Keep Calm and Run On

Today was a crazy day getting here. Our flight was cancelled because LAX closed. Luckily we still made it here! We flew to Oakland then to Ontario and drove to LA.We got to the course around 7:30 and ran it in the dark.

I could race in Malibu anyday! It is beautiful here! The course was 4 loops- a longer downhill start and 2 uphills. I did a mile shake out before breakfast and then a 2 mile warm up. My goal today was to race my race and get where I needed to be sooner. I started out with the front group and honestly it's hard to remember my race. I had a fast first mile, and relaxed a little off the main group after the first mile. I could see Sarah ahead of me and I moved and caught her to have someone to push with. It was definitely a race where I was tired and had to fight to stay focused and moving. Before mile 2, the front pack was all spread out. (Last year we had a pack until the last 800). I made a decision, as much as I didn't want to and was hurting, to be top 10. I had to pass 3 girls and maintain to be top 10. I could see Dre the whole time and tried to match when she would surge and started kicking down the home stretch. Our team tied Portland 62-62 and we lost the tie and were 3rd. After awards, we ran down to the beach and jumped in the ocean before driving to the airport. And unfortuantely, I didn't get all my cool down miles that I needed. I am happy I finished top 10 but know that I can race even better.

Recovery Monday- we ran Carterville. I don't feel sore after Saturday, just tired.

AM- Ran 4 before class

PM- ran 8 with Carrie and Danica.

Today's workout was hard but really good. We ran 800's at the intramural fields. The best thing I did for myself today was to put down the watch and run with the girls I needed to. We started with the first 200 at 35, then settle into 80 pace. It was so hard to start that fast every time. The first one was a 2:40 so our main goal was to hit the 35 and a 75 at the 400 and try to maintain. I was able to run with Dre and Kelsey the whole time and ran 2:37-2:38. We finished after 7 and I was so happy to be done- I was shaking like crazy the last few. 

AM- ran 7 before class

PM- ran another 4

Luckily our workout is tomorrow morning so we get another day recovery. I ran 4 after my noon class and another 8 with the girls. I was so tired and just wanted to be done.

Today was a beautiful day for a workout at the track. We ran mile repeats: one lap on the track, big grass loop and finish on the track (like our circuits) We started the first 200 at 35, came through the 400 at 75, pass the 800 around 2:35 and then settle to a threshold pace. The hardest part was betweent the 400 and 800 when we had to maintain on the grass. But running the threshold pace felt the best. We ran 5:43, 5:37 and 5:32 and felt really good. I ran 5 miles cool down with McKenna to finish.

As it is the week of a big race, I was really hoping for an easy workout and all of us were shocked when we ran the dreaded, all season anticipated ALL OUT MILE. At first I thought coach was joking when he said that but nope. We did it. 2 miles warm up then hit the track hard. I was really nervous to run it but we were all in it together which helped. We started fast (a few girls only ran 800's and helped the leaders) It was rough but rewarding. I ran a 4:55 and was 5th. The miracle- our top 9 were ALL UNDER 5! Coach always says he expects that and we finally did it. Sarah finished first with 4:48 and Nicole was the last with a 4:57. So it was actually pretty cool. A lot of cool down after.

AM- 4 miles before class

PM- 7 miles. I have the track hack from the all out mile yesterday and felt tired.

Workout- we ran 4x400 at 75. I felt better but ready for a couple easy days before the race.

We drove up to Ogden today and ran the course. It is a 2 loop course which I like and I am excited to race!

Woke up to snow- it's going to be a cold race! We ran a mile shake out before breakfast then headed to the course. Usual 2 mile warm up, potty break, strides, team cheer and prayer. I felt good and was ready to race so we could go to Nationals (we all had our rats for nats!). First start, I got out well but someone fell so we had to start again. My second start was about the same- we had practiced a fast start then settling into a pace. That is exactly what happened and for the first time I was grateful for the fast starts we had practiced. The first big loop, no one wanted to take the lead. We were all in a group, kinda sitting and waiting. Sarah and Dre took it at about the mile and I was close behind them. As we hit the two mile, just like coach had predicted, the Colorado team finally moved up and the whole race took off. In that moment, I hurt and mentally decided not to move with. That hurt my place later. I snapped out and was sticking with the girl next to me. Before mile 3 I was really hurting, but heard Lindsey right behind me. Nicole, Sarah, Lindsey and I were all together at that point (Dre was ahead) and that was our top 5 and we needed to beat some girls. I followed Linds as she started moving and passing people. It hurt but I finished 22nd. Personally, I hurt and was tired. I placed further behind than last year which is a bummer. However, our team was 3rd which was our goal! We have done everything we can to qualify and now we wait. After lunch, it took a long time to get home. We all gathered in coach's office and watched the FloTrack predictions. This is probably one of my favorite moments thus far in collegiate running- They announced one by one the teams going to Nationals. Before announcing the 31st team, they announced the first two teams not going. FINALLY, #31 team was BYU!! We all screamed, started crying and flippin out. We will know for sure tomorrow if we are going! Quite full of energy, we finished 5 miles cool down ending at Coldstone to celebrate with ice cream.

Long run in the snow! After a short nap, we met again at the fieldhouse for the official announcement- WE'RE GOING TO NATIONALS!!! I am so excited!! We wrote quotes on the tarp again and the one I wrote was "the chief cause of failure is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment" That was my theme senior track season in high school. I am so grateful and happy our team gets to compete at Nationals next week!

We met at the fields by the track and ran 2 sets of 400, 600, 400. The 400's were a 35 200 and then a 40. The 600 40's for the 200's. I felt pretty good and we are all excited to travel this week.

Ran with Carrie and Danica.

I ran 3 miles before we met for practice at 2. We ran 2 mile warm up then 1 mile on the track at 5:30. As soon as we finished, we headed to the airport and left for Terre Haute!

It's pretty rainy here! The course is closed today so we drove to some trail in the woods in Terre Haute. It was pouring rain but we ran around this awesome lake- it was gorgeous. That night was the banquet and the university. The speaker was awesome! My favorite quote "be willing to engage regardless of the difficulty or odds of victory" It is so cool to be here.

We ran at the course today and it is pretty muddy and wet. The start is in standing water and most of the course is just thick, wet mud. And it just keeps raining so tomorrow will be interesting! Tonight was my favorite night of Nationals- we had our cross country devotional at the ward here. We also had a final team meeting, adding more quotes to the tarp and talking about our season and the WHY of being here. I love BYU.

Racing nationals was definitely an adventure! Luckily it didn't rain today, but the course was total mud and it was FREEZING! I wore every running item I had brought on the trip to stay warm in the tent while waiting to warm up. We ran 2 miles warm up then headed to the line. It was awful having to strip away the warm layers to race. I wore my arm sleeves, calf sleeves, headband and gloves (for just the first 3K)  during the race. With the wind chill, it was 11 degrees! The start had been moved up 100 meters so we weren't starting in standing water. I got a good start but was definitely worried about the mud from the get go- it just sapped away energy from your legs trying to race through it.

I was in a good place with my teammates until about mile 1 when someone passing me stepped on the back of my spike... ah shoot. My first instinct was to kick it off right away but I was running through mud and if I was barefoot for the rest of the course, that would suck. Coach's voice came to mind (along with rule #1 and rule #2) "if your spike gets stepped on, unless you are in the last 800 meters, do not kick it off. Stop, pop it back on and keep going." So I jumped to the side, popped it back on and jumped back in. Kenna yelled at me "catch me!" when I stopped, so that helped get me back moving. I passed her and Nicole and way behind Sarah who I usually follow. The next 2K, I struggled mentally because I was so far back in the race. I finally got myself to keep moving up and passing. About the 5K was the worst mud- girls were sliding everywhere and my spikes and toes were so squishy. I started laughing watching everyone slip and slide. I saw Sarah start to fall back (at the point where I usually catch her and we finish together) and I kept moving to try and catch her by the finish. She finished 6 seconds ahead but it helped me to snap back into moving up. I finished with a slow time but it's the best I could do that day. BYU came in as the 31st team and we finished 28th and that was our goal. I am so happy we got to race at nationals this year! Even though I wish I had a better race, it was an important learning experience. We'll be back next year and hopefully in sunshine and a dry course!

Short run today after a 14 hour car drive to Washington yesterday. I am pretty sore and stiff but felt better by the end.

This morning I got to run with my brother Marcus! We ran on a trail by his house. It is gorgeous running up here! We ran 6 then I added 4 more.