Sock tans

Wasatch and VA loop. I read an article today that I thought was relatable. I realized I haven't been enjoying running. In high school it was often the highlight of my day. Now it's an obligation, and I continue to let myself down. This article said that motivation is what gives you the push you need to work through pain, and is closely tied to enjoyment. If you don't enjoy running, why would you want to make yourself suffer? Honestly, I haven't truly enjoyed running for months. I used to look forward to workouts but I just don't anymore, unless it's a long run at a slower pace. I've felt guilty about this, because I labeled that as lazy. I'm becoming one of the people I despised in high school: those who don't work hard and waste their talents. And I hate it. I want to work hard, improve, and have fun. I'm finding it difficult to do so. The article labeled this as a burnout. Maybe I'm burnt out. Maybe that's my real problem. I kinda thought it was just a lame excuse for not working hard, but maybe it's a real thing. For right now, I guess I'll just look for ways to enjoy running. I won't bother with trying to meet some standard, I just want to be pleased with what I can accomplish.

AM: 2.25 miles, breathing was hard but that's to be expected since it's my first day back and it's also higher elevation

PM: Warmups and form mile, then went for our run. It was 50%, we averaged 7:29. I had a rough time, probably because I haven't run for the past couple of days. I decided to take off a few days to see if my motivation would return, and I think it did help. I also talked to coach yesterday, he thinks it's because I haven't been seeing success lately. He told me to think about how my motivation would be if I were to run a 5:00 mile. I realized that then I would be a lot happier with running and it wouldn't feel like a chore anymore. He also told me to think back to my freshman year of high school, was running much fun then? It wasn't and I almost quit. I'm in the same situation here, but like back then deep down I know I will never quit because deep down I really do love it too much to let it go. So I've just got to endure through the tough times and eventually I will see results. Patience is key, I know my motivation will come back.

I felt much better today! I was surprised actually with our average pace once we finished because I felt like we hadn't pushed as hard as yesterday. But I guess yesterday was rough for everyone so... Anyway, glad to see I've still got it and maybe more than I realize. I am definitely feeling my motivation come back, and am actually getting excited for our first meet. I really hope I can make the traveling team for track! I am starting to believe I actually can! We did Hospital loop today, 7:15 average. I added on 2 more miles at 7:45 pace.

Did main street loop today, 7:45 average.

HR 50

Felt good again today! 8 miles at 7:30 pace.

HR 50

Workout was 20x400s, longest speed workout I have done. We split it up into sets of 5 starting out slower and progressively got faster with each set. I hit:

1) 89, 89, 87, 86, 88

2) 83, 83, 84, 85, 84

3) 82, 82, 81, 80, 81

4) 78, 78, 78, 76, 77

Then cooled down a mile.

HR 50

AM: 4 miles easy PM: Today coach said we could go easy and not to go too fast, which I was really excited about! It was farm run out and back. I felt alright, but I'm sore from yesterday. Though coach said we could go slow we still went 7:31 average, which I was a bit bugged about cause I was thinking we'd be going closer 8:00 pace. But you know it's ok I don't want to complain.

Today we did wmups, form mile, then did a mile warmup and started the 80%. We did 3.5 lps on the track, then went out on the road up to Home Depot where we finished. It i just over miles. I looked back to the last time we did it and it was shorter because we didn't run as long on the track. This time around I hit 21:32, 7:00 pace. It is all uphill and it was really windy today and we were going against the wind, so that made it difficult. Last time I averaged 7:06 and I believe the conditions were good, and I feel like I worked hard today. So I am happy with it. I maybe would have stuck on the front pack if I were to do it again, I was iffy about it this time because I didn't want to go out too fast and crash but I think if I could have kept up with the group I could have gone faster. My first mile was 5:44, then we hit the uphill and it slowed us down. But I'm satisfied with what I did and will just use it as a learning experience for the next time we do it. Afterward whistle hills on the hill by Chevron (the dirt hill ind Home Depot was now a mud hill).

Today was a really busy day and quite honestly I was just out of it. But you know, we all have those days. I had to cover my hours for study hall before tomorrow because we are traveling to the meet, and so I did that before the team meeting, then after the team meeting I wasn't expecting to have to fill out insurance info, so I ran out of time faster than I realized. Part of the probem was that I forgot that we had weights today, so instead of having 1.5 hours to run I had less than a half hour. Got in 3 miles then went to weights.

AM: 4 miles

PM: Pre meet once we got to NAU. About 5 miles total? With 2 x 300s (actually 309m). 54, 53.

First collegiate track meet! Wasn't an awesome meet for me, but coach said to expect slow times. It's at 7000 ft elevation and its the first meet of the season.

AM shakeout mile

Warmup 1 mile, mile race, 1 mile cool down. 1 mile warmup, 3k race, 3.3 mile cool down.

Mile Race: I felt like I didn't go as fast as I could have, I relaxed maybe too much. Kind of felt like I was just running it, never really transitioned to competitive mode. I felt kind of lethargic for both races.

3k: My plan going into it was to find someone to stick to and not let them go. I was surprised when it went out slow. Just tucked behind Kaylee cause she was closest to me, and ran with her for 2-3 laps. It began to feel slow, I felt I could go faster. But told myself to wait, it would get harder. Then Brighton and another girl caught up, Brighton went right in front? Of Kaylee and the other girl kept going. She started to make a gap between us, that's when I said what the heck and surged up to her and tucked behind her. This pace wasn't too bad but was fast enough to make me push. With about 2 laps to go I mentally died because I didn't know how many more laps were left (same thing happened in the mile) and thought we had more than we actually did. Feel off the girl and Brighton caught me, then another girl, tried to go with. Ended up with 11:24. I was again disappointed with the time, but I know my inexperience contributed and I'm maybe still in XC mode. I need to work on mentality, everything else is there.

After the 3k my hip started to hurt, it doesn't feel like muscle pain it feels more like the joint. It warmed up on the cool down though.

Today was on our own, I did dikes and canyon run once we got back from Zion. About 6 miles in my hip started to hurt again.

Warmups, form mile. Then warmed up a mile. Workout was 5x1000s with 90 seconds rest. I got through 3 of them, then my hip started killing. On the 4th I did 500 meters then went straight to the training room. Haley says my hips aren't aligned properly. She reset them and told me to stretch, ice and take ibuprofen.

Had class right before practice, so I couldn't come early to the training room. I went there instead of doing warmups and Haley realigned my hip. Then got out in time to run like 200 meters and then do the stretches. Then did the form mile. Hip was bugging, especially on the turns. It would sometimes be a sharper pain than the ache. It wasn't super intense pain like my knee has been in the past. But I could feel that was favoring it. So Haley told me to get on the stationary bike. I biked for 40 minutes with Koi. Then did some stretches Haley showed me and afterwards she attached me to the STEM machine, felt weird and hurt for the first couple minutes but after that it felt good. Did that for 15 minutes. Hopefully my hip feels better soon.

Went to the training room before practice and Haley reset my hip. She said that if I didn't feel any pain on the warmup I could do the workout. Did the warmups and form mile and it was feeling alright. Felt a little discomfort but not pain. When splitting into groups Coach told me to just go for a run. I was a bit disappointed, I wanted to do the workout (it was a tough one today but idk I just wanted to do it). I won't be doing tomorrow's workout either because Coach said I have to go 2 days without pain before hopping back into workouts. It was probably smart though because I wouldn't want to make things worse by jumping into things too quickly. So I did 6 miles at 7:42 average. Was surprised actually with how much my hip has improved from yesterday.

Hip was feeling great today, I even said to Maddy when going into the training room "it doesn't feel like my hip is out today." Sure enough, Haley said it was in! I was stoked. Unfortunately I still had to go two days without pain before I could do any type of speed, so I was super disappointed when I found out they were doing the 6 minute test today. I had heard about it a while ago and was really looking forward to the day we'd be doing it. But it's okay we're bound to do it again sometime, it just sounded really cool. I did the warmups and form mile, and the warmups and cool downs. It was fun to watch!

Did Cross Hollows, 7:32 average. To give some perspective fastest mile was 7:00 and slowest was 8:09. It's gotta be the wind and hills!

Good day today, Haley set my hip (it was slightly out) then stretches and form mile. Today was an "easy" day, felt pretty relaxed actually but my calves were a little tight. We did main street loop and hospital loop, then added to finish to 10. Averaged 7:32, fastest mile 7:14 slowest 7:44. Then exercises for my hip, rolled out and iced.

Exercises in training room, form mile, warmup 2 miles, workout 6x800s range was 2:45-3:00. Hit 2:54, 2:54, 2:53, 2:57, 3:08, 3:13. Had 90 seconds recovery between each. Last 3 I had fallen off of Angie and Brighton because they sped up. I feel kind of weak right now, time to increase the mileage.

Exercises in the training room to realign my hip, then form mile and we got out on our run. I backed off on the pace today, I felt like I needed it. I didn't pay attention to pace or keeping up with anyone, I literally just went off of what I felt was "easy". Jana ended up staying back with me for the first 5ish miles, then she headed back to campus and I continued. When I was finishing I ran into Angie, she needed a little more so I did another mile with her to get to 12. Ended up averaging 7:58.

Hip was in today! Warmups, form mile then Cross Hollows. We leave for NAU tomorrow! I feel much more prepared for it this time around, so I think I will run a lot better this time :)

Pre meet today, ran from the hotel to the indoor track, then another loop to add more miles. Then warmups and 2 x 300s at goal race pace, first one was too fast at 58 but the second was on pace at 65. Then starts and a mile cool down.

1 mile shakeout in the morning 1 mile warmup with Kaylee then warmups and strides Splits: 60, 66, 66, 68, 68, 72, 76, 78, 78, 74 Mile: 5:52ish, 3k 11:51 Was surprised cause NAU girls got out super slow but I guess I got ansy and went out super fast, then slowed to the right pace. Kaylee and I switched off leading up until that 72, that's where the NAU girls passed us and I died. (There were only four of us in the 3k). Am super discouraged about it. Positives are that my mile was good. I know I am better than I'm running right now.