You've got to want it to win it

Today at practice as Bill arrived we asked if we could go to Pipeline since we were doing a long run but he said no because it would be muddy :(  So instead we just did our regular team warmup of 2 laps and then our stretching circle.  Then Mansell made everyone do 30 pushups except for me because I was counting :)  Then we lined up for drills before splitting into groups with our coaches.  For the distance workout we ran along the Shriner's route and the up on 11th Avenue and then into City Creek up to a quarter of a mile past the drinking fountain and bathrooms, which weren't working sadly.  Then we just ran back the same way.  I was with Natalie and Bill the whole time until Natalie and I stopped on the way back at the Shriner's fountain and Bill didn't.  Later when I was at home I did my crunches, pushups, arm swings, then weighted lunges, squats, and calf raises.  Then in the evening I took a 10 minute ice bath. 

Today at track practice we had our fun day. The first event was the tied together 400. I was at the back of the chain and Suzette was in front of me, and both of us tripped and got road rash from the track :(  then it was a not so fun day.  The trainer bandaged both of us up, then Suzette had to go to work and I just sat out the other events.  We had been planning on doing speed today but just went for a run instead.  It felt really weird trying not to move my shoulder as to keep the gauze on while I ran.  We just ran 4 miles up Emigration Canyon and turned around and came back.  When I got home I went to kids care and got an x-ray on my hand because it was hurting after breaking my fall.  I have a small fracture in my 5th metacarpal :(  It doesn't hurt that bad though.  So no pushups in my core for a few days I guess. 

Today we were excused early to help set up for the meet, and to try and get a workout in before it started.  While I was still getting ready Bill said it was time to start but I wasn't ready yet and I still had to tape the gauze on my shoulder and put my hair up (which is really hard with one hand) and tie my shoes (also hard with one hand).  Finally I got going my warmup, I was on my 6th lap when I found out it was just supposed to be 4 laps and then 4 laps speedchanges so I started speedchanges on the next lap.  Then Bill said I had to change shoes and start the speed and then I was not happy because I didn't want to change shoes yet because I hadn't done my full warmup and my hair was a mess and I couldn't get my watch on.  So he told me to finish my warmup and sit the first few 1000s out, which I did.  I did another 3 laps of speedchanges and then changed shoes, Scott had to tie my shoes for me.  The group had done two 1000s so I wasn't too far behind, we were planning on doing 5.  I was supposed to hit about 3:15s, or 3200 pace.  The wind was strong going north so on some of the straightaways into the wind I tried to stay with RJ so I could draft off of him.  We had equal timed standing recovery between each.  My times were 3:22, 3:23, and 3:25.  We stopped after that because the other teams had arrived and some of them were kinda being jerks about moving out of lane one.  Then Bill made a deal where I could not do the last two 1000s if I raced 1000 meters of the mile and finished and then if I did the 800.  We did 2 miles recovery from the speed which we had just done.  During the events before the mile my mom put my hair in a ponytail for me so I was happier :) Then before the mile I just went and did strides by the start.  Then Bill told me that the principal had come to the meet and wanted to see me race so I had to race all 4 laps, but I wouldn't have to do the 800 later, so I took that offer.  The mile wasn't too fast, I'm guessing the wind played into that but also I didn't have the best attitude :P  my time was 5:43.  Then I changed shoes back to my trainers again, and my mom had to tie them for me.  Then I did stadium laps for cooldown until I had reached 2 and a half miles, bringing me to 10 for the day.  When I got home later I took a 10 minute ice bath.  And the radiologist called and said I do not have a fracture in my hand, the bone is just bruised so I will not need the splint for much longer :)

Today at track practice we started with the usual warmup of 2 laps and then stretching, followed by drills. Then for the distance workout we ran a warmup to Sugarhouse Park, where we met at the drinking fountain at the top of the hill. Then when everyone was there we went out to the outer edge to start fartlek. We did 10 sets of 1 minute off 1 minute on. After the first one the part of the group that was ahead turned around and ran to the others so that we'd still be close as a group, but we decided after that to just turn around after every other one. By the time I finished my 10th I had gotten in a full lap and had just gotten to about where the road for the maintenance vehicles and stuff go. So we turned around and then just ran out of the park and then back to the track along 15th, with the hill by Bonneville, and finished with a lap on the track to bring us to a total of 8 and a half for the day. Then I got an ice cup and massaged my calves, I don't know why but my lower calves have been so sore! When I got home I decided to stop being a bum and got my core done. I did crunches, arm swings, lunges, squats, and calf raises. I wasn't able to do pushups or weights because of the splint on my hand, but at least I got some of my core done!

Today at practice we started with the usual warmup of 2 miles and then stretching.  Then we split into groups with our coaches.  Before we got to start our workout Bill wanted to talk to us about our races tomorrow.  Then we got to start.  We did 4 laps warmup, 8 laps of speedchanges, and then 2 laps cooldown (originally it was 4 laps but Bill changed it so we could be at an even 4).  Then I ate a blue otter pop! :)  Later when I got home I did my crunches, arm swings, lunges, squats, and calf raises.  Then in the evening I took a 15 minute ice bath.  Good luck to everyone racing tomorrow, either track meets or in the marathon or half or 5k!

Today at the meet after playing iPod idol with Abigail, we went and warmed up with Natalie for the mile.  We did 3 laps around the school and field to the south of it, that was 2 miles.  Then we went to the bull pen where I struggled with the new rules, I had to take my hair ribbon out (actually Natalie and Abigail had to do it for me, I can't do my own hair at the moment) and they were telling us we had to put the stickers high up but I wouldn't because of the team logo (the logos are there for a reason!).  We got a good laugh from Abigail, she raised her t-shirt to put her sticker on and her uniform was on inside out!  After leaving the bull pen we went over by the start to stretch, change shoes, and do strides.  Abigail had an amazing race, getting a 6 second PR, so I had her tie my spikes for good luck :)  Bill talked me into taking off the splint for the race so I did that right before we got on the line.  My hand is bruised all the way through!  When the race started I went out fast and right into the lead.  My first lap was a 70 and I could hear a girl close behind me, I guessed it was Natalie from Skyline and I was right.  She stuck with me the whole time.  At the 800 I was at 2:30.  With 500 to go I think she started to make a move but I surged and she didn't get me then.  But then with a little under 300 to go she moved again and I tried to stay with her then but I couldn't hold on.  So I finished second.  Nat was 5th (I think) and almost qualified for state but barely missed it again, this time by .13!  Afterwards I changed shoes and did 3 more laps like the warmup with my iPod.  

My other event was the medley, I did the 800 leg.  A while before that race I did another 3 laps for my warmup.  Then we got our sticker from the bull pen and a while later headed over to the start.  Bill had told Victoria, Janie, and Madeline that if they got me the baton in under 2 minutes that I would run a 2:25 or better, which would qualify us for state.  At the first exchange Janie was able to secure the lead for Madeline, who kept it and held off a girl from I think West Jordan, and then it was my turn.  For about the first 200 meters I could hear the girl behind me, Tolbert told me she was about 5 meters back.  I kept pushing and eventually she fell off, but I really wanted to keep pushing for the team to qualify us for state.  I don't know my full split, but my last lap was a 1:14.  The team time was 4:23.91 so we qualified for state!  And our girls team took home the second place trophy, which was fantastic since we don't have that many girls but all of us contribute a lot to the team scoring :)

Afterwards I changed shoes back and then ran 2 miles cooldown with Bill.  When I got home I took an ice bath for 15 minutes.