Patrick's Blog

Today the cross country team left for Footlocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In St. George, we stopped for an easy out and back run. I was supposed to push pretty hard on this. So I started out behind everyone because I had to get my Garmin out of the bottom of the bus. But I averaged at like a 6:50 pace and there was some hills in it. Then off to CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!!!

Half mile shake out run on the down hills of the Mt. SAC footlocker cross country course.

Today is Footlocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So Dylan and I did a mile warm up while cheering for everyone else running in their races. We tried to stay as flat as we possibly could because we didn't want to tire our legs out before the race. It was a rather boring warm up.

 When all of the East kids lined up we did 2 strides because we did not have that much time until the race starts. We then did the usual last year track drills. Then the announcer came on and said we have 10 more minutes because the girls were still crossing the starting line. So we did a few more strides and stretched.

Then finally the gun went off. The entire junior boys race went out faster than all of us expected, so we picked up the pace to stay with the group. I was supposed to go out really fast and see how long I could hold that pace. I was supposed to hit somewhere between 5-5:20 for the first mile. I went out OK, because going around the first 800 I think they say 2:36 but I might be mistaken. When we did the second lap around, approaching the switchbacks I saw the mile clock, but I looked at my watch and it said 5:11, so I was right on pace. By this point I was really really really tired because that is my new PR in the mile. Going up the switchbacks I saw all of the East boys starting to pass me. I went up the hills really slow because I was just trying to finish the race now. When I saw the top of the hill, I start picking up the hill because I was recovered enough to do an up and over approach. I caught a few people.

Going down the hill I did push the pace a bit knowing that I had poop out hill coming though, I did not push as fast as I wish that I did. Going up the hill I tried going faster because Bill say Dylan was just ahead of me and to catch him on the uphill. So I tried but I gave up mentally and slowed way down half way up the hill. Then when we finally got to the top of it I did another up and over approach and passed a few people. From there you have less than a mile to go so I tried picking up the pace. On the flat parts, I was just like at a tempo pace of 9 minutes. THAT SUCKS!!!!!!!!! Going up the last hill, I just took it way slow because I was just tired of racing and wanted to be done. Then I did another up and over the top of the hill, passing people going down the hill. On the flat part I didn't start kicking it to the finish until I got to the fence, when I should have started at the top of the hill. When I finished I was really disappointed knowing I could have taken the first mile slower, to go up the hills faster and to kick faster. When I was done I realized I was not that tired and I should have kicked it in better!

When I was done racing, me, Vuong, Nate and Chris all went for a mile cooldown while cheering for Natalie in the Seeded Girls Race. CONGRATULATIONS Natalie for getting 20 and making all WEST!!!!! And Congratulations Kelsey for getting 2nd in the seeded girls race and 8th at Footlocker Nationals!!!! 

Today we did the 2 vertical laps as a warm up. We took it way easy becuase it is the first day back from Footlocker. So the distance did step ups, wall sits, Dynamic stretching, weird things on the weight bench, leg lifts, planks, and maybe something else that I can not remember. Oh yeah, we did weighted turning lunges, and weighted running up the stairs. Since at Simplot I am going to get a 4:45 in the mile I am pushing EVERYDAY!!!!!!!! Then we did stretching at the end of the workout.

Today I met Levi at Sugarhouse Park. We did 2 lap warm up under 25 minutes, we did it in 21:50. We then stretched for a tiny bit, then went straight into the workout. It was 12 Light posts of sprinting 2 posts and recovering 1. I tried pushing them but today was the day that I am starting to get sick so I was way behind Levi and I was exhausted after even though it was not even a tough workout. Then we just finished the lap as a cooldown.

2 vertical laps as a warm up, TOTALLY EXHAUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then we did dynamic stretching. The distance group did Foxes and Hounds around the school and Sarah S. and I was it. That is a hard game when you have no energy.. And Tomy totally biffed it and got a nasty scrape on his shin! 

Today for track practice, we had our first winter workout. We met at the oval and started with a 4 lap warm up and 4 laps of speed changes. Then we did another lap for recovery before we started the speed for today. At this point my knees were really hurting and it was hard for me to breath, so I knew that it was going to be a tough workout. We did 2 sets of circuits. So we started with burpees, sprinted 75 meters, jumping jacks, sprinted, speed squats, sprinted, mountain climbers and then sprinted. We did that twice and quickly got a drink and immediately jogged over to the 200. The workout was 10X200 meter J's. My time was to hit 40-42. For the first one I went out with the fast group and was feeling great until we finished and the air or something hit me, my time was 40, then my times went like this; 40, 45, 41, 42, 45, 42, 43, 42, 40. I was pretty consistent but I did slow down on some of them, I need to be at roughly a 5-5:20 mile for the first indoor track meet and not running all of last week did not help. We did 10 laps of that. I could tell that I was really out of shape from not running all last week because I was totally wiped after this workout. Then for cooldown was supposed to be 10 laps to get 8 but I did 20 minutes on the bike with arms because I just could not do the cooldown. I need to get back in shape because sure the workout was not that hard but for me I was exhausted. I gave everything I had but it was noticeable that I am out of shape. Then we stretched that was much needed.

I just have two things to say about my workout today: 1) OUCH 2) I CAN BREATHE!!!!!! So starting, I did a mile warm up around the Highland track. Then my knee was absolutely killing me beyond belief. So I was thinking of stopping but I decided to push through it because I really need to get back into shape. So I did 3 laps of J's and then 3 laps of speed changes. From their my knee was also really really really hurting. Levi said I shoudl stop but I didn't because I needed to get my workout it. Since my knee was hurting worse than before, I only had to do 4 300's at the pace that I was doing my fastest speed changes. I did not care about my time because I new they were going to be really slow because I was only supposed to push it until my knee hurt then go at that speed. I was really trying hard not to limp and I didn't limp but I really wanted to. Then for cooldown I went over to Sugarhouse park and I did a lap around the park for cooldown. I went at a pretty fast pace because the faster I went the better my knee felt. From their, I stretched until my parents got their.

I would be uploading my Garmin Connect Links but since you have to download something from like microsoft or something like that, I am not allowed to download anything so I have not been uploading my Garmin Links but they will be up and running ASAP.

I think I know why my knee has been hurting a ton lately. The new track coach is having us do these weird super powered squats that you jump or go fast up. I dont think I am going to do those anymore to see if that is the problem. Otherwise I dont know what it is.

For the air quality, it was loads better. My chest did not hurt today like it did yesterday, and I could actually breathe in and out without feeling like I was going to puke becuase of the feeling of breathing in muck or just trash. Other than the pain, it was an OK run tonight.

Today for practice we met at the oval again. We did the usual warm up, of 4 laps warm up then 4 laps of speed changes. I didn't do the speed changes because my knee was hurting really badly so while everybody was doing their speed changes, Sarah B. and I were on the bike. Then we went over and did 8 laps of drills going high knees X 2, butt kicks X 2, grape vine, and others that I can not remember. Then we went into the workout. The workout was a 40 minute tempo run. We started out good and I was with the group for the first two laps then I died. I didn't slow down off of pace too terribly bad but in stead of doing a 2 minute lap I did a consistent 2:30 lap. I averaged a sub 10 minute mile Barely!!!!!!!!! I SUCK!!!!! I got a little over 4 miles in. Then we had to go. But overall a horrible workout for me. I really need to get pushing. I need to push myself and not give up when my knee starts hurting or when I get tired.

ITS CHRISTMAS EVE EVE!!!!!!!!!! So since its christmas time, my cousins are in town. So all of the cousins are at the grandmas house cleaning it vigorously. When we took a break, I went on a quick run. I was going at a pretty fast pace since I went 2.5 miles up the canyon that Pipeline trail is on. I was going at a 7:04 pace. My uncle saw me and picked me up because the break was over. Then telling uncle Ted that I need to do at least another mile, he dropped me off and I ran the last cooldown down hill that really helped my pace. I did the workout by Skyline High School and by the Park and Ride.

ITS CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!!!!!! So today since its christmas eve, I went on a really short run just to deliver my neighbor gifts. Since after delivering the gifts, I still needed like .75 of a mile to hit my mileage for the week, I went on a quick out and back run. I went at a 6 minute pace exactly so that was pretty good considering the fact that I only went on a small amount of mileage this week and I have not run a fast mile since about Footlocker or a little after that. After this considerably short run, I was not tired at all, well until I was done wrapping most of my parents presents. Then Abigail and Susannah brought my Christmas Present, THANK YOU!!!!

Today, since it was after Christmas and the last day my cousins are in town, I am very depressed. Since it is the last day my cousins are in town, we went out to my grandmas too see them because I wont see them till around may so I did not go to Track Practice. When I got home I did a 3 mile shake out run at a 7:42 pace, just from my house, over to Sugarhouse park and doing a lap in the park, and coming home. When I got home I stretched and waited for Ben, Sam, and Nadia to come over ;)

Today I got new shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I went over to Sugarhouse Park and did a workout with Levi after I got new chargers for my Laptop so now i'm on my laptop! I did a mile warm up, stretched and started on the J's. I was supposed to do 6 laps but on the last one, I had about 150 meters left and they pulled me out because my knee was hurting. Other than that, my new shoes are great. 

I am still trying to figure out the problem that I am having with my Gamin Link. I need help with it!!!!!!!!!!

First off, when do we have practice!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I went to the oval and I think I saw Tomy leaving so I called him and that did not work because I guess he didn't pay his bill because nothing happened. So me and my parents went inside and called Susannah. She said that she was their but we didn't see her so I decided to go for my own run. I did about 3 laps before she came and then she walked in the door and jumped in. With her, I did 4 more laps of warm up with her. Then it got really hot so I took my hoodie off and we did the speed changes. I did 2 laps of speed changes with her so I was one lap off of 2.5 but since the oval is a bigger track I just said that I did 2.5. The new shoes that I got yesterday fit great though and do not hurt at all. My knee was also feeling great! Later tonight I will go for another run to get my miles in. Hopefully Friday Susannah is going to the oval because I will do her workout with her to get my miles in because I don't want to do another 2 a day. But overall fun weird workout

PM:

For workout tonight, I met up with Larry at Sugarhouse Park. I started with 2 100 meter strides for a warm up then we went over to the track. Larry told me that I am to do 2 laps of speed changes but on the recovery part to go as slow as I want as long as don't loose my form. So of course I try to go pretty fast on the recovery and to really go fast on the straightaways. I find out when I am done that it was timed. Larry would not tell me my times until the end. So on the next one, I go faster because I want to be better than before. Then on the last one I go all out. My times go as followed; 3:49, 3:45, and 3:39 so not knowing my times did help a bit to get faster times overall. Then I did a lap around the park for cooldown. Then waiting for my mom to pick me up I stretched out my legs, did 3 sets of arm swings, and stretched out my arms.

First off, I started once again with Christmas Shopping! I bought my moms Christmas present today. Otherwise for running, I met Larry at Sugarhouse Park for a light speed workout. So I started with 2 laps warm up around the Highland High School track, then I jogged over to the far side to do strides. We started with 4 strides with our arm down, then we vigorously use our arms. Then we did 2 regular strides, then we did 2 strides with hard arms, then we finished with 2 strides of fast legs. The strides with the fast legs are the hardest because they use the most muscles and those really wiped me out. Our strides are 150 meters instead of 100 meters. Then quickly we did a  400. I was supposed to hit a 90 second 400 but I hit 85 seconds. That sort of tired me out, meaning that after that I was breathing hard but I think I could have gone faster. Then my cooldown was a fourth of a mile jogging up the hill at Sugarhouse Park to my car. Overall highly effective short workout.

So, when Bill says we have practice at the oval every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; he just means last Monday and Wednesday. Otherwise, I went out to the oval today with my mom to do a speed workout. I started with 4 laps warm up and 4 laps speed changes. Then I changed into my new shoes and did the workout. My workout was 400, 800, and 400 with equal recovery. My times went 87, 3:03, and 85. On the 800 I went around the 400 at like 100 seconds and I wanted to get all of my times under a 6 minute mile again, so on the last 400 I really picked up the pace, then going around the final turn I started feeling really sick so I of course slowed down and that is what made my time slip. Otherwise I did a good 800. For the last 400 I was feeling sick the entire time, but I just pushed it hard then with like 20 meters left I felt like I was going to puke so I slowed down a few seconds, otherwise that was a good one also. I was not that tired after these I was just feeling sick. I have not done speed like this in a while. Then I did 4 laps cooldown. Finally I stretched while my mom was talking to me about the run. Overall a fun ALONE speed workout.

PM: Tonight, I went on a slow recovery 2 mile run. Overall it was a hard and painful out and back run. I did not like it at all. 

Today for practice, I met up with Larry at Sugarhouse park for another Speed workout this week. So I did a mile warm up then stretched while Larry finished out his lap. The workout was supposed to be 4-8 200s, it depends on how well I do. My times were supposed to be 36 seconds. So I did the first 4 200s with a ton of pain and exhaustion, I could definately feel yesterday. My times went like this 38, 40, 39, and 39 I think was  the fourth one. Then Larry said I could use some more recovery than I was getting because the recovery was just jogging across the field to the next one. Then I did 2 200 meter strides picking up the pace at when he said to pick up the pace. Then Larry changed the workout a bit, so instead of doing 4 more 200s I did 2 more 200s and a 400. The workout actually went 200, 400, 200. My times went like this 36, 78, 36. For these I hit my times exactly and on the 400 I hit the time faster than I expected. On the 400 I was just supposed to be under 80 seconds, I was exhausted going into it so I was not expecting to hit it faster, my time was 78 seconds. Then after I caught my breath I did my last 200 and a cooldown. The cooldown was 3 laps to finish me off at 3 for the day. I still need one more mile but at the moment my legs hurt way too much to go any more.