Step by step, mile by mile

A little over a mile warm up, then a 5 mile run about the town with Mason, Christian, Austin, and Jordan. It was a nice fun run. We were making a lot of jokes and having some good laughs. Had a heated argument between Austin Mason and I about who the best runner of all time is/was. Daniel Komen ftw. However due to massive snow storms we were forced to run through some suburban neighborhoods and the slush that it housed. Felt about the equivalent of running on sand dunes. The others decided to end their "40 minute run" a little less than 4 miles in, but I decided to literally go the extra mile. Went 80% during it, which translated to about 6:10-6:20 pace. Ended up being closer to 35 than 40 but I figured with the speeding up I did it was about the same. There was blood on my shoe when I met the guys back at the indoor, and my other leg was bleeding moderately. It was so cold out I didn't even notice. My arms were red/purple towards the end of the run.

Mile warmup with the team. Aaron finally returned to the team after he and I drifted off for about a month, so it was nice to finally have the ol' gang back together again. Coach had us do different core exercises in pairs, doing a hard lap and easy lap between each exercise. Aaron and I paired up. Zack and Devin were pretty close to us until the box jumps when Devin's ankle killed him, so shoutout to them for going ham, because Aaron and I weren't taking it easy. First hard lap I focused on striding out instead of speed, I learned last week that during these workouts going all out the first lap kills. Aaron was a few meters ahead of me. The next two Aaron and I had to weave between all the people who were jogging because they were behind us in the workout, so I managed to pass Aaron after he led the first 150m. Last one Aaron was leading, but Bianey was jogging ahead so Aaron passed on the outside, but there was enough room for me to pass on the inside as well. I could feel Aaron breathing down my neck, so I went harder than the other laps. We finished together.  I didn't go 100% on the laps, but I did try to get the legs moving quick.  So pumped!!!!!!!!!

4 miles maybe more in St. G. average pace was 6:35 for the first two miles, but then Mason and I took off at the turn around point, going sub 6. Whoops. Didn't feel crazy hard though. Easy run tomorrow. Some running through Vegas later that nignt

Warmup then 3 mile easy run with Christian. hilly. Aaron, Mason, and Austin turned around to scare Kyrie, Jacia, and Reagan, who were running behind us, but Christian and I thought we'd rather just finish the run. Strides in the baseball field after. At dinner the bus almost left premature so Aaron, Austin, Kyrie, Jacia and I had to sprint like half a mile

Ran the course and did some strides with Mason. Went to Santa Monica pier with Aaron Rylie and Jacia after. Super fun day. Jacia and I almost died on a roller coaster and got stuck upside down at the top.

Woke up at 2 and drank some water. Went back to bed and woke up 3 hours to leave for the race. Had a pretty good breakfast, ate it in like 30 seconds because the bus was about to leave. Mason and I waited for like an hour at the restroom. Flash forward to the starting line. I felt really nervous. Mason Aaron and I usually joke around on the starting line but all silence today. Hurricane came to talk to us and we were just awkward. Gun goes off. We were planning on taking the first mile easy, and we did. Like no one was with us. A ton of people fell at the start and I thought Aaron was one of them but apparently he was right on my back. I hit the mile mark at 5:26, Mason a few seconds ahead of me. The hills killed, man. But I flew downhill. I recognized Collin Morrison from the blog a few seconds ahead, and I told myself that I'd get him. I worked and caught a lot of people, but managed to catch him in the last 400. I turned to him and told him to come with me. The track was an uproar. I heard everyone yelling at Collin to catch me. He had a crazy kick that last 100m and got me. I talked to him for a few minutes after and went back to the team. Mason ran an 17:27, Aaron a 17:43. I beat Heston from SP though, and he won preregion so that was sick. And so ends my Uintah XC career. Wasn't quite the season I hoped for but to go from running 25's to now running 16's. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity I've been given. However, the 1600 and 800 have been calling my name.

And so ends five years of being coach hills slave.