I was having a bad day. I didn't want to run period. Although, the weather cheered me up a bit. It was sooo sunny and it was actually warm! It got me happy for a bit, and made me think that running might actually be pleasant today. WRONG! We met up at the track, because of how wonderful the weather was. I was hoping that it wouldn't be too hard, considering my awful day at school. Okay, it wasn't completely bad, but it's gotten to the point where i wish it was summer and that school didn't exist. But then again, without school there would be no track and cross country.... We did 2 laps warmup and stretching circle, then drills. Lots of freshman and girls! Lets hope they stay. This is when I figured out some of what we were doing: tempo run. great. Distance went down to liberty park. We went short way to the drinking fountain. then we went to the start. Here's what I knew: tempo run on the sidewalk, and I was supposed to be going 6:35-6:45 pace. I didn't know the distance until right at the starting line. 6 miles. :( Well, my thoughts were not very high at all in the beginning, which probably contributed to my crash and hard time running. I think I started too fast. That didn't help me at all. I backed off so that I was with Kiley and Patrick instead of Bill, Tomy, Chris, Natalie, and Emily. I tried to keep up with them. 1st mile mark I missed my time range by 3 seconds, which really made my spirits go way down. I thought to myself "I had a 10 second time range and I still blew it" and stuff like that. Kiley and Patrick were in front of me now, and that didn't make my thoughts any happier. Looking back, I ask myself "Why didn't I try to stay positive?" It has worked for me so many times, and I think it would've helped me a lot. But I was not in too great of a mood. I still tried to push the 2nd mile, but then the wind was blowing and made it hard, and it was on a slight uphill, so it made it worse, and one leg felt like it was being worked really hard and the other one was fine except for a slight pain in my shin. The being worked leg hurt like no other. My hip and calf and slightly under the knee were all hurting, sore, tight, and tired; not a good combination. at about the 2 1/2 or 3 mile mark is when I backed off. I wish I hadn't. It was just a bad day. I really just wish my legs would be okay and not hurt like those wonderful couple of weeks back. I feel now like I am super slow and can't do anything. I am really worried about the next race. I hope that my legs will be back under control by then. What can I do to get them to be not so tight and sore and tired? We then went long way back and up the hill, and up to the track. Made it to 12 1/2 miles. Maybe tomorrow will be good. I hope. It's speed is what I am told. | 