Running Blog

Such a great day.. until it ended in the ultimate tragedy. Worked, went to an absolutely exhausting first day of soccer practice, worked some more, ate some cake, then met Stoner and Mia to run! BUT. First we had to creep on Kaylee and her madre at JC Penney.. and help Kaylee out a little bit! Then we drove to the Log Lane Church to start our run. (Found out there that Stoner's a nosepicker.) Then we ran to the river, which flooded today, and was deepish and super super muddy. We jumped in and Insta-tanned (Insta-tan: Order now and get Insta-Abs FREE!) (Just kidding, it's all free, and available quite abundantly at the river). I did gouge a hole in my foot though, and Stoner tripped on a large log. Anywho, when we got back to our shoes, they were covered in ants, so we had to shake them off.. yeah whatever. Ran back to the church, and I was just feeling so good! Then when we were almost back.. we found a teensy tinsy bird with a broken leg! We immediately sprang into action, moving him away from the road (okay, actually, Stoner moved him, while Mia and I stood around telling her what to do and warning her about the diseases birds carry). Then we sprinted back to the church, hopped in our cars, drove to Stoner's house, discussed what we should name him (we decided on Luck), got a basket and some towels, paused for a quick Cheez-It break, then drove back. We quickly put him into the basket (again, Stoner. My job was that of the all-important basket handler).Then we went back to Stoner's house and gave him some nectarine and water. Then Mia and I had to leave. A few minutes after I got home, I got a text from Stoner.. it was a picture message. The picture? Luck's lifeless body in a dirt hole. Yup. He died. We tried so hard. Luck will forever remain in our hearts, because for the whole half hour that we knew him, he didn't even peck us once.

Well.. I just realized how wimpy my mileage looks this week. I count soccer as mileage, cause we kinda run a lot. But I don't put it on here. I promise, I'm not just sitting at home eating bon bons.. Which, by the way, no one even knows what they are. Chocolate? Toffee? Anywho, ran arctic circle today with ze team. Nicole and Mia and stoner and I were all matchy. We were so adorable, I could eat us. But that, my dear, is called cannibalism, and is frowned upon in most societies. (name that movie). Hot today, but not as humid, which was way nice. Ran through some sprinklers. Weights and plyos after. Pretty sure im gonna be, like, super buff. I can already do 5 pull ups. Which practically means I could beat Coach in arm wrestling. Yep. The end.

So.. Really didn't want to run today, cause Mia woke me up from my nap, and I wanted to watch the women's 10000, and I needed to go to the bank and get gas in my truck and probably shower too, since I'd just finished soccer practice and had a date later. But.. I went out there and ran, and kinda sped on the way back, because of the aforementioned shower problem, and also I thought my bladder was going to explode.. Well. This entry is a little more up close and personal. Welcome to running with the girls team. Anywho, got my run in in the blazing heat. The end.

Today was another one of those days where I just didn't want to run. After work, I really just wanted to relax, and besides, it was already 9 and by then it's hot outside! But Mia said we needed to (ps.. I didn't even complain. Promise.) so we met at her house and worked out that from there to the chevron would be 9. So, that is where we went. And it was very quite warm. So we stopped at a place with sprinklers. And we kinda sat down in them and soaked ourselves. We worked out our tempo so we could end it at the river. We also stopped for water at the chevron, and we poured it all over ourselves. Our tempo was pretty good.. I hadn't eaten, cause we ran out of clean bowls for cereal. And also, I was thinking about how tired my legs are from so much soccer all of a sudden. But once we got going, we had a good pace and I was thinking pretty positively. There was one point where I started thinking about the race next week, and I kinda got down on myself and made myself nervous. But I really tried to think positively and have confidence.. It got better. Then we jumped in the river, which was positively disgusting. And absolutely, wonderfully, totally amazing. It felt sooo good. Then we went to the bank, where a friendly (maybe a little too friendly) banker gave us suckers. Then we went to fill my truck up (I didn't get to this stuff yesterday). But getting gas took a year and a half. Then, we went to Emerald! Yum. I decided I need more protein, since I kind of hate meat and eggs.

So.. I thought about coming to morning practice today. I even work up for it. Then I talked myself out of it, thinking that with soccer and afternoon runs, my legs are tired enough. I want them to be good for the race, and lately theyve been feeling like they got run over by a bus. So I didn't. Anyway, a good run today. Roberts got me talking about the women's 10k the other day and we left everyone behind. Lifting and plyos after. My arms are gonna be super sore tomorrow, cause I did approximately a zillion pushups at soccer today, cause no one could keep possession of the ball, and the entire team has to pushups for one mistake.

So. Today I was kinda just sitting at home, trying to figure out what to do before the race. I was nowhere near in race-mode. But I wasn't nervous.. Which was kinda nice. Generally I have to be dragged by my hair to the starting line. (Kay, not really. But it's not super far off.) We got to Cedar, and I realized I was kinda excited. I'm glad we got in such a good warm up, cause that got me ready for it.

At the starting line, I was just spazzing out. I was jumping and smiling and laughing.. I was just so happy! Then we started the race and I got out really well. I didn't get boxed in at all, and I kinda started in eighth-ish or so. Then I started passing girls til I got up into fourth. I stuck right there.. I didn't want to settle, but I didn't want to pass Aimee so early in the race.. I figured I could stick with her and figure out what to do from there. She and a Hurricane girl started getting farther ahead, and I didn't go with them. I think I was just too scared to start out too fast. So I stuck in with a Canyon View girl. We went back and forth, passing each other at different times, but I could tell I was feeling stronger than her. My mom said to keep one positive thought in my head, and the only thing I could think of was 'I feel good. I feel good. I feel good.' over and over and over. Just before the last little lap, I passed the Canyon View girl and told myself there was no way she was gonna beat me. Coach told me to reel in the Hurricane girl.. I know I could have, but I didn't. I wish I did. But I didn't feel good enough at the time. My stomach just kinda hurt. But I ended up taking third.. The Canyon View girl never passed me again. I felt pretty good about the race. It was definitely a good confidence booster for the season.. Which I am way excited for. It was way cool to watch all the girls run and do so well. We are gonna have such a good (and fun) team this year!

Yeah, I ran more than four. Because a few slackers (ahem, Stoner and Mia) didn't show up on time, so I was just going to run three with Liz and Kaelie and Aubrey, since the thought of running to Starbucks and back by myself in the morning made me want to pee my pants. But then, Stoner and Mia DID show up.. after I had already turned around with the other girls. So I turned back around and ran the rest with them.. Okay, so it wasn't much farther than 4, but I am counting every extra step I had to take, because I was on time and they were not. Also because my legs feel like they were run over by a small train. Well.. maybe it's not that bad, but they are just so tired! I need an ice bath, but Mark took the tub thing. So.. guess I'll get around to it when I can.. if I ever can.

Okay, okay. I'm back. So.. because the guys are terrible markers, Mia and I ended up running farther than nine.. probably not ten, but whatever number we were short by I made up for at soccer. I definitely didn't want to run nine this morning, as I had stayed up late reading a book I've already read, and my leg got run over by an army tank on Friday. I was thinking of just cutting it short. But when we got out there, my leg felt slightly better than it has been and I was enjoying the run. The way out felt super long though, and I was kind of dreading the way back, but it ended up feeling way shorter after we turned around. I would get tight in places randomly, like my shoulder and elbow (yeah, don't ask about that one. I don't know either). But then it'd go away. I was breathing fine. It was just a good run.

Well. Today I wasn't particularly excited for a workout.. but I felt better than yesterday. We did 6 1000s. My splits went like this: 3:40, 3:40, 3:40, 3:44, 3:40, 3:46. The first three were just dandy.. Stoner and I did them together and they felt pretty good. The fourth one I kinda fell off a little bit.. I felt like I was pushing.. but obviously not as hard as I had been. The fifth I really felt like I settled.. but then halfway through, Stoner pointed to the ground right beside her.. and I think I surprised us both when I actually ran up beside her. We finished that one together, and that felt really good. The last one, my legs just felt dead. Stoner pointed again.. but I just didn't go. But this was a good workout.. It's the first one in a while where I actually felt like my head was in the game and I was doing well. So.. yeah. Good first workout. The end.

Ick. We ran 3x2 min with 1 min rec + 4x400 with 30 second rec. The two minuter things were fine (ish). But my legs are so so so dead. I could barely lift them up. The 400s were just not good. On the cool down, I thought I was going to collapse. I need to ice bathe and stretch and stuff.. but I just feel like I never have time. Tonight, perhaps.

So I typed out an entire entry about how angry I was that Stoner and Mia were late and I had to run extra with them and how absolutely exhausted my legs are and how they feel like they were run over by a small train.. and then somehow it disappeared. So here's a much shorter entry. I ran. I died. I came back to life when I found out the showers at the school had warm water. The end.

To Arctic Circle with the girls.. we did our little tradition thing and Nicole steamrolled over all of us. I skipped the 200's and stretched because my legs just hurt so so bad. We need to get that tub back to the school so we can take an ice bath.

Well. 'twas a workout today. Apparently we're supposed to meet at 5:45 on Wednesday and Monday from now on.. But the entire team hates me and refuses to tell me anything. So I missed the warmup and part of the first 3 minute set thing. We had 6x 3 min I pace with 3 min recovery. And guess what. It felt so super easy. I just ran with Stoner.. and Mia stuck with us too.. We had a really good little thing going. I don't know if this workout is just an easy one or if we were just having a good day, but I felt really really good. Even after I took the outside and Stoner took the inside, which usually messes with my head, I was fine. And I really liked having Coach there to push us and pace us and whatever. On the last one, I just kinda started going.. I felt great and it was the last one, so I just went with Coach. When we got to the end of the trees at the north end of the loop, he said we had twenty seconds and asked if I could make it to the sidewalk. So I was like 'what the hey, let's do it.' (in my head, of course. I was feeling good, but I definitely couldn't talk) so I pushed it harder and made it to the sidewalk. And that was the end. It was a really great workout. Even though the cool down felt like yuck. Anywho. The end.

AM: Easy 4 this morning with Stoner and Mia. Felt way good.

I woke up today and heard the rain, and thought "maybe we don't have practice!" And then I realized who our Coach is and decided I'd better show up. We had an easy-ish workout today.. 5 miles with 4 1/2 fartleks at I pace. Felt way good, especially with the rain. The other girls were doing well, especially on the last one. They really stuck up with Mia and I. Good run.

Easy 4 out to Starbucks.. not much to report. Had a lot of girls out there today. Good job ladies! (:

AM: arctic circle with 4x200 at the end. Stoner and I pushed it pretty hard, and then coach told us we weren't supposed to go super hard.. Oh well.

PM: first double in forever! Hot nails with the level three ladies and Roberts. Argued about exactly what species Arthur is.

TEAM DINNER!!!!! At my house. 6:30. Bring your food assignments. My address is 1588 black lion road in Green Springs. Go straight down green springs drive til you see silver stone III on the right. There will be a sign directing you. For further directions, call a captain (or Byron). See you there!

So. Last night I woke up at like 3:30 and felt so so sick. My stomach hurt so bad, and that made me kinda nervous about the race.. But when I woke up later, I felt fine. Not even nervous. I ate a bowl of mini wheats and packed a roll and a peach for after the race. I slept some on the bus, which was a miracle, because generally I can't even sit still before a race. But of course, I was way tired, because the fifty zillion kids (not even kidding.. More kids than I have ever seen at a team dinner EVER.) at my house last night didn't leave til 9ish.. It was fun though, so I guess it's okay.

We got to suu and watched the JV girls, and warmed up as we cheered for them. Still wasn't nervous.. Just kinda chill. I was way excited to see Kaylee though!

We got to the starting line, and i started to feel a teensy bit nervous.. Just a little though. But then I realized how empty my stomach felt.. All I had eaten was that bowl of cereal and our race started pretty late. I was super hungry. But it was too late.. The race was gonna start. So we lined up and the gun went off.. And I slipped. I didn't fall.. But I did roll my ankle and it hurt pretty bad. Thankfully, they forgot to start the clock, so it was a false start, so I could try again. This time I got a much better start. Coach had told us to kinda relax during the first little lap and just get into a position we could work with. So Stoner and I got out there.. But we were in like 10th or something. In my head, I thought 'oh, well we'll pass all these girls- we're always ahead of them.' On the second lap, Stoner started to pull away. I tried to stick with her, but I just felt like I didn't have enough energy. In reality, it was probably just the knowing that I hadn't eaten, rather than the actual hunger. She passed a few more girls, then there were two cedar girls and two desert hills girls between us. I passed the one cedar girl on the big lap, and didn't see her again. Then I started hearing people saying 'go JP.. GO MIA!' and I realized how close Mia was. I knew I had to push it. So on the medium sized lap, I picked it up and went and got the other cedar girl and one of the desert hills girls. It was way hard, and I wasn't sure if I could keep it up for the entire rest of the race. But I couldn't let anyone pass me. Then we got to the last little straightaway, and I could see desert hills right there. So I kicked it in and passed her, and ended up 5 seconds behind Stoner.

I felt pretty good about the race, considering I had a pretty bad second lap and still managed to end with Stoner. But then Coach came up and told us we needed to stick with the Hurricane girl and Aimee, the two girls who beat us.. And when we saw our times, we realized it wasn't that great of a race. Kind of a bummer. But glad to have done it.. And it's still the beginning of the season.

6x1000 with 3 min recovery, Pizza Hut warm/cool. Well, when I woke up this morning, I really didn't want to go do a speed workout. But I'd promised myself I was really gonna work hard today. So I dragged myself to practice and got out there. We started out and Stoner and Mia and I all stuck together and ran 5 seconds faster than our fastest 1000 two weeks ago. I felt pretty good about that. Especially that Mia stuck with us. The next one, we went even faster than that. And same with the next one.. we kept getting faster. On the fourth one, I got a little excited I guess, and went out pretty fast. I felt fine.. until we hit the top of the hill. All of a sudden, I had nothing left in my arms and legs. I finished that one though, and it was the same pace as our third. But I kinda freaked myself out a little, and on the fifth one, when my breathing started to get bad, I really freaked out. I let Mia, Stoner, and both coaches get way up there. When we hit the grass on that one, I started to push harder, but I had too much ground to make up, and it was just kinda crappy. After that, Coach gave us a talk about not letting fear take control of us, and told me not to be afraid of when my breathing started getting bad. So we started our last one, and I really tried to focus on taking deep breaths when I could feel myself slipping. Surprise surprise.. it worked. I stuck up there with Coach.. but when we rounded the corner by the baseball fields, I got that feeling again, that everything was just completely drained in my arms and legs. So I tried to push even harder, cause I knew if I didn't finish soon, I'd give up. When we hit the grass, Coach told us to give it everything. So I did.. or at least tried to. We finished and I was just dead. I was happy that I finished well, but completely exhausted and I guess I just got overwhelmed, cause I started crying. But then Coach told me I ran it in 3:17, and I was like "well then why the heck am I crying?" Anyway. My splits ended up being 3:35, 3:30, 3:26, 3:26, 3:40ish, and 3:17. Good workout, mostly. Just gotta keep my head in it, and not freak out.

Morning run to Starbucks.. Felt good. Was way cool to have Kayla there. We rolled out after the soccer game this evening, and the knots in my calves are freakin ginormo.

3x2min w/ 1 min recovery + 4x400 w/ 30 sec recovery. All at I pace. Felt really good.. We worked on staying as a pack during the 2 minute things. The 400s were quicker. Felt good to run speedy. The girls are doing really well.

3 with striders. Felt really nice today. Striders felt good.. and that's the end of my tale.

Last run-a-thon ever. Sad day. It was probably the funnest though.. I think sophomore year was pretty fun too.. but I honestly don't remember, so we'll just say this one was the funnest. Didn't get to run this morning cause of morning soccer practice, so my first run was our 9 miler with 30 min tempo. Felt way nice.. the tempo wasn't bad at all, and the weather was okay. It was pretty fun too.. what with Stoner screaming at a biker (aka, Gooby Worker) and me and her opening the door to a hobo mountain mine camp. Anyhow, our tempo was supposed to be a 7:30 pace, and if you apply basic math skills, you realize that running at that pace for 30 minutes should take us 4 miles. Well, the very second Stoner said 'stop' to end our tempo, the watch beeped telling us we'd run 4 miles. The very exact second. How's that for precision? Anyway, then we got back and didn't have a very long break before we had to run for our little block thing. I ran 2 miles during that.. kinda fast but not too bad. Then we did our 4x200s from this morning. We were all rather dying though, so they might not have been completely up to speed. So. 12 miles today. Yippee.