Sock tans

AM:

flagpole run, to westminister then presidents circle and Shriners run back. We were going 7:20s to westminister until they took off, I backed off to 7:51. My legs are tired from yesterday. Then did 2 progressive 300s.

PM:

2 grass laps warmup, then some new bleacher laps. Then did 6 Js, the last 3 all out. Recovered for 200 after each one, my recovery was very slow because Bill wanted us girls varsity to stay as a group. Then we did 2 grass laps cool down. 

I think that I just haven't enjoyed running as much lately because I have never been top girl and I've worked hard 2 years now and I had expected this year to finally be my year, but it hasn't worked out that way. I admit I was and still am upset about it, but I've decided that as long as I'm  doing my best every day it's all that matters. Wow now I sound like Bill. 

Today was the quad meet at clearfield. We warmed up 1.5 figuring out the course. Then we changed into flats and went to the start.

The start was really confusing, it was the one place I didn't know where to go. We were following the arrows and path of flags, but then it just disappeared once we got to the parking lot, I had no idea where we were supposed to go, I only knew the basics. We slowed down a lot and started going the complete wrong direction until another girl corrected us and we saw the cone that was hidden. Then it happened again. But this one we corrected ourselves before we were too far off course. Anyway, I could tell this race was not going how I planned, it felt a lot faster than we should have been going. First mile was 6:03 (including the little mess up), then second 6:38, last .96 was 6:28, so pretty even last 2 miles, but slow. I really wish I could have done better, but then again I did feel like I was relaxing in the middle, I felt like I could have picked it up more last mile at least. It's just getting myself to kick. My kick was pretty weak, I could've pushed harder. Hopefully I'll be able to do everything right at Park City on friday. Kind of a sucky race.

Then for cool down I wasn't even thinking and did mile warmup, mile speed changes, mile cool down instead of just a mile speed changes and mile cool down. :O

Today we just had a morning practice :) We did the VA loop to 13th then back to the track. Then we did 6x200s with a 200 recovery. Didn't catch the first time, but the next ones were 33, 34, 33.5, 36, 36. Then we did 2 grass laps cool down.

Today was the Park City race. I warned up about 1.5.

I didn't really get out well. I got trapped behind girls going way slower than I wanted. When I got to the first hill I passed a lot, which was nice :) then we went along the loop and I wasn't expecting the rolly hills. The uphills in that second mile felt hard for some reason. Then I used the downhill and was able to power up the last few hills, I tried to pick it up again on the last mile. I used the last downhill the best I could but found myself struggling, when I tried to get myself to kick I couldn't, Bill yelled 300 left and I just could not pick it up. Maybe it had to do with the cold (there was snow on the ground, which makes me sad, I love summer) :( I got passed in the last 10 meters by two girls. And to make matters worse, my time was slower than Wednesday. Granted there were hills and it was cold, but I'm tired of excuses, I just want faster times. 

Did a 2 mile cool down reflecting on my race, I felt like I could've worked harder the second mile but I didn't want to go too hard and have the last mile be slow. But now I know for region. Region is on Friday and I'm freaking out... I don't feel ready. After my sad cool down I strangely was in a better mood, I was really upset after my race. Then we went to dinner, and five years later am typing this. School felt like 3 days ago, but it was 9 hours ago. 

Today we went to pipeline for the later group. It was a bit chilly, but it was really pretty too. Eleanor and I ran together, we stayed sub-7:20 for the first 8 miles, then in the 9th I twisted my ankle and stopped for a minute, and then went slower at around 8:00 pace for the last 2 miles. It feels better now, so that's good. It was a good run.

AM:

Easy 3 around my neighborhood.

PM:

Speed today. 2 grass laps, then asphalt hills. Then did our workout, which was 2x1000s at the track, then up to sunnyside and do 2x800s, then back down to the track, 2x1000s, more asphalt hills. I was supposed to hit 6:00 pace for all of this, so 3:45 for the 1000s and 3:00 for the 800s. I hit the first one in 3:34, then 3:38. Then the 800s were 2:41 and 2:37. Then 1000s were 3:36 and 3:41. I was feeling great, oddly. It didn't seem to me to be too tough of a workout :)

AM:

Was a little late to morning practice so I had to run on my own and try my best to catch up. I just decided to relax a little and not push it too much. VA loop to 13th and back to the track then 2 progressive 300s, then a lap to get to 4.

PM:

Ran to sugarhouse and ran part of the state course seeing as today is the last day we can do it. Then went back to the track and added a lap to get to 7.

2 grass laps warmup, then did some drills. Then we did a 200 to open up stride, then a 400, 200, 200, 400, 200. My times were 37, 76, 36, 35, 74, 36. Then 2 grass laps cool down. You know, I think I've been getting myself down because I am not the top girl on the team like I wanted, but I've just been trying to focus on what I'm doing and not what the other girls are doing and have found that I am doing better. My times are much better than they were last year, it was just that I didn't feel good about them because of where I was placing on the team. But I've realized that as long as I'm trying my best it's all that matters. I'm excited for region now because I know I've done everything I could up until now and I'm going to prepare well for it in the next few days. I'm nervous, but excited! I think the girls can take region this year and it would be awesome if we did!!

We had our service project today, then went to the Jordan river parkway trail after getting lost a few times (don't trust the person without a license to figure out how the freeways work) and did 2 miles then 6 strides and it got us to about 2.5. Region is tomorrow!! :O

Regions!

Got 1.5 warmup in, then went to the line and did strides and such. I felt a little nervous, but in a way wasn't prepared to race.

I started way too fast, for some reason I went out with Millika which was stupid cause I knew she was a lot faster than me. I felt stiff and every step was forced. I didn't feel relaxed. I run better when I'm relaxed and I feel like I'm running smooth. Yeah, not today. I just in general felt awful. Didn't want to tell anyone that in fear of bringing the team down though. The first mile felt fast but probably wasn't, then just died from there. I fell off of the lead pack right before the mile, then just thought to myself that I have 2 miles to catch 2 people. My original plan was to start picking it up with a mile to go so I did. I picked it up after roller coaster and focused on Megan and a Clearfield girl. I passed Megan by the pine tree and tried to catch up to Clearfield, who somehow missed the turn at the top of Miranda and started heading down to the parking lot, so I got in front there, but she probably got an adrenaline burst and passed me back pretty fast. Then Tilda passed me with 800 to go and I tried to match but honestly couldn't get myself to. Up Bessie for the last time I really tried to kick but felt awful and just wanted to be done.

Quite an awful race for me. Just so frustrated right now. I did things differently than I normally do for races, why I just don't know, but at least I know what to do and what not to do. 

Okay enough with the negatives. Positives of the race: THE GIRLS TOOK REGION!!!! Good job team!

Forgot how much uphill JCC is. I felt really tired and averaged 8:36 pace. Going up hit a solid 9:50 pace because I just felt so dead. Man my ankle is really bothering me, can't tell if it's part of my shin problem or from when I twisted my ankle at pipeline. My shin hurt a lot on the downhill.

AM:

Easy 4.25

PM:

Today was a good run. I was able to keep up with Chris and Garek for most of it. We ran to Fairmont and did strides, then to Liberty and did a lap of fireman, then long way around and back to the track to finish to 9. Averaged 7:05.

Today we did a bit of speed. We did 2 grass laps warmup avoiding the hill, then went to the asphalt hill and did 5 of those, then went back up and started the workout. We did 2 200s (36, 35) to open up stride. On the second one I got hit in the head with a football, thanks football players, it felt really good. Anyway, we then did 2 400s (80, 82) and then 2 800s (2:48, 2:50.) I was supposed to hit 85s for the 400s and 2:50 for the 800s. So it was too fast. But it was weird, I was feeling crappy and sick to my stomach. Normally when I feel that way I do bad in the workout. Like half of the team was hurting or sore or something, so Bill decided to change it and we'll do a better speed workout on thursday. We did one more 400 and called it good, but everyone was to hit their time (84 - actually had to slow down the last 200 - 100 meters to hit it close.) I kinda wish we had gotten it over with but you gotta do what the team needs. Maybe on thursday I can actually be consistently hitting the right times. Then we did VA loop and finished to 3, then got free donuts at Banbury Cross, which were delicious!

Recovery run today, although it felt faster than being relaxed? Averaged 7:33 and got down below 7 pace a few times. Lowest mile split was 7:06, but we did jump around a bit with the pace. Felt tight. It was the run up to the zoo and along wasatch to thunderbird and the flagpole then back along foothill to 13th to 19th to Sunnyside and back to the track.

Morning speed workout today, 2 miles warmup to foothill and back, then hill strides. We did 2 400s (84, 80) then 1600 (5:53) and 3 more 400s (81, 79, 80). Then Olivia, Clara and I had to leave for St. George! So no cool down. 

Janet drove Olivia, Clara and I to the trail we run on in St. George for Footlocker and we ran on that. But we started from the other end. Or I should say the end closest to the turnaround. Anyway, 40 minutes is what Bill said to do, so I went out 20 and back, although I went a bit slower on the way back so It was actually 41:33. :/ I felt great to start off then when I turned around it didn't seem like so much fun. Idk why it just didn't. I could see the gas station we stop at for Footlocker so that was fun and I recognized random parts of the trail. 

We were supposed to do a full hour today, but we didn't have time so we did what we could. Went to the trail again, turned around a little sooner than yesterday because I was going slower, wanted to relax a little more. My legs felt a little tight at that 20 minute mark so I stopped to stretch and felt much better after. Then threw in a bit of fartlek, (5x 1 minute on 1 minute off) it really helped get over the mental factor of having to go back. The trail isn't even hard, I think it was just the out and back part of it and the trail seems to go on forever. Today I did feel more tired due to lack of sleep (ha). Once I got back Olivia and Clara were still coming back so I added along a bridge and back along the trail until I met up with them and came back with them. St. George is awesome

Today was a short speed workout. I felt okay when we started, so I hoped the speed would go well. The hills felt fine and the warmup was fine too. When we started the speed part I started to not feel so good. We did an 800, 600, 400, 400, 4x200s. In the 800, 400 into it I already felt awful. My stomach didn't feel great in the warmup, but I can usually run through that so it didnt worry me. My legs started to feel heavy after the 800, but I can work through that so it was alright. But what is still slightly new to me, what I wasn't expecting, was my asthma to act up. My asthma sort of went away after I don't know what age, but certain things, I realize now, trigger it. Indoor track last year I remember it was a problem. But today was the first day since that it has come back. Could it have been the elevation change? I don't know, but it was a really scary feeling. After the 600 and first 400 especially, I felt my throat start to close and panicked a bit. I was more careful after that, tried to control my breathing better and it seemed to help a little. My times were 2:45, 76, 81, 37, 37, 37, 37. Then did 5 minutes of cool down.

Today we did 2 grass laps warmup staying low, then 2 laps of speed changes, and then we did one 400. 69-70 was my time. Then we did 2 more laps of speed changes. Then two more grass laps cool down.

State!

I warmed up with the Varsity girls and did strides and such, really didn't feel in the race mode until right before the race when we were lining up. I got a great start, almost too good to be true, I had been fretting that I was going to get boxed in. It looked like I was in the top 25. LOTS of elbowing, some girl jabbed my side along the straight after the first hill. We came along the flower beds and I used the downhill well, was doing great. I had thought that today was my lucky day. If I could just keep it up I would have a good time. But then a girl behind me followed too close and kicked my feet out from under me and I fell, her falling on top of me. I really hurt my hip, and it took a lot   More effort than it should have to get back up and start running again. There went my good start. When I started again, my hip hurt so bad I was on the verge of tears, the choking feeling did not feel good going up state hill. I tried to calm myself and just focus on my race, but couldn't focus again. Not with everyone now passing me. My mile mark was 6:26 including my stupid fall and state hill. Yeah I forgot to turn off GPS but whatever. I felt like I was just running the last part. Really slow. Some parts like poker hill felt like above 10 minute pace. I tried to pull myself together, but it was like after I tripped I flipped a switch and everything turned negative, plus my hip hurt a ton. I literally thought in the middle of the race "Well XC junior year turned out a failure." And it did. Couldn't even pull off a good race at region let alone state. I wanted to quit so many times in the race. I forced myself to finish though. i also fought the urge to walk. man i havent felt that urge in a really long time. At the 2 mile mark i heard Tomy and Natalie screaming at me, and Bill yelling to pick it up. I tried, I really did. I focused on my arms and tried to get myself moving. Arou the pond people started passing me again, I tried to match but lost it when Olivia passed me. She was nice enough to talk me through it and tell me to go with her. I tried to kick with 300 left going towards the track. I let everyone down and everyone was disappointed in me. I went from freaking top 30 to 107th. Of course I had to do bad at the most important race of the season.

On my own today. I can't tell if my hip is feeling better or if it hurts the same because of the soreness in my calves. I can feel it but my calves hurt so bad that I hardly notice it. What the heck? I didn't even do well yesterday, why are my calves so sore?! I can barely walk! Or sit for that matter, I hope my hip will heal soon. I think it is better than yesterday though. Fun fact, my whole run today was faster than my last 2 miles of racing yesterday. (Sub 8 minute pace). Nice relaxed run. Now to get back to the enormous pile of papers that make up my homework...

Today I had a test so I completely missed the meeting, but I think I know what it was about already. I got there in time for the run though :) we went up legacy bridge way to the drinking fountain, then adventure run to Shriners. I got confused because I stopped at the drinking fountain to stretch my incredibly sore calves and saw the group keep going up, like they were supposed to, but somehow thought that maybe we were supposed to o up to the fence and back. So I went up to the fence and realized that I wasn't supposed to but oh well. Then came back down and went the right way. Probably added about a mile. I felt a little out of place running through the U campus with my BYU shirt i won from the BYU race... My legs couldn't take too fast of a pace today. Good news though, my hip is starting to feel better, I think icing it helped.

I wanted to get at least 9 today, but it has been busy. So many things to do. Just did my version of thunderbird flagpole run. Each day I slowly start to feel better, I'm not quite as sore anymore which is good. I've set some goals for myself for track, so hopefully I'll do better in track than I did in XC. It's weird to think that this year I could break 5 in the 1600... That's a scary thought. I'm still used to thinking about trying to break 5:20, cause I only did it once. That's the nice thing about running, even if people around you are doing better than you, you can set goals for yourself in your times and still feel satisfied. Wish I figured that out sooner in the year.

Today we went to Liberty. We did 2x2 mile tempo. It was supposed to be at 3 mile PR pace plus a minute for the 2 miles, so for me around 13:40. First one too fast at 12:57, then second one even faster at 12:51. It was nice on the second one to have Bill pushing me. Felt kinda sluggish but oddly did better than I expected.

Today we just went for a run. We went to sugarhouse and did 2 laps on the new trail and went back to the school. The first 2 miles felt hard but once we were in sugarhouse I looked at my watch and we were going sub 6:20 pace so that's why. So I backed off to a more comfortable pace - 7:30ish. Then on the way back Dakota had stopped and so he was with me and I decided to try to go with him, yeah only kept that up for about a half mile. But it did get me going faster, was closer to 7 minute pace then. Averaged 7:05 which surprised me too, I guess I have been improving I've just been too discouraged to notice.

Today was a good day. Ran up to the track and did 2 track laps warmup then a mile speed changes. Then we started the workout, 5 x 1000s. Bill said to hit 3:45-3:50. I hit 3:35, 3:41, 3:41, 3:40, 3:37. On the last two I felt like I was going to throw up my lunch, I guess that's what happens when you eat a large one (I was expecting to go to the oval, but I'm glad we didn't!) I think I'm catching another stupid cold, my throat is starting to burn. Just what I wanted. Did 600 recovery in between each and then mile cool down.

We went to the cemetery and did a lap then took Shriners to the secon drinking fountain. The. Went back same way, but not without trick-or-treating first. Yeah, only two people actually answered and one of which shut the door in our faces and locked it. But hey a Reece's and Kit Kat bar are great too! And the best part was that they didn't melt in my hands! Then we went back to the cemetery and did another lap and back to the school.