Sock tans

Amazing day today!!! I am so happy!!! I honestly have no idea where it came from. We did 1 vertical lap (i'm liking 1!) and then stretching circle, and drills along the hall. Then we did wall sits and step-ups. On the first step-up set i did my normal pace. Then Bill was like "get to 40" and I was like "okay" but I really didn't think I could. I got 28 on the first one, but I wasn't trying as hard as I could. I tried a bit harder the next one and got 39. I wasn't going at my fastest, so now I know I can do it. :)

Then Distance went on a run. I went with Abigail, Natalie, Tomy, Bill, and Chris. We did a mixture of the cemetery loop run and the shriners run. We went along 13th to the cemetery, and then did a lap in there, and went up to guardsman and did the shriners run from there. 

I got tired from the hill in the cemetery, but then Tomy told me to breathe in through my nose and out my mouth, and so I did, and it actually calmed my breathing down and I felt alright!!! Thanks Tomy!

Then when we got into that parking lot just by guardsman and that stoplight, Abigail and I were falling back a bit, and she said "lets catch up to Bill and Natalie." So I did. Then we went through the U campus, and I just tried to keep up with them. Then we went along that alley and it didn't feel so bad. So i kept up with them. Then came that awful hill...and I just focused on my breathing like Tomy had said to in the cemetery, and it worked for the first bit, but then it got harder to keep that pattern as it got steeper, and it was a freaking long hill. I had that sick feeling near the top where its like 'I'm gonna throw up' so I backed off a bit. Natalie and Bill were now ahead of me, so all the way along that one road way up there that the fire station is on I just tried to catch up to them. i could see them. Then they started to get farther away, and my motivation now was "catch up to them or you'll get lost." that got me to pick up my speed again. Then the fire station came, and it was finally downhill!!!! Of course we were gonna have to come back up it, but I was focused on being positive. 

Then we turned around at the 5 mile mark, and I still hadn't caught up to them, but now that I think of it, I don't think was even close. I bet i was still going a bit slower than them. But I was motivated on the run, and that's all that matters right? Then by the fire station I told myself "all downhill from here!" (except for the little uphill part :) haha I didn't tell myself that!) I pushed on all of the downhills, and opened up my stride a bit, and focused on my arms and fast turnover for the other parts. I pretended that the slightly uphill parts and straight parts were downhill and still pushed. I then remembered "oh! cemetery loop!" and turned and went to the cemetery and did a loop there. Bill and Natalie ended up doing 2 laps, and I finished my one before they finished 2, and so I went out before them, but waited at the light. Great excuse to stretch, until Bill came and said to turn. Ug.

I pushed to keep up with Bill and Natalie along 13th back to the school. I thought they were going pretty fast, but maybe I was just going slow. I don't know.

Then I did a lap around the field and parking lot with Bill to make it to 10. 

Food day thursday!!!! Wendy's crunchy crispy chicken wrap!!!! (I think that's what it's called.) :) Yummy!!! 

Speed. At the oval. We did a mile warmup, stretched, did another mile, and a mile speed changes. Then we did a mile and 2 sets of 4 400s. On the mile I felt like we were going too fast, but got like a 6:13. Same with the 400s. What is it about me that thinks we we are going too fast when in reality we are going too slow? That's been happening to me this past week. Am i just slow?

the 400s were just plain horrible. I did good on the first one, but then sucked on the 2nd and 3rd one, then got really mad that I was going so slow and did okay on the 4th one. 5th one I didn't do so well. 6th one I did okayish, and then 7th one didn't do well, and last one was okay. I can't remember some of my times, but it went something like 1:20, 1:34, 1:36, 1:25, ?, ?, 1:32, 1:28. I think. ???? We did 2 laps in between each set.

Then we did 7 laps cool down to get to 10. 

It was really annoying though because the speed skaters had races going on and they set up the mini bleachers in lanes 2 and 3, and then tons of people would stand in lane 1. We had to move around them. Then on the 400s people wouldn't move out of lane 4 when you yelled "lane 4!!!" a million times really loud, and then you had to move around them. Annoying.

On the 400s I would do good on the first 200, then slow down on the next 100, but then push on the last 100 because I didn't want to be THAT far behind. I really don't know why, but I feel REALLY slow. I just wish it could've been a good day like yesterday. BUT ONLY 8 MILES TOMORROW!!!! YAY!!!! 

I wasn't feeling too good today, mostly because I ate breakfast right before the run. We met at the Highland parking lot, and did a crazy run I don't remember at all. We just kinda went wherever Bill told us to go along the way.

When we got near the end of the cemetery was when I started to feel not so good, and I focused on trying to stay with the group. I slipped. I got caught trying to cross a street that they were able to with what seems like no difficulty, and stood there for 2 or 3 minutes. Such a waste. I REALLY lost the group at that point, and just went where I thought I was supposed to go. I thought wisely.

Then I saw them in sugarhouse park at the end, and my first thought was NO!!!! But then I realized that negative thoughts were not the answer. So I started to make those thoughts positive.

8 miles, felt really nice after all of those 10 milers and one 12 miler. 

Tomy said along the run, talking about dogs that were walking around, "Those dogs are in the middle of the street!" (This is when I was just falling off of the group) I looked at the group, and then the street, and, well, so were we. But I didn't say anything. 

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. 

Speed at the oval. except today there weren't that many people and nobody stood in lane 1!!!!! That was nice. Mile warmup, stretched, another mile warmup, and mile speed changes. Another lap, then we changed shoes and ran to the 800 start.

1st 800 I felt good for the first little bit, and then I felt sick to my stomach. Bill said to match that (2:53), and I tried. But i'm not sure if I did. I couldn't find the watch that I brought, but I knew I had brought it! Annoying.

Then we did 2 sets of 5 300s. I really was not feeling that great, which really bothered me because my legs were fine, and I had iced a lot just so that I could feel okay today. But I guess my stomach doesn't agree. Ug. :(

I was always not hitting my times right and was really slow. Not having a watch doesn't help at all. I don't know like any of my times.

Then on the 2nd set I did much better. Bill made me lead one, and I either made it or got really close. I think I yelled something like "I don't feel good!" when I started to fall back and he told me to keep going and to catch up. I was frustrated at the time, but it helped me a lot. Thanks!

we did a lap recovery in between the sets. When we were done with the sets, we did a lap and then changed shoes and did 5 laps cool down to get 10 for the day. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Then, as I was putting on my sweats to go out to the car, I found the watch in my sweatshirt pocket. Annoying. 

So, today was supposed to be a recovery run, so I took it a bit easy. Maybe I shouldn't have.

Track warmup: 2 laps and then stretching and drills, then hurtle drills and strides. Man, my hips hurt after the hurtle drills!!!

Distance went on a run. We were aiming for 12. We went up Sunnyside, to the crosswalk thing just above 19th E, then down a bit to 19th and went along 19th to Harrison. We then went down Harrison to 17th E. and then to Browning to pick up Natalie. I considered going home, then decided it wasn't worth it. Then we went to Emerson and down to 16th E, along 16th to 17th South and down to 15th, and followed 15th to sugarhouse park. We went grass way around, and then my calf twitched randomly for a few seconds, and it freaked me out a little, so I started going slower. Then it stopped after just a little bit, but I still went slow. When I knew that it wasn't gonna happen again, I tried to catch the group again.

Then came the cemetery run, one of the runs that I don't have painted in my memory. I went down Hillcrest Ave. to Imperial Ave, then didn't know which way to go, so I went right and it took me down, and then I wasn't sure if this was the right way, so I turned around after a bit. Then I went back up to Imperial Ave, and went along it the opposite way for about a half mile, then really felt lost so I turned around and went back the same way I came (minus the circle and the little detour I took after Hillcrest.)

Then I ran 2 laps and called it good. Quite a day. A lost one. :)

     I'm loving this nice sunny weather!!! Track warmup. 2 laps and stretching. Then we did relays. We started with the 4x400m relay. My team was Natalie, Camille, and Dominique. I was first. I felt really good the first 100 meters, then we went right into the wind, and then it was so tough. I think I slowed down a bit. Then I just pushed the last 200 or 100 meters. I passed it to Dominique, who passed it to Camille, and then she passed it to Natalie.

      So then we did the 4x200. Same order. I felt pretty good on this one. But my hips started to hurt.

     Then came the 4x100, or so I thought. The order was messed up. I started like way too far back. I thought 100 meters was from the one set of numbers to the other. But no one agreed. But then again, I'm only a newish distance runner. So i guess I don't count. I just wasn't fond of running more than everyone else.

     So then I crossed the line, and thought I was done, but everyone was like "keep going!" and then everyone else kept going, so it was very confusing. Turns out we got to do a 200 instead of a 100. Wow. Great communication.

     Then distance went for a run. We went down to 13th and to Sugarhouse park then did the road way to one of the hills that the state course for Cross Country. We did 4 of those hills continuously. I just tried to push. It is weird - I've noticed that I recover a lot quicker than I used to. On the downhill I could usually get pretty close to Kiley, Bill, and Natalie. Then I'd go back a bit, then catch up again, and so forth. 

      Then again I thought we were done, but we ran over to a different hill, more curvy and steep, and felt longer, and did 4 of those continuously. I felt like I was only working my right leg. It was weird. Again, I recovered quicker than I used to. Then we ran another road lap. Then we went along 15th and then along 15th for a while. then we went up around some church and went someplace, to Sunnyside, and down to the track to get to 10 for the day (including track warmup)

So it was speed yet again. Met at the track and did 2 laps warmup, stretched, and did drills, then split into groups.

Distance: We split into newbies and more experienced, then more experienced split into groups based on levels of fitness. I was in the fastest group. You know, there are lots of ups and downs about being in the faster group. Ups: You get fitter, you get better, you get faster, etc. Downs: You get longer workouts, faster times to hit, and people who are lots faster than you who make you look like you're really wimpy and slow. :(

2 sets of ladders: 800, 600, 400, 300, 200. First set was okay. I felt okay. I got pretty close to my times. 2nd set I got cramps and felt horrible. I didn't want to go on, but yet I wanted to. By the 400 I was feeling miserable. I hated every bit of it. But I am told it will help me.

So then we went on a mile and a half cool down to get to 10.

This picture is for those of you who are super dedicated and have garmins:

Long run today. By myself. It certainly doesn't help to keep hearing the same songs over and over again over 10 and a half miles. It got to be quite a boring run.

I went from my house to Princeton Ave. and up and then over to laird park. I kept going up Princeton until I got to 21st E. and then followed it until I got to Sunnyside. Then I went down and by the tennis courts to East, then I decided to go to the cemetery. I went along 13th to 500 S. and into the Mt. Olivet cemetery and did a lap in there. Then I went up to Guardsman and to Sunnyside, to Deistel Rd. then to Military Dr. and to 1700 E. I followed 17th to Browning then went down to 15th and over to sugarhouse, then did a road lap, and came back along 15th and up browning. 10 1/2 miles

So I felt great the first part. Then my energy slowly went away and I got bored of the music. But i still listened to it. The last mile was where I had to force myself to keep running because I just wanted to stop and was so tired. But I did it!!!

:) I got up to 65 miles this week!!!! This is the first time I've ever done it!! last week was the first time I got as high as 60, and now that is history! ha. 

We started off with a meeting. Bill took roll (weird) and talked to kids without the forms and registration stuff done. (Ha! I'm complete!)

Me, Kiley, Abigail, Natalie, Tomy, and Dakota had the pleasure of going down to the school to get the jumping mats. Why the distance kids? Maybe because we were being lazy and sat on the one up there already. Ha. 

Because we were getting the mats, we missed the half mile warmup, but jumped into the stretching circle. Then we did drills, slightly different today. Then we split into groups. 

Distance went on a run, again. We were supposed to go to 10, but I didn't really know where we were going, and all bill said was "The adventure run backwards." Which adventure run? I thought there were lots of them? Guess not. 

  We went up with shriners run at first. Then I figured out afterward where i was supposed to go, and my first mistake was going left instead of right up by Shriners hospital. I saw Abigail and Kiley going by the cemetery and thought that was where we were supposed to go. Then I lost sight of them and ended up following that road until B street (the place where you have to turn) and turned around and went back the same way.

I hate getting lost. Now I have to make up 1 1/2 miles to catch up to everyone. 

My calves were hurting really bad. It wasn't just the sore hurting, it was the tight muscle type of hurting. It hurt like none other when going up all of those hills. I fell back because they were hurting so much, and also stopped a few times to stretch them because it felt like they were going to fall off or something, and i just couldn't stand running like that anymore. I really hope they will get better soon so that I can do the stuff I'd like to do. Just gotta last a little longer.

Then when I got back Bill told me to do 2 300s. Just to "open the stride." After the first one he told me to watch my arms and not cross. Man! I thought I was getting good at them. Guess not. 

What do butterflies do for fun? 

What's up with the wind lately? It's driving me crazy! I don't like the wind you see. Anyway, Track warmup of 2 laps and drills (and setting up the rail thing along the track). We did longer drills today. We were supposed to do time trials, but because of the wind we're doing them tomorrow (Yay!!!) So we did 3 sets of high knees, power skips, and sprinting up the huge hill with the K on it (or used to) by the soccer fields. Then we did these leg-over/under-hurtle drills. Then we did jumping-over-hurtles-and-on-top-of-big-red-boxes drills. And over-the-weird-type-of-hurtles drills. Then we did planks and wall-sits. And finally, split into groups. Some lucky individuals got to be done.

Distance went on a run. We went to 15th and then to Sugarhouse and did 2 big grass laps and went back along 15th and up Bonneview and then to the track that way, did 2 laps which got us to 10.

All along 15th I was able to keep up with the group. At about halfway through the first lap, I fell back, and behind Abigail and Kiley I felt like this was the end of my "going to be good" workout that I told myself I was gonna have before I started. Then I told myself to suck it up and just get the workout over with. 

I tried to catch back up to the group. I caught Abigail and Kiley, and then decided to try to catch Bill and Natalie. I was going downhill, and the wind was somewhat helping me, and then I turn and its like "WHOA!" because the wind is horrible. And then I slow down, my calves start hurting, uphills come my way, along with Abigail and Kiley, and then I feel horrible, and Negative thoughts pour into my mind. I lost the mental battle. 

Then I regained a bit of positiveness and tried to catch Abigail and Kiley, but they made a light that I just missed, and I was forced to stay back. There went my motivation to run fast. Along 15th I was miserable and just focused on running and not stopping.

I iced my calves and massaged them out a bit, so I hope tomorrow won't be too bad. 

Track warmup - 2 laps and drills. Then we finally did the time trials!!!! We had to delay them yesterday because of the wind. Mile warmup, mile speed changes, and then we did the mile at 2 mile pace. It was okay. I felt okay on the one side of the track, but then the wind, which was STILL blowing, was really hard to push through. I just focused on trying to keep my legs moving. 

Then came the 800m. We were doing it at mile pace. It was again okay. Not too impossible, considering how I've been feeling lately. My calves didn't hurt that much! Yay! I bet it's because I actually iced them...

Then we did 6 400s. They were goodish. I didn't do great on the first one, like a 1:30 I think, I'm not sure. I didn't get my time because I raced some guy for the last 50 to  100 meters. It was fun. I think we tied though. Ha.

2nd one I tried a bit harder, and did a little better. Then on the third one Bill told me to stick with Abigail and Kiley, and I got as close to them as I could, and then tried to stick with them, and got a 1:22.5. It was lots better. Ha.

3rd and 4th I just tried to do the same. 5th I didn't do quite so well, and my legs started to feel really shaky. 6th one I felt horrible, and instead of falling off Abigail and Kiley at the 250 meter like normal, It was at the 150 to 200 meter. Ug. 1:29. 

It made me really mad though because someone, I'm not going to say who, cut me off every time, except for the last one where I ran really hars at the beginning so they wouldn't. I think I did bad on the last one because I started way too fast. Maybe. But it certainly was annoying.

To catch up on mileage, I did 5 1/2 miles warmup while the others did less. That includes drills and track warmup. We went up Sunnyside to the shoreline trail and followed it to Red Butte Garden area and up some street, to the gate, turned around, and went through the U campus, across Legacy Bridge, and then I went through the construction area and just above the circle building to guardsman and went to Sunnyside and back to the track. 13.5 miles is what I'm guessing.

Every hill made my calves hurt more. I tried to stay flat footed. I don't think that went very well. It felt really weird and I felt like an old lady doing it. Ha.

I just hope that tomorrow will be okay. 

FIRST OFFICIAL OUTDOOR TRACK MEET!!! Okay it was a practice meet, but still! :) My calves felt wonderful!!! I felt really good today!

I did about 3 miles warmup including speed changes. Then I did the mile. I'm not sure what my time was. I find that when I'm sprinting down the last stretch I can't hear the times very well. I'm guessing like a 5:50 or 5:55. Eh. Not good, but not horrible considering I ran 13.5 miles yesterday. Or more. I'm not sure exactly. i can't wait to get a garmin so that I will actually know these things. I'm thinking that was a bit of a bad idea to do the day before a race. But it didn't kill me, so it mad me stronger right? Haha. Well, I felt okay. I started to not feel quite so good at the 800 mark. Ha. At least it's a practice meet.

Then came the 800. I did pretty good. I got a 2:46-2:47? somewhere around there. I feel pretty good about it. 

Well, I needed like 6 and a quarter miles for cool down, so I also did the 3200. I actually tried a bit and PRed. I hated the 3200 before, but now that I actually tried it and did pretty good, I'm reconsidering. I have only done it once before, and that one was at the oval, and got 13:45. I must've not been racing that hard. Today, I killed that. I got a 12:50 flat. It was weird though because I felt really good, but felt like I was going too slow in the 1st mile. I was up in front with the boys, and I thought that was unlike me so I must be going too fast, and I really didn't want to crash that 2nd mile. So I just ran it nice and relaxed. Then I started to get a bit tired, but I tried to stay relaxed. I then eventually fell off of the 2 boys in front, and Bill was yelling at me to catch up to them, so I thought I'd make an effort. I wasn't able to get in front of them, but I'm thinking that if I had pushed harder in the first mile then I might have beaten them. Oh well. I got 3rd overall and 1st of the girls. Not that there were many people to beat.

Ha. The 2 mile only had like 3 or 4 boys in it an 3 girls including me and Abigail. I guess we're the only brave ones. Ha. Then when there were like 3 laps to go I heard some soccer kid say "how many miles IS this?" I'm surprised the soccer people actually acknowledged us. Hehe.

Then Abigail and I really wanted to do the 4x400m relay. I'm not sure why. It just sounded fun at the time, and I needed mileage, so I was all for it. I'm not sure how, but we convinced Ellie and Grace to run it as well. At the starting line a girl from Brighton I think was like "You guys are crazy!!! You just ran the 2 mile, and now you're running the 4x400m relay!" It took all of my self control not to laugh. :) 

Then I did a cool down, and Bill ran part of it with me. Got to 11 1/2. 

Well, I slept in today, which was nice, but that meant I didn't get the text telling me that there was a group running at 9 and where to meet and whatnot. I woke up right at 9, so that was a bummer. Which meant my own run. Great.

Well, I did a run that I already kinda sorta knew, and that was where I went along 17th to Princeton, up Princeton to 21st I think, and followed it to sunnyside. Then I went the tennis court way to the school, then along 13th to the cemetery and did a lap in there, then went up 500 S to Guardsman and along it to Sunnyside, to Military Drive, and back home, where I dropped off my jacket (which I thought I would need because of the wind - but I was fine in a long sleeve shirt, and actually got hot in that, too. Maybe because it was black...) and then I went to sugarhouse and did a road loop and came back. I actually think I went over 10 miles, maybe like 10 1/2. But I wanted to hit 60 for the week, so I put it at 10.

My question is what is up with the wind lately? Along Guardsman I felt like I was going SOOOO slow because I was going against it. Yeah, you could say I was tired after that.

I massaged and iced my calves last night, and they were actually okay today. It was my hips that were sore. 

Ha I found another great picture.

YES!!!! We're going down in mileage!!!! (I think...) We only did 6 and a half today including warmup!!! Yes! It felt awesome to only do so little!!! :) I'm in love with this idea.

So we had a team meeting first, about the meet on friday. Okay, practice meet. I got the pointers that I slipped in the mile, but did good on the 2 mile. Got it. I will do well tomorrow to (sort of) make up for it. (I guess you can't really make up for a time that you already got.) At least it was only a practice meet. :0

Then team warmup. 2 laps, and drills. Because of the meet tomorrow, the girls got to do 6 miles!!! We did 2 miles warmup, 2 miles speed changes, 2 miles cool down. I was with the group for the first mile and a half, but then a weird place in my leg started to hurt like my calves did. It was like right between the inner side of my leg and the calf, and then just a little further down. Weird. I'll ice tonight.

The boys had to do more. Ha!!! sucks for them. On the 3rd lap of speed changes my legs started to hurt, so I slowed down. I seriously hope they won't be a problem tomorrow. It's a state qualifying meet, and I don't want to waste it. I'm hoping to do really well. :)

Well today must've just not been my day. I feel like my times should've been faster than they were. I feel I ran hard. But i guess the odds weren't in my favor. Maybe the wind. I just hope I qualify for state. I'm worried now.

So I warmed up with Abigail and Natalie and did some loop. Then we changed shoes, thought we were going to be late for our race, and ended up having plenty of time for strides and drills. The 1600 was first. I got kind of boxed in at the start. Maybe I should be more aggressive. 

I felt great the first 800, then started to feel crappy. I just told myself only 2 laps left. I pushed through it. Then I picked it up last 400, even more with 200 to go, and then Bill was yelling commands and telling me to move my arms faster and go full out so I did. I out-kicked a girl. That was awesome. But my time was crappy. 5:50something.

Then I did a little cool down, then warmed up for the 8. The 800 was short and I liked it. Bill told me that there were really fast girls in it and that I shouldn't feel like I need to keep up with them, so keeping that in mind I ran my best. I got like a 2:44 or something, which will be a PR. 

3200. I felt a little drained of energy. I started out pretty good. ish. The first mile felt great. Then I really started to struggle those last 3 laps. Maybe next time I'll do well. It's really discouraging when you get outkicked. Yeah, someone outkicked me within the last 5 steps. Someone who must've really been pushing because she came out of nowhere. Ug.

Cooled down with Abigail to get to 10. We sort of made the team wait for us. Sorry guys. If we had known that, we wouldn't have gone for that long. :0

Tri-meet at Woods Cross. I took an ice bath last night. I am so not used to taking them!!! It was so cold and all I wanted to do was hop out. But I think it helped a lot.

So when we arrived, we put our lovely stuff on the bleachers and claimed our team spot, and then we did a lap and stretching circle. That's the loudest we've counted!!! Ha. We did cheer, and then I found out that I was racing the 1600, and if my legs felt good, the 800. I did a mile wamup, did a lap to Natalie to ask her something, and then got my spikes ready, and did a mile speed changes.

Drills on the turf. I hate turf. I'm glad we don't have it at east. Sure, it makes the field look great, but it just feels weird and gets all over your clothes, and it must hurt if you fell on it. I really dislike it.

First was the 1600. I was going to be aiming for like a sub 5:30, I think. I ended up getting like a 5:46. Darn. I kept telling myself along the way that it was just like a speed workout. The first 400 I went out fast like i normally do, and then came the telling myself it was a speed workout part. I told myself to focus on the next 400, and to take it 1 400 at a time. It didn't seem so overwhelming that way. 

I passed the group ahead of me and took the lead. It felt great!! And I still had like another 2, 2 1/2 laps to go. My fear was that I was gonna lose it. But I just held on. It feels great to be in the lead. It helps mentally. Bill was telling me to really push the last 400, and i think I should've. I was just scared that I was gonna die with 100 meters to go if I did, so I did a speed change instead, not really kicking it too hard, and then at the 200 left I kicked a bit more, and REALLY kicked with 100 meters left. I think I'm starting to get a kick!!! I remember that all of the xc races I had ZERO kick whatsoever. :) It's a sign of improvement. I wish I would've PRed, but I am happy with winning the girls 1600. It feels great! Now I get a taste of what Natalie experiences most if not every meet. Ha. This is why we run. Then I did a cool down/warmup with Tomy. I felt okay and my legs were fine, so I decided I would do the 800. 

So, I was aiming for a 2:40 or below, and I told Bill I was gonna get a 2:38. I was supposed to get a 78 on the first lap and an 80 on the 2nd. I was right on for the first lap. I must've slowed down a lot, because I got a 2:40. slowed down 4 seconds. I have to work on that. But that is the pace for state, and it felt fast. I am gonna work hard these last couple months of the season so that I can make state. I really want to. I'm hoping that at Pineview I can get close. :)

Then I did a cool down with Olivia for a little bit, then did a mile and a quarter on my own to get to 8. 

I am in love with low-ish mileage!!! It feels so amazing!!!! And this lovely weather is spectacular!!! I like this so much more than snow. :)

Track warmup 2 laps and stretching circle. Then we did 3 sets of wall sits. I really dislike wall sits. Ha. Then the people racing tomorrow did 6 miles (Me, Natalie, Abigail, Tomy, and Chris) with 2 miles warmup, 2 miles speed changes, 2 miles cool down. I was able to keep up on the warmup and the first like half mile of speed changes, but then my throat got super dry and I got kinda worn out and tired. I'm gonna do what's right tonight so that tomorrow will be a good race. :)

I am so nervous for the race. I hope to get good results from it, and hopefully qualify for state or get super close, but definitely PR. I am worried that I won't qualify, and that I won't be able to at another meet.  The lower altitude should help. I think it's lower. I hope. I just really want to qualify for state. But in order to do that I'd have to run a 5:18 or faster. My PR is 5:38. Do you think I can do it? :0

Today was the impossibly long day that literally felt like a week. So, apparently we were supposed to go on a 2 mile shakeout run, but somehow both me and Abigail got the memo that we were going on a 2 mile shakeout with the group and then driving. Yeah, now I feel stupid.

Anyway, woke up at like 5:30 and got ready to go, then we went and met everyone at the Shopko parking lot, and enjoyed the long drive to St. George. I'm glad I got a window seat. I still remember the longish drive to Pocatello where I had middle seat in the back, and how uncomfortable I was when I tried to sleep. So this car ride was actually somewhat enjoyable.

When we got there, I was actually secretly wanting to still drive because I didn't feel like running. Ha. It was unbelievably hot!!! :) I liked it.

We got all ready, then Natalie, Kiley, Abigail, Bill and I went to the Bull pen and listened to what the lady had to say, and then went on a 1.5 mile warmup. Then we grabbed our spikes and water bottles and went to the field to do strides and drills. I got the privilege of watching Natalie, Abigail and Kiley race first. Nat was sad because she missed breaking 5 by just like 1-2 seconds, and Abigail was really sad because she didn't hit her time. Well, both of you did awesome!!! (much better than I ever have!) And Kiley seemed a bit disappointed, but she seemed okay. :) way to go!!!!!!

Then I just ran around the field a bit while they raced and cheered them on. Some team was looking at Natalie and was like "People are so stupid they sprint the first lap and die." Ha. Natalie wasn't sprinting. She was going out hard. They obviously didn't know that she was actually going at a great pace :)

Did strides and went to the starting line. My teammates were sad and crying, and so I didn't have very good thoughts to begin with. I was seeded 2nd, so I was in lane 1. I was expecting waterfall start, but I guess they decided not to. Make up your mind people!!!

I felt like we were going fast on the first lap. I wasn't in the mode. I just tried to make my legs move. I got like a 1:18. 2nd lap I started to pass people, but I think we slowed down. 3rd lap felt horrible, just focused on moving. Then I tried to speed it up on the 4th lap. SPEED CHANGE!!! 200 left, Bill was yelling at me to kick, picked it up more, 100 left I tried to really kick, but I felt like I didn't have it like I did earlier this week. I focused on my arms. Man, got a 5:53 I think. Something like that. Not my race. 

Then I did a cool down with Sam, Dakota, Caden, Abigail, Kiley, and Kiley's dad. We went for an adventure run!!!! :) I wasn't fond of some of the smells, and some of the hills.

Then I went with Dakota, Sam and Caden to costco and slipped in and got samples. Went to the freezing cold section and it felt so good!! It was so hot!!!!! Then we got berry smoothies and went back, waited for the other group to come back, and then we went and got food at Cafe Rio, and got more berry smoothies and dropped off Abigail, and hit the road.

Ha we stopped at a gas station and got Milkshakes and there was a huge rocking chair and we were so hyper :)

We all got great sunburns!!! I think Chris got it the worst. Ha some guy at the gas station, Artic circle whatever it was was like: "Sunblock, its an amazing thing." to Chris and it was so funny!!! Haha 

The Running Of The Leopards was today. I got home super late last night and had a really hard time waking up. But I managed. Well I did about a half mile warmup with Camille and Olivia and then they hit a mile so they stopped. Then I found a group to go with, but it ended up being me, Tomy and Natalie because we were going faster than the others. We did about 2 miles including strides.

Then we raced!!! I started in the front. It seemed like they were going super fast. Caden, Sam, and Patrick were passing me, so I decided to try to keep up with them. Then came downhill and I felt great. there was like 1 uphill :) When we went on it, I was in front of them now, but I got tired, and so I slowed down. Sam caught up and I just tried to stick with him. I fell back a bit, and came some more heavenly downhill. Along Sunnyside I caught up to Sam again and just tried to stick with him. When on the track he kicked, and I really wasn't ready, but I tried to stay on him. Again, No kick from me. I just think my legs are tired. They were feeling kinda weird. :0

Well, It turns out I won my age division, and I got a little ribbon. I was happy.

Then they did the raffle for the laptop, and they called number after number, but tons of people had left, and so they just kept calling them. Who eventually won? My brother. 

Did a really small cool down, guessed about .4 so that I could get to 6.

It rained today and it was really dark and gloomy in the morning :( Then we had some fire drill okay make us freeze to death outside. I bet someone hit the button thing. Then they didn't turn the alarm off for a really long time and it got really annoying. People these days. I was secretly hoping though that the power would go out for ore than an hour so we could go home. Ha.

We met at the track. We did 2 laps warmup and then did drills. We did them for longer stalling and seeing when Bill was gonna notice. Hehe. Then we did 2 sets of the circuit that Bill always makes us do. burpies, stride, jumping jacks, stride, squats, stride, and mountain climbers. We did them each for 45 seconds. 

Then we split into groups. Distance went on a run. We did our hill run up in the avenues. Joy. We went along 13th to South temple and started our strides on U street I think it was. Stride up the hill, then turn left and recover to the next street, and stride, recovery street, and so on until we reached 11th Ave. The hills just got steeper and steeper. I focused on trying to keep with the group the entire time, but I fell off at like the 7th one maybe? I'm not sure.

Then we stopped and recovered a bit at 11th. I stretched my calves, which had been KILLING during all of those hills. But I couldn't just stop and stretch them. so I stretched them then and let me tell you it hurt like nothing else. I nearly cried right there because it hurt so bad. they were sooo tight it was unbelievable.

We followed 11th to the Shriners hospital. My calves were still hurting, and I felt really lightheaded and so I took it easy for a bit. Then I realized that I was falling behind. I focused on catching up to Abigail and Kiley and caught them at like the fire station maybe? Abigail was telling me about haunted places. interesting conversation.

Then the new Sam had fallen back, and he was just ahead of us, walking, and he didn't know the way back, and I felt like we were going slow, so I thought that I would go with him. I pointed out the way as we went. We did the shriner's run backwards. It was nice to run with someone, and have someone to push me when I wanted to stop. :) I did much better than I would have if I had stayed back with Abigail and Kiley.

Then I did a lap on the track to get to 7. Natalie, Bill, Tomy, and Chris went to 9 while Abigail and Kiley went to 8 1/2. Bill wanted me to rest my legs a bit so I only went to 7. Probably for the races this week. 

Apparently it's the new style to do a speed workout the day before a race. I was expecting just a long run or something easy. I didn't have that high of hopes. True, it was only a Tri-meet, and not one of the big ones. Whatever. I just hope it benefits me for saturday.

So we did normal team warmup and then distance did the normal warmup and speed changes for a speed workout. Joy. Then we did 3 1200s with a lap recovery between (actually, 2 laps on one one of them) and 1 set of 6 200s with 1 minute standing recovery.

On the 1200s, it was weird. I'm used to either doing 2 laps or 4 laps. but it was only 3 laps. huh. I just tried to stick with Abigail and Kiley and that group for as much as I could. I don't know my times, but I think I got slower on each one. :(

Then for the 200s, I knew that it was short, so I really pushed. My fastest one was a 36. I normally got from like 36-38 on all but the last 2. My legs started shaking, and honestly it didn't feel normal, even though I know it is. I slowed down a bit and got like a 41. Then on the last one I got like a 42. I wish my legs would get better already. I want to be doing what everyone else is doing and be up with Abigail, but my legs won't permit it. I wish they would feel alright. Maybe I'm just being a wimp. :0

Then we did a cool down. We got to 10. 

     Today was the meet with Highland and Cyprus. I did the 1600m. I'm not exactly sure of my time. I think it was like a 5:50. I really don't know though I'm just guessing. I wanted to do lots better than that, but at least it was only a Tri-meet and not an invitational. I hope I do good this weekend at Taylorsville.

     So we did the team warmup, but only 1 lap today. Then we stretched. Then I went with Natalie and Tomy and did 2 laps, then I got my spikes ready. They did 2 laps while I was getting them ready, but they stopped to stretch, so I did 2 laps while they did that. Then I stretched just for a minute, and we did a lap and then 3 laps speed changes. Then we went over, got our shoes, and went to the line. Then did some strides.

     Then Bill decided to put girls and boys together to move the meet along. So I was stuck in the back behind 2 rows of people. At least I was in lane 1. the guy in front of Natalie lost his balance, so he started late, which messed up Natalie, and so I didn't actually start until like 3 seconds after they shot the gun. Annoying.

     Well, I think I'm still in Cross Country mode. The first lap I got like a 1:21 1:22 ish. Of course I thought this was slow. But I for some reason thought that I needed to pace myself and I couldn't go full out. Bad mistake. Then on the 3rd lap I fell back from Abigail, but I had started passing boys that obviously didn't know not to sprint the first lap. That is what I thought I would've done, and why I didn't go fast. Well, now I've learned. Then on the 4th lap, I realized "hey, I only have one more lap and I'm done." But I was tired. So I didn't go as fast as I should've. Kind of a sucky race. But I'll try to make up for it this weekend. I'm gonna break 5:30 I've decided. :)

     Then Chris, Tomy, Natalie, Abigail and I went up to sunnyside to do a fartlek workout. We were discussing how when you first heard the word fartlek you thought it was funny, but now you groan when you hear it. Ha. So true. So we did a big lap around and then went to the white tree. We started off. We did 1 minute 30 seconds off/on 10 times. I got in the negative thinking zone. Not good. I feel like I should've pushed a bit more. :0

     Then we did a big lap around again, and did a lap on the track in lane 8 and then to the numbers and back to get to 10. Because the others got farther on the workout and lapped me 2 times, I did a grass lap around to make up for the mileage.

Well once again thought it would be somewhat easy today. Nope. We did the normal track warmup (2 laps and stretching and drills) and then distance went for the run. We went to Liberty Park and went short way to the drinking fountain. Then we ran over to the start.

I did 6 miles tempo with Bill, Natalie, Tomy, Chris, Abigail, and Kiley with the other group doing 4 miles tempo. I was told to run at about 7:30 pace I think. Maybe it was slower, maybe it was faster, I don't know. I tend to forget what we do for runs a lot. Ha.

I didn't really know how to pace myself very well, so I just tried to stick with the group for a while. I felt okay. I was way fast with my first mile being 6:48. Then I kept missing the marks on the sidewalk, so I didn't get many splits. My 3 mile mark was a 21:14. PRed in the 3 mile in a workout! But I'm not sure if it counts...Ha. Then I must've slowed down a lot because I finished with a 44:30. I just got tired, but I pushed and I feel I did well. Much better than the last time we did this workout. :)

Then we ran all the way back up to the track, no walking up the hill. We had to run it. But oh well. It was my 2nd time running up it, my first time not stopping at the top to walk for a bit. :)

Then when we got up to the track I did almost 2 laps around the track in lane 8, but not quite, to get to 11 for the day. 

So awesome day today, beautiful flowers everywhere and the blossoms are blooming on trees and its just so beautiful!!!! It was nice and warm too!!!! Anyway, team warmup of 2 laps and stretching and drills. Then we split and distance did 2 miles warmup, 2 miles speed changes, and 2 miles cool down.

I was with the group for all of the warmup, and 5 laps of speed changes. then I slowed down a bit. I probably should of kept up with them, but I got tired and my calves were getting to the point where they started to hurt. I didn't want them to be dead for the race tomorrow, excuse me, races, and so I took those last 3 a little easy. Then for the cool down I didn't actually slow down too much. I caught up with Caden and was able to run our last lap with him so that I wasn't doing it alone while everyone else finished (Yes, they lapped me. But only once!!!)

I am nervous for the race tomorrow, but I have put my mind to running under 5:30 in the mile, maybe even better than that, and for the 2 mile I am going to PR and get close to 12 minutes. Should be good. :) 

The impossibly long meet was today. Literally, all day. I am not a fan of all day meets.

I warmed up as soon as I could. The people in the bull pen didn't seem to realize that people like to have good warmups before they race, and it seemed to me that they thought they had all of the time in the world. The lady even said "You guys will have plenty of time to warmup." Yeah right. I did a mile warmup and then got to a half mile of speed changes when they were ready to start Natalie and Abigail's race. I was the 3rd heat, so I had a bit more time. I felt bad for them. I only had enough time for that and strides, and I would've liked to have made it to 2, but they had even less time than me. People these days.

So, I did the 1600m. Yeah, the wind sucked. I did HORRIBLE. I don't know what it is, but it feels like I'm backtracking. I feel like I am getting slower. I used to be up with Abigail, and now I'm in the 5:45-6 minute area while she's in the 5:20s. It's very discouraging. I know that I should be there too, and to qualify for state I have to be there. I hate it. Yeah, got 6:00.06. Just barely missed the 5 minute area. Very disappointing.

Anyway, I started out way too fast. My first lap was a 1:14-1:15. Well, I guess I PR'd in the 400. That's the one good thing that came out of today. Then I'm not sure about the 2nd lap, but 3rd lap I must've slowed down a lot because when I got to 300 left, some coach yelled at 2 people behind me saying "Pick it up now and you could break 5:30." I don't know what it was about it, maybe that I knew these girls were going to push, or that I wanted to do better, I don't know, that made me lose it mentally. I died and slowed down instead of sped up, and the whole group passed me. What I hate about it most was that if I had pushed during that last 200, then I would've been first in the heat, and possibly broken 5:30, which would've been a PR. :(

Then I cooled down with Natalie and Abigail. Then I had tons of time until I needed to start warming up for the 3200m. So I hung out, went to Harmon's and spent a long time, then came back and took a nap. It was weird, I fell asleep in the shade and with only a little bit of wind, then woke up in the sun and TONS of wind. It was crazy. 

Warmed up for the 32. Then did strides and blah. They decided to make it all together in 1 heat for the girls. Well, the wind was out of control. I hated this race much more than the 1600. Every time you were against the wind it just felt so hard to even move. I was supposed to try to get in the top 8, but I crashed mentally, and to add to that I was still pretty worked up about earlier. Bad race. So now I feel bad because if I had gotten in the top 8, then I would've scored for our team, and then we might've had a chance at winning. Did we win? I don't think we did.

So yeah, what I really wanted to be a good race day turned into a disappointing, horrible race day. It's going to be a lot more difficult to qualify for state than I thought. I hope next week will go better.

Cooled down to get to 10 and a half for the day