Running is a means and never merely an end

9 miles very easy (9:04 avg!) with Mell to/around Upstate and back. I could definitely feel my hamstring the whole time and was very aware of it not being totally healthy, but again it was nothing I couldn't deal with. Felt much better after stretching it out nice and well afterwards!

AM- 1.3 mile warm up, then 3 sets of 4x400 + 1x600 with a minute between reps and 2 between sets, then 1 minute after the last 400 and right into a 600 at the same pace to finish it up. It was 5k race pace (88-90) so it was just challenging enough but not too bad. My hamstring felt great for a little while, probably till the 3rd set, then started bugging me. I shouldn't have done the 600 in hindsight, that was maybe a little too much. I rolled it out afterwards and it hurt a lot, sort of a good hurt though like when you're sore. Feels decent now, not as good as after te easy run yesterday though. Bomar said we are done with workouts for the week so hopefully it'll continue to heal as I get some good easy runs in before Winthrop on Friday.

PM- 3 mile shakeout. Hammy still tight, I need to roll out for a lonnnng time tonight.

AM- 1 mile warm up into a 6 mile moderate tempo around Duncan Park & back. Hamstring was definitely tight so I tried to be careful about how hard I pushed it. Averaged 7:33 (targetting 7:30), so I feel fine about that. Cooled down the remaining .8 back to campus. Zach says I can come in tomorrow to do some strengthening exercises and possibly ultrasound.

Did some light upper body weights & abs afterwards.

PM- 15 minute (3.2 mile) bike sesh in leiu of a 3 mile shakeout to get some lactic acid out.

Six mile easy recovery run with the girls. 8:21 pace.

3 miles pre-race! Although, I didn't know this at the time that I was running or I probably would have ran a few more miles, but I am not racing tomorrow. Coach Wilson was saying if I felt it at all today while I ran, it would be best to take tomorrow off and not risk conference. It felt much, much better today but I mean I was still aware of it's presence and that it wasn't quite back to normal yet. So Bomar told me not to race. I'm not very upset about that because I just want more than anything to do well at conference. That being said, I feel like I've hardly raced at all this season (conference will be my 4th race and only 3rd 5k) and so I feel like there is a lot riding on conference to actually demonstrate improvement or get a PR. Not that anything literally depends on it, but more for my own sake psychologically. I just want to keep getting better.

Didn't run the meet today but I really did enjoy taking times and cheering everyone else on! I don't think I was in a very good mental state to race anyways and I feel really good about letting my leg rest up a tad bit more. I came back after the meet and went to Richardson and biked for 35 minutes (7 miles), then lifted for an hour or so. I love lifting when Richardson is nearly empty. 

Ran the Duncan Park loop with Breck & the recruit. Felt great, and she is sweet. 8:27 avg.