It's CROSS COUNTRY SEASON =D

This morning and early afternoon I just relaxed at the hotel with AuraLea, Lauren, and Kate.  I decided to not do a shakeout run since my race was at 4 which isn't that late but also since we were able to do our pre-meet in the evening last night.  When it came time to warmup, Kate, Lauren, AuraLea, and I went outside for a few minutes, out and back until we were at about 15.  Then we got our spikes and got ready to go check in.  We had a half hour before our race at this point.  I decided to take a Gu, Amanda helped me make the decision by asking when the last time I had eating was (about 3 and a half hours) so I took it.  Then I got my spikes and water bottle and went down to the track.  On the track I did 2 laps just to get my heart rate back up and then in the middle I did a few light drills and some strides.  Then I changed into my spikes for a couple more strides.  I did some on the track too to get a feel for the banked curve.  Finally it was time to get to the line, so all 11 of us that were in the race got ready.  My goal going into it was to break 10 minutes, and I believed I could do it because of the pace we've been practicing the last few weeks.  I knew that the 3rd and 4th laps (short track, remember) would probably be the hardest for me because of the workout on Tuesday, so I was prepared to have to push to keep the pace up during this time and then I felt I would be set for the rest of the race.  Here is what happened.  I started in lane one and was easily able to push out into the lead.  One girl got in front of me coming out of the curve but she might have cut in a little too close since my feet hit hers and I went to the outside of the lane to run right by her.  I went with her for the first lap, and we came through at 35 which I knew was fast but it felt right.  Almost immediately I could tell that she was slowing down so I kept the pace up and pulled into the lead and took the inside back.  The first 400 was about 1:19 (if I remember correctly) and then I knew the next 2 laps were where I needed to run strong to keep the pace.  I hit pace, though I don't remember my 800 split (it might have bee 2:35?), but the splits Kep was telling me were in the 39-41 range.  I had separated on the pack by now and I could hear the announcer saying that AuraLea was in second.  Coming through the mile I was around 5:16, and I think I may have been losing speed a bit at this point but each lap I reminded myself that I needed to keep the pace up.  With 4 laps to go I knew it was going to be hard getting myself to kick because I knew that it was 800 meters but mentally knowing 4 laps of kick would be tough!  Coming around again this time with 600 to go I knew I needed to pick it up and knowing that I had let some of my laps slip, I would need to pick it up if I still wanted to break 10.  The last 2 laps I began to pass some girls and was pushing really hard, especially on the last lap when I started at 9:22 because I knew I only had 38 seconds to break 10!  Coming down the last stretch (only 50 meters...) I could see the clock in the 9:50s and knew I was so close, and I was so glad when I finished in 9:59!  I would have been pretty mad had it been a second slower!  After the other girls came in and we changed shoes, we went outside for a 20 minute cooldown, out and back.  

This morning we had a shortened lifting workout and when that was done while we were still at the Smith, a few of us went upstairs to use the treadmills.  It was hot up there, but fortunately we were only doing 3 miles.  

In the evening after arriving in Boise, we went to check out the arena and do a short shakeout run.  With Lauren and AuraLea, on the short track we did 4 laps and then 4 laps of Js.  Then we did drills.  We race tomorrow at 4 so we'll have a good day to get plenty of rest tomorrow. 

Today we ran along 1500e to Sugarhouse and back.  Just before we got do Guardsman going down campus, we saw a bunch of deer under some trees!  They were still there when we got back.  Then I did strides with AuraLea around the Huntsman building and then a little extra to get to 7 miles, then we did our drills back to the lockerroom.

Today we had our final workout before Boise this weekend.  At the oval we started with a warmup outside along the usual warmup route we do.  Then when we got back in we did the usual strides and drills.  Then we changed shoes.  The workout was three 1200s with 4 minute recovery, then an 800 quickly followed by a 200, then a 600 followed quickly by a 400.  We were supposed to hit around 81-82 pace.  Also for the starts we switched up the order so we could practice getting out into position.  On the 1200s I hit 4:07, 4:07, and 4:04.  The first 400 split for each was 81 but in the first 2 I fell back in the second lap (2:47, 2:44, 2:44 800 splits) but on the third one I stayed right with AuraLea and Macee.  On the 800 we hit 2:44, then 38 for the 200.  On the 600 we hit 2:00 and for the last 400 1:17.  Then we went back and changed shoes and Lauren and Nikki stayed inside with me to do 7 laps cooldown.  (I figure 9 miles because counting the warmup as laps puts the lap total at 32 and it is an oversize track and I was on the outer lanes...)  I felt great with my times today.  I'm excited to race this weekend :)

Today for the run we ran along Foothill so that the girls doing a workout on Wasatch could warm up with us.  When we got to 1300s, we went up to Wasatch.  I wasn't doing the workout and neither were Hilary, Nikki R., AuraLea, or Lauren.  We just ran along Wasatch the rest of the way.  Nikki turned around while we were on Wasatch and Lauren and AuraLea turned around when we cut back down to Foothill just past Thunderbird.  Hilary and I were hoping to be able to run on the paved part of the Shoreline Trail but it was covered with snow so we made it to the drinking fountain (which of course was off) and then turned around and went back the same way.  We did our strides around Huntsman when we got back and then did a little extra to get to 9 for the day.