How I became the best

2.5 miles at soccer.

I wanted to do my workout I by after soccer, but didn't have time. So, I had to do it at 7 when it was super late. 1.25 mile warmup, then a 1200, 1000, 800, and 2x400, all at two mile pace, so 5 minute pace. It was pretty hard and I didn't hit all my times, but it was really windy and rainy and cold, so it's all good. Kicked the last 400 in 68.5. Th recovery was half of he interval length. 1 mile cool down.

10 mile run. I was not prepared for how cold it would be! I started out thinking all was well, afterall it was only 45 or 50 degrees. Then when I ran out into the fields it started getting super windy, and then it snowed! I was in shorts and a t shirt, without any gloves, about 4 miles away from my house, so I just had to fight through it and get back home. 

2.5 at soccer, lots of wall sits.

Finally got to go to track today. 1 mile warmup, then I did 7x400 at 66 to 69. Most were 67. 200 rest between each one. It felt really relaxed and easy, which is a good sign. 800 cool down. 

Probably 4 miles at soccer.

3.5 miles at soccer.

7 mile run later. The first half was faster than the second. Felt really good.

Track workout at like 9 in the dark. My mom was nice enough to come and time me in the cold! Warmed up for a mile then did 4x100 meter strides. The workout was 6x600 at goal 3200 pace for this season. I ran most of them in 1:49 to 1:50. The first one was 1:45 and the last was 1:44. It did not feel that hard, I think I may have been resting for too long. I did a 300 jog between each one. I'm happy with it though! 4 more 100 meter strides and a one mile cool down. 

I was going to do another workout, but I just felt drained of energy. It was probably the fast food I had earlier. I did a mile warm up with 2 strides, then tried to do a few 800s but I stopped 200 into the first one. I just walked home after that.

A little after noon j went and played soccer with some friends. Probably 2 miles. 

3 miles at soccer, including Indian runs four times around the field.

Right after soccer I went and did most of the track workout that the team did today. I warmed up for a lap, then did 2x600, one at 2 mile pace, one at mile pace. Then I did 2x300s at goal mile pace, but they were too slow. I felt pretty sluggish today. Two laps cool down.

2 hours of soccer, probably 3.5 miles.

At 6, about an hour after soccer, I had the 3200 at the maple mountain quad meet. It was a pretty lame race. I warmed up for 1 mile or so, and then went and stood by the start. There were three boys in my race. When we started, the kid from timpview who beat my once or twice last year ran a 67 first lap. I knew I should have stayed back but for some reason I just didn't. It was my plan the whole time to take the first mile super easy, but I was an idiot and tried to go with him. He slowed down and I caught up to him at 600 meters. I passed him at 700, and the 800 was 2:25. I passed the mile in 5 flat. I was in first the entire race, but slowed down really bad. I finished in 10:31.5, way off my goal ot 10:00. I think if I had run a more conservative first lap I could have gotten close to ten. 5 mile cool down when I got home.

2 soccer games today. I played JV and Varsity. We lost varsity 1 to 0, and JV lost 2 to 0. It was pretty tough, but I think it was a great workout! I'd say I probably went 7 miles altogether.

Another 2 preseason games, against Alta. They were an amazing team. I honestly thought they were flawless on their offense, and our defense kept collapsing. Their defense was probably equal to our offense, but we didn't ever score. Both JV and Varsity lost 8 to 0. It was pretty bad, but definately and eye opening experience. Probably 6 miles.

4 miles at soccer practice. I'm not going to actually go running today, just because of how sore I am from this week. I've had some pretty hard workouts this week. Got some good stretching in after soccer.

My coach told me to start doing fartlek workouts every other day to make up for not going to track workouts. So I did my first one today, and it felt great!  I did a 15 minute warmup, then 30 minutes of 2 minute surge at race pace and 2 minute moderate pace recovery. 15 minute cool down and a little stretching. 7.5 miles total.

3.5 miles at soccer. 

3 mile shake out run later. It's kind of hard getting used to running lower mileage, I feel like I'm slacking off. But, I'm just trusting my coach so we'll see how it goes!

Soccer game today, probably 5 miles altogether. I got a pretty good workout. I was center and right forward so I got to do a lot of runs up the field. I actually took every opportunity to make a run as I could so I wouldn't feel bad for not doing my fartlek workout. We lost 2 to 1, but I scored the first goal of my life! It was a pretty fun game. I'm also not feeling so tired and sluggish as normal, so I think lower mileage is helping.

Today I was able to do a track workout with my team. I was not very happy with it though, Nate is starting to get as fast as me and Heston is completely out of my league now. I wish I was able to go to track every day. We did 3 laps warm up and 4 strides. Workout was supposed to be 4x800s, but we didn't hit splits on the first one, so we did and 800 and 4x400. The 800 was supposed to go 71-69, but me and Nate went 68-75. So after that he told us we would just do 400s. They were 69, 70, 68, 64. I outkicked Nate on the last one, but I'm really frustrated on how its going right now. 400 jog between each one. 

4 miles at soccer. 

Soccer game, 4 miles.

5 laps warm up before the mile. I didn't do very well today, lost to Nate in the 1 and 2 mile. When we started the mile I knew I should take it easy at the beginning, so I let a lot of people pass me. I came through the first lap in 69, and 800 in 2:20. I pushed the third lap hard and passed some kids, but Nate passed me that lap too. I don't know what my 1200 split was, but my last lap is when I gave up. Nate got 4:45, I got 4:48. My pr is a little bit faster than that. I cooled down for 5 laps after. 

Warmed up 4 laps with Nate and did some strides. I was determined to beat Nate this time. When we started Nate and I went right to the back and started running 75 pace (we both wanted to go under 10). 400 was 76, 800 was 2:34. We threw in a few surges those next couple of laps to get back on pace, but we passed the mile in 5:08. I struggled for another lap and then started fading off. Nate got probably 50 meters away from me by the end. I let down mentally and only barely beat my pr. I did beat this kid that was trying to beat me in a sprint. Finished in 10:27. 5 lap cool down.

7 miles in my new shoes, they felt great! This run was probably 6:45 to 7:30 pace. Felt pretty good.

4 mile easy run in my new shoes. My arches started hurting a little.

3 miles at soccer.

Did a workout by myself at 2 mile pace. 6 lap warm up, then 10x400s with minimal recovery. Felt pretty easy until the last one when I kicked. 2 lap cool down. 

Soccer game, probably 4 miles.

Finally got to do another workout with the track team! Coach wanted me to lead this workout so I could work on my pace without following somebody. Nate wasn't there, so it was just Heston. Warmed up for 3 laps. We did 4x800s then 2x400s. 800s were 72-75(2:27), 74-73(2:26), 74-72(2:26) 75-71(2:26). I did a little bit of guessing trying to get the pace down. 2x400s at mile pace and faster. They were 67 and 65. It hurt on those 400s, but I was happy with this workout. My coach is excpecting Heston to beat me in the 3200 this Saturday, and that pissed me off, so I think I may have been a little too aggressive trying to beat Heston on the last 400. 

Soccer practice, lots of running, probably 5 miles. 

Soccer game, probably 5 to 6 miles. My hamstring has been tight for the last few days, I'm kind of worried its going to get injured. 

Probably 4 miles at soccer. My hamstring was pretty bad, so I'm going to ice it a lot tonight. I'm going to try to break ten minutes tommorow!

Today was the Copper Hills Invitational. I got a good night of sleep and we left the high school at 7. When we got there I started to warm up but my hamstring started getting really tight, so I stopped. Ran a 3 lap warm up and some strides before the mile. Me and Nate were the only ones who did the mile today. I was seeded 10th, so I started on the outside. The first lap was 70, so pretty close to what I wanted. I guess I slowed down after that, even though it didn't feel like it. Nate passed me on the back stretch and I stayed were I was. That next lap was 74, way too slow. I think my problem in this race was I haven't been used to what it feels like to run that fast, so I just got too comfortable running slow. Finished in 19th place in 4:53. This race was really bad for me, but I think I figured out my problem. Cooled down for 2 laps after. 

I slept for a while before the 3200. Me, Heston, and Nate ran the 3200. We warmed up for 3 laps and stretched a little. We were seeded second third and fourth, so all of us were on the inside. When we started a bunch of kids from the outer lanes sprinted into the lead, but then slowed down dramatically. I started moving up past them after 150 meters. Nate, Heston, and a kid from Alta followed and passed me. I sat just behind Heston, who was following Nate and the Alta kid. I noticed at the 1200 meter mark that Nate and the Alta kid were pulling away, so I surged past Heston and got right behind Nate. He passed the Alta kid just before the mile and started pushing the pace. I followed and let him break the wind for me. We passed the mile in 5:05 I think, and the wind started to pick up right after that. I thought I was going to lose him with 800 to go, but I just focused on his back and nothing else, that seemed to help. With 300 to go, he started to surge and I thought he was going to lose him. Somehow I managed to keep with him until the 100. He kicked and I realized I could win if I really pushed it. So I kicked with 60 to fo and pulled off a tremendous lead considering I only had 60 meters. This was the best kick I have had in a really long time!

When we went home, I went on a 3 mile run.

Pulled my hamstring. It hurt, so I skipped out of most of practice.

Hamstring felt a little better, so I played JV at my game. Iced it a lot afterward.