Sock tans

Weights in the morning, heavier weight/less sets week. I was lightheaded and a bit tired after, probably the combination of dehydration and a good workout. 

Afterwards I did 3 mile parks loop with Morgan then did Canyon to the two mile mark and turned. The snow progressively got worse until it was blizzarding. The low impact felt good on my knee though, maybe it’s time for new shoes

My phone died this weekend so I’m in the process of getting a new one. The same day my check engine light came on #blessed. Anyway, missed the memo from coach that practice was on our own, got to practice and no one had shown up but Paul. He didn’t get it either hahaha. Then Coach came and said to run in St. George. Well, my car wasn’t reliable and I am already incredibly short on time. I’m thinking about quitting my job because I’m stretched so thin. So I just ran in Cedar. It was sooo cold. Did out and back on Dikes but turned on Main on the way back. 7:39 average.

Hip rehab before my evening class

HR 56

Awesome workout today! I’ve realized that I need to be more positive about things and make note of when I have good days, too. Today was definitely one of those days. I’m so pumped!

Started with warmups and 3 miles warmup, then strides. Workout was 5x500s for the 800/1500 group. I’m actually really happy I’m in this group because I’ve forgotten what it feels like to go fast and I’m starting to remember and get back into the groove of it. Goal pace for the 400 split on them was 74-80, I forgot the full 500 goal pace. I was just focusing on the 400 splits because that’s what I’m familiar with haha. I hit:

500 time (400 split)

1) 93 (74)

2) 94 (76)

3) 96 (76)

4) 98 (77)

5) 100 (79)

Averages out to 96 (76). Coach yelled out to me as we were cooling down that last year in this workout I averaged 103. I didn’t realize how much I’ve improved since then, I’m so pumped! 100 is 5:20 pace, it’s crazy that I hit every one of them, even the last one when I was dead, at 5:20 pace or under. I’ve had a mental barrier at a 5:20 mile. It kind of felt like a dream rather than a real goal. To get back and running that fast... that’s seemed crazy to me. It’s been 4 years since I’ve been able to. But now... well, I just ran faster than that pace this workout and I feel like I could’ve run faster if I would’ve pushed myself harder on those last ones. I’ve got to get used to running fast, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and getting my feet going.

I’m going to Weber State this weekend and I’m actually really nervous but excited. Because now it’s not just a far-fetched goal to break 5:20, what if I can actually do it? I haven’t really believed that I will, but now... maybe I actually can. If I can get myself into gear and push myself to hurt rather than stay relaxed. Granted it’s a mile and not 500 meters, but I’ve learned the pace and I know I can do it. I can hold it.

Coach said afterwards that if I can get a few races under my belt, I’ll be back and running like I used to. I’m excited because I think that’s true. I just want to PR so bad. To break 5:10 in the mile, that was a goal I had my senior year of high school that I missed by less than a second. And then it’s always been my dream to break 5:00. And maybe I actually can within the next couple of years. That would be so amazing.

Also, when I asked Coach today the likelihood of him having to cut my scholarship, he said not likely. I was so surprised, by the way he’d been talking during Cross and the sheer number of times he’s asked me to reconsider my options, see if this was really what I wanted to do, and the fact that he was almost going to cut me from the team this year, I just assumed it was going to be lowered no matter what. It helped me to relax and just focus on myself rather than trying to prove to Coach I was good enough, and maybe that was the secret all along. I’m just pumped to see how far I’ve come and the direction I’m going. Maybe now I can accomplish my dreams and be a useful player. In the last meeting I had with Coach before this, he’d said almost to himself “if we can get you back and running as fast as you did in high school...that would be a crazy story.” I want to make that a reality.

Cooled down to 9. Weights and rehab. 3x25 crunches, 3x10 pushups.

HR 52

I was tired today. My knee was also stiff and painful. Eeeeps in weights yesterday the 2 band hamstring curls were hurting it but me being me I thought psht don’t be a wimp and pounded through them anyways... Drew said to be smarter next time. I might have to skip out on those from now on until my knee doesn’t hurt at all while doing them.

I heated, rolled out, stretched and biked before running. It was feeling better than before, but still not awesome by the end of that. Drew just told me to be smart on my run, so I was in the clear to run but I was kind of hesitant about it. But once again, after a mile it warmed up and wasn’t much of a bother. Still felt it a little, but I was relieved. I’ll just have to be careful and warm up well before doing anything quick. I did Main slower and shortened my mileage to be safe. 7:40 average

Rolled out again, stretched again, did the glute challenge for rehab for 1 minute per exercise (14 total minutes- now that’s a real challenge haha), then game readied my knee. It feels surprisingly good now.

My new shoes came today so I’ll switch those out tomorrow and hopefully that’ll help the issue.

HR 60

Warmed up 2 miles, rolled out, did warmups and a few strides. I was really hoping for 5:20, thought for sure I’d break 5:30, and here we are. I came through 400 at 76 and relaxed through the 800 at 2:38 so I was on pace at that point, then I crashed and burned. I guess I’m just lacking the endurance and/or strength to keep up the pace. But I never gave up, I pushed myself and that’s all that matters. Aiden said that I went for it and that’s the first step. Maddy said that after a few races of pushing and working hard it’ll come and I will be able to hold it. It just takes time. The conversion for altitude/flat 200 meter track is 11 seconds so at sea level on a regular 400 meter track it would’ve been 5:28. So I guess that’s still decent. At least I’m heading in the right direction, last year at this meet I ran 5:45. And Jake said that after injury, you almost have to start over and set new personal bests post-injury. And I guess it’s my best college time. I should probably just let go of my high school times and focus on college and doing the best I can. And eventually it will come. I still have this year and two more years to cut my times down. I just have to be patient. 

All things considered, I’d say it was a successful meet. Sure I’m disappointed and it wasn’t what I wanted but I can learn from it and later this season I’ll be able to cut my time down. 

Cooled down 7 miles slow, 7:50 average