Thatcher's Running Blog

I did a 60 minute run today. Plus a half mile warm-up. It felt easy, about 6:40 pace. We just ran on the Provo River Trail today. It was really nice outside. I think I'm going to add morning runs in a few days a week, starting tomorrow.

Today we did a 5000 hard, and a 3200 hard. We warmed up to an elementary school about 1.5 miles away and also did one loop on the grass. We did a fartlek, at least that's what I would call it. We did 400 hard, 400 easy, 400 hard, 400 easy, 400 hard, 400 easy, 1200 hard, 800 easy, 600 hard. The hard was supposed to be at 5:00 pace (so 75 for each 400), and the easy at 5:40 pace (so 85 for each 400). I didn't get my splits, but I finished up at 16:40 for the 5k. I think I was about 10 seconds off of the goal pace. I was the fifth guy, right behind James. It was six seconds off of my best 5k on grass, which was at the region meet last cross country season.

After that, we had a ten minute break. The 3200 was broken up with 400 easy, 400 hard, 400 easy, 800 hard, 400 easy, 800 hard. My goal pace was 72, 82. I started out in fifth place, and basically held it. One guy passed me, but I passed him back. Going into the last hard 800, Trevor blew by me, but I went with him. I was able to stay right next to him the whole time, but I think he barely beat me. (By less than a second.) So I finished in sixth for that one. My finish time was 10:22. We gained on James a lot in the last 800, and he was about 10:19. Aaron was about 10:17. Brandon was 10:05 or so. It was a good workout, and I ran good times, but my goal is to be with the top guys in this group. After the workout, we cooled down about 2 miles.

This afternoon I ran by myself. I just did eight at about 6:50 pace. It felt really easy, and really good. It was pretty hot outside, but not unbearable. 

Tonight I helped pace little kids in a mile race at the BYU Track. I did two miles, one at nine something, and one at eight something.

Later tonight, I ran over to the Fieldhouse and lifted weights, one mile total.

Today we did 800's on the field by the track. Coach wasn't there, because the top guys left for Griak today. He said that he wanted six eight hundreds at 2:15 (65, 70) with three minutes rest. This was easier said than done.

We started out warming up about two miles. I felt okay, but not great. My legs were feeling a little sluggish, and I was sore from lifting weights yesterday. We got started, and it felt fast. These were the fastest intervals we have done. (So the 65 felt pretty fast.) I started out pretty good, at 2:18. The first one wasn't too bad. The rest was really short. We had to jog back to the start, and by the time we got there, we had about thirty seconds before we had to start. The second interval was about 2:19-2:20. Brandon was about 2:15, James 2:19, and I was right with Neal. The third one was 2:17. I was in about the same position. On the fourth one, I did 2:17 and was about the same position. The fifth one, I beat James, and was only a second or two behind Brandon. It was also 2:17. The fifth one hurt a lot. The sixth one, I was also 2:17, maybe 2:16. I was right with Aaron and Trevor barely ahead, Brandon just ahead of that.

I was the third or fourth guy on average. I beat everyone except for Brandon on at least two intervals. I wanted to be up front, but I was feeling off today. The leader on every interval was at most three seconds ahead of me. I think that I should be up with Brandon, I just need to push it a little harder, and make up those couple of seconds.

 When we were done, we cooled down two miles. I didn't feel good today, I felt pretty sick afterwards.

I started off running on my own today, but I stopped and at the bathroom, and saw Trevor run by. I ran with him the rest of the way. We averaged about 6:50 pace. It felt easy.

I did my long run today with Neal. We went out on the Provo River Trail. We averaged about 7:00. I wasn't feeling great, but it was a pretty good run. I just wanted to get it done. My legs didn't really feel tired, but I just didn't feel like going any faster. 12 miles total.

Tonight I went and lifted weights. I jogged there and back.