Running is a means and never merely an end

6 miles easy at Millikan. 8:15 pace. Legs kind of hurt for most of it, not sure why.

Weights & core later.

2 miles warm up, then our last workout before conference Saturday! And in the snow! 12x200m with a 200m jog recovery between each, starting at 42 and steadily working down to 36. Went really well, split-wise. Did some good stretching afterwards.

6 miles easy. Loving this little taper for conference this weekend!

This sounds like just a bad excuse...but we weirdly didn't have any time to run today. Had class all morning, then left at 2 for Birmingham. We got here around 8 (although now it is 7 here, because of the time difference), then went to the hotel and checked in our rooms, then finally out to dinner. Got back with full tummies and about enough time for a team meeting and a shower before bed. I'm not worried about it though. I think that not running at all is not much different then the super quick, super easy jog we would have hypothetically went on.

I am love love lovvvvving this weekend already. What a fun time. Our hotel is fantastic, we're in like suite-style rooms with the extra living room & desk area and everything. Dinner last night was so yummy. This morning was great as well, we got to sleep in?! Just keeps getting better. Anyways, Breck and I did a little pre-meet jog on the treadmill this morning before breakfast. Then we all headed to the track around noon. Also warmed up with Mell around 6pm for her DMR mile leg. 

The track here is electronically banked, which should be really interesting...I feel like one side of my body is gonna be aching real hard after 25 laps (50 curves) of leaning during this race tomorrow haha. I'm excited though - I think coach Harris is having Mell pace Breck and I on sub-19:30 pace, for the first 3k anyways. After that I think she will either choose to drop out (if her injuries or whatever are bothing her) or choose to race the rest of it for herself. I'm betting she'll do the latter. I'm a little nervous about that just because I know she's gonna pace us too fast, but I don't wanna just not try and go with her because of that. I'm gonna try my best. It's conference!! Last shot, for the indoor season anyways.

I'm praying tonight for joy during the race tomorrow, not just when it's over. I want to enjoy using all of my gifts out there, and the feeling of making myself weak so that God can show his surpassing strength. Also for excitement and positivity regarding my teammates - that I could account for their desires and worries as more than my own & serve them tomorrow instead of getting so wrapped up in "my" race.

So when we got up to the start line, they took the last 4 on the waterfall and took us up to the double waterfall 2nd line in the outside lanes. That was interesting because of the high bank, but we got into it quickly. The first mile went by surprisingly fast. As I had expected, Mell didn't pace us anywhere near 6:15 pace, but I guess that's how it goes in the first mile of any 5k. Came through at like 5:55. Second mile wasn't too bad either. I'm not sure what my split was, all I know is that my 3k was 11:38, so I guess that might be like a 12:20ish 2 mile? 3rd mile I could feel myself getting really tired, moreso mentally than physically. I think the laps started getting to me, and Breck too, and we both slowed down a bit during this next half mile. Coach Harris kept telling us we were still on pace for sub-19:50 if we could finish well. Finally the last 400 meters came around. I think I was feeling a little too good on the last lap (200m), and maybe could have started kicking with 300 to go. Anyways, finished in 19:47, Breck in 19:46, and Mell in like 19:16.

Not really sure how I feel about this one. I was happy to get back under 20, but a little bummed that I didn't PR and definitely bummed at how poorly I placed. I'm honestly just so happy that indoor season is over. I don't think I'm a fan. I think outdoor may treat me a bit better because the biggest thing I struggle with is getting past how many laps a 5k is (25 on most tracks indoors!). So maybe just mentally, if nothing else, 12 laps will be a little better. I don't know. I think I need a few days off to let my body recover, but more importantly to let myself miss running.