Running Blog

Full drills (in the snow. It was snowing. That is the least okay thing to happen this semester). Then a 40 minute run with Megan down 12th east. today was the most we've ever talked- I even told her The Story of the Egg in Our Microwave, which is even more interesting and mysterious than it sounds. It felt way good and went by way fast too. Near the end, we realized we weren't going to have a full 40 by the time we got back to the track, so we ran around the practice field a bit. As we approached the gate, Megan started picking up the pace- like, almost freshman race style. I was alarmed because I have never enjoyed the tradition of the freshman race, so I sort of just coasted in and she slowed down to run with me. Then we had 6xstrides and core (7, 8 with pull ups, push ups and dips in between). Today was grand.

It was colder today than any place should ever be unless that place is a freezer full of ice cream. Because it was so cold, Coach had to adjust our workout so we wouldn't pull all our muscles and die. So after a 20 minute "warm up" (read: 20 minute shuffle down 8th East, during which our main goal was to keep our fingers from falling off), Sydney, Megan, and I ended up heading down to the XC course for some fartlek/interval sort of things. When we got to the course, we did 7 light strides in an attempt to loosen up as much as possible (ha). Then we did our intervals around the 500 loop. We were supposed to have the same pace throughout (:19 per 100m) We did 3 laps of 200 on, 100 off, which was fine. Then we bumped it up to 300 on, 200 off, and at that point, my breathing went out of control. I blame it partially on the fact that my lungs had turned into small glaciers and partially on the fact that I still haven't done a whole lot of speed work this season. So Coach Spence had me stop at 200m on those loops. Then they kicked it up to 2x500 and for the first one, Coach had me wait at the 300 m mark and do the last 200 m with them. When we finished that one, he told me I could totally do 300 m with them, so I ran out to the 200 m mark and finished the last 300 with them. It felt good, although it was slightly discouraging that I couldn't do the whole thing. Afterward, Coach told us we needed to get out of the cold, so we ran up to the training room and did our cool down on the bikes. Legs afterward. 

My hamstring sorta hurt today, although it may have been because my muscles were tight. Other than that and the bitterly insufferable cold, it was a good workout.

I know I said yeseterday was cold. It was. But today was so much worse. So cold, in fact, that I refused to leave the apartment until it was time to run. I skipped all my classes (I got an 89% on my math test yesterday though so I feel like it was justified). It was windy and horrible- to the extent that when I lifted my foot, I could feel the wind go through my shoe under my arch. My face couldn't even move. Other than that, I felt okay. My calves were tight but that isn't surprising what with the temperature. At one point, I passed hordes of small children and thought "oh, elementary school just got out." Then I got to the school and realized it was a middle school and my mind was blown. I was NOT that small in middle school, I swear. Kids are shrinking. 

7 min set of core after, then 15 minute ice bath with Janz. 

I actually did 40 minutes on the stationary bike (resistance: 3, ramp: 1. I don't know if that means anything to anyone, but that's what the bike told me so I went with it) up in the mezzanine because it was snowing quite a lot outside. I ended up going just over eight miles bike-wise, so I count that as 4.5 running-wise. 

Today was too cold and slippery to do hills so our workout was on the the bikes. 

Bike Fartlek:

15 minute warm-up, 10x30 sec fartleks (resistance 6) w/ 90 sec recovery (resistance 4), 15 minute cool-down (50 minutes)

Anaerobic workout (2 sets):

20 sec squat thrust, 20 sec high knees, 20 sec split jumps, 20 sec grasshoppers

Single leg squats (x6 each leg)

60 sec plank, 60 sec superman

I don't actually like putting 0 mileage up there so since I made it 7 miles on the bike today, that shall be equivalent to four running miles. Also I cheated on the planks because we were supposed to use the exercise balls but the entire tennis team was up in the mezzanine with me and I didn't really feel like making a complete fool of myself so I just did normal planks. But whatever. I'm actually quite impressed with my own dedication, because what with conference and regionals and all, Coach Spence is hardly here so we have to do a lot of workouts and runs on our own and I haven't missed any. Anyone who knew me in high school would know that is quite the accomplishment. Shoutout to myself for being an inspiration to all. 

Just kidding. Don't look up to me. I'm on a track team in Logan, Utah and I don't even own a running jacket (or any warm clothes, for that matter) so I obviously can't be trusted to make important life decisions.

Speaking of which, I have a long run tomorrow morning, so if you don't hear from me, assume I died of hypothermia and tell the authorities to look for my body up Green Canyon.

Crap. I forgot I'm the only one reading this. My body will never be found.

So we didn't actually run up Green Canyon today because it snowed a whole awful lot last night and neither Spencer nor I felt like running in 4 inches of snow (apparently they don't plow trails. Who knew?). So we ran up 12th east and went on a bit of an adventure run instead. We passed 11 deer and my shoes got very wet and soggy. It was a good run though.