You've got to want it to win it

This evening I went for a run from my house over to 1300s and then up to Foothill where I turned and went north to Sunnyside and then back.  When I got home I did my abs, pushups, arm swings, lunges, squats, and calf raises.  Then I took a 15 minute ice bath.

Today at track we started with the usual 2 laps warmup and then stretching.  I changed to my flats because my shoes were worn out :P  Natalie, Ben, Ashleigh, and I then did a mile warmup and a mile speedchanges.  Then Ben, Natalie, and I had to do some 200s.  We did a set of 8 and then after a 10 minute break a set of 4.  We had one minute standing recovery after each 200.  Nat and I were supposed to hit 37s but we mostly were hitting 35s on them.  Then during the 10 minute break Nat and I got 4 laps in before the last 4.  Then we did 2 laps cooldown.  Later when I got home I did my abs, pushups, arm swings, lunges, squats, and calf raises.  Then I finished with a 15 minute ice bath.

Today at practice there weren't very many people because it was supposed to be JV regions but it got cancelled and then people left.  Still we did the usual 2 laps warmup and then stretching followed by drills.  Then for the distance workout we did the VA loop.  When we got back we did two 300s where we were in groups of 3 and had to try to outkick each other.  I was with Natalie and Amanda and on the first one we all finished at about the same time, it was a 48.  On the second one I think I was a little ahead and again my time was 48.  Then we did a stadium lap cooldown.  At home I did my abs, pushups, arm swings, lunges, squats, and calf raises.

Today Bill didn't have Natalie and I run at practice.  We were inside because it was raining.  We did some of the core with the group, we just had to do 3 sets of 45 second leg lifts and 3 sets of 1 minute arm swings.

 Took the day off again and just rested and relaxed.  I can't believe state is tomorrow!!!

This morning at the stadium I did a shakeout run in the parking lot before the bus left.  Once arriving in Provo, Natalie and I did 4 laps warmup on the track before they closed it to start the 1600s.  They started with 1A so after we were off the track we did drills and strides in the field and stretch of track by the bull pen.  It had been raining but it wasn't bad at the time we were warming up.  We had to take off our sweats right at the entrance of the bull pen, I kept mine on until right before we were walked out onto the track.  I did a few strides by the start and then they lined us up.  I was seeded 4th so I was in the first alley.  When the race started I knew I would need to get into the lead but I needed to hold back some so that I wouldn't go out too fast.  After the first 100 meters I moved into the lead and started breaking away.  Although I felt like I was holding back so that I wouldn't go too fast, my first lap was a 69.99.  At 500 meters in I pushed to pick it up again since I remember some of the girls moved at that point in the race at BYU.  I came through the second lap in 2:25.  I really worked the third lap, I picked it up when I got to 600 left and then 500 left.  I don't remember what I came in the third lap at but it was in the 3:30s I believe.  I pushed and picked up the pace as I got closer and closer to the finish.  Coming down the last stretch I could see the clock and knew that I would break 5, so I went all out and pushed as hard as I could and I was very happy after I crossed the line :)  I had guessed that if I would break 5 it would have been a 4:58 or 4:59 but nope, I finished in 4:54.68, a 14 second PR and a little over 3 seconds off the state record.  Finally in my high school career I had become a state champion :)  Here is an article from the trib that talks about my race: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/51856881-77/state-class-hurst-mile.html.csp          After my race I did about 2 miles cooldown just around the stadium.  Then I went to my cousin's house to get out of the rain and there I took a 10 minute ice bath.  I always amaze myself with how I have performed at state in the 1600, it feels like a dream!  I am very happy with how today went and I hope tomorrow goes well too :)

This morning after I couldn't sleep anymore I took my iPod and went for a 10 minute shakeout run of a loop around some of the streets in Provo.  At the stadium when it came time to warmup I got in about 6 laps on the track before they closed it to start the races.  They were starting with 5A today so Natalie and I changed shoes by the bull pen and I took my Gu and then we did strides and we did our cheer :)  We got some strange looks since it was just the 2 of us haha but who cares!!  I'm going to miss doing that cheer, today was my last time getting to :(  Finally we went into the bull pen to get our stickers.  This time I had number 3.  When we had walked onto the track Bill poured a cup of water on me to cool me down since it was sunny today.  Down by the start we did strides until they lined us up.   When the race started again I went out at what pace I felt I needed to.  I took the lead after 100 meters and started to open up.  The first lap was a 1:15 (If I remember correctly, I will look up the splits later and post them).  I continued to open up a lead and at times when I could see the camera I was able to see how much of a gap I had on the chase pack.  I came through the first mile in 5:13 and then started to pick it up the best I could, if I were going to get the record I would need a negative split.  With 1000 meters left in the race I started to push and pick it up and I was counting down by the 100 meters.  Coming into the last lap I pushed and got to my toes and picked it up at 300 to go and then picked it up even more as I got to 200 left and then down the final stretch.  After I finished I was again very happy to have claimed a state title :)  And the official gave me the shell that had started the race :)  He gave me the one from yesterday too, I put them in one of the rings on the medals because they fit perfectly there.  I did about a mile cooldown and then went back to my hotel to ice for 10 minutes and stretch and then I took a nap.  Later in the day I went back to the track and when the time came I started warming up for the 800.  I got in about a mile and a half and then took my Gu and did drills and strides.  Then I changed spikes and went into the bull pen.  I was in the slower heat but I still was hoping to place in the top 6.  This time I had sticker number 5.  I did strides with Josephine at the start, and then they lined us up.  Going out I tried to get myself into the lead but there was an Ogden girl and a Mountain View girl that were tough.  At the first lap I was at 68 and in third.  With 300 to go the Mountain View girl passed the Ogden girl and then I knew I could too.  I caught her with about 200 left and then coming around the curve I passed the Mountain View girl as well and pushed with everything I had down the final 100 and finished with a time of 2:18.36.  And I got another shell from the official :)  I watched the other heat and noticed that the 6th place girl in that heat also had run a 2:18 but I couldn't remember my decimal so I hung around and it turns out I took 6th!  So I was on the podium again, and I got another medal to put the shell on :)  Then I did a 1 mile cooldown afterwards.  Today and yesterday were amazing, I am very happy with how I performed, and I am excited to be running up at the U next year, although I am going to miss high school cross country and track.