Failure makes me work even harder.

Well I was happy with my new shoes! They were really comfortable, yet light.  It was a nice easy run.  Glad to see Red (Braden) coming out to run with us!

I felt pretty good.  I like the new shoes a lot and am excited for this years cross country season!

It was pretty good today.  We went out towards Maverik and back.  Excited to see some of these guys develop if they work hard!  I know I've said I know why I didn't do well before, but this time I'm a 100% positive I got it.  I didn't have confidence in my running abilities or in myself.  I am working on building my confidence this season instead of tearing myself down like I always do.  I am working on being more positive and such!

3 on the grass!  It was a pretty fun run, we kicked a soccer ball for all but one lap (way to lose it at the last second guys)!  I felt good today and I am ready to roll and get into some higher mileage, but I know I should be patient!  I have been doing more core and upper body workouts (the upper body is more of just a strength workout i'm not going to be a cowboy or something) and I think it will pay off in the future.  I have been eating healthier, which helps, but I need to eat more because I have been tired practically all day after my runs.  Next week I'm going to add plyometrics to my workout.  I am ready for cross country and my confidence hasn't been this high since freshmen year! SO excited!!!

Woke up at 7 to run before I helped with a race in provo.  Running in downtown Provo sucks...so many lights, but I finally found a residential to run in so that I didn't have to stop every five feet.  I felt pretty strong today, even though I got to bed at 1 am that day.  I am excited for cross country to come and to finally show how much confidence I have gained!  I am doing better with not tearing myself down like I use to...just building myself up!!!  Didn't run saturday, because I had to set up a race all day.

Great run out on the tortoise road!  Excited I that Hobbes came out!  I felt great!  My confidence is at an all-time high (which is kinda weird since I didn't even do that well in track), but I usually don't feel this good at first, because I don't do track!  I may have not done the best, but it will definitely help me in the future for xc!  I have been working on building my confidence instead of tearing it down like I usually do and it is working wonders!  I am ready to KILL it in xc and run (and hopefully beat) some of the big boys!!!  We look like we have a strong group if they all work their butts off!

Up to the dirt mile where we ran two loops.  It was a good run, but I felt a little junky today.  We were talking about how we stack up against d-hills and sounds like it should be close, unless some people step up big time.  I am ready for some workouts but i can wait, because I don't have the base mileage to do it yet!

Out towards the gas station then loop it back over back towards the firestation and the school.  It was a great run, but I felt a little junky again....I need to stretch more and get more sleep!! I won't be able to run with the team until monday and I have to run by myself in the middle of nowhere....great...haha

Ran with Mike this morning...good, easy, run.  I felt a little junky but not too bad.

I ran up in the mountains today.  I ran 15 min. after eating toco's....not a good idea!  Also, there were some killer hills, which, with the altitude, were incredibly hard!  By far the worse I have felt in a while, but that is because I was sunburnt and had an upset stumach!

Today I ran out towards the stake center and a little bit and I felt great at first, but half-way through I felt the Outback I had ate coming on!  It was soo hot and I was soo sunburnt it was a terrrible feeling run!  But hey we all have those runs!

Today we ran up telegraph and then towards maverick then loop back past the dirt mile.  It was a fun and good run!  I felt amazing and everything really felt easy (maybe because my fastest pace was 6:30).  But these miles aren't about speed, more about the mileage buildup and creating a base.  This run made me realize I'm ready to role this year, because I have never felt this great going into 2nd or 3rd week of running, because I usually do soccer instead of track.  Even though track wasn't what I wanted, I think it will greatly benefit me this cross country season.  I didn't know how to race track really, but cross country is a different story...I have experience racing xc!  Glad this monday I didn't have to get rid of too much junk from the weekend!

Today we ran on the dirt mile.  It was pretty nice, I felt great!  Even though it seemed everyone was breathing hard, I found it really easy to breath (its been a while with my cough during track that lasted forever)!  I am really excited to do workouts, because I feel great right now and am ready to own cross country this year!

Today we ran out towards the desert past maverick and back.  It was an alright run...I didn't feel terrible, but I didn't feel as good as yesterday.  My breathing was good most of the time,but others it was struggling.  I had to give way more effort today, but that's alright....giving effort isn't a bad thing haha.  First day that we start to bump up mileage...SO excited!

Today we did the grass run.  It was pretty fun.  I felt way better than yesterday....actually I felt perfect!  I was a little offended though when Tyson was saying how ben saarel is gonna beat everyone by 2 min then said "oh wait I forgot mike!"  What the heck??  Just because I had a crappy track season doesn't mean I am worse than michael at cross!!  I am just as good!!  Anyone who thinks otherwise....I'm gonna prove that to you!

Today I ran in beaver...with some nobody...named hunter...im just jake kronging you he's a somebody.  It was a higher altitude so I thought it would be harder to breath but I felt pretty relaxed so I breathed pretty easily.  Just proved I'm ready to ROLL!!!

Today, I was working all day and finally got back around 5.  I was going to wait until it cooled down but I was affraid that wouldn't be until it was dark, so I ran my 3 miles at 6:30...IT WAS FREAKIN' HOT!  I noticed I still had doubts about my ability to run in me, and I think it's due to my frustration and disappointment leftover from track, so I decided to nail this run and get all my frustration out!  I started out at a good pace but about 1/2 mile in I decided to nail it and rain faster than our tempo pace.  I nailed it until about a mile and 1/2 later then I backed down for 400m then started nailing it again until the end.  I know it was suppose to be a nice easy run, but I had to get it out....I ended up feeling relieved and confident afterwards! (Even though at the end I felt like throwing up because of the heat)

Today we ran parkway.  It was a pretty good run.  I felt a little tight until we turned on to parkway, then I was feeling really good.  My breathing was controled and I felt confident.  I am really thinking that track helped me stay shape better for this xc season!  I don't have to make up as much as I usually had to.  Excited to watch the olympic trials today....the 1500m I believe....Watched Galen Rupp dominate the 10,000m.

4 today on the dirt mile (2 loops).  I felt a little tight at a couple points, but only for like a minute then  I went back to feeling relaxed and controled breathing.  I have been watching the olympic trials and some other older races and I use to dislike Galen Rupp, but that was because Tyson and Coach said they didn't like him, but I think he's one of my favorite now...I mean he had to put his shoe back on and still won an NCAA title...that's impressive!  Anyways,  I was watching his form, which is really strong and relaxed, and I have been trying to improve mine (not change, because that has jacked me up in the past).  I am going to do core and strength workout today and maybe some flexibility stuff.  Still really excited for xc to start!  Updated my goals on the block!

Today we ran out towards the desert past maverick, then up the hill into coral canyon and looped back down the hill to the elementary school.  It was a great run, I felt controled and smooth, except for a little cramping by the park and down the hill.  I felt really strong on the uphills.  My right toes hurt...but I think that was because I wasn't striking on my foot right.  Overall a great run and felt easy....which is weird usually my first 7 hurts a lot!  Shows how much better shape I'm in from track! :D

Today we ran 4 on the grass.  It was a pretty quiet run, but still fun just the same!  I was surprised this summer how big of a group we have that stick together the whole run!  They definitely are some who are ready and willing to put in the effort to improve!  I felt great this run, except when I had to run on the rocks!  We then did some striders and I was trying to be very mindful of my form while going a good pace.  I felt like I could go faster with ease!  Although, I couldn't breath that well, but I think that is, because I haven't done any hill or speed work.  I am getting more confident as the summer has progressed and I will do some core and strength work and maybe some plyo's.  

Well we ran in what I like to call a little piece of Africa (out in the desert past the greensprings park).  I usually love this run, but I was at my best feeling today.  I couldn't breath too well most of the run, but I managed to stick it out and conquer some killer hills!  It was nice to run with Josh and Wes and Josh even stuck it out on the big hills!  Way to be!  Makes me excited for this year!

Snow Canyon Gorge trail run.  It was an awesome trail and me, josh, and wes had a grand time running this trail!  We decide taht we should go on trails every saturday!  Anyway, at first I was really tight and sore from my dad messaging my leg, but after a mile I felt great and really got in a rythem.  I then went to play soccer afterwards and realized I really don't like soccer as much as I use to (playing it that is) and am glad I am running now instead. I noticed that no one came to soccer, which shows the difference for me...the environment.  All the XC kids are willing and want to work hard and show up to almost everything!  Glad to be a part of a great program and can't wait to give back to it!