C Mantz Running

     We did a mile, then started our workout. (30 sec hard, then 30 sec easy X5) X3 with a 5minute break in between.  This was a pretty easy medium, nothing really hurt.  I actually felt amazing, but mostly because I haven't ran hard for a while and I didn't run much Saturday, at all Sunday, and no paperroute this morning.  A little less than a mile cool down.  I'm starting to feel a bit lazy now. 

     Tree of life.... extended?  Anyway, 2 easy miles, I ran with Cody at first, then Glen (who was running in the canal becuase it was all dried up)  After we did 4 strides on the football field.

    This is the same course as Cache-Box was. We did a two mile warm up with accelerations before the meet.  I knew my competition was Jerrell again.  Before I didn't care about place as much as I wanted to break 15. 

     We started, and I didn't get an amazing start, but it was alright.  I got behind Jerrell and Adam, and I just drafted off of Jerrell when we hit the wind.  I had the strategy to spead up a bit on the corners, which really helped me at the start.  Anyway, the wind was going a bit to the north/east.  During the first loop, we dropped Adam, and just ran.  We went back and forth.  During the second loop, The guy yelled out our "mile" splits as "4:22, 4:23, 4:24...." so I was supposedly one second off my mile PR, haha.  At the end of the second loop I slowed down a bit(there was a wind in our faces), to let him lead, but he didn't, so that is probably where I lost some of my time.  During the third loop, it was still between us two.  I pulled away at the mile 2 mark, but slowed down after a bit, which was a mistake on my part.  Then we hit the grass and we ran side by side, and just pushed it.  We turned on the very small V turn for the second time.  We were just starting on our last loop, and I was just bearly behind him.  Once we hit the gravel with 800 left to go, he sped up.  On some of the really gravely parts, he was speeding up.  At the end of the gravel, with .1 to go, he just outkicked me.  He gained a 6-7 second lead here, which was weird, because I was pushing it too. 

      I didn't see my time 'til after, but I found out it was 15:05, which isn't too bad, but I was really hoping to break 15.  I'll get it at state.  Our team took 2nd on guys side and 3rd on girls.  Our guys lost to Bonneville by 47 to 36, which was a bit discouraging, but we still have state.  Jerrell ran a 14:58, so he had a good race.  Now time to focus on state. 

     AM- A little less then 3 with the team.  Easy.  After we did a bunch of stretching and stuff in the wrestling room.

      PM- I went for a little more than 3 to balance it out as a 6 mile day.  Easy.  I noticed that my stride was longer then usual for that pace.  It was as long as it is for a 6 min. mile pace, but I was going slower then a 7 min. mile pace, maybe even in the 8's.  Weird. 

      Fartleck workout?  not really.  We just ran around town, and someone would throw a raquet ball and we would race to it, and the first one to it got to throw it next time.   At first, Coach Storrs threw it on Main Street, and Dylan actually went for it, until Storrs yelled at him to stop. 

    I went to the annual Red Ribbon Run today and watched it.  It was fun to see a lot of the people from XC running in it (and also my little sister who PR'ed). 

     After I watched the race I ran 2 easy miles.  The only thing with these miles was that I wasn't pushing it at all, just running slow, but my stride was longer than it is for easy, but then I found out I averaged a 6:20 pace.