called to serve: Florida Tallahassee

Ran the hospital 7 miler with Ruth today. When I started the run I didn't know what to run (6 or 7) and then I decided to just not worry about it and do 7. I am glad that I did, it was an awesome run. I really loved the long down hill part past all the stores and stuff. Ruth and I were just flying and it wasn't hard at all. Then from Formaster on it was pretty tough. I did my best to keep up with Ruth and she really helped me out. I felt hammered at the end but it was a very awesome run. 50:36

After the run I lifted weights. I did all the same from last week, the ones that I will be focusing on: leg lifts, leg pull downs :) , lat pull downs, squat, bench, and sit ups (didn't do sit ups today). I upped most everything, more weights and did a couple more in each set. Thursday I will switch to 3 sets of 10 and just work with adding weights.

I played basketball this morning and then this run and weights after school and I feel really good. It is one of those times when exercising makes you feel extra good.

Dog Pound run from my house. It was mostly slow and kind of a whatever kind of run, didn't worry about pace. Pretty sore from yesterday. It was still good and I am feeling a little more in shape. 47:40

AT Dog Pound (4 miles). Today was my fastest AT time by about 10 seconds. I ran with Decker and Z and they really helped me. I was breathing (especially) hard but kept a good pace the whole time. Way good run today. 17:06 

Today I went and ran with the STG running club. It was a lot of fun! I really liked running somewhere new and it was fun to run with everybody there. We started at the running store and went out into the desert. The way out was pretty hard because it was rocky, up hill, and sandy. It was different running out there because I am used to running on the roads for most all of my runs. I turned around at 3.5, about 30 minutes. It was kind of hard getting back  but I made it. I ran pretty slow by myself on the way back. I was paying more attention to where I was going and trying not to fall. I was breathing hard on the way out but it was ok on the way back besides feeling a little hammered. Today was good, it was beautiful out there and it was fun to run with the club. 1:01.51 total time.

Today I ran from my house to the school and did the .5 mile grass loop twice and then came back. I hard a hard time breathing again and I don't know why. Maybe it is the cooler weather or something, but I don't know. Another bad thing is that my hips still hurt. I think they are just sore or I need to get adjusted again. But I'm not worrying to much about these 2 things yet. I ran really slow, just relaxing for tomorrow. 27:48

Butch Cassidy 10k. I ran this race last year and it was my first 10k. My time was 46:57, 58th place overall, and 4th in my division. Tomorrow I am going to do way better than that, mostly because I am more experienced. It is kind of a hard course but I will do my best.

Goals: 40 minutes (about 6:30 a mile), top 3 in age group, have fun.

I rode up with the Worltons and told them about the blog so maybe they will join. We got there and got registered and stuff and got ready for the race. I only warmed up a little bit and stretched out. I borrowed Deckers watch (thanks man) to get splits and stuff, I finally mailed my Garmin in to get fixed so I will have that soon. Went to the starting line and off we go.

1- 6:20 Right where I wanted to be. I felt a little sick, like I was going to throw up but that went away in the next mile.

2- 6:27 (12:48) Just getting into the race. Hips hurt a little but got better as I went.

3- 6:50 (19:38) Turn left off the main road, across the bridge, and right for half way. The last mile was off my goal but I was right on for the total. I planned to be at 20 minutes at 3 miles.

4- 7:35 (27:13) This mile is the first big hill (still on pavement). There are a couple more hills but I can't really remember where they are at. Coach Holt told us at XC region this year that we are the best hill team in the state, I kept saying that over and over in my head to get through the hill. 

5- 7:31 (34:45) Somewhere around here you hit the dirt road. I stuck with this one guy for a while and cruised down the road just before the dirt. I think there is two hills at the end of this mile. Really starting to feel it.

6- 7:14 (41:59) I slowed down a lot on the last big hill and had to push myself to get going again. I was really tired but tried to fight through it to the end.

.2 From the last mile marker to the finish. (.39). Some people took a wrong turn and I met Bill and another guy as they got back on the right track. I kicked it in and had a good finish even though I stopped a little short of the finish line (cost a couple seconds).

42:42

I did very good today. I met my goal of top 3 with a 2nd to Hayden Hawks and I was pretty close to my goal time. The last half was really hard and that is where I fell off pace. Today I ran 4 minutes faster than last year and I think I am getting better at 10k's (+ running all together).

Asics 2120 - 281.21