C Mantz Run

Not sure how I feel about today's races. I was feeling ready, but all day my mind wasn't on the race. I physically felt ready to qualify, but I hadn't raced in about 3 weeks. I didn't know if we were gonna get outa 4th hour but luckily did. Wamed up a little too early with Kelsey, who was the only other sv girl running the 3200. We did a mile, then waited. I got in another half mile just jogging around keeping warm. It was really nice weather, a little too warm. When the race came closer, I could not get mentally in game mode, so I listened to music. When the race finally came around, I started pretty fast. I had already dropped everybody by the first lap. My first mile was on pace. I think if I had worn a watch at a race like this, I would have gone faster. The atmosphere was nothing like Simplot where every second of every lap there is somebody there to cheer. It helped having people on the back stretch cheering, but it only lasted a few seconds. Back to the race, I really tried to push laps 5 and 6, but mentally didn't have it. The last 800, I knew I had lost my chance, but still tried to push. I didn't have any music in my head, which didn't help. Emily closed the gap the last 2 laps, but didn't catch me. When I finished, I just didn't feel good. I was still really tired couldn't exactly breathe. Coughed a ton. I think being sick was still there a little. Cooled down half a mile wih Kelsey. We were both dead. When I got back, did another mile cool down with Ethan and Spencer.

It was fun watching the other races, but I didn't have energy. Finally could breathe again, which was good. I did not want to run the mile. My plan was to just strategize it. Warmed up a mile on the turf and again could not get into mental game mode. We were on the start when it hit that I had to race. It got a little chilly, and there was a breeze on the back stretch. I just stuck right behind Emily the whole time. We let the Box Elder girl get way ahead and lead the whole race. My 3200 splits were better than this race. At the last 400, I tried to sprint, but didn't have the energy and Emily passed me. It was all good, she did awesome. Again felt dead at the end. Glad my time was a 5:36, though. It was only 2 seconds slower than my first mile in the 3200. Rachel did amazing PRing in both her mile and 800. Same with Clara. Finally cooled down about 1.5 miles (last one with a bunch of guys on tree of life).  It was a super fun meet, and everybody did amazing.

Got a sunburn from yesterday, which wasn't very exciting. Didn't have school or a car, but I did have practice, so I ran to sv. It was really difficult, my hamstrings were pretty tight from yesterday. Running definitely loosened them out. Had to run with a drawstring bag which is always an adventure. Got there a little early and just waited. We had a meeting, then asked Coach what the plan was for today. He wanted us to go long and easy, but we had to stay close to the track. Rachel, Clara and I ran 2 laps waiting for the guys, then ran a mile or so on the course. When we got on the track, we were pretty dead... it was hot. We did plenty of laps. Luckily I had my gps watch because keeping track would not have been easy. Halfway, we flipped around and went backwards. The last 4 laps, we did 4x100m at about 80%. I didn't focus so much on speed, just stride. They felt good. We took plenty of water breaks. After, we stretched. It was a fun day, but miserable running long and easy on the track.

It was a dual meet today, and we had to run something, but Coach wanted us to just do a workout. It took Rachel and me a while to get going on a mile warm up. Then we stretched for the 2 mile. Our plan was to do the 2 mile tempo, then run one more tempo mile. The 2 mile was fun. The first mile was a party. Jordan N was going the same pace, so he just stuck with me. He did awesome, especially running in lane 2. Our first few laps were way fast, but we got into pace. Emily was awesome cheering for us at the long jump. First mile was a 6:08 (too fast), second was a 6:16 which was around a 12:25. Our goal was a 6:20 minute mile, but it wasn't too bad. The second mile was definitely harder. I let Jordan finish in front of me at the end. 3 minutes after I had finished, I was running another mile tempo. My whole body hurt. It was pretty miserable. Started by the range, ran around sv, turned towards Mack Park, but took a left at 300, then turned and finished right at church run finish. It was a long mile. .5 in, I was dying, and took a break. My mile was a 6:43, so not so good. It was longer than I expected. Saw Rachel, and cooled down with her. When we got back to the track, we watched races. I put on some sunblock, but I still got burned. Later did a mile with Kelsee, Danella, and Spencer. Talked to Ethan, then did one more mile. It was a really hot day, but a ton of fun. Jogged around throughout the meet. When I got home, I ran a quarter mile with Ruby to round out my mileage.

It was a really hot day. For our workout we just did something similar to Tuesday, but instead of 100s, we did 200s. I ran to Mack Park with Rachel. She was pretty sore, so we were going pretty slow. We did 2 200s at the park. They were both pretty slow. Running on the grass was difficult. As I was recovering half a mile, I saw the guys. It was hard to catch them, but they were just going up the canyon. Most guys turned around 1 mile ul. Ethan and Landon went up 1.5ish, then turned around, so I went with them. It was hard to keep up with them, but it was fun. Over this time we did maybe 5 total 200s, but they weren't fully 200s. Then we stopped at the park, again, and jumped into the river. I put my feet in, which was nice. Connor threw Ethan's shoes in the river, which was entertaining. Rachel and I finally ran back. it was about 6 miles at 7:53 pace.

At 4 we did a thing that consisted of short hill repeats in grass in spikes. It was fun, but different. Later we did some 100s and 50s on the track. We were all so hungry by the end. Ethan and I settled that we ran atleast 3/4 of a mile.

It was a shorter premeet than I had anticipated, but it was still way fun. We did Mack 'n back. When we got there we did 6 strides which lasted a long time. It was hard to run on the grass because my foot is being stupid. So the last three were on the path next to where everybody did their strides. Then we played some 10 dot dot, and hopped in the river. Sarah and I ran back because I had to get home early.

Today was a party like none other. I was not really prepped for these races mentally, but they were both wonderful. We drove down with mc, set up the tent, and and hour later, I was already warming up. One thing I regret was I forgot to eat breakfast and didn't realize til and hour before when it was a little too late. It didn't mess up my race, but I was hungry during the cool down. I was in the open 1600 and invite 3200, so the 2 races were 7-8 hours apart. My strategy for the mile was to stick with the pack, and go when I was ready. I warmed up a mile on a sidewalk I found, then did some stretches on the field. Jessica, from Bonneville, warmed up with me the rest of the time which was wonderful. I hate warming up alone. We jogged around and did some strides waiting for our heat to start. The weather was also better than expected. It was supposed to rain and be cold, but instead it was windy with sun. When our race started, I was nervous. My start wasn't amazing, but the entire race was a big pack. There were a few elbows thrown because the pack was pretty tight (not purposely from me). Our first 400 felt pretty fresh. At the 800, I still felt good. On the home sretch there was a headwind, but I always had somebody to draft off of. The third lap, anybody was there for the win. On the final lap, I felt amazinf. With 350 to go, I passed the leader. My form felt amazing. I was sprinting pretty hard. 200 to go, I could tell I had used so much energy. The last 100 was the craziest feeling ever. There was a headwind, 2 girls had passed me, and me and this other girl were battling it out. My thighs and butt have never burned so badly. It felt really long, but the last 10 meters, I surged and got 3rd. I was pretty happy about it. My time was a 5:20, which was right on the line for a pr. I was dead after. Cooled down half a mile on the turf while watching Ethan race. Then it rained, so we brought our stuff inside. Cooled down another half mile inside.

It was so much fun hanging with everybody at this meet. I got plenty of time to recover for the 2 mile. Finally warmed up. It was pouring outside, so I did 1.5 on the inside track. Didn't plan to go that far, but I was feeling really good. Went outside, and they were ahead, so I stretched, threw on my spikes, and checked in. It was wet. When our race started, I was cold, but I forgot about it by the first 100. Our start was so slow. The first 200 was maybe a 40, and the 400 was around a 1:22. I just stuck behind the pack. Before the first 400 was over, I moved my way up. On the first or second lap my right shoe had untied, which was the bothersome foot, and it was harder to get on my toes. The front pack of 3 girls was pulling away, and I couldn't let them get away. Before the first mile, they were too far ahead to catch. I didn't want to give up. Right before I told myself that I love the rain! It hurt. The first mile was a 5:37, so I knew I was on pace. Lap 5 and 6 are the laps I focus on because they're the laps that determine qqualifying or not. I just pushed through em. Again, it hurt. I could hear someone behind me, and I couldn't let her catch me, so I pushed even harder. The last 800, I had to hit a 2:50ish to qualify. Inreally struggled on the 7th lap, but when the last lap came around, I gave it my all. The last 300 was everything I had left. I hurt similar to the 1600, my thighs burned. I don't remember the last 50m, I was just running. When I finished I was pumped to be done. My sticker stuck to my jersey, but I put it over my old sticker stain, so it's okay! After congratulating a few girls, I started coughing. Couldn't stop for a while, meaning I was still feelining the aftermath of being sick from 2 weeks ago. I was so cold! When we finally got inside, I got on a dry shirt and shoes, and cooled down a mile with Ethan and Spencer on the indoor track. I don't know how much of a cool down it was, because we were going pretty fast, but it was still fun! I can admit that I amso sore, but I'm happy to finally be qualified for state in the 3200m. Lol, sorry this entry is a novel, but it is still pretty vivid.