Running Blog

4 in the fields with Mia, Frida, and Stoner. We ran out to George Washington. It felt pretty yucky. I had only run a little bit before and I was sore from indoor soccer. Plus I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with my back. But it was fun.. we stopped to see some horses. I'm slightly terrified of horses though (not as bad as birds though). We saw one really fat one. And a baby. And a brown one.

4 in the fields again.. but this time I was with Mia, Stoner, and Kaylee. We ran from Mia's to the JP tank thing. We stopped at the horses, but they were too far away to pet. And we stopped at the church cause Stoner can't use the restroom before we run, apparently. It felt fine.. better than yesterday.

First day back and.. I was actually okay. We had to stop at Boulevard so Rachel could use the restroom, and Frida and Kaylee left us. So Mia, Stoner, Taylor and I ran together. Twas a good time. I felt rather fine, even though we did mall run, which is the worst road run ever invented. It was okay.

5 putrid, horrendous miles out by Quail Lake. Worst run of my life.

Okay, okay, so the trail itself wasn't that bad. Yeah, it was steep and the pits on the sides of the trail were freaking me out. Plus, I stepped on the Forbidden Dirt. But, all in all, it was kind of fun. Except that my legs would have killed me if my stomach hadn't beat them to it. I was hurting sooo bad. Pretty sure I have shin splints all the way up to my elbows. And I don't know if it was because I hadn't eaten much, but my stomach was hurting like crazy. The way out felt much worse than the way back, because I have this problem with not knowing where we're going to stop. If I don't exactly know the turnaround point, the run feels SO much longer. Combine that with the fact that we were in the desert, and it just felt super terrible. After we turned around, I felt a little better. And when Coach joined us, I got this sudden surge of energy, and I felt like I could run way faster than I had been. So.. even though I said "NEVER AGAIN".. I actually think I would like doing this run again. So.. yep.

Double church run.. it was okay. Roberts ran with us, which was fun. And the pace felt okay. My quads were kinda sore from yesterday. And I got a slightly bloody nose on the way out.. but it ended up okay. On the way back, we kinda separated into 3 groups.. Roberts and Kaylee, me and Stoner, and Mia and Frida. So it was pretty quiet on the way back. But it was fine.

River run.. Frida told us it was gonna be a speed workout.. so this was a lovely surprise. We couldn't decide where to turn around, so Kaylee and I spent a good 5 minutes standing there discussing it. We finally decided to run to one edge of the fence to the other, and back. So we really went like 5.12. Just sayin.

We took Liz Lunt and Taylor with us today because they're level 3s now.. we went out to hospital. We'd just made cookies in foods and I was feeling pretty yucky on the way out, but the way back was fine. Except that Liz was kicking our trash when we got to the 5 mile mark. She took off. So Stoner and I vote we move her up to level 4, cause I don't know if I can do that every day. (:

We went out to Green Springs (aka the land of corruption, according to Coach). It felt fine.. Kaelie and Aubrey stuck with us for most of it, and they kept going when we had to stop so Mia could go to the bathroom. It was a good run. (:

Trail Thursday. And not only was it a trail, but it was the Green Springs desert trail. Bleh. It was better than last Thursday.. but my stomach shares my hatred of the desert and I thought I was going to puke. It was the worst. Until we got to the top of the desert version of Mt. Everest. Then I was okay.

Green Pole run. Well.. today was definitely better than yesterday. But my knee kinda hurt since Jared so rudely tripped over it today and almost killed himself. And my stomach kept trying to murder me. But.. it was still fun. Stoner managed to offend a bell tower and we ran on our favorite brick path. And we thought about going hunting for deermen.. but decided against it.

Out to Green Pole with Stoner.. it was really nice weather and we talked most of the way out there. On the way back we were pretty quiet but it was still a good run.

Backwards Fire Station.. Best run ever! It felt really good, and it was mostly downhill. We added a mile on by going out to the light before the church on Telegraph. We saw Sierra (okay, not really, but don't tell Stoner) and our favorite bell went off right as we got there. Also.. we stopped by a house so Kaylee could stretch.. and they had doll heads hanging from their trees, which I found slightly creepy. But it was a really fun run, even though Kaylee freshman raced us at the end and no one actually followed her.

I really really didn't want to run today. I felt yucky all day (probably because I was up until ONE THIRTY doing a reading guide last night.) :P And then we found out we only had 4.. so I decided to suck it up and deal with it. We were going to run Starbucks but someone made us run Dog Pound. It wasn't terrible. I felt alright. We kinda separated somewhere in the middle, but by the end, all 10 of us were together again. Stoner and I freshman raced and Kaylee lost. And my hand split open somehow, but Liz doctored it, cause I'm the Megan. (:

Trail Thursday. We went up to Green Springs again, but this time we went up the Ice House hill.. I wanted to die. Coach said the hill was hideous, but that when you got to the top, the trail was fun. Ha! I kept waiting for the fun part. It never came. My legs felt like they were about to explode. No joke. When we finally turned around, we looked up and saw all the boys half a mile ahead of us.. they looked like tiny specks. We were super glad we didn't have to run 6, because we were dying. But then we turned around and it was a BLAST. I tripped on a rock and wiped out, but other than that, it was thee funnest thing ever. When we got to the gigantic hill, Kaylee left us in the dust because some of us didn't actually plan on killing ourselves today so we tried to be careful. But when we got close to the bottom, we just let go and it was fun just to see how fast we could go. I would definitely do this run again. It was sooo fun.

Random house in the fields run.. It was fine. Robert's ran with us and pushed the pace as usual.. we stopped at the river and Kaylee contemplated killing herself.. but ultimately decided that it would hurt the team too much. Although as my sister just reminded me.. she's gonna be gone next year anyway. So maybe it wouldn't be super horrible.. (: Anyway.. fun run. Even though the fields smell like poo.

Green Springs. So.. I wasn't going to run the whole thing because I am the best sister in the entire world and stayed up til 2 in the morning reading stories to and rubbing the back of a puking twelve year old. So this morning I wasn't feeling so great myself. So when I showed up to school during lunch and it was raining.. I was not actually planning on running at all. But I got talked into it, even though I felt yucky, because I can't run tomorrow. When we got to the three mile mark, where I was planning on turning around.. I felt fine. And I didn't want to run back by myself. And every mile mark we passed, I kept deciding to go one more mile. Then we got to the six mile mark and I felt great. So I ran the whole thing. And it was the best run EVER! We sang the whole time and we were running pretty fast. It was super fun. Even in the pouring rain.

Target. It's so much easier to run fast when Kaylee's not here.. don't tell her I said that. We ran quick and easy.. it was fun. Stoner and I did all our little traditions, like screaming "PUDS!" when we get a little past Arctic Circle. Striders after. They felt really good. My legs were a little sore after the run, but then we did striders and they felt great.

Trail Thursday. We went out to some place that I can't remember the name of.. but it reminded me of Chuck-a-rama. By far the best trail run we've done. It was really chill, with quite a bit of uphill, but it wasn't bad uphill. We ran out and looked out over Snow Canyon.. and picked up the boys clothes and realized someone took off their shorts.. No big deal or anything. That's just our team. (:

Shoe run w/ Costco added on at the end. Today was a really great run. It was fun to see Nicole out again and we all ran together for the most part. Mia had to leave us partway through but we picked up Jared and had even numbers again. (: I felt really good during this run, probably because Stoner and I found golf balls and we bounced them in rhythm with each other for most of the run.. so I kinda forgot I was even running. Stoner and I also realized what great captains we're going to be next year.. sophomores and freshies better watch out. (: We did step-lifting after.

Green Springs loop. Today after some debate, we finally decided on Green Springs. It was a good run. We added on the second half of the DI loop to get to 8 miles. The weather was really nice and we all ran together. It was nice.

Shoe Run. Today, Stoner and I experienced something that we never thought would happen.. Kaylee told US to slow down. Craziest thing of my life. I will admit, we got a little carried away and probably went faster than we needed to. The group broke up into like 3 sub-groups. The weather was warm for the first half, but by the time we got to the pond it was chilly. The run felt really good. I'm loving that winter hasn't even really come and it's already February.

Trail Thursday. We went out to the airport trail today. It was way fun. The trail was great because it wasn't really all up or all down one way. It was both. And even though Stoner went a lil bit crazy and took off.. it felt really good. It was warm outside and I didn't feel dead like I usually do on trails. I would definitely do this run again willingly.

Hospital. I was really not looking forward to the hill.. but the run was feeling really really good up until we got there, so I was thinking positively. When we started up the hill, I was fine. Then we got almost to the top and my legs developed cancer or something. And I couldn't move them very well anymore. Then the water at the park didn't work.. and then we had to run up Industrial.. and after that, it just wasn't a very good day. So this run started out pretty well.. and then (in the words of my sister) "took a detour to heck."

River Trail. This was everyones first time doing this run except for Kaylee.. and she didn't really know what she was doing. We got a wee bit lost. But we found it again, mostly, and then started our 2 mile tempo. And we all separated. Which was fine- I really don't mind running alone. I wasn't feeling great and we were on Industrial which is my least favorite road of all time. But it was mostly okay. Some random man started singing at me as I passed, which was entertaining. So, I like this run. I just don't like tempo. Especially on Industrial. Then we had steps after. The end.

Green Springs. I really love this run a lot, even though a lot of people are haters. My leg was hurting pretty bad at the first of this run because I have no depth perception and rammed my quad into a drinking fountain. But after a little bit it stopped. The curse of Green Springs lives on, and it was cold and windy today. But it was fun. We dragged Kaylee's face along the sidewalk and against a wall. Then it started falling apart so we left it in a bush. Also, we saw my grandpa and uncle, which is always exciting. So, anyway. Good run. The end.

Green pole. It was a good run.. just me and Kaylee and Frida for most of it. My legs felt a little achy at first because we were speeding so Stoner could make 3 miles before she turned around. Then we slowed down a bit and it felt better. We talked pretty much the whole time, so my mind wasn't really on the running. We did striders and weights after.

Trail Thursday. The mileage up there is questionable.. it was only supposed to be five, but we went too far and went three miles before turning around. So we cut some off to get closer to five.. but then Stoner got us lost twice and Kaylee turned off her Garmin when we hit 5 so it was probably around six. It was a good trail.. pretty hilly and my legs ached at first. But by the time we turned around, I was feeling great. And contrary to popular belief, we did NOT walk. Well, we did stop when we had gone 5 miles and still weren't back to the cars, cause we didn't know what we were supposed to do. Then we just ran the rest of the thing.

Parkway. I sure hope Frida and Kaylee are happy. Cause that run was bleck. I just did NOT feel good. And my lower right calf and foot were killing me. I don't know what was up with that. It was just a yucky run. But the feeling after you've run 8 miles is amazing. So.. basically the run was crap while we were running.. then after we stopped it got a whole lot better.

Children of Hope 5k. Stoner, Mia and I ran together. It was a fun little course and it was a good time. Alli and Jake came and ran/walked it. Our time was like 22 something. So it was kinda like a tempo run I guess. And as we entered the track, Stoner said "Truce.. we're not racing this thing." And then we got to like 50 meters left and she took off and started laughing at our foolishness in believing her. That girl needs to be sat on. I'm gonna try to do the other 3 miles soon.. but I've got Alli and Jake til my parents get home and it's hard to leave them alone for an extended period of time without them whacking each other with Wii remotes. So.. we'll see.

AM: Arctic Circle, 3 miles. Had a super hard time waking myself up this morning. Well, actually.. I didn't wake myself up this morning. My mom came in and got me.. and I was already 2 minutes late. Luckily Mia was in the same boat as me or I'd have gotten left.

PM: Old Man Hills, 2x (200, 800, 200). Speed workout season has officially returned.. bringing with it all the joys of my erratic breathing issues, running warmups and cool downs, and hating every step I take. Today was chilly and we didn't get a lot of time to eat beforehand. So we were all feeling a little off. Stoner felt like she was going to throw up; I had a little bit of a headache; even Kaylee was having her own weird little issues. The first set felt all right, even though our last 200 was super fast cause we raced the boys. But then we started the second set and I started wheezing. We had to pause in between the 200 and 800 so Liz could help me slow my breathing down. Then we did the 800 and it got really bad. I fell farther behind than I wanted to (not that I wanted to fall behind at all, but it was really difficult). And then my head started pounding. It was bad. Every time my feet hit the ground, it was like a miniature bomb went off in my brain. So for the last 200, I just wanted to get it over with and I pushed super hard. On the way back, my breathing calmed down, slowly but surely. But we were all a little pooped out. So I was quite happy when we finished. We had step lifting after.

Log Lane Church. I really hate the Fields.. but today was actually a really fun run. It was cool outside and I felt great. I dubbed myself the OBW (Official Bird Whisperer) of the group, even though Stoner likes to think that she can compete with me. I was wearing my new shoes and I like them a lot.. they're less clunky than my other shoes. With my old ones, I kicked the inside of my calves a lot as I stepped. These ones I don't. So.. a lovely run. The end.

AM: Arctic Circle. Let it be known that even after writing the most psychotic reading guide ever last night and then getting only 4 hours of sleep, I was the first one to morning practice.

PM: Green Springs. Can it be true?! 5 miles? It was like I was dreaming or something. I felt really yucky before running because of the aforementioned lack of sleep issue.. but once we started running, I felt fabulous. It was kind of an awkward run, with the guys right behind us the whole time and Kaylee and Stoner trying to outdo us all. But it felt good. And then we had striders and weights, which went by really fast. It just felt really great.. if you didn't catch that already. And.. I just barely caught on that you add a mile for striders. I couldn't figure out why my mileage never matched up with the PVHS blog's mileage. I'm just an eensy bit slow. No worries.

Taleah course/Hot Nails. It was kinda a rough run for me today. The course was fine but I just really didn't want to add the extra three miles. :P But after we got going it was fine. 

AM: Arctic Circle.

PM: Last Trail Thursday (Friday..) EVER! Hallelujah! It was all right.. it felt like it went on forever. We kept awkwardly passing mountain bikers. Stoner likes to lead really fast up the hills.. then she goes super slow downhill. We saw three helicopters that flew right over us.. that was pretty cool.. we also found a water bottle on the ground.. and we drank all the water. It was quite yum. The end. 

Green Springs/Together for Taleah/Track. I ran from my house to the race today, which felt good.. it's pretty much all downhill and I like running by myself. Except I came SUPER close to getting pooped on by a bird while I was waiting for a light to change. I'm not even joking. If I'd been two inches to the right, it'd have it my shoulder. Anyway. Then the Taleah race. I don't even know what's going on with me right now. I'm just super frustrated with myself. Then we cooled down for a mile. And after awards, I added on two more miles around the track. Which was fine.. the Findlay guy thought I was just finishing the race though. After an hour and a half! I was super offended.

Sunrise. Well.. that was probably the worst run I've ever done. It was worse than the time I had to run all by myself with Coach right after freshman year.. and that was bad. (: But in all seriousness.. there is something wrong with me. I was wheezing so bad after the second 400 hill that I thought I was going to pass out. I'm pretty sure the cold has something to do with it. When we started the third 400, I had to stop halfway up. I absolutely could not breathe. Liz and Megan went with me into Sunrise tires and I got a drink.. but I could barely drink any because I couldn't hold my breath for that long. So I walked around for a little bit, hyperventilating. After that, I felt sick to my stomach. And all I really wanted to do was curl up and die.. because to do that would probably have hurt less than to keep feeling how I did. After a few minutes, it stopped hurting quite so bad, and I thought about going to finish the last few hills with the girls.. but the thought of doing that all over again made me stop. I guess you can call me a wimp. Maybe it is all mental. Either way.. I don't know what's going on.

AM: Arctic Circle

PM: Shoe Run. Every time I find out we only have 5 miles, I feel like getting up and dancing! And today was just a lovely run! We ran the first little bit with the Level 2's and Felicia. And I just felt quite amazing. I was a tad sore, but I don't know if it was from the few hills I did yesterday or because I went to Anti Gravity.. Prolly a little of both. Other than that, it was just a really fantastic run. Striders after.

AM: Surprise surprise.. Arctic Circle.

PM: Time trial. I don't know my time, or I'd list it as a race up there. I heard it was around 5:50, but I don't know if that's correct. Anywho, I was super nervous for this, which is kinda ridiculous, cause it's a time trial for goodness sake. But I've really been struggling mentally since the end of cross, cause my races were going nowhere but downhill. And since then, it's really been hard for me. So I was super scared. But once we got out, I was feeling okay-ish. I was sticking up with Kaylee and Stoner, which is where I wanted to be. When Kaylee made her move around the second lap, Frida went with her. And I guess I didn't really think about going with them. My goal was to stick with Stoner no matter what.. so it never crossed my mind to run up with Kaylee and Frida. But I think I might have been able to. Once we hit the final lap, my breathing was starting to go haywire again.. but it wasn't totally out of control. At the 200 meter mark, Stoner started to take off. And I kinda let her. But she said "come on" and I realized what I was doing and went up with her. I feel like I could have gone harder in the last 200, but I kinda had the wrong mindset about it. So it was more of a fast-paced coast. Afterward, my throat was super raw and I tasted blood. And my mouth had a TON of spit in it.. I had to keep spitting, which I find revolting. But there was just so much! Besides that and the fact that I got a terrible runner's cough and I'm sitting here coughing up a lung as I type, I felt great for having finished it. And I stuck with Stoner.. so I'm pretty happy about where I was, although I know I'm gonna have to work hard to get back in the 5:20's again.

Random House. I didn't go to morning practice today because SOMEONE's a terrible captain and didn't tell me about it. Anywho.. the fields run was quite lovely today. Taylor and Liz did really good at keeping up with us on the way out. We picked up the pace a little on the way back.. we had a pretty good pace going for most of it, actually. I felt really good.. I wasn't achy or sick (well, actually, Kaylee eternally scarred Stoner and I with a story, and I did feel pretty sick then) or hurt or anything! It was a tad windy though.

AM: Arctic Circle. I felt like I was going to die because I felt the need to be responsible and wear white.. and the only white I have is a hoodie.. and I was burning. The End.

PM: Hospital. A nice easy six before the race tomorrow.. augh! I feel kind of like throwing up right now. Because I never actually wanted to run this race.. but I felt like I had to because of Kaylee and Stoner. Now though, I'm actually almost kinda excited about it? I guess. I don't know. Whatever. The run was great. Nothing special. Liz and Taylor stayed with us on the way back. And we had striders after.

Well.. this was definitely an interesting experience. I wasn't exactly thrilled to be doing this race in the first place (All right, I was a LITTLE excited..) and I didn't really know what to expect. The lady at packet pick up yesterday said that we should take the first part really conservatively, or we'd feel trashed when we got to the uphill. I listened to her.. a little too well. I kept up with Kaylee and Stoner til about mile 6. Then I started to fall off, thinking our pace was a little too fast. It took them a long while to even realize I wasn't with them anymore. When Mia joined up with me, I decided to try and catch up, because physically, I was feeling fine. But mentally and emotionally, I was spent. So I just tried to hold on and make up some ground. By mile 10, I was starting to hurt physically too. My calves were tightening up and my hips felt all weird. So by then, the only thing I was trying to do was finish the dang thing. My finish was actually pretty good, considering. After the race, everything just kind of sunk in and I felt so stupid for letting Kaylee and Stoner get so far ahead. I got a medal for being second in my age group, but I didn't want to wear it, because if there had been anyone my age close to my level, they'd have beat me. But after several talks from my parents and Coach, I decided it wasn't that bad of a race, for having been the farthest I've ever run. So I guess I'm not really unhappy with my race anymore.. (I do wish I hadn't shown how mad I was after the race, because now my dad won't stop showing me articles and videos and books about how to control your mind and all this junk.. it's driving me crazy!)

AM: A really nice run out to Arctic Circle.. it felt really good.

PM: Shoe Run. We took it easier today to recover from the half/keep Liz and Taylor with us. But.. the second part didn't really work. We'll keep trying to get them to come up with us. It was a good run. I wasn't even sore. But I did get a humongous gash on my finger. It was caused by a car hitting me.. in the hand. As I was crossing the street. Or a water buffalo attacking my finger. You choose whichever sounds more exciting. Striders/steps/plyos after.

Green Pole. It was a really lovely run, no matter how much I dislike Green Pole. The weather was grand, if a bit chilly, and I felt great. I was a tad sore (don't tell Kaylee.. she thinks I'm immune to soreness) from plyos yesterday, but other than that, I felt fine.

AM: A lovely run to -you guessed it- Arctic Circle.

PM: Old Man Hills. 3x(2x200, 1x800). Today was actually one of the best runs I've had in a while. I kinda ate crappy today and wasn't feeling great by the time practice rolled around. Then I remembered we had hills and it made me feel ten times worse. But I was absolutely not going to have ANOTHER bad hill day. So on the way over to the hills, I kinda told myself that I felt fine and I was going to have a good attitude about these. And it worked. They felt great. I stuck in there with Kaylee and Stoner the whole time and felt really good about it. My only complaint was that my left shin is kinda hurting. I'm gonna ice it tonight and hope someone brings their roller tomorrow so I can use it.

AM: Arctic Circle

PM: Green Springs loop. Felt really good. All the girls stuck together, including our little threesies. Kaylee and I planned where she's gonna move by me, Stoner, Liz and Taylor discussed future plans, and Mia and Frida talked about.. being foreign, I guess. My left shin is really hurting. I rolled it this morning, so I'll ice it tonight and see how things go.

AM: Arctic Circle with all the girls.. ten of us! Felt really good and it was fun to have all them out.

PM: Speed workout. 6x800 w/ 2 minute recovery and DI warmup/Harts cool down. Stoner, Frida and I were supposed to be hitting a 3:09ish pace, but we were speedier than that. Our first one was a 3:03 and the next was a 3:05.. and it was faster every time after that. Coach ran with us, which I really liked, cause it felt like he was pushing us and I worked harder to keep up with him. The workout felt fine. It never felt like I was about to die, which is generally how I feel about speed workouts. It just felt controlled and calm, kinda. I had to wear the gigundo watch the last two sets, and I'm pretty sure that added a couple seconds, cause that thing is huge. Anywho. My shin felt better than yesterday, but it still kinda hurt.

Vernon Worthen/All over the place. Mia and I ran together today, and we started at Vernon Worthen. I turned on the Garmin and we started running.. and promptly succeeded in getting ourselves hopelessly lost. We ran up Main Street, down Telegraph, on the Boulevard, all the way down to Denny's and McDonalds, past a couple yard sales, back up the street, through a parking lot, around the temple and finished with a mile and a half barefoot on the grass at the park. And after all that- the ten mile mark ended up being right at the door of my truck. We did our tempo from like mile 4 to mile 6.8ish. It felt really good.. no complaints here.

AM: Arctic Circle. My shin was NOT feeling good today. Stoner and I were kinda ahead of the group, but when we stopped at the turnaround, I wanted to cry. It hurt SO bad. So.. for this reason, I'm not running tomorrow.. and I'm really hoping this helps make it better. I'll ice tonight and stretch and whatnot and roll tomorrow morning.. I just want this to go away asap. Cause I'm actually excited for the meet on Friday.

On the track.. bleh.

Also on the track.. bleh (again.)

Ran in the morning.. no meet for me today. :P Kinda bummed.

To the clubhouse and back.. my shins hurt.. but it was hard to tell because the rest of my legs were exploding. Knees, quads, calves, you name it.. it killed. Kinda sorta wanted to die.

Speed workout (4x800- I Pace). Ugh. My shins were okay today.. nothing to really complain about. I could feel them, but I could push through it. It was really hard for me to breathe though. By the last 2 sets, I was really struggling. I don't know really what it is.. but I'm gonna get over it. Cause I'm sick of having really crappy workouts.

Green Springs Loop. First long distance in a while. Wasn't terrible at all. 20 minute tempo.. kinda stuck in with Mia. Shins felt pretty much the same as yesterday. I consider hiking Angels Landing to be my double for the day.. but while coming down the mountain, I kinda fell off a large step and landed hard on my left leg.. my shin didn't feel too hot after that. But I guess I'll see how it goes tomorrow.. it'll prolly be fine.

Remind me never to move to Coral Canyon. Yuck. And.. shin was terrible today. Along with my calves and knees.

Due to inclement weather, Stoner, Mia and I opted to run at the rec center. Terrible idea. I mean, I'm glad we didn't have to run outside because it was freezing and windy and yuck.. but inside was NOT friendly to my shin. We stopped at 5 because I was advised that if my shins have still been hurting, not to run 10, but we were bored out of our minds by that time anyway.

AM: Do I even have to say it?

PM: Workout. 1200, 2x1000, 3x800. DI warmup, Harts cool down. Really, really, crappy workout. Getting super tired of whatever is causing this breathing thing. It makes my chest tighten up and my stomach KILLS. But it wasn't just that, and I know it. I'm ridiculously stressed about the meet this week and kind of scared to death. And so my attitude was kind of terrible. I don't even know what else to say.

AM: Arctic Circle. Super cold this morning. My chest felt kind of tight and I had to take deep breaths.. but not a big deal.

PM: Random church by the hospital run. Very warm this afternoon.. it was just Stoner and me on the way back.. we were pretty quiet. Striders after.

AM: Arctic Circle. My hip wasn't feeling great this morning for some reason. Stopped and stretched it at the turnaround.

PM: Workout. 2x(2x1000, 4x200). Sooo frustrated right now. After the 1000's, I felt okay. But with each 200, it was getting harder and harder to breathe. And I was trying to relax it. But it just wasn't working. And then Coach Shaw and Esplin and them started talking about it. And I know they weren't being rude or anything, but it was just so embarrassing to me for them to notice how crappy I was doing. And I really tried to stick it in with the group on the next 1000. But I just couldn't get enough air in. And when they told me to stop, I felt like I was cheating. Everyone else finished the workout, but I didn't cause I couldn't suck it up and run. I just.. I'm glad the farthest I'm running at the invite is the 800.. hopefully that's short enough that my breathing won't have time to get bad. I told my parents to make a doctors appointment.. I guess we'll find out what's up. :P

AM: Arctic Circle..

PM: Didn't run.. twas at the doctors. Ended up with an inhaler. Not sure how I feel about it yet.

AM: Arctic Circle.

PM: Invite!! I prolly didn't get in as much today as I was supposed to.. but I did run back and forth cheering a bit so.. I'll count that. Just ran in the open 4 today. I used my inhaler before the race and it seems to have worked.. no wheezing or anything. But it was a short race, so who knows. That was definitely a hard race, and my time was not very great at all.. but it was way fun. I like middle distances sooo much better than long distance. I know that's probably a criminal offense coming from an xc runner.. but it's true. I was super tight afterwards, but it went away. The only thing that really bugged was a super dry throat. I guess it was caused by the inhaler.. I drank an entire bottle of water, some chocolate milk, and two Capri Suns before it finally went away.

So.. I ran two races today, but I don't know my split for the 4x4, so I went with the 800. So. I was much more nervous for this race than the one yesterday. I warmed up a lot better too. And used my inhaler. There were 5 stinking heats of it, and I was in the third, so I had to wait for a little while. But Liz and Abby were in it with me, so that made me feel better. They did the alley start for it, which makes me nervous beyond belief, and my start was rather terrible. I got trapped behind pretty much everyone. And I tripped when everyone finally cut in. So it took me quite a while to get back in it mentally, and my first lap was crap. When we got to where there was only 300 meters left, I started trying to make a move. Unfortunately.. so did the girl right next to me, and she shoved me out into the third lane. And I do mean that she shoved me. Quite hard. And I said "what the crap?!". Out loud. And I felt stupid after, but then I just passed her and forgot about it. It was around this point that I decided I needed to move or it was just gonna be like another bad workout. So I started my kick.. and passed everyone but the girl in the very front. And I found out later that she only beat me by .12 of a second. So.. I was pretty happy about this race. No dry throat afterward either. And later, Coach said that it was really a step in the right direction and stuff and at the time, I was kind of like "yeah, whatever." But then I started thinking about all the races and stuff I've run since State XC (American Fork, Nike, Footlocker, 5k for Taleah, half marathon, etc) and how crappy I felt after them. And today was pretty much the first race since then that I haven't felt terrible after. So.. I really am happy with the race today. (even if my 4x4 sucked). The End.

AM: Arctic Circle..

PM: Twas in Vegas. Didn't get it in. 

AM: Yup.

PM: Green Pole. With a few laps around at the school to get the extra mile in. It felt okay. No complaints. Just kinda felt long. 

AM: Same old stuff.

PM: Workout.. 10x400! DI warmup, Harts cool down. So. Today was the first day I've used my inhaler before a workout. And I was kinda nervous that it might not work. I was supposed to be hitting around 1:25 for each 400. And for the first 6, I hit right about there or lower. Then it got a little harder to breathe and I think I let it freak me out. I kinda lost it there for 2 or 3 laps, hitting as slow as a 1:28. But I really tried to keep positive and on the last one, I really tried to push it and I hit a 1:21. But really, it wasn't so bad. My breathing was relatively controlled and I stuck in there with Stoner and Frida for the first half. And I actually finished the workout, which is always a plus. To tell you the truth, I'm way excited for the meet this weekend (mainly because I'm not running the 3200.. but don't tell Coach).

AM: Yeah, yeah.

PM: 4 miles?! Could this be true? Out to Sandburgs and semi-waded out into the pond. We saw some cows- poor Frida! (:

AM: To Target with Stoner and Frida! Twas lovely.

PM: A few miles around Desert Hills with some striders. Bleh. Not great.

Definitely NOT my best race. It wasn't really my breathing, or my calves.. I just felt like I couldn't go. I tried. I felt like I was pushing myself.. but I just wasn't moving. I also ran the 800 in the medley.. ran the same time as last week, a 2:33. We took third though, so that was good.. I felt like I was going to pass out after though. It was SO hot. On the upside, I got a nice tan.

AM: This is getting super old, if I didn't already mention that.

PM: Speed workout. 5x800. My first two were good. I stuck with the group, but I'd start to get a little shaky on the last lap. The next three were not good. I was quite behind. Really frustrating. And I'd work myself up about it and for a couple of seconds, I'd not be able to breathe and I'd have to stop thinking about it and focus on my breathing. But I finished..

AM: Really, this isn't even necessary.

PM: Another workout. I'm debating whether Coach is trying to kill us off. 2x(2x1000, 4x200). After talking to Coach before practice, it was decided that I'd just stick with trying to hit the time based off of my mile, instead of Stoner and Frida's mile. That helped me to not freak out so bad. So I was supposed to be hitting a 4:14. The first 1000, I hit like a 4:00. The next one was a 4:03ish. The 200's were murderous. Then I discovered we only had 2 sets instead of three, and I questioned my choice in friends. The next 1000 was like a 4:07. Then came the really bad one. I felt like there was nothing left. It was so hot and I was feeling lightheaded and not good. Once we started, I felt a little better. But I still ended up hitting a 4:13. So, not as good as I'd been doing.. but still around where I was supposed to hit. The last 4 200's were actually pretty good. I was just anxious to get them over with. My last 2 actually felt good, even. And I ended up catching up to about 50 meters behind Kaylee and Frida, after starting my first one as they finished their first one. So.. I wouldn't deem this workout a total failure. I didn't feel like crap after. And I hit a time consistently. So.. I guess it was good.

AM: Uh huh.

PM: Sandburgs. Best. Run. Ever. I love the days we can run with all the girls. And today was quite especially amazing. Even if the guys are sketchy.. our girls are freaking amazing. All there is to it. The end.

AM: Sigh..

PM: Starbucks? with Roberts, Stoner, and Frida. We originally were going to run to Green Springs, but changed our minds when we got to Harts, so we turned and ran down whatever the road that has the DI and Jimmy Johns and all that stuff is called, and turned at Starbucks instead of Target. It was hot, but it was fun to have Roberts running with us and we listened to him and Frida talk about life in Sweden and such things.

So.. basically, I got up for practice today, felt like someone had stabbed me in the throat, and laid down on my couch and didn't get up. I'd decided that I'd probably end up missing running today, when who should appear on my doorstep but Mia. She dragged me off the couch and made me run the rest of the way with her. It felt good in my legs to get up and run a little bit, but my throat still wasn't feeling good. I played some Ultimate later in the night, so I got some other running in.. not a ton though.

Ugh. This has really just not been my week. Not only did I wake up with the same terribly sore throat this morning, but a lovely stuffy nose and pounding headache accompanied it. We got out and ran.. and really, it wasn't a terrible run. It didn't feel too long, and it was a nice little course thing.. but I just felt drained. My head had this thumping in it the entire run, and the tendon or whatever it is in my calf that holds up my arch was acting up. It's been hurting for forever, but it usually doesn't hurt when I run. Only after running, or when I jump. After the run, I went home and took a nap, which actually says something about how I was feeling, because I've always found far more interesting things to do than sleep in the middle of the day. So.. I ran. It wasn't great.. but it wasn't terrible either.

Ran with Kay and Frida from Frida's house almost to my house. It was really quite a good run. I managed to choke down half a bowl of oatmeal (okay, it was really more like brown sugar with a side of oatmeal) before I dumped the rest in the gutter. So I had energy, and my breathing was fine, and even my shins weren't as terrible as usual. It didn't feel super long and the entire way back was downhill. And Frida and Kaylee make wonderful company. We stopped at the Sullivan park to do steps and whatnot. We saw some geese flying around.. And then that was pretty much it. My back hurt today.. it was kind of weird. But by the time we got back, it was better.

So.. basically, my shins hurt. Went to talk to Mark and he told me I've got shin splints and it's probably because of my arch, and I might need an orthodic. I'm hoping not though.. I kinda hope the icing and taping will just kinda make it go away. This is really frustrating though. I just feel like it's been one thing after another. And really, I just want to go out and run. Fast, I might add.  

AM: Soo warm this morning. Felt amazing.

PM: Speed workout.. I paced the level 2 girls' 400s. They were supposed to be hitting 1:30's, so I was running that. I went and got taped, but it wasn't Mark who did it and she taped it wayyy too tight. My arch was killing. So I ended up taking it off halfway through.. after getting some help from Coach. After I took it off, my shin was kind of hurting. But nothing like yesterday or Saturday. So I'll just keep icing and stuff, and hopefully it gets better. Anywho, it was actually *gasp* a really fun workout. The girls were doing super good and I felt great. Hart's cool down. 

Did I really miss an entire week?! Blehh. Anywho, today was my first run in a while.. the first one worth reporting anyway. I ran a mile and a half on the track, pretty fast. I wanted to get some speed in since it's been FOREVER. Then I went on a cooldown with the girls, which brought my mileage up to three.. yippee.

I warmed up with the milers on the track today.. it felt quite lovely. I kinda went speedyish for the first lap and the last lap. The rest were just chill. Soooo excited for Friday it's not even funny.

My first race in a while! I wasn't super stressed about it, cause I kinda just wanted to see where I was at. I wasn't really planning on PRing or anything. So we went.. and I got WAY blocked in at the start. It took me 200 meters to get out of it, and then I started making up ground. I ended up running like a 1:19 first lap and a 1:16 second lap, which wasn't great, since Coach Gilmore told me not to run a negative split. But I was okay with it, because in all honesty, I'm just happy to actually be racing again. I just want to qualify for state SO BAD. But I only have two more races to do it. :P Oh. And the altitude or something is really bad up in Cedar though, because I could NOT breathe afterwards, and I was coughing super bad all night. So bad that I threw up while watching the steeplechase, actually. Which was kinda super embarrassing, cause I was just right by everybody. But whatever. I'm back, everybody. Hurray. 

So, I was all set to run the mile this morning, but Coach switched me into the Medley (hallelujuah!). But I was given instructions to really push myself out there, and I had to really work. So I was much more nervous today than last night. But I got my inhaler beforehand, which was nice, because I think it helped while I was running. Anyway, when I got the baton, we were in first by a ways. So the only thing going through my mind was to keep the lead. And run a 1:10 first lap, like Coach Gilmore told me to. So, I went out and did just that.. and then I started my second lap. I hit a wall like I never have before. I couldn't move. Everything was so tight and wouldn't work right. So the Box Elder girl passed me in the last 200 meters, and I felt like I could do nothing about it. I just couldn't keep up. So, no worries, I just ran a 1:25 second lap. 10 seconds slower than yesterday. I felt so bad, cause Liz, Alyssa and Janzen all did what they were supposed to do. But.. I'm gonna do workouts this week. And hopefully improve.

Speed workout! I did 1 of the 2 sets of 200, 200, 800, 300. I was taped, but I had to take it off, cause it was hurting super bad. My shin hurt after that, but it wasn't completely horrible. Anywho. Good workout. Glad to be back.

R.O.S.S epilogue (I guess?). Ran the whole thing today. Which was only four miles, but still. Jumped in the river. It was really fun.

Speed workout. I did the WHOLE thing! Aaand.. I kept up with Stoner! It was just fast, short stuff though. It was 2 sets of 2x200, 1x400 at F pace. But I was really happy with it, because I finished and stuck in there with them. Yippee.

Around Orem with Stoner and Mia. We ran everywhere! We also found two tennis balls, a Green Lantern ring, and an Athlete of the Year bracelet. It was a really really fun run.

AM: From the hotel to McDonalds and back with Stoner. Mostly uphill the whole way back and you could smell the Krispy Kreme, which was sooo yummy. But it was a nice, short run.

PM: From the hotel to the top of a hill and back, then all around a cool garden thing with Stoner and Mia. The garden was awesome! We learned all about different kinds of sprinklers, and Stoner and I got married. And moved into our house. Which happened to be next door to our priest. Who is also Mia. And then we went back to shower, and on our way out to dinner, got stuck in an elevator for half an hour with 20 people. But I only panicked a little. (:

Bleck. This race was sooo crappy it's ridiculous. Slowest time I've run since freshman year. I could not breathe! And I just felt like ick. I don't know why it's so hard for me all of a sudden. And the 800 was not much better. I don't know my time, but I don't really want to. But.. I really really really REALLY wanna qualify for state. My times aren't actually very near qualifying time, but my 800's the closest and if all else fails, I just wanna qualify by place. I'm gonna work my hardest these next two days and really do well on the 800 at region. Let's just say that I got all my bad races out of my system, and now I'm gonna do good from now on, kay?

Speed workout.. a super fun one! We pretty much sprinted until Coach whistled at us, but there were all kinds of different rules for each one, like you had to catch the person in front of you, or go faster every time he whistled. I missed the first two little things cause I was warming up. Then I joined in and it was wayy fun. I had trouble breathing during the one where we sped up every time he whistled.. but he had just given this speech about finding a new level of hurt, so I forced myself through it. And guess what? I survived. I had to take a smallish break in between the first and second 200s at the end, because I really was just not breathing well at all, but I finished the workout and felt really good about it.

Green Springs. It was so ridiculously hot today it's not even funny. We made it to the turnaround and I wanted to just lay down on the pavement and die. I was sore from yesterday too.. but in my arms. Yep. I ran so fast my arms are sore. I'm trying to find a way to make that sound cool. Anywho, then we had 4 200s after, and before we started, I thought I might not make it through. But I did. And I stuck right up front with them. And I breathed okay.

Heck. Yes. That pretty much sums up my entire racing experience today. I ran the medley 800. And it was super hot. And we didn't have the world's greatest handoff (okay, yeah it was pretty crappy). And I started in second to last. BUT. I didn't start out too fast. So when I started my second lap, I could start passing. I ended up passing 3 girls, and I really tried to get the last 2 but I just couldn't get there. And the Snow Canyon girl ended up passing me ON THE LINE. She beat me by .1 of a second. And I was pretty mad. But when Coach told me I broke 2:30, I was sooo happy. And. We. Qualified. For. State!!!!! So I'm pretty happy with my race today. Which is a nice change.

My 800 today wasn't great.. about 3 seconds slower than yesterday. I just didn't feel like I had any energy. I kicked enough at the end to be able to pass a few people and score a point.. but it wasn't anything too special.

The other race was the 4x4, which was a lot more fun. Alyssa kicked everyone's trash in the first leg, and Honeycutt kept us up in the top few. Then I went and I felt really good. A Hurricane girl ended up passing me in the first 100 meters so we were in third.. at the 250ish mark I tried to pass her again, but I didn't have enough energy to keep it up and finish passing her. I ended up running a 1:04.4.. which is 3 seconds faster than the last time I ran the 4x4. Liz did way good too on the last leg, and we ended up taking 3rd and qualifying for state by time and place. Twas pretty exciting.

Well.. I'm not quite sure if we actually ran 3 miles.. we wanted to get back to camp before the sun went down. But it was way fun, and the sunset was gorgeous. And we did some steep hills and took pictures on top of them (yes, we did have a camera on the run.) It was a good run. (:

Hell Holt. First day back!! Easy run with Roberts, Stoner, Kaylee and Nicole. Felt really good, even though certain people (Stoner and Kaylee) like to push the pace and run with the guys on the first day back!

Turtle Creek. Another easy run.. and the hill wasn't even bad. It's way nice to be back. And kids camp after! But I didn't really run a lot with them, cause I was too busy writing down names and all that fun stuff. The screaming game was kinda hilarious though.

Maverik. We ran with all the girls today! Megan, Kelsi, Aubrey, Kaelie, Kaylee, Stoner and I. It was way fun and felt super good.

Grass run. The guys found a soccer ball and kept playing with it and it slowed them way down so we were right up on them the entire time. And none of them can count laps, even when they run on the rocks. The girls, however, knew exactly what lap we were on the entire time. No lie.

In'n'out. Me and Stoner ran with Liz Lunt today. It was a lovely end to the week, and on my way home I found one of those SkyBall things that bounces like 75 ft in the air.. if I ever get to come to practice again, I'll bring it. :P

Ran with my mom today cause *sigh* I started working at the golf course. And it sucks. Or more accurately, I suck. My hands are covered in blisters, there is an 11 inch scar thing running down my leg, and a large patch of fairway missing from hole #17. The run was good though! We did it in the evening, cause my mom decided 5:10 in the morning would be an excellent time to bail on me. But it was nice and cool. My mom couldn't quite keep up with me though.. Ah well. She'll improve with time, I'm sure.

I know, we aren't supposed to run 5 yet. I blame my father. My mom and I started the run at my cousins house in Enoch and my dad was supposed to come pick us up on his way home. Well.. he forgot something at their house and had to go back and get it.. meanwhile, my mother and I made it all the way to Cedar City. Well.. actually, I made it all the way to Cedar City, then turned around and ran back to find my mom. She was a half mile behind me, and somehow I managed to get to her right as my dad did. So we all hopped in the car and drove away. But I guess the extra mileage can help make up for not running yesterday (sorry, Coach, it was my brother's 8th birthday! That's a good excuse, right?)

So I know it looks very unimpressive to have a week and a half blank on here, but please rest assured that I did in fact run. I don't exactly remember last weeks runs, so I kinda just skipped writing about them. And while I didn't exactly go running this week, I was playing like 2 and a quarter soccer games a day, which completely and totally kicked my trash. By Wednesday, I could barely even move. So I promise, I ran. And today, I ran with Mia! We ran this lovely loop out in the Fields that I probably couldn't replicate if I tried. I just followed Mia. But we talked the whole time, and I forgot I was even running. It felt super good. Unfortunately, Saturdays are looking like the only time I'll ever be able to run with the team, and even then maybe not cause on some days they'll have to wait til 8:30. Mis padres won't let me take more time off work for anything such as soccer conditioning, xc practice, or girls camp. Say goodbye to my social life. (But don't be alarmed, because I will for surely be at XC camp.)

Ran with Mia.. except she took a billion years to get to my house and I'd fallen asleep on the floor by the time she showed up. And it was quite dark outside. But I'm sure you've all heard the creepy stalker jogger man story, so I'm not going to go over that, cause everyone just asks me why we talked to him and I have to explain all over again that it wasn't our fault, and what were we supposed to do?! Anywho, I talked to my boss about maybe starting work at 5, mowing a side of greens, and then coming to practice at 7:30, which is about when we start running anyway. I think either the entire world hates me, or it's just not meant to be that I make it to practice, cause he said that they have water running that early and it probably wouldn't work out except maybe once or twice a week. Which, I mean, is great, I'll take what I can get. But I'd really like to get out there everyday. And making it to kids camp would be wonderful as well. But I swear, my mom and I have discussed every single possibility and none of them work out. But dearest Mia said she would run with me twice a week in the evening, if that's all right with Coach, because it is ten times easier to get out running when there's someone who will run with me (my mom doesn't count, cause she can't keep up, and usually doesn't want to run anyway).

Okay, okay, okay. I am, in fact, alive. And I promise, starting today, I will be much more diligent about updating. Today I ran with Stoner. She brought her knife in case any Quail Ridge creepers tried to kidnap us. Luckily, no one did, but she threatened a little tiny dog and threw the knife at a lady doing yard work. And the sad part is.. I'm not even joking. Oh how I have missed running with this girl. I felt okay.. I could definitely feel the three days I missed while in Salt Lake last week. And the pace was a lot quicker than I do by myself too.. but that felt good, actually. All in all, it was a good run.

Today was Mia's day to run with me.. we planned on running at 7, but she can't actually be on time to save her life, so we got going at 7:30. It was.. HOT. Neither of us really felt very good, but we ran and finished. Then we went and bowled and played frisbee and watched Stoner slip and fall on her butt right in time to avoid being hit in the face with a sprinkler. Funniest thing I've ever seen, for sure.

Oh my heck. Best run EVER!! After a few hours at the river, Mia and I met up with Stoner  to run.. We drove my truck out to the Motel 6 to save our spot for fireworks later, then we ran back to my house. But it was only 4 miles, so we had to add on.. we were pretty creative. We began the run with Mia pulling a knife on some lady who walked into the bathroom at Sinclair And Backlebee. Then we went up into Middleton and found the coolest/creepiest machine ever at the park there.. it would record your voice, then play it back to you all weird. Then we continued on, trying to find a way out of Middleton and saw the cutest bunny statue in someones yard. Oh wait.. it wasn't a statue. It was just a giant bunny that was very good at sitting still. Scared the crap out of me. Finally we found a way out, but a white cat started chasing us, and we had to hop a fence. Then I found a plastic army guy whose leg was (almost) amputated in battle. We found a shopping cart not far beyond that, and put him in it, along with Mia, and tried to push it to the road. We didn't get very far. We each had a turn riding in it until we got it to the road entering Middleton, where we left it. We did some somersaults on a grass hill, then ran up Green Springs Drive and added on a little more through the desert by the golf course.. and we ran through the sprinklers on the golf course too. And then some more sprinklers by the pro shop, which soaked us. At that point, we started talking about hippie mermaids and such things.. I've definitely missed these conversations. And the weather was perfect. And to end the night, FIREWORKS!! Which are kinda my favorite ever. Basically, today was kind of amazing. The end.

I got off work early today.. Hallelujah. Although it is getting more enjoyable.. I'm pretty sure it was designed as a constant reminder of how unfit I am to work outdoors. I've been (almost) dragged into a pond by a mower, fallen face first into the bunker I had just raked, dropped a trailer door on my leg, and just today, slipped on some grass while mowing and smacked on the ground on my side, with my mower falling over a few inches away. Luckily, there were only three people around for that one, and they weren't watching. Anyway, what I'm trying to say, is that it was a good thing today was a short day. Because it was, I went running right after work. Except my mom has become extraordinarily grumpy every time I ask her to run with me. So Alli came, and rode her bike beside me while I ran. It was SO. HOT. And Alli wouldn't stop for water at the Chevron cause apparently it scares her (although I don't really blame her; it is kinda ghetto). So we went without water. I went from feeling really good to feeling super crappy like every 5 minutes, but I'm glad I got it over with and don't have to worry about it tonight. Cause yesterday I waited til it got cool, then my parents informed me that they didn't want to come with me, and I wasn't allowed to go by myself in the evening because I might get stolen. I blame Mia for this, because it was her blog that my mom snooped into and read about the creeper man. But I'm gonna try and do yesterday's run on Sunday (sinning, I know, but I already have to work that day, so I might as well just be absolutely terrible instead of just kinda terrible).

Long run for the week: FINISHED! kaylee, Mia, stoner and I ran out in the fields, through sand and sprinklers and such. It was dandy. My right foot kinda hurt.. Not sure what was going on there, but hopefully it's not anything. I am thouroughly convinced, however, that I am not going to make it through the summer alive. After the run, iwas driving home and this car was right on my tail all the way from the log lane church to Washington elementary. Then I turned, and the car kept going.. But then it turned around and drove past the street I had just turned on.. Then it backed up and turned down the street I was on! Yes, I was watching out my rear view mirror the entire time I was driving. It's a good thing not many living beings were out on the streets. Anyway, the car kept following me all the way to quail ridge, where I turned.. And the car turned with me, then passed me and stopped at the stop sign and waited for me to come up behind it.. and a man got out and came to my window and knocked.. Okay, just kidding. When I turned at quail ridge, it went straight and I never saw it again. Pretty anticlimactic, huh. But I was still super freaked out. The end.

I ran today to make up for the run I missed Thursday. My mom and I ran down Green Springs Drive to the pro shop, where we turned and ran down that road til we got to the number 6 fairway on the golf course. That was 2 miles. Then I ran 3 grass miles out on the fairway (I had my dads phone with a GPS so I knew what I was doing.) Then we ran a mile to make it a loop run home! It was pretty hot out there (100 degrees for the first 3 miles), even though it was 9 pm. There was a sprinkler that hit me every time I started a new lap on the fairway. But it was still hot. The pain in my foot from yesterday was gone, so that's good. All in all, it felt fine. Glad I got it done, instead of just missing the grass run this week.

Coach had the wonderful idea today of deciding we would start doubles this week. I mean, it makes perfect sense: "Hey! It's 108 degrees today! Let's have all the kids go run at three in the afternoon!" Okay.. just kidding. It really wasn't even that bad. The heat didn't affect me as much as I thought it would. I really felt fine. I ran with Aubrey and Kaelie, and that was fun. They're doing awesome. I can really see them on varsity this year. Anywho, yes. We ran 3 miles in the afternoon, with lifting afterward, which was fine. Katie said she'd run with me this evening, since my family is in Cedar pretty much every night this week, Mia has started working, and Stoner is at yet another family reunion. I mean really. Who even likes their extended family that much? (Kidding again.. kind of.) Anyway. I highly doubted that I could convince Katie to run 5 miles with me, so I went out and ran 2 by myself, then when I got back to my house, Katie was driving up. So we ran 3 together, and she even kept a good pace for someone who has run exactly 4 times since 2012 started. It was still hot outside, but it was fine. I got a sideache, and then my whole stomach started hurting.. but it wasn't terrible. All in all, it was a fine day.

Ick. I felt way yucky today. Katie said she'd run again with me today, but when I texted her, she didn't answer. So I went out by myself. By the time I got to 1.5ish miles, I just felt awful. My stomach hurt so bad I thought I was gong to puke. The I got almost to the turnaround, and who did I see? Yup. Katie and her dog. Apparently her dog is better company than I am or something.. Whatever. (: anyway. By the end, I just said to myself 'just finish this terrible run.' so I picked up the pace and finished the last half mile. The end.

So.. Mia and I were supposed to run yesterday. But due to some terrible planning on my part, we couldn't until late. And then my parents said no cause we'd get stolen. And apparently some sex offender was arrested last night for three counts of something or other, which only made my parents even more sure they'd made the right choice. But I did come for afternoon practice today! Along with.. No one. Except the guys. So guess who I ran with? Yep. The guys. Between Byron, Matt, and the fat guy in the back of a truck, I was thoroughly entertained. And also a little bit frightened. But whatever. It felt good, and it wasn't too hot today. Lifted after. But..uh.. Don't kill me coach. But my parents won't let me go out cause of the lightening. I had really been doing so good til now. But I'll do one of them on Sunday. Cannot wait til xc camp. Sooo excited.

Ran with mi madre in the rain! It's not every day you can run at noon in St. George without collapsing in a puddle of sweat and misery, so I took advantage of it. The rain felt wayy good and it felt good to be out running. Something's up with my hip though.. today when I was mowing greens I turned the mower and this sharp pain went through my hip. It was only for a second though. It was like I popped it, but it hurt way worse. It happened a couple times during the run too, but only once did it hurt as bad as it did on the golf course. So, don't know what's going on there. Left my mom just after we passed the golf course, and ran down to the Christian church by Quail Ridge, turned there, ran down Quail Ridge Drive til it connected with Fairway, then ran down Fairway til Silverstone IV. Then I got on the main road and ran back to my house. While I was on Quail Ridge, I was thinking about this season, mainly state. I really don't want to let my head mess up my last season of XC. Anyway, I was thinking about running at state, and just kinda imagining what it's gonna be like and stuff. Then I kinda snapped out of it, and realized how fast I was going. I mean, I didn't have a GPS or anything to know what pace I was going, but it felt like I was flying. I was breathing really hard too, but that might have been because of the rain, cause that happens. I tried to keep going that fast, but it was kinda hard after I'd realized what I was doing, cause I was actually pretty tired. But it was kinda a cool experience for me.. maybe if I can do that in races, it would help. My dad's been trying to tell me to do that since I started XC, but I keep telling him that obviously I know everything there is to know about anything, especially running. Maybe I should start listening to him. I probably won't, but ya know. I can always say I'm going to.

Ran with Mia out in the fields. It was super humid today, cause I didn't wake up in time to run in the rain. I was too busy enjoying the sleeping in I got to do since I have the weekend off. It was an okay run. Felt like it took a long time. My hip didn't bug me during the run, but afterward it did. It will just hurt randomly, maybe when I move a certain way. Like it's popping, but ouchier.

PM: three with Aubrey, Nicole, Erin, and Taylor. Felt really good; it was nice and cool, even though it wouldnt rain, which was stupid. Lifting after (ps.. I did THIRTY BENCH PRESSES. That is a major accomplishment for me, considering during track I avoided bench presses like the plague).

Um.. also PM: i did soccer conditioning with Katie. We did 27 sets of sprints and 3 stadiums. Not sure of the mileage on that, but I was extremely tired. It's been a while since I sprinted like that. And.. It rained for like an hour while we were playing soccer, then as soon as we started conditioning, what do you know. The sun came out to watch us suffer. Whatever.

Ran 3 miles with Katie from the school to mi casa.. we were gonna run to Arctic Circle but my friend is a genius and locked her keys, my moms school keys, and both our phones in her car. Then we got a ride back to the school and did L runs and stadiums. Again, not sure on the mileage.. I'm just kinda making it up.

Ran 5 on a treadmill at the rec center, cause my mom was going there and I had a captains meeting in an hour. It sucked.

3 in the afternoon with the team.. Kaylee Boyer came to run with us! Super excited about that, especially that she didn't hate me after I tried to ruin her college running career with my greens mower yesterday. Actually it was her fault.. you're not supposed to walk in front of a lawn mower, but whatever. Later, did box runs and stadiums with Katie.

Ran with Stoner today.. it's been forever since I saw that girl last! We were both feeling kinda yucky, so it wasn't a fabulous run. But it was fun to catch up. We met at the school and ran Double Churches.

The first run with Mia AND Stoner in forever. We started at Mia's house and ran out to Summit, then added on on the way back. Finished it up with grapes and P90X. The run was okay-ish. Not terrible, not great. The P90X was killer. And the grapes were delicious. 

OKAY. First off, I would like to apologize in advance for the next few posts. Someone else did my entries for me. You'll never guess who.

AM: First time at practice in FOREVER. Read the team a letter from Frida, which was super exciting. XC camp later today.

PM: First run at camp. Easy 4. i really enjoyed being up here. michael finch is amazing i'm glad he cam up here too. i really think he is a good gangster. next time for my birthday i'm going to have him rap for me :)

AM: 9. today was one of my longer days but i felt fine. after the run i was sooo hungry. i think i ate 10 french toast! afterward i stared at michael for 20 min.

PM: 3, felt this mornings run in my legs. but i was still alright. had a good conversation with mia about gouda. played volleyball after. So fun. i spiked it down coach roberts face 3 times!

AM: 5. ran up a huge hill. it was really hard but i'm glad i did it. the boys ahead of us didn't mark the milage very well so we went a little to far but it was alright. the way back was really fun. i pretty much sprinted the whole way cause i was excited to see michael play volleyball. he's so cool!

PM: 3, ran by the lake with the boys. had a few action shots from stoners mom's camrea. almost beat the boys back but didn't sprint at the end. streched after and throw rocks at everyone. afterward i did my hair up high and everyone thought i was cool.

AM: 4. today michael and i wore the same shirt for third time this week! we took this run easy but i still felt sore. cleaned up camp after. even helped the boys because they are so slow. now camp is over and i'm sad but i'm glad for all the memories i was able to obtain through the years. since i was captain up here i got to give a few speeches and stuff and that was fun. plus i got to know the team better after missing so much. i love cross country! (and michael)

(Kay, this is actually me speaking again.) All in all, camp was an amazing experience for me. Being a captain up there and planning all the activities and getting to know everyone on the team was such a blast. I absolutely love our team, and I know we're gonna do some awesome things this season. I'm sad it was my last year of camp, for sure, but I'm super excited to see everyone grow and improve as individual runners and as team members. Love XC and our team!

7 miles with 2 tempo. Kay, it might not have actually been a full 7.. probably closer to 6.5. Anyway, we all met at the high school today (well, like 9 girls and 12 guys or something like that.) Stoner and Mia and I ran out hospital direction. Cause my hip started hurting yesterday, I was kinda hesitant to do the full 2 mile tempo, because it usually hurts when I go faster. We spent forever trying to figure out how I might be able to cut the tempo short and still run with them, and finally I just decided that I would start with them, and if it hurt too terribly bad, I would stop after a mile, but if it felt okayish I would just do the whole thing. My legs just felt trashed today.. they were pretty sore and felt heavy. And the really weird thing was that all three of us were having more trouble breathing down here than we did up at camp. Anyway, we started our tempo at Starbucks and ran that pace all the way back to the high school. My hip felt totally fine; don't know what was wrong with it yesterday. The only thing I had that I could possibly complain about during the tempo was how hard it was to breathe, but when I listened, Stoner and Mia were breathing just as hard as me, which made me feel better. Overall, a good run, and I'm glad I dragged myself to practice this morning instead of having to do it by myself later.

Today wasn't exactly a hard core workout.. I met up with stoner and Mia at the high school and we ran sandbergs. Except none of us woke up very early, so we didn't get out there til 10. It was soooo hot. We jumped in the river and waded around for a while. Stoner almost caught a fish, who I dubbed Roger. Then we ran out and doorbell ditched Jareds house.. Then we stopped at Janzens for water.. Then we dove into sandbergs three times.. The we finally made it back to the school. It was just so hot. We drove to harts for water.. Then we went home. The end.

Well. I woke up at 5 this morning to go t work,so we could start mowing early so we could get to tryouts on time. Finished mowing, which (and I'm sure I've mentioned this before) is five walking miles. Too bad I'm a runner, not a walker. Then I went to soccer tryouts and ran around there.. Who knows the mileage on that. Then I went back to work until 2:20. Then I went to practice! it was a nice easy three with Mia, Nicole, and Erin. We talked about playing instruments and working. Then we lifted weights and did plyos. And that's the end of my tale. I felt just grand today.. Probably won't be the case tomorrow. We'll see. I might try to get in a few more miles this evening. It might not happen, since it's my sisters birthday.. She's thirteen. No joke. We now have two teenagers in the Peterson house. This'll be interesting.

Pretty much the same exact thing as yesterday. Except without the lifting and plyos. The end.

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.

3 miles during my second block of time and 3 400's during the Dash for Cash. My legs fell off and withered away after every 400. Felt like that anyway. I slept a little before the 400's, so I was kinda tired. But everyone on the silver team did way good and worked really hard. I was way proud of them. Aaaaand.. we won. (: First time my team has ever won. Ever. Probably due to my excellent leadership skills and level-headedness when problems arose. Am I right? (That question was rhetorical. Don't answer. Please.)

4x1 mile cruisers T pace with .25 recovery and pizza hut warm/cool. Our pace for each mile was supposed to be about 7 minutes, with Aubrey at 7:20 and Taylor at 7:30. We got out kinda fast, and the first mile was much quicker for everyone.. Mia and I ran a 6:28. The next one was more relaxed at a 6:44. The third one, Aubrey ran with Mia and I the entire time and we ran a 6:52. Then the last one was just Mia and I and we ran a 6:22, even though the boys got in our way on the last lap. It was a good workout. Felt fine throughout it and was mentally okay too. My breathing kinda started getting bad on the last two laps of the last mile, and at first I tried to calm it down and relax, but then we hit the last lap, and I was like 'what the hey, who cares.' and just kinda pushed through it. Plyos after, and my legs were just kinda dead. It was fun to have Alli there and run with her.. Weird that next year, she's gonna be out there doing what I've been doing for the past four years.. And I'm not.

Easy run in the morning with Stoner and Mia. Felt lovely. Got murdered in the soccer game later.. I recieved 3 mild concussions and infectious wounds on both my knees. Of course, that's my own diagnosis.. I haven't seen a professional about this yet.

Stoner and Mia were late (again) so I ran with Kaelie and Nicole and Liz and Aubrey and  Sally and Roberts. It was grand. Striders after with Liz and Aubrey. Love the girls on our team!

Easy 3 with 4x200s. I think Liz and Kaelie are planning a mutiny because they are so sick of Stoner and Mia being late all the time.. I don't think it's such a bad idea. (: Anywho, the run was lovely. 200's were a little less lovely, but still fine. I just love morning practice (and that's not even a lie).

Eh. Definitely not my best race.. but not my worst either. I started out really well.. didn't get boxed in or anything, and for the first mile-ish I was up there in the top 30. But my legs felt like they were dead. I honestly felt like I was pushing so hard, but wasn't going anywhere.. I kept getting passed. It may have just been because we played such a hard game yesterday and I was still somewhat recovering. Anyway, with like .75 of a mile to go, Mia came up and ran with me and got me going a little faster.. So I passed a few girls there. I still love that course and that race.. but yesterday just wasn't super good.

AM: 4x30 sec F pace w/ 1min rec, 3x800 I pace w/ 2min rec, 3x1000 T pace w/ 1min rec. Pizza hut warm/cool. Well today was just another one of those days when I just didn't want to go to practice. But, I dragged myself there. Started out on the 30 second things, and they were pretty easy. Kinda just ran by Coach and went as fast as he did. The first 800 I was going fairly quickly I felt like, even though I tripped on a rock and the little bendy thingy inside the bottom of my shoe curled up. Just ran with Coach again. The second 800 was the same, felt okay, but a little sickish. Then I decided I needed to run to the bathroom, so I sped over there, thinking we were gonna start our 1000s so they'd wait for me. But when I came back, they were starting another 800! So I hurried over and started on my own. It was harder not knowing where exactly I should be, so by the end I was just catching the back of the group. Then we started our 1000s. Someone decided we should do them Indian style, and at first I was not happy about it. But when we started them, I decided I liked it better that way.. Less mental, more about just staying with the person in front of you. These weren't exactly easy, but I didn't think they were that hard either. By the end of the last 2 of them, I was feeling like we weren't going fast enough, but I was a little hesitant to break the whole Indian line thing.. So I didn't go nearly as fast as I could have. Anyway. It was a fine workout. What I need to figure out is why I can have such good workouts and then have not-so-impressive races.

PM: easy three.. Took us forever cause we were all dead from this morning and we had to stop every ten feet so stoner could stop laughing.

Easy 3 to Arctic Circle. We kept getting scared cause of the lightning.. but it made me super excited for a storm! Striders after.. we ran and screamed at some random people on the field dressed in black. Kinda. Mostly Stoner screamed and the rest of us laughed.

AM: Four with Roberts, Mia, Stoner and Kaelie G! Mia and Sally and I learned an important lesson. Never ever fall behind Stoner and Kaelie! We saw Mrs. Threet.. that was weird. And Stoner and I shoved Roberts and got handfuls of sweat. Ick.

AM: Three with Sally and Liz and Kaelie and Stoner and Mia. During our 200's we saw a giant explosion in the sky and men started raining down on us.. at which point we and the cheerleaders broke into song ("it's raining men! Hallelujah!"). Then the cheerleaders climbed higher so they could see it better, since it's a well known fact that it's impossible to see the sky from the ground. At first it looked like a giant light saber, then it morphed into a black hole, then the East Australian Current. I think we even saw Crush, Squirt, and Nemo. Anyway, that is the end of my tale.

AM: three to Arctic Circle. Ran in front of the guys on the way there. Played some line running game. Felt way good.

PM: three at Sugarhouse. Something weird was going on with my knee and I couldn't run normally for the first half mile-ish. And everytime we went up a hill, my legs just died. That got me kinda worried for the race- I was just kinda hoping the course wouldn't be too hilly. Yeah.. Turns out that was a joke.

RACE: So.. When we got there and started warming up, the JV girls were racing and half of them were walking. Then some guy told us the course, and showed us there were three huge hills we'd have to run up.. Yay. But I was kinda excited. I told myself after Murray that at Herriman if my legs got tired again, I'd just push through it, and I was feeling confident. After some great pre-race cheers, we started the race.. I got out pretty well again, and Stoner and I were right together for the first loop. The first uphill felt fine and we passed a bunch of girls. Then the gimongous downhill, which was pretty intense. Then there was a little hill, and my legs died again, and Stoner took off. But I pushed it still and stayed in my position for a while. Then some Lehi girls passed me and I was like 'what the heck am I doing?' and forced myself to pass them. After the huge downhill again, we got to up the mutha cussa, which was everything I dreamed it would be and much more. I felt like I was walking the thing. I honestly thought for a second that I was going to stop. Then I passed Coach and he told me I needed to go right then. I didn't actually feel like moving much at that particular moment though, so I didn't.. Until we got to the last downhill, which got me going again and I actually made it up the last hill pretty fast, putting a 12 second gap in between me and the girl behind me. So I was pretty happy with the race. I didn't give up, even though my legs tightened up like crazy on every hill. And our team did totally amazing too. So happy with our girls and how hard they've all worked. Awesome trip and awesome race, even though it was the craziest, hardest course EVER.

Ran with Stoner and Mia at about 10:30, cause I had work this morning. We went from Stoner's house out toward the airport.. We weren't sure on exact mileage, and we made a wrong turn at one point, but we were pretty close. It was warmish and we weren't feeling amazing, but we got it done. At the end we had 1 mile hard, so we did that and I kinda just felt like I was floating.. I wasn't really there all the way mentally. Probably because I only got 5 hours of sleep last night. But it was still a good pace and we did it together so.. Good run I guess. Happy to have it done and have the rest of the weekend off.

Well.. Woke up late so I ended up running by myself. And I misunderstood the running blog, and thought we had 3 miles with 2 miles of Indian runs during it. Turns out we had 3 miles THEN two miles of Indian runs,so the team was nowhere to be found on the course to arctic circle. But I ran it pretty fast, cause I was kinda scared of running alone (which I later got in trouble with my dad for doing) When they got back to the school I finished the 200's with them. It was fine. Felt bad for sleeping in.. But I probably need the extra sleep, and it was my first time ever being late to morning practice (this year anyway) so I guess it's okay.

Easy 3 with some striders on the freezing baseball field.. we thought our feet were falling off.

Michigans w/ Pizza Hut warm/cool. So, this morning I woke up and couldn't keep my eyes open. I was honestly a little scared driving to practice. I had to stay up last night after the game to do my math. So this morning, I wasn't expecting to have that great of a workout. I was just so exhausted. My warm up was super slow. When we started our Michigans, Stoner, Mia and I were running together. Throughout the whole first set, I was just dreading the time the pace would get too fast for me to keep up. But it stayed fairly easy for the first set. When we moved onto the track to start our second set, I took the inside and we kinda started picking up the pace (it felt like that anyway.. we might not have been going much faster). The next 3 800's on the warm up loop just kept getting faster.. I was terrified Stoner was gonna leave me, so I kept going faster and she'd come with. On the last 800, we pushed it pretty fast. Then we hit the track and the only thing going through my head was "I'm almost done!" so I just tried to finish as fast as possible. My time ended up being 28:33. I don't know how that compares to years past, but I made A standard. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, and I had a much more positive workout than I expected. Overall, it was pretty good.

AM: Arctic Circle as usual. Didn't run yesterday.. trying to catch up on sleep and get the sickness out of me. Ended up okay.

PM: Race!! Warmed up more than we usually do cause Coach kinda got on our case about it. I was kinda freaking out before the race, which is actually unusual for this season. But the coaches and my mom kinda calmed me down. Then we started the race.. and Stoner and I biffed it cause Mia cut Stoner off and we both tumbled. But we were okay and restarted and all was fine. I was nervous because I don't really like races that we have to start out fast. But it was okay.. except girls were throwing elbows and cutting us off all over the place. I felt like we were going a good pace though. Then all of a sudden six red uniforms passed me and I realized I was running behind the entire team of American Fork. My mom told me to pass them, and I was feeling okay so I passed three of them.. then Coach later told me that by the next time he saw me he wanted me to be ahead of the other three. But by the next time I saw him, it was like 400 meters away from the finish and I still hadn't passed them. So I started kicking and realized I had more left than I thought. So I ended up passing 5 girls at the end. But at the last 50 meters or so, all these people started cheering for this girl to pass me.. I could hear her coming and I started freaking out. Somewhere inside of me, I found the energy to push enough to beat the girl by .3 of a second.. anyway. Turned out to be a pretty positive race, which was nice. Happy with it.

Started out the morning with a workout at Sugar House. We began with a 3 mile warm up and then started into the workout which was 3x(2min hard/1min rec, 1min hard/1min rec, 30 sec hard/30sec rec). We were supposed to regroup during each recovery.. and some of the girls started falling off kinda far so we didn't cover much ground, since most of our recoveries were the wrong way. There are 3 big hills at Sugar House.. and we hit one of them on each of our 2 minuters. That wasn't much fun, and our feet were soaking wet, but other than that, it was a good workout. Then we ran over to the park to watch the JV race.. we got there right as they shot the gun, so that worked out well. Felt really good today.. but I was a little sore and my back still hurts.

Workout. 4x30 sec F pace, 3x 800 I pace, 2x 1000 T pace. All on the track. :P It started out well.. the 30 seconder things were fine. As was the first 800. Then.. I kinda fell apart. My legs hurt so bad! And my breathing went weird, but I think that's more mental.. when something else is going wrong, my breathing goes haywire. Because the inhaler didn't help a ton. So that's my self-diagnosis. Anyway, so my last 2 800s were icky. Not really great at all. The 1000s we did Indian style again- hallelujah. There's no way I woulda stuck in there if we'd done them normally. But they were good.. there was some confusion at a few points, where we weren't sure if we were supposed to pass whoever was in front, because the pace was slowing down. But other than that, they were good. By the end of the second 1000, it was me, Stoner and Mia doing the Indians by ourselves.. that was interesting. Having only three people is kinda fun.. but at the same time it's a little more tiring because you have to push so much more often. Anyway, the workout was okay. Not super pleased with it, but I ended it strong, so it was all right.

Easy 3 with striders.. had a pretty wimpy showing from the girls side today.. there were only six of us. But we had a nice run.. we even broke a record. Striders after were fine too. Something's wrong with my back though.. for like the past month, it's been hurting.. but not awful. Today though, it killed every time I took a step. I don't know if I did something to it, but it's killing me.

So.. kinda frustrated. I got tripped at soccer yesterday and did something funky to my hamstring. I thought I'd be okay during the workout.. if a little slow. But by the time we got to our 3rd lap of the Michigan.. I was 20 or so yards behind. Coach pulled me off the track and had me stretch. And at first I was okay with it.. I don't want to hurt it more or anything. But when everyone started finishing and had such great workouts, I started to get kinda mad. I could have had a really good workout too.. and that's the second not-so-great workout for me this week. I'll ice it tonight and stretch and stuff.. and hope and pray it gets better by tomorrow.

Hamstring was better today.. my soccer coach made me leave practice early yesterday to go talk to Mark, cause I couldn't run very fast. But Mark wasn't there so I went to get some ice.. only there were no ice bags. So I iced later that night and rolled and stretched this morning.. it's feeling better, but is still kinda sore. So I didn't do the 200's, just to be safe. But I'm sure I'll be fine for the game tonight and meet tomorrow. I'll keep stretching and ice more tonight after the game.

Well.. definitely not my best race. I was sick and my back was killing me, so I was already struggling mentally. I just got out there and died. I felt like I couldn't breathe and I was letting girls pass me all over, and I only passed 2 girls on the track. I was super bummed after. Then all of a sudden I couldn't even stay standing anymore. I was super dizzy and shaky. So my dad made me go straight to bed when I got home (well, as soon as he was done lecturing me on how I've done this to myself by doing so much running and soccer on so little sleep and food) and except for work, the car wash, and a math test, I've been confined to the house to rest all weekend. I've slept more this weekend than I have in forever. 8-9 hours of sleep a night and 3-4 hour naps. I'm still sick, but hopefully this helps and gets me back on track for region.

So, I was all ready for the same workout we did last Monday, but guess what. The blog lied. So we actually had 3x1 mile T pace+4x200. I was much happier with that. Our miles were supposed to be like 6:30-6:45. Our splits went 6:28, 6:28, 6:30. With every one, my calves got tighter and tighter.. by the last lap of the last mile, they just wanted to fall off. Also, my ears are stopped up and I couldn't hear anything. You wouldn't think that's that bad, but let me tell you. It's miserable. I couldn't hear anything Coach was saying, and every ten seconds or so, my heart would start pounding in my ears, then fade away again. During the 200's I was okay-ish.. the last one I was finally just like "oh, suck it up." and I went much speedier. Overall, it was a pretty good workout, except it took the entire cool down and then some for me to catch my breath. I really need to ice and roll out to get my legs back.

Easy 3 with 2x400 at the end. Easy peasy.

Easy 3 with striders on the freezing grass.. thanks, Liz.

Easy 3 with 4 200s.. and our last region soccer game, during which I ran my tail off. It was somewhat exhausting. I feel like soccer should count for mileage. But it's like over now, so whatever.. :P

AM: Easy 3 with.. nothing?! Dunno what happened there. A little sore from the game last night; I got shouldered in the quad (don't even ask how.. I jump like a black guy, apparently) and it's not feeling so great. My back never really got any better after the chiropractor either. Other than that though, I was feeling okay.

PM: Ahh! First double in a million zillion years! I was actually kinda excited for this workout.. but not really. We had a 1 mile warm up to Pizza Hut, then 2x1mile, 1x1000, 1x400, 4x200, all on the track. We started our first mile without Coach, and we just kinda assumed we were supposed to run around the same time we did last workout, which was a 6:30-6:40ish. Then after two laps, Coach informed us he wanted us to run 6:25's. Oh. So we picked it up a little, but I was expecting to be around a 6:30ish, since our first two laps had been slow. Turns out, we were speedier than I thought, and we came in at 6:16. That was kinda cool, cause I wasn't even tired really. Then we ran another at 6:18, and Liz went beast mode and stuck with us the whole time.. that was legit. Super proud of her. Our 1000 was kinda just me and Stoner together, and we ran that in 3:45.. we probably should have pushed the second lap harder. Ah well. The rest of the workout Stoner and I ran together, and our 400 was a 1:18. Our 200's felt fairly quick.. no times or anything on those, but I felt fine. My feet were killing me afterward, as I jammed a toe a few months ago and it's still hurting, and for some reason my left arch was hurting too. But the workout was over, so I didn't really care. Stoner, Mia, Kaelie and I started on our cool down.. but I kept coughing super hard, and eventually started gagging, so I turned around. Coach passed me and asked if I was puking, and I said no and kept going.. a few steps later, I puked. Gross. But it wasn't bad or anything, it's just cause of my cough. Later Roberts, Maquel and Aubrey invited me to cool down with them and I was able to run fine. Roberts and I had a conversation about region and what it's going to take for me to run with confidence and stuff like that. Our team can do it, I know we can. We just have to get it in our heads, and go out and do it.

'Easy' 3.. Holy speedy! I guess discussing missions just excites us, cause we caught up to the boys. And stayed there. My tummy didn't feel too good, and I walked out of 1st period early cause I just felt sick. But the rest of the day I ws fine, and I felt fabulous at soccer today.. Beyond stoked for region. I know without a doubt that our girls can do this! And our team dinner just made me more sure.. Even though we had a few breakdowns.. Sorry girls. (: Love you all dearly!

AM: Easy (much easier than yesterday!) 3.

PM: Race. I really wasn't sure how I was going to feel when it came to race time. Beforehand, I was just whatever. I couldn't even be bothered. I was dancing with Stoner and Mia, and singing and cheering. As it got a little closer to race time, I started to get a little snippy, but I wasn't really nervous. When we started, I got in a pretty good place for the beginning, and for the first little bit, Stoner and Aimee and I were running together. Then I just kinda.. fell off. I'm not really sure why. I didn't feel like I slowed down at all, and mentally, I still felt fine. But more people started passing me, and I was kinda just like 'what the heck?' cause I honestly felt like I was pushing. Obviously, with people, including a Cedar girl and Mia, passing me, I wasn't feeling as positive as I had been.. but my main objective was to keep the Cedar girl that I could hear behind me from passing me. That's pretty much the only thing that kept me going through that big lap. As we ended that lap, I knew I had to push harder, or she was gonna get me. I went to pass the Cedar girl in front of me (who also plays soccer, and I felt stupid talking to her the last time she beat me, so I wanted to get her this time), and she surged a little, and I kinda backed off.. then I tried again, and she surged again. So I tried to just stay right behind her and hope to get her at the end. The distance between us got a little bigger, but I just tried to keep her within sprinting distance. But as we started the medium lap, she passed Mia and I knew one of us had to go. So I started going harder.. and as we got to the bottom of that lap, I just went. I passed Mia, and kinda hoped she'd stay with me, but I really just wanted the Cedar girl. Finally, finally, finally I got to her and she surged a little again, but I was just like 'I do not have patience for this again, girl.' and passed her. I was a little scared of how early I started pushing at the end, but I just didn't want her to pass me back. So by the end, it was less of a kick to go get the girl in front of me as it was a kick to keep the Cedar girls behind me. So.. this race wasn't my best.. but I really felt like I was pushing. And I got the Cedar girl, so that was good.. And I beat my last time on that course, which is a refreshing change. Overall, our girls took 2nd, which was kind of a disappointment, but I am really proud of our girls and how hard we've worked this season and how far some of the younger girls have come.

Easy 3 to Arctic Circle.. State soccer game today.

Didn't go to practice this morning.. No ride and I was super tired from last night.

PM: workout. Yippee. 800, 600, 400, 200, 400, 200. I wasn't feeling great today. My stomach really was hurting.. No particular reason, I'm not sick anymore or anything, my body just hates me. But I tried to keep it positive.. I didn't even complain about it til after we were finished with the workout. Anywho. It was kinda drizzly when we started. Our 800 ended up being 3:00, with a nice pack together up front. The 2 laps were exactly the same pace.. 1:30 and 1:30. Then our 600.. I'm not sure what the time was on it, but our time at 400 m was 1:22. Then came a 400.. Coach told us to make this faster than the 1:22, but not so fast we couldn't beat it on the next 400. We ran it in 1:17.. I was a little afraid we wouldn't be able to beat that after running a 200, plus by this time my stomach was killing me.. But the 200 was fine. Then came the last 400.. The one that was supposed to be super speedy. By now, it was quite pouring rain and my stomach felt like someone was stabbing me. So I just wanted to get it over with. I ended up running it in 1:08. And the 200 after was still pretty good. So it felt good to have a good workout even with a stomachache and the usual pains (my back and my toe). But I didn't really care how good my workout was, cause my stomach was just dying, so on the cool down I got a little snippy with Stoner.. Sorry Rach! (: by the time we finished the cool down, I just wanted to collapse. And I had to pee like none other, so I was kinda snippy with Roberts too when they gathered us under the booth thing. Really, I was just not a pleasant person today.

AM: Easy 3.. smelled like wet bird over by Arctic Circle, and I was gagging super bad.. Prolly grossed TB out. Sorry girl.

PM: Well.. I wasn't sure of the mileage cause someone won't update the PVHS blog. And yes, I'm being intentionally snippy. We had wave hills today.. six of them! Felt fine.. Super muddy and icky over there, and I was sliding all over the place, but the weather was great and I felt good. The end.

Master Blasters today! I teamed up with TB and Annelise.. we took 2nd, but we'd have won if Mia wasn't a cheater. Super fun. Pizza warm up/cool down. Excited for state!

Three laps around a school.. Fun and easy.

Warmed up around the course with the girls. Got yelled at twice because 'the course is CLOSED!' during races. We weren't actually on the course the second time they yelled at us, but I guess we looked like we might decide to dart out there when they weren't watching.

Race: Well.. This is it. Kind of. I mean, we have post season races and all that, but really, state is the one we work toward.. And for me, that's over. I was feeling super confident going into the race. I was really just super ready to get out there and run so well. And for the first lap, right up until the downhill after the huge hill, I was doing pretty good. But then it all just kinda left me.. I felt like a deflating balloon. At the end, the only thing that got me going again was the thought 'do it for the team'. So, afterward, I was disappointed. But Coach pulled me aside and kinda just told me to put it into perspective.. It's been an amazing four years. I've had the most challenging, exhausting, but most of all fun, times of my life on this team. As much as I hated it at the beginning, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done, and I am so so grateful for the opportunity to have run on the team through all of high school. Yeah, this race wasn't the greatest. But it's not so much about how I did this race as it is everything I've achieved since I was a freshman. Don't get me wrong.. I definitely wish I had ended the season on a happier note. But I'd rather focus on the big picture. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this experience so awesome for me!

First day back from break.. we all felt fat and out of shape, but Coach didn't care. We had Sunrise hills.. 4 of them. Joy.

The first one felt the hardest.. when we got to the really steep part at the top, my legs fell off and rolled all the way back down the hill. Let me tell ya, getting them back was a challenge. But after I recovered from that little incident, the other three didn't feel too terrible. On the last one, I really felt like I pushed up that last little bit.. no times or anything though. I felt like I might puke every time we got to the top, but I never did, so that was good news. The way back to the school felt FOREVER long, and my ribcage felt all tight and weird, and made it kinda hard to breathe. But after a little bit it stopped.

AM: Arctic Circle.. Super sore from yesterday!

PM: Long hill run to Green Springs at a semi-quick pace. Tried to stick all the level 2's and 3's together.. It didn't work so well. Good pace.. We played with some yummy smelling bushes and such. My legs hurt so bad after.. Just super sore and stuff.. So I stretched. And, uh, holy goodness! I was just adding up mileages to see where the girls are at.. Too bad I do soccer and am a hundred miles behind everyone. Pathetic. But Liz and Mia are legit, so that's cool.

Easy 4 to single double church. Megan Finch ran with us.. That was fun. Except I didn't really talk to anyone but Roberts, cause I'm awkward, I guess. Oh, and I ran this morning. Cold.

Missed morning practice this morning.. I had an awkward breakfast with my parents and some overachieving high school seniors, where I was reminded that I am extremely inadequate and unprepared for the college world.. A 3.9 GPA and 3 AP classes just isn't good enough anymore, I guess.. I did get a nice pencil there though, so it wasn't a total waste.

PM: Little workout that was something like Michigans, except for, ya know, this was fun. Pretty much, we ran hard for 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, 3 min, 2 min, 1 min, respectively. We were supposed to sprint for the last few seconds of each one, except we couldn't really hear Coach whistling, so we missed two of them. Otherwise, it was pretty fun. Mia and I convinced Stoner (through rather impressive telepathy, might I add. I'm getting pretty good at mental communication, if I do say so myself.) that we still had 3 one-minuters at the end when we actually just had one.. But we won't bring that up, cause she wasn't very happy with us when she found out. Anywho, good workout. Harts warm/cool.

2000 time trial! We were supposed to hit our average 1000 time from our best workout this year for each of the laps. Ours was around 3:30. The first lap we hit 3:27, then the next we hit 3:38 for a total of 7:05.. Not terrible, but probably shoulda made the second lap quicker. Then we had 2x1000 with 3 minute recovery or something like that. We ran our first one in 3:29.. I think. The reason I'm not totally for sure is because I was trying not to let my psycho little sister pass me at the end.. But that's what Stoner said after. The next felt harder.. Alli killed the start and I was just trying to keep up with her (Stoner ran over a small child and had to catch back up, so she wasn't around yet). Never thought I'd be fighting for a spot between the softball fence and scoreboard with an eighth grader, much less my sister. I gotta admit though, I was pretty proud of her.. Don't tell her that. Anyway, then Stoner caught back up and we went together, ending in a 3:26. Pretty good workout. Felt good, except I think I've developed a hole in my heart that squeezes my whole ribcage when we warm up and cool down. It still kinda hurt after while I was driving home.. But I distracted myself by wondering which way Coach would drive to get home.. Then he drove up beside me and I creeped.. He didn't see me. Anyway, it answered my question.. He turns right by Zion's bank, just so everyone knows.

AM: So, for some reason, no one was at practice when Stoner and I got there, so we started running by ourselves.. and on the way, we found some air horns. On our way back, Stoner dropped hers and it rolled into the bushes.. so we went looking for it. And when we found it, somehow, we both accidentally pressed the buttons at the same time.. right as the girls ran by! We didn't mean to scare them or anything, promise. (:

PM: What a lovely run. We ran 5 up into Green Springs with Liz and Maquel and Megan Finch and Meskerum (uh.. let's just be glad she doesn't have a blog so she can see how awfully I butchered her name). We had berry wars and leaf wars and taught the girls how to say "erb" and discussed boys (my opinion: they're all disgusting and should be sent to Mars) and gave ourselves antennae! Mia's got a little bruised and Stoner's and Liz's got stolen, but they were still beautiful. Striders after! Fun fun.

AM: Michigan. Wasn't feeling my best this morning.. and I let it show during the Michigan. Ran a minute slower than my last time. I don't really know what was wrong, other than I was feeling icky and my metal toughness was not present at the time. I was struggling to hang on through the 1 1/2 mile part, and then we got to the gate to go onto the track and I got cut off.. and with the pace change, I just lost it. I forget how horribly difficult it is to push when I don't have Stoner next to me! I picked it up a little on the last few laps of the second 1 1/2 section.. enough to still hit A standard and such. Not super happy about the workout, but I'm letting it go.

PM: Easy 3 (but not easy 3 pace, thank heavens)! We ran over to 2450 to do a barefoot run. Michael and Abel took forever to get through the gate, so we were far behind the rest of the crew. And then, Michael and Byron led us astray, so we ran farther than we were supposed to. This is what I mean about the need to send all boys to Mars. Anyway, it was a dandy run. Felt way nice to just have an easy 3 after school.. I was looking forward to it all day. (:

Well.. Didn't go to morning practice or school cause I wasn't feeling very good. But I did show up for afternoon practice. We had a 4 miler on the Dog Pound run.. We were supposed to go a little faster on the road from Telegraph to the dog pound. Felt good until we did the 4x200s on the track.. Then I felt sick again. Super excited for this weekend though. Gonna be fun! (:

Easy 4 with 3 fartleks in Pleasant Grove. Felt nice. Went through a haunted house thing in someone's yard.

Well.. pretty disappointing. Not what I wanted to do. I was puking up my breakfast the entire warm up. When we started the race, I stopped throwing up but the feeling didn't go away. It was icky. And I just focused on it too much, and didn't think about just running. This was the race last year where things started going downhill.. and they haven't really gotten better since then. Frustrating.

3 mile 2450 loop, then we dropped Janzen off and ran to Target to get our 5 in. Felt loooong. Talked to Mia about anything and everything. Fun fun.

AM: Easy 3 with the ladies.. fun fun.

PM: Workout! 2x(1200, 1000, 800, 600). For the first set, Stoner ran with us and we stuck together for the most part, except I think when her knee started hurting a bit at the end. I don't remember the first 1200 time, but my others went 3:24 for the 1000, 2:52 for the 800, and 2:00 for the 600. Then Stoner was done, and I was kind of nervous for how I'd do on the second part without her to push me. I was hoping Coach would come jump in with us cause he said he would, but he lied. The 1200 wasn't so good. It was a 4:51, and I don't have anything to compare it with, but it felt slow. Then Coach told me to focus on my breathing, so that's what I did for the 1000. I ended up running that one in 3:26, so pretty close to my first 1000 time. Before the 800 I told the girls to really try and stick with the person in front of them, because this was the last hard part and the 600 would fly by. They listened.. Maquel and Taylor Boyer flew! I was super proud of them. I ran the 800 in 2:52 again, so that was good. The 600 was okay.. I ran it in 2:02, so pretty close to my first time, but I was hoping for faster. Anyway, I felt pretty good throughout the workout, except for that darn second 1200. I was pretty proud of the girls for sticking it out through it because it was a tough workout. Harts warm/cool.

AM: Easy 3 with Mia, Liz, and Maquel. Yay.

PM: Easy 4.. return of the grassheads. Except this time.. it was the whole team! (Except TB, who couldn't quite understand the physics behind putting a weed in your ponytail, and Mia, whose weed was ripped of her head by some lady in the bathroom.) Ice bathed after.. and the Wimp Of PVXC Award goes to... Coach Holt! Stoner and Mia left Krenshaw, Michael and I to clean up the stuff after.. it was an eventful time. Krenshaw and Michael scared some poor girl to death while I laughed hysterically in a corner. The end.

AM: Easy 3 to Arctic Circle.. we had a little fun scaring Sarah.. Hope she'll still come run with us. (:

PM: Time Trial. Well, this was my first of the year, since I've always had cooler things to do. I ran the first 1200 with Stoner.. then as we entered the gate on the second one, I could feel myself kinda starting to slip.. and she cut right in front of me, and then my mind just said there was no way I was getting that ground back. Which was dumb, I know. On the 800, I started to pick it up and make up some of the time I'd lost. I felt okay about how I did though, and I felt fine during it.. much, much better than Saturday. Afterward, we had 3 mile cooldown and 4x200. The cool down felt super good, but my 200s were garbage. I was just way too tired.

Color Me Rad.. Super fun!!

Workout! So.. basically, we knew we were doing 1000's  but that's all we knew. Coach wouldn't tell us how many, because he wanted us to just keep them under control. He told us before to not go breaking any records, just keep them consistent and around the times we usually get. And then during the workout, he wouldn't even tell us our times, which I found kind of irritating, until we finished anyway.

I felt like the first one was kind of slow, but afterward Coach asked us "how fast do you usually run those?" and Stoner said "3:25" and he acted like we were close to that, so I wasn't too worried. The second one felt about the same. The third one, I had some troubles after the hill, but Coach told me to come catch up with him and Stoner and I did and we all finished together. Then the fourth one.. Coach told us it was the last one, and to keep it solid. I was still tired from the last one, and I was mentally struggling because of when I fell behind on the last one. I did not WANT to go fast on this one, nor did I PLAN to go fast, but I could tell Stoner was struggling too, and Coach just kept yelling at us to keep the pace up. So I went.. then fell behind a little on the hill, then caught back up. When we hit the grass, Coach asked "what's your record? 3:11?" and I thought "holy cow, if I'm close to that, I gotta go now!" So I went, and finished hard. We later found out that all four of our 1000's were 3:17 or under, with the fastest being our first one and my last one at 3:14. So.. Stoner and I now share the new 1000's record. You know you've gotta be pretty cool when you can beat the record by accident, right? (: Or maybe the record just wasn't that fast.. whatever. It's gotta be the first one. (: Anyway, pretty tired from this one, which wasn't supposed to happen. But I feel good, and I'll recover just fine. Harts warm/cool.

AM: Easy, freezing 3

PM: Easy, less freezing 4 with striders

AM: Easy 3.

PM: Easy four with the whole team in ARIZONA! Felt good and was fun.

AM: Easy three out to a sketchy forest neighborhood thing.

PM: Ran the course and did striders after. Felt good. Getting excited.

Warmed up on the course with the girls.. some of us had to go to the bathroom the whole time.. by the time we finally got over to them, it was almost race time.  Kinda scary.

Race: Well, we got to the line and I was feeling pretty confident.  Still nervous, but confident.  We closed our eyes to pray, and when we opened them, everyone was gone.  I thought the race had started.  Turns out the guy said everyone could do a stride out, but we missed the memo cause we were praying.  About then, I got really nervous.  We started, and it wasn't a fabulous start for me, but I was in an okay position.  Mia got out in front of me, and I decided to stay with her.  But then I was feeling good, so I started moving up.  The entire first mile, I felt great.  A little before the mile mark, I looked up ahead for Stoner, but I couldn't see her.  Then I realized she was running right with me, on the opposite side of the path.  That was cool.  Our first mile was 5:45.. crazy stuff.  A little after the mile, I started to fall back a bit.. But I was still pretty positive mentally.  That first mile really helped my mind out, I guess.  When we got a little before the pond, Coach told me to get back in it, so I went and passed a few girls, and then we got to the 2 mile mark: 12:20.  Second mile was quite a bit slower.  When we got to where there was 1000 meters left, Coach told me to start accelerating.  I did.. but the dumb stretch just kept GOING.  I lost it a little bit right there.  When we got to the flags and some guy said to someone around me "push if you wanna break 20!" I was like "well shoot. I've at least gotta break 20." So I started pushing, although not as great as some of my other finishes, and I passed 5 or 6 girls.  I felt pretty good about this race.  Much MUCH better than last year.  I cooled down with Michael and Casey and Byron as they warmed up, and ran around cheering during their race, and then I did some more with Michael after his race, cause someone needed to run with him or he'd have fallen in a ditch or something.

Oh what a joyous run. We did roller coaster hills, which I'd never done before, and those were a blast. We played with some holes that went deep into the earth and ended in a lake.. Samara is down there, we've decided. We also played in a leaf pile, whipped a few of the girls, and talked like tonghongisong the whole time. (: my toe was killing me for most of the run, and I considered going back at the five mile mark, but I stuck it out and survived. I was running weird on my foot though to keep it from hurting, so I had to focus on running right and ignoring the pain. My knee hurt for a while too, cause Michael and krenshaw thought it would be hilarious to leave me in the dark in Coach's room, and I ran into a desk.

Holy altitude. Alli and I ran out here in Bountiful from our grandparent's house to the temple and back. It's pretty much entirely uphill on the way out there. And it's super windy and cold up here. But it was an all right run.. except Alli complained the entire time. Anyway. Got our first run in. Yippee.

Good gravy. Running with my sister is a pain in the neck. She refuses to run four miles, and she can't turn around early cause my parents don't want us running alone. So we went 3.5 today, just to please her. We waited til like 10:30 but it was still only 32 degrees out there. We went on a trail By our condo. The first mile was covered in snow and ice but we had a pretty good pace.. then alli started to get a sideache and have trouble breathing and it just went downhill from there. Everytime I'd try to help her and tell her to relax her breathing, she'd get worked up and start crying so she really couldn't breathe, then I'd get mad

and tell her to stop crying and let me help her.. funny how no one in my family can go anywhere without it being some big dramatic ordeal. Anyway, then I did my 200s by myself and it was crazy hard to breathe with this altitude.

I didn't get off work til later today because of frost on the greens (but I did see baby G and Liz doing their run while I was mowing.. that was fun). So it was 3 when I finally got out to run. But it was nice weather and it was one of those runs when I got into a rhythm and I was enjoying it. I was planning on running down to the intersection by Costco and back to my house, which in my head worked out to be about 5 miles (and later I plugged it into Google.. I was right), but the traffic down there was unreal. I knew I was never going to be able to cross by In N Out and the bank, so I turned onto Telegraph and was planning on running a little ways down that road and back.. but the intersections over there were a mess too, and crossing them was really scary, and after doing it once, I didn't want to do it again. So, after much contemplation, I decided keeping myself alive was worth running a little extra distance and turned my run into a loop. I ran up Telegraph, then turned onto Main St. and ran past the fire station into Quail Ridge. I had a pretty good pace going the whole time, but when it came time for the tempo, the pace change wasn't really very big. It took me 45 minutes to do the run, and thanks to Google, I found out my loop is exactly 6 miles, so my average pace for the whole run was 7:30 min/mi. Which is all right.. but my tempo wasn't as fast as it should have been.

Timed mile today! I was actually kinda excited for it.. then we did the warm up and I wasn't excited anymore. But once we actually started racing or trialing or whatever you want to call it, I felt really good. I ran pretty much the entire thing with Danny. I struggled just a tad on the third lap, but I came back on the last one. Ended up running a 5:26, which is 3 seconds slower than my PR. It felt really good to have a good race on the track. Coach told me later that this year I'm gonna focus on the 800. I'll still run the 400 and the 1600 sometimes, but mostly the 8, for which I am so glad.

AM: Easy 3 to Arctic Circle. Chilly!!

PM: Easy 4! We mostly rode a bus around instead of running.. but then the bus turned into a train, and at the very end, motorcycles! That's right. We had our own motorcycle gang. Fun fun. Striders after.. I was kinda hungry during them.. I should probably eat more for lunch, but I'm never hungry then.

AM: easy three in and around the school.. I had fun.. But apparently Mia didn't.

PM: Ice cream run! Went four to Starbucks, then stopped at arctic circle for ice cream cones! 4x200 after.. Felt fine, even after the treats.

AM: Easy 3. Ran up the bank to the fence, as is now tradition on the last day of morning practice, apparently. Matt scared the spit out of us on the way back.

PM: Easy 3.. in CALIFORNIA! Super humid. And foggy. Felt good though.

Ran on the course(ish) at Mt. SAC. Super muddy out there, so we couldn't go on all of it cause they were laying hay and sawdust. Excited for the race tomorrow!

Didn't get a great warm up in.. but I still felt ready to go by the time we lined up.

RACE: The start was horrendous. I'm not very good with my elbows, and it seems that every other runner girl in the world is, so I was super squished and I was stepping on people everywhere. But when we hit the loops, I got out around the crowd and for the entire first mile I was passing girls all over the place. It made me a little nervous, cause I knew that the first mile is the easy part and I didn't want to start too fast then not have anything for the next two miles. But I remembered that last year the hills were where I passed everyone, and I figured it would be a good idea to get in a good position, then continue to pass people on the hills. And it worked out just greatly. On the switchbacks, everyone just suddenly died and I passed 6 or 7 girls right there. Then I knew I'd have to keep it up, because last year everyone I caught on the hills passed me back on the downhills. So I kept the pace over the top of the hill and down, even though my legs were dying. On the crossover, Coach told me that I was in 21st place, and to catch a few girls. So I did, on Poopout hill, getting into 17th or 18th place.. but then three girls caught me on the downhill. On the way up Reservoir hill, I passed a girl or two, but I was still in like 20th ish place. I really didn't think I'd have very much left for the finish, but when I hit the Gauntlet, I could hear all of our freshmen and sophomores cheering for me, and it helped a ton. I ended up finishing 17th.

Mia and I got a pretty excellent cool down in trying to catch up to Coach, and then cheering for Stoner and Michael. We were all over that course. Anyway, as for the race, I was happy with it, and it was a 42 second improvement over last year's time, so that's pretty good. Good way to end my XC career at PV.

Good news! The blog has a new feature. If you happen to run .1 of a marathon, feel free to write it as such. That'll be handy for all those times I run 2.62 miles.

Okay, okay, sorry.. sometimes I just can't resist being sarcastic. Anywho, first day back!! To tell you the truth.. I kind of like being on break. Not that I don't like running.. but I have so much free time without practice after school! But I don't mind being back running either. Curse my intensely burning apathy toward running (name that show.. well, minus the running part). Anywho (again), today I ran tres with Roberts and Stoner and Mia over to Arctic Circle, then we went to the mall to get prizes for the Egg Nog run on Thursday. Fun fun. I did ALL of the talking (take that, Mom. I will be absolutely fine living on my own in college). Then I went into the weight room and watched the boys take some jumping test.. I was the only one who couldn't reach the little plastic bars. Shoot.

Single double church. Today was a lovely run. We ran with Megan, Alli, Lizl, and Kai-lai Gillespai. We zig zagged through traffic barrels, found a 35 year old check for $20, zig zagged some more, found a golf ball, bounced the golf ball, chased the golf ball (several times.. mostly Megan's fault), lost the golf ball in a storm drain (Alli's fault), and had lots of laughs and fun. Love those girls dearly. Later Alli and I went to the bowling alley to pick up some certificate things Hunter talked to the guy about.. they gave us six free bowling passes for the race! Yay!

We had to speed today so Mia could get to her date, so the three of us started on our run to Green Springs right away. It was rather fun.. Stoner threw some snow in my ear though. And we had some.. interesting conversations. I feel like whenever Stoner's involved, the conversation always reverts back to one subject.. It's like the theme of our xc season or something. Anywho, we got back and Alli and I went and got delicious hot chocolate and gave Michael his birthday present.

Oh ick. Today was the egg nog run. May I just make it known that I didn't even like egg nog before we did this. Even the name sounds disgusting. So.. on the first lap, I managed to drink it all.. On the next two.. I put it in my mouth, then couldn't make myself swallow, so I spit it out.. and on the last one, I just didn't even drink any. But I didn't get any prizes, so I wouldn't call it cheating. We raised $363 though. Yippee.

Christmas break!! Yeah!! Easy 4 with Janz and Stoner and Megan and Liz and Maquel. DIx2.

Thought I went 5, but ended up being just over 4. Went by myself today. Lots of time to think.

yes. i am a slacker. im sorry. i really did mean to get out ans run he past couple of days, but every time i wejt to leave, i decided it was rar too cold. but todays run was quite fun. janzen, mia, stoner, and i ran out in town in our giant 50 cent thrift store shirts. we swung on some swings and took pictures at the temple.. and almost sat and stretched with this random girl but mia and janxen were too chicken. it was farther than3 miles but im not sure he exaxt distance. so.. thats all.

trail run with stoner and mia.. we finished and pretty much said "that was fun.. lets never do it again". it was freezing and we were all tired. ab workout after.. p90x was on the tv, but most of the soreness will be from laughing.