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

No running today. Was going to run in the evening but it was terribly windy.

AM: Had a late start today so I went for my own run. I was planning on 6, but I got out the door later than expected so I just did 5. It felt like the entire run I had not warmed up, which I'm guessing is attributed to the fact that I didn't run on Sunday, which I normally do. Anyway, here is my link for that:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113977430

PM: Today for practice we did two warm up grass laps then a mile of speed changes. Then, we started the speed workout. 8 X 800. Nuff said. I was put with Taylor and our goal was to hit 2:40's, but Taylor fell behind after the second 800 so I was by myself this workout. Here are my times: 2:39, 2:40, 2:37, 2:39, 2:38, 2:37, 2:39, 2:36. I was pleased with this workout. At first 2:40 seemed slow, but on the 5th and 6th ones I started feeling them. I was very consistent and I ran all but one of them under pace, and the only one I didn't run under pace I ran at exactly 2:40. And, to add to this workout's difficulty, I had to run all of them by myself, which sucks. But I did pretty good anyway. Finally, we are having some tough speed work, which is exactly what I need. Then I did two grass loops for a cooldown and a little extra for 9. I don't feel too horribly tired, which surprised me, but the real indicator will be tomorrow's morning practice. Other than being tired though, I feel great. Nothing hurts, just a bit of shin pain which I will dull with ice later. Here is my link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113977420 

AM: For morning practice today we ran from the track along 1500 E to Sugarhouse Park, then varsity did a grass loop around the park, and then we headed back to the track along 1500 E, and went up the street by the gulley to add the little bit we would need to hit six. It was just recovery so there was no pushing, I just stayed in a group with Natalie, Taylor, Chris, and Dylan. It felt good, although it took me a while to warm up and I could definitely feel yesterdays workout in my legs.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114199328

PM: We ran up to Shoreline trail by the zoo and did four sets of the first hill on the trail. We would stop once we got to the end of the flat part at the base of the second hill. We were to run them like we would a race and we did them with our groups from yesterdays workout. I was with Taylor, Nat, Dakota and Chris. They felt pretty good. My legs felt a bit heavy but I just focused on using my arms up the hill and powering through the hill and the flat after it. We would just jog back down after every hill and start once our group was ready. After those were finished, we just jogged back down to the track. I just went at whatever pace the dowhill took me. Then once I got back I added on about 3/4 miles to get to six while waiting for the ice bath to fill. Then I hopped in the ice bath for fifteen minutes and after we had some cake and we sang Annie Happy Birthday! My quads are a little sore and my calves are really tight so I will do some stretching before bed.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114199316 

AM: Went out for an easy three miles. It took me a while to warm up and I did them slower than I expected, but I guess that was Monday talking. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114430522

PM: For practice today we ran down to Liberty for a tempo run. Once we got there we were divided into groups and started. My group was supposed to hit 6:45's. On the first mile we ended up hitting like 6:30, and then on the second half of the second mile I picked it up and Dakota stuck with me. Good job today Dakota. After that we just ran back up to the school. I felt this workout a ton more than I expected. Not just the tempo, but the run back from Liberty. Dang that hill. I hope to have an awesome recovery day tomorrow to do well at Murray. I messed up my distance when I forgot to turn it on for some of the warm up, but we hit six on Natalie's Garmin just past the locker rooms. Here is the tempo and cooldown.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114430499 

AM: Today for morning practice we ran from the track up to foothill and then down onto Gaurdsman and back to the track, then we did four laps around the track to get four. There was a bit of confusion about the run but either way four miles got done. I felt okay, a bit sore and tired but hopefully I can recover enough for tomorrow's race. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114638907

PM: In the afternoon we just did a really easy workout. We warmed up one mile, then a mile speed changes, then a mile cooldown, all on the track, switching directions every mile. I felt ok after this workout, but my shins hurts and my calves are really tight. I will ice my legs and do some good stretching before bed. My ankles we feeling a bit tired so I will do my ankle stretches before bed as well. Can't wait for tomorrow's race!!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114638896 

When we arrived at Murray, it started raining. I didn't let that affect me mentally as best I could, even though rain kind of makes me feel sad... After everyone got settled we went for a team warm up around the course. I hit 1.5 by the time I got back to the Pavilion, and around 4:45 I went out for my own warm up. I finished my warm up to a little past three miles, put on my flats, and headed to the line. I did probably six strides at the line. I should have worn my spikes in these conditions, because once I got to the trail, I had zero grip, and once I hit the hill on the trail, I kept slipping and slipping and I probably got passed by about four or five guys there. Anyway the race went okay. I got out mediocrely, I was boxed in around the fire hydrant and the baseball field, and as I said before I had no traction anywhere on the snake. After that part, when we got to the flat grass, I tried my best to stay with the group ahead of me, but I slipped like three of four guys. I had my usual finish. I kicked as hard as I could but I think two guys passed me. Once I finished, I hung around for a few minutes and then headed home with my mom and sister. 

I think there are several things that contributed to the outcome of this race. 1) My mind. I had been sweating this race since Thursday, and all of Friday during school in the back of my mind I was dreading this race. Being nervous is good, but I got a little too worked up about this race. 2) The conditions. It was pouring during my race, and it made the dirt hard to race on. Again, as I mentioned before, rain also makes me feel a bit gloomy. I have to work on staying positive despite weather conditions. 3) My shoes. It would have been a much better idea to run with my spikes on, and only two or three spikes actually in the shoes around the toe. That way I would have had the traction I needed, despite the asphalt parts of the race. Lastly, 4) I was definitely feeling this week on my legs today. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday really were all pushing days. And I am hitting semi-high mileage. I hope that with a taper, and a longer recovery period, I will have fresh legs for Bob Firman. 

But, oh well. I didn't do as well as I hoped or know that I could have done, but I did meet my goal competition-wise. This race passed already, and all I can do is prepare for Bob Firman.

 Since I left early, I didn't get a chance to cooldown there, but once I got home I did the two mile cooldown I was planning on. Hooray for ten tomorrow.

Race: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114866490 

When I woke up this morning I was exhausted, hungry, and had a stomach ache. There was no way I could have done ten like that. This whole week has been tiring, not to mention yesterday. Anyway I decided to just do it in the afternoon. I started around 7:30. I ran from my house along 35 S to 84 W and onto the Magna Run, my usual ten miler, but it got dark sooner than I thought it would and it seemed like every car that passed got closer to hitting me, so I just went to four on 84 W and headed back, and decided that I would add on two once I got back. I ran back, past my house, and out a mile, then back to hit ten. Pretty uneventful ten. I was feeling ok going into the ten, and I was just tired once I was done. I averaged 7:05 pace, which, not including the last big hill on the Magna Run, is about what I did the last ten miler. Today was just not a pushing day for me. Here is my link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115141354