Failure makes me work even harder.

AM- Easy three to AC.  It was sooo awesome to see so many guys out to morning practice!  19!!! NEW RECORD BY FAR!!  That really reflects what a strong team commitment wise we have this season!  Last season it was about 12 was the record...just sayin'.  Anyway,  I felt good.  I stretched well and rolled out my legs...it felt great.

PM- 8x3min I pace w/ 3 min. recovery.  Oh my goodness this workout was a big step for me!  I stuck with Mike almost the whole time (the last one was way back because mike was killing it and I was hurting)!  The first three felt AMAZING I felt really like it was easy to stick with mike and we basically hit a 1000m for these 3 minutes.  the fourth II was a little behind mike, but only a couple o feet.  The fifth one was the slow one because I thought mike was going the right pace (like usual),but after he told me he didn't feel well and not to be afraid to pass him.  The 6th one was awesome...as we came around the softball feild (100-200m into it) I settled for half of a second then just told myself let go and just go for it.  I then started driving my knees more and just was going faster and faster.  I ended up getting  little past the 1000m mark...which felt awesome!  The next one I was just behind mike just less than a second away from the 1000m mark.  The last one I was just dead tired and gave into a couple of excuses....like fatigue so I wasn't my best finish, but it was a WAY big improvement from last week!  To stick with Mike most of the workout felt awesome!  Makes me that much more excited for SUU and the time trial tomorrow!!

AM- 3 easy.  My left calf has been bugging me, so I need to take care of it really well these next couple of days.  Didn't get to bed early enough, so I will fix that too.

PM- Semi-Race thing.  I don't know this race I was just tired from going so hard yesterdays workout and mentally I was tired from that and not enough sleep and not use to going to learn all day!  Anyways, the first 1200m lap (big loop) I just kinda stayed a couple feet behind michael and braiden race with me.  Honestly, before the race and wanted to stick with mike the whole race, but today (mentally) I was just soo tired.  I kinda just stayed in homeostasis (my comfort zone) and refuse to push myself.  It literally felt like I was on a tempo run the whole time.  The second lap I just let michael go really....I just didn't want to push it like I said...everytime I though "let's at least try to catch up!" I'd just stick to the same. old. pace.  The weird thing was at some point on the second lap on the grass I began making excuses to slow down and I started to breath hard....then I just told myself "shut up!  You are not going to feel great while racing....DEAL WITH IT!"  and instantly my breathing was normal...as if I wasn't even racing!  Shows how much faster I could have gone!  I was with braden that lap until we hit the dirt then I was like heck I'm not gonna let it come down to an 800m showdown!  I can gap him now and not have to worry about killing myself (though I should do that anyways)!  So, I just finished at an alright pace (the same I'd been going the whole time) and averaged 5:40 pace (a lot slower than I can go). 

Lesson of the Race:  Don't give yourself excuses, because it will be harder physically...as the good ol' cliche Nike saying goes "just do it."  don't overthink....just do it.  Also, push yourself constantly...it's not about how fast you can run 5k comfortably but how fast you can run 5k without dying.

AM- 3 easy.  I was late this morning because I slept through my alarm, because I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep for like 45 min.  I ran with Ridge 'cause it happened to be that we both were late.  It was a nice, easy run...IN THE RAIN! I love running in the rain!!!

PM- 10 w/ 5x1/2 mi. fartleks.  The first bit of this run I felt alright the first 3 fartleks were real easy.  It was still raining which was awesome!  My legs today were really tired and heavy by the last 2 farteks.  I need to take care of them today.  I worked on keeping my stride quick and bouncy...because when I get tired I lengthen out my stride and it get flat and slower.  So, that was something positive I worked on today.  I then made sure I didn't even let excuses settle in my mind.  This helped my breathing to stay calm (as I explain on my last race report).  I am still really excited for SUU!

AM-3 easy.  Felt pretty good this morning.  I ran with older shoes so it didn't feel like I had much to protect my body (feet and ankles and legs).  But! I stretched after at my house then took a nap...which felt amazing!

PM- 4 w/ striders.  This run felt awesome! The nap I took in the morning gave me tons of energy and my legs felt pretty good!  I also kept my stride at a medium length and kept it quicker which I could tell help prevent a lot of fatigue and corrected other bad form.  Weights and plyos afterwards...not many did them which was disappointing (on the guys side), but I know that it will definitely pay off for me in the future!  Ready for SUU to give my best and really do well!  I think I am finally getting closer to accepting who I am as a runner....I am not Michael, Tyson, Trevor, and ESPECIALLY not Corey (though I love him just the same)!  I am Casey...I race like Casey and I run doing what I do best....being me.

AM- 3 easy.  Felt a little tired, but that much is always expected at 6 a.m.  I have been rolling my IT band more and it seems to be helping stability...which is what it's suppose to do if I'm correct...(?)  I also have been stretching then went home to eat a good sized breakefast.

PM- 4 w/ 4x200m.  We ran out to the double churches and back.  It was really an awesome run!  I felt so good from taking care of myself this morning and I really felt strong!  We are going to rock it at SUU (as a team)! I'm so proud of who we are as a team!  We have come so far for only having 2 varsity returners (not counting colton...cause he's not back to full strength yet)!  I am ready for this to kickstart our season as a great team!  200m felt awesome...all of them I took it easy on the turn, then accelrated on the stretch...felt awesome!

AM- Warmed up 3 miles but felt sore.  This race I started out well...but a little farther back then I should've.  Then the second mile I let the leaders get away because I was in cruise control...again.  I am going to push myself out of this comfort zone and really just go for it next race.  I feared I was going to die off if I started out too fast.  But I did catch Kyle Eagen of Canyon View at the end.  I know I can go harder, but this was an improvement from last race.  I lost to both the Cedar and Canyon View kid last race.  I think I will do a lot better next race, because this was just a good learning experience.  Sometimes I think I expect it now, but as the MLK Jr. saying goes..."

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."  So, I took another step.  I don't need to jump the whole staircase either...so I took another step...and maybe next time I'll take 3 steps ;) haha.

Positives:-I ran consistent

              -I ran a good last mile

              -I didn't fold mentally

Things to fix: Be with the leaders after 1/2 mile in.