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

Today after track stuff, the distance went off on the Avenues Run. We did the usual hill workout from U street and 1300E to 11th ave. Then we came back along 11th Ave the Shriners Run way and back to the track. Then I did a lap, and we regrouped to do 2 staggered 300's. I hit 44 and 43. We hit 8 exactly and finished the day with some Jolly Rancher popsicles!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/173903762 

Went on a 3.5 mile shake out run this morning.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/174513969

Today was a trimeet at East against Cyrpus and Clearfield, but the people racing at BYU weren't racing today, so instead Natalie and I went for a 6 mile run into the Bonneville Glen and around the area, then to her house and back to the track. I felt okay on this run, although my hips were bugging me, probably because I just switched shoes.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/174513965 

I went for a 3 mile shakeout run this morning.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/174513963

Today was our annual Crazy Track Day. There ended up being two teams, White and Blue. Rich and I were captains of the White Team. It was tons of fun; the whole team had a blast and loved it. Not to mention that the White Team won! Hooray for the Karate Trophy! That's two years that my team has won, let's make it three next year.

Unfortunately, afterwards the distance runners who are racing at BYU had to do a small workout. 1 mile warm up, 1 mile speed changes, 1 mile cool down all on the track. Longest three miles ever. I didn't wear my Garmin so no link. 

Went on a 3.5 mile shakeout run.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/175575565

This afternoon there was no practice, so I just went to the track and did the workout Bill gave me on my own. I did two laps warm up, then stopped and stretched and did a few drills, then did one lap of speed changes to get warm again, then I did one 400. The goal for this was to open up the stride and loosen up. Bill said I should hit about a 60 or something close to that, mainly just to feel like I am pushing on that last straight away. So I did just that, and with a head wind, came in at 61. Then I did a mile cool down and headed home. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/175575541 

After arriving and realizing that I annoyingly forgot my Garmin, Nat let me borrow hers and I got about two miles warm up before I had to go to the bullpen. I was seeded 17th out of 20 in the 6th heat of 8. We did a few strides while waiting for our race to start, and then we lined up. I got out and was in perfect position. Right where I needed to be. My strategy for this was to hang with the lead pack for the first 800, then really push the third lap and get up there in the group, and hold on the fourth lap and not slip too much. Well we went out in a 66, so just about right. Like I said before, I was in perfect position. Right in the middle. Right before crossing the line on the first lap, I could feel the pace ease up and settle. Now, I thought at most the pace had settled to a 70, which was still a bit slow for what I wanted, but when we clocked in at a 2:19 800, I knew we had slowed down way too much. Second lap was a 73. Unbelievable. Coming down the stretch of the second lap, I swung off the curve, and moved out in lane 4 to pass a big group right behind the leader. At the start of the third lap I was in third and swung around the guy in second and then the guy in first and was in the lead coming of the curve. This is where guys started racing. I could tell the rest of the pack had moved too, and the leader was now chasing me. With about 200 to go, he moved and passed me, and from there my race went downhill. I managed to stay in about third or fourth going into the fourth lap, but on the final curve and stretch, a lot of guys passed me. Five I think. My legs were dead with 200 left and I just gave it what I had. I came in at 4:40. Even though I PR'ed, this was not a good race for me. I was relying on the group's pace for the first 800, assuming it would be what I needed, but that backfired. When I moved on the third lap, I woke the group up and everyone started racing. My splits were all over the place. My third lap was a 68, so that means my last lap was a 73 again. 66, 73,  68, 73. Really bad splits. I know that I am ready for a 4:35, but this race just wasn't it. Now I just have Region left to make my jump. Let's hope for the best!

I got about 2.5 miles total warm up, and then after my race Bill, Nat, and I jogged over to Provo High to watch people race. I ended up running the 800 there to pace Dakota, but he ended up running way faster than he was planning, so I was behind him hitting the pace he said he would hit. That was alright though, because it allowed my to pace Caden and lead him to a six second PR! After that I forget how much cool down Bill, Nat, Susannah, and I did but I ended up with 6.5 miles total. 

We ended up leaving like an hour and a half late because Natalie got the Outstanding Athlete of the Meet award (Congrats on that AND breaking the two mile record!), so I was just going to have to find time to run at home.

You know you run too much when your mom doesn't let you go on a run:) After we all ate, I wasn't allowed to leave the house because I "needed to spend time with the family." At least the family barbecue was fun! And as for my run, oh well. I guess I will just go for a little longer run tomorrow! 

Since I didn't get to finish my mileage yesterday, I decided to add a little today. I was originally planning on 8 miles this morning, but went 10 instead. I was also planning on a relaxed pace, just to loosen up after my race and enjoy the run. That ended up also not happening. I told myself that in order to just relax and enjoy the run, I wouldn't look at the pace on my Garmin. So I didn't until mile six cause I was curious. 6:39 pace. Oops. I was expecting 7:20's. The pace really did not feel that fast. I was actually enjoying the run, so I figured I would just finish at that pace. I wasn't tired by the end and as a cool down of sorts, I took the dog on probably a mile walk. I felt fine afterwards. Like I had just run, but not 10 miles. A little later though my IT's were sore and my quads and calves are really sore, so I will try and ice bath tonight. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/175575517 

This morning I didn't have to go on a run. I was debating on whether or not to because I am usually more awake when I run in the mornings and I was taking the AP Chemistry test that morning. I ended up not running, mainly to just get some more sleep and be ready for that test. It went well! I hope...

Later for practice, after normal track stuff, distance began our workout. We were all doing something a bit different, depending on what we needed. I was to do 3X400, then 3X200, but I wasn't given any times. My only goal was to catch Natalie and her pacers on their 800. I would start the rep about 10 meters behind them and would catch up to them at about 100 meters, then just finish out each rep. I was stopping my watch at the line, so really I was going 410 meters. In the end, each 400 might be 2-3 seconds slow. For my actual 400 times, I went: 60, 66, 64. My only instruction was just to catch the 800 group, so I did just that, but Ben ended up running way to fast the first half of the first 800, so after I caught him I came in at 60. Oh well. Then one the 200's, we all just did them as a group. I hit a 28, 30, and 30. I was done with my workout at this point, but I volunteered to pace Natalie on her last 800, since her workout was absolutely brutal. I ran a 2:22 with even splits, and she was right on me. Then I did however much cool down to be at 7.5 for the day. 

I felt really good today. I felt considerably better than I usually do after long runs after my 10 yesterday than I usually do, let alone for one so fast. Today I was not tired after my workout either, especially considering I took a 4 hour test too. I hope that I can be this fresh on Wednesday, especially for my other four hour test...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/175998307 

After normal track stuff the distance group did our normal 1 mile warm up, 1 mile speed changes, 1 mile cool own. Afterwards we got out the ice bath and I did a 15 minutes ice bath up to my hips. Tomorrow is regions! Excited and nervous... 

Today has been an insane day. First, I had the BC Calculus AP Test, which I rocked by the way. Then I had to re-focus on Region.

After helping set up the meet, I got about two miles warm up and one mile of speed changes. Then I grabbed my spikes and headed over to the line to do drills and strides. The race started and it was a really tight group from the start. There was a ton of moving and people nearly falling, I got pushed off the track around the first turn and almost fell, but managed not to and hopped back on the track and continued racing. I stayed in the back of the lead pack for the first lap, during which a ton of moving and passing and re-passing was going on. We ended up running a really slow first lap, a 70 I believe. I wasn't wearing a watch, so I didn't know we had just run that slow, and I was so caught up in holding my position and avoiding all the pushing, that it felt like we went out at an average pace, roughly 67. Anyway, I don't remember much else from the race except trying to go with the one Bountiful kid, both of us running together for almost the whole third lap, tying for fourth. Then it went downhill. I didn't respond to one kid passing me, then another and another passed me, and soon I was back in 7th place. I tried to kick but couldn't muster up any, and  managed to hold that position. Overall, quite a disappointing race. I was incredibly mad at myself for racing like I did and decided to just forget about it and focus on my stronger event, the two mile. I did about three miles cool down to be at 7 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/176632618 

After helping set up the meet again, I got two miles warm up, followed by one mile of speed changes. Then I grabbed my spikes and went over to the line for drills and strides. I was very disappointed with my race yesterday and was more determined and focused for the race. I also don't have to stress out about any more tests, so I think that allowed me to focus more on my race. I was seeded third and consequently was right in lane two. The gun went off and all the guys on the far end of the curve sprinted ahead of the guys more on the inside, and all the top guys got cut off and boxed in, particularly me. When I got out, I was almost dead last. But another strange thing happened. The pace slowed down immensely right off the line. As soon as we hit the fifty meter mark on the curve, I felt the pace slow way down. So I reacted on instinct and moved out into lane 4-5 and passed the entire group, about 18 guys, and was in second, behind Chris. Even after I passed the entire group, I still didn't feel like I was going that fast, and I wasn't because I came in at a 36 200, and a 73 400, a standard first lap. Slow if anything. Chris stayed ahead of me for the first 800 meters, and I passed him along the stretch. The entire first two laps, I was very confused because I couldn't hear anyone trying to catch me or even close behind me. I expected to be able to see a bunch of shadows right behind me, but couldn't see anything. I didn't ever look back, but all the guys I knew we faster or as fast as I was, weren't there. I can't remember my 800 split, but I remember thinking I was right on pace for a 5 min mile. Finally right after the 800, I heard a guy coming up on me and settling right behind me, I assumed to just chase. I led for the next five laps, with the guy chasing me for the next three. The whole time I remember thinking "What is going on?!" I was right on a 10 minute two mile pace, and only one guy was on me. The other at least three I knew were as fast or faster, were no where to be seen. I was very confused and nervous about that, but figured that if they were as far back as I thought they were, maybe I could hold them off. So after the guy behind me fell off, I was by myself for another two laps, and by a few coaches screaming, I could tell the chase pack was closing. I was actually a bit relieved, because up until now I had no idea what was going on back there. Here is where I made it my goal to really push and hold off the chase pack, and with two laps to go, a different guy closed on my and after about fifty meters right behind me, passed me. I went with him , but he was slowly pulling away, and I could hear a chase pack closing behind me. With one lap to go, I was still in second, and with about 250 to go, another guy moved just ahead of me. Right on the final stretch, I kicked with everything I had and passed him finishing in second. I was much happier with this race than my race the day before, and I was ecstatic about making state. Plus, I finished second!! Afterwards, Bill gave me the option to scratch from the open 800 to be more fresh for the medley and maybe qualify the medley team for state. I decided to scratch. Then the medley came around and I don't know what happened on the 400, but we had slipped from like second or third to last, to last. I got the baton about forty meters behind the next guy, and manged to catch him, but the next guy was really far ahead so we finished second to last. Oh well. After that I did about two miles cool down to be at 8.5 for the day.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/177303630

Today is more of a recovery day from two hard days of racing. There was only a few people at practice. We ended up going 6.5 miles on some new course Bill is measuring, at a relaxed pace. My calves were really sore on this run, but other than that I felt good. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/177303614 

Practice today was at 9 am at the track. Speed today! Yay. There was a total of six of us there. Including Bill. Anyway, we got two miles warm up, and a mile of speed changes, then we changed shoes. The workout was three sets of 500, then a 100 jogging recovery, then a 200. the point of these is to work on the last kick. Since my goal 2-mile, mile pace is about the same as Natalie's goal mile pace, I did this workout with her. We were supposed to hit 1:30 500's, which is about 72 400's,  and 34 200's. We had a long standing recovery on these to ensure we were well recovered. I hit 1:30, 33, 1:29, 33, 1:28, 32. Natalie was no more than a second behind me on each set, and right next to me for most. Then we did two 300's with goal pace at about 48. I hit 47 and 47. After that we did two miles cool down to Sunnyside, one lap around, and back, to get 7 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/177426626 

Later today I went for a relaxed three miles.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/178035073

This morning I went for an easy 4 miles to loosen up. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/178035054 

After normal track stuff the distance group competing at state did a workout separate from everyone else who is racing tomorrow at JV region. First half a mile warm up and a mile speed changes. Then we did 3 sets of 4X200. My goal pace for these was 30-32, but I ended up hitting almost all of them in 30, and a few in 31. After that we did two grass laps cool down to be at 5 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/178343452 

AM: 2 miles on my own

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/180430051

PM: Today was JV Region, so I went over with the team to Highland. Since anyone running at State can't compete, I had to run Javelin with a few lucky others in the scorching heat. After that Natalie and I did three big laps around Sugarhouse Park. That was the longest 6 miles of my life, plus it was unbearably hot. Afterwards we did 8X80 meter strides on the field and we headed back to East.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/180430045 
 

I love tapering! No running.

Another no running day!

I went over with the team to BYU to watch our athletes race. After Nat's race I cooled down with her and got about 3.5 miles for a shakeout. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/180430033 

Congratulations to Natalie for 2nd in the mile with a time of 4:51.16!! You're insane Nat!

AM: 2 mile shakeout run before getting to the bus and heading to BYU.

PM: I got about 2.5 miles warm up, and did drills and strides in the field behind the bullpen. I made sure to stay close by so I wouldn't miss the start of the 3200 seeding. When they started seeding I put on my spikes and once I got my number, 15, I went to the apron, I believe is what you call it, of the track where we all waited to walk over to the line. It took an eternity for them to walk us over to the line, and then another eternity of waiting right by the line to start. I got a few good strides in lanes 7-9 while we waited, and got a quick drink from the fountain conveniently right by the line. I was in the third waterfall. The gun went off and I quickly got in the position I needed to be in. Right with the group I knew was running the time I wanted. Through the first two laps there was a lot of movement, as there usually is, and for almost all of it I had a good position running right next to the rail. Once the race thinned out a little, I got on the guy I was planning to stick on. A little past the 800, I passed him because he seemed to slow down a bit, and fought a kid in a faded purple jersey. I passed him and he passed me, and this went on for about two laps. I came in at the mile in 4:46, so I knew the second half would be brutal. In the 5th lap, another two guys went and I went with them, but couldn't stick on them, and they slowly pulled away through lap 6, but I was still doing really well. I was in great position and was on my way to a huge PR. After the 6th lap though, my race went downhill. I couldn't go with the group as everyone was moving into position to kick. My legs felt great, but I just couldn't push enough to go with them. With one lap to go I gave it everything I had, but couldn't muster up any kick and got passed by like one or two guys.I was doing great the first 6 laps, but couldn't hold it through the last 800. I don't know why, seeing as my legs felt fine before, during, and even after the race. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/180429996 

Either way, I am just happy to have made it to (and ran at) state for the first time, as well as breaking 10! I am proud of what I accomplished this season, with having to build up strength again after my injury. My biggest accomplishment this season was simply staying injury free. My shins actually got better the more I ran. This has been the first season of running where I have managed to stay injury free, and now I know that I can do it. With another year of training, I know I can get far. But for now, I can look forward to, and am bursting at the seams excited for, CROSS COUNTRY!!!

And with that, I bid my 2012 Track season, Adieu! 

No running, rest day.

Today I met Natalie, Dakota, and surprisingly Gavin, for a run. Bill was going to try to make it, but couldn't get away form work so we it ended up just being the four of us. So we decided to carpool up to Pipeline. This is the first time since the summer I have ran on Pipeline! It was a fun run, although by the end I was hurting. My hips were really sore and my legs were just overall tired. Probably just the normal Monday jitters, but also because my shoes are up there in mileage. They are really close to 400 so I think I will just run in them once or twice more and then switch to my other pair. As a group we went two miles, then Dakota and Gavin turned back to get four, and Natalie and I continued on to turn at the four mile mark to get eight. Right  before the two mile turn around, we found a random bowling ball just on the trail, so on their way back Gavin and Dakota picked it up and carried it the rest of the way back. It even has an engraved name on it, Rosalyn. That is their Pipeline trophy, I guess. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/180809095 

Today Natalie, Dakota, Chris, Gavin, Bill, and I met for a run. We carpooled over to JCC. It was a hot day today, but not nearly as hot as yesterday. We stayed as a pack for maybe the first mile, but eventually we all separated. Man, it has been a while since I have run on trails. I can feel that I am unaccustomed to the rolling hills on these trails. I decided to push this run a little and see how long I could hold a consistent pace. I was torn between doing 6 or 8, but ended up decided on 6. I figure its my off season and I don't have to be tired from the runs anymore. So 6 seemed just the right amount. I turned and ran back with the guys, while Nat and Bill went to the 4 mile turnaround. I felt pretty good afterwards, not really tired but could tell I pushed. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/181109297 

First we did the Foothill loop for warm up, then came back to the track where I did some steeple type speed work with Abigail. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185227365 

This morning I did 6 miles on my own since I have no first period anymore.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185227353 

Today I wanted to see how far out West I could go so I just ran until hit 9200 W where the Kennecott fence doesn't allow people to venture onto the mountain.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185227323 

Today it was rainy in the morning and I had plans later in the day, so I decided to not run. I had originally planned to, but since it's my time off right now and finding time to run would have been troublesome, I just decided to take a day off.

No running.

Today we had practice at the U's track. Man, I thought our track was nice. We did two miles warm up, then a bunch of steeple speed stuff, after which we practice going over the water barrier. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185227301 

Today I helped pace Natalie on some speed work and hit a total of 5.5 miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185227289 

Today I was going to help pace Natalie in a 4 mile tempo, but I had to leave early so I only ended up pacing her for two of those miles, and then I headed back to the school. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185227104 

Today was just a run. We were to go to the fire station and back for a total of 6 miles, but we hit three miles a little before the station, and once we regathered, I headed back. I really pushed the way back and brought my pace down from a 7:30 to a 6:42 so I was going at about six minute miles on the way back.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185227092