You've got to want it to win it

This afternoon I started the run with Nikki, Lauren, Kenzie, and Dana.  We ran down Guardsman and 15th. After 2100s I was on my own as everyone else didn't need as many miles.  I did 2 laps around the perimeter of Sugarhouse and then ran up to 1900e and returned to campus that way and via Foothill after Sunnyside.  When I was done I stretched for a few minutes and then saw Tim.  Everything felt great!

Today was a beautiful day at the track!  We did the usual warmup and strides and drills on the track.  The long distance workout was three sets of 800, 500, 300.  The recovery for the 800s was 2:20, 50 walk 50 jog for the 500, and 400 jog for the 300.  Bekah and I were supposed to start at 82s for the first set, then 80s for the second, and 78s for the last set.  We did two 200s first to get a feel for the pace, I hit 38 and 39.  On the first 800 we were right on at 2:44.  I jogged 200 for the recovery, then we hit 1:42 for the 500.  Then we hit 59 for the 300.  On the next set we were right on again at 2:40.  We were 1:39 for the 500, then 57 for the 300.  On the last set Bekah was pushing the pace... I dropped back before the 400 and still came through at 1:17.  I finished in 2:37, I am disappointed I let myself slip so much.  It is hard to focus on running the pace I know I'm supposed to when Bekah decides to push the last set... I feel like that happens a lot.  On the 500 we were 1:36, and 55 for the final 300.  For cooldown I ran 2 miles with Alyssa, then took a 15 minute ice bath.

Today I went running with Jessica and Becky.  We started the fruit loop through upper campus, then through the golf course and onto Wasatch.  We kept going until the road forked and went down to Foothill, which we took back to campus.  Afer we were finished, Jessica and I went and got our lift done since we won't be able to tomorrow.  We are leaving for Seattle again, this time for MPSF.  I am racing the 5k on Friday night.

This morning it was warm enough to run in a t-shirt and shorts in Salt Lake! :) It was windy when I started, but it died down.  I ran to 2100s and up to 2100e and down 1300e to home.  And now I'm off to Seattle!

1 mile shakeout in the morning.  Legs felt great.

About an hour before the race I started my warmup with AuraLea.  We did 2 miles and then did strides and drills just outside the Dempsey.  I changed shoes and then did a few strides on the track.  I was really hoping for a PR today.  Kep told me everyone in the race who he thought would be in a pack around or below the 16:20s.  When the race started it was slow.  And it stayed slow for a while.  I came through the mile at 5:22, and everyone was still in a pack.  I found my rhythm and stuck to the inside as much as I could, with only a few surges on the outside to get up into better position.  About halfway through the race the pack began to move, but I had just made a surge and didn't have the energy to pick it up with the group.  I was one of the girls strung off from the pack, and now I had to do the rest of the work alone and try and catch other girls who had fallen off the main pack as well.  I caught one, and then was scared that other girls would catch me too because I could hear people cheering for them.  With 2 laps to go I could tell I was gaining on two more girls, so I just focused on them and continued to reel them in.  I caught both of them in the last lap and finished in 17:01.  Bekah won in 16:30.  It was frustrating that the race went slower than I would have hoped to be able to get a PR, but given the circumstances I think I did my best.  I think if I had had a better start and perhaps the courage, I could gone for PR goal pace.  I also think getting my miles up would help, but again given the circumstances of the past few weeks dealing with injury...  I cooled down 2 miles with Bekah and AuraLea, telling myself I needed to do the 3k tomorrow so I can have a better race.  Kep said I don't have to, but I will see how I feel tomorrow.  

1 mile shakeout this morning.  My legs feel great.  I'm gonna run a tougher race today.

About an hour before the race I went for my warmup.  I did 2 and a half miles and then went back to the track for my strides and drills.  I might have been a little early, but at least it meant I had plenty of time to stretch and make sure I was ready for my race.  I could feel my hamstrings on the warmup, but they weren't too bad.  That is one positive that came from a slow race last night.  When our race started it was fast!  I got to start next to Shalaya Kipp, nbd that she's an olympian or anything... But there were a lot of fast people in the heat!  I got stepped on on the inside of my shoe during the first straightaway and was worried my shoe was going to be torn right through like Abigail's when she ripped hers on a steeple barrier.  It was staying on my foot though so I figured it must be ok.  I came through the 400 at 74!  I could tell this was going to be a much better race.  The next lap I focused on staying with the girls I was with and making that my group.  The 800 was 2:32.  The 1200 was 3:50.  I didn't catch any splits after that.  I ended up in a pack that was just off of the lead pack, Carrie and Jennica from BYU were in the pack with me.  I tried to stay with them the best I could.  With a few laps to go I passed Carrie and was just behind Jennica, then on the second to last lap I got around Jennica, but she passed me back in the last lap since she was stuck behind another girl when I passed her but had finally made her way around.  Carrie passed me too in the last lap, but down the final straight into the finish I passed another girl and Carrie and finished just .06 behind Jennica.  I was a lot happier with this race than the one last night.  I am glad I was able to come so close to my PR on tired legs too.  It was also nice to be able to end the meet with a race I was happy about :)  These next few weeks I am looking forward to getting my miles up and then hopefully I'll see my times come down in outdoor track. Cooled down 2 miles on the trails with Bekah.