Sock tans

Same loop Eleanor and I do in the mornings.

Park city trail again with Bill, Dakota, Clayton and Tomy. I hung on longer than I have the past couple times but still fell back. I felt tight and my calves, oddly, were burning. There's not THAT much uphill so why they were I don't really know... I stopped twice to stretch because I was really tight.

Went to Sugarhouse and decided to do the cemetery run. Felt pretty good.

I did Shriners run because I haven't done that for a while. It ended up being more than the 7.5 I thought it would be but oh well.

VA loop to Guardsman then did Shriners run. Then a lap in the cemetery and back to the school. I hung on until we got to the U campus, by then I felt like they were speeding up. My breathing felt off. I backed off to my "comfort zone" as Bill calls it. I need to find my garmin so that I get a feel for what pace that actually is. Anyway, I wasn't in a good mood today and on the run I wondered how in the world I thought I could break 5 in the mile if I can't even keep up with my teammates and am the last one back every day. As if Bill knew what I was thinking somehow, he and Eleanor ran back along 13th and met me and ran back. He talked to us about our goals and stuff and then how he felt like he could get me to a 5 minute mile, but I'd have to work hard, and told me a lot of other stuff to be doing outside of running. This is why I have the greatest coach in the world. Thanks Bill!

Today we went down to Liberty, got a drink at the fountain, then went over to the new marks by the tennis courts and did 2 400s, recovery to the start, then went to the mile mark and did 2 800s, recovery back to the mile mark, then back to the new marks and did 2 more 400s. I was aiming for 80s on the 400s and 2:50s on the 800s. My times went 76, 76, 2:45, 2:52, 78, 75. The 400s felt really short, but I got that familiar burn in my legs I haven't had for a while. It hurt but felt good. Weird. The first 800 I felt like I was pushing pretty good, the second one I fell off Bill and if I would have stayed with him I would have hit 2:45 again. Wish I would have. The next 400 was hard, and then the last I forced myself to push. I surprised myself, I didn't think I could hit 80s, I thought it would be hard, but no I hit a 75! Now to be able to hit those 4 times in a row...without stopping...

I had to go to math help so i missed most of the warmup and drills. Recovery run today at an easier pace. I decided to stick with Bill. We went to Sugarhouse, did a lap, then down 21st to 9th and did that loop back to the school. In Sugarhouse I lost focus and started thinking about other stuff and accidentally fell off, so I caught back up by the light. Bill and I missed a light along 9th and zig zagged. Bills phone said we were somewhere between 7:40ish and 7:20 pace for the whole run excluding the last mile where we were adding on and such which was way slow. I felt kind of tired and sore from yesterday.

Today after the warmup and drills and stuff we went for our run, which was flagpole to flagpole run. We went to the Westminister flagpole first. When Dakota caught me (he started later) I decided to go with him, which picked up my pace. I fell off right by the school heading to the other flagpole. When we got to Presidents circle we did some type of a Fartlek workout, going hard up one way and down the other, then recover back up then down. It was just below the flagpole. Then I went with Bill and Dakota to add to get to 9.

Today was a good run. I ran with Bill, our first mile was really slow up 900 S. It was an 8:50ish, but then we picked it up a lot. We went to Sugarhouse via 15th and did 2 road laps then went back along 13th. At 6 miles we were at a 7:09 average, our pace got down to the 6:40s. We finished with 7:18 average coming back up 13th. Felt pretty good but the hills still get me.

First track race! I was excited but nervous because I didn't know if I would be able to do well, and time wise I didn't but at least it's the first meet. I warmed up with everyone before the boys 4x800 for 2 miles then a mile of speed changes. Then we went to a subway a half mile away to get some food but i couldnt eat anything because of my race. We went back and I warmed up again with Bill, Tilda, and Emmaline for a mile.

 I am really mad about my mile, I could have done so much better but, like Dakota said about his mile, I didn't want to hurt so I backed off. I was in good position for the first lap but fell back. 5:45 was my time. After my mile I got splits for the boys miles then we all went back to subway because I was starving and needed food and so did others. Then we went to a Jamba Juice a mile and a half away. I felt my sandwich alright, but not to the point that I needed to puke. I have a pretty strong stomach. Then we went back to the track, totaling 3.5 with more uphill than I'd like.

Then I did drills and such and raced the 800, I really didn't want to but Bill wanted me to so I did. I'm glad I did, my time still wasn't too great but I competed and actually fought. My legs were dead by then so I'm happy with it. My time was 2:35. I was 8th. After the 800 we did a mile cool down and went home.

Speed at the oval today after the warmup stuff. We did 8 laps warmup, 4 laps speed changes, then changed shoes. My lower calves were hurting even before we started. We did 5x1000s. The first one felt much easier than I expected, from what I remembered. But then it got harder. The third one was where it went downhill. My calves were killing by the end so I stopped to change shoe unlike everyone else. My times were 3:36, 3:34, 3:42?, 3:52, 3:54. I think by the end I just was struggling mentally to finish the workout, especially on the last one, but with about 200 left Jakob was in front of me so I told myself to catch him. My time would have been a lot slower if I hadn't but now I know what I need to work on.

AM:

4 with Eleanor, same loop as usual

PM:

6 at Steiner at 8 MPH on the treadmills. I missed track because of a family dental appointment.

Today we ran to Sugarhouse along 13th, then we went to Poker hill, did that 5 times, a lap then to the first State hill, 5 times and back via 15th. 10 miles. Wasn't the run I was hoping for, by the end I was going pretty slow. My calves hurt after about 3 of poker hill, but I didn't let it bother me too much, but what did bother me was my hip. It has hurt for a week or two now but never during my run. Today I felt it. It doesn't feel like IT band, I've had trouble with that in the past, but I feel pain right under my bone in the front like a tendon or something (I don't know much about the hip). But also at the joint, it feels off, i dont know how to explain it. I just really don't want to get injured again, please no. 

Easy run today. We went legacy bridge way and got on the trail by the drinking fountain, which was really muddy and icy, and took it to JCC then went by Popperton? and went Shriners run back to East. My hip felt better than yesterday so I think the stuff I did last night helped. My ankle kept twisting on the uneven and icy parts of the trail, which made the inner part of it hurt, so I decided to try fixing my form with my feet, my "duck" feet as Bill calls it, and it actually helped! I didn't cave in at my ankle as much. Maybe I'll start doing step ups at night to see if I can fix my form.

Ran down to Liberty, went to the 400 start, and did speed changes using those marks. Then we went back the same way.

BYU today! We warmed up about a mile then after we were told our heats we kept running, probably got about .75 there.

I had a terrible start, I was on the second row all the way out in lane 4. I tried to cut in to lane 1 but that was a bad idea because that got me all the way in the back. Then I relaxed and tried to get a feel for the pace, it felt really slow so I started to push up. I made my way up to 5th and then with a lap left I couldn't get myself to kick, on the last straight a couple girls caught me. I knocked off 11 seconds from last week though so that was good. I'm actually disappointed with my race, I wanted to get as close to 5:20 as I could, and I feel like I still could have pushed myself harder. At least I have a bit more confidence now, I was scared I am just a lot slower this year. Then again it's indoor, but I'd still like to be in the 5:20s. 

Did a cool down with Eleanor, about 1.25. Warmed up for the 800 for 1.25 with the girls, then went to the bull pen and did 5 million drills and stretches, then they switched me into the fastest heat. I hadn't really prepared for that, there were only six girls in it and I was dead last. On the first half of it I stuck on them but let them go with a lap left, I should have stuck on them. If I would have I might've been on the stands. I'm really mad at myself now. I got 2:32 and 8th overall. 3 seconds faster and I would have had a shirt :(

Cooled down for about 2.5 miles, Then warmed up again maybe a half mile. 

The 2 mile was awful. I hung onto the pack for maybe 3 laps then fell off and I pretty much gave up. I was really tired from everything else and just didn't want to hurt. I got 12:31 and 10th of 18. I remember thinking in the middle if it "why did I do this race?" Oh and about 4 laps into it some lady didn't look on the track for runners and I couldn't move in time so I full on ran into her... I tried to calm myself down when the adrenaline came, lasted a half a lap but whatever. I hope I didn't hurt her. But it was her fault if I did. I did .25 cool down in the parking lot before we left.

We went to the oval today. We did 8 laps warmup, 4 laps speed changes. Then we went backwards to the 800 start. Workout was 6 x 800s, I was supposed to hit 2:50-2:55. My hip started to hurt pretty bad in the second one. My times went 2:52, 3:04? 3:12ish? And 3:31, then I dropped out because I was really discouraged that now my times were above 7 minute pace, and my hip was killing me.  Why is it that I only felt my hip on Saturday warming up for and during the 800 and all of a sudden it kills? I hopped in the hot tub when I got home and rolled out my hip. I got a really bad headache about an hour after I got home so there went my Monday.

Today was just an easy recovery type run. I got barely any sleep last night because of my headache. I was really tired to start out which didn't help at all. We went to the cemetery and did a lap, then 5 hills, a lap, 5 more hills, another lap and finish that one then back to the school where I added on to 8. I started to have an asthma attack when we got to the cemetery, so I had to stop to try to control it. Let me tell you, asthma is not fun. I did 5 hills then had to stop again at the top of the hill to control my breathing, then once more the second time doing the hills. I think I stopped 3 times. My mom thinks I have the flu, so yay. No not really, I hate being sick.

Day three (or four?) of the flu. Good news though, I think I'm finally getting better. After three days of no change I finally woke up feeling slightly better. Maybe it was because my fever's gone... :) I actually ate a full meal for dinner, I sort of lost my appetite and only had a few things to eat here and there. That's a good sign, right? Actually I still didn't have an appetite but knew I needed to eat so I forced it down. But still. I really have felt so exhausted these past couple days that even going up the stairs was a chore. That changed a bit today too, I feel more alive. Maybe I can run tomorrow, but we'll see how I feel. I do have to say, it's getting really boring in here.

I hope everyone did well at the meet today!

Today after reorganizing my room (I moved the furniture around because I wanted a change of scenery) I decided I felt good enough to go for a run. I did the loop Eleanor and I run in the mornings. It actually didn't suck as much as I thought it would. It was probably really slow but I was just happy to go outside and actually run. By mile one my throat was burrning but I didn't care. I believe today was the winter series 5k, which I was looking forward to, but oh well, I hope everyone did well and had fun!

After drills and warmup stuff we went to the oval. 8 laps warmup then 4 laps speed changes. I had a lot of gunk in my throat and chest and the warmup helped get most of it out. Then we changed shoes. We did a mile, then three sets of 3x300s. Mile was at 2 mile pace, and the 300s at 800 pace. Didn't catch my time for the mile because I was too far back, it must've been pretty slow. I just felt like I couldn't go very fast. Then for the 300s I hit the first two in 58-59 area, that's where the group was hitting them, but it felt really fast and I honestly didn't think I could hit all 9 at that pace right now, not after last week. I backed off and counted about 10 seconds behind them. For pretty much all of them that was my pace. Pretty dang slow but at least I was consistent. And I'm not even sure how accurate my 10 seconds of counting in my head is. I need to find my garmin. Dang now I'm tired, I haven't felt this way for a while. But it's a good tired, not the tired I've had from the flu. You know, I've been terrible at doing core, so now I'll let the world know when I do my core. The blog helps me get out the door when I don't want to, maybe it'll help me do my core when I don't want to. I did my core today.

Long recovery run today. We went up 900 S. to foothill, to the zoo, along Wasatch to the flagpole. Then we went to Tanner Park along that trail. I had fallen of right before wasatch at the zoo. When I got to Tanner Park I still wasn't sure where exactly we were supposed to go, so I found my own way, hopefully it was the right way. I started to freak out when I realized I was literally right by the freeway entrance, I had no idea where I was. But then I vaguely remembered doing a run one summer that I think went by there, so I crossed the street (I remember doing that much) but then was lost again. I remembered Bill saying something about "down to 1700" so I went down until I had to turn, then went right until I found 27th. Went down there until I recognized the bridge on 2000. So I went under it. Then I went down until I found 1700 and I knew where to go from there. Down past Sugarhouse to 13th and along there back to the school where I added on what bill said to get to 13. 

It wasn't as awful as I thought it would be. Sure it was long but it was nice. I took it at an easy pace so maybe that's why, I hope I wasn't supposed to be pushing too hard. It was really nice to just relax and run, I remember why I love long runs so much.

almost forgot - I did my core.

After track warmup we ran to Liberty. Went to the drinking fountain then to the mile mark. We did two 2 mile tempos. I calculated 13 minutes based off of my XC PR pace, 6:20 plus 10 seconds doubled equals 13. I hit 12:54-56 and either 13:14 or 13:24 I can't remember. On the first one I hung on to Bill and Eleanor until I think the drinking fountain, we went through the mile at 6:10, then I fell off and slowed down, which means my second mile was a 6:45ish. Freak. Then we ran from the 3 mile to the 1 mile going by the fountain. The second one I fell off even before the mile, I think right in the middle of that long straight, but Bill said they were a second off which I would guess put me at about 6:35ish judging by the gap. Then I tried to pull it together and finish the tempo, but I honestly couldn't get my legs to move fast enough to catch back up, they were so tired. I think it might be from yesterday :) if I ran 6:35ish first mile my second mile was either 6:39 or 6:49. But then again it was just a guess. I wish I had stayed on Bill and Eleanor, but like Bill said, you can't turn back the clock. Cool down to 10. Did my core.

Today my legs felt so dead. Doing the wall sits and wall drives for warmup was a lot harder than it should have been. For our run we did Shriners run, turned around at 4.5 then dropped by the track and did a mile of speed changes. I hung on until we turned around, which is better than I normally do, I normally fall off at the hill right before the drinking fountain. Going back up 11th was really hard for me, my quads and calves are so sore. I tried to keep the gap they had on me to be as small as possible, but it gradually got bigger. When it finally switched to downhill I picked it up. the gap Bill had on me was pretty large but I pushed myself to try to catch up, It still probably wasn't a great pace, but for how I am feeling I'm happy about it. I caught up at the light on guardsman, only because they had to stop, but I was still glad. The mile of speed changes felt pretty dang slow, I was so tired by then. We ran back down the school and added to 10.5. Did my core. 

Recovery run up 9th south to 19th, over to 21st and dropped down to 17th East and went along the trail at sugarhouse, then went down and along 11th to 9th south and went up gilmer back to the parking lot. I didn't see them adding on until they came back in the parking lot, by then I was stiff and my quads hurt like heck. I fell back on 11th. Bills phone I think said we were averaging 7:35? Which isn't too bad for how much my legs hurt at the moment. I am so sore. I did my core.