You've got to want it to win it

This afternoon I went runninng with Lauren, Becky, Dana, and Alyssa.  We did what the girls named Hilary's and my route "Fruit Loop" where we start out through the dorms to take the long way to get to Sunnyside.  Alyssa and Dana turned there, then I continued with Lauren and Becky through the golf course and along Wasatch.  I turned around with them when they turned so I could have their company for longer.  We ran back to Sunnyside through the golf course and then cut down to Foothill to go back to campus.  Then I added on above the track and finished with a mile of speedchanges on the track to finish with 8 total.  Then I did hurdle drills.  Mentally preparing for regionals this week... Bekah and I are hoping to make it to nationals!

Today was our final workout before regionals!  We warmed up on the road above the track and then did our strides and drills on the track.  The workout started with two 200s with 200 jog recovery, then a 1000 with 3 minutes recovery, followed by five 400s with 1:30-2:00 recovery, then four 300s with 80-100 seconds recovery, and then three more 200s with 2:00 recovery.  I did the first 200s with AuraLea, Nikki, and Becky, I hit 36 and 38.  Good thing they were too fast because I would have been in trouble if my pace felt that hard...  The rest of the workout I was on my own, but I did fine.  On the 1000 I hit 3:27, then for the 400s I hit 1:21, 1:20, 1:25 (that was after Kep had told me to relax, that always messes with my mind), 1:22, 1:22.  On the 300s I hit 57, 59, 59, 58, and for 35s for the last three 200s.  For cooldown we ran to North Campus from the track and then went back to the track for some backwards laps.  

I started my run today with Nikki, Jessica, and Kenzie.  Nikki went back early, but I was with Jessica and Kenzie for the rest of it.  We ran to 1700s on Foothill, then crossed the street and ran back to campus on the other side of the road.  To finish at 6 I added on a lap at Baillif.  It is weird being able to just do the whole run with the team because I don't have to add on very much.

This afternoon we went up to Ogden to check out the course for tomorrow.  It is awesome!  :)  I ran the course with Lauren, AuraLea, Becky, and Dana, and then did strides and drills by the start area.  Excited to race tomorrow!

It was nice being able to sleep in my own bed before the race today.  We got there and had time to relax before warming up.  Apparently it had been snowing that morning, but we were fortunate enough to miss it.  An hour before our race we began our warmup, the usual strides and drills, then getting changed into our spikes and going to the line in plenty of time to get strides in.  We had a false start, I saw the fall happen before the second gun was fired but as a precaution kept going until the second gun went off.  The second start was better and we were off.  I felt like I got out well, without much effort I was able to get towards the front half of the pack.  I liked the course until I realized just how narrow it was when we got to that first turn!  I could see whole teams in front of me that I knew weren't going to last.  I figured this was the pack that the top girls were going to let do the work for the first bit.  I focused on moving up as people fell back.  I could see Bekah and worked up to her, and was back and forth with her for a bit, but it was hard to hold any position in relation to anyone else because it was so packed.  I tried to pass people and move up via the same route she was going, which helped.  Going into the final stretch of the first lap I think a lot of people fell off and I moved into the group of leaders.  I was right behind and then next to Natalie as we turned to go back to the starting field to begin the second lap.  I was also still with Bekah at this point.  There the pack moved and girls were strung out behind them.  Bekah was up there, and I was trying to move up.  Mentally it was a hard race trying to move up when the girls right in front of me were ones I knew were going to qualify with their team, I was focusing on trying to grab an individual spot but having the team girls mixed in there was difficult because passing them didn't gaurantee me anything, it was the individuals that mattered...  Still I kept pushing and did my best.  Going around the final turn I picked it up and could see that some of the girls ahead of me had shifted position.  If I could just start picking them off I might still have a chance... With about a quarter mile to go I picked it up and passed a girl, but then coming down the final stretch by the flags I got passed by two girls, one individual and one on a team.  My time was the best I've had all season, and this was definitely my best race.  I am still not sure if I made it to nationals, but Bekah did and I am super excited for her!!! :)  And our whole team had their best races today, it was awesome :)  I am not going to get my hopes up about nationals (but if Kep calls me any time this weekend and lets me know that I got in I for sure will be jumping up and down and screaming with joy) because in order for that to happen, BYU will have to get the team bid and our region will have to get the two individual bids.  I am just happy I ran my very best today and had a great race and ran smart, not to mention being just one second shy of my PR :)  For cooldown I ran with Bekah and Becky for about 20 minutes.  Also I got a medal for being All-Region!  I think it is my first medal I've gotten in college for cross country :)

Nice, easy, short run to end my miles for the week at 40.  I ran to Sugarhouse, did a lap around the perimeter, then went up to 1900e to go home.