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

AM: I was really tired and stiff from that insane long run yesterday, so I just went six. Plus I'm coming down in miles this week for my first race! Also this was the first run in the new Pegasus I was given, so I felt a little off, as per usual with new shoes. 

AM: Because of the race on Friday, we are doing our workouts on Monday and Wednesday this week. This morning we did the othe famous BYU workout, the Lake tempo! We warmed up to the park where we did some strides, then jogged over to the corner of the street to start. We were divided into two groups. My group was supposed to go out no faster then 5:15 for the first two miles, then try and hold that for the rest of the 5 mile tempo. We hit 5:16 and 5:19 for the first two miles, then the group strung out. I stuck on Doolin, Tracy, and Jake and we broke away from the rest of the guys. Tracy and Doolin broke away a bit, then stayed that far ahead, and I caught and passed Jake, Then for like 1.5 miles I was by myself in no mans land, and I really wasn't dying, but I was having a hard time holding that pace by myself. With about a mile to go, Jon caught me and we worked together and picked up the pace again, and he finished about 2-3 seconds ahead of me. I finished the tempo in 26:10, exactly 5:20 pace. It was a hard effort, but a good workout. Then after we got some water we went back to the park and had some watermelon, then we headed back to the locker rooms for 10.5

PM: Later in the day, Jake, Jon, and I went for a run. We went out 2.5 and back on Carterville at an easy pace. 

PM: I was too tired to get up this morning to go for my run, so I didn't get my morning run in:/ Hopefuly I can get one in later today. A met up with Farnsworth, Jake, Jon, Lil' Jon, Argyle, and Briggs for a run. We did Carterville and then added about half a mile at the locker room to get the full 10. It was really hot when we went for the run, but because of the track meeting we had to get it done a little bit earlier. It was a nice, easy pace. 6:50 avg 

AM: I didn't get a second run in yesterday, so I went a little longer this morning. I got to the locker room and say Wardy there so we ran together. We did an out and back on Carterville. A mile in Dylan caught us, and he was going five, so we turned at 2.5 with him, then Wardy and I added on the grass field by the track. I added a mile with him, then I headed back to the locker room. Nice, relaxed run. 

PM: Practice today was another famous workout. 4X1600 w/ 4 minutes recovery on the track with all the guys trying out! A bunch of guys came out to try and make the team, so we had a huge group. We ran to the track from the locker room and then warmed up on the fields until we were at 3. Then I changed shoes and got on the track to do some strides. The first one we all started together and ran as a big group. That was insane. 40 guys on the track running one repeat. Coach said to keep it easier, so no faster than 4:45. The lead guys hit that exactly and I was in middle of the group and hit 4:46. Then I did a lap recovery. After that we were divided into two groups. The top ten guys were one group, and Farnsy and Tracy were in the second group to help pace. Our goal was just to keep the 4:45's coming. I felt decent on the first one, but the second one hurt a little more. I finished right behind Farnsy but we were a little slow and I hit 4:47. Another lap recovery. Then as we were lining up for the third one, Coach said those who were racing on Friday were only doing 3! That was a like a mini Christmas. I knew I had one more in the bag, so I just hung with the group, and then opened up the last 200 and finished strong. I ended up finishing just ahead of Farnsy and Tracy and hit 4:45. Then we did some strides on the track which I did on the grass right next to the track so  could do them barefoot. After that I cooled down with some of the guys, then with some of the guys trying out until I hit 10. Overall a solid effort for a workout, not killer though.

 After we finished running, we went to weights. We did a bunch of tests since it was our first day. Vertical tests, pull up tests, bench tests, flexibility, etc. Man, I'm gonna be sore tomorrow. I probably should have ice bathed after lifting but I was exhausted and also starving so I went over to Noodles and Company with some of the guys. 

AM: Got up a little early this morning to get my run in. I did 2 out and back on Carterville from the locker room. When I got back I showered and got some breakfast from the Snack Shack and got in a little bit of studying before class. The Snack Shack is the greatest thing ever created. I. Love. College.

PM: I met up with Nick and Haven to get our run in before team pictures. We didn't do Carterville today! We went on the Provo River Trail. We just went out five and back, and we were going at a solid pace. 6:14 avg

AM: Nick, Haven, Flint, and I went for a run this morning from the locker room. None of them are racing, so they were going 10, but I turned at 1.5 and headed back. On my way back I ran into Dylan and we went over to the track and did a few strides in the grass. We did 4X ~110 meter strides, then we headed back to the locker room and I stretched in the training room sine I have time before my first class.

PM: I drove up to the race with Doolin since he was also running unattached. Let me begin by saying that this was not my favorite course ever. The first 4k of this was all on the soccer fields on the southwest corner of the park. We just made turn after turn on the grass, and did three loops there before heading down and out of the field. 

    We started warming up with about a half hour to race time. We ran over by different parts of the course, etc. Then we came back to the stuff, put on our racers, and then headed over to the line. I decided to wear my matumbos since the first 4k was entirely grass, and I don't really feel like I'm racing when I wear flats on grass. We did a few strides at the line, then doused ourselves before lining up. I love that in college, they don't give you all that crap about taking off bracelets, jewelry, etc. 

     I got out well enough, right in the middle of the pack, and just stayed out of trouble the first 1.5k. Then the race started to string out a bit more, and I found myself running with Tommy for a bit, then with Farnsworth for a little, then some with Tracy, but ultimately I ended up running with a Weber guy and Doolin. After the loops in the field were done, we headed down the road and around the Indian, then back towards the finish, and I stayed right between Weber kid whose name is Tyler, and Doolin. We came by the finish once, then did the loop, and came back around. With about 150 left, Doolin moved and kicked past both Tyler and I, and with about 40 meters left I passed Tyler. 

     Overall, I felt okay about this race. I feel like for the amount of effort I put into this, I should have had a faster time, considering how flat the course is other than the downhill road part. But, we have had some pretty hard workouts this week, plus my upper body is still really sore from lifting on Wednesday, and also it's the first race of the season. It doesn't seem like any of the other guys on the team were quite 'on' either, so I know I'm not alone. After taking all this into consideration, I'll allow myself to be content.  

    After I cooled down some with the team, some of the BYU girls came up to see us race and we cooled down some with them, then I cooled down some more running around the course cheering people on, and finally with the East guys on their warm up. I got 5 miles cool down and 3 warm up + the race makes 12. Next week in the BYU Classic!

AM: I'm back at my parents house for the weekend, so I did an easy 8 miles around my old loops to finish out my weekly mileage. 6:43 avg

AM: Since it was so cloudy and mildly chilly outside, I slept in! When I started it was sprinkling, then it stopped for a little, but then it picked up again for the majrotiy of the run. I almost didn't even notice it. I just did an easy and enjoyable 7 miles in the rain!

AM: Went on an easy four miles at home before heading back home to Provo. 

Later AM: I finally got moved in to my apartment!

PM: After that I went over to the locker room for practice. We had a tough workout today. We warmed up from the locker room to Kiwanis Park and dropped our shoes at the start tree, then continued warming up along the mile repeat route. We did two laps and some strides before the workout, which put me at 3.5 miles warm up. The we started the workout. It was 4Xmile for the slower group, and 5Xmile for the faster group. Right as we were splitting, Coach told me to go with the faster group. I knew I was going to have to really push just to stay with the group. 

     We did the first one a little slower, to ease into them. Coach said no faster than 5:00 on that one. I focused on just staying in the middle, and working on the uphills, then relaxing and going on the downhills. They are decievingly uphill the first half, and then mostly downhill the second half, so we were negative splitting by a ton. We hit the first half in 2:40, then the mile in 5:02. We had about 4.5 minutes rest in between. I mainly just lightly jogged during those. After that one Coach said to bring them down to the 4:50's, and I definitely felt them get harder. The next one was 4:57 and I finished towards the back of the pack. Recovery, then the next one was 4:58. Defintely felt that one. I was pushing to stay with them, but the pack broke away by maybe two seconds, although I was still ahead of some other guys in the fast group. Recovery, then Coach said I was just doing 4 repeats like the second group, but still with the fast group. Since I knew that was my last, I pushed to stay with the group, then gave it whatever I had left in the last 200 meters. I finished right next to Tommy in 4:56. 

    I was glad that I was done and that I survived my first workout with the fast group! I didn't think I would be able to hold them under 5, especially on grass and with the hills. I'm also happy that I didn't ever totally fall off the pack, but glad I only did 4. On the last one, the pack picked it up and most of them came in under 4:50. I cooled down after around the park cheering guys on during their last one, then did some more cool down with guys as they finished. I hit 10.5 right when we got back to the locker room.

    After practice we went to weights and did another bunch of tests. They took forever but at least we got them done. Some of the girls on the team can leg press more than me....

    After weights we showered, changed, and went to the student kick off party. Hooray for free food! 

BYU is amazing.

AM: I was going to go for a run this morning, but I have 8 am class and I was really tired from moving in yesterday and the tough workout, so I slept in and cut my morning running.

PM: We had another Track meeting for compliance and such at 3:30 today, so I ran with the bunch of guys getting in their run before. We started a little later than we planned, so we finished like right at 3:30 and were late to the meeting a bit, but oh well. We just did 5 out and back on the Provo River Trail from the locker room. We picked it up as the run went along. I forgot my Garmin, but I would think our pace was about 6:20. I'm pretty achy from yesterday, mainly from the lifting, so I'll ice bath after my morning run tomorrow since I didn't get a chance to ice bath yesterday. Hard workout again tomorrow!

AM: Went for an easy five miles this morning. I just went out 2.5 on Carterville, then back. Still sore in some spots from lifting. 

PM: I'm still getting used to my eating schedule, and some days it's hard to time it so that I'm good by practice. I had a big lunch at around 12:30, and thought I'd be good by 3. Well, nope. I mainly felt it affect my on the second half of our workout. We warmed up to the intramural field, then did another four laps on the fields to get 3 warm up. Then our workout was 6X1000. We changed shoes, did some strides, and got started. The first one we all ran together, and it was a bit slower to ease into the workout. I hit 3:07 and was right in the pack. We had 60 sec recovery in between. Next one was a bit faster, and I stayed towards the front, behind the leaders. We ran together again, mainly to string out the two groups. I hit 3:01. After that we divided into the two groups. I was in the faster group, and I felt pretty good on this one, so I pushed it thinking I could hold them all at around that pace. Finished with the leaders in 2:58. From here, they got harder. Partially because the leaders picked it up, but mainly because I went too hard in the first half of the workout. Also, I could feel that Turkey and Ham footlong from Subway protesting in my stomach. Next one I had to push to stay with the back of the group, and in the second half I managed to move towards the middle of the pack and hit 3:06. Recovery, then the next one hurt even more. I was working hard just to stay on the guys. I knew that I'd gone too hard in the beginning. I finished at the back of the group, in 3:11. On the next one, I just gave it all I had since that was the last one, but I still only managed to finish at the back of the pack, in 3:11 again. 

     I have equally strong positive and negative feelings of this workout. First the bad. I didn't run this workout as smart as I should have. I got excited when I felt good at the beginning of the reps, and ran too fast, then consequently wasn't as consistent with my times as I could have been. That's a rookie mistake to make, and I'm mad at myself for being stupid in the workout. I guess what's cool about being a freshman again, is that the other guys almost expect that from me, so it was no big deal to them or Coach even. 

    But, on the bright side, I ran another hard workout with the fast group and survived! It's so great to be able to run with those guys, and being in that group makes it so easy to work really hard. Plus, my average for this workout was about 3:04, and looking back at the 8X1000 workout we did the first day of camp, just 2.5 weeks ago, I averaged about 3:20. So, camparatively, I have improved a ton. If I had run this workout smarter, my average may have been even lower than 3:04. I think it was good for me to get in a less-than-stellar workout in before Saturday, it gave me a reality check, and now I know that going out too hard in that race will be my demise. I'm going to rely more on my endurance, go out a conservatively hard, then work the second half and move up as much as I can. 

    After the workout, we did 4X100 meter strides in our spikes, focusing on arms and shoulders. Then we changed shoes, and I cooled down with a group that did three laps in the fields, then headed back to the locker room where I hit 10. 

    After we showered, changed, and went to lifting. We finished the last of our tests, and finally started doing some actually lifting. We did bar squats, box jumps, back extensions, then some yoga ball-hamstring curl things, then lunge presses, and finally some lateral pulls. Ugh, am I going to be sore. I hopped in the ice bath for 15 minutes after lifting. And so ends another workout day!

AM: I was going to do a short run this morning after my last class, but then I remembered I had to do the Bodpod, Bosco, and flexibility tests in the weight room, so I had to scrap my run. But, I'm counting a half mile from the Bosco test because of all that jumping. That test was pretty exhausting. 

PM: I met up with Haven and Briggs at 1 to get our run in. We did Carterville at a nice, easy pace. I sore from yesterday, plus I want to take it easy today and tomorrow. We started really easy, then gradually worked into a comfortable pace. We finished 10 miles in 6:54 avg. Felt good to get a super easy run in.

AM: I love Friday mornings! I don't have class until 10, so I slept in and got a great nights sleep, then once I got over to campus, I went for an easy 4 mile run. Just out 2 and back on Carterville. I got back to the locker room and still had plenty of time, so I went over to the snack shack for some breakfast.

PM: The team was meeting at 3:15, but there was a group of guys ready to go by 3, so we just ran over to the track anyway. We ran the course, and as more groups of guys showed up, they joined in. We ran the course a few times, and right as we were about to head back, it started raining and thundering. So, we waited under the shed for a while, and it had stopped thundering but it had started pouring, so we ran back to SFH to do some strides on the track. We were soaked once we got back, and I hit 5 right as we got to SFH. I put on my spikes and did 3X70 meter strides with Cade, then we went back to the locker room and rolled and ice bathed. My legs actually felt pretty good after the strides. Super stoked to race tomorrow!

AM: Woke up, realized I didn't have anything to eat, so I went over to the vending machine and bought some mini graham crackers, a rice crispy treat, and some fruit snacks. Not an ideal pre race food, but my stomach held up. Once we were all togther and we left our stuff, we headed out for warm up. We did a two mile loop around the Carterville block, then came back to the track, and I did another mile of warm up, and then some strides and drills. Soon they let us on the line and I did a few more good strides. 

The gun went off and I got out as well as I could have hoped for. I was in the front, ahead of most of the pack, and I didn't have to fight to get a good position to go up the hill. I settled in to the pack and tried to find a good rhythm. I wanted to go out conservative in this race, and I thought I did, but I should have held back even more. We went around the baseball field, and then around the fields and on the track, and I was fine. But once we headed out of the track and back up towards the baseball field, I slipped back. I should have fought to keep contact, because once I lost it, more guys caught me. Heading out of the baseball fields Jake caught me, and soon after Cade and Jon. I managed to stick on Jon after he passed me, and stayed behind him until the middle of the next lap. I moved past him and closed on Cade some, by this time we were coming down from the baseball field for the last time and I used the downhill as best as I could. I closed more on Cade, and once we made that 180 turn back to the track, I really made a push to close on him. He also started to push for the finish, and once we got on the track, we were both kicking pretty hard and we he finished that distance ahead of me. Right at the line, some Idaho kid caught me, which sucked. I need to make sure and run through the line.

After the race, a group went out for a three mile cool down, and then I ran around a ton more during the girls race cheering on the girls. Both the BYU men and women pulled off wins! After that, I cooled down another mile, and then some more during the boths varsity race. After that, I went out for another 1.2 miles to get 14 for the day. 

I'm disappionted with this race. I wasn't focused going into this race, and I didn't plan ahead to do all the pre race stuff. I should have had a more balanced breakfast ready in the morning, rather than a bunch of snack foods. I went out too hard still, and didn't fight hard enough to keep contact. I knew that I could break 21 on this course, and I was way off. I would consider the Utah XC Invite a better race than this. At least this won't be my last race.

AM: Today was just one of those days. I went to some farewells this morning, and didn't get a chance to run then. I couldn't get back to Provo until late and then I had to do homework, so I didn't get a run in. Disappointing, but at least I know I'll be recovered from the race.

AM: This morning I went for an easy four miles from my apartment. I ran from my place onto the Carterville loop, then out two and back. The mornings are starting to get chilly!

PM: I met a group of guys to run at 3. Our hard days are now back to the usual, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We did Carterville, surprise. I thought the group was going to go 10, but then the majority of the group turned at 2.5 and headed back. It was only Jon, Jake, Evan, and I left doing the full run. Boo. But none the less, it got done. I felt like crap. I think I'm starting to get sick. My throat is super soar and I've been feeling kind of fevery all day. I always get sick when the seasons change. I hope I can get through it quickly:(

So much for not getting sick. I woke up today feeling horrible. I managed to drag myself through the two short classes I have today, but practice was a no go. There are a few other guys sick as well, even Easy-E got sick. Coach just told met to stay home and rest up. I went to the store to buy some meds, then I took some when I got home and passed out for like 4 hours. I'm feeling a little better now, lets hope if I hit it with some more meds before bed I'll be better by tomorrow.

AM: This morning I was feelimg immensely better than I was yesterday. I went out two miles from my house on Carterville and back. It was a nice, easy run to get back into the swing of things.

PM: I met Haven and Nick for a run before the meeting, but once we were at the locker room, Wardy and Doc were there, so we all ran together. Today, we decided upon Carterville from our selection of runs. Doc turned at 2.5 since he was only doing 5, and Haven, Nick, Wardy and I did short Carterville. Once we were almost back, Ward added on the fields in the track, and the rest of us headed back to the meeting room since we were already late. 

PM: Today we did a 5k/3k workout. We warmed up down Canyon Road to an Elementary School that I can't remember the name of, then we warmed up around the marked course on the field where we would do the workout. We got about 3 miles warm up, then we changed shoes and did some strides while Coach explained the workout. FIrst we were doing 5k around the marked loop which was 800, and it had the 200's and 400 marked. All of the reps were 400, and we went 3X(easy then hard), then easy, then 3X(hard), 2X(easy), then 1.5X(hard). So that last one ends up being 600 meters of hard. The loop is slightly uphill on one side, then slightly downhill on the other, and it's all on grass.

I'm still coming back from being sick on Tuesday, so I wasn't expecting a stellar workout. I stuck with the second group today, so our goal for the hard was 74-75 seconds, and for the easy 84-85 seconds. I was fast on most of the easy's, and right on for all the hard's. The first one was a 73, then the next two were 75's. then the 1200 hard was right at 75's, then I was at 72 at 400 and hit 600 in 1:49. I finished the 5k in 16:42, I think. Overall I felt pretty good, much better than I was expecting, I just breathe. My throat was burning and I was breathing harder than I would normally. But still, the 5k wasn't bad. 

We had like 10 minutes recovery in which I jogged around, then we did 3200 instead of 3k. That one went easy, hard, easy, 2X(hard), easy, 2X(hard). I got through the first easy all right, but I was struggling to breathe on the second set of hard, so Eyestone had me sit out after than one, then join in the last 400 with the group. I hit a 64 on that last 400 with Spencer, since he was pushing the last 400. I hate getting pulled out of a workout. I can't wait to get back to full strength so I can get back to how I was doing in workout. 

We did 4X~80 meter strides after, then changed our shoes back and did a lap around the park, then ran back to be at 11.

After we had weights. Brandon had everyone who got a score lower than 3 on thier FMS do a bunch of hamsting strengthing stuff, which was everyone. That stuff actually loosened my hammy's a littl, but then we did our actual lifting. Bar lunges, distance jumps, lateral pulls, PVC bends, and dumbell bench. I'm. So. Sore. 

AM: Went for my usual 4 miles from my apartment. I had to wear a light running sweater in the brisk 43 degree morning!

PM: I went to the locker room for our usual run. Almost all the guys were there, which was cool. We did Provo River. I went out and back 5 with the group. An easier pace at first, but we picked it up on the way back. I'm really sore from weights :( 

Maybe it's just the weights talking, but in high school, I always felt like a strong runner. Now that I'm in college, I'm realizing just how weak I really am....

AM: The majority of the guys were doing their long run at 8, but I wanted to sleep in some more so I was going to meet some guys at 10. Once I got to the locker room, I saw no one except Jon. No one showed, so we just went for a run ourselves. We did Carterville backwards, and at the North turning point, we went north on that trail 1.5 miles to make it a long run. Once we got 1.5 out, we found this nice park that had bathrooms and a continuous founatin that was a smaller version of the one at LIberty. After our potty/water break, we headed back. We found some side trails and took them for a bit, but there was nothing, so we just headed back. At least it added some miles. We just headed back to the locker room where I hit 13.5. 

Still pretty sore. But on the plus side, BYU vs UTAH today! And the best part is I get in for free! Hooray for being an athlete!

AM: Last week wasn't a total mileage bust. I missed my run two days, and hit 65 in 5 days. I was planning to hit 90-95 last week though, so this week I'll shoot for that. Maybe even get the hundo if I don't miss any of my runs. This morning, I went from my apartment to Kiwanis, did two laps there, and ran back. I was going to do more but I was so hungry I had to get home and eat something. I might go for another easy run tonight. 

AM: This morning I went out for my usual four miler from my apartment. I had to wear a sweater again!

PM: We warmed up to Kiwanis, dropped our shoes at the start tree, and then I did another two laps warm up. That plus strides brought me to 3.5 miles. Our workout was 2 mile, 1 mile, 2 mile. I stuck with the second group again today; I'm not feeling sick anymore, but I'm still kind of phlegmy and that puts my breathing off. I'll stick to the second group until I'm 100% back and then I can work my way back up to where I was a couple weeks ago. 

We were supposed to hit 10:15-10:20 on the two miles, and 5:00-5:05 on the mile. We started the first one and I felt pretty good. I was leading and forgot by how much you negative split because of the downhill in the second half and uphill in the first, so I hit 2:35 at 800, then 4:59 at the mile. So the next mile we slowed down quite a bit, and I came in at 10:14. Then we had like 6 or so minutes recovery and we started the mile. I just hung on with the group and hit 5:03, so right on. Then 4 minutes recovery, and the last two mile. That one hurt. I ate too big of a lunch and it was getting progressively harder to breathe. I don't remember what we hit the mile in, but I hit 10:28 for the two mile. I guess everyone was hurting pretty bad because I finished right behind Jon who finished first. 

After that we did 4X80 meter strides diagonally across the fields, then a lap around the park and back to the locker room for 11, then I did another mile on the treadmill while I waited for everyone to arrive so we could start weights. At weights we did our hamstring stretches, then the lower classmen did depth jumps, front squats, resistance band hip reps, db vertical press, then I did 4X10 pushups. 

After that we went back to the training room, where I rolled out a bit, stretched,and icebathed. 

AM: After my last class of the day ended at 10:50, I went for a run on my own. I went 2.5 out from the locker room on Carterville and back. Now to eat something before the run later!

PM: There was a group ready to go at three, then a group who was a little late. So the group that was ready started before the other group. We did Carterville, but only Farnsworth and I were the ones doing the full ten by the time we got to the trail, so we did that and then saw that Nick was waiting under the bridge, so we waited for like three minutes and a bunch of guys came in, so we all finished the run together. Really easy run, avg 6:40 even though we started at like 7:30's. Afterwards I stretched in the training room and ice bathed afterwards.

AM: Did my usual 4 mile loop from my house. The morning are getting chillier and chillier!

PM: Workout. It was chilly, windy, and drizzling for the whole workout. We warmed up from the locker room to the inramural fields, then did 3 laps around to get 2.5 warm up. Then we started the workout. Guys racing this weekend were doing 6X1000, and guys not racing were doing 7X1000. We did the first two as one big group, coming in at 3:15 and 3:14. The lead guys were REALLY warming into to them. Then we divided into two groups and I went with group 2. The next 4 went 3:10, 3:09, 3:08, 3:08. On all of those I started a bit more conservatively and moved up through the rep to finish towards or in the front. The last one everyone decided to race it, and I just went for consitency. I finished nearly last but still hit 3:08. Then we did 4X100 meter build up strides across the fields, and then changed shoes and cooled down two laps around and back to the locker room for 9 miles total. 

I think I finally worked this sickness all the way out. I could nearly breathe normally today, and I felt decent. Now that I'm feeling better, it's time to work back up to where I was two weeks ago in workout!

After the workout, we went to weights. After our hamstring stuff, we did depth jumps, front squats, back extensions, ball-hip extensions, and DB row. I am beginning to handle weights much better than I was when we started. I'm almost not sore after today's session! Then some good stretching and rolling in the training room after.

AM: Went for an easy four miles right after my last class of the day. Kind of chilly at the start, but once I warmed up it was nice running weather/

PM: Went for a run with Fuller, Briggs, Nick, and Haven. We drove to Rock Canyon trailhead, and ran south on that trail for a little over 4 miles. The majority of the way out was short, steep uphill followed by short, steep downhill, and a few flat-ish parts in between. Then we turned and came back on a trail that was slightly less hilly, and then we cut down by the Y trailhead, and ran back to the cars along the road. The road was uphill most the way, then steep downhill. This run gave us 8.5, but with all the uphills and downhills it felt like 15. I could tell my legs had taken a pounding by the end. Once we drove back to the locker room, it took all my mental strength to hop on a treadmill for a mile and a half to get in a bit more mileage.

Afterwards, I jumped in the hot bath for nearly 10 minutes to see how it would affect my legs. They felt great afterwards! Like I'd just taken an ice bath, except not stiff. 

PM: There was some confusion as to when the group was running today, so i ended up running with just Evan. We did long Carterville and then I added a mile at the track to get the full 11. It was a solid, even pace run. 6:27 avg

AM: Met up with the people not in Minnesota for a long run. We started at the locker room, did Carterville backwards, then added north on the trail up the canyon until we hit 8, then headed back. We added a bit at the fields to get the full fifteen.We picked it up the last little bit. We ended up averaging probably like 6:10. We also saw Sasha twice on the run!

My hips were a little sore, especially in the lower, pivet area. I did stretches that focused on opening up my hips and such. That seemed to help. I need to remember to do that after my runs.

AM: I slept in, and after I got out of bed I did short Carterville from my house for an easy 6 miles. 

PM: The group met up and we split once for two different runs, and the group I ended up in was doing river trail, and I realy didn't want to do that, so Joe and I did Carterville by ourselves. We held down a good, even pace for the most part.