Well I didn't think I'd make it this far....

This morning I did 2.5 miles to loosen up. Then took the rest of the day off. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630215 

This morning I did a 3 mile shakeout.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171245616

Today was a scorching hot day. Lovely having practice in 88 degree weather. After a brief team meeting, we broke into our groups. The distance group went over to the asphalt hill and did 12 of them from the bottom to the brick wall of the bleachers. Then afterwards Natalie, Chris and I went for an 8 mile run to Red Butte and back to be at 10 for the day. I felt good on the hills, but was tired by the end of the run. My hips and hipflexers are really tight, so I will make sure to stretch those. Did my core before bed.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171245613 

Today was a really tough day for me. For starters, my stomach was hurting all day. I wasn't nauseous, but my stomach was very much upset. Maybe it was something I ate, but it was hurting from shortly after breakfast until the workout. I tried to eat something at lunch, but I only got about 1/4 of my normal food intake because I just couldn't stomach any more. To top it off, speed workout today. Not just any speed, but 12X400, or three sets of 4X400.

We did three laps warm up, then a mile speed changes, during which my stomach was protesting all the movement. I just ignored it and changed shoes for the workout. Bill told me my times for the first set, and I was to run a 70 first 400, as they were all to get progressively faster. After that one, I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the workout like this. To sum up a large majority of the workout, it sucked. As my splits were to get faster, I wasn't able to hit them. I wasn't tired, but my stomach was making pushing myself insanely difficult.  My times went like this for the first two sets: 71, 70, 67, 68, then a lap recovery, then 69, 71, 71, 69. By the end of the 8th 400, I was really nauseous and just felt horrible. I was way off my times and couldn't get myself to push harder. So, during the lap recovery after that set, I wandered over to the middle of the field, and threw up five times. I used to hate throwing up, but I felt SO much better after I threw up. I lined up for the next 400 and hit a 65, which is the fastest I had hit in any set. The rest of my times were: 65, 68, 68, 67. My last set was by far my best, and I was finally able to push a bit. Even if I hadn't been feeling dreadful, I don't think I could have hit the times I was given. I saw that I was written down for a 63 and 62 last 400's. Huh? 

Anyway, after that we went on a cool down that went on FOREVER to be at 10 for the day. I have never been as thirsty as I was during that cool down. Overall, today was by far the hardest workout to date I have even done. Not just because I felt awful, but because this was a large and fast speed workout. All in all, terrible day. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171832580 

This morning I did a 3.5 mile shakeout run.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171832563

Today was a trimeet at Highland against Highland and Cyprus. We arrived and I got about 3.25 warm up. I was definitely feeling yesterdays workout, definitely. Bill had me down for the 800 and a leg of the 4X400. I put on spikes, did some strides, and went over to the start. Bill told me I was going for pace. He wanted a 66 first lap, and a 64 second lap. He also said to not care about winning. If there was a kid just barely in front that I could out kick, then fine, but otherwise just to focus on pace. So I did just that. The race started and I could feel that I was going slower than my usual first 800 lap. I could tell that other people noticed too because some kid got right on my shoulder. Anyway, I hit a 32ish 200, and a 66 lap. I was happy with that, but knew I had to push to get that 64, and at this point most definitely felt yesterday's workout. So I picked it up at the 400, and to my surprise the kid on my shoulder went with me. I was at a 32 again at the 200, and knew I would just have to be consistent to get my split. But at the 200, the  kid on my shoulder decided to move, and slipped right in front of me. I went with him and we kicked with 100 left. That is where I most definitely felt yesterday. I kicked some, but didn't fight him. I ended with a 2:09, so if I would have fought him I would have been fast on my split. Afterwards, Bill scratcehd me from the 4X400 so that Nat and I could get in a fartlek workout. We did 10 sets of 1min on/ 1min off just around SHP. By the end of that workout, I was exhausted. We got in another three or four mile to be at 10 for the day. Man this week has been tough.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171832548 

Did a 2 mile shakeout run this morning.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172089564

Today after track stuff, instead of drills we did our stadium laps. After 6 stadium laps, everyone got together and did a little relay practice. We each had one partner and would each run 200 meters, then hand off to our partner, who would finish the lap. Each of us ended up running 4X200, so we got a half mile in that. I probably ran each 200 in 28. After that Natalie and I went for a 3ish mile run to be at 6 for the workout. Boy did I need this day of recovery. I have been exhausted all day, and hopefully will recover enough today and tomorrow to be prepared for Saturday.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172089558 

This morning I did a 3.5 mile shakeout run.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172351158

Since we have a race tomorrow, practice today was our traditional day before race workout. We did a mile warm up, mile speed changes, and a mile cool down. I heard wrong, (or just flat out wasn't listening) and thought it was two miles speed changes, so I got to 1.5 miles speed changes, then did two laps cool down, and a mile afterwards with Ben to get to 4.5. It was nice to be able to run with him today.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172351153 

Upon arriving at the meet, we got settled and I went to warm up right away. I got three miles by the time I was in the field doing drills and strides. I was in the second heat of the open 1600. I put on my spikes and did a few more strides before getting to the line. The conditions were perfect. It was a little chilly, with the slightest of breezes, so I made it a goal today to break 4:40. When the gun went off I was in bad position. I was elbowed out of my spot and consequently started in the back. I spent the first lap trying to get in position to move up once the pace settled. I hit a 69 first lap, so just the right speed. I spent the majority of the second lap moving around the guys that were falling off the pace. I think I hit a 2:20 800, so a 71 second lap. That was already too slow. Again in the third lap I had to go all the way out in lane 4-5 to pass a bunch of guys, and I was in ninth. The next guy was about 10 meters ahead of me, and I made sure to not let anyone pass me. I hit a 72 third lap, so way too slow. I was hoping for a 70 third lap, assuming that would be my slowest. I just gave what I had the last lap and closed on the next two guys ahead of me, and managed to pass them on the last straightaway. I finished with a 4:41. I know it is a PR, but I still couldn't help but feel disappointed. After that I did about 1.5 miles cool down and went back to the tent and took a nap since my race wasn't for another 6 hours. 

Once the 3200 came around, I got about a mile warm up, then went to the field and did drills and strides. My goal for this race was just to break 10:00 since I have never broken it at altitude. Right off the line I was in the middle of the pack, and managed to stay there through the first mile, which I ended up hitting in about 4:47. Boy did I feel that. At this point my biggest goal was to not let myself slip too much, even though I knew my second mile would be much slower. Anyway, I fought through the second mile and only two or three guys passed me. I ended up with a 10:01, so again, I was just short of my goal. But, I was happy that I wasn't last in the invited 3200 :P After that I still had to run the last leg of the 4X800, so I did strides and stretches until that came around. I don't know what my time was, and I honestly don't care. I was exhausted. But, again we weren't last so that was good. After that Natalie and I did a mile cool down while waiting for her awards (plural), and then we headed home. I did three miles on my own right after to be at 15 for the day, putting me at 70 for the second consecutive week.

Speaking of which, congratulations to Natalie for setting TWO meet records! Both the mile and two mile, as well as only being two second off the state record in the mile. YOUR AMAZING NAT!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172703094