Sock tans

Today was the Avenues hill run. We ran over to T street and then started, stride up the hill to the next street, turn left and recover down the hill, and stair step up to 11th Ave. The hills get steeper as you go. The last couple hurt and my heart rate felt a million times faster than it normally would for a normal speed workout. So I think that's good? Sprinting is not my area. It was a good workout though, we haven't done this one for a while. Then took Shriners run back, and 2 progressive 300s at the end. I hit 49 and 53. It was a bit windy.

Today was speed. Normal track warmup then mile warmup mile speed changes, changed shoes and did a lap. Workout was 3 sets of 3 x 400s, standing recovery and a lap between sets. I was supposed to hit between 75 - 80 for all of them. I hit 77, 78, 78,   78? 78, 79,   80, 77, 78. So I was pretty consistent. The wind sucked. The backstretch it was so strong and mentally hard to push through. But I did it. 3 grass laps cool down. 

Today was a tri meet at Clearfield. I warmed up about 2 miles and did strides. Did the 400, 800, and 4x400 because of BYU this weekend. In the 400 I was in the second heat. I won it so yay, but I felt like I died the last 100. The wind was brutal. Idk how I placed overall. Bill said it was about a 67 so a new PR I think, plus he said with the wind it would have slowed us down so we could probably take 2 seconds off :) yay! Then in the 800 I felt tired, but I still worked. I didn't get a great time, I'd guess a 2:34ish but idk. So not the best. I didn't get a great start, then moved around the pack into second, then highland girl I think passed me, I caught up to the Clearfield girl that beat me in Cross Country regions, went around her so back into second. Came through 400 at a 73. The. On the curve the Clearfield girl tried to pass me, I tried to match, I was right up next to her shoulder she just a little in front of me and she cut in. Way too early, even worse than the Davis girl at the Davis invite. I almost tripped but caught myself and went around her, adrenaline I guess :) Last 100 was hard, I got passed by a different Clearfield girl and had a hard time kicking.

then did about a half mile between and some strides. The 4x400 I was dreading cause I really didn't want to do it. My legs were tired and I had just run the 800 and they were moving the meet along really fast! Oh well. I was last leg, when I got it we were in second with a gap, when I finished we were second. I ran a 68 though! Still faster than my previous PR and there was still a ton of wind :) 

Did a mile cool down.

Crazy day today! Both a bomb threat at East and crazy track day all in one. Turns out the bomb threat was false. :) I was on the white team and we took second. Packed full of fun relays. Scooter relay, obstacle course (I really can't shot put...) three legged race, inflatable tube relay? Idk what to call it, and the shoe thing too :) fun fun fun, after which we did an easy 4 miler to Sugarhouse via 15th then back along 13th.

Today was BYU. It was the 3200. I warmed up for about a mile, then went over to the bull pen where we were seeded and then did some strides on the track.

I got out okay, people were elbowing like crazy that first lap. I was a bit annoyed because they didn't have anyone yelling splits and the time didn't show until well into it. I don't even know my mile split. Three laps to go I was on pace at 7:02, but that was where it started to hurt and I it separated from the pack. I should have gone with them. When Bill yelled to go around four girls right in front of me I should have, I just didn't believe I could hold them off so I didn't want to, and they were speeding up. I should have though because then I would have had energy from passing them. I slowed down a ton and got 11:41. I'm really mad at myself. I could have state qualified and I just didn't want it enough.

I did a 2 mile cool down with a ton of other 3200 runners from other teams, the group was huge and it reminded me of cross country :) although we went a lot slower than I was expecting. Huh.

I have the 1600 and 800 tomorrow, and I think what I'll do differently is prepare myself better tonight, get enough sleep, and warm up more before the race. And during the race, I will actually race it, when I was talking to Bill he made a good point and made me realize that I haven't been racing at races, I've been using them as a run. I have just tried to hit a certain time and when my plan fails I quit. I haven't had the umph that I need, the "you're not gonna beat me" attitude. I just need to figure out how to have that attitude. 

Day 2. I warmed up for the 1600 for about a mile, then grabbed my spikes and headed over to the bull pen. I stretched, then did speed changes along the far fence, going back and forth. Then did a couple drills and some strides once we got on the track. 
I was seeded 14th in my heat, right after Angie. It went out way fast, I came through the 400 at 72. I almost panicked because that is like 800 pace, but I just told myself it was okay and it would turn out alright, just don't slow down a ton. I was in the front half of the pack which was good. 800 was around 2:34 I think? I don't really remember. I started to get passed and then last lap I tried to stick with a couple of girls and told myself that was State qualifying if I went with them, but they gapped me and I couldn't close it. I was way disappointed because I really wanted to qualify, but it was a PR so I guess I should be happy. 

Then I cooled down with Angie for 15 minutes, I'm counting it as 1.75.

I stretched and elevated my legs, to get ready for the 800. Then did another mile of warmup plus strides.

It took me a little bit to get into the rhythm, but once I did I felt fine. The first lap I came through at about 70, then just focused on pushing through and kicking. I finished with a 2:25 which means I slowed down to a 75 last lap, I think I could have worked a bit harder. But it matched my PR!

Then I elevated legs and cooled down/warm up for the medley. Practiced handoffs a bit, ran about a half mile.

When I got the baton we were at 2:05 give or take a little. We were in last, I just focused on closing the gap. I caught up to the next place person and the girl in front of her, started to pass them 200 in. The next person was quite a ways up there, but I tried to close anyway. The last lap I think I was by myself and had a hard time getting myself to kick. I could have worked harder that second lap. But I was happy with how well I closed the gap. We finished with a 4:35 so I ran around a 2:30.

I cooled down for about 3 miles.