Sock tans

Felt pretty good today! Ran after weights (it was optional so there were a solid 6 of us there). Ran up in the neighborhoods. It was good to mix things up a bit! 8:04 average

I was dead today. I think the combination of hills and weights yesterday is what made my legs so heavy. I have been kind of frustrated because I am getting tired around 5.5 miles where I used to get tired around 9-10 miles. But I know I just have to be patient and build my endurance back up. 7:55 average

Ran to practice today, maybe did it too quick at 7:08 average (2 miles). Then warmups and form mile after Alesha checked my SI joints (they weren't in alignment today so she helped me realign them). Today's workout was 60% on farm run. Started out feeling alright (a bit sick to my stomach but that's probably because I ate a ton of cookie dough at lunch, I have a bit of a sweet tooth haha). We started with a mile warmup at 7:41, then my splits for the 60% went 6:28, 6:44, 7:37, 7:33, and 8:07. It was the worst 60 I have done. I maybe should've done my extra miles after practice cause literally once I hit 5.5 to 6 miles I hit a wall. And today it was extreme, the last mile I had no energy and was just trying to finish. Clinton was a pal and encouraged me to keep going, it probably would have been much worse if he hadn't been there. So thanks Clinton! Coach wants me to get my iron tested, I sorta stopped taking my supplements which was a big mistake. Time to get some more iron in my diet too.

HR 60

AM: 2.75 on Dikes + Main Street, 7:48 average

PM: Felt a lot better energy-wise today, but legs were dead and I couldn't get my legs to move fast so I was in the back with Kamryn and Clinton for a lot of it. We did Cookie Jar run after warmups and form mile. We all stayed together as a group for the middle, but the first 2 miles and last half mile we spread out. Honestly I was just happy to be able to keep up because my legs were so heavy, I fell behind on the huge hill but other than that I could stay with the back end of the group. Added a lap at the track to get to 10 for the day. Once I get adjusted to the mileage I know I will be able to push up to the front group again, but for right now I know my main problem is just getting my strength back. 7:54 average.

Legs are still heavy. Wind was extra strong today, though it was nice because I didn't pay attention to pace at all because I knew with the wind it was going to be slow, so that sort of forced me to relax and go slow. Did Dikes to Canyon, then back up to sheep tunnels. Unfortunately the wind blew so many bushes in front of the third one that it completely blocked the entrance, so I turned around and took main street back home. 8:15 average.

HR 50

VA loop + Shriner's run to the fire station. Back the same way. Breathing was harder than normal, thought it was a bit odd considering I had dropped in elevation but oh well it is what it is. 7:58 average. Still felt really tired around 6 miles.

Wasatch loop to the zoo then cut across foothill instead of doing VA loop because I needed to get home. 7:42 average.

Happy birthday to my younger twin sisters! They turned 4 but Tess got upset because she wants to be 5.

HR 52

Felt much better today, didn't start to feel tired until 8.5 and the I-want-to-stop tired didn't come until 10 miles (that usually comes around 6.5 miles). I think it's because it was flat (cemetery run), and I got a lot of sleep last night (not intentional. When I woke up I was so surprised at how long I had slept, but I guess I needed it!) 7:53 average.

HR 46

Felt good today, ran up to the zoo trail and took it to the Red Butte drinking fountain. Went up the road towards the yellow fence until I hit 5 and back the same way. 8:16 average.

HR 48

Felt pretty good again today, did Wasatch loop again but cut down 13th to Foothill and did VA loop to the cemetery, 2 laps, then back up to guardsman and back home along 17th E and added to 10.25. 7:56 average.

HR 46

Went over to the Avenues then ran up death hill and over to City Creek then down to South Temple and up to 13th and back home. Felt good.

Warmups and form mile then a mile warmup. 5k group was doing 25x400s. It consisted of Ashley, Ashley, Angie and I so that was great! When coach first said it was speed today I was nervous because I haven't done speed in a long time, but then I thought it really wouldn't be that bad. I did 20x400s a long time ago just fine. I knew that it would be a long workout and that's what I usually do best at. The first five were supposed to be at 10k pace, then 5k pace, then I think 3k pace, then mile pace, and lastly coach was going to set the last set's pace. The rest was very little starting at 30, 45, 60, and 90 seconds. We started out and 10k pace felt harder than it should have and I was getting a bit worried, but I kept going. I think it's the rest that killed me. I averaged 86 for that set. The next set was where disaster set in. Also forgot to mention that wind was so strong today. I was literally getting blown over once we hit the curve a few times. Anyway, I just couldn't get my legs to move fast. It was the most frustrating feeling in the world, my legs were like lead. I think if I had remembered my flats that would have helped but I physically couldn't get my legs going. I wanted so bad to be able to keep up but I couldn't. I think if I was also in a better mood I could have done better, mentality wasn't there when I fell off. Ashley was a pal and encouraged me to work through. I hit that set in 94-97. That was discouraging. Coach told me to stop after that set.

Did cool down with Ashley afterwards, main street loop. Today just wasn't my day, even on the cool down I felt awful and we went super slow.

HR 56

Warmups, form mile, then 50% today for 5k group. It was a bit bigger today, Kaylee joined us and Clinton ran with us as well! He was going to show us a new trail, Ashley said it was really pretty so I'm bummed I couldn't do the whole thing. My hamstring was hurting, the exact same way it did on the Saturday before the week I was sent to the pool when I ran through it so I was nervous about running through it again. I know it was just aggravated by the speed yesterday. I told Clinton and he said to turn at 2. I did STEM and iced, it seemed to help. Other than the hamstring I felt pretty good, legs are still tired but with it just being a 50% I could hit the pace just fine and that was going uphill. So I know I'm just not used to speed work. Might be unfortunate for the meet this weekend but I am excited to be racing outdoors! I also was sore today which is kind of sad because I hit those 400s super slow. But oh well it was my best effort yesterday so that's what counts and I shouldn't get so discouraged.

HR 58

Felt better today and I finally wore my watch! So I got the pace. Warmups, form mile, then another 50%. We did Dikes the guys way which added on a bit. I fell off Angie and the Ashleys around sheep tunnels. Clinton stayed back with me cause he's supposed to stay at the back, but he never told me to speed up or anything so I feel accomplished. Going 50% pace uphill is harder than you'd think. Averaged 7:26. Then did 10x100 meter strides at mile pace with 15 seconds recovery between each. Again, I'm lacking in the speed department. Also, I am sore from Monday's workout and weights yesterday.

Warmups, form mile, then 50%. I felt awful today, super tired and legs are definitely feeling it. We did hospital loop, pace was fast again. Once we hit the uphill I just crashed, probably because I could no longer use the downhill to keep me going. Paul tried to get me to pick it up but I couldn't. Iron is low, I've started taking supplements again to get it back up. I should never have stopped taking them.

Coach said I'm not racing this weekend which I'm bummed about. But as I've thought it out it's probably for the best, I'm obviously not in race shape right now.

Decided to try out C trail today, the one that is steep uphill. I thought it would flatten out after 2ish miles cause that's how the trails back in Salt Lake area are but nope this one literally scales the mountain. It's more of a hiking trail than running trail but it can be done! The view was absolutely amazing. I went up by the houses/cabins all the way up there, and past a few. I turned when snow was covering the path and I realized what time it was otherwise I probably would have kept going just to see how high up I could get. I was almost to the top of the mountain at that point though, I bet in another mile I would have been at the peak. Cedar has baby mountains though compared to those up north. But it was still cool to see exactly how far up the mountain I had gone when I got back to the bottom. 4 miles of steep uphill and 4 of steep downhill to average out at a whopping 10:18 pace #killingit

Shout out to the entire SUU student body cause everyone and their dog is getting engaged.

I've been thinking a lot about how my approach to running this year has differed from my approach last year. Last year I was confident in myself and in my training and knew I could be a top runner in the state. This year the field of competitors is completely different, everyone was once a top runner. I have lost confidence in myself and have been approaching workouts with the attitude that I'm sub par and out of shape. While it is partially true it shouldn't affect my attitude or drive because I can and will improve with time. Just because I suck right now doesn't mean that my current performances define who I am as a runner. If I work through the hard times I will eventually be able to experience the good times. And they could even come this year, I am capable of PRing and running a fast 5k this season and I will do everything I can to make sure that happens. I know I will have an outstanding end to my freshman year at SUU.

HR 56

Hard core momma jogging with Maddy

I had Alesha check out my knee cause it's been hurting, I'm just breaking and it's the worst. This one I will be running through unless it becomes more painful. I missed the warmups because of it but jumped in for the last of the stretches and did the form mile. Today was a 50%, we did End of the World and Kaylee picked us up. It was really nice because it's all slightly downhill and the wind was to our backs. We averaged 7:14, without the wind and downhill it probably would have been closer to 7:30. I started to feel tired at 3 today which wasn't fun but I stuck it out until the end. Thought that was a bit weird but I think I'm getting better at maintaining/pushing through. Stayed with Angie and Brighton for the whole thing, felt good about that cause usually they kill it on the 50s and I usually can't keep up for the last 3-4 miles. Once we got back to the track we did a lap to get warmed up again and did 10x100 meter strides with 15 seconds rest, this time on the turf. I did mine barefoot, don't know if I should feel embarrassed or accomplished because of my killer sock tan. Then ice and STEM.

Knee was more painful today. I only feel it when going uphill, downhill and up or down stairs. Haley thinks I irritated the Bursa underneath my kneecap. She wanted me to stay as flat as possible. So I did the form mile and mile warmup, then 2 laps before starting the 80%. I stayed on the track, did 1.5 at 6:23 pace and another .75 at 6:13 pace. Then since I couldn't do whistle hills I did 100 meter strides. Then cooled down on the short 2 mile main street loop.

Warmups, form mile, then coach told us today was 50% but he didn't care if we hit the pace. I ran with Amber. Everyone was doing main street loop and knee was feeling good so I decided to try it even though it's not flat. Felt good until we turned to go back uphill towards the track at the end. Weird cause it was sudden, not gradually getting worse. Iced and STEM.

I have decided to serve an LDS mission and received my call today! I have been assigned to the Missouri Independence Mission and leave for the Provo MTC on June 22. I am beyond excited to serve these people and share the happiness of the gospel with them!

Warmups, form mile, then mile warmup and strides. Workout was 5x1000s with 90 seconds rest. Legs actually felt loose and felt like I could get them moving! That hasn't happened for a while. Workout still wasn't the greatest, I ate a huge lunch before practice and puked a few times. :) Splits went 3:37, 3:36, 3:49, 3:59, 4:09. I know I faded and I need to work on it, but oddly I still felt good about the workout because I know I worked hard. Then got in a mile before weights.

Started running Cross Hollows then decided I wasn't in the mood for the long uphill at the end so I turned at 3 then ran up into the neighborhoods. Was going to add on along Dikes to 10 but .75 away from my house there's this teeny hill on the trail and as I went up it I got sharp pain in my knee. Stopped because it was unexpected, then walked a few steps and it felt fine, then started again and as soon as I went to my right leg sharp pain again. I couldn't run up this puny little hill, I shouldn't even call it a hill. So I walked up it to where it was flat, and started again. A little sharp pain but as I kept going it was fine. So I ran to my house and stopped because I didn't want to risk making it worse. It just scared me because it hasn't been that sharp before, and just the fact that the pain come on suddenly, not gradually getting worse as the run goes on.

Ran to the track and did a couple 400s with equal recovery, hit 77, 80, 82. Wind was really strong so if it was a perfect day with no wind they would've been faster. They weren't awesome but they weren't terrible either so I'm satisfied. I figured I should attempt to do some faster speed because I haven't done fast speed in forever, and if I race it'll be a shock to my body. Coach was going to put me in the 1500 this weekend (though he missed the registration deadline... hence why I'm not racing) but I'm kind of glad he didn't because I know that if I race that short/fast of a race I will be dying. Not really sure why he wanted to put me in the 1500, maybe to see where my speed's at. Knee felt pretty good today, was a bit painful on the uphill. Haley thinks I've irritated the bursa around my kneecap.

HR 56

VERY windy day today. Warmups and form mile before the run. Today was survival day on End of the World (meaning don't fall off the pack into no-man's land, so that when we go up into the mountains we don't get eaten by a bear. After all bears don't like fast food). Haha anyway, pace was pretty quick at 6:57 average but the wind obviously helped, though I bet without it we still would've been under 7:15 average. I started feeling it around the 4th mile but didn't start to struggle until the 5th, fell off the pack at 5.5, though my last 2 miles were consistent at 6:49 and 6:50 so they must have sped up. We all hopped into coach's truck at the 6 mile and I did another mile back at the track.

HR 54

Shout out to Connor for getting called to Paris, France and my Roommate Megan for getting called to Jacksonville, Florida!

Had class right before practice, I made it on time but had to go to the training room for my knee exercises before I could start running. I got out in time to do the last half mile of the form mile. Real cold and windy. 5k group consisted of Angie, the Ashleys, Brighton and I. Our workout was a 60%. We did it on Cross Hollows and started at the trail. It just wasn't a very good day. It was supposed to be 5 miles at the 60 but I broke down at the 4th. Splits went 6:31, 6:34, 6:54, 7:48. Then gave up on the pace because I was just so frustrated with myself. Everyone in the 5k group are our top runners for Cross and then there's me. I couldn't even keep up on the warmup, they just go so fast and I'm just so discouraged that I can't keep up.

HR 57

Went in to talk to coach today because I have been discouraged. I told him about feeling tired and how my legs have felt so heavy for months. He says I look really fatigued in practice and he's trying to figure me out :) I'm going to see if I can get some blood tests done cause coach wonders if there's something going on, he says I'm the only one who hasn't adapted to his program. Usually by now freshman start to bring their times down a lot, but I still look so tired in practice. Hopefully the tests show something, if not I don't know why I'm struggling so much. Missed the warmups and form mile because of our talk. Did a mile warmup then started the workout. 5k group did 6x800s at 5k pace, coach put the range as 2:38-2:48 so I decided to shoot for 3:00. Hit 2:58, 2:53, 2:57, 2:58, 3:02, 3:02. Cooled down to 8.

HR 62

Easy run on my own, Dikes + Canyon run.