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

This morning I woke up and felt all those miles I did yesterday. A culmination of this and the fact that it was snowing outside meant that I slept in until noon:) After I managed to get out of bed I went over to the gym and did 3 miles on the treadmill. I swear 1 mile on the treadmill is like 3 normal miles. Since this week is a taper week I did a small run at a fast pace just to loosen up my legs. Later before bed I did my core.

I have now officially puked at a workout. Today was the first day of spring break, and practice was at the track at 9 am. There were two sprinters and the rest of us distance. We began with two miles warm up and one mile speed changes. Then we changed shoes. Our speed workout today was 2 sets of 400, 800, 400, with long standing recovery and one lap recovery in between sets.  I was supposed to hit fast times for all of them. 65 for the 400's and sub 2:20 800's. The first one went how it usually does. I hate being slower than my time, so the first one I always push and try and get a second or two faster than my goal to sort of fall into that rhythm. I hit 62 for the first one. It took my a bit longer to control my breathing than it usually does, but I didn't make anything of it. Next the 800. I ran the first 400 in 68 so I thought I could be right on pace, but clocked in at 2:23, which means I picked up 5 seconds on my second lap. That 800 sucked.  I pushed hard and felt like I would achieve my goal, but was way off. Plus it took me about 3 minutes to get my breathing under control. For some reason, no one could breathe quite right. It must have been something to do with the cold air. I pushed this 800 out of my mind and got on with the workout. I hit a 66 on this 400. Man I had to really fight this one. There was a little wind which didn't help either. After this one I came close to puking. I could tell that on the next set I would definitely lose it. We did one lap recovery and got ready for the second set. On the next 400 I was ready to quit. By the 200 I was completely out of breath and winded, which only meant I had to push the last straight even harder to achieve a still slower time. I came in at 69. Man I was falling off my times bad. Everyone was having trouble hitting their times today, even Bill. He told me at this point to just give what I had on the next two reps. Next was the 800. Again by the 200, I was completely out of breath, only this time I still had 600 to go. I hit a 73 first lap, so at this point I gave up on trying to hit my times and just focused on giving solid effort. I fought really hard that second lap, and still slowed way down. Chris caught and passed me with 200 to go. I came in at 2:36, 16 second off of what my goal was. After this rep, I lost it. I was huffing and puffing and could not get any air whatsoever, and was gagging but I had had almost no breakfast so there was nothing to puke. After about 2 minutes of gagging, I threw up the orange I had along with a Nutrigrain bar. First time EVER I have puked in a workout or race. After a minute or so it was time for the last 400, and I had some what of a hold on my breathing. I needed to have this 400 to be over with, so just fought with what I had. Again, Chris caught and passed me with about 250 meters to go. I ended up with a 71. Afterwards we did 3.25 miles cool down for 8.5.

This was the first workout I have ever fallen off my times. If I fight, I can always pull them off no matter the speed, but today I just couldn't. The only reason I don't feel disappointed in myself is because everyone had just as much trouble. There must have been something in the air to prevent us from breathing properly. My only problem was breathing; my legs felt fine. This is one of those workouts that I am glad I got over with, and I will push completely out of my mind. Time to forget about it and move in. I can't let this one workout hover over me in California this Friday. Which reminds me that I will be in California later this week! Woohoo!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/164237107 

 Bill told us to do a 3-4 mile shakeout later today so in the afternoon I went for a loop around my block and it ended up being 3.5 exactly. I couldn't really tell if I was breathing easier or not, since I didn't have to breath as hard as in speed. Overall felt fine though.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/164300209 

Today practice was at Liberty Park at 8:30, since it was just distance meeting. We did one lap warm up, then did two laps firemen, then did another lap cool down. I felt better today then yesterday, although again like my run yesterday afternoon, I never had to breathe as hard as I did in speed. We got a total of six miles.

Today practice was at the track at 9 am again. We had a much larger group today.  We did our traditional track stuff. Half mile warm up, then our stretching circle. I brought my dog, Duke, to practice today. He's a Great Dane, and at 4 months, is about 70 pounds. Duke's very playful, and he made the stretches, in short, a blast. After that we did a modified version of drills, mostly to get them over with fast. After the drills we did our warm up, which was 1 mile warm up then 1 mile speed changes. Then we were told the workout. We were doing a 400,200 workout that we have done in cross country before. There are pairs of two, and when one partner does a 400, the other does a 200. When the 400 runner passes the 200, where the 200 runner waits, the 200 runner waits until the other passes a marked point, and then runs to try and catch the 400 runner. This way we get some practice with sprinting to catch someone in the last stretch, and it also just helps people push more. I was paired with Chris. I started out running the 400. My times went like this: 66, 29, 65, 29, 63, 28. I feel exponentially better than Monday. I could actually breathe today. Afterwards we did a two mile cool down doing grass laps to be at 6 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/164788436

Three mile shakeout run before the race tomorrow.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/166589575 

We arrived at the Tiger Meet and I got about 1.5 miles warm up, then I was seeded with my heat and then were put on the field to wait for our race. I was in the first heat of the Varsity Race. I got a lot of good strides in and then we lined up. Again this race is a full mile. We ran a really slow first lap, a 74 if I remember correctly, and really picked it up the second lap. At the half I think we were about 2:25. Then the third lap came around and I felt good. I decided to move up and see if I could hold it. I moved into second, and then first and led the rest of the third lap. The fourth lap came around; and I just told myself that I came all the way out to California to have a good race, not to get passed in the last lap. At the 300 a kid tried to move on my and I just couldn't match him, so he passed me and got about 5 meters on me. Coming off the curb onto the final stretch I kicked with everything I had and passed him, winning the race. The altitude helps a lot, I can usually never kick that hard. I think Bill told me my last lap was a 66. Then we zoomed over to Arcadia and I got another mile or so warming up with Abigail and Kiley for their races. Once they raced, we zoomed back over to the Tiger Meet. We were really late and when we got there, Dakota's two mile was almost done. I barely had enough time to check in, and sneak onto the field, put on my spikes, and line up. At the line they let us do one stride, and that was my entire warm up. My adrenaline was pumping though, because I had to really rush to make my race. Anyway the gun went off and I was in the middle of the pack to start. That race I remember less vividly, because so many things were going through my mind right before it. But I do remember that mile one was a 4:50. That surprised me. I just fought with what I had left and ended up with a 9:54. Of course I didn't have the kick I had in the mile, but oh well. It took me a minute to realized that I had broken 10 and also pr'ed by 40 seconds.After that I did about another mile cool down with Kiley and then we all headed back to the hotels. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/166589560 

No running. Had a busy day driving to Arcadia and back for all the races!

Day of rest. No running.

Track warm up, stretches, then drills. Then we did stadium laps, which were a drill, strides, and the bleachers. 6 laps of that, then we went over to the K hill and did 10 strides up it, and walking backwards down it. Then distance went on a run 4 miles up Emigration and back. It was really hot, and I was tired by the end. My hips were really sore by the end. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/166589556 

After track stuff, distance began our speed workout. Today we were doing 4X1000. It was a hot day again, and the heat made the reps difficult. Other than that, my legs felt fine. Seeing as my two mile pace is now about 10:00 min, my reps are faster. I had to hit 3:06 I believe. My times were 3:04, 3:07, 3:08, 3:07. Then we went over to the cemetery for cool down to get to 10 for the day.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/167197087

Today was the Cyrpus Tri meet against WX. I was supposed to do the 800, the medley 800, and the 3200, but the 3200 was canceled because of the rainstorm :) I got about four miles warm up for my 800. Then I raced the 800. I had an okay race. Could have run faster, but the wind was really strong. I ended up second to a WX kid. Then ran the 800 in the medley. After a few miles cool down we left, and at home I did another 5 miles to hit 10 for the day. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/167197064

Today distance did a fartlek at Liberty Park. It was a cold and rainy day today, lovely Utah weather. We ran the short way there, and regrouped before starting. The workout was 2min on-1 off -1 on - 1 off. I surprisingly had a pretty good workout. I got just a little father on each on rep. After that we ran back to the school to be at 9 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168548614 

Today was the Throw/Jump Challenge at East. I got to announce which was fun. Unfortunately I also did not get to run at all during the meet so I had to do a run with Bill later. We ran an 11 mile loop around his house, which put me at 11.5 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168548563 

I only needed 9.5 today to be at the mileage I needed. I met Bill and Natalie at East for a run. We ran up to foothill, then along foothill to wasatch, and then onto the JCC trail. We decided to go for an adventure run, and Bill was telling us where to go. So we followed Bill through the horribly muddy JCC trail, all the way to the end. I have never run that trail to its end. We ended up at City Center. By this time I was at ten, and knew it was almost 5 miles back to East. Wonderful. I continued along South Temple, and whenever I hit a red light, I turned right so I could finished faster. I was hauling for the last five miles. Low 6:00's. I really wanted to be done. I hit 14.5 at about 900 E, and stopped there so I could walk up the hill, and because that would put me at 65 for the week. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168548517 

Went for an easy two miles just to loosen up my legs. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168559376 

Today I went for 3 miles on my own in the morning.  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630455

Today at practice we had a speed workout. Both Sprints and Distance were doing the same workout today, so it helped to have people to push with on the reps. The workout was three sets of 800, 600, 400. The 800's were at mile pace, and the 600 and 400's were at 800 pace. For the 800's my goal time was 2:20's and I hit 2:18, 2:22, and 2:23. For the 600's my goal time was 1:36 and I hit 1:31, 1:33, and 1:34. And my goal pace for the 400's was 65's, and I hit 64, 66, 66. Afterwards we did about 4 miles cool down to be at 10 for the day.  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630443 

Today before splitting into groups, we all went over to the road hill at the entrance of the track and were grouped in 3's with other people our speed. We would build speed up the hill and accelerate all the way through the top of the hill and to the brick wall of the bleachers. After that distance went on a run. We went four miles out and back on the Shriners run, past the fire station. Once we got back we did two chase 300's on the track. After we finished the ice bath was out, so I did a 10 min ice bath with Nat.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630412 

Today was the WX tri meet against Highland. I was doing the open 400, the open 800, the medley 800, and a leg of the 4X400. So basically today is a speed workout. Between my races I got about four miles, and I did 4.5 miles at home to be at 10 for the day. My 400 was a 56, my 800 was a 2:08, and I don't know what my other two were seeing as they were relays. Afterwards we headed home and I did the rest of my mileage at home. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630375 

Before school I did a 4 mile shakeout run.              http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630347

After track stuff, distance went over to Sugarhouse Park for a fartlek workout. We were doing 10 sets of  90 second on/ 90 seconds off. I was pretty tired and sore by the end of it. Then we just ran back to East and added some at the track to be at 10.5 for the workout. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630320 

Did a 2.5 mile shakeout run in the morning. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630287

Today practice was easy since we have a race tomorrow. Mile warm up, two miles speed changes, then a mile cool down. Felt better today than I have most the week.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630270 

This morning before the race I did a 1.5 mile shakeout to loosen my legs. After arriving I did another 3 miles warm up, and then strides before my race. It was a really hot day today, and the mile was at 11:00 ish. I had a good first half, but could not stick on the lead pack the second half. I need to really fight that third lap because that is where they got away, and that's usually my slowest lap. At least I have a goal for Davis next Saturday. Then I had to wait around for my 800 in the medley. Bill told me I could scratch the open 800 so I could have a better medley 800, since he got together a good relay team. I got the baton in second to last place by about 30 meters, and finished third out of the five teams in that heat. I was happy with how I fought that 800, although I don't know my time. Afterwards I stayed around to watch our 4X400 teams, and then headed home, where I did about 2.5 miles to be at 13.5 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630240 

This morning I did 2.5 miles to loosen up. Then took the rest of the day off. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170630215 

This morning I did a 3 mile shakeout.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171245616

Today was a scorching hot day. Lovely having practice in 88 degree weather. After a brief team meeting, we broke into our groups. The distance group went over to the asphalt hill and did 12 of them from the bottom to the brick wall of the bleachers. Then afterwards Natalie, Chris and I went for an 8 mile run to Red Butte and back to be at 10 for the day. I felt good on the hills, but was tired by the end of the run. My hips and hipflexers are really tight, so I will make sure to stretch those. Did my core before bed.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171245613 

Today was a really tough day for me. For starters, my stomach was hurting all day. I wasn't nauseous, but my stomach was very much upset. Maybe it was something I ate, but it was hurting from shortly after breakfast until the workout. I tried to eat something at lunch, but I only got about 1/4 of my normal food intake because I just couldn't stomach any more. To top it off, speed workout today. Not just any speed, but 12X400, or three sets of 4X400.

We did three laps warm up, then a mile speed changes, during which my stomach was protesting all the movement. I just ignored it and changed shoes for the workout. Bill told me my times for the first set, and I was to run a 70 first 400, as they were all to get progressively faster. After that one, I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the workout like this. To sum up a large majority of the workout, it sucked. As my splits were to get faster, I wasn't able to hit them. I wasn't tired, but my stomach was making pushing myself insanely difficult.  My times went like this for the first two sets: 71, 70, 67, 68, then a lap recovery, then 69, 71, 71, 69. By the end of the 8th 400, I was really nauseous and just felt horrible. I was way off my times and couldn't get myself to push harder. So, during the lap recovery after that set, I wandered over to the middle of the field, and threw up five times. I used to hate throwing up, but I felt SO much better after I threw up. I lined up for the next 400 and hit a 65, which is the fastest I had hit in any set. The rest of my times were: 65, 68, 68, 67. My last set was by far my best, and I was finally able to push a bit. Even if I hadn't been feeling dreadful, I don't think I could have hit the times I was given. I saw that I was written down for a 63 and 62 last 400's. Huh? 

Anyway, after that we went on a cool down that went on FOREVER to be at 10 for the day. I have never been as thirsty as I was during that cool down. Overall, today was by far the hardest workout to date I have even done. Not just because I felt awful, but because this was a large and fast speed workout. All in all, terrible day. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171832580 

This morning I did a 3.5 mile shakeout run.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171832563

Today was a trimeet at Highland against Highland and Cyprus. We arrived and I got about 3.25 warm up. I was definitely feeling yesterdays workout, definitely. Bill had me down for the 800 and a leg of the 4X400. I put on spikes, did some strides, and went over to the start. Bill told me I was going for pace. He wanted a 66 first lap, and a 64 second lap. He also said to not care about winning. If there was a kid just barely in front that I could out kick, then fine, but otherwise just to focus on pace. So I did just that. The race started and I could feel that I was going slower than my usual first 800 lap. I could tell that other people noticed too because some kid got right on my shoulder. Anyway, I hit a 32ish 200, and a 66 lap. I was happy with that, but knew I had to push to get that 64, and at this point most definitely felt yesterday's workout. So I picked it up at the 400, and to my surprise the kid on my shoulder went with me. I was at a 32 again at the 200, and knew I would just have to be consistent to get my split. But at the 200, the  kid on my shoulder decided to move, and slipped right in front of me. I went with him and we kicked with 100 left. That is where I most definitely felt yesterday. I kicked some, but didn't fight him. I ended with a 2:09, so if I would have fought him I would have been fast on my split. Afterwards, Bill scratcehd me from the 4X400 so that Nat and I could get in a fartlek workout. We did 10 sets of 1min on/ 1min off just around SHP. By the end of that workout, I was exhausted. We got in another three or four mile to be at 10 for the day. Man this week has been tough.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/171832548 

Did a 2 mile shakeout run this morning.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172089564

Today after track stuff, instead of drills we did our stadium laps. After 6 stadium laps, everyone got together and did a little relay practice. We each had one partner and would each run 200 meters, then hand off to our partner, who would finish the lap. Each of us ended up running 4X200, so we got a half mile in that. I probably ran each 200 in 28. After that Natalie and I went for a 3ish mile run to be at 6 for the workout. Boy did I need this day of recovery. I have been exhausted all day, and hopefully will recover enough today and tomorrow to be prepared for Saturday.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172089558 

This morning I did a 3.5 mile shakeout run.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172351158

Since we have a race tomorrow, practice today was our traditional day before race workout. We did a mile warm up, mile speed changes, and a mile cool down. I heard wrong, (or just flat out wasn't listening) and thought it was two miles speed changes, so I got to 1.5 miles speed changes, then did two laps cool down, and a mile afterwards with Ben to get to 4.5. It was nice to be able to run with him today.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172351153 

Upon arriving at the meet, we got settled and I went to warm up right away. I got three miles by the time I was in the field doing drills and strides. I was in the second heat of the open 1600. I put on my spikes and did a few more strides before getting to the line. The conditions were perfect. It was a little chilly, with the slightest of breezes, so I made it a goal today to break 4:40. When the gun went off I was in bad position. I was elbowed out of my spot and consequently started in the back. I spent the first lap trying to get in position to move up once the pace settled. I hit a 69 first lap, so just the right speed. I spent the majority of the second lap moving around the guys that were falling off the pace. I think I hit a 2:20 800, so a 71 second lap. That was already too slow. Again in the third lap I had to go all the way out in lane 4-5 to pass a bunch of guys, and I was in ninth. The next guy was about 10 meters ahead of me, and I made sure to not let anyone pass me. I hit a 72 third lap, so way too slow. I was hoping for a 70 third lap, assuming that would be my slowest. I just gave what I had the last lap and closed on the next two guys ahead of me, and managed to pass them on the last straightaway. I finished with a 4:41. I know it is a PR, but I still couldn't help but feel disappointed. After that I did about 1.5 miles cool down and went back to the tent and took a nap since my race wasn't for another 6 hours. 

Once the 3200 came around, I got about a mile warm up, then went to the field and did drills and strides. My goal for this race was just to break 10:00 since I have never broken it at altitude. Right off the line I was in the middle of the pack, and managed to stay there through the first mile, which I ended up hitting in about 4:47. Boy did I feel that. At this point my biggest goal was to not let myself slip too much, even though I knew my second mile would be much slower. Anyway, I fought through the second mile and only two or three guys passed me. I ended up with a 10:01, so again, I was just short of my goal. But, I was happy that I wasn't last in the invited 3200 :P After that I still had to run the last leg of the 4X800, so I did strides and stretches until that came around. I don't know what my time was, and I honestly don't care. I was exhausted. But, again we weren't last so that was good. After that Natalie and I did a mile cool down while waiting for her awards (plural), and then we headed home. I did three miles on my own right after to be at 15 for the day, putting me at 70 for the second consecutive week.

Speaking of which, congratulations to Natalie for setting TWO meet records! Both the mile and two mile, as well as only being two second off the state record in the mile. YOUR AMAZING NAT!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172703094 

Went for a 4.5 mile shakeout run. It is a beautiful day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/172999794 

Did a 3.5 mile shakeout run this morning.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/173504891

At track today we did our usual stuff, we went right into three laps warm up and three laps of speed changes, then we changed shoes. Again, today the distance and sprinters were sort of doing the same workout, so that we could all push off of each other. Our speed workout today was two sets of 200, 800, 400, 200, 200, 200.  Since we weren't doing very much, these would be faster intervals. I was to hit 30-31 200's, 2:17-2:18 800's, and 66 400's. I ended up hitting all of my times right on, which made me very happy. Certainly a much better speed workout than last week's. I hit 2:18 and 2:17, in that order, for my 800's, and 64 and 65 400's. All my 200's were in the 30-31 range. Then we did 8 barefoot strides on the field. After that we did three miles cool down to get 9 for the workout along Guardsman to the cemetery, then one lap in there, and then back to the track along 1300 E. Overall a solid workout, although I certainly felt like I had to work for my times. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/173504885