Sock tans

Mind was racing last night and I couldn’t fall asleep. Also was really confused when I woke up from my nap because I had a dream within a dream and I wasn’t sure if I was really awake hahaha. Inception status. 

AM: 3 miles easy

PM: 50% today! But it was still pretty quick because coach wants us to stay as a pack and my group wouldn’t slow down for the life of them (the range is 7:15-7:45). I gave up trying to keep it relaxed like coach also wants because I didn’t want him mad at me for not staying with the pack. Ahhh 50%s are always just a struggle. Cross Hollows, 7:05 average. 15x100m strides after with 15 seconds rest and added to 8. 

Weights later. I was actually amazed because pull-ups and pushups aren’t as hard anymore. Pull-ups are still friggin hard even with the bands, but compared  to earlier in the semester not too bad. 

AM: Steeple practice + 1 mile. My knee’s been bugging for a couple weeks from when I landed bad while practicing the water barrier, but it was going away. I think jumping today aggravated it more. 

PM: 1 mile in Exercise Physiology lab as warmup/cool down for the Wingate test and vertical jump right before practice

Warmups, 1.5 mile warmup, then a few jumps over the barrier before starting the workout. Today was 12x400s, we alternated repeats of regular 400s and 400s with a barrier and a hurdle. First set had 90 seconds rest, next had 60, last had 45. Paces were a little all over the place partially because of the barrier, which is much more intimidating than a hurdle I must say. On one of the repeats, I don’t even know what happened, I just lost confidence going over the barrier and slowed down and did something weird, my trail leg ended up catching the barrier and I biffed it. In front of the guy I’ve been eyeing, no less. But he’s still cute and still talked to me afterwards so. Did a few more repeats and idk if my fall twinged something more in my knee but it was killing. So I dropped, did like .25 cool down and went to the trainers. 

Times: 87 (steeple), 88, 91 (steeple), 91, 92 (steeple), 90, 96 (steeple), 93, 94 (steeple), 91. I did more repeats than I thought so that makes me happy. And considering how sore my legs are it was a half decent workout.

Today's workout was tough. 9x400s followed by an 80% for 3 miles. The 400s had 90 seconds rest and 2:00 between the last one and the 80.

400s: 78, 80, 79, 80, 81, 86, 86, 86, 89 (82.8 average). 

Coach pulled me aside and wanted me to try to stick with the group once I had fallen off, as it's the only way I'll get over that threshold. I really tried, but it was like I hit a wall after the 5th repeat. I'm sad because I feel like I let coach down by not sticking with the group, but I was really trying. But I'm glad that he talked to me because it did help me to focus, and I think that next time I'll be able to hang on longer.

The 80% was a struggle. I was already super tired from the 400s and, I know it's bad and I really just need to get over it, but I wanted to drop again. I know I shouldn't want to, but I hurt so bad. And I know practice is always going to hurt so really I shouldn't complain because what do you expect? But understanding that and pushing through the pain are two totally different things. But I'm getting better at it, slowly but surely. And even though I told myself I wasn't just going to float through workouts anymore with the mentality that I need to just finish, today was honestly such a hard workout that after the first mile of the 80 that's all I could think. Because if I thought about trying to hit a specific pace I knew I wouldn't be able to hit I would mentally lose it. So I have a long ways to go to perfect my mental game, but as for today I did what I could. I'm not satisfied with it, but everyone struggled today and no one was on pace for the 80%. That makes it a little better. 21:47 for 3 miles (7:15 average), yikes.

Weights later. Coach I took one look at us and said, "you guys look really fatigued," so instead of making us go up to workout 2 he said we could do workout 1. That was a little tender mercy.

AM: 1 mile + Steeple. Knee is painful after, probably shouldn’t have jumped. But it was fine during. Anyways, I’m finally starting to understand when I’m supposed to jump. Had a couple decent ones today, and yep I can definitely jump a lot sooner than I have been (my fall on Tuesday was largely caused by jumping too late as well as slowing down right before).

PM: Practice was cancelled due to forcasted rain and strong winds. 50% on Dikes and Canyon earlier to try to avoid the bad weather. Strong winds were definitely there, started sprinkling at the end. 7:43 average

9 miles at 50%, 7:34 average. What a beautiful day!

7:53 average. Very windy