C Mantz Run

So I went with my dad and we were planning to go on a 9 mile run, but we had eaten two hours before.  My first two miles felt great and then, I felt super sick.  We stopped a bit and I had to turn around and 2.5 miles.  It was super slow and hot the entire way which I wasn't too happy about.

So today at xc I was planning to talk to the coaches about taking a break, but I didn't talk to them until after my run which wasn't a very good idea.  We started out on a mile warm up and I didn't know what we were doing exactly so I started out a little faster on the warm up than I should have. For our work out we did a two mile loop up the Beast and a couple of other hills.  We were supposed to go up the hills as fast as possible and then go easy everywhere else.  I started way to fast.  I was trying to keep up with the lead pack, but I was so tired and I couldn't.  Coach Stores told me I should probably hold back and maybe just stop.  I really wanted to keep going, but I listened to Coach.  I sat on the curb and realized I did not feel good.  Once Coach Wright came past me he told me I should just take the next couple days off and cool down back to the school.  Another girl had a knot in her leg, so we both went easy back nice and easy.  I really regret not talking to Coach before we ran about taking a break, but I wasn't really thinking.

I was really excited to run today.  At xc we were supposed to do a tempo, but nobody else was except for people much faster than me, so I just went easy with a group of people who had also taken this last week off.  We mostly chatted while running.  It was a lot of fun, but I wish I had done a tempo instead.

Around 4:00 I felt like I should do an actual tempo, so I went on a run.  I was actually doing pretty well, even though it was pretty hot. My first mile was a second faster than was I had to do. My throat began feeling a little dry, but I didn't think much about it.  When I turned around a 1.5 miles, I just felt the heat rush through me.  I continued to go at the pace for only a couple meters and I had to slow down.  After a while I felt as if I really needed to stop which meant I felt horrible.  I began running again and cut half a mile out of my run by taking a short cut.  I regretted my run, but I got more miles in.

So because I felt so bad about my run yesterday, I decided to go for a long, but not too long of a run.  I felt really good the entire time.  My goal was to keep an 8 minute pace which is kind of slow, but I pushed to keep the correct pace which is really what I want to work on.  I went 5 miles at first and when I came home, I felt so good I got my little brother, Nathan, to go on a mile cool down with me.  I had to promise him I'd buy him two treats at dollar tree, but it got him to run.  Our mile was 9 minutes which he did awesome at.

So, I was really nervous for this race, even though it was only with the team, because it was my first race on a xc course and it decided whether you were on varsity or not.  Conner told me I should use my new flats, so I did. I warmed up with Carly because I had no clue on what to do.  When we started we went around the track and as we were almost to the gate to get off the track Coach Wright began running to open the gate which wasn't open.  That first part was mainly a sprint which was different.  I passed a couple of people and I could see the lead pack the entire time, but I wasn't up in it.  After the first time passing the canal, Carly began to slow down and I caught up with her.  I felt bad for her because she hadn't ran at all this past week. I passed her and just kept going.  It was really hard to catch up to the leaders, which I never did, but I just kept running.  This was my first time actually doing the course, so I was glad I wasn't in the front or I'd get lost.  The last time passing the canal, I couldn't hear Carly and I had heard her the entire time since I'd passed her and the first thing I though was 'Carly died' sadly because I wanted somebody who could help me sprint at the end.   When I got to the final sprint I got a little closer to Megan who was in the lead pack, but it wasn't very close.  I finished with a time of 21:31 which I was happy about.  I got fifth on varsity and afterwards all the girls were hugging each other which was new to me, so I just hugged along.

After yesterday, I decided to do a nice and easy four mile run.  I simply kept it under 8:30 minute miles.  It felt pretty good and I had a nice fun run.

So, today at practice was a speed work day.  We did a warm up to understand where we were supposed to go.  We were supposed to do a 1000 at a certain pace which I wasn't sure what it was because I just stuck with the fast girls.  After the 1000, we were supposed to slowly jog back to where we started for a 3 minute recovery.  The girls had to do that atleast six times.  The first two times were a little fast, so Coach told us to try to get that time that we were now getting.  The next two times were a little difficult and the fifth time was really tough.  I was still kind of feeling good enough to do one more, just not as fast, so we did one more, but I stayed behind. I felt really tired afterwards, but it was a nice workout.

So in the morning I went on a easy five mile run with a couple of the girls on the xc team up the canyon.  I stayed kind of further back with another girl and we just had fun talking.  When we got to the top, Amber's mom drove up with all our bikes (and helmets) and we rode down.  It was a lot of fun and felt really good.

That afternoon I really felt like doing another run, so when it got really hot I went on an easy three mile run.  The first mile was almost all downhill, so it was faster than what I expected, but I had fun.

So, we did a half mile warm up at practice.  After that we were told to do a tempo run to go 3, 2, then 1 mile.  We started out on our first three mile tempo going for about a seven minute mile pace. I stayed with Katelyn and Rilee and we were going a little bit faster.  At the very end I felt like sprinting, so I did.  Afterwards, we were super tired and we took a little longer break which was only supposed to be three minutes.  We weren't feeling much for another two miles, so we just did a one.  I felt pretty good until the end and I couldn't keep up and it was a little slow.  We took another break, then went one more mile which was right on.  After that, we went on a cool down back to the school.  It was fun, and hard at the same time.

After yesterday, I was feeling kind of tired, so I did an easy run.  I was going to do a four mile, but instead I turned around a little early.  I didn't really go for any specific time, just easy.

We did a warmup figuring out where the course was.  Then we did a 1200, then an 800 with a 3 minute recovery 3 times.  I wasn't feeling very great.  The last couple times I was really far behind all the other girls.

So, this morning I did an activity where we walked 8.3 miles.  Because we were walking, I didn't feel like I had gotten much of  a workout in and Coach wanted us to do a long and easy run.  I was planning on doing an eight at first, but Conner told me I should do a five because of this morning.  I did a very easy five and it was fun and exhausting because I didn't really eat much that day and I kind of did a half marathon with a lot of breaks and walking if you added everything I did today.  I am not counting those miles, because I did walk them.

Because we have a meet tomorrow, we were supposed to go very easy at practice.  I stayed with Danella, and we did about ten minute miles.  After the first mile where we ran to Mack Park and did about six striders.  I don't think I did the striders correctly, but I attempted. We ran back to the school and got in another mile.  It was very easy and it was hot outside, too.

So, today was our first big meet of the season! I was so excited and nervous that entire day, but it didn't help much because it was the first day of school.  I didn't get much of a chance to hidrate that day, which I think wasn't smart.  We did all sorts of stretches and warm ups before we ran.  Fifteen minutes before it started, we did about a .8 mile warm up.  I was wearing my flats when we did the warm up.  I got really nervous when we were beginning to line up because I had no idea how to sprint at the beginning.  The girls were awesome by encouraging me and telling what to and not to do.  We started out after the gunshot and I felt as if I couldn't go very fast because there were so many people, but the gun went off a second time and I looked back and everybody behind me was stopping, but somebody yelled to keep going and I was so confused.  It was a false start because somebody fell and we walked back to the start line. That got my nerves out so much and I was very far back and I was kind of happy that it was a false start.

When we started out again, I think I was further up than last time.  Many girls were shoving and every time I touched somebody I said 'sorry' because I felt so bad and didn't want to shove anybody.  After that first sprint I couldn't pass anybody because it was so crowded, but they were going too slow! At one point it was half road and half grass and once I got on the road it was hard to get back onto the grass.  A little after that it was a straight run and I passed what felt like 25 people because I went further to the side on the path.  Then, we went down the hill and I just let my legs go which I was going a little too fast to turn, but I made it. I heard so many people yelling my name, but I didn't recognize them because there must have been another Claire running the race. There is a little hill that's really steep after that and I just booked it up because I felt so good.  After that was mile one which was a little under 6:30.  For me that was pretty fast.  The rest of it wasn't as specific, but my next mile I passed quite a few people and it was about 6:45, I think.  I could see a bunch of girls on my team were around me, but we were going back and forth with being next to eachother.  That last mile was really tough.  A little after I passed the two mile point, I tried to swallow, but I could'nt!  There was a little dry spot in the back of my throat that kind of burned.  That last time we went around the lake it was really tough and a bunch of people passed me.  When we crossed the bridge and went around that last bend, I could'nt sprint! I tried to, but it didn't work out very well, and the last stetch a couple people passed me.

While we were in line all the girls in our team were hugging eachother and that is one reason I love our team.  I was so tired.  There wasn't any water and I was freaking out because that was all I wanted was water. Finally, we all walked back to our hang out area where we had water and I was feeling much better.  I was really happy with my race, but Conner was telling me I needed to think about what I had done wrong and I think I really needed to highdrate.  I was still happy and I felt good about it.

So, today was our first practice after school.  Us freshman rode on the bus to Sky View and we changed as quick as we could.  We were told to meet outside where we normally did and we were kind of confused.  We found out that we were supposed to meet somewhere else and we did warmups with the team in one of the gyms.  The coaches gave us a little speech which got me a little overwhelmed about the season, but I'm still excited.  For today we went easy to a point to do a tempo run.  Coach wanted us to do a 2 three times tempo with a couple minute recovery.  Us girls decided to go for a 7 minute pace and we kept together very well the first one which was really fun and easy.  We did about a half mile jog to recover, then did another two miles.  The first mile was pretty easy, but the second mile was really tough and it seemed to never end.  A group of us sped up ahead of everybody else and we were still about a minute slow for that mile.  We weren't feeling so great and it was really hot, so we jogged a mile back towards the school.  We did a mile instead of a two mile which was really tough for me.  We ended up doing a 2,2,1 tempo. Afterwards, we cooled down back to the school.  It was really tough, but fun at the same time.

I planned on doing a long and easy run, but I wanted to have a certain time to keep up with.  My goal was 8:31 and my dad planned on riding his bike up with me while I ran.  My first mile felt really good and I was going faster than I planned, but I tried to slow down.  My next miles were pretty good, but usaully a little faster than 8:30.  Once I got to six miles, I just wasn't feeling very good.  I decided to just keep it easy and not go for a certain time after that.  I really began to not feel good at last mile and I had to stop.  I tried to jog home with a couple of breaks because I felt like crap.  When I got home I took a hot shower and relaxed.  My first six miles were great, but my last ones weren't fun.

We warmed up to Mack Park for about a mile.  Then, we jogged the course on the grass for about 600 meters for Coach to show us the route.  We were supposed to do 1000m with a 3 minute cool down six times for the girls.  The first couple times I was hitting pretty well, and I think I got a pretty good workout in.  I was really exhausted afterwards.  We jogged a mile back to the school.

We did a short warmup, then ran the course.  It was very fun and easy.

So, today we did a home meet.  I was pretty nervous because I didn't highdrate as much as I should have.  I put on my racing flats a little too early, also, which wasn't very smart because I warmed up a lot in them.  One of the schools was running a little late, so I warmed up twice.

When we started out I was feeling really good and I really liked how it was't as stressful as the Highland Meet last week.  After going around the track once, I was in third with a Boneville girl and Riley in front of me.  I thought I was going too fast, but I felt good so I kept that pace.  I really wanted to catch up to Riley, but I never did until the las 300 meters.  A little before the first mile I noticed my shoe was untied, but I just kept running hoping it wouldn't come off.  When I got to mile 2 I was still feeling really good, even though it was super hot.  I actually kind of liked the heat, because when I first started running I always ran in the heat and it brought back memories or something like that which made me happy and feeling good.  I actually dry heaved a little, but just kept going.  When I did get to the last 300, I caught up to Riley and attempted to pass her, but I couldn't which is something I regret.  I got passed by a Boneville girl that had been in back of me for quite some time.  I attempted to sprint which didn't do anything because I was going the same speed.  I felt really good about my race because my goal was to just get a course record which I did.  I'm actually unsure about my time, but my watch was 21:02 and I probably started it late.

So today was our first early morning practice and I was super tired.  Conner and I got there a little late which everybody was leaving.  I finally caught up to the girls and we ran and chatted the entire time.  We did Sunnyside and I had gone about half a mile up the canyon when I realized I'd better turn around because the freshman have to catch the bus to get to North Cache.  For some reason I began sprinting down the canyon which felt good, even though it wasn't very smart.  I slowed down and ran with a few of the freshman boys until we got to Sky View.

So, today was a really hot day and we were going to do a tempo run to Cedaridge about four miles.  It was NO shade which really made the run suck.  The girls started out and we were supposed to get faster each mile so our first mile was the perfect speed because it wasn't too hard, but not too easy either.  The second mile was a little harder.  Right after mile 2 a couple of us slowed down because it was so hot.  My third mile was around eight minutes and my last mile was more than ten.  I really didn't feel very great.  Afterwards we went and got ice cream which was fun.

Yesterday, I felt kind of sick with a cold and today I felt too sick to run.  My plan was to run an 8 miler which would have gotten me up to 30.