C Mantz Running

     XC-8.5, maybe 9.  We did grass repeats again, but we did sets of a 1200, then an 800.  4 sets.  My first two just hurt.  I could feel my quads were still hurting from Saturday's run.  3 min. recovery in between runs.  After the first two I ran with Tyson and Kyler until the end.  My quads still hurt, just not as badly. 
     PM-4 easy up smithfield canyon.  I've been trying to get used to this hot summer running, but it's still feels too hot.  

     Today was scheduled to be long and easy. I planned on doing 10-12 at first, but my legs have been just too tired from the last week.  It didn't feel that easy, but it was the pace I usually run on my easy days.  

       3.5 easy and then some strides.  My legs still felt pretty tired, but they felt better than yesterday.

        Warmed up about a mile and half.  I psyched myself out a little for this race and just planned on going out with the front pack and not pushing the pace too much. I was trying out my Asics spikes out for their first race.

        Race:  The gun went off, and I got cut off a bunch.  For some reason in every cross country race people think the first 200-300 meters is the whole race.  I was about in 40th or so when we hit the road, and this one kid would not let me pass him.  Once we hit the grass I got around him and saw Kramer was right ahead of me.  I told him that we should get to that front pack, and he just followed me as I went.  He said earlier he was feeling sore from a previous workout, so I thought I could outkick him this race.  Anyway, we ran up to that front pack where the pace wasn't going to fast.  We caught it within a half mile.  I tried to get out in front and run a comfortable pace.  I just kept doing that, and Rory would keep passing me and either speeding the pace up or sometimes slowing it down.  We hit the first mile in 5:06ish.  It was a lot slower than I wanted, but I just kept with the race.  Right after the mile mark Rory started to take the same wrong turn Jake Heslington took at state last year.  I yelled at him that it was the wrong way, and he jumped back on the right path.  The pack was pretty much together here and didn't change much.  It was Rory, Kramer, Brady Early, and me.  After we went around the pond the first time, Brady made a move.  He had 5 seconds or so on us.  After a little ways I passed Rory to try and catch Brady and Kramer came to.  After we hit the two mile mark(didn't get any split) I tried to make a move to pass Brady.  Kramer, of course, followed.  We went around the pond the second time and this year we stayed on the grass.  Right after the end of the pond Kramer passed me.  I kept pushing, and then Kramer started going the wrong way.  I yelled at him, but I don't know if he heard it or not.  Some spectators pointed him in the right direction too.  We crossed the bridge and then I made a move to pass him, then right before we hit the sidewalk at the end he made a move and I sprinted right behind him.  I thought I could out sprint him, but I just couldn't.  Brady was third, Andrew Brewer was 4th, Rory was 5th(probably because he took a wrong turn early on.) and Mike was 6th. 

       Afterward I did a good cool down cheering on my sister's race, and then ran a little more.  Then 3 easy miles when I got home to get the stiffness out of my legs. 

      Only about a quarter mile warm up (I should've done more) then we did 2 miles tempo 2 min. break x3.  I ran my first two in 10: 12 (my race pace yesterday) and then my next two in 10:17 (1 second fast) and my last my legs were just hurting from the race, it was uphill and windy and was in 11:15.  I kinda lost my motivation in those two miles, but after I heard everyone else was a minute or more slow on those two I didn't feel to bad.  2.25 cool down.  I should've drank more water before, and warmed up more.  two things I need to work on.  

     Also, good luck to everyone running the TOU half marathon tomorrow, I'll be at one of the aid stations cheering everyone on.

    AM- 2 miles cleaning up garbage after the half.  Got to see a lot of bloggers at the aid station at mile 6. 

    PM-9.  easy long run, although it didn't feel too easy running in the heat.  It's been a hard week, and it feels good to have it done with.