C Mantz Running

AM-4 easy miles

PM-1200, 800, 800, 400, 400.  Pretty easy workout, but I was feeling super tired.  It was also super windy.  School and running have just taken out most of my energy.  I don't get how others on the team can do this when they are more into their majors, have jobs, and have other things going on in their lives.  Anyway, the 1200 went well, we hit 3:15.  The 800s were both in 2:09.  The wind didn't seem too bad, until it was my turn to lead it, and then it felt like I was barely moving even though I had to put a spring effort in.  The first 400m was a 60, but felt super taxing.  After the first 100m of the second I just felt super out of it and just stopped and jogged around the track to finish.  Just need to find a way to be more focused/less tired.  It's weird for me to be this tired, as I always get between 8-9 hours of sleep at the least, and felt like I rested pretty well yesterday.  Guess not.  

AM-4 easy miles 

PM-Ran earlier than usual because I had a presentation for a class at 4.  I went with the 880 group, and then did some strides after.  Felt better as the run went on, but still quite a bit tired.  Hopefully I'll be good for the race this weekend.  

I felt better today.  We did 2X400m, 2x200m.  I didn't bring my flats just because I didn't want myself to be competitive at all, and to just run my own pace.  I think we went 63 or 64(also didn't use watch), and 59.  Felt pretty controlled.  200s were probably around 27.  After the run I felt pretty good.  

Today we ran an easy run around El Camino College.  It was a lot of fun.  After we did strides.  Watched some great races too for a bit. We had two guys run times in the 10,000m that should get them to regionals, so it looks like we have 6 guys so far in the 10,000m that have run 29:35 or better, which has been fun to see.  We also had another teammate run sub-9 minute in the steeple, so that makes 8 guys for our team in that event.  I'm excited for tomorrow!

Good race today. Lots to work on, but it was a fun experience and I learned a lot. 

So, most of the day was pretty simple. Just hung around the hotel, slept, ate, and studied for finals.  We did a small shakeout around 11-12. At about 6:30 or so we went to the meet.  I was feeling prett good, but I think I ate too much before my race becasue I could feel a bit of food still in my stomache, as if it hadn't digested adn was just sitting on top of everything.  I checked in, and Dallin, Jake, and I started to warm up around 50 minutes before our race.  After getting back, we stretched out and right before I was about to go to the tent to report for the race, I heard them announce that they were combining both of the heats, and that they would run both of them 15 minutes after the first was scheduled.  So, know I had another 15 minutes or so.  I ran a bit more, stretched, and tried to lengthen out my preparation time.  Got to the track, they talked to us for a bit, then quickly put on my spikes, did 3 strides and lined up. 

Gun went off, and I went to the inside of lane 5(They had a double waterfall start) and tried to stick with it.  The first 200m was very quick, I was near the back at 31ish.  Next 400m was pretty relaxed, and about in 68-69, so I was at 1:40 at 600m.  I tried to relax and I gradually got into lane 1.  I was feeling really relaxed.  The next few laps I stayed in position and as people went outside to pass others, I would move ahead, staying in lane one.  I slowly passed a few people in lane one.  Right before the mile marker Danny Carney got on my shoulder and then moved passed me.  I tried to follow, but he was moving up pretty quick. We hit the 1600m mark at 4:25.  The next mile was just about consistency.  I was so excited.  I just kept thinking that today was going to be the day I run 13:45.  I stayed in position, and the front pack had people slowly falling off, so I tried to stay on that train.  I came through 3200m at 8:50.  I was feeling really good.  Hurting, but it felt controlled.  I knew I could go faster.  Somewhere in the next few laps, I either lost sight of what was going on, or just didn't have the strength necessary to continue to speed it up.  I remember with 800m to go, I saw that I had fallen off pace, and changed my goal to 13:49.  At 800m to go I passed Jerrell Mock and told him to come with me.  I looked back 100m later to see him over 10m behind.  We'd both fallen off the train, but him more so than me.  By the time we hit 400m to go, I was in no man's land.  The pack had about 30-40m atleast on me, and the next guy back was about 20m behind.  I saw I needed to run 63 to run under 13:50, so I thought it was easily plausible.  I tried moving up, telling myself not to lose sight of the goal.  It felt like a workout where I was falling apart though.  With 100m to go the guys behind me had caught me, and one flew by me.  I ran 66 my last lap, so that was a bit frustrating.  I was happy to see 13:52 because it was a PR and I knew I had given an honest effort.  I had put myself where I needed to be, but just didn't run the necessary 4:22 last mile necessary to accomplish my goal.  

After it was fun to find out that we had a 5 guys in the heat run PRs.  We cooled down with Cam Levins after.  He's a pretty standup guy and it was a lot of fun to talk to him and hear how he's doing.  He didn't race near his capabilities, but it was a lot of fun to be in a race with him.  

We got back to Provo around 2:30 and I went to take a final while most of the team went on their long run.  And then I went on my long run alone.  I ran from the fieldhouse up the canyon and back.  I planned to extend the run to get me to 70 miles for the week, but when I was at 14.5 and went to run grass loops, my body was extremely tired, so I decided to finish it at 15.  I felt super tired.  I think tests can take a lot out of you when they take a lot of mental strength. I felt the 5km yesterday in my legs as well.