Had a team meeting today, basically practices will be on our own for the next few weeks because of Nationals coming up and things getting busy for the coaches, Coach is going to be sending us workouts. We’ll be doing the progression run again, or some will, as a workout. Some walk ons will use it as a try out for the team. Then after the break we’ll be doing the 6 minute test, basically 6 minutes all out. Good indication of where your mile time/race fitness is starting out at for the season. Also, to give some perspective, I was the only girl there and there were like 10-15 guys. Our men’s team is so much bigger than our women’s.
Then met with Coach individually because it’s been a while since I’ve talked with him. It was awesome actually. He thought I had one year left, nope I’ve got the rest of this year and two more. So he was happy about that. He keeps forgetting I still have some time. He was very honest and I was grateful, he said he probably won’t be traveling me much unless I can step it up. Basically if I want to travel I have to be where Haley is right now. 3-5 seconds off the pack on the 20x400s workout (I was off Brighton on the 16x400s by 2-3 seconds so check), Coach said Haley hit 3:35 average for 4x1ks and I hit 3:40 for 3 so really I’m not that far off. It’s doable. He also said that it’s just getting me to relearn to run fast, because I’ve already done it. If I had come in as a 5:40 miler that would’ve been different, but I’m a 5:12 miler. He just shook his head when he asked for my 3200 PR (11:03), as in a that’s crazy shake haha. Because I HAVE done it before. I think my problem has been just shifting gears from relaxed to pushing with all I’ve got. Going to that next level. So for the next couple of months I’m going to work harder than I’ve ever worked before, focus on forcing myself to hurt and push through when it does.
Coach also brought up how Maddy her freshman year sat down with coach and he’d told her the same things he was telling me last year, basically that he wasn’t sure if this was the right thing for us. He’s stopped saying that for me so I must be doing something right haha. Now Maddy is one of our top runners, top in the conference. Angie struggled her first semester. Sharlie wasn’t very fast my freshman year. Morgan went on a mission, was a walk on and rose up to be on the best team we’ve ever had and score, her whole class is gone now and those that went on missions with her never came back. Who would’ve thought she’d be the one to do that. Then he said if we could get me back to where I was in high school and faster, that would be a crazy story. Because he said he’s talked to a lot of different coaches and they’ve all struggled to get women back and running fast after they return from missions. Morgan and I are the only ones on the team, and we are by far the most successful in coming back. So I’m going to prove that wrong, just because I served a mission doesn’t mean my running career is done. Yes, it’s taken a lot longer for me than it takes the guys to get back. Yes it’s been a struggle. But I have gritted it out this long, I’ve lost 16 lbs, and I’m running faster now than I was last year. Two years ago, Maddy wasn’t running as fast as I am now. She was still coming back from her hamstring injury. Coach said I don’t have to worry about being kicked off the team anymore, he wants me here, the only thing I do have to worry about is my scholarship. But really, I’m just not gonna. As long as I do my best and work my hardest, that’s all I can ask of myself. I’ll use it as motivation to run fast, but I’m not gonna stress over it, since there’s nothing else I can do but work my hardest.
The main takeaway was that the program is here, it’ll help me get there, but Coach said it’s up to me now. And for the first time, when he said I need to start running faster, picking up the paces and trying to hang onto the pack, it didn’t cause me stress, I wasn’t hesitant, I just accepted it. It is what it is, and for the first time I know I can do it and I’m 100% on board.
I’ll be staying at 8 miles a day and working on quickening my paces over the next few weeks. This is the time for volume and base building for track season, so normally I’d be increasing miles, but since I’ve been injury prone coach doesn’t want me above 8. We’ll be getting new bikes for the weight room soon so I can substitute that for extra miles, plus I’m swimming now for class, and I’ll start doing core every morning. Anything and everything to take it up to the next level.
Today I started with just a 50% then decided once I got to Canyon Park that I’d pick it up. Ended up doing an 80%, not planned, on Canyon. Finished 3 miles in 19:30 (6:52, 6:18, 6:20). The 6:52 was the uphill mile, 6:18 partial up/downhill, 6:20 flat/slightly downhill. Felt good, legs were heavy, but I was motivated and was happy with how it went. Finished to 8.
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