Sock tans

Wasatch loop before heading back to Cedar. 7:38 average, had to put some effort into it the last couple miles to make it under 7:45, wasn't feeling the best.

Today after warmups and the form mile we ran to Bicentennial Park the long way and did a couple laps, some strides, then ran back to the track. I added on the track to 11. 7:28 average.

After warmups and the form mile we piled into trucks and drove to the pond, did a half mile warmup then started. It was 50%/80%. So 50% for a mile, 80% for a mile. We did it 3 times. There was a hill we had to go down and up each lap that was hard but broke it up so mentally I could refocus a little, each mile was about 2 laps around. We switched directions each mile. It was really hot (coach switched practice from morning to afternoon today) and I think I was dehydrated. Time to drink tons of water! My times went 6:26, 6:54, 6:55 so I was definitely out of the range. Coach wanted it to be 5:50-6:10, hahaha. I wasn't feeling too great, but still worked through it. Effort wise I was probably giving 80% :) Like I know that I could have gone faster, but I was still pushing myself. So mission accomplished! Then coach gave us the choice of half mile cool down or running back to the track. I chose to run back to the track, but because I did I missed the team ice bath in the pond :( ah well. Mileage rules.

Warmups, form mile, then 6 miles - Dice run. We did it the other direction this time, I like that way a lot better. At first I was just going to relax and take it easy, the first mile or so all of us stayed pretty close together. Once we got to that random trail before Walmart we had to go single file and I was closer to the back, rolled my ankle on a rock and I'm lucky it isn't hurting. But it was a bad roll. I feel no pain right now but I'm going to be careful about it. Anyway, then when we got to the road I surged to catch up to Angie and Ashley and hung back with them for a bit, Maggie and Ashley gapped us a bit. When we got to the lights they waited for us and I stuck with them for the rest of the run, we were going pretty fast. Ashley and Maggie averaged 7:11 so I'd guess I averaged 7:13-7:14 (accidentally left my garmin at home). Then 6 x 100 meter strides.

My mileage kind of slipped, I was planning on a second run yesterday but totally forgot about study hall, but that was beneficial cause I got my homework done. Then this morning I must've missed the part where coach said to do a run on your own in the morning before meeting at the track, I feel really dumb. But I can do two runs tomorrow.

Anyway, we drove to California then went to the course and ran through it once (well we kind of got lost haha) then did a little under an 800 at 5:40 pace. Then some strides and ran back to the hotel.

I'm kind of nervous for tomorrow, its my first collegiate race and first time running a 6k, so no idea what to shoot for timewise and really how to run it. But I'll do the same thing I did for the road race I guess: get out good and race the race and not worry about time. Everyone has said that everyone goes out pretty fast at the start so I guess just run hard until the top of the hill and then settle into a comfortable pace :)

First race! It's definitely going to take a little bit to get used to college racing, but I think once Maggie and I do Ashley, Angie, Maggie and I can be a good pack and work together in each of the races. Our girls team is pretty young, so in the next few years we could be really good! Coach says we're faster than we were last year which is awesome! Ashley Hawks of course kills it up front, then we have our pack and we are all hard workers which is super nice cause in high school we had a lack of them and it was frustrating. I absolutely love it here at SUU, coming here was the best decision I could have possibly made.

Okay, now to the racing part! As a team we did a mile shakeout in the morning, didn't feel so good. My legs hurt a lot more than usual. Once we got to the course we did another 2 miles of warmup, some drills and stretching.

I got out alright, got trapped on the inside curve going up the hill so I slowed a lot right there, but then moved up a lot afterwards. I moved pretty well the first mile, maybe too much. I came through at 5:29, at which point I panicked a little. Next mile I slowed down a lot, at 1.5 I started to lose my rhythm and feel the burn as I fell off the large pack. Came through the 2 mile at 11:33 (6:04) according to results, my Garmin had it at 5:59 but whatevs. My third mile was awful, I tried to match Angie, then Ashley but could only hang for like 100 meters. I kept trying to match as people passed. That mile was 6:22 (17:55 or 17:50, you choose). Then the last 800 coach was there and said something, I don't know what but I got all motivated again and tried to pick it up, had a really hard time doing so though. Once I got in sight of the finish I did what coach calls the lazy kick which is what he doesn't want us to do, he wants us to kick with 800 left, but basically my kick was for 150 meters. At least I have one now tho :) I passed one girl but got passed right at the line, so it was an average kick I'd say. Anyway, finished with 22:25 and was 47th, haha. I was our fifth runner, Maggie had passed me around 1000m left. Overall happy with it, I didn't feel the best but I know that at one of the next races I can do really well. By Conference I know I can improve tons and am really excited to see what this season brings! 4 miles cool down.

Shout out to the men's team for winning the meet, we had 4 guys in the top 10, and Eric said we had 10 go sub 25:00 for 8k!

Shout out to Garek cause Angie said he's ranked number 1 in the country on milesplit after his win at Murray!