You've got to want it to win it

Today I went up to Pipeline with my brother.  He was able to keep up for the first 2 miles, then I was on my own until I turned at 4, then he was not too far behind me so he turned around and ran more with me while he could.  The first and last mile and a half were snowy, but the rest of it was not bad.  I've missed trail running!

This morning I went to the track for a workout with Giselle, Bekah, and Kate.  I warmed up with Giselle on the bailiff and then joined the others on the track for strides and drills.  Giselle and I did three sets of 400, 1000, 400 with 90 second rest for the 400s and 2:40 for the 1000.  We took a lap in between sets.  My times were 1:19, 3:27, 1:19, 1:20, 3:28, 1:19, 1:19, 3:24, 1:16.  Kep was able to make it in time to watch the last set, so he was able to remind me to correct my form.  For cooldown I did some on the bailiff with Giselle and then joined Kate and Bekah for the last part of their cooldown to finish at 9 for the day.  

I bought a car yesterday!  So I drove it to Sugarhouse Park so I could go running :)  I did the street route for the cemetery loop, then added a grass lap at the park and then a little bit on the road to finish at 8 for the day.

This morning I went to Provo to watch my sister's races. Between her events, I went for my run.  I went 4 miles out from campus, then decided I would do a Kenyan run on the way back.  My average pace until then was 7:14, so I picked it up a little, the next mile being 6:35.  The next was 6:14, and the final was 6:06.  Then an easy mile back to the stadium.

This morning I went up to Drycreek and met my brother to go running.  I ran out 4 miles and back.  The first part of that run is a lot harder when you haven't warmed up by running from campus :P  I saw my brother again at about 4.5 miles, then again when we were done.  

This morning Giselle and I warmed up around the bailiff and then did strides and drills on the track.  The workout was two 200s with equal jog recovery, then seven 400s with 90 second rest, and another two 200s.  For the first 200s I hit 36 and 37, then 1:18 for all of the 400s (talk about consistency!) and then 36, 36 for the last 200s.  I cooled down a bit on the bailiff with Giselle and then some on the road, and a few laps in the opposite direction on the track to end with 8 miles total for the day.

This morning I went for my run straight up 800s/Sunnyside up to Emigration Canyon.  Turned at 5 miles and ran back the same way.  Got my second lift of the week done afterwards, and then later got a massage from Tim.

This morning Giselle and I did our final workout before conference :)  We warmed up around bailiff and then did our strides and drills on the track.  The workout was four sets of 200, 200, 400 with equal jogs recovery.  My times were 35, 37, 1:15, 37, 37, 1:16, 37, 37, 1:15, 36, 38, 1:15.  We did them the opposite direction to switch it up a bit.  It was a great workout :)  Cooled down on bailiff and then on the road to finish at 8 total for the day.

After arriving at USC I went for a run with the girls.  I was with Amanda and Bekah for the first bit, but since they are racing tomorrow I ran the last 4 miles by myself to finish at 7 for the day.  

This morning Giselle and I did our premeet :)  There was a road race going on right outside campus, so we just made some loops around the other part of campus to avoid it.  Finished with strides and drills on the warmup field, then treated ourselves to some of the snacks by the team tents :)  doesn't get much better than cold watermelon and grapes in the hot sun! :)

Race day!  Because of the heat, Giselle and I waited a few extra minutes before starting our warmup.  And I shortened my warmup a bit, doing about 2 miles and then going for strides in the grass warmup field.  I changed shoes and then they called us over to walk us onto the track.  There were 48 girls signed up, but there were quite a few scratches so 26 girls were there.  On the track I made sure to drench myself with water to battle the mid day heat.  We had time for a few strides before they lined us up.  I was on the main waterfall line, at about the middle.  Going out I just tucked behind everyone and went for lane 1.  This worked well since we all were in a pack for the first few laps.  I didn't really listen for splits, but I think the first lap was 78 and I don't remember much after that.  This was not a race for time anyway.  The first mile I was still with the pack, my split was 5:18ish.  Here some girls separated, and I realized I was behind some girls who were starting to fall from the main group so I went around them and then stuck with the pack as long as I could.  I'm not sure what happened, but I found myself alone off of the main pack.  Now I just tried to not get caught by the pack behind me.  When I asked Heather afterwards, she said I was closer to the lead pack than the chase pack was to me.  Another small pack fell off of the lead pack, so I was determined to close the gap on them, and catch them as they fell off one by one.  This worked well, and I just kept moving up.  As I heard my teammates cheering at different parts each lap I just kept going, I wanted to do well for them.  The final few laps Kep told me that someone in the pack in front of me would score, I knew it would be hard but I kept going.  With 2 laps to go I picked it up and caught a girl or two, then on the last lap I think I got another, and then going into the final 100 I passed another girl and finished 10th place.  I was a few seconds off scoring, but I did my best, and I still have two years of this.  I just ran, and focused on the race.  I ignored the heat, and just raced to what I felt my body could do.  I felt dizzy afterwards, but after sitting in the shade for a few minutes I felt like I could cool down.  I did laps in the warmup field barefoot.  Giselle had a harder time with the heat than I did, but she was able to get up and join me for a few laps.  I did 12 laps, so 3 miles cooldown.  

This morning I got up and drove to Sugarhouse to go for my run.  I wasn't exactly sure where I wanted to go, but I made up my mind as I went and enjoyed it. :)  I ran up to 2000e and under the freeway, then over to Keller lane and up to 2300e, then out until I hit 5 miles, then turned and ran back the same way.  Maybe one day I'll get creative and make a loop instead of out and backs all the time.  Afterwards I went to the Smith and got my lift done.  

This morning I met up with Amanda to warmup together for our workouts.  My workout was threshold since I am still sore from my race.  I did three 2000s at about 6 minute pace with 90 seconds recovery.  The pace felt just about all I could do and stay comfortable.  My times were 7:27, 7:31, 7:38.  I cooled down with Amanda to total 8 for the day, then Tim worked on my calves.  They hurt just as bad if not worse than at the beginning of the season :P  After that I took a 10 minute ice bath.

This morning I went to Sunnyside to run from there.  I ran up above the zoo, across Wasatch to Thunderbird and then to the drinking fountain on Foothill, and then back to Sunnyside Park on Foothill and 1900e.  Got my lift done right afterwards.  I am thinking I might have to start getting up earlier to run so I can avoid the heat!

This morning I met up with Amanda again to warmup for our workouts together.  Originally I had hoped to do 3 or 4 mile repeats, but that quickly changed.  I started with two 200s, both in 37 with equal jog recovery.  The first mile was 5:40.  I felt better than Wednesday but decided it would be more worth my time to break it up and be able to run a bit quicker pace.  I did 200 jog and 4 minutes recovery before starting on some 800s.  On those I hit 2:46, 2:50, 2:48.  200 jog and 2 minute recovery on those.  Then I did some 400s.  I took 90 seconds rest on those, and took them 2 at a time until I felt like stopping.  My times were 1:22, 1:21, 1:21, 1:22, 1:20, 1:22.  Then I cooled down with Amanda to finish at 9 total for the day.  Tim worked on my calves afterwards and then I took a 10 minute ice bath.  

This morning after watching some amazing 3200 races at state, I went running with Natalie.  We the first few miles with Bill and Chris and Tomy on the river trail, then Natalie showed me her Carterville loop.  It was nice to get to catch up after so long!  We enjoyed snow cones in the rain afterwards :)

This morning I met up with Amanda again to do our final workouts before regionals this week!  We did the usual warmup, then split for our workouts.  Mine was 500s.  The goal was to do at least 6, and at most 10.  Recovery was 2 minutes, with 100 jog in that.  Goal pace was high 70s for the 400 split.  My times were 1:35, 1:33 (I definitely was feeling better than last week!), then I got into more of a rhythm and ran 1:36, 1:37, 1:37, 1:37, 1:37, 1:36.  After the 7th one I really didn't want to do one more... but I made myself do it anyway, and did my best to maintain the rhythm I had going.  I did a few backwards laps on the track for cooldown while I waited for Amanda to finish her workout, then did the same warmup route and back to the locker room.  Tim worked on my calves and shins, they are much better than last week!  And then my hamstrings, IT, and quads a bit too.  Then I took a 15 minute ice bath, the last few minutes with Amanda :)  We leave for Austin tomorrow :)  I am really excited and ready for this race :)  I am ranked 25 right now, and the race will be run in one heat.  Time to get into the race ready mindset so that I can go after one of those top 12 spots!  

This morning I went to Liberty to start my run from there.  I ran down 500e to 3300s, then up to 700e and back to Liberty Park, and then a lap around the perimeter to get to 8 for the day.  7:04 average pace :)  Flying to Austin tonight.

This morning I went running with Amanda, Bekah, and Kep on the trail by the river.  We did about half hour, then Amanda and Bekah and I did strides.  

1 mile shakeout run on my own this morning before breakfast.

With about an hour before race time I started my warmup with Bekah.  She did the first ten minutes with me, then I did another few minutes on my own.  They wanted us by checkin a half hour before, so I took my spikes and went up there for strides and drills.  About ten minutes before we were supposed to start they lined us up and let us on the track for strides.  They lined us up on the line, but then they halted the meet for 20 minutes while they went and got us hip numbers!  Biggest waste of time :P  But I made sure to keep doing strides and drills while waiting.  Finally they lined us up.  I was on the inside of the outer alley.  Going out there were a few girls from my alley who went ahead of me, but I just relaxed since the race was not to be won or lost in those first 100 meters.  Joining up with the girls from the first alley I was in pretty decent position.  It felt relaxed, and I was towards the front of the pack and on the inside.  The first lap split was about 85, then we were almost 3:00 through 800!  The pace picked up then, and I think the pack had a lot of 87s.  I stuck to the inside and didn't worry about moving to the front of the pack, the race was plenty long for moving up later.  There was a lot of shuffling within the pack, but I stayed on my feet the whole time.  The first mile split was 5:56!  But as long as we were all in one pack I was fine with that.  The next 2 miles were about the same, and we were still in a pack until we reached 11 laps to go.  Then some girls broke away, and they broke hard.  About half the pack fell away then, myself included.  I was one of the girls strung off the back, and could see the string of other girls who had done the same and the lead pack.  From this point I knew that my chances of nationals this year were gone, but I was determined that at least I would catch some of the girls in front of me.  With 10 and 9 laps to go I really wanted to quit, but I made myself keep going.  When it got to 8 laps and less I was able to make myself pick it up a bit (or maybe I was just able to push so that I would maintain my pace and not slow down) and battled the girls who tried to pass me and to close the gap on girls in front of me.  With about 3 laps to go I was passed by the leaders (my first time ever being lapped during a track race... but for 6 years of track I did amazing keeping it off until now!) and pushed a little bit as I could hear more of the girls passing by.  When I saw one of them going into the final lap the same as me I was disappointed that I had thought she was just one of the leaders, so I just let her pass me without a fight :P  I finished the last lap and was so grateful to just have finished the race!  Especially with the heat it was a big accomplishment!  And all 48 girls finished :)  For cooldown I did about a mile and a quarter.  I am happy for the way I ran this race, staying with the pack was what I needed to do.  If I had gone to the front and pushed the pace I am sure the pack would have come with.  Looking at the results, there were 15 seniors ahead of me, so that is comforting for next year :)   

This morning I went running with Amanda on the river trail.  On our way back a guy named Chris joined us for a bit.  I finished with laps on the track to get to 5 while Amanda did her strides.

This morning I went running in the rain!  I ran over by the track and then made some loops around campus, and then back to the hotel to finish at 5 for the day.  My calves and hamstrings are sore.

Today I went running with Jesse and Abigail in Bountiful.  We went on the temple trail, which is just across the street from the temple.  It goes up the canyon.  Not long into it, Abigail decided it wasn't the best for running (it wasn't) so she turned and went and ran on the road.  I kept going with Jesse, but he ended up way far ahead.  There were a lot of river crossings.  Finally we made it to the end, and it was about 1.6 miles... We ran back and then added on a little bit on the road to make it to 4.  Jesse was just a little bit ahead of me so I decided to try and run with him, but he just picked up the pace.  Reminds me when Natalie and I would run with the guys... or when Amanda and I were running behind RJ when we were freshmen and he kept looking back and speeding up because he didn't want us to catch him!  

This morning I ran along 1300e to Sunnyside, up to 1900e, over to 1300s, and home.  Then I went and got my first lift of the week done.

This morning I went to Sugarhouse and ran 2 laps around the perimeter on the grass.

This morning I met Jesse at Liberty Park to go for a run.  We did 2 laps around the perimeter and then a little bit extra to get to 4.  Later I went and got my second lift for the week done.

Ran 2 laps around the perimeter at Sugarhouse today.  I was mad after 2 cars pulled out in front of me, first from the Highland parking lot, they saw me but pulled out anyway! >:(  And then at the exit of Sugarhouse park, I am sure I startled the driver when I smacked the passenger window very loudly to let them know they should have looked.  I am glad that I am a runner so that I am a more alert driver.