Sock tans

Carpooled to UVU with the other redshirts, I ran their warmup as a shakeout and added to 2. Warmed up 2 more miles then strides, stretching and drills.The meet was behind and took forever to start the races, I warmed up too soon. Worst race of my life (okay second worst, Roy Griak definitely takes the cake there). I considered dropping out halfway through but decided against it. Came through the mile at 5:49 then died. 6:45 (12:34), and 7:22 (19:56) were my other splits, then 50 seconds for the last .1. Skipped the cool down because we needed to head back to Cedar.

I've thought a lot about my race, and I know that mentally I wasn't there and I could've improved my time a lot if I would have been more positive. It was a good learning experience. I've also thought about how I am running right now and think it is almost a blessing. Obviously I wish that I could be running as fast as I was last year, but it has made me more grateful for signing with SUU. Coach, instead of cutting my scholarship out of frustration that I can't hit the times he wants me to, is genuinely trying to figure out a way to get me better for the years to come. He doesn't think any less of me because of how I am performing right now and instead sees the potential in me and every other athlete that he has had and focuses on what we can become. I know of a few coaches that would do the opposite. It has also pushed me towards serving a mission, I don't know what my choice would have been if I was doing really well right now. I know that I am going to have the best and hardest times on my mission, but know I will love it and be extremely grateful for serving one.

Easy run on my own after conference. Calves are sore from wearing spikes for the first time in months yesterday.

For those looking for an uplifting message I'd encourage you to watch tomorrow's general conference sessions at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM MDT. They are available online at lds.org or on the radio or TV.

"As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. … There are messages in each general conference given as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations."

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

50% run, 5 steps into it my calves were burning. Made it a mile before I had to stop because they were so painfully tight. Stretched them for a bit, then continued. After a bit my hamstring tightened up. Still continued hoping it would be okay, but turned a little while later because I did not want to injure my hamstring again. Feel bad about how little I ran but I know that if I had gone to 8 like I planned it would have been bad news for my hammy. On the bright side it's been doing really well up until now, hopefully it feels good tomorrow.

HR 52

Because of the festival of excellence we had no classes today! Practice was held in the morning and it was really nice. Warmups, form mile, then redshirts did a 50% on Dikes. 7:34 average. Felt good for the first 2 miles and then not so much, but managed to stay within range for the rest of it. Had to hurry to make up a test I missed on Friday so I couldn't add to 8, but I'll probably go for a second run later today.

HR 52

50% again today on Cross Hollows. Decided to go the slow end of the pace. It was nice to actually relax for a couple miles of downhill. 7:45 average. I'm very sore from weights yesterday.

HR 52

AM: 3 miles easy

PM: 50% on canyon run, took the trail on the way back which slowed us down. Ended up averaging 7:39. Felt relaxed, but it still felt fast. But you know it's okay, the pace really isn't too much to ask, I think I've just been trying too hard to keep up with the other girls and on days when I can't it has been discouraging despite being well within the range. Having that meeting with Coach was good because he suggested staying at the back end of the pace and was totally fine with it, which relieved a lot of pressure I put on myself. The run was GLORIOUS thanks to Clinton :) Knee and hammy were bugging a bit today but weren't too bad, iced and STEM afterwards. Might see if Ashley can rub out my hamstring later tonight.

HR 53

50% on Main Street, 7:40 average. Clinton's stories are hilarious! I'm gonna miss these runs. Less than a month left until I move back to Salt Lake, and even crazier: 74 days until I report to the MTC!

HR 53

Annalee and I had the great idea of pulling an all nighter. It was a blast. I went for a 4 mile run at 7:30.

Update: I crashed real hard at noon.

Warmups, form mile, then 2 miles warmup and strides. Redshirts workout was 10x300s. The first few felt weird, like I had forgotten what it felt like to go fast. Unfortunately after a few it wasn't so fun anymore, it was definitely a shock to get going again. Times went 53, 54, 55, 60, 62, 61, 60, 62, 60, 61, averaging out at 58. Obviously my speed is lacking because I've been doing the 5k group's workouts, but it felt good to open up the stride again. Cooled down to 7.

I hurt all over. Sore from yesterday and my hamstrings were bugging. Cramps. Just a sucky day for running. Ran with Kacey and Ashley and Maddy followed us on a bike :)

HR 60

Apparently practice was on our own today, but none of us got the memo :) We did Razorbacks. I just relaxed and enjoyed the run, my legs are still a bit sore. Once we got to the trail I went up a little and my hammy wasn't feeling it so I came back down and continued along the road up the canyon (gradual uphill hurt less than the steeper hills on Razorbacks) and took Canyon run trail back to the track.

HR 56

Have 2 tests tomorrow and 2 huge assignments coming up, it's a stressful time. Next week is dead week and the week after that finals week. You know it's real when you have to skip the Jungle Book premier. Cut my run short, 4 miles.

6 miles, out and back on Cross Hollows. Wind was very strong today, I was almost blown off the path a few times.

Motivation to run is very low right now, the fact that I'm going to be out of shape for 18 months has me a little less excited to be working hard. After all, it's all going to waste. I have senioritis all over again, this time with running.

What got me out the door today was the crazy statistic Ashley learned in class (she's majoring in exercise science): if you go 6 days without doing cardio exercises you lose 60% of your cardio, but if you go 30 days without working out your muscles you only lose 7% of your muscle mass. Runners are screwed.

I feel bad because I should want to run all I can before I go on my mission, take advantage of the time I have to workout before I get limited to a half hour a day. But like I said before, I won't get a pay off for any hard work I put in right now. So on days like yesterday when it turned back into winter I lose the desire to run. #sorry

Today was a 50%, I ended up averaging 7:45. So technically I hit the pace, but once we hit the uphill my hamstring was really bugging and I fell back to above 8:00 pace, which is considered "too slow." The downhill was fast enough to make up for the slow uphill. Iced afterwards.

Sheep Tunnels! It was my first time running all the way through. Fun but also kind of scary! Then went back up to Main Street, down the road by the hotels to campus (but not before filling up on good old electrolytes!) Finished to 7. Weights afterwards was death. Jk, it really wasn't that bad I just have really weak arms.

Today was a speed day, I was pumped for the workout because I actually was hoping to do 400s just so that I can kind of feel where I'm at pace-wise. I did 3 and they felt awesome, I was surprised actually because I don't feel like I'm in that great of shape and didn't think I could go below 80 on any of them so I was extra pumped when I hit 76, 78, and 79. We were supposed to do 6 of them (coach put me in the 800 group today) at 1500 pace. On the 4th my hamstring really tightened up with 200 to go, I was on pace for another sub-80 but my hammy! Ended up with a 90 and Paul told me to go to the training room. Bummed cause it was turning out much better than I expected.

HR 60

Hamstring felt better than yesterday, still bugged a bit but wasn't bad. STEM before practice. Did the form mile and Clinton said I could do another mile. Then stretching, ice and STEM afterwards. Haley says I can still race on Saturday which I'm pumped for. I figure it's my last one before my mission so why not just go for it? Hopefully my hamstring doesn't bug me too bad in the race.

3 miles then biked a half hour. Last day of classes!

A mile shakeout in the morning with Ashley and Kamryn

1.5 warmup at BYU

Mile race: felt like I was going a lot faster than I actually was, most likely because I haven't gone that fast in months. Also, wind is currently 20 mph (though it was stronger earlier) so conditions aren't ideal. It's fortunate we live in Cedar City because that's become almost the norm so I was kind of used to it. Anyways, got a bad start and was out in lane 3 the whole first lap, then lane 2 for about 1.5 laps and finally moved into lane 1 for the last 1.5. Sort of died towards the end, I'm not used to racing. Amber was just ahead of me and I was ahead of all the other redshirts until the last lap when, just like in high school, I got outkicked by all but Kaylee in the last 200 meters. Yay. But, it was fun to race again and experience some of the joys of running once more. A little bummed about the time but I really just raced for fun so it doesn't really matter. Also, to put it in perspective, there were 12 girls seeded under 5 and only one broke it, so it was just a slow day for distance. Glad I can still break 6:00, I'm sure that'll be a struggle when I get back from my mission :)

Cooled down 1.5.

Practice was at 8 today. Hamstring has been bugging but it's feeling much better than I expected it to after racing. Did main street loop and cut down the road by the hotels.

Coach told us redshirts that today was the last day we had to come, I was kind of sad :(

Ran with the Ashleys, neither of them could run this morning so they had to do the workout later. Did warmups and a mile warmup, then I just ran at a comfortable pace to Home Depot and timed their whistle hills. Then did their cool down back to the track.

Decided to run slow until I felt about as tired as I would after a quick 6 mile 50%, which ended up being around mile 9. At that point I thought I might as well go to 10. Pulled out the winter gear once again, the weather in Utah is unpredictable. 41 and rainy, but the rain felt good, at least until it started to pour.

Basketball and rock climbing after my last final! It was a blast.

Took the day off

6 miles through the neighborhoods, hamstring was bugging a bit.