Step by step, mile by mile

8 miles up Jackalope, aka the most difficult and sloped trail at McCoy. Took most of the run a bit easier. Well, you can't really make it "easy" when you're running Jackalope, but I wasn't going crazy. After 5 grueling miles up to the peak of the run I got back to what was basically the elevation I started at in one mile, and it was so steep and rocky that I had to go the pace I went uphill as to not die at a disclosed location in the desert. The trail evened out at 6.5 miles, and a snake slithered by my feet which lowkey terrified me. I told myself I'd take the 7th mile hard, for some stupid reason. The trail got less rocky, and I started striding out. Started the 7th mile 48:10 into the run. Hit 6.25 at 49:32. Hit 6.5 right before 51 minutes, then my watch died. I didn't slow down though, and I think that was about a 5:40 something mile. Didn't feel awful. Ran back to the corral on the main road which added to 8, as I judge.

It was supposed to be a 5 mile tempo run, but it didn't quite turn out how I hoped. I just wanted to average a sub 6 pace. The first half mile of the course I did was a gradual uphill, then a slight downhill, then uphill for the second mile, then downhill for the next two miles, then uphill for the last mile. I wasn't feeling too hot, but I told myself I'd run strong. I came out on the first half mile quick, and sped up on the downhill. I misjudged the pace pretty bad. I hit a 5:28 first mile. Crap, that was 30 seconds too fast. The uphill after that killed me. I just felt awful for the majority of the run, I couldn't even start dropping the pace on the downhill, my legs were so dead. At about halfway through the 4th mile my legs felt a bit better. The last mile I started to drop the pace a bit. Finished at the park, 6:12 pace. got a drink, and ran 2 miles back to the high school @ OMP. Splits for the run were 5:28, 6:05, 6:43, 6:27, and 6:26. Need to run my next tempo more conservatively. However, the fifth mile felt pretty sustainable, like I could have kept that for a couple extra miles. Iced back at home, ate dinner, then went and lifted for about an hour because #Gainznation #Gainztrain #nextstopnever and did some core as well. Going to ice again for safe measure.

6.5 easy run. My legs were feeling pretty heavy during it, but I pressed forward. Also there were winds of about 20mph so that was dandy. Splits were 6:13, 7:07, 7:03, 6:29, 6:21, 6:17, and 3:08 for that last half. Avg pace of 6:35. The second and third miles were head-on into the wind, and on the downhill too so bummer. But hey, I finally got to wear my windbreaker in a run. Obviously the pace was a bit quicker than anything I've done prior to this week, but I'm not complaining. It's like I'm a new runner, one that just takes the burn and keeps going, rather than just giving up like I did this season. Anyway a mile cooldown barefoot on the grass with strides after. Mason and I officially signed into the seeded race today, so get ready, Walnut.

8.5 mile run from the high school to the very top of Docks Beach and back. About a 750 ft elevation gain. My stomach felt awful during the run, I wanted to stop, but every time I felt weak someone would cheer for me and drive by, so I'd speed up again. Shoutout to Jacob, Porsha, Matthew, Zack, and McCall for that, I really needed the speed boost. Sped up the most when I saw McCall but ya know it's the thought that counts. Splits were 6:38, 6:57, 7:10, 7:33, 7:01, 6:31, 6:39, 6:21, and 2:50 for the last half mile. Average pace 6:47 which is pretty great for a crappy run. Cooldown afterwards, where band and student council cheered for me, so that was radical

4 mile progression run to test out my new Pegasus 32's. Goal pace was 6:30, 6:15, 6:00, and 5:45. Hit a 6:30, then had to stop at stoplight for about 20 seconds and haul to clock in a "6:12" (but really around 5:57). Then a 6:01, then a 6:04. Average pace 6:10. Not difficult. Cooldown after, then went to the end of the season XC social, then went to the rec center, where I ran two miles right under 14, lifted, and did core.

Headed to the track, where Kenny and Aaron were doing their workouts. None of us planned on meeting, we each did our own thing, but we cheered on each other and it was pretty cool. 400m jog to get warmed up, then 4x200 to practice the first 100 getting out fast, then pacing the latter half. Hit them in 32-35 second range. After that 3xmile at goal 5k pace. After the 200's my legs were really feeling heavy and dead from the lifting yesterday and stuff, so I had to fight through these repeats. Hit a 4:55 first mile, but I think my watch was like 8 or 10 seconds off. Jogged a 400, talked to Kenny for a bit, and took off again. Hit a 5:00, but like I said before about the timing being a bit off. The time was only off for the miles. Last one and I'm feeling dead. I take off, hit a 70 first 400 and stop. Way too quick. I was starting to get woozy, in the miles I kept stumbling and getting in the second lane. Ran an 800 after that in 2:29. Kenny and Aaron left around this time so I did a 3 mile cooldown @ OMP. Added up to 8. My legs really aren't feeling all that great, Hopefully a good night of sleep, an ice bath and some ibuprofen will improve the feeling.

I was going to do a 7 mile easy run because my legs are still pretty tired, but then I hit a 6:12 first mile and decided I might as well make it the same thing as monday, so a tempo run. Splits were 6:12, 5:58, 5:51 (during this point a distracted driver almost collided into me, so I had to stop for about five seconds, then I kept going, only I lost all my momentum). After the third mile my legs were getting heavier but I pressed on. I hit a 6:01, then had to do the last half mile on some speed sappin' grass that made my final mile 6:12. 5 miles in 30:14, over a minute faster than monday. 6:02 avg pace. 2 miles @ OMP back to the high school. Can't wait for my off day tomorrow.