Sock tans

Up to the zoo, then VA loop and a lap in the cemetery. 7:49 average. I have a painful cough, headache, sore throat, and bad congestion. Chest was burning on the run, not very fun. Hopefully I can get over it soon.

Happy New Year! 2018 will be a good one.

Wasatch loop to Sunnyside, 7:32 average. Felt drained of energy but headache and throat aren’t so bad. Hattie tested positive for strep so I’m hoping I don’t get that on top of what I have.

VA loop to 1300 E, over to Sugarhouse, a lap around, then back to my parents house along 1500 E. 7:47 average. Still don’t feel too great, but there is a little improvement. I’m hoping it’ll be gone by next week. I’m getting pretty pumped for track season! Our first meet is next weekend, if I travel it’ll be my first collegiate meet in two years. Kind of crazy, but this time around will turn out great!

Felt 10x better than I did two days ago. I still have a cough and congestion but I’m on the tail end of being sick, which is awesome. Energy is coming back. Ended up doing Wasatch + VA loop again, then back up to Foothill to add to 10. 7:13 average. I picked it up a lot on the second half, had 4 miles sub 7:00. 

Shriner’s run, 7:34 average. 

Last run in Salt Lake. Met Angie at Sugarhouse today, both of us felt kind of sluggish. We went along 1500 E to 900 S, down to 1300 E and to the Catholic Church, then back along 13th to the cemetery, a lap in there, and back to Sugarhouse. 7:47 average.

On an unrelated note, the Greatest Showman is a must see. Great music, best movie I’ve seen in a long time.

Had a bad sore throat and nausea, I was worried I caught Hattie’s strep. My mom caught it on Sunday too. So I went to the clinic and got tested, luckily I’m negative. Most likely I caught Tess’s cold, hooray! But Paul told me to stay home from practice and get healthy. When I asked for the workout he said, “It’s called don’t do it so you get healthy” hahaha okay then :) instead I took a nap and it was the longest and greatest thing ever. Ended up doing a few easy miles later on Main Street, 7:45 average. New shoes feel great, my others were shot.

Went to practice prepped to run the 6 minute test, then come to find out that coach doesn’t like us running with sore throats? When he told me I couldn’t run the 6 minute test I’ll admit I was pretty sad. I’ve never done it before and was really excited to do it, felt like I would do well and wanted to see where I’m at. Oh well. Positives are that I got to see the girls again and they all killed it in the 6 minute test, as did the guys!

Another day of little mileage.

5 miles on Canyon with a few girls, turned with Ashley and Alison, 7:02 average. Barely made it in time for the team meeting. Weights later.

I’ll be doing Steeplechase this season, I suppose that steeple could be my race. I’m tall (5’8”) so I think that’ll be an advantage, and I ran great times in the 3200 in high school, which I’m pretty sure is a good indicator of a time you can run in the 3k steeple. 

Steeplechase practice in the morning. I’m starting to get excited for it, I’ve only done steeple once and it was pretty fun. I have terrible form that’s for sure, but the drills and stretches we do will help with that.

Regular practice in the afternoon, today was a 60% on Dikes. We were split into two groups, I was in the second at first. First mile was warmup at 7:19 then started the 60. Our group’s range was 6:35-6:50, I think the other group’s range was 6:15-6:45. Or at least that’s the normal range? 60% pace really isn’t too bad, it got kind of tough at the end but that’s mostly because I was having bathroom issues. Feel good about how I ran considering how I felt. Hit the first mile at 6:37, then after a little into the second mile the faster group was right behind us and Coach told Josie, KaSandra and I to flip for a second and run with them. I stuck on the group for another mile-ish, then started to fade while the cramps hit but I still tried to work through it. My splits went: 6:37, 6:30, 7:15 (good uphill in this one), 6:22 (good downhill), 6:36. Worked with Ash at the end which was real nice. Then strides after. Did another mile on the track but had to call it quits after that because my stomach really hated me.

AM: 4 miles easy

PM: 90 second pickups on Cross Hollows. 6 miles total, watch died so I didn't get the pace. I was exhausted though, I don't think I've eaten enough today. Hip was tight, rolled out and stretched.

10 easy on Dikes + Canyon + Main Street. 7:39 average. 

HR 48

Canyon + Dikes, 7:26 average. Legs were tired.

What a day. 

AM: Steeple practice then 2 miles easy

PM: Probably the hardest workout I’ve ever done, not gonna lie. Definitely the hardest since returning from my mission. I was already tired because I wasn’t smart and stayed up late last night, plus my legs were still dead from I don’t know what. But I went into the workout with a positive attitude and focused on one thing at a time. It was really tough and I gave up mentally at one point, then just decided to push through it and get my butt into gear, no excuses. Reminded me that mentality is everything, I finished strong and I’m happy with that.

Warmups then a mile warmup and strides, then started the workout. Started with a 3k, Coach put me in the second group and our goal was 12:00. I hit 11:43 (6:03 mile split), I really struggled pacing because I was on my own. Splits were all over the place. Next was 6x400s with 90 seconds active recovery. Then 5x400s with 2:00 recovery. Then 3x400s with a lap recovery. I hit

1) 87, 86, 84, 84, 85, 86 (goal pace 88)

2) 91, 90, 85, 84, 86 (goal pace 84)

3) 81, 81, 82 (goal pace 78 or 79)

I know the paces weren’t that quick, but with such a long workout it definitely got tough at the end.

I’m satisfied with it, definitely didn’t do what we were supposed to but I worked hard and that’s what matters. I’m happy that I switched gears and gritted it out instead of letting the 6 more 400s (I actually thought we had 9 or 10 more at that point lol, don’t know what I was thinking) overwhelm me into running 90s for the rest of the workout and/or dropping out. That’s a win in my book.

1 mile cool down. Ice bath after. 

AM: 2 miles easy

PM: 6 miles on Canyon, 7:23 average. Legs are sore, calves and quads especially.

Weights later

AM: Steeple practice

PM: Legs are still sore but there’s improvement! Pre-meet today. 2x400s, strides and starts. Hit 78 on both of them. Cool down to 6. 

AM: 2 miles easy

PM: Race day! First time racing for SUU in 2 years. I’ve missed track meets but wow I’ve forgotten how to race lol. Had a terrible start (forgot how fast races go out), had a good first two laps then had an asthma attack so not the greatest day. Thankfully Sierra had an inhaler, my asthma’s so sporadic that I didn’t even think to bring mine (the last serious I-really-can’t-breathe attack I’ve had was in high school). It was most likely the combination of the high elevation, dry air and first race in so long. Mostly I just feel bad about letting Coach down but he was pretty positive and didn’t seem too worried about it. Altitude conversion would put my time down to about 5:47ish so ehhh. Still not good but whatever. I did what I could.

Later did the 4x400, felt a whole lot better. Ended up PR’ing for the 400 with a 66, hahaha don’t mind my distance slowness. But in all reality I actually was pretty happy with that. 

Difficult day. Depression hit hard this weekend, today was toughest. But, all in all, everything will be fine. Just need to work on mental toughness.

Goals:

Lose 8 more pounds healthily (goal weight: 127-130 pounds), which means: 1800-1900 daily caloric intake

Daily core exercises

Daily steeple stretches

Give best effort at practice every day

Feel better today, I’m getting my drive back. Just a small hiccup, ready to refocus and work hard.

AM: Steeple practice

PM: 50% on Cross Hollows + 15x100m strides at 1500 pace after. Averaged 7:03 including strides.

I have another chance to race this weekend, I thought for sure I’d just be training for a month until the next NAU meet. But I’m excited to try again and hopefully this time I can get a real feel for where I’m at fitness-wise!

Workout was 5x500s, today was rough. Legs were really heavy and I just couldn’t get them to move that quick. My times looked eerily close to the graph of fatigue of Type II muscle fibers, with that perspective I guess that would make sense though, right??  lol. No I know I should’ve been more consistent but what can you do. My legs nearly gave out once or twice, they’re a little more tired than I originally thought. I did my best though and that’s what counts.

Weights later.

I do have to say, being on a collegiate team is so amazing. It’s harder than anything I’ve ever done due to the time commitment and intensity of workouts, but I think I really lucked out. I love my teammates and coaches, the team atmosphere this year is stellar. So cool to have 20+ other girls and 30+ guys on your team with the same drive to improve, with occasional friendly competition in workouts but an overall sense of unity and positivity. Plus I get to continue to do what I love every day with some of the best people.

AM: Steeple practice

PM: 50% today, took advantage of it and went slower. Felt like my legs needed it. Also was pretty windy today, the majority of the group wanted to do hospital loop but Bino, Danielle and I were like... nah. Coming back would literally be the worst, uphill and against the strong winds. So, Canyon instead, the winds coming from the side. Haha but nope they turned so the last bit was against the wind anyway. I added on Main Street and on the track. 8 miles, 7:32 average.

Pre-meet! Warmup, 2 mile loop then strides, 400s and starts. Goal for the 400s was 81-82, hit 77, 80 lol. Just a little fast. Legs feel a little better than yesterday. Started feeling a little hip pain yesterday, but it wasn’t bad. Today after the second 400 it became kind of intense, decided to talk to Nate before going on cool down. Trainers couldn’t figure out what it was specifically but it’s nothing major, just painful. Might be tight piriformis. Ended up calling it after that, better to go easy on it for now. They still said I could race tomorrow so definitely still planning on it! I’m excited :)

AM: 2 miles easy. Hip pain is gone, strange, it’s migrated to my low back. But it’s more of an ache now, much less intense. 

PM: Did about 1.5 warmup with Ashley for the mile, then drills and strides. This time racing I had to mentally tell myself to get out fast because last time was real bad haha. That was good because my heat flew at the start, was still in the back and hit 76 first 400. Then I died but it’s whatever. At first I was really upset that I got yet another slow time, I think I’m a bit too hard on myself sometimes. I want to be back to breaking 5:20 every race, but my body’s just not ready for that yet. I haven’t broken 5:20 in three years, it’ll take some work. I improved 12 seconds from last week though. 5:44 converts to 5:36ish.

Did about .5 cool down with Ashley, then decided to try to sign up for the 3k just because. I was surprised that they let me, but I thought it could be fun. Warmed up another mile. Didn’t have any expectations going into it. Stuck on Ashley for the first lap or two, then settled into a comfortable pace (she was shooting for 10:30 and I knew I couldn’t hold that haha). Ended with 11:42, so not great but I was tired. It converts to 11:25. Good for a second race and good to race the 3k for the first time this season. 

1.6 cool down with Ashley, Bino, and Jacob Francis. 

My calves are incredibly sore from Saturday (3 miles in spikes will do that to you - especially if you normally don’t wear spikes). My legs are still dead tired from last week too, but we didn’t do much last week so? Kind of feel like I’m running myself into the ground if I’m being honest. This week is a week of effort soooo I’m just gonna die. I might talk to coach and ask for a day of recovery tomorrow if I still feel like this.

Today’s workout was 2x1000 with 1 minute rest after both, 2x800 with 90 seconds rest, 2x500s with 2:00 rest, 2x200s with 3 minutes rest. Pace increases as the intervals get shorter, 200s all out. Goal for the 1000s were 3:30-3:45. I hit 3:32, 3:45. Goal for 800s was 2:50-3:00, hit 3:23. Then coach told me to cool down. I’m kind of discouraged but at the same time I’m so dead tired and know I wouldn’t have been able to get the quality out of the workout like I needed if I kept going.

Weights later, today the workout increased.

AM: Steeple practice, did continuous jumps today for 5 minutes and it was actually pretty tiring. Think I will count that plus drills and other jumps as a mile.

PM: 50% run today, hallelujah. I definitely needed it. 8 mile dikes, 7:40 average. 

The workout today: 3x500s and an 800. Hit 94, 1:40, 1:46 and 3:25 (yikes, I gave up halfway through and just told myself to finish). So yeah, not the best, but time to move forward.

Weights later.