C Mantz Run

Today wasn't the best tempo run, but atleast I got some workout in. I still have a cold from last week.  I started out on my warmup, but decided my ears were cold, so I ran home to grab a headband. That added half of a mile to my warmup.  I warmed up down the hill to the Canyon, so my first tempo wasn't gonna be fast. My fist mile, I felt good.  I was super motivated and I thought I was on pace.  It was a gradual uphill, but I knew I could still hit the time.  I was wrong.  It ended up being a 6:59. I thought I would just have to make up for it this next mile, but a few seconds in my throat began acting up and I couldn't stop coughing. After a 30 second break I started up again.  Halfway, the headwimd got really bad going up.  I was pushing, but knew I wasn't going fast enough. Towards the end, I began coughing again. It sucks being sick. Well, after another break, I finished up the mile which turned out to be a 7:51 (not including breaks). Physically I felt like I was going tempo, but my times were showing it. After a 2 minute break of mentally recouping, I started to go down. The dpwnhill and tailwind really felt good.  I wasn't giving it my all, but I was putting in effort.  The two miles were 6:26 and 6:33 with a 30 second break in between. I then extended my cool down to a mile and a half which included the hill.  It was really slow. After I got warmer, I did a pretty hard core workout and another mile on the treadmill.  I was hoping to get in some more miles, but I need to let my body recover from being sick.  Hopefully I can make up those miles later in the week.  (Sorry for the long entry)

9 up Smithfield Canyon at 7:58 average pace.  I checked the weather app to see the temperature.  It said it was 14 degrees and snowing outside.  It was definitely cold, but there were blue skies the whole time. Smithfield Canyon is super pretty right now with the snow from Saturday.

Later I did 4 miles on the treadmill around 7:45 minute miles.  My cold has mostly gone away, but my throat is super dry which does not make running inside easy.

I was gonna do some hill repeats, but after charging my gps watch, it wasn't working. I noticed that the track had been plowed or something, so I decided to give it a go for some Russian Intervals.  As I was warming up 2 miles to Sky View, it got super warm. The sun was out and I was excited.  Then, the wind kicked in and it got cold again. When I got to the track, it was plowed, but not clear.  Running on it was doable, but sprinting was a whole other story.  There was still a layer of snow, but it was packed.  Sometimes my foot would fall through and I would stumble.  It was hard to sprint, but it was still okay.  I did 2.5 sets of Russians 4×300@rpace w/ 35 second 100 in between. I was hoping for 1:00 300s, but that didn't happen. My first set was 1) 1:06, 2) 1:12, 3) 1:12, 4) 1:13.  They were at about tempo pace, but it was hard running in the snow and at some points, I found it better to run in lane 3. After a 400 recovery, my second set was much better. 1) 1:08, 2) 1:09, 3) 1:10, 4) 1:11.  I did another 400 recovery, but wasn't in the mood to do another full set, so I just did 2. 1) 1:09, 2) 1:12.  I could feel that slight burn from trying to sprint, but my times didn't show it.  I cooled down up the hill 2 miles, slowly.  

Later, I did 4 miles on the treadmill faster than 7:45 pace. It felt pretty good.

I did 4 miles premeet because I was planning on going to Boise. It was around 8:45 pace which felt really good.  I did a different loop that avoided uphills, but was still really fun. I got 2 striders in which felt really good.  When I got home, I talked to my parents and we decided not to go to Boise.  There were both pros and cons to either way.  One pro to not going is I might be able to hit a 60 mile week. 

Later I did 2 miles on the treadmill at around 7:45 pace.

It was pretty warm after school which was awesome.  I still wore tights, though.  I first went around the block, but realized if I was going to go long, I m8ght want my iPod. I ran from my house to Sky View. I continued past sv to Cedar Ridge. I then extended, but cut down before the Milky Way because that road is scary enough just driving on it.  After I passed sv, I went back home up 6th, and I extended another half mile around the block. It was really fun and full of hills. My average pace was 7:50 and I was feeling super good- ready to race.  During the run, I listened to really happy songs which brought me back to 6th grade when I'd run down the road and wave to everybody.  I waved to every car that passed. It was really fun.  It was pretty slushy, but I felt so good.  Maybe my body needed that long, easy run.

After I got warm, I ran 1.5 more miles on the treadmill at 7:45 pace to get me on track for 60.

I didn't start running until 2:00, but it was a beautiful, sunny day.  I was so pumped when I went outside wearing shorts.  I don't think it was over 30 degrees, but the sun made it much warmer.  I warmed up a mile around the block and was feeling amazing.  After some leg swings, I did my tempo on my favorite loop.  It went awesome. 1) 6:18, 2) 6:24 (some uphill, and a slight headwind coming back), 3) 6:19.  On the last mile I was really pushing.  I felt really good the last 400. I barely missed a sub 19, but it was my best 3 miles this winter, possibly my best 3 straight tempo ever. After a 30 second break, I headed towards the canyon tempo.  My fourth mile was a 6:05, but it was super downhill. I then continued half a mile up the canyon half a mile in 3:14, and cameback down at a 3:02. The fifth mile totalled to a 6:16.  I was feeling awesome.  I stopped for a minute to catch my breath when those 2 miles were over. I was so happy. My average pace was under a 6:20! I think the sun really helped. My cool down mile up golf course hill and home was super slow (10 minutes) but I still felt good. I picked up Ruby and we ran 2 miles at 9:00 pace. She seemed to enjoy it.  I'm glad I could run with her. I love the feeling of enjoying running.  It's hard when there is nobody to run with, but I think my motivation has come back this week. This tempo and yesterday really got me motivated again.  

I'm super glad I got 60 miles! That is definitely my highest mileage ever (53.5 was my previous). My knees can feel it, a little, but after a day break, I should feel good for next week. I don't know if I'll hit that high of mileage again until summer training, but we'll see.