You've got to want it to win it

Race day!  Because of the heat, Giselle and I waited a few extra minutes before starting our warmup.  And I shortened my warmup a bit, doing about 2 miles and then going for strides in the grass warmup field.  I changed shoes and then they called us over to walk us onto the track.  There were 48 girls signed up, but there were quite a few scratches so 26 girls were there.  On the track I made sure to drench myself with water to battle the mid day heat.  We had time for a few strides before they lined us up.  I was on the main waterfall line, at about the middle.  Going out I just tucked behind everyone and went for lane 1.  This worked well since we all were in a pack for the first few laps.  I didn't really listen for splits, but I think the first lap was 78 and I don't remember much after that.  This was not a race for time anyway.  The first mile I was still with the pack, my split was 5:18ish.  Here some girls separated, and I realized I was behind some girls who were starting to fall from the main group so I went around them and then stuck with the pack as long as I could.  I'm not sure what happened, but I found myself alone off of the main pack.  Now I just tried to not get caught by the pack behind me.  When I asked Heather afterwards, she said I was closer to the lead pack than the chase pack was to me.  Another small pack fell off of the lead pack, so I was determined to close the gap on them, and catch them as they fell off one by one.  This worked well, and I just kept moving up.  As I heard my teammates cheering at different parts each lap I just kept going, I wanted to do well for them.  The final few laps Kep told me that someone in the pack in front of me would score, I knew it would be hard but I kept going.  With 2 laps to go I picked it up and caught a girl or two, then on the last lap I think I got another, and then going into the final 100 I passed another girl and finished 10th place.  I was a few seconds off scoring, but I did my best, and I still have two years of this.  I just ran, and focused on the race.  I ignored the heat, and just raced to what I felt my body could do.  I felt dizzy afterwards, but after sitting in the shade for a few minutes I felt like I could cool down.  I did laps in the warmup field barefoot.  Giselle had a harder time with the heat than I did, but she was able to get up and join me for a few laps.  I did 12 laps, so 3 miles cooldown.  

This morning I got up and drove to Sugarhouse to go for my run.  I wasn't exactly sure where I wanted to go, but I made up my mind as I went and enjoyed it. :)  I ran up to 2000e and under the freeway, then over to Keller lane and up to 2300e, then out until I hit 5 miles, then turned and ran back the same way.  Maybe one day I'll get creative and make a loop instead of out and backs all the time.  Afterwards I went to the Smith and got my lift done.  

This morning I met up with Amanda to warmup together for our workouts.  My workout was threshold since I am still sore from my race.  I did three 2000s at about 6 minute pace with 90 seconds recovery.  The pace felt just about all I could do and stay comfortable.  My times were 7:27, 7:31, 7:38.  I cooled down with Amanda to total 8 for the day, then Tim worked on my calves.  They hurt just as bad if not worse than at the beginning of the season :P  After that I took a 10 minute ice bath.

This morning I went to Sunnyside to run from there.  I ran up above the zoo, across Wasatch to Thunderbird and then to the drinking fountain on Foothill, and then back to Sunnyside Park on Foothill and 1900e.  Got my lift done right afterwards.  I am thinking I might have to start getting up earlier to run so I can avoid the heat!

This morning I met up with Amanda again to warmup for our workouts together.  Originally I had hoped to do 3 or 4 mile repeats, but that quickly changed.  I started with two 200s, both in 37 with equal jog recovery.  The first mile was 5:40.  I felt better than Wednesday but decided it would be more worth my time to break it up and be able to run a bit quicker pace.  I did 200 jog and 4 minutes recovery before starting on some 800s.  On those I hit 2:46, 2:50, 2:48.  200 jog and 2 minute recovery on those.  Then I did some 400s.  I took 90 seconds rest on those, and took them 2 at a time until I felt like stopping.  My times were 1:22, 1:21, 1:21, 1:22, 1:20, 1:22.  Then I cooled down with Amanda to finish at 9 total for the day.  Tim worked on my calves afterwards and then I took a 10 minute ice bath.  

This morning after watching some amazing 3200 races at state, I went running with Natalie.  We the first few miles with Bill and Chris and Tomy on the river trail, then Natalie showed me her Carterville loop.  It was nice to get to catch up after so long!  We enjoyed snow cones in the rain afterwards :)