You've got to want it to win it

After resting and drinking water all day yesterday, I still wasn't feeling fully recovered today.  So after talking to Hanah and Kep, I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the elliptical.  I felt alright during, but pretty fatigued afterwards, though I'm thinking that maybe because I had a short cooldown Saturday that may have been why.  Depending on how I feel later tonight will determine if I go lifting or running tomorrow.

Last night I was feeling pretty good so I went to weights this morning!  After class I went to the gym and ran 5 miles on the treadmill so I could see how that was and be able to stop at any time if I needed to.  I started it slow and gradually worked up the pace.  I felt fine, just a little pain at first and then at about 2 miles I considered stopping, but I ran through it and then felt great the rest of the run.

Today I got to do a workout!  We were fortunate enough to have good enough weather that didn't force us to go to the oval which was nice!  We did the usual warmup above the track and back and then our strides and drills.  Then I found out I was doing my workout alone since I am doing the 5k this weekend but the other girls are in different events.  I had a choice of 800s or 1000s.  I decided to start with an 800 to see how I felt and then maybe move up to 1000, but after hitting a 2:39 for the first one (I started way too fast... still used to last week's stuff) I decided to stick with 800s.  The second one I hit 2:44, then 2:47, and finally 2:45.  I took a lap recovery after each.  The last 100 of each was hard too because it was straight into the wind, but I just decided to keep running them that way anyway.  After those, I did four 400s each with a lap recovery.  My times were 1:21, 1:19, 1:22, 1:23.  Then I stayed at the track and did 4 laps cooldown.  I felt great during the workout, mostly I just struggled with pace and having to do it by myself.  But still it wasn't a bad day, and I'm hoping the 5k goes well Friday!

Today I went for a run with Nikki R. and Lauren.  Lauren was doing a workout by herself so Nikki and I warmed up with her up to Wasatch where she'd be doing threshold.  We ran there on Foothill and then through the golf course.  I was doing short today since I'm racing tomorrow, and right when we got to Wasatch out of the golf course we were at 2 miles so I turned around and headed back the same way.  Then I did 8 strides plus some to get to 5 miles, then my drills.  Definitely feeling recovered from last Saturday, hopefully my race tomorrow goes well!

I got to race my first 5k indoor today!  And its my first time in Seattle!  I warmed up around the block where the Dempsey track was.  I got about 2 and a half miles.  As I was just on the other side of the building from where I would need to enter, it started pouring and I got drenched just running over to the door!  Fortunately I had my rain gear though so it wasn't bad.  I went inside for a minute to see where the meet was at, and then I went back out for some strides and drills.  I felt great during the strides so I hoped that I'd be able to run the pace I needed to in the race and feel relaxed.  After going back inside, I put on my spikes and then went to the outer lanes for a few more strides and drills.  Also I got to cheer for AuraLea in her heat, which was right before mine.  When hers ended, I went to the start with the other girls in my heat.  I was number 15, and I was on the outside right by the wall, but the official said if I wanted I could go behind into lane 1, so that's what I did.  When the race started I think that was a good choice because it made it impossible for me to go out too fast.  The first few laps everyone was in a big pack so I just stayed with them.  I was pretty far back but I wasn't worried about moving up yet, also I would have had to go out pretty wide to be able to move up.  When other girls moved out I moved up into their spots, but sometimes other girls would cut me off and it was very chaotic.  Still I didn't worry, and gradually some girls would begin to fall back.  We came through the mile at some time between 5:22-5:26 and I was feeling great.  More people began to fall back then.  There were 2 girls in green and a girl in brown and yellow with a horse on her uniform that I kept my eye on.  When the girl with the horse would pass people, I was right behind her.  We came through the second mile around the 10:50s I think, and around her I was in 8th and the pack was broken and there was just a long string of girls in front of me.  I kept picking them off, one by one, and then I passed the girl with the horse on her jersey and got into 3rd!  The girls in first and second were pretty spread out from each other and me, but there were times I definitely could tell I was gaining on 2nd.  Each of the last few laps I reminded myself how much I had left so when I could raise the effort level and catch them.  On the last lap I began kicking it in and just after the first curve I caught the second girl, and then going around and out of the second curve I caught the first girl and then I just pushed as hard as I could to stay ahead of her and I did!!!  And I got a PR!!!!!!! :) :) :)  I and the coaches were really happy with my race :)  And my aunt had come with some of her friends so it was nice having them there too :)  Afterwards I put on my rain gear and then went outside for 3 miles cooldown.  I did 2 laps around the sports areas like I had before and then a little extra to get to a full 3.  I am in the 3k tomorrow but I still don't know if I am going to race it.  For now I am going to treat the day like I am, and we'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Today I decided not to race and instead enjoy some of the trails by UW campus.  I left the track and went across the bridge, and then down the stairs right by the water.  I ran along some boardwalk and marshy trails, and after about 2 miles came to the Washington Park Arboretum.  I ran around some trails there, did a lot of loops, and just explored it.  Eventually I took a path that led me to a paved road, and I followed it out to the street and then turned around and ran the pavement to the other side and then realized I was back to where I had entered but just not on the trail I had come by on.  I knew I'd still need a few miles if I headed back to campus then so I went back into the park and explored a few more of the trails.  When I felt I had seen the same area quite a few times I decided to head back.  As I was getting back to the stairs, there was a loud horn and then the bridge closed temporarily so that a boat could go underneath it.  It was kind of neat getting to see it, though at first I panicked for a moment thinking that I wouldn't be able to cross back to campus!  I finished 10 with a large loop around some of the athletic buildings.  I'm glad I took the time today to go on a nice, long, easy effort run :)