Sock tans

AM:

Today was a really bad day. We did a lap around sunnyside then went to the track. We did a mile warmup mile speed changes when we got there. Then we did 12 400s. The first couple felt really easy, then on like the 3rd or 4th one I couldn't breathe easily. By the end of each 400 it got worse. It was like having asthma all over again. On the last half I admit I was just taking it easy. I lost it mentally on #5. I got those negative thoughts. I realized how far back in the pack I was, and then I thought "how can I be working harder than people and then have those people beat me on the important days?" This is what made me lose it. The combination of not being able to breathe easily and crashing mentally is not a good one. I didn't do one of them and walked over to the drinking fountain because I felt like I had enough of this, and the rebellious me showed itself. Then I came back, and realized that I shouldn't be sitting out, not now, not when I've finally started to be up there. So I finished the last 2. I still couldn't breathe, but I at least did those last 2. You would not believe how many thoughts of "quit now, walk across the field and be done with this" ran through my mind, and honestly I don't know what drove me to finish each of the ones I had started. But I'm glad I did even if I was going super slow. I feel bad, I wish I could have done better. I wish I HAD done better. 90s aren't that hard. I wish I could do it over again. In fact, maybe I will.

PM:

I went to the track again, and did the speed over again. I had decided that I was going to do it right this time, or it was a waste. I ran to the track, then did a mile warmup, mile speed changes, and then started. I did 8, before it got dark and I had to go home. I wish I could've done the rest, I really do! i was supposed to hit 90 on each one. splits:

1) 93

2) 91

3) 87

4) 87

5) 88

6) 90

7) 92

8) 91 

 took 2 minutes of recovery in between each. Then I ran home.  

Today I went to Bill's house early to go for a run with a few others, and it actually went by pretty fast! The first half seemed long, but the 2nd half was almost all downhill so it went by way fast! except for the very end where there was the hill... that part sucked. But I fell off of the group at about the 4 mile mark, kept going and decided to turn around at the 4.25 mile mark. I didn't feel too good so that part sucked. But then I made a wrong turn, and so that added on another good quarter mile. When I got back I added on to get to 9. Dakota wasn't kidding when he said that it got really steep up the way I went. I just did an out and back sort of thing to finish it off.

Then we went on our hike!!! Man, my legs have been through a lot today! Ice bath tonight? It might be a good idea. 

AM:

Today we met at Liberty. We did strides and then a fartlek. We did the laps around the pond, 10 minutes on 10 minutes off, every other minute. I then started a cool down with Sarah and Caden, then kept going and turned around when Bill, Tomy, Natalie and Chris got to me and ran 1 more lap with them, then Bill came with me and we did a big grass lap around. That got me to 10.5.

I felt actually pretty good today. I was chasing Natalie for the first bit. Then I fell off of  her and tried to focus on each lap or my arms or whatever to keep me going. The last 2 were the hardest for me. 

PM:

I went for 5 miles around my neighborhood. 

AM:

Today we met at sunnyside, and we started with a lap warmup, then we went over and did flannigan/circuit things. Then we did 10 strides, and then 2 800s at the same pace as the 400s we did earlier this week. So that meant 3:00 for me. 1st one I hit 2:50 and the 2nd I hit 2:48. Then we did shriners run. I went with the higher mileage group, and we went up to foothill and along that way. went out about 4 and then came back the same way to get to 12.

PM:

I went 6.5 miles. I was getting tired of the same old runs I've been doing lately, going to sugarhouse or sunnyside or foothill, so I decided to change things and I went to Liberty. It was just over 1.5 miles there the way I went, so I did 2 laps on the wood chips and then came back home. I ended up coming back a different way because of traffic and the lights and stuff. I went up 13th and had to go up that hill. When I decided to do this run I thought I would just walk up that REALLY steep part but I'm proud to say I didn't!!! The eggs I ate right before I ran weren't settling very well. By the time i started to feel good, around mile 4 or 5, it was uphill time :(

We met at Liberty today. We did a lap of warmup. Then we did 2 laps fireman. I was put in the fastest group. On the 2nd lap I was starting to crash, but I made myself finish. Then I did a cool down to get to 7.5, to get rid of the half mile. I'm excited to race tomorrow!!!! First XC race!!!!

AM: 

Today was the race at settlement canyon!!! I was hoping to be in the top 3 at least, but I got 4th. But i'm not too sad about it because I PR'd by at least 1 1/2 minutes! It's the hardest I have ever run before!

So I kinda just warmed up with everyone, except my race wasn't until almost 2 hours after theirs...:0 We went up the road for a bit then came back, and then Tomy, Chris, Dakota and Bill kept going so I went with them. We went to cheer the others on in their races and ran while we did so. I think everyone did a pretty good job overall, and people stepped up to help out our team!! That was a pleasant surprise!! Then Sarah B showed up, and Bill told her to go for a warmup, and I would stretch in the meantime, then we'd stretch, and then go for a little shakeout run of about a half mile. When we got back I realized there were only 12 minutes left to our race, and so I hurried and had my GU and then went to the car to get my flats only to find that the car was locked, so I spent the next 8 minutes running everywhere trying to find Rhonda, panicking a bit :) Olivia helped me out! Thanks for that!

As soon as Olivia came back with the keys I grabbed my flats and put them on as fast as I could, then ran to the line. I made it in time, but no strides or drills for me. Just the cheer, which actually got my heart rate going pretty good :)

As soon as I heard that gun go off I got tons of adrenaline pumping through me and Bills words going through my mind over and over again, "get out good, where you are when you get to that trail is right around where you will end up at the finish." Keeping that in mind, I got out pretty fast, I think it might've been a little too fast but I was trying to stay towards the front. I took the lead for a bit, but then some girl in the green came up on me about a half mile into it. Bills talk again played through my mind about "breaking them" so I went with her. Then I crashed mentally a little before the trail, I think this is where I should've done a bit better, but I let the girl go along with 4 others right behind us, then I remembered how I REALLY wanted a medal and I wasn't gonna let anyone take it from me. I was 6th then, so 2 more pass me and it's gone. I got motivated again right there, and tried to catch the group.

By the trail I had closed a bit of the gap. As soon as I was on the trail I felt sooo much better. I definitely felt the transition from uphill to downhill and it was amazing! I then focused on the girl in front of me, and eventually passed her, about in the middle of the trail. Then a little later towards the end of the trail I passed another one with a quick surge of energy, a bit sketchy passing that time, nearly tripped, but I caught myself. I could tell that girl was NOT happy I passed her and knew she might've been a problem, so I focused on my arms and worked my way up. I'm pretty sure I gapped her, judging by the spots of cheering. They'd cheer for the top 4, me included, the 3 in front I could see by now, and then they'd stop and cheer a bit later. :) I tried to focus on getting to that 4th place girl.

When I hit the gravel she was only a little ways in front of me, maybe 10 strides. As soon as I hit that I tried to start kicking, but it was so difficult!! My quads were burning and I was breathing hard, the negativity came back, but when I reached that river/ditch I pushed it all away and gave it all I had. I was so close!! Or so it seemed. But I knew I had tried so I was happy. I wasn't able to catch her, maybe if I had kicked earlier I would've. But I got a medal and a shirt and so I'm happy!! And I PR'd by over a minute and a half which was pretty impressive considering. :)

Then I went for a cool down to get to 10. And had some nice junk food after. :) 

PM:

went for 4 miles