Step by step, mile by mile

I decided I'd been training with no break for far too long, so I put an 8 day hiatus. I thought I'd hate it, but I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of free time. I actually did homework. But I'm glad I took this break, my legs needed it. 6 miles from the park down Aggie to Uintah and back. The pace was 7:02, but only because my last mile was a 6:30. It was hard, my hips and chest hurt. Strides at McCoy after. Shoutout to the LP homies that told me to press on. And of course the Cherokee himself.

It was 9 when I started working on my french II online class, then next thing I know I've done like a trimester of work and it's 2:30. I totally skipped lunch which I regret. 9 miles from the park down main to the rec, down Vernal Ave, up to Air Village, down Aggie back to the car. The first couple miles I dropped into the 5's too many times(I shouldn't have at all) I slowed down at maybe 2.5 miles in. My achilles was tight after that, and it kept irritating me to the point where I stopped for a couple minutes to stretch it out as a precaution. It wasn't feeling better during the stretches so I resolved I'd run back to my house and get a ride to my car if it didn't feel better when I started running again. Suprisingly enough it felt fine when I started running again. I stopped again at 7 miles because it bugged me again, I think it's the worn down peg's, and finished at 9 at 7:19 pace. I'll be dabbing tonight.

Ran a warmup lap and wasn't feeling it in my achilles, so I biked 45 minutes at a higher resistance, got probably a little over 10 miles in. I was on the side of the track as the 4x400 time trials were going on. I'm running my trial on wednesday and it looks like I'm going to have to haul. 58's or bust. S/O to Christian for winning it in 56.01, that's sick #Ateamanchor Achilles feels better than yesterday, and that's without ibuprofen. Tomorrow will be tenative. Lunaracers feel great.

More biking. Lap swimming tonight, 400m trial tomorrow.

For today the advanced choir had to do singing valentines to sweeties for most of the day, but luckily we got off for my favorite class: Advanced Choir! So I had to sing all day and then I went to AP bio, then after that; practice for solo's for choir! I was so tired by the time I went to practice. Mile warmup, then my 400 trial. All the distance guys were tired, but not tired enough to not stay and cheer for me, so that was cool. Clayton was nice enough to pace me. We started and I held back so I could give Clayton the lead for the time being. The pace wasn't hard, but I relaxed a little too much and gave Clayton a maybe 5m lead. Second lap I'm slowly gaining on him, but he beat me. It's hard trying to muster the kick to pass when 90 degree turns are a common thing. I ran a 59.2 which I'm cool with. I was going to do a long cooldown, but I got the ever slight irritation in my achilles that made me cut it short and proceed with some good core. Coaches said they didn't want to screw anyone over by kicking them out since I missed the initial trial, but that they're trying for a 4x800 and I'd be in that. Pretty good, tiring day. I found out afterwards that Christian bought singing valentines to two unnamed gals in our school, addressed "To: xxxxx, from Nathan, for Old Times Sake?" lol what a bag. Also I found out I got accepted to Purdue and Georgia Tech, but both under strange conditions I've never heard of #goodproblems?

4... Stepping it up! Achilles was kind of there throughout but it wasn't a bother. After I went to the rockwall where Trey and Steven were working, and since it wasn't busy we played a game of add-on that involved some pretty technical stuff for like 2 hours which was a rad workout. Achilles doesn't feel too bad now, and I haven't even taken the ibuprofen yet.

Blocked out achilles bothering during the run. Wasn't awful but still annoying, if Simplot weren't around the corner I'd take some time off, but it's drawing close, so I'll just take it easy. 

Mile on the treadmill, then it turned off. 20 minutes on the bike, I went really hard at a good incline and it claimed I went 8 miles. Mile on the elliptical after.

"I'm back and I'm better" - Bryson Tiller

Finally got in a real run, and man it felt great. None of this baby treadmill/biking cross training stuff. Headed up to the Colorado SM's track(it's 60 degrees here), and did a workout of 2x800 and 1x1000 with a 2 minute 400m jog in between each. Wasn't sure how I'd fair after all this easy stuff. Felt quick at first, and I was like "dang it you lost your touch" but then the guy yelled out "69" and I was at first happily surprised, but when I remembered the goal pace was 2:30 per 800 I took back that feeling. Figured I might as well finish with what I have left. Hit the 600 mark at 1:45 and that's when the wind really hit me. Forecasts say 20mph+ and id believe it, it was brutal. My legs were sapped on that last stretch and I finished in 2:22, a bit quick but I'll take it. Next one I hit the 400 at a high 73, perfect. Finished that one in 2:29. The 1000m I had my dad take a snapchat video on me finishing for the story, but he took it at the first 200 so I went fast to look cool for the video and hit like a 33-34 200m. I don't remember the 400 split but I know I hit the 800 at 2:32 and was feeling that lactic acid buildup, man. Gave what I had without going ham, which wasn't much because I finished barely at 3:12. Some long strides in the soccer field after and a cooldown to add to 6. I'm really happy with how it went today, I think I could have dropped some better splits later on if my my first repeat hadn't been quick. I was afraid I'd be struggling to do like 5:30 pace but luckily that wasn't the case. I was pretty tired at the end though so I need to start some solid training. But the main highlight- no Achilles problems!! I felt it during the warmup, but afterwards I felt no pain for the first time in a week! We'll have to see if this lasts. Today got me excited for simplot! Tomorrow we find out if our 8:21 added PR time qualifies us for 4x800 finals. Shout out to mason for saving us with his 1:56 PR.

Core that night 

some easy miles in the morning before my Colorado School of Mines tour. I talked for a while with another runner and found out he has a blog, so shoutout to C_crop #possiblefutureteammate happy annoy squidward day my dudes

A little over 4 back in Utah. It suprisingly got much warmer, I wore my state hoodie and spandex and was dying at the end. Managed a 6:47 pace which was a bit out of the comfort one, I can tell basically all my endurance has dissipated but it's for the better. No achilles pains either! Sub 6 pace the last half mile which was nice. Zante's feel nice. UINTAH MADE THE 4X800!!!! I'm so happy.

Mile warmup at sprint practice. Good core and strengthening. We had to do this plank/pull-up thing and coach Heaton made everyone stop and watch me do them and said I was doing them perf.  Later Heaton asked me what I've been doing lately, because I'm way stronger than before, according to her. Cool beans, and a nice mental boost for Simplot. We did some jog down sprint back stuff after, and I got in some good work, I made sure my form was good. After that I left practice for my run. It might have been my watch buggging out but it said my first mile was 5:53. I slowed down after that to not push too hard. Ended up doing 6 miles at 6:43 avg pace. Felt pretty good, I started striding out the last two miles and got the pace down in the lower 6's.

Pre-meet with strides. Everyone left while I was putting stuff in my car so I ran the opposite way as everyone else, and I went a bit quick. 6:57 avg pace. Oh well, what can you do.

mile warmup on the track, then a mile outside later with Christian.

First half of the race went alright, hit a 5:20 first mile but then I started struggling. I think I should have waited longer to race after my break. I got passed by Christian on lap 8 and after that I just went in to easy cruise mode. Big mistake. Last 150 I was about to lap some guys(for the second time) but they ran side by side and it was difficult to pass, there was barely enough room to squeeze through. Some massive green river kid yelled "hurry up"! At me. I passed and he immediately passed as well. I tried to hold the lead but he cut me off hardcore. Wasn't fun. He let out this monstrous war and cut me off and pushed me again. I had probably been jogging the past 6 laps but I kicked harder here than I ever have in a race. He moved to not let me pass, but I swung into lane 3 and beat him by probably half a second. I dabbed on him after we finished and I genuinely thought he'd beat me up haha. Christian did 10:36, but the rest of Uintah didn't do as hoped. Mason was 3 seconds off 1600 finals, Aaron ran what Austin did, 4:57. 2 mile cooldown with Christian, then I got a picture taken with the HJP members, shoutout to Casey Clinger for joining. After that 2 miles with Aaron, Mason, and Izen, and we flew for that. I can tell my trainings been shoddy at best this month.

Mile warmup on the track s/o to me for solving a rubix cube in 52 seconds 3 miles later with Mason through the ghettos of Pocatello. Mason kept running through alleyways that were probably half a mile long and sort of sketch, I carried a big stick, props to teddy Roosevelt 

Finals today. Warmed up for the 4x800 with my boys Aaron, Mason, and Christian. We did a couple strides outside and I felt pretty good. Aaron's been sick all week and I was now getting the epiphany that I was probs sick too. Mason made all of us wear sweats until we started the race to keep our muscles warm, but I really don't like heat so I felt uncomfortable. Todd gave me some needle spikes so I wore those to race. Strides on the actual track weren't great. My pace was alright but it winded me bad. Officials tell us before the race anyone who gets lapped gets DQ'ed from the race in case people lied on their seed times to get here. Race starts, Christian does what he does and is in last, maybe second to last in the first 400. We thought he'd move up, but he didn't. Still, the pack was semi close together, save a couple. The problem with that is Christian assumed I'd be in the first lane to hand off, and I was pushed back to lane 5! He literally was maybe 5 feet from the hand off one when he saw me. Unfortunately he didn't slope his angle for a clean handoff, he beelined for me and sort of tumbled into me. So starting off with a bad start, and starting at the very beginning of the exchange one. I work to file behind two guys. First two laps felt alright, as crappy as the first 400 of an 800 feels, I hit maybe 61. But with the sickness and non-existent endurance, I couldn't do my kick from last season to pass like the guys. I lost probably 2 seconds on them, maybe a little more. Handoff to Aaron, and I've hit my wall. My legs feel like bricks, so after a bit of shuffling he slows down, and my spikes get entangled in his shoes. It was messy. Aaron takes off and I'm hoping he catches guys and runs a PR, but neither happens. The conditions hit him and he couldn't go. Handoff to Mason at probably 8:38-9, and I know I'm not getting my name on the school record. Mason ran cray though and got us from 8th in our heat to 5th, goot thing too, because if he had ran any of our paces he probably would have been lapped. But Mason has a die hard spirit and came in at 8:42. Aaron was seriously pissed at my for fraying his shoe with my spikes and I honestly couldn't care less. Cooldown with Mason, during which the parade started. We couldn't find anyone but Davis and they brought a huge speaker so we chilled with them instead. Aaron, Mason, and I went to the store after, and Mason had our splits. I dreaded to hear mine. 2:09, 2:13, 2:16, 2:02. I was surprised by that, I thought I would have had to worst split. It made me feel a bit better, I didn't feel all that good, with Christians handoff I probably ran maybe 805 or 810 meters. So I'll accept it. 4x800 didn't get medals, but our 4x400 team did, which riled me up. I wish I had just not taken my break until after simplot so I could have been on it.

Another 2 miles during the 4x200 because I was bored. These 2 bozeman girls followed me the entire way, and I saw Travis Feeny and Garrett Barton from Ogden and waved to them.

6 miles out at Red Fleet. My dad started out a couple minutes before me so I worked way too hard to catch him quickly, I think my pace for most of the first mile was in the 5:30's. That was unwise for a recovery run, with the gnarly hills in these paths I was feeling tired after that. Avg pace 7:11. 

Stomach was hurting in school today so I came home instead. Ate dinner then went to the rec center later. Mile on the treadmill and that wasn't fun so I ran on the like 100m track w/ Jacia and I had to stop a mile after that. The curry chicken I had for dinner and the heat of the rec center was killing me. I decided to go run in the crisp night air instead. Went out 1.5 and came back. Way out I felt just like crap. Avg pace for that half was 7:17. I turned around and felt way better, I was flying towards the end of it. That half was 6:30 pace, so maybe not flying but for me feeling how I felt with the spices of India having their dance of fire in my stomach it felt nice. 

S/O to Cason for finally updating his blog

Made up a new route today. The first four miles were in foreign territory, up 1500 S and past Cy's house, then down this road with all these abandoned houses. After I hit 4 I was on main, so I turned left and ran down until I got to cobblerock, then to the rec center. I talked to Steven and Trey while they worked rock wall, and eventually no one was climbing so we played a good game of add-on. I beat Steven but Trey pulled a snake move and beat me. I felt dead tired, I'm trying to go kenogenic for a week(low carbs, high fat) and I felt wiped out after a couple miles of running. Stomach wasn't the best either, but I managed a 6:49 average pace so I'm happy with it. The track is snow free so I might try some tempo tomorrow.

The name of the game was pain today. Because of the "I'm going to 'keto' myself diet" approaching day three all the carbs in my system are hitting a low, and my body hasn't adjusted for fuel yet. 5 miles at 7:26 pace, which was a real struggle considering I was hurting like none other. Cramps and pains for days, man. Run got a little but not much better by the time I got to the high school. 4x400's at that with no particular pace in mind, just whatever felt okay. Hit 68, 74, 72, 70. Long cooldown after. I think I might end this ketogenic nonsense early because my body is not liking this. I was weak during the run but I was completely drained by the end of it. I was getting major chills and major drowsiness.

8.2 before the choir concert today. Didn't feel amazing for the first 5, but once I hit 1500 W I started to pick it up like we always would at practice. 6:58 avg pace.

3.1 after the concert

Got in a run after school. Stoked that the trimester is over, but worried because I have all A's and one A- in AP history and I'm .21% away from the A and idk if it'll make it. Ran up near where Emily lives, down rehab and up the canal. Really, and I emphasize really had to go to the bathroom during this run. I stopped at a convinience store(way to live up to the name) and after my left quad was tight for a bit. Oh well. Didn't turn the watch on after the stop but before that it said 6:56 pace. Drove to 7-11 and got my free cup of water and drove to the church on Aggie and did some good barefoot strides. I might have gone longer, but the inconvinience + Track clinic tomorrow I figure 7's good enough. Plus I may or may not be hitting up the party scene tonight feat. Kyrie so gotta be fresh for that.

On my life, I swear I never wanted or planned to run this. We had a track clinic today and I was going to leave as soon as it was over, but the guys forced me to run it. We start, and I begin to drink my first soda since freshman year. I hate soda. It burned really badly, and Jordan was gone after mere seconds. He had maybe 100m down when Aaron started, then Mason and I started when he was maybe 50m in. Running felt awful. I was burping everywhere and it was a real mess. I passed Mason at 100 and caught Aaron on the home stretch. Next soda I could barely stomach. Jordan takes off, and he has maybe 75m when I started. I was going real quick, I could barely even feel the devil drink inside me. Caught Jordan same place I caught Aaron the lap before. I probably waited 5 seconds before drinking the next soda, I really didn't want it. I finish this one before Jordan and I take off again. I didn't let the lead get to my head, I was going for broke. Around here I wanted to beat Hell Raiser's and the Lone Peak boy's times, so hopefully they see this. I see on the home stretch I have a little over 100m on Jordan, but I think I lapped everyone else so I knew it was just us. The last soda is lukewarm. Ew. Jordan was there for a few seconds when I left. I caught Mason at 200 to go and he yelled at me to go for it, so I did. Cruised in to a 7:32. Nice. Jordan got 2nd with a 8:40 I think, so it was a good race. We were the only 2 to break 10 I think. As soon as I finished and was declared the winner, it all came spewing. Not feeling great now, but I GOT A SCHOOL RECORD! woo. I averaged probably 25 seconds per can so that's like 85 second laps or something. Daggum allergies are going to be the death of me.

I felt awful today, I'm never drinking RB again. I'm also extremely sore due to the clinic yesterday. In church I had to leave immediately after because my family wanted to socialie and go out for lunch. I was on the fence about running today, but after blowing my nose for the 49763 time of the day I decided to go. I drove up to McCoy and ran on this dirt road I had never ran on before. The way up was terrible. I felt like total garbage and it was hilly and muddy towards the end and I turned around just a bit before 2.5, Avg pace was like 8:30. There were a ton of people out shooting today and I feared for my safety. I picked it up after the muddy part when I started coming down and eventually I saw the glimmer of my truck in the distance, looked at my watch and figured I had 1.5 left. I suddenly started just going really fast, I don't know how I managed it. Last 2 miles were under 13 minutes, last third of a mile was 5:18 pace. I felt really crappy afterwards but after some post stretching my sickness started to lift up, I don't feel great now but better. I dropped the average pace down a minute due to the second half so 7:30 pace. Ran a little when I got home to add up to 5.

AM - Alarm didn't go off at 7:30 so I woke up at like 10:30 instead. Did a 3.5 shakeout @ 6:28 pace. Still extremely sore.

PM - First day of track! Mile warmup, then "The Long Road Home" workout. The basc gist of it is you partner up, run one lap, do 50 clap push ups, three laps, 50 V-ups, five laps, 50 squat jumps, seven laps, 10 sled pushes, five laps, another 50 clap pushups, three laps, 50 burpees, one lap. It's pretty awful; Coaches checked registermyathlete.com and anyone not on that got kicked out. Me Aaron and Christian were on that list, but luckily I called my mom and she registered me last second. I partnered up with Mason and we were off. Baseball soon came in on the field inside the track, and they kept hitting baseballs at us. There was a protective netting, but if you were in the inside lane you were going to get hit. We had a ton of people at practice and Amson and I were lapping them pretty soon, but lapping was difficult with our remorseless less-than-human baseball team inside batting at us. I think I was the main target from the seniors after the notorious "bird" incident. Anyway Mason and I went ham and won it by quite a bit, we were pretty unstoppable. I never even did any girl pushups, which is a rare claim. Good work from the team today, excited to get back at it.