Step by step, mile by mile

4 miles at the high school. It was really windy, but I just went there to measure out to course from yesterday. Turns out it's a little over 1.66 at the turnaround, so 3.33. I was talking to the officials after the race since it was just me and them for a couple minutes, and they said there was like a 17 foot elevation gain. My race report has me at 5:21 pace, and with the uphill I think I deserve a 15:59 3 mile split(before the gain at the end). That was in trainers and mere hours after a very tough day so I'm happy with it. Anyway after those 4 I drove around and found an extremely tough dirt road out in the desert, it was still very windy. First two miles were about 8 pace, then the wind and downhill favored me and I got the pace down to 7:06. I went 5:40 pace on this gradual downhill for about a half mile.

We did some strengthening at practice, including stair push-ups where I slipped and hurt my shin pretty bad. "Distance" run after. Some of the Varsity sprinters ditched the workout and ran with us as well. We drove 40 minutes up to flume trail, which included a death race between Aaron Mason and I which I can claim victorious. We did the run from the bottom of the trail to the top, where I parked. We ran not too quick but the trail was killer. At the halfway point we found a map and it said we were like 1/5 of the way there. We kept going and at some point the sprinters turned around. Aaron and I ran about a mile after looking for them bc we thought they were behind us. We drove back and found them running, they might have ran more than us haha.

3 miles and strengthening when I got back.

I left during third hour to go to the rec, where I ran 2 miles in 11:57, whoops. I lifted after and still made it back to AP bio. My Pegasi have managed to get me through 700+ miles.

Warmup, then everyone went on a 20 minute run, but instead I went on a 35 with 5x1 minute @3200 thrown in there. Hit .20, .20, .22, .22, .20. Not gonna lie, I felt tired. My stomach was really wrecked, which is strange because I had fruit and oatmeal for breakfast, and an apple, a ham sandwich and cheerios for lunch so nothing weird. Maybe all the fiber from fruit. Anyway. The pace felt a little out of the comfort zone for the first 2 then I eased up, last one was uphill. Strides after, then chilled on the turf with Baylee and the long D crew after. Pretty good work for being tired from solid runs and for running alone.

Toughest day I've had in a long time. Warmup, during which everyone but Mason and I stopped a lap early, insisting they'd gone four already. They hadn't. Last 200 Mason and I raced because we're idiots, got probably 29. Workout was 90-60-30 and 4x400. Mason Christian and I decided to go as hard as possible on the 90 seconds, but the 4x400 had a seperate practice so they had to leave. Coach said go and I was off. There was bad wind on the backstretch, which sucked because I had to run against it twice and with it once. Coach got really excited when I hit my 400 in 60. Backstretch again, and my legs were hurting. I was running alone in the wind so I wasn't as motivated, which sucks because I was 15-20m off hitting 600m in 90 seconds! Ugh. The 600 killed me for the rest of the workout, I was about 30m off 400m in 60 seconds and probably 20m off 200m in 30 seconds. I was alone for those too. 400's I ran the first one with the team, it was pace for half, kick the rest. I went quick and hit 33 then finished at 64. Next one I ran alone because everyone else walked a 400 and I wanted less rest for a better workout, so all the other ones were alone. 68, 72, 68. I couldn't kick during that 72, hit two 36's which is goal 3200 pace so pretty good. I did an extra one, 69. Three mile cooldown, I know I went hard today because 8 minute pace was killing my quads. Good day. Ice bath and core tonight. Got a small cherry slurpee and some snap peas because I earned it.

2 in the morning.

Mile warmup because my quads were shot to loosen up, then another half mile w Baylee. Did enough after that to add up to 8 for the day. Half mile barefoot cooldown after.

2.5 with strides, tomorrow's workout might be hellacious so I'm trying to simulate raceday conditions to get a prerace routine down. I was the only high schooler there, but there was a police boot camp sort of thing going on. They had a mile race thing which I stayed to watch. Winning time was a 7 something. Went home and my family was having ice cream to celebrate some things, including me getting the Strata scholarship, but I cant eat it so my mom made me pumpkin bread. 

Not a good day for me. Went to AP Bio and took a practice test, where I was one question off a 5. Ugh. I have no idea why but I drank coffe today when I woke up, and right before my workout. I thought it'd perk me up(I never drink coffee), it didn't. It actually made me really tired. Workout was 4-5x1200. First one was solid. Hit 71, 73, 74 for 3:38. That one was quite good. I started feeling dizzy after that and very lightheaded. I hit 73, 78, and 83 on the next one for 3:54. I was feeling like I was gonna black out so I decided to take a bit longer rest and switch it to 2x1000, 2x800. Hit a 70, 2:24, and faded again and hit a 3:03. Next one just sucked, 3:07. I decided to just do an 800 hard and call the workout good. 400in 66, felt really good and smooth, then suddenly just stopped. Annoying workout, but usually I hit a really good workout and have a mediocre race so I'm gonna say the same goes vice versa. Never drinking coffee again. All of my repeats added up were 3 miles in 14:48 btw. Cooldown barefoot for 7. I kept looking at my watch to see my time, like every 100m, and after I looked I would spend a second trying to calculate my splits which was detrimental.

It was raining pretty horrendously all day today. My plan was to go do 4 mile tempo, hitting the lap starting at 90, and shaving a second off per lap. but the rain was bad, I decided to push anyway, and as I was leaving my mother said "Do you really want to risk getting sick for region?" and I didn't. I stood outside for probably 5 minutes contimplating it, feeling the weather out. So when the question "Would you rather go to state or get a SICK tempo in?" arises, I guess I know my response.

Off day.

In the AP bio test the fire alarm went off three times and we had to leave the testing room. I think I got a 4 which irritates me. I wanted to be the first to score a 5 on that test from my schoo.

I'm running the 1600 and 3200 at region. Workout was some pushups and such while jogging around. after that hamoroni 400. We started in groups and I just drafted off Kyle for a while. Then with 200 to go I came in clutch with a 61-62. Jogged a lap then did 400 finish, first 200 pace. I stuck behind Jordan for the first 100, and did my favorite thing to do and pass Jordan(so I could cut in for the finish) and blew past him on the last 200 and started reeling Aaron in a bit. I hit the 200 at like 36 and finished about 67. Everyone walked a lap but me for the next one. I gave myself 90 sec rest and took off. I came in quick at 34 and couldn't kick, 67. 2 mile cooldown.

Mile warmup, senior speeches. They had me, Mason, Aaron, Natalie, and Beni talk. Mason and Aaron talked about how slow they used to be, and in my speech I called them out on it and said while they were running 18's in XC I was running 23's. My speech was a lot less deep than XC's, people laughed even though I wasn't really trying. Neighborhood and 6x66m strides. Tomorrow's gonna be fun! I've trained hard, just gotta prove it!

I got put in the slow 1600 heat, ranked 1rst, so I just sorta tempo'd it. Start I got pushed back way badly. Some fool ran a 61 first lap lol. I ran a 4:58, splits weren't great, I lost focus. 71, 72, 77, 78. It's all about tomorrow though, just gotta do today twice. If any of my loyal bloggers see this and have advice give it please, ily

Today was quite upsetting. I warmed up well, I knew I could get it if I just pushed like I needed. And that first mile was perfect. It was me, Joey, Christian, Brandon Garcania, Ellis, and Chesnut. I was in fourth for most of the mile. 400 in 73, wasn't awful. 800 in 2:28. Mile in 5:03. I got hit with a terrible heat flash then. I just felt awful. Lost the pack, got passed, 10:53. So this is the end of my high school running career. It really wasn't where I wanted it to be, but I came so far from freshman year. To come from 6 minute miles and 25 minute 5k's to running 16's and 4's is incomprehensible. I choke up still and it's been hours thinking about everything and how it's over. I've met so many friends over these four years and I love them so much. Christian, Mason, Rylie, Kyrie, Austin, and Kedric have made my life 100 times better than before I met them. I've been in this blog for a year and through it I've met some of the greatest people I've ever met. Just know, if you're in my favorites list you mean so much to me and I'm so grateful to have met all of you. If I could give any advice to you guys if give it. But I tried all I could and I never could do well when it mattered so I don't know. There's a chance this is my last post on the blog, so to quote Truman show, 

Sincerely,

Eugene Nathaniel Grindle III (Nathan)

I think I did 5. I ate quite a bit after my choir trip and ran right after so I almost threw up a few times.

Track work 800, 2x400, 4x200. 2:30 rest for the 800, 2:00 for the 400's, jogged back for the 200's. I hit 79 for the first lap of the 8 and sped up and ran a 69. 66, 66, 30, 29, 28, 26. Cooldown for 6

5 miles, trails. It rained a ton and I slipped a lot.

Well I'm going to state. Distance with Mason, Christian, and Austin. Rainy. Last mile was 5-something. I was awarded a 23,500 $ scholarship at the awards banquet tonight.

Mile warmup, then we had the 12(!) of us going to state do a practice medley. My team was two girls on the 200's, me on the 400, Mason on the 800. I got the baton behind the girls A team and caught them pretty quick. I was gaining a lot of ground on the boys A team 400 runner(like, a crazy amount. I probably got 30m closer to him in the first 250), but I didn't have the drive to go ham and catch him. I feel kinda burnt out. I would take my 7-10 days off starting now, but I have a RB mile to win @ Lone Peak next week. After that though, I'm taking some time off. I need it. Stretches and long cooldown by myself.

2 during Special Olympics. I'm glad I got to help. Real workout we did 45 seconds hard. I got pushed back and passed about half of them on the 200. Got probably 333m. I should have gone with Mason. Felt weak mentally. Did another after with Jacia. I tried to pace for 300m. I was maybe half a second quick, which was cool because I was consistent. Didn't feel hard. We had speeches after. Did a RB mile prep workout. Drank a bottle of water, ran a 400m, drank another bottle, ran a 400. Did that in 2:51. Cooldown for 6.5

Did Jackalope full for the first time ever today. I'm pretty sure that the peak of the trail is the highest point in vernal. Good work. My stomach was bothersome and the hills were brutal, but as soon as a hill began to flatten the pace went in the 6's so that was sick. I passed a biker. Heading out to state after my choir concert tonight with Christian and Natalie.

A little jogging around during the mile races. S/O to Zack, Collin, and Connor for slaying.  & Hell Raiser and sage. Ran the cooldown with LP and Timp, and Collin. It was a fun time. More later to get up to 7.5

Did a shakeout with Mason, then walked some with the Ericksens. Later on I did 4 with Asa lol cool guy. We ran up a trail and randomly found Sage running up there too which was neat. Did around 2 with Ike from Dixie lol cool guy. 

Even though I didn't get to run like I wanted to, state was an excellent time. Talked to Hellraiser a few times, he did well today. I talked to chesnut and Wasatch for about an hour, and they asked me to run on their Vegas Ragnar which was sick. Ended the day hanging with Zack and watching 4x400's. He killed it! Big S/O to him. I've been on this blog for 1 year + 5 days and after today I'm grateful for the friends I've made from it. Oh I also talked to Connor Baller for a bit.

Fun run today. Extremely nostalgic. My original warm up was around the softball fields into the track, but the gate was locked. So then I ran around the baseball fields, softball fields, soccer fields, down to Ashley, the courts, everywhere in the vicinity. I was having really vivid flashbacks of high school throughout the years, those of lost friends, hardships, good memories... but mainly I remembered morning practice. There's just something about waking up at 5:30 every morning to go on a run with the team that just fills me with an indescribable feeling. All of the seniors on the blog are talking about how weird it feels and how sad they are about graduating, I haven't felt anything like that which worries me. It'll probs hit in one huge wave and I'll have a mental breakdown. Lol. Anyway probs did at least a three mile warmup, then did a 400 repeat on the grass field we did for XC. Ran a 60, which is a PR there for me, and I had the CR anyway. Then did 2x(300,200,100). First time I ran normally, then drank a bottle before the repeats on the next set. Ran 46, 28, 13, and 46, 27, 12. Cooldown for 8. I ran to the tennis fields, through the auto shops and fields, past the UTC, everywhere. Last run at Uintah as a high schooler.

I'm currently ranked 4th in the mileage board this year out of HS boys, behind Connor, Cason, and Hell Raiser. Once my break ends I'm going for #1

5 with the Apache himself! Good run with my boy Kenny. Had a good talk with him. Did strides after. I played some hardcore ultimate frisbee today so I'm calling it 5 for the day. Ready to race.

Woke up pretty early to drive to LP to run the RB mile at LP today. We got on milesplit's snapchat so that was cool. I didn't warmup because of the drive which was an awful mistake bc my legs felt really tired during the race. Anyway. Race starts, and I'm first to start running. Justin starts right behind me, and Galen and Josh, I think. The wind on the backstretch was killer, and Justin caught me at the 200m mark. Next RB I finish before Justin and I'm off again. Justin catches me at the same place, and Craik's right behind me. Justin and Craik start before me on the next lap, and I stick with Craik. Last soda I feel awful, but I start right with Craik, Justin about 75m ahead. Craik takes off and I start to die. Then I saw Galen catching me and remembered top 3 get medals so I kicked into third. Fun time. I didn't throw up and I felt awful for it. Played a lot of basketball after with LP, Lehi, PG, and Joe. S/O to everyone there, noteably LP for inviting me! And Connor for running a 60 and dropping out lol 

Ball so hard.

I balled a ton today. Trevor and I biked at a crazy high resistance for thirty minutes and lifted after. I was asked to give a graduating speech thing on TV today, that'll be dropping soon. 

I plan on racing three races at the moment this summer. I'm signed up for Ragnar, and will see if I can get my internship off for Freedom and Deseret 10k. The three races are spaced 3 weeks apart, so ample recovery/training time. Man I can't wait to be back to training and racing(it's been two days lol) I'm gonna train hard, but smart. Do some good tempo's.

Well I graduated high school. I'm extremely thankful for everyone that's gotten me here. I was out until 6 AM the following night, and woke up at 3PM on saturday.

This was a strange run. Got in about 6. In the past 36 hours I've been asleep for around 24 of them, yet I was extremely tired on todays run. Like, I was yawning and closing my eyes and almost drowsing off while I was running. Strides when I got back. I've written out a mileage calendar for June and it looks pretty promising. I also ordered a new watch today. It's the Garmin Forerunner 235 and I'm super excited to get it.

AM - Ran a mile to get loose. Did some good core after.

PM - Mile at the park, then met up with Kenny. We were supposed to run at 7:15-ish pace, but Kenny had the only watch. My legs felt tired, but I stuck with Kenny who was doing good today. He had us at 6:21 pace when I split off. Cooled down barefoot and did strides at the park. Good talk with Kenny afterwards.

AM - 6 miles with Kedric. Not sure on average pace but I know it was below 7:20. half mile barefoot cooldown once we got back.

PM - Jogged a bit to warm up, lifted a bit. Mainly hamstrings/calves.