Keep Calm and Run On

3 miles in the morning. Mile warm up, 2 miles speed changes and mile cool down in the afternoon. 

2 mile shake out before getting on the plane. My race was late at night so it had luckily cooled down somewhat. I got a warm up and was just starting drills when the race was starting... whoops. I took the lead and my goal was to gap the group. I felt good and was on pace the first 2 laps. Then it got really hard. My pace slipped and I was struggling to keep going. It was hard to push alone and it didn't really feel like a race. I finished first, but wasn't too happy with my time. But oh well. The top 5 in the 3200 were all Utah girls! Yeah we dominate distance.... I got a watch for winning and another watch for winning the best distance performance of the meet. 

Hottest. Run. Ever. It was about 100 degrees and we ran a long run. We ran on the Zoo trail to Red Butte, then on that trail to 11th Ave and Shriners run back. It was ridiculously hot and hard to keep going. My legs were tired from the race and I was glad when it was over. 

Met early this morning to run. A group of us drove up to Jeremy Ranch and ran there. Going out 6 miles felt pretty easy, fast and mindless. Coming back was hard though. My legs were tired and it felt like it was all uphill. 

Speed workout. Usual warm up then we started with 2 1,000's. I was a few seconds slow from the split but it was faster than I had run thousands before. We got 5 minutes recovery then 4 500's. The last 500 we finally hit the split we needed to. I thought/hoped we were done, but we did another 2 1,000's. My legs were so dead. I didn't care about the time as much as finishing. Ran 5 later.

Cemetary run from Sugarhouse Park. In the cemetary we ran fartlek- 10 sets of 1 minute on, 1 minute off. My calves were way sore from the day before.

Ran on Pipeline but the opposite way of the usual run. We ran up the switchbacks up the canyon road 4 miles and back. The switchbacks were not too steep but there were a lot of them. My legs and hips were like jello by the end. I ran 4 in the afternoon and my legs were way tired. High mileage always wipes me out and I am ready for this week to end.

Last brutal speed workout! We met at the Granite track and it was so nice to run on different track because the East one feels so much longer. Did usual warm up then 800, 3 400's and 5 minute recovery and 3 400's and an 800. My first 800 was 2:24 and my 400's were all 70. My 400's for the second set were 70, 71, and 72. The last 800 was really hard to push through. My legs were so heavy, dead and I was tired. I finished at a 2:31 and was so happy to be done. Ran a long cool down to get my miles. 

First day of XC! Except I am graduated so it is kinda weird... We met at Sugarhouse and ran the cemetery run. I ended up alone and was tired coming back, but Bill was trying to catch me and I made sure he didn't. I ran 2 300's on the track and a cool down. The second half of the run my left hip tightened up and really hurt-time for new shoes! Later I ran 4 on my own. 

Last speed workout! We ran usual warm up then ran 5 sets of 200, jog 100 and a 300. My 200's were all 31, except the 5th one was 32. My 300's were 49, 48, 47, 47, 48, 46. This was a good workout to work on quick, short distance. I focused on getting out of my usual stride, and getting on my toes and taking short steps. It helped so much to have the boys ahead of me to chase. We finished with 8 grass strides. 

First day in North Carolina. I didn't get back to the hotel until late so I ran on the treadmill. It is only my second time running on a treadmill since I started running.... and for a reason. 

WOW! This race was.... incredible but bittersweet. I ran 2 shake out in the morning and didn't race until evening. I ran 2 warm up, got my drills and strides in. I couldn't believe I was at Nationals and running against the top girls. I was the only West Coast girl in the race. I was really nervous to be running with a lot of girls who are just as fast as I am. When the gun went off, I immediately thought "rail" and dropped into lane one close to the rail. First lap went by fast and ending the second lap I began to feel pain and realized my two "freebie" laps were over and it was time to work. The third lap, the lead girl began to gap the group. At the beginning of the fourth lap, there were three girls who moved away from the group and were gapping. I realized I was in ninth place and needed to move. At the 200 I moved out and surged to the front. On the straightaway, I closed up the front girls and we were all back in one tight group. Our mile was 5:07. The fifth lap I was running on the outside of the group and trying to keep contact with the front girl. Beginning the sixth lap I felt like we slowed, or I was ready to surge. I hesitated for a second then got gutsy and surged. As I began to move up, a girl from behind was moving at the same time. I took the inside lead and matched her stride. We surged together until the end of the lap and the group came with us. With 800 to go I didn't feel too horrible and was running scared. Every time I moved, the group matched and came with. At the 500 I thought to begin kicking and pick it up. At the 300, the girl next to me passed me and took the lead. It was deja vu of state and I decided not to let it happen again. At the 200 I kicked harder, and at the curve I swung and passed her. I dropped back into the rail and was only thinking of the girl I just passed and didn't know the next girl was so close. About 30 meters from the finish, the next girl came past me and before I knew it, it was over. I was second, by .73 of a second. After the race I felt really good. I had serious runners high and lots of adrenaline that didn't stop until 2 A.M. I was elated I was second at nationals, I got to lead a national race. But I got second, by so little. It leaves a sore spot and some lingering regret, especially now as I look back. I think this was probably my best race and as a true runner I say it was fun! It was a different experience to be back in pack running. I wasn't worried about crashing, pushing by myself, watching the clock tick. I was thinking when to move, where I should be and watching how the girls were running. It was such an amazing experience and really a fun race. Ran 4 cool down and took an ice bath. 

Day 2 of Nationals. I ran 3 miles in the morning and my calves were really tight and sore. They told us the mile would be earlier so I began to warm up earlier, but the meet was behind and I had a lot of time. I got 3 miles warm up, a lot of drills and strides. Looking around at the other girls, most of them looked like they were ready to puke and we hadn't even run yet! I was just happy to be running and enjoying every moment of my last high school race. There were only nine girls in the race and we were a tight pack the first 2 laps. I was torn with whether to run wide and with the front or run by the rail. After 2 laps the lead girl broke away and the group spread way out. I got gapped and was on my own. It was hard to run alone and be chasing. The last lap I forced myself not to give up and to kick to close the gap. I closed the gap and beat one of the girls in the group I was chasing. I didn't feel quite as good as yesterday after and my calves were so tight. But I was happy I had the opportunity to compete at nationals and what a great way to finish senior season! 

Ran on my own today. I had to go in the afternoon so it was really hot and it was kind of stupid to do 10 because I was so sore from nationals, but I got a lot of miles out of the way fast. I ran to Sugarhouse, then to Tanner Park and along the trail to Foothill and home. 

Met at Sunnyside with the XC team today. We ran a warm up in the gulley then did some core and the Shriners run. I wasn't going that fast on the run but my lungs were hurting really bad. 

Ran an easy 6 miles on my own. 

I meant to wake up earlier to run but I couldn't get out of bed. I ran to Sugarhouse then did some laps in the gulley. 

Met at Sugarhouse with the XC team. We ran the cemetery run then Tomy and I ran extra laps to get to 10. 

JCC trail with the team. I felt pretty good  so I went out 5 miles so I could get to 10. 

Team workout at Cottonwood Complex. We ran the usual 3 mile warm up, 8 strides then did some 800's. We ran the XC regions course and did 6 800's with standing recovery. I felt pretty good. It is different to be switching from 800's on a track at full speed and 800's for XC when there are hills and a longer race. My first 3 800's were all 3:06, then I ran 2:55, 3:03, and 2:55. It is really weird to think I will never race there again. My hips were hurting really bad when we finished. Ran 3.5 cool down. 

Met at Liberty Park and ran 1 lap warm up. Then we did a long run. We ran along 900 E. to 3rd Ave then went up through Memory Grove and the drinking fountain in City Creek. Came back along State Street and weaving through streets back to Liberty. The first few miles I was really tight and sore. I loosened up eventually and felt a little better.