You've got to want it to win it

This morning I went to Steiner for 40 minutes on an elliptical.  I did 5 minutes warmup and then set it to interfvals.  I think it ws about 7 sets of 2 minutes on 2 minutes off.  Then I did a 5 minute cooldown.  Then I stood on one foot on a blue circle and threw and caught a medicine ball (an exercise to strenghten ankles).

After school at the track we did a mile warmup, a mile speedchanges, and then a mile of Js, and then 2 stadium grass laps cooldown.

Today we kept a team tradition alive by volunteering at the Food Bank.  Afterwards we went for a short run through Peace Gardens.  We sort of stayed in a group, but none of us went the same way.  We had a good time and enjoyed being there.  Then we watched a movie and had a team dinner.  We're all excited for regions tomorrow and I know we can make it to state.  I wish everyone on the team good luck.

I was nervous and excited for the race today.  I knew that to do well I would have to go out hard and push the whole time (I knew that I wouldn't have that strong of a kick).  I started with about a 2 and a half mile warmup.  Then I walked for a little bit and changed shoes and went to the start.  I was kind of cutting it close to the start, I was only able to get one stride in.  I ran it tall and felt strong about it.  I went out hard at the start and quickly took the lead.  Immediately I felt like relaxing and sitting back for the rest of the race, but I think I got my mental toughness back because I kept pushing the whole time.  I think my first mile was at about 5:56.  I could sometimes see Kate's shadow behind me, and sometimes I could hear her breathing.  I stayed in the lead until a little after the 2 mile mark.  At this point I wasn't quite sure where to go (about where 'the finger' is, I remember when I was a freshman some of my teammates went off course there and had to run back and do it again) so I fell back and let Kate take the lead.  If I had known I think I could have pushed to stay with her and leave it to the kick.  Up the final hill which we run at practices sometimes I started kicking and was closing the gap a little bit.  I finished in 2nd, about 20 seconds behind Kate.  And, for my first time ever, I broke 19!!!!!  And afterwards I was told that both Kate and I beat the third place girl by at least a minute.  The girls team took first, we beat Woodscross by 1 point!  Such an exciting day.  My goal is to get in some quality workouts between now and state.  I know the course there for sure, and I want to get into the top 10 this year, if not the top 5.  I think I finally have my legs back, though I'm going to make sure to ice and keep cross training.  And I was a bit worried at some of the downhills about overstriding, but my femur doesn't hurt so I think I'm healed.  I'm so happy that it has been such a great day.

After school for workout we went to the Pipeline Trail.  The mountains were lovely, some trees had orange and red and yellow leaves, and some were still green.  We ran out for 25 minutes and then back.  On the way back I jogged the last mile and a half (from the bridge).  The temperature was a bit cold at first but it felt really nice once I had warmed up a bit.

This afternoon for workout we ran to Sunnyside Park and did a lap for warmup.  Then we did a few strides.  After resting a few minutes and stretching we did a fartlek workout.  We ran on and off according to Bill's whistle, we didn't have set times we were supposed to go for.  I found that it was easier to mentally focus this way.  I got in about 9 laps (600 meters each) during that.  Then we did a 2 lap cooldown. 

The cross country team got to run the torch at the homecoming game, we did about a quarter mile.

I ran from my house up 1300 south to Wasatch Drive.  Then I ran along that to above the zoo and turned at Sunnyside.  Then I ran down to Greenwood Terrace, and turned, and took 1500 east back home.  It took me 42:30 so I had a good pace I think.

In the evening I went to Steiner and biked for 25 minutes.  Then I did 3/4 a mile on a treadmill.