I can do it. I will do it NINE times!

Right after school I ran .5 to warmup a bit before lifting. Did 3x11: LE (7), LC (10), LatP (4*), Bench (55), Squat (80), Abs/back (5). *upped by one on LatP today.

Went with the club tonight, wanted to get at least 6 in and if I was feeling good I wanted to go further. Didn't feel the greatest. We went out on a pretty fun trail, I'd like to go on it sometime when I'm normal, anyway, I went out about 2.75 then I was feeling pretty crappy again, so after we paused, I split from the guys and took the Chuckwalla trail back and around through the neighborhoods to the store. Total of 6.5 miles, avg. 8:45/mi. (Alchemy 267)

I think I'm starting to feel closer to normal! Yay! Pretty sore legs and arms, though. Ran the standby industrial rd. out-and-back run from my house at 7:30pm. Got some major negative split action, and avg. 7:52/mi. (DST 294.4)

Good luck to our Olympic Trials Marathoners tomorrow!

Went out this afternoon on my Washington Fields 8-miler. I remember now why I don't do that run very often - it's basically a big square and it's SO boring! Felt pretty tired out from yesterday, but wanted to still get in an ok run, so I pushed it, then esp. hard on the last two miles - overall 7:51/mi avg. I can tell these shoes are starting to wear down - my foot hurts. (Alchemy 275)

Great run today! I love Monday runs, I always feel so fresh and happy...yay! And I think I've finally gotten over the blood donation for the most part - it's been cool, the last few runs have felt almost the same effort, but they've gotten consistently faster. I'm glad to be getting over it - feeling like passing out in what should be a good run is not fun.

Today we did the Washington Pkwy 8-miler. I think my watch has issues because Holt's got the run as .2 longer than mine did. Probably because it's old and outdated...I'll go with Holt's watch's distance - especially because my run felt a lot more like 7:28/mi pace for 8.2 miles than 7:40/mi pace for 8 miles. Usually the hill up the overpass kills me, but today, I had this mantra of "float down the downhill" as I ran up the hills which really helped. I imagined that the ground was sloping down, not up, that my burning legs were my imagination and leaned forward and went with the 'downhill flow' - kind of odd, but whatever works...? And today I beat Zac for the first time in forever! The only crapfulness about today's run was the ball of the left foot was killing me for the downhills of the run. (DST 303.1)

After I lifted, 3x11: LE (7), LC (10), Bench (55), LatP (4), Squats (85*), Abs/back (7.5*). Upped by 2.5 on each side on Squat and by 2.5 on abs/back. Bench is starting to get easier - next week I think I'll up it. Boy, was I long winded today...

Legs pretty sore from yesterday's lifting and fast run. Went easy 7 with no watch- wanted to run Green Springs, so I did, then ran a mile on the track when I finished. Feeling a bit looser now. Hope I'll be feeling up to a great AT tomorrow!! (Alchemy 282.5)

Eew. Felt so crappy on the run today. Foremaster: went easy the first 2 miles until the top of the ridge, then AT 4 miles back to the HS. I think next time I do that run w/AT in it I'll start a mile earlier - even though I'll have to run up the ridge during the AT, it won't be worse than running up the industrial road mile when I'm already tired. I'm not even sure I should count the last mile of AT as a 'fast mile' since it was SO slow. :`-(  I was aiming at middling to low 6's for the AT part of the run. Ha. They were: 6:31- feeling good and flowing down the top of the ridge; 6:32 - still going down, hammered down the ridge, feeling ok still; 7:00 - ouch, legs getting really tired out and a false sense of fastness came from passing a couple of people on this flat stretch; 7:29 - pouty face! my legs and lungs were burning SO much and I still ran so slow. argh. After I ran big grass loop to cool down and it was so slow, too. Legs still stiff and tired out. Arch hurts. (DST 310.5)

Ditched 6th period and went on the river run, took it easy, legs pretty tired-out and dead feeling. Had to dodge some construction equipment and run through some crazy dirt and mud where the trail used to be... avg. 8:16/mi. (Alchemy 290.5)

Sleep deprivation is killing me already and my legs are stiffer than they've been in a long time from 8-ish hours in a car (to and from the semi-final football game in SLC - it was worth it, we won!) and the sleep that I did mange to get wasn't very restful. Also took a long nap under Holt's desk during 4th period instead of going to our dress rehearsal for tomorrow's concert that I'll be missing. Very groggy and stiff on the run. My left hamstring was really stiff, so I decided to go really easy again, esp. at the start as to not aggravate the issues it had earlier this year. It was still kinda sore throughout the run, but hopefully it'll continue to loosen up. Went out Green Springs then looped through the desert to Middleton and back to the HS. Avg. 8:35/mi. (Alchemy 300)
 

Today was our 12-hour run-a-thon fundraiser for cross country!! Got up way early and finished packing my bags, then went to the track. Ran a total of 7 miles around the track: Ran 2 during our first shift, they were ok - probably around 6:00 and 6:20, though my legs were so stiff and cold and my hamstring/groin was still really tight, warmed up and cooled down on a grass loop for the second mile. During other shifts, I ran a mile with Sandra and a mile with Kaylee - around 7-8/mi each. On our team's second shift I hurried and got in 2 more miles, the first Holt ran with me and helped me run a 5:34, then ran a 6:08 on my second one. Mostly, my legs are just really worn down and it feels like they haven't recovered from Wed's AT run yet. I think it's from lack of sleep. Ouch. Feet were also quite hurty - I think I'll get new shoes sometime soon. (DST 317.5)

Now I'm in Vegas waiting for our delayed flight (instead of 8:14pm, 11:52pm!) to Baltimore for the beginning of my whirlwind tour of Haverford, MIT and Calvin!

Morning run from my sister Mary's house in Baltimore easy 4 miler, 8:20-ish pace. So COLD and raining! (Alchemy 304) Afternoon run with Haverford team, looped on the nature trail twice (5 mi.) first one was slow and easy, then I took off on the second one. (DST 322.5) Lifted after.

I spent most of today at Haverford, meeting coach, professors and team and touring the campus. My thoughts on Haverford: It has the most beautiful campus I've ever seen - 211 acres of arboretum and old classic buildings with their own duck pond and nature trail. The student body is around 1100 and they have a really great group of professors. However, most of the team and students that I met were kinda rude, snooty and loose - I mean morals-wise. I mean, I wasn't expecting them to have values like people here, but I thought that they'd at least have some scruples... but nope. It kinda put me off toward them. We'll see...

Bridge loop once in Boston around Charles River. 4x200m fartleks at the end of each mile 2-5. Felt really good, though legs pretty sore from lifting yesterday. And the stairs hurt a lot. But it was perfect fall weather and a really beautiful run on the river trail. (Alchemy 310.31)

Spent today visiting MIT, stayed the night with a girl on the team, went to the info session, a math class, on a campus tour and met coach Taylor. My thoughts on MIT: So many serious people! Also, in talking to team members and coach, there'd be no way for me to do well at school, run and be in any choirs because of the huge amount of homework that students are assigned. As much as I'd love to go to such an amazing university, if I really 'need' that kind of prestige, I can go somewhere huge for grad school later. The people there were all really intense and nerdy. As much as I'm a nerd, I don't think I'd enjoy that kind of nerdy-ness  24/7 for 4 years. Met asst. coach Mark Coogan and liked him, but didn't really like coach Talyor. Pushy.

Ran out and back from the dorm I stayed in, surprised it wasn't as cold as I thought it would be though it was randomly gusty and I froze then. Avg. 7:23/mi pace, felt really easy and nice! (DST 326.8)

Spent today at Calvin! A student picked my mom and me at the airport and at the end, she dropped us off, it was so nice. Stayed the night with a girl on the team there - it was so fun, we talked and partied until about 2 am, ha!  They gave me an itinerary for the day which was so easy  and I really liked most all of the stuff I did there. I ate meals in their cafeteria (not bad, surprisingly), met a couple professors, got a tour, met some admissions and financial aid persons, and the team and coaches. Everyone was so friendly and I really liked it there. Overall, of the 3 colleges I visited, I think Calvin was a lot better fit for me than the others.

Got a long massage today- it hurt so much! My left leg especially had all sorts of weird twisting and oddness that took forever for her to get out and boy did it hurt while she did! But now the legs feel quite nice with only a bit of soreness.

Ran with the club after, went out-and-back 5, stayed with everybody on the way out, then just me and Hayden turned around at 2.5, so we ran together on the way back. Some fast easy downhills on the way out made for some fun miles then, but on the way back it was harder. Avg. around 7:30/mi w/ a couple sub-7's. (Alchemy 315.34)

After the State Football game (we almost won... 50 to 7! Ha!), we went to Sugarhouse Park and ran around a lot, played frisbee, then kickball and I sprinted back to the car  - I thought I'd never run up that beastly hill again, but whatever. So that was a titch of running...

When we got to the hotel, we went on a little run out on the UVSC camupus - lots of stairs. Eew. Legs feeling kinda bruised in spots from the massage. (DST 329.3)

The timing was really weird at the race and coach got all our times around 20 seconds faster than the 'official' time, so my official time was 20:47 but coach got my time faster than that, which I think was more accurate.

Warmed up running one loop of the course - 1 mile, got ready to run and got up to the line - it was pretty chilly, so I ran with under-armour, headband and gloves.
Overall, I felt SO slow the whole race, cold and not motivated. Of late, I've felt (don't really know how to describe it?) kinda apathetic in some ways, like when I was racing, instead of being focused on competition and racing and winning I had thoughts of inadequacies, excuses and such unhelpful things that really got me down. My legs felt so cold and heavy, they were moving so slow and around halfway into the race my stride got shorter and lots more labored. Mostly felt crappy which was really frustrating. Slow time and freaking 6th place again. 6 really is the devil's number. Angry face.
Jogged around with Ashley and cheered for the boys during their race for a cooldown. (DD spike 34) (DST 331.3)

Crap crap crap. Woo woo woo! Warmed up .5 grass loop and 2 backwards DI loop, then 4x800m grass loop repeats. They were no fun at all.

1- 2:40 - The first half of this one felt good. I think I was too excited and went too fast on this one.

2- 2:48 - Feeling ok, but kinda tired out and finding it hard to push much.

3- 2:52 - What the Fenja?! I suck.... eew.

4- 2:51 -  At least I got better than the previous one? Still uber-crappy and feeling lame.

After I cooled down on a backwards big grass loop, lifted and ran a lap barefoot on the track after to get the legs moving again. (DST 336.8)

There was a turkey trot today after school, so I ran in it. Pretty boring and I didn't race really hard at all since I ran 800's yesterday and am doing AT tomorrow. The only other people in it were Kalli J and Austin Smith, so I'm not sure if it really counts as a race... but what the heck. :) I won $10 to Durangos! Though I thought you were supposed to win a turkey...what is this world coming to?!

After that I ran the bank/mall run slow - 8:16/mi. My legs are tired/sore and my arms are stiff. (DD spike 36.5) (Alchemy 320.3)
 

Legs were feeling pretty sore, but I'm glad I didn't wimp out and go easy. Did the Dogpound AT run: 6:23, 6:12, 6:43.The run was pretty good overall, and it felt better than most runs have of late. I think I could've pushed a little more on the last mile's uphill, but times were ok and for the most part I felt like I was pushing well but not insanely hard. (DST 341.8)

It was colder than FREEZING this morning - 30 degrees! I almost died. My brother and sister-in-law were going to go with me, but they opted out/didn't wake up, so I went by myself. AP 6 miler, went easy and it felt great. 8:01/mi. (Alchemy 326.3)

Went on the GS/Desert/Middleton loop with Marcie this morning. It was so fun to run with a girl and talk and get a good run in. At the start I felt awful, but we went reasonably fast and after 3 miles I felt good for the rest of the run. The last downhill mile we picked it up lots and got in a 6:40/mi pace! Fun run and I'm excited for Marcie and her group to start coming to the club runs on Thursdays! 7:55/mi avg. (Alchemy 335.3)

Ugh. My guts were killing me for the first 3.5 miles so they were slow and painful with none of the planned fartleks. I stopped for a second and almost puked a bit, then got running again and started feeling a little bit better gradually from there on out. Weird. The last 3 miles were quicker and I put in 4x200m fartleks (2 of them were hills) and looped back for Gretchen after each. Watch ran out of batteries, so mostly no info for the run (first 2.5 were at 7:53/mi pace). The run was just the standard trail loop from my house with my sister-in-law. It was fun to have her along, especially to distract me from my heaving guts. Foot is pretty sore. (DST 348.3)

Guts were still not agreeing with me, but I decided my run today would be good, whether my body liked it or not. Ran 2 mile DI loop warmup, then did 3x800m grassloop repeats. Warmup was quicker than usual, but felt good leg-wise (not guts-wise), then repeats were as follows:

1- 2:47 - Tried to not go out as crazy as I did last week on my first one, it felt strong and fast but not exhausting.
2- 2:44 - Remembering to push the middle repeat! And succeeding for the most part...
3- 2:46 - Harder to push, but not bad - went out too crazy the first bit and paid for it on the last half. Disappointing to not be faster than #2, but oh well.

Overall, not bad especially compared to last week's crappy 800's. Lifted a bit, fast, low weights and lots of reps, then ran 1.5 mile Harts to cool down. (DST 353.3)

Taper taper taper! So good! A little stiff from yesterday, but not awful, ran Green Springs 4-miler, ran on the way out w/Holt, then he went on when I turned around. On the way back I did 2 half mile pickups where I got my turnover going faster for a while but wasn't pushing hard. Pleasantly cool out and it was one of those great runs that make me smile. During most of the run. The people in the cars driving by probably though I'd lost it. Tee hee. Finally my legs are feeling almost ready to race! (About time!) Avg. 7:20/mi w/ a couple of low low 7:00's on the way back. (Alchemy 340.2)

Dogpound, went the first mile and a half or so with Ashley, then took off on a quick mile down the dogpound hill. Legs kinda tired, not bad, watch ran out after the first mile (7:40-ish), so no times. (DST 357.3)

Well, I was meaning to go on the Club run tonight, but I left late from my house (curse college essays) and got there around 5:35, so everyone had left before I arrived. Still, it was nice to run somewhere else. I ran an easy out-and-back 3 miler. Nice and brisk out and legs were feeling great. Since I ran shorter than anybody, I finished way before them and I would've just stayed talking to Anna 'til people got back just for fun, but I had to get back home to write my Calvin essay which I need to finish tonight because it is due Dec. 1! So I ran a run from the SGRC, but with no people... I need to keep track of the time better! Avg. 7:18/mi. (Alchemy 343.2)

Drove through loads of rain all afternoon down to California and got to check in at Mt. SAC at around 6pm (CA time). It was really dark and I got my number (56), shirt and info, then got changed and went for a run. I wanted to run on the course, but it was all taped off and the part I could reach was slick mud and bug puddles. So, I ran around in the parking lots and the track a bit just to get a feel for the area. Felt pretty good, legs loose. Muck was all up the back of me afterwards! (DST 359.6)

 Went and ate at a tasty pasta place where they made their own noodles! I'd never had square spaghetti before, but they were sure tasty. Then we stayed the night with my parents college friends who live in Santa Ana. Pretty nervous/excited for the race, but in a good way. Thanks coach for the last pep talk, it was really awesome. :)