C Mantz Running

     5 laps warm up, then 20X200m at mile pace with 200m jog. I struggled and it was windy.  I did the first three into the wind, but was the only one, and I wimped out into running them part way with the wind.  I need to start having good workouts again. Our last few were supposed to gradually get faster until we were all out sprinting, but this workout just felt like a sprint the whole time.  Splits:30.6, 30.7, 31.2, 30.8, 29.2, 29.7, 29.8, 30.2, 30.9, 30.1, 30.0, 30.7, 30.6, 30.1, 31.2, 29.1, 30.7, 30.6, 30.4, and 30.8.  Cooled down about a mile and a half after.  I just didn't feel any spring in my step, like I couldn't sprint.

       3 miles later. 

     Warm up, then 2 miles tempo(coach had me cut it short to 2 miles because I have a big race this weekend), then cool down.  At about 1.5 miles there was a big headwind, and I felt pretty good going into the wind.  It was the first time I've felt that good in a while, but then I stopped. We went and talked to Ethan after he finished yesterday's workout(he was sick so the speed was better for him today) and I ran with him then ran more when I got home.

    Kept it easy and fun.  Ran with the team for 2.25, then with Stockton for a bit, then no one else wanted to run more so I ran by myself. 

    Pre-meet in and around the dome in Alaska.

      Interesting race to say the least. I did a shakeout(about a mile), then warmed up about an hour later(1.3 miles) then a little more jogging before the start.  They decided to give Allie a 70 sec. head start, instead of the 60 I had originally heard. It was for the best looking back at it.  She started, then we had 70 sec. of waiting before starting. Levi had 2 teamates pace us through the 800m(for one) and the 1600m for the other.  We hit the first lap in 66(perfect!), but then the second pacer slowed down and let the other one get a little gap.  I hit 2:14, the first pacer was right where we wanted to be(2:12).  I just stuck with Levi Thomet and Levi Freed.  We hit two more slower laps and came across 1600m at 4:31.  The next two laps just happened, I took the lead and just was cruising.  I wasn't thinking about going fast, I don't know what I was thinking about, but I wasn't focused.  We hit the next two laps way off pace(about 1:08 and 1:09 we were at 6:47).  My fault, I should've sped it up, but it felt super easy.  I then realized we might not break nine, so I took off and tried to give it a big push.  We hit the next lap in 65, and then I decided to throw in a surge at 300m to go, because when I do with 400m, I tie up in the last 100m. Well, I still tied up with 100m to go and Levi flew by me.  We finally could see Allie here.

      A little dissappointed about the 5th and 6th laps because I feel like I could've ran a lot quicker if I was more focused. After the race I felt great, so I know I had more left in the tank.  I haven't done much speed work, so this makes me pretty excited about the track season. Cool down after around the dome and then a bit more later. 

     We ran the mile. I warmed up the same as yesterday, then we got ready. Levi Freed paced us through 800m and did a perfect job this time. I got up on his shoulder to try get him to go faster in the first 600m.  I felt good. At 600m, another guy jumped in to race us for the last 1000m. I kinda got boxed behind them and panicked. I wasn't sure what to do, but I just was running funny. We hit the third lap and it felt easy.  I think we were at 3:08 with a 400m and a bit(it was a full mile) to go.  I had a huge push with 300m to go and heard I gapped Levi by a pretty big amount.  With 200m left I slowed down way too much, and then Levi passed me and raced the other guy to the line. I finished, but didn't kick too much.  I'm a little dissappointed in myself for the last lap, I know I could've gone atleast 4:10, maybe 4:09, if my lat 200m was good.  Oh well, maybe next time. This was a shock to the body, so hopefully I'll be full tilt into track mentally.

      After, Levi and I ran some trails for 60 min(we only went 6.5 miles though. There was a lot of mud, but it was a sweet place to run), then I ran for somewhere between 4 and 5 miles(30 min.) Overall a good experiene, but I wish I would've raced better.