You've got to want it to win it

Today we started with 2 big grass laps warmup.  Then a mile of speedchanges with a lap recovery.  The workout today was focused on keeping pace.  It was a ladder going down.  I was supposed to hit 40 second 200 splits throughout the workout.  We jogged over to the 200 and did a 1000.  I was supposed to hit 3:20, but I got a 3:28.  Then we got 2 laps recovery.  Then we did an 800.  I was supposed to hit 2:40 but got 2:45 instead.  Then we had 200 recovery over to the start of the 600.  I then hit my target time of 3:00.  Then 100 recovery before the 400, I hit target time again of 1:20.  Then we jogged to the 200 start for two 200s, my times were both 35 with a 200 back to the start line recovery between.  Then for cooldown we did 4 big grass laps.  I thought it was a nice workout.  Afterwards I took an ice bath for 15 minutes. 

Today I ran with Natalie and Hannah since the directions for the run were confusing.  We ran the same way we do to Shriners, but took a slightly different path at the roundabout after the alley and went outside a house Bill was working at so that he could give us gatorade.  Then we ran down to the park on 1300e and State Street and did 6 strides on one of the fields up the hill and halfway through the top hill.  Then we jogged back for recovery between each.  Then we ran back to the track along 1300e and finished right at 5 miles.

Today right off the bus Amanda, Natalie, and I ran a mile warmup and a mile of speedchanges with a lap recovery.  Bill wanted us to do some 400s before the meet started.  I was supposed to get as close to 1:15s as I could.  The first one I hit a 1:14, and we were running out of time so we did standing recovery, then the next I hit 1:17.  Then hurdles were put up so we only did two 200s after that, I hit 36 and 37 I think.  Later Natalie and I did a mile warmup for the 800.  Then we did drills over by the line.  I actually had a good start for once.  I almost got cut off and into the back of the pack, but I pushed out right before that happened to get into the place I needed to be.  I led the whole time, and during the first lap I could tell that there was someone close behind me.  I still didn't panic and just ran as well as I could.  The first lap split was 1:15.  Then I knew I would have to push hard since the other girl still was on me.  I didn't kick as hard at the 300 as maybe I should have, by then I was getting cold and feeling stiff and it was getting harder to move it seemed.  Going down the final stretch I still had the lead then with about 20 meters to go the other girl caught up to me.  Then I knew I had to give it everything I had, and I did, and I was glad.  The other girl wasn't very happy about it.  I was happy with all of my times today :)  Maybe I'll race well this weekend.

Today Natalie, Amanda, and I did an easy workout.  Half mile warmup, a mile speedchanges, and a half mile cooldown.  When I got home I took an ice bath for 15 minutes.

This morning when I started my warmup it was snowing a little bit and the field I was warmup up on was covered with a layer of snow.  But I had prepared for this race for a while and I wasn't going to let the weather tear my hopes for a better race than last year apart.  I got in about a mile and a half warmup, with a few strides at the end.  My toes were frozen and my socks and shoes were soaked but it was no big deal.  I did some of my usual drills and took my Gu and went into the bullpen to change my shoes.  My toes were frozen but it didn't really bother me since I was focused on what I needed to do in my race.  I kept on my hoodie when I left the rest of my stuff in the bull pen so I wouldn't lose my warmup waiting for my race to start.  It was a few minutes wait at the start line, so I did a couple strides.  I didn't take off my hoodie until right as my heat was being lined up.  I got to start first position in the second alley.  When the gun went off I didn't get out as fast as I should have and got boxed in behind the other girls.  When we reached the 100 meter line where we could cut over to lane 1 I was in the back of the pack.  I stayed there and relaxed and waited for the next straight to get around so I wouldn't have to run a wide curve.  This worked for me and I caught up to the top 2 girls.  The first lap split was a 1:17 and it felt just right.  Sticking on the other girls I decided would be the easiest way to take it, so I did for the next couple laps.  At mile 1 my split was 5:32.  By then one of the girls had dropped back a little and I was running neck and neck with the other girl.  Then someone came up from behind and started overtaking the lead.  I could hear Bill yelling at me to stay with her, and I knew I would have to or I would lose her right then.  I pushed ahead, but it wasn't enough to catch her, but still enough that I gapped the girl behind me.  As the race went into the final two laps I heard the announcer naming the positions of the girl, and I realized there was a pack of 5 girls behind me.  I knew they might catch me and I should have gone at the 600.  Starting the final lap I picked up the pace but I could hear another girl closing on me and then she overtook me with 300 to go.  I couldn't make myself push as hard as other times.  Then going into the final 100 stretch another girl passed me and I couldn't push to kick against her either.  I didn't want to get passed by another girl was my hopes for finishing that stretch.  I got a new outdoor PR, and my best race since coming back from being injured.  I was happy with my race :)  Afterwards I changed my shoes back (my shoes were soaked from before) and ran about a mile cooldown with Jamal.  Later I took a 15 minute ice bath.  Now I hope that things will go well tomorrow.

This morning I started with about 2 miles warmup with Amanda and Natalie.  We did our drills and our strides and then headed to the bull pen.  I was in the fifth heat, so I had a while.  I took my Gu, did some stretching, and then changed my shoes when we had to move to the entrance to the track so the boys milers could come in.  Waiting by the start I did some strides and other stuff to stay warm.  While some of the other girls were without sweats by the heater, I kept mine on until right as my race was going to the line.  I was in the first position in the second alley again.  Going out I didn't have as aggressive a start as yesterday, but I think the other girls started too fast.  The first lap I was behind a lot of the pack, but I didn't worry about it since I liked my pace.  I don't remember my lap splits.  By the third lap I had passed some girls.  There was a time when a girl was going to pass me but Bill told me to match her move.  Then with 600 to go I started my kick, and it was very successful.  I got around some girls and I was able to keep moving up.  I kept pushing as I had less and less distance to go.  With about 200 to go I got around probably 5 girls and was getting closer to the girl in second during the last stretch, though I knew she was too far ahead for me to be able to catch her.  Still it was a great race and I had a nice kick and I got a new PR :)  Afterwards I did about a half mile cooldown.

Later when I was home in the late afternoon I went for a 4 mile run on the Shoreline Trail.