You've got to want it to win it

This morning when I woke up and heard the pouring rain outside, my first thought was "I love cross country!".  I got to wear my rainboots for the ride up to Utah State for the season opener :)  When we got there it was chilly and the grass was a bit wet, but at least it had stopped raining.  The course looked nicer than last year, but there were only 4 port-a-pottys for bathroom.  I wasn't thinking when I took my potty break and when I was done threw the whole roll of TP in the hole... Oops, that was a sign I needed to wake up and get ready for my race.  With about 45 minutes before race time we started on our team warmup.  The first and second loops were alright, but coming out of the second (which is actually the end of the first loop too, and the 4th) there is a slight uphill, so I knew that might be difficult.  The 3rd loop was shorter than I expected it to be, so when I did part of the 4th loop for the last bit of my warmup I was sure the course would be short... and decided to race with my Garmin :)  After doing strides and drills with the team, I changed to my flats.  After a few more strides on the line, and having to wait a few minutes for the timers to be ready, the race began!  Because the start is sloped downhill (opposite of all the other loops) I was able to get out well and not push too hard.  I ended up at the front, and going into the first loop Amber and Taylor from Weber were running on each side of me.  I just stuck with them and the pace felt pretty relaxed.  I hung with them the second loop and I think I was annoying them because I kept stepping on their ankles, but that was because Amber was running into me a little bit and forced me to run half step behind them.  I didn't feel bad for stepping on them because of that :P  Coming out of the second loop my hips felt really tired from the hill, and then they were able to break away while I was recovering.  I really need to rebuild my quad strength!  The third loop was different than what I ran in my warmup so it did end up being full distance, but either way I was prepared.  During part of the third loop the Weber guys cheered for me which was nice of them, because they know Ben would have if he were there :)  Coming out of the 3rd loop and into the 4th, Jamie caught up to me and passed me and I wasn't able to hold on very well.  I think she also must have been kicking at this point because there was only about 1000 to go.  Coming around the final turn to the slope up to the finish line I was worried that someone else might catch me but I was able to make myself push up the hill and even pull out enough of a kick that I almost had to puke when I finished.  Once the rest of the team had finished and changed shoes, we went out on the road for cooldown.  Surprisingly my legs didn't feel tired from the race, so I was able to run up with Hilary and Charlotte.  We did one big loop that was about 2 and a half miles around the blocks that the park was at, and then Hilary and I did another one so that I could get to 5.5 cooldown and 11 for the day.  

This morning I enjoyed sleeping in for a bit because of no class and then going for a run while it was still cool.  I even took my iPod along.  I ran to Sugarhouse, did a clockwise lap around, then ran out to 3300s.  I had thought about running to Granite for speedchanges but didn't want to run back uphill the rest of the way back so instead I went up to Melbourne and took that and 1800e back to 2100s.  Then to make the run longer, I ran up to 1900e and over to 900s.  I had hoped for 12 miles and could see I would need to add if I went home then, so I ran along Guardsman to 500s and then down to 1300e and home.  The only light I had to stop at was the one at 800s on 13th.  My average pace was 7:33.  It was a pretty good day :)

This afternoon we had a hills workout up on Shoreline Trail just north of Red Butte.  We did the usual warmup out and back on the trail and then strides and drills at Red Butte, then ran over to the hill we would be doing.  There were 3 different hills, and we were doing each of them 4 times for a set.  They were 300 meters each.  I was in a group with Hilary, Nikki D., and Alyssa.  The first ones I hit in 1:16, 1:15, 1:14, 1:14, then the next set was 1:28, 1:29, 1:28, 1:26, then for the final set 1:29, 1:28, 1:27, 1:25.  This workout felt better than hills 2 weeks ago but I still feel like I am lacking in my hill strength this season.  For cooldown I ran with Hilary up Red Butte to the fence and back, and then out on the road above campus and then back down Legacy Bridge to the locker rooms.  I walked from the top of the bridge because that is where we hit 9.  Afterwards I took a 10 minute ice bath, the water was way colder than usual!!!  Also we have another workout tomorrow.  Yippee.

This afternoon we had another workout, this time threshold at Liberty.  We started with the usual warmup from the 900e Trax station and then a little out and back once we got to the car.  We did our strides and drills and then changed shoes.  The Kep told us our paces.  We were going by feel.  Which meant... No watches!!! =O He held out is hand and we all had to hand over our watches :'(  No Garmin for this one :(  I felt naked.  We started with two 800s, then we did two miles.  I was able to work with Andrea and we kept the pace feeling pretty easy during the 8s.  During the miles it felt harder, but Kep said we were getting right on pace for our splits so that helped us to keep going.  After we finished the last mile he asked Dre and I if we were up for another half mile, so we went for it.  He said it was our fastest one, though he missed us at the finish.  Afterwards we did 5x30 second strides, then I cooled down 3.5 miles with Hilary.  On the second lap we even caught some of my sister's race so I got to cheer for her before going back to the Trolley Trax station.  I took a 15 minute ice bath when I got back to the training room.

This afternoon we left for our run at 2:15.  I went out on Foothill with Kate and we did the zoo loop.  Hilary and Nikki ran 11th.  We don't know where Charlotte went so just ended up running without her...  We had a team meeting at 3:30 so that meant my run had to end at 8 miles and there wasn't time for strides.  Oh well...

Later tonight I grabbed my iPod and reflective vest and went for a run.  Crazy how going for an 8:00 run is getting darker and darker!  I ran to Sugarhouse, did part of a clockwise lap until I was at 2.5, and then I ran home.   

Today I went for a run with Kate, Lauren, and Charlotte.  I started out on Foothill with them, but they are all racing tomorrow so they were only with me for 15 minutes.  When we were at the light at Sunnyside, Abigail yelled to me from the bus and then the whole team was yelling and waving... awkward...  then when the light changed we went and they passed us again on Foothill!  It was actually kinda cool.  Kate and Charlotte were with me to Foothill Village and then I continued on my own to 2100s.  I ran to Sugarhouse, did 2 laps around the perimeter, then went to Wasatch Hollow to do strides.  On one of them these people's dog ran with me and then ran right in front of me so I ran into it... it had just been playing in the river and got me all wet.  Gross!  Jk, I was fine with it, but then the owner didn't even apologize :P  Whatever... I finished my run by running up to 1900e and then over to 1300s and then home, then back and forth in front of the house until I was at 11. 

This morning I picked up Alex, Andrea, Alyssa, and Giselle on campus so that we could drive to Pipeline for our long run.  We all were together on the way out for 25 minutes, then Alex and Giselle turned.  Alyssa was going out 35 and was with Andrea and I when she fell, twice.  When she turned I gave her the car key so she could get to the first aid kit, her palms were shredded :P  Andrea and I went all the way to the end of the trail and then ran back to the car.  After we got off the trail she came up to the boardwalk with me, but then turned early, so I finished the last mile up the road a bit further and then back down on the boardwalk.  It was a really nice morning, parts of the trail were a bit chilly but some parts were warmer and it varies when you will get warmth or the fall chill.  It definitely feels like cross country season :)

Today my motto was it's what athletes do when the coach isn't watching that makes them champions.  We had probably my least favorite workout at Sugarhouse today.  If you can even call it a workout.  It was 8-12 sets of 50 meter skips up a hill, 100 jog, 200 threshold downhill, 100 jog, 100 sprint, and then recovery back to the bottom of the hill for the skips.  What I did was warmed up to Sugarhouse to meet the group there, but I went early enough to do some mile repeats on Highland's track.  I had to run up through the driving range to get to the track, then I did one lap of speedchanges before changing to my flats.  I had hoped to get in three miles but was limited on time so I just did what I could.  The first mile I went out in 1:22, then 2:45, 4:08, and 5:30.  I haven't gone that fast in a while!  It felt great!  :)  I took a lap recovery and then started on a second one.  The first lap I came through in 1:22, it felt easier than the first lap of the first mile, then I came through in 2:46, 4:10, and finished in 5:35.  I took another lap recovery and then changed back to my trainers before running back up through the driving range and then down to the parking lot where I arrived just as the rest of the team pulled in.  I joined them for a warmup lap around the perimeter of the park and then our strides and drills.  Then we started the "workout".  My knee popped during the first set of skips and it really hurt but I sucked it up and just kept going.  By the end of the 8th set it had also kinda started to hurt on the downhill 200 so I decided to stop there.  I changed back to my trainers and then had to hurry back home for cooldown to make it on time to my lab.

Today I went for my run early with Hilary so we could be done before our team meeting.  We ran down 11th Avenue and up City Creek to the drinking fountain where we conveniently hit the 4 mile mark.  We ran back the same way but finished at the bailiff so we could do our strides.  We did them barefoot and just did 5 to finish at 8.5 for the day.  Afterwards I hurried to the training room to grab a bag of ice for my foot, it has been hurting and I think it is because of my shoes.  They look like they are getting worn out more on the outsides than the middle so I think I don't overpronate anymore and with the compensation that my shoes give for that I am actually rolling my feet outward.

We had our second and final workout of the week today at Liberty.  We did the usual warmup from Trax on 900e down to the park, then once we got to the car Hilary and I kept going to the corner and back.  I finally got new shoes yesterday, the lady at the running store confirmed that I no longer overpronate as I used to (well only slightly on my left foot, but that is the one that was hurting with the old shoes) so I am in a neutral shoe.  I didn't bring my flats today, and neither did Hilary.  It was nice not to have to carry them!  After the strides and drills we had to wait for Kep and Amanda to pass by on their second lap of the 4 mile Kenyan run so they could catch us at the finish of the first mile.  I started with Andrea and Giselle, we were supposed to hit 6:45, 6:25, 6:05, 5:45.  We hit 6:44, 6:32, 6:07, 6:08.  They broke away during the last mile but I was struggling.  Still I pushed as hard as I could and at least managed to stay even.  For cooldown Hilary and I ran a clockwise lap to get to the drinking fountain and then finished around up to 700e and up 900s where I may have flipped some kids off who said really inappropriate things and who Hilary also yelled at...  We were about a block away from the Trax station up on 900e when the train passed, so we finished at the station with 9 and realized that train had come early to make up for one that hadn't come earlier... and we realized the next one wasn't coming for 20 minutes to we ran down to 700e and back and then out on 900e and back to get the extra mile to make 10 for the day.

Today Hilary and I went out on 11th Avenue with Alyssa and Andrea.  They were with us until 25 minutes, then Hilary and I continued on until the drinking fountain at City Creek just like we had done on Tuesday.  On our way back we saw Nikki R. running down the canyon, it's her birthday today!!!  When we got back to campus we went to the bailiff to do strides, we did them barefoot and made it take up a mile so we could be at 9 for the day.  Traveling to Montana by bus tomorrow!

Today after arriving in Bozeman we enjoyed a nice shakeout run on some trails near the hotel.  The course didn't open until 6 or we would have gone there, but we drove there as soon as we finished our run.  We did our strides along the second mile of the course.  It looks like a nice course other than some wiggly turns and being a narrow course with some areas that are slightly on a hill.  Other than that I am really excited for the race tomorrow and hope that I can do well!  My goal is to race smarter than at USU by not being the one to set the pace but rather see who goes out and then go with them and then try to match them when they break or else break them with a mile to go.  And a surprise Kep didn't tell us was that Weber didn't bring their girls team because they wanted to beat BYU on their home course for recruiting purposes... I was kind of hoping to redeem myself after USU but I can still do that here with a smarter race.  And now it is time to go to bed, we have to eat breakfast at 6 in the morning... 

This morning after arriving at the course we walked the first mile to take a look at the part of the course we didn't run yesterday.  After that we still had a few minutes before it was time to warmup so we just relaxed and got mentally prepared for this race.  For warmup we ran along the 3rd mile of the course to see how it goes back to the finish; it is almost backwards of the 2nd mile but not on the same path.  Back at the starting field we had plenty of room to do our strides and drills since the guys race was going on.  After we did those we still had about 15 minutes so I ran around a little more before changing to my spikes and then heading to the line to do strides.  The officials kept saying 5 minutes, 5 minutes, 5 minutes until the race would start... Since I didn't wear my watch this time I don't actually know how long it was but we were glad when they finally blew the whistle and shot the gun for us to begin.  My plan was to not go out hard up the hill or be the one to set the pace for the lead group if I ended up in position.  What I ended up doing was waiting until the top of the hill and then trying to catch up to the lead group, though for then it was just a large strung out group.  I finally caught them but then we had the downhill part and they broke away, and coming to the flat at the bottom of the hill which is just before the mile they had broken away and then there was a girl by herself and then me by myself.  My first mile was 5:50.  I kept my eyes up and focused on the girl in front of me and worked on closing the gap.  In the other pack I counted 6 girls so I figured I was in an ok position and after I caught the other girl I would have them to focus on.  At about a mile and a half I passed the other girl and then a girl in purple had started to fall off the lead pack.  I tried the rest of the race to close the gap and pass her.  Coming to the turnaround where we run back through woods and there is a mile to go, a girl came up to me and I really didn't want to get passed so I pushed really hard to stay ahead of her.  Then I realized it was Giselle when she said my name and then I stuck with her for a few strides but wasn't able to make myself go with her but I was glad to see that she was doing so well.  She caught the girl in purple and then I told myself I could do it too.  Then another girl came up to me and it was Andrea, again I tried to stay with her but then she passed me and went up to purple girl.  She passed the purple girl back and forth, and I actually came pretty close to both of them with 800 to go but then the purple girl broke away and Andrea and I pushed hard to finish strong.  I hated the rolling hills once you come out of the woods towards the finish and really wish they could just make that pat of the course curve to the side of them where there is plenty of flat ground :P  but there still is a good portion of flat after that where you can still get a decent kick in.  I finished 9th, Andrea 8th, and Giselle 5th.  :)  The way the meet was scored was weird because rather than just doing overall they made it complicated by doing dual scores between all of the teams.  But we beat everybody and calculated the scores for if they had scored it the regular way and we won by 2 points anyway :)  For cooldown we ran along the last 2 miles of the course and then up near the start while we waited for them to start the awards.  They announced top 10 in each race and we got little duffle bags :)  The girls ones are pink :)  I then cooled down a little more to be at 2.25 so I could at least finish with an even mile for the day.  I had hoped for 10 but we had to hurry back to the hotel :P  After I finished my cooldown Heather wrapped two packs of ice to my back.  No more plates with planks at lifting, I could definitely feel it today :P  The bus ride back was fun, and then it was sweet to watch the football team also claim a victory today :)

Today I went running with Kate, Hilary, Charlotte, and Lauren.  Hilary saw one of her favorite basketball players in the hall before we started and then when we got outside we were laughing at her reaction so hard that it took us a few minutes to decide where to run.  We decided to run down Guardsman and 15th to Sugarhouse.  When we had barely made it to Guardsman we had another laughing attack at Hilary incorrectly hearing Kate and Lauren's conversation.  After a quick stop at Steiner to clarify what Kate and Lauren were talking about we were on our way again.  When we got to about 1700s we fell into another laugh attack and had to stop several times between there and 2100s because we couldn't breathe!  In the park we did a lap on the inside, then Charlotte, Kate, and Lauren went back while Hilary and I did an outside loop before going back to campus.  Then we did hill strides when we got back until we were at a total of 10 for the day.

This afternoon we had a workout at Sunnyside.  We ran there for warmup, then Hilary and I did a little more to get to 2 miles.  Then we did our usual strides and drills.  Kep had marked a 600 meter loop with cones at every 100.  The workout was four 500s, four 300s, and four 500s.  3 minutes recovery for the 5s and 2 for the 3s.  I started in a group with Giselle and Andrea and we were supposed to be hitting around 1:35s.  The first one we came in at 1:46.  The next one we had Charlotte, Nikki R., and Amanda with us so I think that helped us push and we were able to hit 1:42.  On the next one I hit 1:40, and the final one in that set I got 1:42.  For the 300s we started up at the top by the picnic table and then ran down  to the 3rd cone from that one which was just around the corner from the green box.  For recovery for each of those we jogged back up to the start.  On these my times were 57, 58, 58, 59.  Then we took 4 minutes recovery before starting the last set of 500s.  We hit 1:43, 1:43, 1:51, then for the last one Kep told Nikki and I to just do a 400 so we did and hit 1:23.  I felt pretty good about this workout since we had to push the whole time to try and hit our splits.  Although I never hit my splits exactly I know the hill probably affected my time but also the fact that we never do stuff this fast...  So its been a while and I've lost some speed, so I really hope we do more workouts like this!  For cooldown Hilary and I went out on 1900e with Amanda and Megan.  They went further than us, we turned and went back up to Foothill to go back to campus and finish at 10.

This morning after class I went for a run.  I ran to Sugarhouse, did 3 loops around the perimeter, and ran home.  As I was getting close to 8.00 on my Garmin I realized I was at 1:00 (my Garmin doesn't show seconds after 1 hour) so I really hoped to hit 8 before it changed.  Right as I did and I stopped my Garmin, it changed to 1:01.  So I almost made it.  Either way, it was a good pace for a solo run.

This afternoon I went to the locker room at practice time to see if anyone was going running then.  Charlotte and Lauren were there, so we ran the Albertson's loop.  Back at the training room I stretched and rolled for a few minutes, and then decided to stem on my hips before getting in the ice bath.  It has been a while so I forgot that Hanah puts ice on while the stem is going, so I did that for 20 minutes and called it good.  I also did anatomy homework the whole time too!  Even though I am no where near being done reviewing for the first exam tomorrow... 

Today for workout we drove to Park City hoping that the air might be better up there.  It wasn't, but we were glad to not be doing workout at Liberty!  We started with a warmup out and back on the trail we do long runs on, then our strides and drills.  On the field Kep had marked an 800 loop, and going out from the field he had made a loop out and around to make a 1000 meter loop.  We started with three 800s that were supposed to be at race pace (about 2:52 for my group).  I was with Andrea, Giselle, and Nikki.  I hit 2:58, 2:57, 3:00.  For the 1000s we were supposed to hit threshold pace, the first one I hit in 4:00 but then I pushed harder to stay with Andrea the next few and then we hit 3:54, 3:53, 3:57.  For cooldown I went out and back on the trail to finish at 9.

Today for the run it was me, Kate, Hilary, and Alyssa.  Drivers were terrible today, as we almost got hit by some lady cruising down Mario Capecchi Drive who didn't look in the crosswalk before starting her turn!  Then again by some old guy at the light at Sunnyside and Foothill when we were trying to go up!  They had their green arrow, but afterwards it was our turn and the pedestrian walking man was on by they totally cut us off!  Jerks!  I am so glad I am at least aware of all these dumb things drivers do and I hope I never am that bad to pedestrians when I drive!  Anyway, now that I am done venting about bad drivers on to the run.  We ran through the golf course and then onto Wasatch.  The other girls were with me for about 3 miles, then they all turned and went back.  At that point the pace was 8:30 so I decided to pick it up a little bit.  I ran to Thunderbird and then cut down to Foothill and kept going along the paved bike trail.  I turned around at 5 miles and ran back the same way, then did strides on the bailiff until I was at 11.  I brought my average pace for the run down to 7:48.

Today we did a long run up in Park City.  Fortunately, the air was much better today than when we came up on Thursday!  I must have warmed up faster than the others or felt really good at the start because From right before we go on the bridge underpass for about the rest of the run I was by myself.  I turned around at 5.5 and could see the other girls when they turned.  Kep ran with me for a bit when I got to where he was standing but when we caught up to the rest of the girls he stayed with them.  I finished in 1:21 which was about 7:23 pace if I remember correctly... It's been a long time since I've done a long run in as quick a pace but it felt great :)  And running 11 miles yesterday didn't seem to make a difference really.  I think I might keep this run in mind when it comes to tapering for races.  Stanford is in one week and I am really excited :)

Today we had another workout at Sunnyside.  We warmed up there, and then I did a little extra with Hilary and Amanda before starting on the strides and drills.  After than we changed shoes and then did more strides after Kep explained the workout.  I was with Andrea and Giselle and it really helped to be able to work together.  First we had three sets of 3 minutes hard in which he expected us to get about 850 meters.  We did, 2 minutes rest between each.  Then we had three sets of a 600 with 1 minute rest and then a fast 400.  We hit 2:11, 1:24, 2:09, 1:26, 2:10 and then he had us do two 300s instead of the last 400 and for those we hit 55 and 56.  I'm not quite up to speed where I used to be but I am getting there.  And the paces we ran today are decent paces for Stanford this weekend!  For cool down I ran out on 1900e for a bit with Amanda and Megan and then cut up to Foothill to go back to the locker room.  Then I took a 15 minute ice bath with Nikki and Giselle.

Today I went for a run with Hilary and Kate.  We did the zoo loop and ran along Wasatch.  They turned before I did, but I went to 5.25 which was a little bit past the drinking fountain on the paved Shoreline Trail.  Before I ran back I had to stop and admire the beautiful mountains which are visible again :)  And which now have splashes of red from the changing leaves :)  When I got back to campus I added another half mile running over to the bailiff and changing my mind about strides since there was an event going on there... so I finished with 11 for the day.

This morning after getting home from class I took my iPod and went for a run.  I ran to Fairmont Park and was hoping to do a lap but everything was fenced off... there was one small grass patch in the middle of the park so I did a lap around there and then ran back home through Sugarhouse and then on 1500e...

This afternoon we had our final workout of the week at Liberty.  We took trax down to 900e and warmed up to the park as usual.  Hilary and I stayed on the perimeter on the park to make our warmup a little longer.  Then we did our strides and drills with the team.  I didn't feel like bringing my flats today so I stretched while everyone else changed their shoes.  After Kep explained the workout I did a few more strides before starting.  I was with Andrea and Giselle.  The workout was two sets of 11 minute threshold with 2:10 recovery, and then six 200s afterwards.  Kep told us to try and go 3:05s for the halves.  For the first one I was with Andrea and Giselle for the first half and then part of the second until they broke away.  My splits were 3:05, 3:01, 3:01 so at least I knew I wasn't dying completely trying to hit the pace.  For the second one it was just Andrea and me because we didn't know where Giselle went...  Our splits were 3:04, 3:02, 3:07.  Turns our Giselle was changing her shoes and ended up starting with Kep and Amanda.  After we all finished we ran back over to the car and did our strides.  Then for cooldown I ran to the 900e station with Hilary and Alyssa.  We barely missed the train as it pulled away after we ran onto the platform and were hoping to make it to the doors before it was too late.  But we guessed that everyone else had missed that one too because they were taking longer to get ready to run their cooldown... Hilary decided to run down to the Trolley station and Alyssa and I decided to hop on the train going down just for funsies to meet up with everyone.  After we got back to campus I did 15 minutes of stem on my back because the ice baths looked gross... 

Today I went for a run with Alyssa.  We ran down 11th Avenue and then Memory Grove.  I saw a snake on the ground and even though I am not scared of snakes this one terrified me for some reason!  I ran back up South Temple and then weaved my way around campus to add distance and then finished with strides on the bailiff to get to 10 for the day.  Then I did a 15 minute ice bath in the training room.

This afternoon after arriving in Palo Alto, Hilary and I started our run about 20 minutes before the others so we could get our extra time done sooner.  We did a loop over to the track and around the stadium, and then circled back to meet up with the team.  Then we did a longer loop around campus ending at the stadium so that we could do our strides there.  Hilary and I went until we hit 7 for the day.  We are all really excited to race tomorrow!!!

This morning we arrived at the race course to find very overcast conditions which brought the temperature down.  When we started our warmup an hour later, it was starting to get hot.  We did the usual strides and drills and then I ran a little more warmup since I still had time before changing my shoes.  After all of us had laced up our spikes with the chip and tied them tightly, we went over to the starting line to do our strides.  I forgot how narrow of a start this was; only two up front.  I felt honored to be the one getting to be next to Amanda up on the front!  Because they assign the boxes alphabetically, we were on the very end which turned out to be a great box!  We had plenty of room going out, and I was glad that the curse words and impacting the ground sounds weren't from my team.  The plan was for me, Andrea, and Giselle to go out together and try to stick together through the 2k, and then I was planning to go hard the last 4 and see how many people I could pass.  This definitely helped me relax the first k and not try to go out fast.  At some point in that first small loop I noticed that we were right behind a pack of 4 Stanford girls so I was determined that all three of us had to beat them.  Our first k was 3:20, which was fast because of the downhill.  The second k I think I got anxious because I didn't really see Giselle much.  The split at 2k was 6:54 but I figured that was because of the hill.  Finally when I knew I was past the 2k mark I was able to go and easily go past packs of girls and keep moving on.  I had several strong surges from conserving at the start and this really helped me to move past packs and have confidence that no one was trying to follow me and that I could do the same to the next pack.  At around k 3 or 4 I passed a pack and then found myself in no man's land as the next group was quite a way up ahead.  In the group right in front of me I counted 7 girls, but that didn't tell me anything about my position since I didn't know how many were in front of them.  On the last big loop I counted and was pretty sure I was 11th, then I heard Hanah tell me I was 10th.  Mentally I think I relaxed a little when I heard this but then I caught myself and had to think that I was in 11th so I would push with intent to move up a place.  I felt really strong the last k and I think I was even closing on the other girls during the last 400 meters, and I finished with a new PR by 7 seconds!!!  And it turns out I was 10th overall afterall :)  9th collegiate :)  Amanda was 3rd and Giselle was 18th :)  I was really happy because I didn't picture myself finishing up this far in the race!  I thought top 30 would have been nice, looks like I could have set the bar higher!  But this will give me hope and confidence for the remaining races this season :)  Our team took 4th overall again like last year, just shy of our top 3 goal but still good enough to defend.  Afterwards I did a 2 mile cooldown with Hilary to get to 8.5 for the day.  Then I enjoyed a tour of Stanford's campus with my cousin :)  Followed by a wonderful evening in San Fran with the team :)  It has been a wonderful day :)