Just do it

I was the only guy on the cross team to show up for morning practice (we can choose between morning and afternoon) so I got to run by myself.  It wasn't too bad. The beginning was hard because it was all uphill and my legs were feeling it.  For the last 3 miles they were downhill so I got to about a 6:40 pace.  Good run :)

Low mileage!  It was our taper speed day.  We went to Sugar House and did one mile repeat, 2 800's and 4 400's.  The distance was off on the course so I am not sure what my splits were but it was a good workout.

Ran by myself again... Decided not to cross train this week with the lower mileage and the fact that conference is on Friday.  I started with an 8 min AP and then was at about 7:20 by the time I finished.  Felt good.

Ran the course with the team.  We had just eaten about 2 hours prior so I pretty much felt like crap and my knees were sore.  Not the best run to have the day before a meet but I didn't want to let that get to me so I didn't think too much on it.

"No negative thoughts cross my mind on race day.  When I look into their eyes, I know I am going to beat them." - Danny Harris...

That was the quote that was bouncing around in my head come race day.  My good friend Allie (Captain of the girl's team) decorated our locker room and put quotes on each locker before the meet.  That was mine.

The night before the race I was doing some visualization while listening to some music.  I was also doing this day of.  I wasn't allowing negative thoughts to come into my head.  I kept saying, "You will do well... You will run fast.  You can do this."  I didn't want to leave my last meet knowing that I could have done better. I talked to my legs a little bit as well.  Made sure they were ready.

Ty and I wanted to go out relaxed so we did.  We were probably close to the very back of the pack at the beginning of the race.  There were 54 runners.  We hit mile 1 at exactly 5:30, which was the exact split I wanted.  By this time, the runners had formed into a nice long line with equal spaces between each other.  It was time to move up.

The race consisted of 5 laps on a golf course.  It ended up being a rather slow course due to the uphill and the headwind.  I did my best to keep my pace strong on the uphill into the headwind but it was tough.  I left Ty after the first mile and kept my pace up.  I just kept passing runners one at a time.  It felt like each time I passed one I had a small surge of energy.  I would pass coach on the side and would want to have moved further up the next time I passed him.  

I saw Jef at about mile 3... My mile 2 split was 11:10 I think and then mile 3 was 17:10 so I had slowed a bit.  I caught up to him and gave him a butt tap.  At that point he said, "I believe in you... I believe in you."  It felt good to hear that.  Things like that are what make the sport of cross country different from any other types of running race.  It is a very individual sport but there's something about being out there as a team knowing you're not alone.  Thanks Jef.  I kept going along moving up the line.

Coming up to mile 4 I saw Andrew and I gained on him.  I gave him a nice butt tap as well and kept up.  As I was coming to the last mile there were 3 guys ahead of me not too far.  I worked to get up to them.  I passed a Great Falls guy a bit before and he was giving me a run for my money.  He passed me back with about 800 meters to go and all I could think was, "No... I will not be passed on my last meet even if I had already passed him."  I kept my pace up and pushed it.  

With about 250 meters left I had a Carroll runner, Lewis Clark, and a Great Falls just ahead of me and I thought to myself... "I have done it... I have beat them!"  There were still 200 meters left :)  The Great Falls guy was about 5 meters ahead of me when we came to the finish line straightaway and I kicked hard.  I passed him and ended up beating him by 5 seconds with 22nd place.  This was another one of the best races I ever had :) 

Going back to the quote I did beat them.  At least in my mind I did.  I don't think we can always look at the literal translation as in beating them  just means getting first place.  If we can walk away knowing we gave 100% then we have beat everyone.  We can keep our heads held high that we did all that we could do.  I will miss this college sport dearly.  Track season is coming up though so it's not over yet! 

This normally isn't a very competitive race.  I did it last year and got 2nd as well.  What's difficult is that the 5k and 10k both start at the same time in the same place.  

I felt good going out and was in about 4th place when I hit the first mile.  During the third mile I moved into 2nd place and with the plan to catch first place.  Unfortunately he was just too fast for me.  The gap wasn't closing at all and I knew if I sped up anymore I would die quick.

Interestingly enough, I hit mile 5 my legs were done.  All season we have been training for the 8k so I guess my legs just decided they wanted to stop then. I had already slowed down but it hit hard on this one.  This is also the stretch where all the 5k walkers are so you have to run around them.  Another downside is that the last 200 meters are on a sidewalk turning into a parking lot so it makes it very difficult to get any speed.  I was happy with my time and won a nice little pumpkin pie... Then I stuffed my face at the Thanksgiving Feast :)

 My splits: 5:43, 5:40, 5:49, 5:48, 5:57, 6:11, 1:15

Unfortunately there were some people who signed up for the 10k and decided they wanted to run the 5k instead.  So when they crossed the finish line at about 35 minutes, it showed up on the results and kinda screwed us over.  If you sign up for a 10k, run the 10k.  If you decide you want to run the 5k instead then don't cross the finish line... Really people? 

 

Thought my legs were going to be super sore today but they actually felt surprisingly good.  Kept a good 7:20 pace for 6.

Ran up to Hogle Zoo... Legs felt a bit heavy but I got through it okay.

Holy crazy morning!  The only place available to run was basically right in the middle of the road.  Some of the sidewalks were shoveled but there was still a small layer that would get caked onto the bottom of your shoe causing issues with your form.  That meant we had to stay in the road as cars sideswiped us and splashed slush onto us. 

 We ran up to Hogle Zoo and back down to Westminster on 17th South.  Good run but our pace was a bit slow due to the conditions. 

Ran at 5:45... Holy cold! My face fell off and hands froze completely.  Not the most enjoyable run but it happens.