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

I rolled out of bed at 8:30 to go run. I was feeling super tight and stiff from yesterday. It's a good thing this run was just to loosen me out. I went out 1.5 and came back the same way. At my turn around I stretched a bit, which really helped. I feel like I didn't warm up that whole run. I got back, iced my shins, did the alphabet with my ankles, and massaged my legs a bit. Here is my link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115297412 

AM: Went for my own run this morning. Easy four miles. Felt good but I didn't push at all. It took me a bit to warm up, but once I got going I felt okay. Here is my link for my morning run:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115751117

PM: After a bit of a pep talk from Bill to both the boys and girls teams, we started our workout. Down to 1300 E from the track, then all the way to T street, then we did the hills, sprinting up one then left jogging along the flat, and again and again until we hit 11th ave. At 11th ave we assembled and headed back down, just striding out along the downhills. This workout was fine. It was tiring or anything, but my shins did hurt quite a bit on this run. Mainly because of all the starting and stopping we did, and the one big break we took on 11th ave. That's where I really started feeling my shins, and I felt them the rest of the way back. I iced them as soon as I got home and I will massage and ice them before bed, as well as begin taking my dear friend Ibuprofen again. Hopefully they get better. Here is my link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115751109 

AM: For morning practice today we did a speed workout. One mile warm up, mile speed changes, then 200, 200, 400, 600, 800, 600, 400, 200, 200 all with equal recovery. I did well this workout, my goal was to be consistent on the first half, then from the 800 down to push and see how low I could get my times. The sprinklers turned on during the workout, and more would turn on as some shut off, so I had to swing wide on some of the intervals to avoid getting splashed. My times were, 34, 34, 74, and 1:50 for the first four intervals. Not fast times, but definitely repeatable. Then I started pushing the rest. 2:34, 1:48, 67, 32, and a 31 (I missed my watch so I am about two seconds off. my garmin says I ran a 33). I was happy that I got my times lower, although I would have liked the second 600 to be faster. And maybe even get my 800 to 2:30-ish. I felt good this workout. Nothing hurting except my shins a bit. There was no starting and stopping for long periods in this workout and it was on a soft track, therefore no shin pain. We hit seven.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115948684

PM: For afternoon practice today we just ran to Sugarhouse along 1500 E, then a grass lap, then back along 1500 E to the track. I went maybe 100 meters further for six  I definitely felt my shins on this run. My Mizunos seem to offer less overall support than my Nikes, because not only were my shins hurting, but my ankles were tired and my hips were hurting a bit. Even though Monday's workout was harder and much more hilly than today's, I wore my Nikes and I didn't feel as bad as today. Maybe my feet are getting accustomed to my Nikes too much.... I will try and mix up shoes more. We finished much sooner than usual, so we got out the ice bath and since football players had no practice there was plenty of ice for an ice bath. I haven't had an ice bath that cold in a while! Anyway it really helped, my legs feel loads better. After Bill gave me a killer shin massage. I really needed it. I can tell that my shins will start feeling better. I will take some Ibuprofen later and also ice my legs. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115948675 

AM: Went out for a small run this morning. Since I did three on Sunday, I have to shave off a mile here and there throughout the week so that I can hit my mileage. So I just did two. My shins felt great. Definitely hurting much less. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116165405

PM: Today was our Tri-Meet against WX and Bountiful. Because of Bob Firman on Saturday, this race would just be a tempo race. Bill said to hit a 7:00 tempo since the course was a bit hilly. The goal of this race was to get a tempo into the Varsity, and to bring some of the borderline varsity up. I hit my first mile a bit fast, at 6:45 I think. Then my second right on at 6:56. A half mile left in the race means that at 2.25 we could pick it up a bit. My average pace until the last kick to the line was about 6:55, which is close enough to 7 flat. Once we passed the asphalt track we started to kick. Scott and I were kicking hard, but he beat me by about a second to the line. If only my kick in every race could be that fast! Anyway, it was a nice tempo. My pace once I finished had dropped from 6:55 to 6:42! Haha. 7 guys stuck with the group, which was more than I thought would make it. Good job all those who made it with the group! Afterwards I got about 1.4 cooldown which would put me right at 7 for the afternoon. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116165381 

AM: Today for morning practice we just did a run up to the drinking fountain by Shriners. It was about 2.3 there and the same back. It felt good, but I definitely felt my shins on the way back down. Especially when the light stopped us for about a minute. Nice, easy run.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116357505

PM: For afternoon practice we ran to Sunnyside for a Fartlek workout. We had to run up to the park, then a lap around and back to the white tree for warm up. I was at about 1.4 by then. Then we started our interval workout. 10 X 1on/1off around the soccer fields. On the first one Dylan pushed the pace, but died off after that one. Scott was with me for three of them but fell back on number four.  The majority of the workout I was by myself, so I just made it my goal to push the "on"s  and lap as many people as possible. I caught everyone up until to the group around Natalie. They were at most 100 meters ahead of me when I finished my last "on" by the white tree, but they finished out their last lap. I finished with nine laps around the soccer fields. In twenty minutes of intervals I hit about 3.3 miles. Right after I finished I could really feel my shins. After we just cut across the soccer fields and straight down to the track. My shins are hurting, so I will ice them and give them a good rubbing today before bed, as well as ibuprofen. Here is my link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116357487 

Super light run in the afternoon today. Just half mile warm up, mile speed changes, and half mile cooldown. Other than my shins hurting, I felt fine. Then took a fifteen minute ice bath at the track. Before I go to bed, which should be around 9ish today, I will really massage my shins and ice them some more, as well as ibuprofen. I'm excited for Boise tomorrow!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116527937 

Had a wonderful time waking up at 2 am to get to the bus by 3. Once we loaded on the bus we headed out. Everyone fell asleep. I laid down in the isle. Upon arriving, we unloaded and set up our tent. It was 9:30 by then, and my race is at 10:30. I went to the bathroom and did about a mile shakeout around the course. I came back to the tent for some water and for my registration stuff, and then I left again to keep warming up. By about 10:25 I put on my spikes and headed to the line, only to be sent back by the official because we couldn't wear Garmins on this course. It was a good thing I brought my normal watch too. I ran back to the tent to put it on and hurried back to the line. While we waited at the line we did strides. I probably got in like 8 strides. 

The race started and I got out okay. I was boxed in for the first lap on the dirt though. I kept trying to fight my way out of the crowd, but there is only so much elbows can do. Not until I came to the sand did I get away from a slow group. I passed people until the beginning of the second lap, where I was caught by two or three guys. I managed to stay with that group until the hill/sand area where I fell back maybe 5 guys. The rest of the way is a bit of a blur, but along the last part of the lap right before you turn right and are on the final kick, I got passed by 2 guys and then one or two more on the kick, I think.

I think the thing I could have majorly improved on this race was just the mental part. Sticking with people and passing whenever the opportunity strikes. I think I would have done better if I was racing against some people I knew were at my level, but that's no excuse. I really look forward to Wednesday for that reason. I met my goal time-wise and I had a blast! Having my race in the morning was awesome because the rest of the day I could eat, cheer on people, and mess around. The day in Idaho was fun and the bus ride back was an absolute blast. I was crazy hyper on a ton of junk food so therefore I don't remember a lot of it. 

Also, my shins were hurting a good deal in the warm up and in the cooldown, but I didn't feel them during the race. I will do the usual shin stuff tonight. I look forward to Wednesday!!