You've got to want it to win it

Today at practice Kep told us some of the drills we'd be doing throughout the season and then those of us who hadn't run yet went for a run.  I ran with Cassie and Liz today, they were doing a 5 mile loop which Cassie had already measured on google earth and my Garmin was dead so it was convenient.  We ran along Foothill to 1300s and then down to 1500e and over to 900s and up to Greenwood Terrace and to Guardsman and back to HPER.  I got a drink and then I did the loop again since I wanted 10 for the day.  The second time I went across 1900e instead of 15th but its about the same.  When I got home I did some abs and arm swings.

This morning we had an hour of lifting in the same groups as last time and we did the same exercises as last time.  

In the afternoon I met the group at Sugarhouse Park for our workout.  I've biked to and from campus twice today and didn't want to bike there again to workout and since Sugarhouse is closer it was convenient.  We started with a lap warmup on the outer perimeter of the park.  Then we did our drills and strides and changed shoes.  I wore my Saucony spikes that I got at Footlocker Nationals for the first time!  I like them :)  The workout was five sets of five 200s with 30 seconds between each of them and 2 minutes between sets.  I did jogging recovery for all of them.  I was in a group with AuraLea, Bekah, Macee, and Hilary.  On the second set we accidentally did 6 instead of 5 because we got our counting mixed up but we worked it out and just kept running.  On the last set we only had 15 seconds recovery after each so we just did standing recovery before those.  After we were done with all of them I did an outer loop backwards with Bekah, AuraLea, and Hilary for cooldown, and then to get to 10 I ran along the river for a bit.

Today we didn't have team recovery run so that everyone could fit in a run when they could so we wouldn't have to run in the heat.  Because we didn't have practice I was able to go to Cottonwood Complex to watch Abigail race.  I ran a bit with her, and then during the girls race I was running to different parts of the course.  I only got in 3 miles during that and then I had to hurry home to make it to babysitting on time.  I was able to do another 2 miles up along 1500e to 1700s and up to 1600e and then 1700e to 1300s down and home.  Later when I finished babysitting I ran 3 miles on 1400e, to 1700s and back three times.

This morning we had an hour of lifting with Coach Rufino.  We did less time at each station today than on other days since we are racing Saturday.  In the afternoon we had a workout at Liberty Park.  For warmup we ran to the park from the 900s Trax station.  We did part of a counterclockwise lap over to where we would be starting.  Then we did our drills and strides and then changed shoes.  Kep put us into groups for three 1 lap repeats with 2 minutes recovery after each.  I was with Macee, Lauren, AuraLea, Bekah, and Theo.  We were supposed to be running 6:20-24 pace but we were actually going closer to 6:10 pace, it felt great.  I don't remember the time for the first one but the second and third ones I hit 9:12 and 9:10.  Then we did four 25 second strides.  Then I changed shoes and for cooldown ran with the older girls who were going the longer way that included the drinking fountain.  

This morning I went for an easy run with Alexis L. for recovery for preparing to race tomorrow.  We went north from HPER and went into the Avenues and made our way past Shriner's drinking fountain and up onto 11th Ave. and went until we were at 2 miles and then turned around and went back the same way we had come.  Then we did our 8 strides on the grass between the Burb and the swimming pool.  Then Alexis ran back up to her dorm and I cooled down until I was at 5 miles.  After class when I got home I took a 15 minute ice bath.  I'm excited to race tomorrow!

This morning after arriving at the race, as a team we walked part of the course to get a feel for the terrain and decide if we were going with flats or spikes and what size spikes.  We walked part of the loop and then ran the rest of it for warmup.  I did a little more with Hil and AuraLea since they were doing a few more minutes, and then I kept warming up until I was at 3 miles.  Then I joined the team for drills and strides.  Then Abigail helped me change the spikes in my Footlocker pair to quarters instead of the 3/8ths I had in from Tuesday's workout.  Then I went over to the line for strides.  We did a team prayer and cheer and then got in our box.  We were furthest over to the right, and when the race started most of the pack went left so I was easily able to get where I needed to be on the right and into a good position going around the first turn.  We hit some mud puddles right after the first stretch but its cross country so its to be expected.  The whole first lap I focused on just staying with the first group and not going out crazy or trying to take control since it was my first college race so I wasn't sure how I'd do at the college level.  My first K was at 3:37.  Towards the end of the first loop a Weber girl took the lead and I was still in the lead pack with a BYU and a USU girl, and when the Weber girl took off I went with her though I stayed behind her.  Starting the second lap as we got to the first turn again, I began to lose her a little bit but I didn't want to use all my energy making it a chase then and then run out of gas and get caught by the pack.  At this point she opened up on me but at the same time I must have opened up on the pack behind me.  The whole rest of the lap I was trying to catch her but was only able to get to the point where she wasn't getting any further, though I wasn't closing much.  Going down the final stretch I pushed really hard and I almost even puked twice, just like Abigail in her first race!  I didn't puke until after I crossed the line though.  I got a new PR, and broke 18 for the first time!  :)  So it was a good day :)  Afterwards I joined the team for a cooldown, we went out about 10 minutes and back but then when we got to where we could see the guys race I fell behind the other girls because I stopped to cheer.  I ended up getting 2.5 miles cooldown though.  Then I went and enjoyed the bagels and vitamin waters that were provided by USU :)  It was a good day and I'm very happy with my race today :)

When I got home I still needed 4.5 miles cooldown so Abigail and Sarah came with me, even though they had just been to Maddox on the way home from the race.  We ran along 1500e to Sunnyside and then up to Foothill and down to 1300e and home.  Abigail felt sick so went back along Guardsman but Sarah and I were together the whole time.  When we were finished we went and got some delicious smoothies! :)