Sock tans

5.5 with Eleanor and Angie!

Regular track warmup, then 2 mile warmup, 2 mile speed changes, 2 mile cool down.

Today was the Alpha meet. I was racing the mile. I warmed up a mile, stretched a little, then a mile speed changes. 

I wasn't ready for the pain in the race. I hadn't mentally prepared myself. So when it came, I slowed down. I had a terrible race. It was quite disappointing. I was dead last by like 100 meters. I also couldn't get myself to push, it was harder than it normally is.

Did two miles cool down. 

Day two. I did a mile warmup, stretched, another mile, then a mile speed changes, then about another half mile waiting for them to call us to the line. I was more focused today but still did bad. I came through the mile at 5:42 then slowed down a lot I guess. In the second mile I couldn't get myself to move and it was really difficult. It was cold though so that sucked. Did a mile cool down with Eleanor and  my blanket :)

Really busy day so not time for much. I was tired though from reffing little kids soccer games for four hours. I like the bigger kids best because they actually know what they're doing and it makes life easier. 

Normal warmup, then 2 miles warmup and mile speed changes. It was speed. Workout was 2x800s and 4x400s so not too bad. But I felt awful and dehydrated. I forgot a water bottle today... Big mistake. I got 2:45, 2:50? Then 80-85 for the 400s. So I was way slow. Really frustrating. Mile cool down. 

We did normal warmup then up to the zoo trail over to red butte, then took the trail to JCC and went by Popperton and took Shriner run back. I was again dehydrated because I AGAIN didn't bring a water bottle to school. It's amazing how much of a difference that actually makes. And it was HOT. The hills felt like death. It's been a while since I've run those. Maybe not. I don't know but they were harder than last time. Then get this, since it was freaking hot I thought I'd stop to get a drink at the fountain. It shocked me. It felt like it does when you are plugging something in the wall and it shocks your hand. Scared me a bit then like an idiot I touched it again. It hurt. Then I finished and did progressive 300s. Two of them. I really didn't want to do them. But we had to. Bill said to hit sub 60. For some reason I thought that would be fast even though it's only 80s. But I was tired. I hit 53, 55. So I was pleased. I didn't expect I would go that fast especially after yesterday. :) 

Cheered people on at the meet at Cyprus, but no running to rest up for Arcadia!

I did the VA loop right after school before leaving for Arcadia!

Today was Arcadia! After driving the rest of the way to California and checking in to the hotel, we went over to the high school. When it was time to warm up I went with Dakota and Bill, talking about race plans and such. I did strides and stretched and Gued and all that fun stuff.

I had a terrible start, was last right off the bat. I pushed up on the straights and had an awesome first mile, came through at 5:25. The pack was going so fast, it freaked me out for a bit, then I remembered that this was Arcadia not a regular invitational. So obviously everyone there could run times that are faster than normal invitationals. I felt like I kept pushing myself but I slowed down a ton the second mile. There was pushing and shoving throughout the ENTIRE race I kid you not. That's what happens when you get that big of a pack. It was weird, the pack would speed up on the straights so it felt like speed changes. Im glad we do those a lot :) I fell off the pack towards the end. I think that was my mistake, I should have stuck with the pack. My calves were on fire the last 800. They still are. I had a hard time getting myself to kick, but I managed to out kick one or two girls. 

I wish I had done better, my time was way slow for what I was expecting. It was even slower than last year. I'm quite disappointed, as with most of my races this season thus far. But I am more motivated now, and I think I know what I am doing wrong. My mileage last year was high the week before Arcadia, then we dropped. This year my mileage has stayed pretty low. So time to boost it back up. I also have failed at any attempts to do my core every night. I need to make it a habit. So I will try again and this time it will work. It will hopefully help me get my times down to where I want them. 

I did cool down with the boys as they were warming up for the 4x1600. 

Today we went back to the meet to watch John and some other really awesome races. Wow people are fast nowadays. Some of the races were crazy, so fun to watch. When we got back to the hotel I ran with Chris for 5 miles. It felt so good, the elevation change is amazing. We were definitely going sub 7 minute pace, for some of it maybe even under 6. I'd guess our average would have been 6:30s? Fastest run I have done in a long time.

I ran over to the track and did two laps then a mile of speed changes. I was surprised to find the sprinters there. Rowland Hall and Judge also came later. So it was a lot busier than I was hoping, but oh well. I changed shoes then did a lap and started. I did 3x1200s, I was supposed to hit 4:15. I hit 4:17, 4:38, and didn't catch the last one because my ipod didn't stop, but it was around 4:40. I was struggling to hit it, even the first one felt like I was pushing really hard to hit, but usually the first one feels really easy. And these are 85 pace so it should feel easy anyway. But it wasn't. I think the elevation change back up here might have something to do with it, but I was hoping even then I'd be able to hit my times. It was hard to push myself with no one doing it with me. I found myself focusing more on random pains like my calves or the burn or how annoying it was to have to hold my ipod (somehow my family doesn't own a watch that works, and my garmin is lost.)

I did 2 laps between each and 1.5 miles cool down. Did my core.

I accidentally took a four hour nap... I guess I was pretty tired :) I did stay up really late last night. So I only had time for 6 miles. I did my core.

I did the cemetery run today. Felt pretty good, pretty relaxed. My right ankle started to hurt in the last 2 miles, maybe it's time for new shoes? Did my core.

I felt really lethargic today. I did Shriners run. I was halfway through the U campus when I realized I was wearing a BYU T-shirt. Yeah, maybe today just wasn't my day. 8 miles. Switched the shoes even though these ones are past their mileage too, but my ankle didn't hurt :) I'm going to the Nike outlet tomorrow to get new shoes. Did my core.

Ran to the track and did a mile of speed changes then ran back home.

Taylorsville Invitational today. I warmed up for the 3200 for 1.5 miles.

I was seeded first, but some girls took the race out fast. Came through at 75, then 2:41. At that point I thought we were going too fast and I backed off a bit, ended up being a lot more than I thought. Then I was running really slow and gave up and got a terrible time, worst I have had all year. The timers were nice to me and screwed up the timing so it says I ran an 11:59 but I actually ran 12:41. We tried to fix it but I'm not sure if they ever did. I was very disappointed with my race. I was actually really tired after it and instead of getting mad and preparing for the 1600 I wanted to take a nap. Haha great mentality right? Well I did take a quick nap but it didn't last very long. Warmed up a mile for the 1600.

My first lap was a 77, then 2:41, then 4:08, finished 5:36. Perfect pace for a two mile, I honestly feel like if I had to I could have made that into a 2 mile and would have done so much better because I was more focused. But didn't push like I should have. I should have gone with Angie when she moved but I didn't. 

Warmed up for the 800 with Angie because surprise! Bill put me in that too. But I was actually excited to race it and for once felt ready for it. We joked it was going to be a cat fight between me and Angie, at the end it sort of was :) Bill told me to stick with the back of the pack for the first lap, then pass people last lap. New strategy but hey I guess it worked. First lap was a 72 but it didn't really feel that fast. Second lap I started to feel the burn but it wasn't as intense as I was expecting. I tried to pick it up 300 left, 200 left, and when I was coming around the curve Bill was yelling at me to swing, I was about to but the girl in front of me did and Angie a little farther up went out in lane 2 leaving me lane 1. Worked out perfectly I guess. When I got on Angie's shoulder she sped up and I fought her but she went around a girl and I was stuck behind her, finishing a second behind Angie. It was honestly a fun race for me I enjoy the 800 probably because it goes by so fast but I like how it's between sprinting pace and mile pace. I'm happy with it considering I ran the mile and two mile before it and the legs were tired.

I did cool down with Angie, counting it as a mile.

We did normal track warmup, then a mile and a mile of speed changes. Then changed shoes and did a lap.

Workout was 200, 200, 400, 1000, 600, 600, 1000, 400, 200, 200. At first I felt really good and then my legs got really heavy, especially in the second 1000. That one probably was mentally tough for me though. I hit 35s first 200s. Then I hit 75, 3:25, 2:05, 2:10, 3:52 (yeah I slipped a lot...) 80 and didn't catch the last two 200s. The very last one we all kicked really hard so I think it was fast, or at least I hope so. I gotta get better at being mentally there. It was also windy on a lot of them. I did work hard, I am more motivated now that it's hit me how little time we've got left. Why couldn't I have been more motivated long ago? Whatever you can't change the past. We did 4 grass laps cool down and I did my core when I got home. 

Today we did the normal track warmup, then distance went down to Liberty, faster group went the long way to the fountain. We did 2 laps of fireman along the wood chips. I was in the group with the boys. I wanted to stop after a lap. There were only 6 of us so we had to stride a lot more often. On the second lap my quads were burning, the wind had picked up and I started to fall off. Of course Bill made me catch up and get to the front still. I was going against the wind with no one to draft off of, I had already been getting to the front a lot slower than every one else so it was particularly difficult for me to close the large gap and get to the front. Took me almost the whole straight to do it. I gave up with half of the shorter side left. That was stupid now that I think of it, we were almost done. I don't think we were going fast on the second lap, but my legs just felt dead. Then mentally had a hard time pushing through the wind. It was really nice to have the guys there to encourage me. That's really what got me to work up to the front, I almost gave up with half a lap to go. Thanks guys! Then we went long way back to the school. The wind was so strong by then, as I was running by the entrance on the other side of the park a huge gust of wind brought a ton of dirt and some small sticks flying towards me, the sticks hurt. And I was covered with dirt. When I got back I did a grass lap to get to 8.

Today we had a tri meet at East! We all had to help out so I helped time the sprinting events and carry hurdles. Then Sam asked if I could do the 800 in the medley, Bill said it was okay so I did it :) I did a mile warmup then had to hurry and get my spikes on, did a couple strides. We had a small lead when I got the baton thanks to our sprinters :) I went out too hard, I realized I was going too fast about 150 meters into it when I reminded myself it was an 800 not a 400. So I backed off a bit, but still came through the 400 at a 70. Yeah the second lap sucked. But I still worked, I finished with a 2:31 so an 81 last lap. Psht that's a slow pace for an 800. Ah well I was by myself and my final time was okay. We killed the Woods cross team so yay :) (they were the only other team doing it). I think our full medley time was a 4:30ish? Cause bill yelled I was at 3:09 with 400 to go. 

Then I helped time again, and right at the last minute Bill asked me if I wanted to help pace a woods cross girl in the 3200 as they were lining up, so I said I would. There was a woods cross boy helping pace too, and it was only the three of us. She wanted to break 12:30. I just ran it in my trainers. The last mile of it started to get hard even though I was going at a slower pace. I ran a 12:33, the girl ran 12:29 so mission accomplished :) for me it was a better time than taylorsville and I wasn't going as fast as I could have, so it encouraged me a bit. Although I'm not so sure I'm great at pacing because our splits were all over the place, first lap an 87, mile a 6:11. Ha. 

Then I ran with Bill, we did backwards thunderbird flagpole run. We cut down at 13th. My quads hurt. And my calves. But going along wasatch felt nice. 8 miles.

We did normal track warmup then a mile and mile speed changes. Then did another lap. It was speed. We did 2x1000s, 800, 2x400. I hit 3:40, 3:40, 2:57, 81, 80. This is gonna sound stupid but I was so sore. I know I know it was only a stupid tri meet yesterday, so idk why, maybe it was from carrying all those hurdles. That's probably why my shoulder are sore, then the quads and calves probably from a combination of the past few days. But it's the sore that's really intense and painful, not the minor one I'm used to. I hope it's not this bad on Saturday. So yeah, I did push myself in the workout, but my times were way slow. I did it in trainers and it was a bit windy, so that may have something to do with it too. But ow I hurt. 2 grass laps cool down.

Day before the race, we went to the cemetery and did two laps and then went back to the track. 4 miles.

Today was the Davis Invitational. First for me was the open 800. I warmed up a mile on the indoor track (a lovely 11 laps...) and then a half mile of speed changes after stretching. Then went down to the gym and did drills and strides.

Plan was to go out hard and get good position then run a good second lap. Well I ran in lane 2 for most of the first lap, too many people and I didn't want to get boxed in, and I was passing people. I took the lead with 500 left cause I felt good and the girl in the lead seemed to be slowing down, or at least to me. Maybe she wasn't, maybe I just felt good. But I felt relaxed. Then 400 left came and it was literally like my legs and arms just froze, or maybe that was 300 left. I came through the 400 at 70 though. It was so cold with the rain pouring and there was some wind. When there was 200 left people started passing and I tried to match but couldn't get myself to, 100 left I stopped trying to match  I should have though, if I would have been "sassy" and not let anyone pass me I would have done a lot better. But I matched my best this season with a 2:29 in bad conditions so I was happy. And I got fifth and medaled :) I think I pulled a muscle in my arm because it really hurts even after massaging it for quite a while. But it'll be fine. Who uses arms anyway? :)

Hey guys, guess what? I broke 5 in the mile!! Oh wait, just kidding, that might've been a dream. Oh yeah, I missed my race :O haha I guess I should pay better attention to time. Well maybe it was best I didn't race because the invited section was slower than I thought it would have been, and I would have had to be top 6 to qualify for state, which was the goal. I did a mile of warmup for it though :)

Then warmed up a mile for the 3200 and did a few drills and strides then ran to the line with Emmaline cause we almost missed the start. Again. Ahhhhhhh. Warming up inside tends to make you almost miss your race I guess! It's okay though we made it. 

I relaxed the first lap cause I knew it was gonna go out fast and I wanted to hit between 80-82 first lap. I hit 80. Came through the mile at 5:39 so on pace but the fifth lap I slipped. Then it went downhill. I sort of snapped out of it when Bill told me to match a Davis girl and I tried to keep out in lane 2 but she cut in waaaay too soon, which for some reason really made me mad. I passed her back and we fought back and forth but I fell back I think. 800 left I sort of gave up cause I didn't think it was possible to qualify which was stupid because I could have run a good last 800 and still qualified. I didn't want to hurt. I out kicked the Davis girl but got out kicked by some one else. Finished with an 11:41. 

Then did a cool down with Bill and Garek that was originally going to be 3 miles but turned into 6. It was a little hillier than I would have liked but it was nice on the way back. Bill had us count how many times our right foot hits the ground in a minute while we were running, to see what our turnover is like. First time I counted 86, apparently in the 90s is best. Second and third times were 89 and 90. I beat Garek and Bill every time, they got 85-86 I think :) kind of fun! I sort of forgot about turnover. Guess I have good turnover though so yay!

Today was the Avenues hill run. We ran over to T street and then started, stride up the hill to the next street, turn left and recover down the hill, and stair step up to 11th Ave. The hills get steeper as you go. The last couple hurt and my heart rate felt a million times faster than it normally would for a normal speed workout. So I think that's good? Sprinting is not my area. It was a good workout though, we haven't done this one for a while. Then took Shriners run back, and 2 progressive 300s at the end. I hit 49 and 53. It was a bit windy.

Today was speed. Normal track warmup then mile warmup mile speed changes, changed shoes and did a lap. Workout was 3 sets of 3 x 400s, standing recovery and a lap between sets. I was supposed to hit between 75 - 80 for all of them. I hit 77, 78, 78,   78? 78, 79,   80, 77, 78. So I was pretty consistent. The wind sucked. The backstretch it was so strong and mentally hard to push through. But I did it. 3 grass laps cool down. 

Today was a tri meet at Clearfield. I warmed up about 2 miles and did strides. Did the 400, 800, and 4x400 because of BYU this weekend. In the 400 I was in the second heat. I won it so yay, but I felt like I died the last 100. The wind was brutal. Idk how I placed overall. Bill said it was about a 67 so a new PR I think, plus he said with the wind it would have slowed us down so we could probably take 2 seconds off :) yay! Then in the 800 I felt tired, but I still worked. I didn't get a great time, I'd guess a 2:34ish but idk. So not the best. I didn't get a great start, then moved around the pack into second, then highland girl I think passed me, I caught up to the Clearfield girl that beat me in Cross Country regions, went around her so back into second. Came through 400 at a 73. The. On the curve the Clearfield girl tried to pass me, I tried to match, I was right up next to her shoulder she just a little in front of me and she cut in. Way too early, even worse than the Davis girl at the Davis invite. I almost tripped but caught myself and went around her, adrenaline I guess :) Last 100 was hard, I got passed by a different Clearfield girl and had a hard time kicking.

then did about a half mile between and some strides. The 4x400 I was dreading cause I really didn't want to do it. My legs were tired and I had just run the 800 and they were moving the meet along really fast! Oh well. I was last leg, when I got it we were in second with a gap, when I finished we were second. I ran a 68 though! Still faster than my previous PR and there was still a ton of wind :) 

Did a mile cool down.