You've got to want it to win it

This morning in weights I actually hit my numbers for hang cleans for the first time this season!  The workout in the afternoon was at the track but we didn't find out what it was until we got there.  I did my knee rehab before, and had the same tape from yesterday since Hanah said to leave it on.  It was fine until the warmup, then it started to hurt.  We did our usual out and back route to the track, then stretched for a while before doing our strides and drills because the sprinters were having a 4x4 relay with 3 teams they had thrown together, so we watched that and cheered them on.  When we got going on the strides and drills my knee hurt even more and was catching during some of the drills.  After we finished those I told Hanah and she gave me some advil and wrapped it with what she had.  It was the weirdest wrap ever but it seemed to help.  My knee wasn't popping on the way down to the bailiff where we were doing our 300s.  But it was making the rest of my leg go numb, so when we got down there I tried breaking it but that didn't work either.  Then Hanah came down there with some scissors and read my mind because she came right over and cut a slit in the bottom so it wasn't so tight.  Then I was able to do the 300s with the team.  The first part is slightly downhill, the rest was pretty flat.  I wasn't up with the group the whole time but at least I was running and my knee wasn't hurting like on the warmup.  My times were 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, and 56.  We jogged back to the start each time for recovery.  Originally I hadn't wanted to time them but I am glad I did because seeing my time drop each time was motivating.  After those we ran back up to the track and did some 200s.  It was sort of like a relay because we would go when someone else was finishing their 200.  Each of us did 6, my times were 39, 36, 36, 36, 36, 35.  Afterwards I ran out to North Campus Drive and back with Lauren, then added 2 backwards laps at the track and then back to the lockerroom to get to 7 for the day.  In the training room I did stem and ice for 15 minutes.

Today I went running with Kate and Charlotte.  We ran on Foothill and then through the golf course to get up to Wasatch.  They turned at about 20 minutes, but I kept going to 4 miles  This put me up on the paved Shoreline trail past the drinking fountain.  I ran back the same way.  My knee hurt on the way back because of the downhill.  I've just gotta suck it up for one more week at least... (still hoping for nationals with the team!)

This morning we went running in Park City!  It was so cold up there and there was frost everywhere!  So we didn't stand around long but just got out of the cars and started running.  About 2.5 miles in we started the 4 mile Kenyan run we were supposed to do.  I didn't time it but pushed the second mile like we were supposed to.  I fell behind Kate and Andrea when we got to the paved part again where it starts to go uphill.  They turned before I did but I went to 5 miles before turning.  My knee hurt on the downhill again but I guess that's to be expected.  

Today I went and did my rehab before practice and got a new tape job.  All day my knee has hurt walking downhill and down stairs, so we went back to the first taping style and will probably save the second for workout days only.  For the run I went out with Nikki, Giselle, Kate, Lauren, and Andrea.  We ran out on Foothill and then up Sunnyside to do the zoo loop.  Giselle and Nikki turned on Sunnyside, and the others turned on Wasatch but I kept going.  Right when I got to 4 miles where I was going to turn, I saw Amanda so I turned and ran with her :)  I was with her to the golf course but then she kept going and I went back to campus through the golf course.  When I got back to the locker room my knee didn't hurt going down the stairs!  Just gotta make it through one more workout tomorrow and then rest up for regionals on Friday :)

Today we had our final workout before regionals!  Hanah did the extra taping like she did during last week's workout, since today was on the track too.  For warmup I ran out to South Campus with the girls, and then to avoid the hill I just ran back to the track and added a few laps until they arrived.  Then we did our strides and drills, and then picked our workout from the two Kep had written.  The second one he had written on the board with the map of bailiff was different than the one he posted a few days earlier... I picked the new one :)  I changed to my spikes and then Lauren, Nikki, Giselle, and I ran down to bailiff to do the first part of the workout.  We did two 200s, I hit 43 and 44, and then we did a 1200.  We were supposed to hit 1:26ish pace.  I finished in 4:22 (didn't take splits or anything, didn't care too much).  Then we had 400s.  Since the loop was 600 meters we decided to run 400, then recover backwards 200 to change it up every time.  For these we were trying to hit around 1:24.  My times were 1:24, 1:25, 1:25, 1:24, 1:28.  At this point I decided I was done (we had to do between 5 and 7) so I ran back up to the track with Lauren where we were supposed to do a few fast 200s.  When we got up to the track I didn't feel like quitting on the 4s so I did two more, both in 1:21.  The track was easier on my knee because the turns were wider than the bailiff course.  Then I did two 200s in 37, then two more in the opposite direction in 35.  I cooled down a mile and a half with Giselle and Nikki picking up the flags on bailiff, and then went and stretched for several minutes afterwards.  

Today I started my run with Nikki and Kate.  We started out on Foothill, then I turned at 1300s and ran down to 1300e.  I ran over to 500s, did a lap in the cemetery, then ran up South Campus and finished at 6 miles.  Had a nice long stretch afterwards.  We are all sore from weights yesterday, hopefully we feel better tomorrow and can all run our best races Friday!!

Today in Fort Collins we went to the course in the late afternoon to get our premeet done.  We ran one loop of the course, then I did strides as part of a second loop and ran the rest of the loop when I was done with the strides.  Giselle and I have been talking about our goal, top 30, the past few workouts and were really excited :)  but in the team meeting, Kep told us he wants us to get top 15.  I am not mentally prepared for this.

This morning I was really nervous for the race.  I woke up at 6 and couldn't get back to sleep :(  so I went down to breakfast early and did homework for a few hours.  I wish I had thought better right when I woke up, I probably could have really used a shakeout run.  When we got to the course we relaxed (or tried to) for a bit before getting going on our warmup.  We did one loop of the course backwards, and then did our strides and drills in the starting area.  After I had changed shoes and was about to head over to the line, Kep came over and told me he thought I could beat Shalaya because she didn't race very well at conference.  WTF??  Thanks coach. He's getting an earful about that one next week.  On the line I felt like crying between strides.  Never have I come into a race with such low mental confidence.  I was preparing with the goal top 30, not top 15 and beating an Olympian.  I knew I had to focus so just thought about top 30. Or tried to anyway.  When the race started I went out at a decent pace, was a little terrified about getting tripped, but was fine going with the flow.  Coming to the first turn I got cut off a lot as people would run to the left of the course to avoid the small hill on the turn.  This course was great for my knee!  The race plan was not panic the first k and then push hard the last 5.  I could see Giselle not too far ahead but didn't want to close on her yet because I wanted to wait for the k.  If I had I might have been able to hold on like at pre-nats and run better, but I really wanted to just be patient and work later.  When the k mark came, I went.  There were several girls I was passing back and forth, but some I would pass and never see again.  At one point I caught up to a pack and realized they were slipping away, but then figured I just needed to go with them and then I would be able to pull away with them.  So I did.  I didn't hear my splits but I didn't care.  I just focused on keeping passing people.  I could hear people yelling to an SUU girl that she was their 5.  I did not want to let that happen, so I pushed to pass that pack.  The first lap was over quick and then from that point I kept reminding myself it was more than half over, so I had to pick it up.  At 5k my split was about 17:48, and I realized if I was going to break 21 I would have to have a screaming fast kick.  I couldn't do it.  When the course did turn though (probably 800 to go) I started my kick and caught a few girls.  Coming down the final 400 I could see a Colorado girl and was determined to catch her, and I did.  No one caught me, I pushed all the way through to the end.  Giselle was 12th and finally broke 21!!!  I was really happy for her :)  But I wanted to cry after my race because I was mentally out of it.  And now half of my cross country seasons are already gone.  I cooled down with the team out and back on a trail to the outside of the golf course, then I ran more with Amanda until I hit 3 miles total for cooldown.  I felt like I was going to pass out at the end of it, I was so exhausted.  When we got our runnercards I was again painfully reminded of my time because the average pace was 5:44.  That is the same as my very first race my freshman year up at Utah State.  It is time for things to change.  I hate running right now.

This morning I went for a run with my iPod in the snow :)  I had planned on running to Cottonwood Complex to watch my sister race.  I ran to Sugarhouse and then ran up to 1700e, then did part of the cemetery loop down to Alden and then weaving back up to Imperial Street.  When I got to 3300s I ran down, but the sidewalks had a lot of puddles which weren't fun to avoid, and they caused the snow stuck in the heel of my shoes to turn to ice blocks :P  I had to stop several times to pick them out.  I also had to stop and stretch my calves during the first mile because they were really sore, but they felt better as I kept running and stretched them more at lights.  There was so much snow that I almost didn't recognize that I was at 1300e when I made it there.  From there I continued south to the complex.  When I got there I didn't see a lot of cars and was worried about not having a ride home...  I ran down to the parking lot and saw Bill and a few other people.  I used Bill's phone to call my sister and then finished the mile I was on to get 7 for the day.  My calves feel a lot better now!  

This morning after class I went and got my knee rehab done so I could go for a short run on the treadmill.  It feels so nice to run just to run! :)

This afternoon I took my iPod and went for a nice run in Sugarhouse Park.  I ran there, did 2 laps on the road, and back home. :)

Took my iPod for another easy 4 today.  I ran to the cemetery on 500s, and was almost done with a lap but then I saw a buck in the middle of the pavement up ahead so I turned and ran a lap the other way before leaving.  My knee is feeling better every day :)

Today I ran to Sugarhouse again, 2 laps on the road and back.  I ate a sandwich right before I ran and didn't feel it at all :)  

Today I went to practice to join Hilary and Charlotte for a run.  I was asleep until about an hour before practice and didn't want to keep the girls waiting too long so I did my rehab but skipped the tape for my knee.  It didn't hurt at all! :)  We ran on 11th Avenue.  Hilary went longer but Charlotte and I turned around at 2.5 to get 5 for the day. 

Took my iPod for a run again today.  Ran up 1500e to 900s, up to 1900e to 2100s, then continued south under the freeway and then picked a street to turn down to get back to 1700e to run back home.  Again my knee didn't hurt at all! :)

Today after doing my rehab and getting taped, I went for a run with Kate, Hilary, Andrea, Charlotte, and Alyssa.  As we were about to leave, we saw Amanda walking to the Burb so we sprinted over to her to give her a huge hug for her amazing performance at nationals!!! :)  She was 14th and finally broke 20! :)  For our run we started on Foothill, then went down 2100e.  The other girls turned early so I just kept going with Charlotte and Alyssa.  When we got to 2100s we turned down and then turned again on 1900e to run back to campus.  At Sunnyside we went back up to Foothill, and we caught back up to the other girls at the light on Mario Capecchi.  At the lockerroom we still needed .75 to get 7 so Charlotte ran out and back with me to get the full 7.

Today I took Trax down to 9th east with the team to join them for their warmup of the workout.  When they got to their strides I just did laps around the perimeter of the park.  I did 2 full ones and then saw them on their workout so cheered them on as I saw them.  I did another third of a lap to see them one more time and was done at 7.

This morning after class I went and got my rehab done and then went for a run up on Shoreline Trail.  I had planned on just running to 3 and turning, and I was so close to Sunnyside that I almost wanted to pansy out of running back up the hills and just run back on the road, but I stuck to the trail :)  And my knee didn't hurt!  When I got back I got my knee retaped for running the rest of the week.  

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  This morning I went for a run with Abigail and my iPod.  We ran out on 1500e, then cut up to 1700e at 2100s, then down to Imperial Street at 2700s.  We ran to 3 miles, took a stretch break, and ran home.  We maintained a great pace, faster than I run with my team or on my own!  :)  My tape job is kinda coming off already, I'll have to see how well I can keep it on the rest of the week...

Today after doing some shopping with my sister I took a break and went for a run with my iPod.  I ran up 1300e to Wasatch Drive, then over past the flagpole on Foothill on the paved bike trail to 3.5, and back the same way.  My knee felt great :)

Today I ran in Kearns after giving my sister a ride to the oval.  I ran out to whatever main road is north of the oval, and then west.  I saw a free cat in the road!  I ran to 5600w and turned, and then turned again on 6200s.  I hit 3.5 at the shopping area that my team runs to for our warmups at the oval.  I turned and ran back the same way.  The free cat was gone this time.  Avg. pace 7:17 just like yesterday :)

Today I went and did my rehab and then went running with my team.  Andrea wanted to do a fun run, so that's what she, Amanda, Kate, Hilary, and I did.  We made a bunch of random turns and eventually ended up back on Foothill.  That took up 6.3 miles, then Hilary and I ran to North Campus and back and around Huntsman once to finish at 8.

Shortened workout today!  For me at least, I joined the girls for some hills at Red Butte.  It was another one of those ladders like we did at the beginning of the season.  After warming up to there and on the trails a bit we got started.  I just did the first set which was 100, 100 200, 100 200 300.  Half jog and half walk recovery back down.  My times were 21, 21, 40, 20, 38, 59.  My knee didn't hurt at all!  And not bad times for not doing anything fast since regionals!  And uphill! (though not that steep, but still!)  The second set was about the same but they started on a 200 and finished with a 4.  I probably could have done it but didn't want to push too much luck on the first day.  And if I had done the first part of the workout thinking I would do the last half I probably wouldn't have run as fast anyway.  Just kidding!  For a 5 mile cooldown to get to 8, I ran on the trails to Drycreek and then up a little bit until I reached some rolling hilly-ness and decided I wanted to turn.  Then I ran back on the same trail and weaved around upper campus to add on and finish at 8 by the locker room.  

Today I warmed up on the bike and did my rehab, and then tried running without tape.  I started with the team out on Foothill and then 2300e, but they all turned at 20 minutes so I was by myself the last 6.5 miles.  But that meant I got to pick up the pace :)  I ran to 2100s and then down to 1300e.  I maintained about 7:00 pace until 500s when I had to climb back up the hill, but I felt really strong.  I crossed back to campus at Mario Capecchi and still needed about a mile when I got back to the locker room so finished on the bailiff.  My knee didn't hurt at all!!! :)

We had the most fun lift ever today!  Tuesday's lift was hard, and he told us we'd be doing it again today but repeating it twice... so we were all dreading it.  But after the warmup he told us to go over to the field house where we played ULTIMATE FRISBEE =D =)  6 against 6, best of three games, my team won, tied, and won again :) For the run in the afternoon we ran on Foothill and then cut down to 1900e.  I went past 2100s and then a little bit on 1700e until I hit 4 and then ran back the same way.

Not very many of us could meet as a group to do our Kenyan/long run tomorrow so Kep moved it today.  He mentioned maybe us just running to Sugarhouse and doing it there, so I was mentally preparing for that this afternoon.  At practice, however, the girls had another idea.  Two of them had sassy attitudes and were kinda mad at each other and it didn't make it fun for any of us.  We ran to Liberty instead.  They complained about going to 1300s instead of 900s on 15ooe to get to the park.  Big deal.  At Liberty we counted one of our miles there as the first one, so just had two laps to drop 20 seconds each.  I didn't really time them but picked it up.  When we were done I wanted to run back to campus and the other girls wanted to take trax.  They complained about not needing that much mileage, so I just ran back to campus on my own.  I like that the workouts are getting more challenging but I wish some people wouldn't have such negative attitudes about it, because today it really rubbed off on me :(  A plus side though is that my knee didn't hurt (I did have tape today since it was speed stuff).