Sock tans

Today we ran down to Liberty, went the long way and did 10 x 1 on/1 off fartlek around the pond. Then back to the track and added to 10. Felt alright, gave good effort. Legs were a little heavy.

Warmup was a bit different today. We did the track warmup (cut drills a little short) and then a mile speed changes and a couple more laps, then 6 asphalt hill strides. Then 2x1000, 2x800, 2x400, 3x200. I hit 3:28, 3:27, 2:45, 2:49, 74, 75, 34, 34, 34. I struggled a lot today, I focused on staying with Diwas and Bill. The second 800 I had fallen off. But I refocused and tried to hit the rest on pace. The 200s I relaxed first 100 and kicked last 100, it was the first time I actually switched gears into the fast twitch muscles I think? But it was the first time I could feel the switch turn on. I doubted myself 20 meters later and backed off, now that I know what it REALLY feels like I think if I continue to work on it I will have the kick down! It was windy so that was kind of tough. Good workout.

Zayn left One Direction (cries inside).

Track warmup, then 1.5 warmup, 1.5 speed changes, 1 cool down. I feel bad that I missed practice yesterday but it's the first time in months, and it's end of term tomorrow so missing the last day of term for Pineview doesn't help. Got my assignment in so now I should have an A (it was 1.5 12 hour assignments that I did in 8 hours. And in Art no less... She asked us how many concentrations we had done, I had 3.5 because mine were all in pencil, I regret picking that for my concentration now. Some people had 7 done. So she said she'd grade 5 of them which meant I was looking at a C. Yeah not happening.) Anywho, stress behind me I'm ready to focus on Pineview. I'm gonna PR in every event!

Didn't get as much warmup as I would have liked but it's whatever. Hurried off the bus to the bathroom and then down to the track and did 1.25 warmup (.5 of it speed changes) and a couple strides.

I was seeded fourth and they had three waterfalls, I was in second spot on the first waterfall  right by Lucy. Confused me a bit but I'll take it! 
The bummer was I couldn't gauge off of other people very well, so I went on feel which wasn't very precise because of the shorter warmup. Lucy took off and I didn't bother going with her. When we got to the break line people cut in and I got boxed in. But I didn't mind so much until the second lap, people started slowing down and I needed to keep going. I don't actually remember much because it went by so fast. I may have made a move around 800? I did make a move somewhere. 500 left I started picking it up, I had in my head that I needed to kick. Tried to do the Garek kick but I'm not so good at it :) hahaha. But I did pick it up a bit with 400 left. 100 left I was shoulder to shoulder with Mary and she took off before I could match, by the time I started giving what I had she had gapped me. Makes me frustrated a bit because it's always the last 100 meters. Anyway, splits were 77, 2:37 (80), 3:56 (79), 5:12 (76).
I'm really happy about it, I maybe would have liked my second lap to be a little faster and my last lap could have been faster too. We've been working for a 70 last lap but it's coming down. I qualified for state and PR'd by 4 seconds!
Cooled down 2 miles with Garek, Chris and a couple of Lehi guys (they're pretty chill).

Got about a mile warmup for the 3200, I was still half asleep at the start line. First lap was an 82 and second lap the pace was too slow so I took control of the pack. Then just relaxed and tried to stay focused. I wonder what would have happened had I chased Lucy down, she wasn't that far ahead. But I was too intimidated to try and wanted to stay even. Mile split was 5:37, a bit slow for what I wanted. Then I slipped and last 400 got passed by a ton of people. Okay just a few but it felt like a ton. I just don't think I cared enough. I was thinking negatively. 11:32.

Very disappointed I cooled down a half mile. Warmed up a mile and strides (it was so hot we didn't need much warmup.) I got out slower, thought I was going too slow (it's such a change to go from 3200 to 800). First minute or so I sort of warmed into it. First lap was a 70. Then felt good so I tried to start a longer kick. 200 left a coach yelled to his athlete to "catch her. You're a kicker and she's not." I can only assume he was talking about me, it's well known I have a terrible kick. Well I tried to prove him wrong. I started picking it up and 100 Mary's sister came up on me. I fought her as hard as I could for 80 meters. 20 meters of it could have been harder. She does have a better kick but I was happy I fought. 2:23, new PR! 

Warmed up another mile or so. Practiced handoffs and did strides. Then sat down to put on my spikes, stood up and all of a sudden my hip hurt like it needed to pop. Tried to but it didn't help. Bill showed me stretched. Didn't help. Massaged it, helped a little. Leg swings, that just hurt it. Strides just hurt and I limped along. Emma got the baton for the 400 and I felt so bad, came to Bill almost in tears and told him I couldn't race. He said "serious?" I knew we wanted to qualify for state. I felt so awful thinking about how Brooke, Ellie and Emma would be so disappointed when I didn't run. So I said a quick prayer that my hip would miraculously feel better, crossed my fingers and tried one last stride. It still hurt but not quite as bad and didn't limp so much. So I decided I'd try it and if I had to drop out fine.

Emma gave me the baton in 2nd I think, just ahead of 3rd. Mary had a good gap and I started to close it. Either I was going too fast or she too slow. Relaxed and passed her 200 in? Then 400 left tried to pick it up again. 200 left even more. 100 left still in the lead but Mary not so far behind me. She swung and outkicked me. Bill said my split was 2:25 so I was happy with it, and we qualified with a low 4:25, standard was a higher 4:25. And my hip only hurt the first couple steps. Miracles do happen!

Cooled down a mile and a half.

Did a 3 mile shakeout from the condo. Found a fun dirt area to run, saw a steep hill where a view at the top looked promising. It was a beautiful view from the one side of the dirt area with the setting sun, wondered if maybe it would be a cool view from the top of the hill. Unfortunately I misjudged how long it was. It's gonna be fun to explore on Monday! Hip hurt for the first half mile but warmed up. I'll just pay special attention to it and it'll be fine.