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

After track stuff distance ran up to the track for speed. We did the Foothill to 1300 E loop and back to the track for warm up, then 1 mile speed changes. Then we changed shoes and started the speed workout. 2 sets of 3 X 300 with two laps of recovery in between each set and only the jog over to the 300 start for recovery between each 300. I hit 49, 50, 52 then 48, 46, 46. There was this one guy on the track on the second to last one and Bill screamed out for us to catch him so that is why my last two are so fast. After that we did roughly 2.5 miles cool down, or enough to put us at 10 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148889333 

My shins really hurt this past week, so I took a day off to let them recover enough for the race on Friday. At least I was missing the day before a race, and not an important speed day.

Today was the Olympic Oval Indoor meet. I got there a bit late, but after I got all the registration business done with I started warming up. I probably got around two miles warm up. After they seeded us, I was in heat 8, I kept warming up and doing drills until my race came around. My goal for today was just to break 5. 

At the start of the race I went out with one kid who took the lead from the start. I didn't realize how fast we were going but at around 300 meters into the race, I looked back and we had about a 15 meter gap from the chase pack. Dang it. Oh well, I stuck on the lead kid the whole time, meanwhile the chase pack was catching us. On the last lap the chase group caught us. I should have passed the kid who originally took the lead before the last lap came around instead of hanging with him. By the final stretch two of the chase group guys caught us and on the final kick another one passed me, I think. Man I should have updated this blog sooner. 

I ended with a 4:57. If anything this race helped me clear the 5:00 mile mental block. Now I can look forward to pushing my time down even further. 

Since my shins have been bugging me this past week, Bill told me to just do some sort of recovery run. So I just did two miles and massaged and iced my shins after.

Day of rest.

After track stuff distance went up to the track for a speed workout. After our jog up to the track, we did 1 mile warm up and 1 mile speed changes. Then we changes shoes and jogged over to the 1000 start. Our workout is 1000, then 2X800, then 4X400, each with equal standing recovery. I was supposed to hit 3:15 for the 1000, but for some reason today I felt really weird and had little control of my form or pace. I hit a 3:03. The rest of my times were as follows: 2:31, 2:37, 1:17, 1:16, 1:17, 1:16. I was too far apart in my 800's but hit my 400 times spot on. This whole workout was just weird. Afterwards we did a little over 4 miles in a loop up Foothill, then down across Guardsman to the track, adding some there, then down to the school to hit 10 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148889327 

After track stuff distance headed out for a long run. We needed twelve so we went along 1300 E until Cottonwood Complex, then ran around the outer edge of the park and hoped on 1100 E. Then turned down 3300 S until 900 E and took 900E all the way back to 900 S. We made several potty breaks on the way there, which slowed our pace to about an 8:11 pace. We finished pretty late, but it was an easy twelve.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148889323 

After track stuff distance went for a run. We went along 1300 E to South Temple, then turned onto State , then onto North Temple, followed by making a bunch of turns until we were running along Victory Road. We got to the hot springs that I had never heard of, and I got to touch the warm water! After that we headed back along 400 W and sort of "staircased" the run back to 900 S. At the base of the East hill, we went along 1100 E until we hit 10.5 miles and then walked up the hill back to East.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148889319 

After track stuff distance jogged up to the track for a speed workout. For warm up we did the Foothill-Guardsman loop, then did a mile speed changes. Then we changed shoes and started our speed. the workout was 2 sets of 4X300 with 2 laps in between sets and the jog over to the start for recovery between each 300. My times were: 49, 51, 50, 49, then 51, 50, 50, 45. I pushed the last one. I thought I had hit stop on the second to last one, but I didn't so my garmin reads 52, when in reality it was at least a 50. I was content with this workout. Surprisingly I wasn't too dead. Afterwards we did a little over 3 miles to hit 10.5 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148889307 

Since tomorrow we have a race, today was an easy run. We did a penny run. We ended up going down 800 S to 900 E, then up 1700 S, then down 1100 E until we hit 3 miles. Then just back the same way. Afterwards Kiley, Abigail, Ashley, and I got 20 tacos! Yum!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148889294 

After arriving at the Saltair and such we started our warm up. We did 4 miles on the road, then got back to the cars and changed shoes. Then went over to the start and did drills and strides. Once the race started I was in the lead pack. I felt like we were going way slow but we were at a 5:40 pace. Come mile two the lead pack had broken away a little bit. I made sure to stick on the two guys pushing the pace. I was right on their tails the entire way, but at the 5K turn around, they got away from me. They picked up their pace right after the turn, and it took me about a minute to work up to them. I stayed with them as long as I could, but a little after 4 miles they got away. Their pace had not slowed down at all, in fact it sped up. They were doing 5:20's and I couldn't stick on them. I knew if they broke away I would be in no man's land seeing as the people behind me were at least 70 metes back. After they broke away I felt myself slow down quite a bit. I'm hesitant to say that I crashed, but I did slow down. I hit about 6:30's at one point, but managed to pick it up to 6 flat again maybe a minute into mile 5. I just made sure to keep my pace there and push as much as I could for the rest. Overall this race was brutal, but I am content with my time and how I pushed. I split at a faster 5k time in this race than my actual 5k time, and kept my overall pace really close to my 5k pace. I ended up 4th overall and 1st in my age division. After the race I needed 5.25 miles, seeing as my warm up, strides, and race put me at 10.75. Once I finished that I just headed home.

This is the link for just the race:  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148889274

Day of rest.

After track stuff distance went up to the track for a speed workout. Since Simplot is this Thursday I guessed it would be shorter, faster speed, and I was right. The workout was 6X400-200 each with equal recovery. When Bill first gave me my times I was shocked. I did not think I could hit 68-71 for 6 400's. Then we started the workout. The first one was a 64. Oops, I thought. I meant to go out fast, but that was ridiculous, or so I thought. All of the 200's were 33's except for the last one which was a 32. The next 400 I made sure to slow down and hit closer to my time. It was a 68, so not bad. Now if I could just hit the rest of them all in 68. The next one was a 66. Halfway through I wasn't sure if I could hold the pace I was doing for the whole workout. The next was a 65. There was a head wind along the backstretch, and I guess I worked harder trying to push against it. By now I made it a goal to finish all of them under 68. The second to last one, which is always the hardest, was a 65. I really felt that one. I had to fight the last 200 to get moving. With that one over, I just let go on the last one and managed another 65. 

I was very happy with my workout. I pushed hard and consistently, plus I ran those times coming off a hard race on Saturday. I didn't think I could get my body to move that fast. This makes me more excited for Simplot, but at the same time more nervous. Hopefully I can manage to run a fast mile. Good job today everyone! We all pushed this workout! BEAST BUTTON!

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/149482082

P.S Maybe it was the haircut which gave me the aerodynamicness I needed.... 

Today after track stuff distance went on a small run since we are tapering for Simplot. I am tired after yesterday's workout and a bit sore as well. During drills I could feel how stiff and achey my body was. We went on a 6 mile run down 1300 E past Sugarhouse Park, then up 2700 S until 1500 E, then down that to Parkway Ave, then back along 1300 E to the school. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151291233 

After track stuff distance went up to the track for some speed changes. One we jogged to the track, we needed a half mile to be at one mile warm up, then two miles on the track speed changes, then another half mile on the track to put us at a total of 4 miles down at the school. Nervous for tomorrow!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151291228 

Once we arrived at the Holt Arena, I sat around and watched people race until it was time to warm up. I did one mile when I had just changed, then I came in and stretched a bit, as well as watching east people race, then I went out again for a faster mile warm up. Then I threw in about five or so minutes of speed changes before I had to go inside and be seeded. While waiting to be seeded I did some more drills and strides, lots of them. I was at roughly three miles warm up. Then I was seeded and we were called to start the race. 

The race started and I got out well. I was the slowest seed going into the race, so I knew I would have to battle in the back of the pack. I was in the back of the pack for the first two laps, and when the third came around I was the last guy and struggling to keep up. At about four or five laps the group pulled way from me and I lost contact. After that the race went downhill. The group pulled even more away from me. One the last two laps I managed to maintain my distance from the group, but I'm hesitant to say that I closed the gap at all.

Overall, strategically, I did not do well. I PR'ed, but knowing how I raced, I could have PR'ed by much, much more. I feel like this was a race where I lost contact early on and was in no man's land the rest of the race. I was caught off guard how fast we started, and didn't really focus on what I had to do after that. I was not happy with this race, but certainly learned a lot. Now I am excited to race again and see how I do. 

After my race I did a total of 6 miles cool down to be at ten for the day. Then on our way home we stopped at Jack in the Box!! That made the entire trip worth while. I devoured my eight tacos, then slept like a baby the rest of the way home!

I'm not bothering to post links because they are just warm up and cool down. 

After getting home like at 2 am, I didn't go to first or second period. At practice today it was just distance runners, since all the sprinters were at Simplot racing. The group did four miles since Natalie, Abigail, and Sarah were racing. After those four miles, I added another four with Bill. We pretty much just ran around the Est block, and along 1300 E.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151291205 

Today I went back up to Simplot with Bill, even though I wasn't racing. I got in ten miles throughout the day, running six miles at one time, then two and two separated. I got to watch Abigail and Sarah race. Good job girls! Then I got to watch Natalie dominate the 2 mile. CONGRATULATIONS NATALIE!! East girls have won the 2 mile three times in a row!! You are BEAST Nat! I also got to watch all the other races, which were very exciting as well. Then on our way back we stopped at Maddox Steakhouse, before finally returning home. Good job to everyone who raced!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/151291192 

Day of rest.

Since it is President's Day today there was no school. I met up with Bill, Sarah Sa, Chris, Susannah, and one of her team mates. We ran over at the River Trail on 5400 S. We went North for five miles, turned around and once we were back to the start, did the two mile loop to be at 12 for the day. I forgot my Garmin today so Susannah let me borrow hers for the last two mile loop seeing as she was just going for 10. It was nice to run with Susannah again, we did a lot of catching up! Afterwards everyone just went home. I felt pretty good afterwards, tired but otherwise fine.

Today after track drills we went out for a long run. We went along 1300 E to Sugarhouse Park, then through the park to 1700 E and then from there we got on the usual cemetery run. We did one lap inside and went back the usual route as well. We hit 11 miles for the day.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/152580257

Today distance went down to Liberty Park for a Fartlek workout. We did 8 sets of 3 min on/ 2 min off around the cement of the park. I felt okay the first four, then 5-6 I felt like crap, and the last two I felt a little better. I pushed this workout because this is the only speed we are getting before the 15k this weekend, and because it is an interval workout. Afterwards we went back up to the school and got our mileage before the East hill so we could walk up it. 

I forgot my garmin today so there is no link:( 

After some circuits and track drills, distance went for a run. We went along 1300 E to 2100 S, then up to 1900 E, back to Sunnyside, down that to Guardsman, down Guardsman to 500 S and back, along 1500 E to 1300 S, then down to 1300 E and back to the school. We got a total of eight miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/152580248 

Today after track stretches and helping Greg at Pat film something for their campaign, distance went up to the track, did a half mile warm up, two miles speed changes, then a half mile cool down, then back to the school. 4 miles total. Dreading tomorrow!

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/152580238

While driving over to the race, I had to keep both hands on the wheel to keep the car from swerving everywhere. Boy did that get my racing spirits up. After arriving and getting my number, we drove out to the water station so the volunteers could start giving out water to the early starters, We warmed up as a group there for 1.5 miles, and the wind was horrifying. Then we all hopped in the Green's car and drove back to the start. 

After the race started I got out and Natalie went with me. Honestly the first half zoomed by. I was feeling good into the turnaround. Natalie stayed with me going into the turn. Then we turned, and the wind hit me like a brick wall. The whole way back was into the wind, only for a small section of the race did the wind seem to die down a bit. Nat and I pushed the whole way back. We worked up to a guy in blue, then he stayed right behind us and drafted, but soon he dropped off. With about 2 left we picked up the pace from a 6:15 down to a 6:00. Pushing that last 1K or so was horrible, seeing as the wind had picked up and we were going pretty fast. Then with a mile to go we picked it up again, this time to about a 5:45 according to my garmin splits. Down that last bend to the finish we were both pushing pretty hard, and I barely managed to scoot ahead of Nat at the finish. One second separated us. HOLY CRAP NATALIE!?!? YOU ARE CRAY CRAY!! AMAZING RACE! Honestly this race seemed shorter than the 10K, probably because I was with someone the whole time. Natalie pushed me just as much as I pushed her. After that I did the half mile cool down I needed to be at 55 for the week. I met my goal for this race, which was to keep my pace at a 6:00 overall. I am content with this race and am so relieved that it is over! OUTDOOR TRACK HERE I COME!:D 

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/152580227

Day of rest.

Today after track stuff the distance went for a run. We went from East straight down thirteenth to Cottonwood Complex. We made a detour halfway where we dropped by Bill's parents house to drop of the sweater he regretted wearing, and on the way back when we picked up the sweater he regretted taking off. On the way back along 1100 E we turned left on 900 S to hit 12 before the hill so we could walk up it. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/154254494 

Today after the first day of outdoor track business, we finally got out to the Oval. We did 8 laps warm up and 4 laps speed changes, followed by a lap recovery after that. Then we changed shoes and started. We did 5 X 1000 at two mile pace. The recovery we had was the jog around the lap back to the start of the 1000, with a total of four minutes recovery. I was supposed to hit 3:15's, I believe. My times went 3:16, 3:14, 3:14, 3:14, 3:16. I felt pretty good through this workout. The last couple were a bit harder but I managed to keep my times consistent. Then we did seven laps cool down and headed home.... at 7 o'clock.  

This link is just for times seeing as Garmins don't get satellite inside the oval.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/154254488 

Today was the first day of outdoor track! After two laps warm up, stretching, and drills, we did 6 bleacher laps with a drill halfway and a strides halfway on the far straight. After that was over we started on our run. We needed 7.5 to be at ten for the day, so we did an adventure/planned run. Our adventure run turned into a run we have done before. We went up Sunnyside to Foothill, then down that and sort of following the Running of the Leopards course, but we turned North along a parking lot right before Red Butte, then went over to JCC, hopped on Popperton Park Way, then turned down around Shriners, then followed the normal Shriners run back to the school.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/154254480