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

AM: Went on my usual Sunday morning run. I ran a little earlier than usual, but it was still pretty hot. Which was amazing! Did it in just under an hour and five minutes. 

AM: Morning speed workout today. It was just John, Sarah, and I. We did a mile WU and mile SC, then changed shoes. We did 3 sets of (500, then a slower 100, then 200). I had to hit the 500 in 78-79, which is about a 61-62 400, then the 200 in 30 or less. I ended up hitting 79's for all the 500's and 30, 31, 30 for my 200's. I nailed all my times except for one 200, but overall still pretty good. It was so nice to be able to do this workout in the morning, it's supposed to be 90+ later! We did like 2ish miles cool down to get to 6.

PM: I had my last AP test today! Yay! Senior year is over! (Academically, anyway). I got to practice late and just barely made the group that was going on the run. It was just an easy four mile run is the heat of the day. Lovely 94 degrees. 

AM: Went for an easy four on my own.

PM: After the JV Region wrapped up, we finally got our workout in. We did a mile WU and mile SC, then did 3X(3X200) with two minutes standing recovery between each one and a lap recovery between sets. My goal for these was 28-29. I hit the first six in 28, then on the last set I hit 27, 27, 26. Then cool down until I hit 6. Overall a solid workout, and the last one before state! Now to rest.

For the first time in a looong time, day of rest. Zero running. I just did some light stretching before bed. 

AM: Went for an easy, quick three miles on my own. Last time running before state!

AM: We got to the meet bright and early and I went on my warm up. I did two easy miles, then a quicker mile with a few pick ups to mimic speed changes. Finally I got my spikes and stuff and went over to the bull pen area to do strides. They eventually called us in and seeded us, then we were on the track and over by the start line. They only let us do like one stride before, which sucked. Finally they lined us up and after calling us up to the line, some one stepped on it, so they pushed us back, then called us up to it again.

      I don't remember much from this race, but I know I got an okay start. The gun went off and I was right behind Jake by the 100. From here the alleys merged and I don't quite remember what happened. I knew that I wasn't where I wanted to be by 400, and I think I surged somewhere around 700 and slipped into second behind Jake, who was in the lead and had a slight gap on us. I was trying to close the gap and not let him get away, but I just couldn't make myself go. I stayed in second until 400 to go, where Austin, Conner, and Marcus moved past me. There may have been someone else in the mix too. Right around 250 to go I moved past Marcus and was trying to reel Conner in, who was 7 meters or so ahead of me, but for some reason I just had no kick. With 100 left, Conner and Austin were pulling away from me, so I could tell I wasn't kicking, even though I was giving it everything I had. With like 15 meters left Rory caught me and just barely got the edge on me to the line. I finished in 4:17.29

     Overall, not a good race but not a bad one. I fought and that was good, but I still didn't do as well as I know I could have. My PR from a month ago would have taken second, and  I was hoping to PR today. The one thing that shouldn't have happened was getting caught on the kick. I got my medal, then went for a three mile cool down and relaxed the rest of the day. Once home I took an ice bath and got to bed early for tomorrow. I really want to attack my 3200.

AM: We got out to the meet and I watched some of the 3200 races before finally going for a warm up. I did the same warm up I did yesterday, then took my stuff over to the bull pen and waited until they called us over. Today it was on/off raining, and a lot colder than yesterday, so they let us keep our warm stuff on until we were by the line. Eventually wet took it off and we lined up. 

     The gun went off and I got a great start. I was right on Jake's shoulder and there was no one ahead of us. Right around 250 Conner took the lead, and I went with him. I passed Conner somewhere in lap 3 I think, and took control. I wanted to be aggressive in this 3200, seeing as lately I feel like I'm lacking that in my racing. I held the lead until 800 to go . I hit a 4:33 first mile and was just starting to feel the pace. I maintained my pace as well as I could and managed to hold off Conner with a few surges, but with 800 to go when Conner passed me I was really feeling the pace. I went with him as well as I could, but soon Jake passed both Conner and I, and started to push the pace. I could see them slowly breaking away, and I was giving everything I had to try and stay with them, but they broke away, and as soon as they got about 20 or so meters away from me, they suddenly started to gap me a lot faster, which means right there is where I totally lost contact and slowed down. I could tell I slowed way down and with 400 to go was giving it what I had. With 100 to go Chuk caught and passed me and I didn't want what happened yesterday to happen again, and managed to out kick him. I finished in 9:16.9.

     I would consider this race better than yesterday, but I know I still didn't do as well as I could have. I should not have let Jake and Conner get away, because as soon as I lost contact I slowed way down. This was a PR at elevation for me, so I was happy with that, but I didn't have the break through race I know I can have like the 1600 at Davis or the 3200 at Arcadia. I can feel that I still have one great race left in me, and luckily I was invited to Great Southwest, and will have one last chance. I know my time won't be great because it even higher in elevation, but I'm not really concerned with that. I just want to race really well, and I know that the time will follow.

      I did about 4 miles cool down with Bill, Chris, Natalie, and Susannah, then ate something and took an amazing nap before I was running the 800. I didn't have high expectations for the 800, seeing as I am not an 800 runner and I had already given what I had in the 3200. I warmed up about a two miles with strides, then did the same thing at the bull pen. It was sunny for this race, which was nice. My biggest challenge in this race was to get out well, and then just give anything I had left over. I was in the slower heat of 800's, and was in the second alley.

     Right off the gun I didn't get out fast enough. I was last in my alley, and fell right in the middle of the pack. I passed John and a few other guys, and managed to hold my position for the rest of the race, then in the last 50 meters I out kicked someone. Finished in 2:00.73, so not a fast time, but I gave it what I had so I wasn't too discouraged. After I went on about three miles cool down with Bill, Chris, Sarah, Megan from Bountiful, and Ben (who now holds every distance record in track and field for utah). That was a fun conversation, Ben is a cool, charismatic guy and Megan is such a cool girl. Hopefully she can run with us this summer!

      Finally we got back to the stuff and so ends my high school season! I had some disappointment with my races at state, but overall I'm overjoyed with my season. I ended Cross Country and Footlocker on a bad note, and I redeemed myself in track. I had some great season highlights and set some awesome PR's. I can now cross out all the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the season too! I feel such an overwhelming sense of gratitude to my Coach, Bill Cobler, because without him I couldn't even dream of being where I am. He changed me from just a typical, back-of-the-pack JV runner, to the athlete I am today. But he hasn't only changed me as an athlete, but as a student and person as well. Running has been the greatest achievement of my life so far, and now I am proud to say that running is a part of my life that I will keep for as long as I able. I can't wait to see where running will take me next. Thanks Coach.