C Mantz Running

       6 miles in sand and dirt at Lake Powell.

        6.35 miles with Claire.  We averaged 12 min. miles in the sand and dirt.  It sucks running in the dirt/sand.

      4 miles around the area and then a little under a mile to a cliff with my siblings.

       9.25 miles overall. I went to "practice"(It's moritorium this week so we can't practice with the coaches, so we just met up anyway), and one of the future juniors took charge and had us do some tempo 1000m repeats with 1 min. rest, and we ran it in the fields/canal by Sky View.  The canal was very overgrown and you were likely to get hit in the face by some weeds, so it wasn't very enjoyable.  I paced Ethan for all of his 8 and then Connor Compton for his last 2.  After I went to Ethan's where we ran two more miles. 

      Went hammocking/hiking last night with some friends, so after Ethan and I just decided to get a run in.  We did 8Xhill repeats at a hill by the Utah State Campus that kicked my butt.  I just ran with him for them to help him out(I'm not really training for any races with the mission).  We then cooled down to his car.

      2 miles later. My butt is extremely sore.

      Ran up the canyon.  Did some "tempo" for about a mile and a half just for fun, but it wasn't too quick.  Overall it was a fairly good effort.  2 weeks until I leave to Ghana.

       5 miles easy. I went on a fairly hard hike last night, and I felt pretty tired from the hill workout two days ago, so I felt pretty dead. I may run more later today.

      5 easy miles. I didn't feel the greatest, but it's alright, I don't have and races coming up anytime soon.

      Warmed up for a mile, then did the "downhill death mile" attempting to run a sub-4.  Because you lose 500 feet in elevation, it's more of a sprint.  We used a couple Garmins to measure the distance, so it really wasn't too accurate.  I ran under four, but it may not have been the most accurate. Ethan paced me on his bike and his bike's MPH was over 15 the whole time, so hopefully it was.  Anyway, it was just for fun and wasn't too accurate. Ethan filmed it, but before he stopped it, the camera fell and the SD card fell out and so it didn't record it all the way. We might redo it so we can get a video and next time we'll try to make it as accurate as can be.  After I paced Ethan for 4 miles of tempo, then we cooled down and ate crepes after.

Here is the garmin thing that shows all the information.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/832313685

      Ran at practice with the team. I paced Ethan for his first two miles of tempo, then I saw C.Comp was struggling, so I paced him for the next two miles. After we cooled down. 

     5 miles. I had stomache ache, which made the run quite unenjoyable.

       6 miles. I felt pretty good. I may run more today or I may try to do another downhill mile tomorrow.

      8. Did a downhill mile with a warm up and then ran some more later.

       10 miles. I felt okay.

       4 miles attempting to run the Wellsvilles with Ethan, but it was way overgrown and made it just flat out miserable.  Then we heard something that sounded like a really loud growl close to us. Ethan thought it was a mountain lion, so he started running down pretty quick.  I went with him because I was tired of all the trees and brush surrounding the trail that made it impossible to run through. 2 miles later that night.

       7 miles I think.  We warmed up for a bit over a mile, then the team was doing 5 miles tempo, so I ran with Ethan.  He killed it today! I'm super excited to see what he does this season. We did about a mile cool down after.

       Also, out of the two downhill miles, we actually got a video of the second one. Ethan wanted to make it for his Youtube channel, so it's on there.  The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWu5fswN3Fo .  It was a fun run and the pace is a bit inaccurate, and the distance is about .05 or something off.  Anyway, I still don't consider myself a sub-4 guy until I do it on a track.  It was just something fun I wanted to do with some friends.

     This is my last post for the next two years.  I'm leaving to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the country of Ghana. After I return, I plan on attending and running for BYU.  I'm thankful for the opportunities that running has brought me. I've met so many wonderful people and been able to make many friends on my way. If any of you want to receive my weekly e-mails, either put your e-mail in the description or send me an e-mail on my mission e-mail at conner.mantz@myldsmail.net.

     While running has brought me much happiness and excitement, it is very small compared to the joy that the Gospel of Christ has brings to my life.  I've read The Book of Mormon, The Holy Bible, and The Doctorine and Covanents and I know those to be true books. I know that God loves and cares about each and every person.  He wants you to be happy.  Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, and through him we can be saved.  I have been blessed to have such a wonderful family, and they have helped me want to continue in running and to serve a mission. They did not push me into either of those decisions.  I decided to serve a mission, just like I decided to run cross country and track, no one else made the decision for me or pushed me into it, but I have been blessed to have my family's support in both those decisions. 

        Also, about the downhill mile, while I'm rambling, it was more of a fun thing that was just to see what would happen, it isn't very official.  Wish all of you luck on your running, health, and happiness.

-Conner