C Mantz Running

       AM-  XC- 6 We did a speed workout today.  Mile repeats, not my favorite thing to do.  We did a mile and a bit warm up.  On our first I really pushed it, going for a sub-5, which I thought I did, but I'm not sure because I still haven't got a watch since I left mine at the BYU invite in track.  Second one I was around a 5:10sh.  Under 5:20.  3rd one Steve pushed me for the first half, but I didn't feel like I pushed it much after that, but Tyson timed me for this one and said I got a 5:04.  Last one I wasn't even going to do, but coach said I should atleast do a half, but then the gusy convinced me to do a full.  Did about a quarter mile cool down for this one.  I had a 5:20 pace for the last one, or atleast that is where Nick Batty said he had me(I might've been a bit slower).  Good workout, I didn't feel 100%, but it was a good workout.  About a half mile cool down or so afterward. 

     PM- 3 I felt like running and I knew we weren't doing a hard workout tomorrow and I wouldn't have time to run after practice so I ran tonight at 9.  3 miles easy.

     AM-XC- Easy day.  2 miles easy and then a game that involved sprinting, and then we did a mile back to the school.  I went easy with friend who might start XC. 

      I didn't have a lot of time to run today, so I woke up at 5:20 AM and did my paper route early, then I went on a run.  Tempo by myself.  Coach said a 2-3 mile tempo and 5 miles overall, but I wasn't too happy with my first 2 miles, so I kept going until I knew it wouldn't affect my race too much and I was satisfied.  I ran 4 miles in 21:56, which isn't my best, but it is a good workout before Friday.  A mile cool down. 

    XC-About a mile and a bit warm up, then we did 3 accalerations, which surprised me, I never ran any speed work in track the day before a meet.  Sadly that is because during track I would be running and training myself for most of it until the end when I finally got the workouts, but even then I was running alone most of the time.  Sugarhouse Park, here I come, not as strong as I was at state, but hopefully stronger then this time last year. 

      Well, this race turned out way differently then I was expecting.  We got there, did some accelerations, and got to the race a bit late, where I had my first stride as a sprint to the start.  They went over rules, and I was just thinking I am not mentally here, but I need to be.  When the gun went off I actually had to fight and get around some kids.  These guys were using their elbows and everything.  I got to the front with Garrett Marsing and just ran that first bit.  I forgot about the course, and soon found out why I need to review.  About a ways out from the start I heard people say wrong way.  When I heard this I started turning right onto another part of the race, and about 15 sec or so later I found out I was definately going the wrong way.  So I sprinted straight into where I ran off course(so they wouldn't get DQ'ed for cutting a flag) and I sprinted my way to the front for that first mile.  There was a group of 4 guys(Ben, Jordon, Andrew, and another guy(later found out to be michael Finch)) and I went with them for a ways, but couldn't hold on to that pace for to much longer and stayed about 5 sec. behind them for most of the race.  At the end I almost caught Andrew Brewer in a sprint, but he held me off.  I finished at a time I really wanted, but I wanted to break a 15 if I was that close.  Later we did a mile barefoot cool down.  I didn't get DQed.  Our team ran fast, but everyone else did also and we took 6th. 

     I went an watched the half marathon this morning.  I got to see a lot of people and chat with Jake, Steve and a few others from the blog.  I saw my dad, sister and friend Wes get PR's so that was cool to watch.  Later at about 1 I went for an 8 mile run.  I didn't go too fast, which was how I was going to run it, but I felt like crap because I ate some ice cream earlier today and that's all I had eaten.