Sock tans

Weights were tough this morning (they’re every Monday/Wednesday). But I like weights. At the beginning of the season the warmup felt like a workout lol but now that’s nothing so yay for improvement! This week we did 4 sets of everything (except the banded walk thing was one set), increase in reps from last week staying at the same weight (we’d dropped in reps last week but increased the weight). But it doesn’t feel too hard, enough to feel like a good workout. I just can’t wait for the day that I can pound out 6+ BWT pull-ups, for now I can only do 2.5 BWT at once (but we did 4 sets). I used to not be able to do one body weight pull up, lol. Anyways, legs were sore and a little heavy by the afternoon.

Workout was 5x800s with 1 minute recovery between each. The pace was 2:55-3:20. Originally the slow end was going to be 3:15, then Paul switched it to 3:20 because of the heat.

I had the plan to start slow and then work my way down to 3:00ish on the last one, to try something new and see if that would help me to hold a pace. Bino had wanted to do the same, so we were going for 3:15 for the first. Came through the 400 at 90 and it felt relaxed enough so I was like screw it I’ll just run what feels comfortable. Bino only did two so her second was quicker at 2:55, I just stayed relaxed so I could finish all 5. After the 4th I’d wanted to quit. My thoughts weren’t very positive. The 1 minute recovery was tough and the wind was strong, and it was hot. I’d thought, “I can’t do it” and I might’ve said that out loud or it showed on my face or something cause Paul came over and gave me a mini pep talk, Paul is amazing. He said exactly what I needed to hear to switch my mentality and grit out the last one. If he hadn’t I can almost guarantee I would’ve sucked it up on the last one or dropped out, but he’d said he believed in me and that it was just one more and he knew I could do it and so I was like alright I can do it. I love Paul, he’s such an amazing coach :) Danielle killed the last one and ran a 3:03. Maybe next time I can go with her. She and I were the only two that finished, but our group is small to begin with.

Times went 3:02, 3:01, 3:05, 3:12, 3:13. Happy with it, I didn’t completely die like I’ve been doing lately so that was a real positive. And I’m so glad that I toughened up and just did that last one, and worked hard at it didn’t just run it. And I was on pace for all of them. Huge thank you to Paul for his pep talk :)

Cool down to 6

HR 50

SO SORE. Probably from weights yesterday? Dikes, 7:31 average.

HR 54

I’m tired. Had two exams today, one I was pretty stressed about so I stayed up until 2 last night studying for it. It went well, feel good about it, but I’m feeling the lack of sleep. Tonight I’ll be playing catch up.

Practice ended up being on our own, just a 50%. Kept it relaxed. 9 miles, 7:42 average. I’m still a little sore but not near as much as yesterday.

Also, not sure if I’m eating enough. I do get hungry a lot... but I’m used to it. That’s probably not good haha. I went from one extreme of eating a lot of ice cream, cookie dough and other junk to cutting out sweets and eating less in an attempt to be healthier... part of it was my lack of an appetite this summer and now I’m just used to being hungry. I don’t know how much I should be eating.

Today I had a banana, bowl of Cheerios and milk, 2 slices of multigrain bread, a ham/cheese sandwich, and a yogurt. Maybe that’s enough. Idk. Haven’t had dinner yet. I also need to eat more vegetables, I just don’t like them that much lol I’d rather have fruit

HR 53

60% run, 3 miles. Range was 6:30-7:00. Ran with Bino, warmed up 2 miles then started. We did it on Main. Splits were 6:25, 6:28, 6:42 (19:34- 6:31 average). Felt good and relaxed.

HR 51

Jomel later took my BP, checked my oxygen levels and my HR. BP was 105/72 (we actually took it a couple times cause the first was 100/44 and she was like whaaat), oxygen 97, and HR 62.

AM: 2.25 miles easy

PM: Pre-meet at the course. 1x1k at 3:42, was surprised it was under 4:00 actually. The uphill was harder than it looks. But the downhill feels really nice

AM: Race day! This course is also hilly. But I liked it a lot better than Idaho. Conditions weren’t great, it was raining and cold. 47 degrees to be exact, that’s a big change from 80-90 degrees in the afternoon haha. I was shivering at the line, the wind made it so much colder

Had trouble getting into race mode. At the beginning I was treating it more as a workout, wasn’t very competitive and was right at the back, my mentality was like ehh. This race doesn’t matter. Then I was like, no, I need to fix that. Started moving up, passed Danielle, Bino and Jacey. Then as I started coming downhill I spotted Mary a little bit farther in front of me, was surprised to see her but got excited. I raced Mary all the time in high school. So I used the downhill and that’s when I got into race mode, it’s been a looong time since I’ve gotten into it like that. It didn’t last too long, probably only a mile. But I passed Mary and was close behind Josie for a while. I struggled for like a half mile, Mary passed me back and I just let her go, a couple more girls passed me. Then at the end I started to pick it up, could hear a girl breathing hard behind me, used the downhill and tried to kick but both the girl and Jacey caught me right at the end.

Overall happy with how it went, considering the conditions and the course it was good. Talked with Mary after, so good to catch up.

Cooled down to 5

PM: 5 miles easy. Ankle twinged a little. Now it’s stiffened up and is hurting. I forgot that I twisted it kinda bad in the race until now. It was so cold this morning that I was numb and that’s probably why I didn’t feel it on the cool down or rest of the race. Haha I was like, why is it hurting? Oh yeah, that’s why. I’ll just ice it a lot this weekend and it’ll be fine

I’m learning to be more grateful for what I can do in the moment, for who I am right now and what I can accomplish. I think the best thing is to be humble, be grateful, and be happy in the moment instead of looking so much to the future and believing that you’ll be happy when ___. It’s good to have dreams, to believe you can accomplish things, but only if it excites you, if it’s something you want to accomplish, and only if you can be grateful for the things you have already accomplished. Choosing to be happy now and to look to the future with hope is what’s going to bring the most success, and I think the greatest part of the journey is helping others along the way.

It’s interesting because my senior year of high school, at Arcadia, I ran a 12 second PR in the 3200, but as soon as I crossed the line and looked at the clock I burst into tears because I ran an 11:03 and didn’t break 11:00 and Mary had. I knew that if I’d just kicked a little harder and stayed with her I could’ve broken 11:00. A few minutes later I was put in my place and realized how ridiculous that was, I PR’d by 12 seconds! There’s always going to be someone faster, something you could’ve done better. But the reason I run isn’t to be the best, it’s to be the best that I can be and enjoy the journey, be happy with the small improvements and enjoy the camaraderie that comes from being a part of a team. Maybe one day I can work my way to the front pack, but if not at least I’ll know that I enjoyed my time as an athlete and made more meaningful connections with teammates, coaches and others along the way.