You've got to want it to win it

Today I started my run with Hilary, Nikki, and Lauren.  We ran to 11th Avenue, then down City Creek and behind the capitol beforre running down Main Street.  When we got to South Temple I ran back up to campus on my own to get 10 total.

Today we had a workout at the track.  We did the usual warmup route, followed by strides and drills.  The long distance workout was two 200s with 200 rest, two 800s with 2:10 rest, and two sets of four 400s with 90 seconds rest and a lap between sets.  My times on the 200s were 36, 39.  For the 800s I hit 2:37, 2:36.  On the 400s I hit 1:16, 1:17, 1:15, 1:16 for the first set and 1:17, 1:15, 1:16, 1:17 for the second set.  Cooled down a mile and a half to finish with 8 total.  

Today I went running with Lauren.  We started on the fruit loops route, then went above the zoo and onto Wasatch.  She turned around at 4.25, I kept going until I hit the fork with the street that goes down to Foothill.  I ran back to campus along Foothill and finished with 8 total.  Sometimes it is fun to run with just one other person because you really have the chance to get to know them better than when in a large group.  Running is awesome :)  Afterwards I got a massage from Tim.  My legs feel great right now, so I just got a flush out.  

This morning I went running with Jesse at Liberty Park. We did two laps, then out a half mile and strides on the way back to finish with 4 miles total.

About an hour before my race I started my warmup.  I got in about 2 miles before going to checkin, then did my strides and drills.  I changed to my spikes just before we were allowed onto the track so that I could do a few more strides in them.  There were 44 girls signed up for my heat.  I was number 43, so I took my pick on the starting line in the second row in the 3rd lane.  I'm not sure what everyone else with the high numbers was thinking, they were all in a cluster in the outer lanes behind the girls there.  Starting where I did, I was able to get to where I wanted to be - the rail - and just move with the group.  There was a lot of moving around by the people around me for the first few laps, so those laps went by fast as I just made sure not to trip or anything.  This was probably one of the best heats I have been in in a while, since the pack was going the pace I wanted to so all I had to do was stay to the inside and let everyone else do the work.  We came through the 1600 at 5:12, right where I wanted to be.  I paid attention to the girls around me and noticed when girls would slip off pace and quickly move up so as to not lose the pack.  Only once did I move to the outside to pass, because both of the girls I was tucked behind were slipping off pace.  I came through the 3200 at about 10:22-23.  I knew it was time to go and that I could pull out a fast last mile.  If I could drop a few seconds, I might even have a chance at the two-week-old school record.  Here is when some girls broke away from the pack.  I moved up, to the point where I was by myself behind a pack of 4, who were behind the 2 leaders.  This was hard to move up, but with my eyes on the girls in front of me and seeing them move back and forth was a good target to keep moving forward.  With 600 to go, Kep told me I would need a 1:53 to break the record.  That was going to hurt.  But I picked it up and kept pressing on, I was so close!  With 200 to go, Kep told me I needed to run a 35.  Not sure if I had that left in me, but I gave it my best and apparently it was fast enough!  I finished 5th in the heat, and reset the school record to a 16:06.31.  Since I got a PR, I went to the Brooks tent for my free pair of golden sunglasses :)  I didn't know this was part of the deal, but I had to get my PR tattooed on somewhere.  I chose my bicep ;)  For cooldown I did 2.25 around the Footlocker starting field and the parking lots.  I think this race tonight was probably one of the smartest races I have run.  It helps that I was in a heat that was competitive and able to pull me along.  The first few laps were surprisingly easy, since I just focused on running in the pack I was in and being patient, rather than trying to go around everyone and get to the front.  Sometimes that is necessary, like at my 5k at Stanford last year, but this time I am glad I had the chance to race in a pack and practice separating at the end.  Since this time will probably get me into regionals, now I just need to figure out what my race plans are going to be the next few weeks at the conference at regional meets...  

This morning I went for a long run over by Mt. SAC campus.  I ran there from the hotel, then ran towards the dirt trails behind the corral.  Part of it was roped off so I wasn't sure if I was allowed to go there, so I ran part of the Footlocker hills instead.  Then I realized there must be some event going on since there were people there motioning for me to follow these painted arrows on the trail... Then 2 of the guys racing passed me... Awkward.  I ran part of the course but then when the dirt was going back to the road, I turned and kept going on the trail.  Some of the race volunteers were yelling that I was going the wrong way... I don't know how the hints of my lack of racing bib and slow speed in comparison to the runners who had already passed by didn't get through... I ran back over to to corral area and went to the trail. And found out that was part of the race course too... But only a short part of it.  So I ran out on the trail for a bit, then when it turned, I was on the race course again... but I think most everyone had passed by.  I followed the trail back to campus, and found myself behind the corral again.  It was about a 2 mile loop, so I did that 2 more times and then ran back to the hotel to finish with 12 miles total.