GOING THE DISTANCE

Pm -  Today was the day of the great Pine View Dream Mile.  I've been pretty excited for this.  But it didn't turned out as beast as I had imagined.

The weather today was cold and insanely windy. Warmed up in a hoodie and beanie and gloves.  My legs felt great, I was ready to break the race record and possibly PR.  Coach had us run backwards starting at the 100m start line, then the wind wouldn't hit us as bad.  I got out good, through 200 in 32, but then the first lap was 1:08.  The wind was just too powerful to run good times, but I kept pushing.  I led the whole time, had a solid 3rd lap, and started kicking at 300m to go.  I was getting into my all out sprint at 200m left when a profound wind just stopped me and wow I was probly going 7:00 pace.  Battled in for I think 4:42.  It was actually a pretty beast effort, unfortunately the time didn't reflect that.  

Nice cool down, saw the SUU guys.  Shout out to them for making nationals.  5.4 total today. 

Am -  easy miles, 2.6.  It's getting cold.

Pm -  More easy stuff in the afternoon.  Nice, relaxing run to the top of Lion's Head.  Such an epic view of Pine Valley mtn up there.  4.1 miles.

Am -  2.7 easy miles.  Lost my left glove, my hand got cold.

Pm -  Did a chill 400m workout today.  Ran a warm up, then 4*400m from 1:13 down to 1:00.  I felt really great, I'm ready to beast and feast on saturday.  Good ol Mike Finch came ran with us; it was good to see him.  He's my inspiration for the race cause of when he got 10th in 2012.  A quick cool down to 5.3 miles then stretched and went home.

Am -  2.7 easy.

Pm -  Got to Flagstaff around 9:30, on our way down to Nike south west.   Saw a huge dead bull elk on the way over.  Had a great shirtless run around the NAU campus.  It was sure invigorating.  Saw some fine women and ran on their track.  Swell time.  3.7 miles.

Am -  about 5 miles mile in Buffalo Park in Flagstaff.  Mostly ran on dirt/small gravel trail.  Very prime 

Pm -  Ran the NXN southwest course in Cass grande.  Ready to beast and feast.  3 miles

Am -  Got to the course around 9, was just feeling whatever, kinda tired.  Did about 3 miles of warmup then stood around forever at the start line during introductuions.  Man, I probably yawned 8 times in 10 minutes.  Didn't feel super pumped up.

I got out pretty good.  Came through 1 mile in 4:55 which felt crazy fast and tiring, even though that should have been pretty good.  All the little bumps felt like freakin huge hills, it sucked.  I can't remember a time I've felt more tired/crappy in a race.  Each time the course turned to the south I attempted surges of speed and couldnt hold them.  By 2 miles it was getting to my head and it felt like the race would never end.  Turning onto the final stretch, I gave one last mental push and probably passed 5-10 guys.  Pretty dissapointing to have Nike go the way it did.  I had the total belief I could get top 21 and then my body just wasn't there.  Did some cool down, like a mile.

Luckily bad races don't get to me too much.  I'm ready as a desert chiva to get redemption at footlocker.