2nd and Last Progression Run of the Season

Today was the second progression run to see how we have improved this past season. I was really excited for this because, even though it's a really hard workout, I knew I could do it due to the fact we did it at the beginning of the season. I mean, so far I can't finish the whole thing because my coach pulls you out if you fall off pace, but I can still get through a lot of it. Today my legs felt kind of tired and I think it definitely showed today in the progression run. I didn't do as well as I wanted, but I guess it was just an off day. Everyone has those days, so yeah I guess today was my day. I think I need to become more mentally tough though because I probably could have kept going if I didn't let my head get in the way. I need to work on this and stay positive!

Most Mileage EVER + Canyon Run

It's been forever but don't worry, as Nacho said it, I am still alive. Last week was really exciting running wise because I ran the highest amount of miles I've ever run in a week in my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE! Yep, it was 48 to be exact. Eight miles every day. The cross country season is officially over and we had one guy from SUU make it to nationals and one of our girls missed making it by one spot! Hope she can make it in track. Anyway, that means all the girls are taking a week off hard workouts and just building mileage back up. So our coach told us to run our high mileage every day last week. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I feel like my body handled it really well. I'm so encouraged! It really helped to do two a days because it broke up all the miles and made it feel not as long. I am grateful for Sundays though, as they really have become days of rest. Monday we ran the canyon run, and I didn't know how my body would do with this because I ran such high mileage last week, but I felt SO GREAT running up that canyon. It was two miles up and once I found a girl I knew I could stick with we pushed each other til the end. I came through about the eighth girl. There are the girls who travel because they're so fast and then a couple seniors that beat me. So that means I am getting better woot! Today I ran 12x60 sec pickups and felt so good too. I am so grateful I'm not injured and I'm starting to get excited for the progression run we are running Wednesday after the break. I love to run, and it's especially fun when you're not injured and feeling healthy!

The no sugar thing has been great. I'm doing this with my mom and I decided since she's still drinking Diet Coke then I can drink hot chocolate. Yes, hot chocolate has way more sugar than Coke but .... whatever. Otherwise, yeah it's been great with no sugar or junk food. This week on Thanksgiving and today I allowed myself pie and some other treats, but tomorrow I'm going to keep going with my mom. She decided to keep going until Christmas so I decided to do it with her! I like doing this because it makes me feel healthier. Pumpkin pie is SO GOOD though! I love Thanksgiving!

Liquid Iron Plus Random Stuff

EW. DISGUSTING. MAKES ME WANT TO VOMIT. YUCKY. BLECH. GROSS. NASTY. SICK.
Okay, enough of that. These are all the words I think when I have to take disgusting liquid iron every night. It's the grossest stuff I've ever tasted. My coach requires us to take this stuff because we run so much. I know I need it but its so nasty. AND iron sometimes turns your teeth grey so I have to shove it in the back of my throat. Sometimes it goes down the wrong tube and I can taste it when I cough. It's the yuckiest taste ever! EW.

Okay, so I had to write a paper on a commercial and analyze it. I chose this one and I think it's so funny! I laugh every time! Sorry this is so random but I love it :)

Speed

Monday = 5.4 miles + 10x100 meter strides
Tuesday = 7 miles with 4x1000 meter repeats with 2 and a half minutes rest in between + weights
Wednesday = SORE + 8 miles @ 7:45 pace

So gradually incorporating speed back into our training, well speed on the track, is going to take some getting used to. Tuesday's workout was not as bad as I thought it would be though, which is a good sign. We had to hit in between 3:20-3:45ish for the 1000's. My splits: 3:31, 3:29, 3:41, 3:30. Average=around 3:33 pace. I was so happy with how I ran these. I wish my third would have been a little faster but on that rep I felt like I pushed harder and it turned out being slower. It is what it is. This workout was really fun because we had the chance to run with the girls who are going to XC pre-nationals on our team. Usually they do separate workouts from us at a different time. It was really encouraging because our coach was so proud of how the other freshman and I ran the 1000's. He told us we are far ahead of the top girls on our team when they were freshman! Besides being sore from weights yesterday I feel so great. I am so grateful I'm not injured and feeling healthy.

Thursday = Most likely pick ups
Rest of the week = Distance

SUU Track

Favorite Running Songs

Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf

Sail - AWOLNATION

Fade Into Darkness - Avicii

Back in Black - AC/DC

Too Close - Alex Clare

This is the New Year - Ian Axel

Track Workout & Party

Yesterday was such a great day. We did a workout that felt hard but not too hard, it actually felt good to be done and I felt like I could have even gone further which is a good sign. Anyway, weights have been killing me. I am so not used to pull-ups and all the different variations of dead lifts we've been doing! This morning when I woke up for my easy run I felt like I'd been hit by a bus :) This is good though because the fact I'm sore tells me I really need it. The track party last night was a blast!! It was hilarious watching everyone trying to run around the track in their costumes. The first event was the 4x600 which I ran. My team placed 2nd in that event for the girls. The second was shot put, then 4x100, then twinkie eating! So I asked my coach if I could do the twinkie eating, and then I took one look at the girls participating and instantly knew I had no chance of helping my team. All the girls in this event were thrower girls and yeah... let's just say those girls could cram! I'm glad I didn't participate because they looked so sick after. The root beer mile came after that and I luckily didn't have to participate in that either! It was so gross though, lots of puking. Anyway, it was pretty entertaining and I'm so pumped for track season! Hope I'm not redshirted but if I am then no big.

So I still haven't eaten junk/straight sugary desserts! 30 days here I come...