C Mantz Run

For xc, we did tree of life, then bumped up to cedaridge backwards. The coaches had us start girls and boys separate to find people to stay with. Cassidy and I stuck together and made our way up to the second pack. Her goal was to stay with me, and she stuck with us until the cemetery which was awesome. The lead ground didn't know where to go after the canal or cemetery, so we caught them twice. The pack was huge. We hauled down the hill. Ethan, Jaxon, and I caught the lead pack around cedaridge, but I dropped the last mile. Around a 7:35 average pace which was plenty faster than I had anticipated. It was a way fun practice.

Ran during the sunset again because it's a convenient time. Brought Ruby with me. She started to struggle when we got to the first mile, and she never got faster. Although she has more energy than her tiny body can handle, Ruby only runs when she wants to. Our miles were 7:44, 7:51,  8:42, and a 4:07 half mile. Going up the hill on the third mile, Ruby was walking and I didn't want to drag her or carry her, so I just slowed way down. The temperature was perfect, but the dog just wasn't feeling it. The sunset wasn't as nice as Saturday, but the clouds were still pink. Fun evening run.

I was really pumped to try tempo, but my foot was hurting. I decided to just go up the canyon and if it warms up, maybe I'll try some tempo. Before 2 miles, it didn't hurt, so my warm up was 2. When I started, I realized how it would all be uphill. My first mile was still decent for going up (6:43). I took a quick break to catch my breath, I hadn't gone fast in a while. Then, I started to go down. Within a minute, my achilles was popping. It hadn't happened since 8th grade, so I stopped. Stretched it, then tried again, but stopped again. It's painful, but when I stop it doesn't hurt. That half mile was still fast, excluding the breaks. Just jogged home the rest of the way. It didn't hurt/pop coming back up the golfcourse hill, but I didn't want to risk it. The only time it really did pop is when I would run down the canyon after all the uphill, so my next tempo will have more gradual hill changes. Still got in 6, and all of my miles were under 10 minutes, lol.

At 3:30, when it was super hot, I went 3 quick miles. I need a few heat runs before cross country, and I had not other time. Just did hillside. When I was next to the fields, I heard a rattle snake, but couldn't see it, so I just sped up. Coming back, I was on the other side of the road. I crossed after the spot where I'd heard the rattle. Then, I heard a bunch more (from a distance). I just ran faster, it wasn't super bad. It was either rattle snakes or sprinklers that didn't exist, lol. About a 7:18 average pace. Still way fun. Right after, hiked the wind caves and my legs were wrecked.

For practice, we ran up the canyon. I was with the girls for a bit, then the sophmores came past and I went with them. The lead pack of guys was way ahead, but I was so tired and my legs were sore. We were still going at a 7:25 pace until the second mile. It was me, tucker, and ryan. As we went up, isaac and swiggy fell off, and stuck with us. After 3 up, we turned around. Tucker and Ryan took off downhill, but my body wasn't up for it. It was way fun and chill. 7:45 average pace.

I was able to run with Amber which was way fun! We drove up birch to the third gate and started up the trail. We followed a single track that weaved in and out of the double which had easier crossings and some bridges across the river. It was a ton of fun chatting with her, and we were going up the trail super slow (14 minute miles). We got to where it is just the single track and went up for a ways. It was the furthest either of us had ever gone up, and the trail was super over grown. Coming down, our pace sped up to 10 minute miles. I fell into the river twice while we were crossing, but the cold water felt really refreshing as the temperature became warmer. It was way fun!

At practice we ran golf course. Rachel was there on time, so we stuck together. We pushed it up the hill, then relaxed on the way down. Our pace was around 8 until the last mile, where we were booking it, dropping our average pace to a 7:50. It was way fun.

Tempo today. It wasn't as good as anticipated, but good for the first time this summer. Warmed up 2 miles, the first and last mile of the tempo. Did hillside. I felt really good starting, and my first mile was right on, but the second and third were harder to keep pushing. Foot didn't hurt and achilles didn't pop, so that was great. I mostly didn't keep my form the last 2 miles. Miles were: 6:21, 6:44, 6:45 which was 19:51 total. It's crazy how last year, I just hoped for under 20, and hitting this time doesn't kill me anymore. Picked up Ruby and cooled down a mile. I should have ran last night, and tonight because I was on track for 50 miles. I just didn't have the motivation or energy. Next week, I will hit 50.