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

AM: Since I want to duplicate this past week, again I went for 10 miles this morning. I felt good, surprisingly, even though I was going the same speed I usually do on these runs. Off for a day of fun!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/209662096 

AM: This morning we met at Sunnyside Park for practice. We did an outer loop around the park for warm up, then jogged down to the track. Once at the track we did a mile warm up and a mile of speed changes before starting out speed workout. The workout today was 12X400 and I had to hit them all in 75. The goal for this workout is just to feel what our goal race pace is. This is also the first speed workout of the season. It brings back lots of memories, both good and bad! Anyway I hit all of them in 74-75 except for the last one where I hit 71.  Overall it was a good workout. I never felt so bad that I thought I couldn't hit the next rep, and by the end I was not tired at all. Usually on the cool down of this type of workout I am feeling tired and sore, but on the cool down I felt great, just like I was finishing a long run. We got 5.5 miles cool down up on the VA loop and the down into the cemetery and then across 13th and up to the park. Afterwards we had delicious a potluck breakfast at Natalie's house!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/210217311 

PM: After work I went on my usual 6 mile loop. Now to get some sleep for tomorrow's hike!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/210342550 

AM: Today is the team hike to Lake Blanche, so a group of us met at Bill's house to go for a run. We did a 5 mile out and back run. It went by pretty fast. We had good conversation going and then half of the run was downhill.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211010494

PM: Today has been a really long day. The team hike was fun but tiring, and I got home with only like an hour before work so I got no rest. Still, after work I went on my six mile loop.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211010458

AM: This morning practice was at Liberty Park. We started with a lap warm up, then we did 6 strides, and then we went over to the pond where we usually do fartlek. The workout was 10X1 min on/1 min off. I got moving pretty well. I was focusing on my form on the on's and that helped carry me further. Afterwards we did 4.3 cool down to be at 10 for the day. Practice had to end a little early today because it is the last day of registration and many of us had to register still.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211010420 

PM: I didn't work today for the first time in what seems like forever, so I took advantage of that and went for a longer run. I did 8 miles. Towards the end I was going to add on two miles and get to 10, but.... meh. I'm ahead of mileage as it is so I will just save a little more mileage for the end of the week.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211109585 

AM: This morning practice was at Sunnyside Park. We started with a lap around the park, then we jogged to the first field to do Flannigan. After three sets of Flannigan, we did 10 X 120 meter strides. Once those were over we went over to the white tree and Bill explained to us how far an 800 is along our Fartlek route. We did 2X800 in the times we had hit our 400's on Monday. So I was to hit 2:30 800's. I knew these 800's would hurt a little more than track ones because there are some sharp uphills and a few rolling hills. Still, I ran them both faster than my goal. My times were 2:23 and 2:21. I felt good during these and was able to accelerate on the flat parts. After that we got some water and started on our run. The higher mileage group was doing Shriner run but adding the VA hospital loop. We went out until we had gone 4 miles, and came back the same way. On the way out, right when we were about to cross the street to the U library, we cut down by where there is construction so we could use the crosswalk, and as I was running along the fence, I tripped on a chain link that was sticking out and totally ate crap :P Which is strange for me because I almost never fall, and when I trip I mostly just stumble and catch myself. But I totally wiped out this time. Luckily I was fine. Plus, today is Natalie's last day training with us :'( So the last two or so miles of the run we pushed the pace, for old times sake :) We averaged low 6 minute pace on the last two miles. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211346122 

PM: After work I went for six miles. Bill always says that the Garmins will catch up if you start before they get full satellite, so I started my watch before it got full satellite. It did't catch up. It was about .3 off the whole time, but fortunately I don't really need it since I know exactly how far my 6 mile loop is. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211724338 

AM: This morning we met at Liberty Park. We started with a lap warm up, then we divided into groups to do firemen. The group I was in was doing 2 laps. After the first lap we stopped for two maybe three minutes at the fountain to get some water and allow the group a little bit of recovery.The group stayed together very well. Nice job Sarah S and Sarah B! Afterwards I did two laps cool down to get to 8. I won't run tonight to be a little fresher for tomorrow. First race of the season! Bring it on!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211724333 

AM: I got to the race a little bit later than I wanted but still had plenty of time to do all my pre-race stuff. I warmed up just around the course cheering on people for about an hour. Once we had a gap between races, I stopped and went to the bathroom and got my last big intake of liquids. Then I did some stretching, and after maybe ten minutes I went on a continuous warm up. I went a mile out and back on the road with Chris. Once we got back I went over to my car and put on my flats, then got to the line. I only had time to do two strides before they told us to line up. We were on the line for what seems like an eternity because the official was having some starting gun problems. After several failed attempts at starting us with a faulty gun, he finally started us with a whistle. 

The pack went out a little faster than I expected and would have liked. There were guys dropping off like half a mile in as soon as the adrenaline wore off and it got to pushing. I think I held back a little too much right before the end of the road. I was in like fifth or sixth right before the beginning of the trail. In the last 30 meters before we turned, I scooted into fourth and that's where I stayed for the rest of the race. I think if I would have moved into third before the end of the road, I could have fought with a Timp kid for second. I held my place well during the trail, and with about a quarter mile to the gravel I could tell the kid right ahead of me was dying, but I didn't make my move soon enough and left myself too much work to do on the kick. Still, I maintained fourth well, with about five or six seconds on fifth.

Afterwards, I cooled down with Bill and a few others around the course. I got to 1.5 on that cool down, and a bit after that I went on another mile cool down with Chris to hit 100 for the week! Then we all had some Snow Cones courtesy of Rhonda!

Overall, solid race and good season opener. I made a few mistakes, but I'm still happy with the outcome. I pushed well and ended with a good time. Had it been a full course I believe I would have ended with a time in the low 16:30's. Good for how hilly the course is. Plus, all this on 100 mile legs. I could definitely feel the mileage on my legs. I can't wait to race on a good taper!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/212075383