called to serve: Florida Tallahassee

AM

Arctic Circle. Last night I set my alarm clock but didn't turn it on and my phone's alarm clock was set for PM. So I was lucky and woke up on my own at 6:30 and got out the door. Ran by myself and had a fine run, nothing special but good.

3 miles 23:07

PM

3x Mile reapeats, Industrial loop. My watch still doesn't work but RJ had his and he said it was 3.93 total and the loop was .90.

1- 5:01   Went out fast and did awesome.

2- 5:15   Didn't push myself extra to get a good time.

3- 5:48   Very bad. I was very tired, my body felt heavy, and I just didn't push myself at all. I am ashamed again of the last one. This happens a lot so I have a goal to still go fast on the first ones but try harder to keep the ones after it faster and work on all of the repeats being faster. Basically I need to push myself the whole time and especially dig harder on the middle-last repeats. (kind of a definition of Repeats)

Before we started the last one we were standing on the line and suddenly Goold falls on me on his way to the ground. I was so surprised but then realized that something was wrong and that I should help him. I tried to help him up but got no help from him because he was probably unconscious, but everybody lifted him up and got him into the shade. An off duty EMT guy was driving buy and was there the whole time. He called an ambulance and they came and took Goold away. I think he's ok and it wasn't too serious (just dehydrated) but still scary. 

Foremaster 6 miler. I didn't have a watch so I don't have any times but I know it was fast. I really pushed myself to go fast and stay with those guys infront. Today was a great run.

AM

3 mile Arctic Circle. Very tired this morning. Ran with Coach. I messed around with my watch (batteries) and I thought it would work this morning but it turned off within a minute of running. I turned it back on and it stayed on the rest of the run, I don't know what is wrong with it. I think I will just take it back and get a new one.

PM

4 mile AT Dog pound. Not a great run today. We started the fast part of the run at the bank (like last time) but ended after the hill right before you cross the big street. I started ok but coudn't keep the pace. I think the hard workouts and not enough sleep caught up to me today and my body was just tired. Middle part of the run 18:44.

I ran with my orthodics with the extra part on them today. They take up a lot of room in my shoes and it's not very comfortable. Tomorrow I will take out the bottom thing in the shoes and run with the orthodics to see how they feel then.

I am excited for this weekend!

Easy day today. Varsity ran together, turned around almost at chuck-a-rama. 6x bare foot grass striders. It was windy and hot and I am still kind of tired. Get a good rest tonight and with a fun trip tomorrow I will be ready to race.

Some goals I have for this weekend: Don't be afraid of the pain! Push hard the whole time, even when I don't think I can anymore. Stay positive. Run good on Varsity! Have fun.

Long bus ride up to Murray. Warmed up good, put on my race shoes, had a gu, and went to the starting line. I felt good and not too nervous. There was like 250 people in the Varsity race so it was packed. Restarted the race twice and on the 3rd one had a clean start. It felt like the whole race I was surrounded by people. I pushed myself making my way around people and through the course. Only one big altittude moment where I felt different breathing, between the last mile and last 1/2 mile. Had an ok kick to end the race, I need to concentrate on my form and having shorter strides at the end. I also want to try and push myself to stay with the team (there was only like 30 seconds between our top 5 runners), it will take work to close this gap but something I want to work for. This was an awesome race and really fun. Ended up 6th on the team, happy about this run. 

I did not feel great this morning. Allergies were bad, chest hurt, and I was tired. Warmed up, shoes, gu, starting line. Our team had a bad start and we ended up way in the back at the start of the race. I tried to push myself but I struggled the whole race. I ran mostly with a group and we pushed each other. When someone would pass me I tried to stay with them to get myself going. When I got to the last half loop to the end I heard somone say 19:09, and I thought there is no way I am getting over 20! I kicked it in and made it by 1 second. This was not a great race because I struggled the whole time but I still worked hard to keep myself under control and I am happy about that effort. Cool down with no shoes on (the course is all grass) felt good.

Running Varsity is very fun and I want to keep working hard to earn a spot on Varsity. Friday night we talked about our team and how we push each other. We talked about how people on JV make the Varsity work hard (me) or they are ready to take their spot. Cross Country is such a big team sport and this was a fun weekend with a lot of focus on that.

XC FOREVER