Run Buffs Run!

Today was a long run to get the week rollin'. I am decreasing the mileage this week to rest up. I have only one workout (AT on Tuesday), but besides that I am doing easy miles with some strides mixed in.

Today was really easy to begin my week of rest. I do have a workout tommorrow, and a medium long run on Wednesday, but after that I am home free until Saturday. I did some strides at the end of my run in the grass.

Today was a threshold workout on the Buff Ranch (where I will be racing this weekend). I did 5x1mile repeats, with one minute of rest between intervals. My first interval was fast (5:08) but felt really easy. I toned it down a bit for the next mile (5:18), then ran miles 3-5 all between 5:18 and 5:24. At the end, I was hitting just the right pace and felt pretty good. After I did some strides, I ran the beginning of my cooldown on the last 800 meters of the course. I imagined it was race day, and I was a bit ahead of the CU pack closing in to the finish. I eyed the scene layed out before be, anticipating the crowd waiting at the finish and the feeling of being in the lead. This is where it is going to hurt, but I know I can gut out a strong finishing kick (no matter how bad it hurts, mental strength can always over-ride bodily fatigue in the finishing kick). I imagined holding off all other contenders to finish in the lead, seconds ahead of my nearest pursuer. The race is going to hurt, but I know that I now have the both the physical and mental ability to run a strong race, and besides, the feeling that you pushed through pain is what makes it feel so satisfying when you cross the line.

Today was a medium long run. Some hills were thrown in the mix, so I am not sure about my exact pacing, but I gave a consistent effort (approx. 6:15-20 on a flat course). I felt really good! No more hard stuff this week until my race. I am going to run really short and easy tommorrow and Friday to fully recharge. I will probably do some strides to keep a hint of speed in my easy miles.

Today was one of the easiest runs I have ever done. My coach and I are making sure that I am properly rested for Saturday. I did some strides to keep sharp.

I got up pretty early this morning and got an easy 4.5 miles in. When I began to really feel good and loose, my run was over. This, however, was the purpose of the run; to get a very light and easy effort in to keep me moving, but not to expend too much energy or effort. I am really excited for tommorrow. I know my ability is there, now it is just time to show it. My race plan is ingrained into my head, and I feel very confident that I can follow through with it. All thats left to do is let my legs do the talking. In the words of Bob Kennedy "execute, execute, execute".

YESSSSSS! I ran the time trial in 27:16 today, good enough to make the CU team! I talked to Wetmore and I have to go in Tuesday to fill in some paperwork and get started! I am soooo stoked! I have to go, but I will write more later. Definitely my best running moment thus far in my career!

Alright, finally some time to go over the whole race! I got up really early this morning (3:00am) to eat, then went back to bed and got up around 6:00 am. I was definitely a bit nervous, especially knowing how last year rolled over. I jogged out to the start of the race (it is really close to my appt.) and picked up my bib. At about 7:45 I began to warm up, partially because I was a bit nervous and wanted to get moving, but also because I was a bit cold. I did the usual warm up, consisting of 20 mins easy running, some moving stretches and a few strides. When I put on the racing flats, the game face came on too. I went to the starting line and saw a couple of other red shirt runners (walk on attempts), which made me feel a bit nervous. I had my plan, though, and nothing was going to lead me astray from it. The gun went off and I jumped in the thick of the CU team. The first mile has a monster hill (nicknamed "jawbone hill"-probably because it eats you alive), but in general felt very easy. We came through at about 5:42, and I didn't feel like I was laboring at all. Mile two went a bit faster, mainly due to no big hills. We hit the two mile mark in about 10:45, meaning that mile two was about 5:00-5:05 pace, pretty fast. Mile three was quick once again, and we came through at approx. 16:00 (I wasn't really watching time, more just concentrating on staying with the team). I was able to fully hold on until about 3.5-3.75 miles in, when the team really picked it up. At this point I wasn't hurting too bad, but I was a bit uncomfortable. I also knew that "jawbone hill" was coming up again, and I would have to really push to keep my momentum for the finish. I scaled the hill, and this time it really had some sting to it. When you get to the top, there is a bit more slight incline, but after this, you are home free to the finish. This is the point where the team really rocks. They are amazing at pushing from about 2k out, and they really cranked the pace down today. I was not too far behind, but I knew that I had to run hard to finish close to them. So I forgot about my pain and pushed hard. The end felt really long, but I knew I was close so I just kept on rolling. Before long, I was through the final fence opening on the home stretch to the finish. I kicked hard at the end and came through the finish in 27:16 (which I was later informed was the second fastest ever walk-on time!!! Whattt?). I was definitely glad that the pain was over, and I just sat around for a bit recovering. Well, only one thing left to do, talk to Wetmore. I didn't really want to drag this part out, so I went over to him, told him what I had run and asked him what I should do. He said that he saw me running with the team, and that I looked strong throught the race. He then asked me to come in on Tuesday to fill out paperwork necessary to add me to the roster (team)! Yessss! I waited a year to hear those words. I don't really care how boring or tedious the paperwork may be, just signing it will be amazing! I did a cooldown with the team, and they congratulated me for making it on. That was one of the best feelings, knowing that my work has really paid off. I am just really happy and thankful to be presented with such a great opportunity. Well, my collegiate running career begins. Now the real work starts!

Later I did a couple of miles to shake out the legs. Tommorrow is a long run with the team.