It felt super long, longer than just nine miles. I guess having people to run with makes a big difference. I ran in my old Pegasus since they have less miles on them than my newer ones, so it only made sense. Ordered a pair of Hoka One One Cliftons, so we'll see how I like those. Felt kinda tired, but actually not too bad, so I'll take it. I did a loop that lead me through the river trail, up to Providence, and eventually through Denzil Stuart, over by Cliffside, and back to the school down Center. Avg. pace 7:34, so good medium effort. No more runs like this until after Bob Firman, I'm taking thursday and friday as true recovery days after tomorrows shorter tempo.

Tempo on the canal trail, 3 miles. Warmup was 1.5 miles up there, and we started pretty soon after. It was hot today. Right before the varsity group started off this old man with a pony tail came out from his yard and told us we can't be there. He was just kind of mad because some of us were standing part way on his yard. Anyways, we started and I didn't feel too bad. We started fast, 6:13, because Austin and Elliot turned it up after a half mile. Turns out, it wasn't too fast, because I ran 6:12 and then 6:13, so I kept it even the whole time. Austin and Elliot finished it about 10 seconds ahead of me, and they both said they felt good, presumably better than I felt, because I didn't feel amazing, just because of how much faster I went. Pretty good workout though, it was hot today. We've got a super easy day tomorrow, and then we leave for Boise on Friday, and we'll run the course for our shakeout. Super pumped! I've just gotta make sure I ice a ton because my shin hasn't felt too good for the last few days. 

Easy run around willow park and back to the school, and my shin hurt like heck. I iced after and that made it feel a bit better. When I got home from practice I saw that my new shoes (hokas) had arrived so I took them for a little spin around the block and they are promising. :)

AM: 1 mile easy before leaving to Boise. Left leg still hurt a lot. 

PM: Ran the course easy at like 3 in the afternoon, it was super hot, not at all like last year. Then we did some strides on the final 180 degree right turn onto the final straightaway, I had a hard time getting around it, but I wasn't wearing spikes. Leg still hurt until warmed up.

I was really hoping and expecting to do well today. But I'll just accept today for what it was and move on. The gun went of. And I went out hard, I was in the lead pack around the first turn. I moved back mostly in the first half mile, and then Austin and Elliot caught up to me. I stayed with them for a bit, then they pulled away, but I was still feeling good. Felt good up the hill the first time around. On the second lap at the end of the beach my heart "palpitation" came out of nowhere and I knew my race had gone to the dogs, but because this was my last time at Bob Firman, I wanted to finish. The hill really sucked, and I just got passed by a bunch of guys until the end. Maybe if I hadn't given up when I felt that I would have run better. I think that maybe if I hadn't gone out so fast and stuck behind my teammates, that wouldn't have happened. I'll remember that. I may have to take a couple days off next week because the leg problem that ended my season last year is creeping up big time. Funny because this was exactly the same week that it started happening last year. Jack did really well, he got 5th place with 16:25!