Failure makes me work even harder.

AM- 3 to AC easy.

PM- Dog pound with 4x200m.  All of which felt good and strong.

Went on a 4 miler easy with 3 fartleks.  I felt pretty good considering I was in a car for so long today.

RACE- Woke up at 6:45 to get all packed up and ready to head to the race from Byron's Aunt/Uncle's house.  Warming up I felt pretty good.  I like running in the colder weather.  Warmed up 4 miles on the course to get ready then did the regular race drills to warm up.

The gun went off and since I didn't have spikes in (they are warn out and literally CAN'T fit spikes in) I slipped right when it went off which tripped Matt and put me behind mike by at least 50m from the beginning, so I got up quick and sprinted to try and catch up.  The whole first lap was basically trying to catch the leaders (which isn't a walk in the park).  The whole lap I was just passing people the whole time.  The second lap was pretty much the same, because I was still trying to catch up (I think we all know that it's easier to stay up then catch up).  The third lap I see mike and jason quinn in the distance and coach telling me and byron we can beat mike...it was just such a big gap I let it intimidate me, so I didn't and ended up about 32 seconds behind him.  I think it was actually a really good race, but the start hurt me a ton, because I was way behind Mike because of my fall and mike had quite a few kids in front of him.  Next race I want to be with the leaders from the start and just go for it, because today felt like I didn't go all out...actually felt well within myself!

AM- 3 miles easy.

PM- 10 miles easy.  Felt pretty good today.  Need to drink more during school.

AM- 3 miles easy. Calf was a little tight this morning.

PM- workout.  3 sets of 1200, 1000, 800, 600 w/ 3 min recovery. DI warm/ cool. The first two sets I really stayed right behind mike, my stomach was bugging a bit, but just a little gas.  Last set I was a tired and my form/legs were super flat and I had a hard time generating power and quick feet, but I pushed through!  I was pretty proud of myself today.  It was a super hard workout (the workout alone added up to be 9.25 miles not including warm/cool) and I wasn't feeling my best, but really I just need to go for it.  I went for the first two, now I just need to finish it, but I felt I worked hard today.

AM- 3 miles easy.

PM- 5 miles easy to Target and back.  It was really slow and easy.  It was a real fun run and was nice after such a hard workout.

AM- 3 easy.

PM- 2 Mile TIME TRIAL.  I hydrated well today.  Maybe I shouldve eaten a little more, but nothing really major that could affect me.  I slept well and long last night which was nice.  We warmed up to DI for 2 miles then it was our time trial.  I stuck with Mike the first 1200 loop, then as we hit the second I back off just a fraction which I shouldn't have...I should have attacked it even more then!  So, I felt back maybe 5-8 seconds that lap, which really hurt me, but I was determined to finish strong!  Then it was the 800 loop to finish and if I had believed in myself I think I wouldve gained on mike, but I really just sat that lap and let it grow only a few more seconds.  I ended up about 15 seconds behind mike, but I really should've been at least 8 seconds or less behind or even in front of him!  I felt fine I just need to go for it next time.  I have been way too willing to sit back lately when it comes to running...and I need to just go for it!  But this really was a step forward for me!

AM- 3 to AC easy.  Good as usual.

PM- 5 w/ striders.  Went out and did a weird loop down 2450 then back to the school then a or two on the AC run and back to the H.S.  I felt good.  My hipflexor is starting to bug.

Went with Byron, Coach, Mike and Hunter out on a trail out in the desert by coach's house.  Usually I love trail runs, but my hip-flexor was really bugging and I just sat back and thoght about what I want to do with my running.  I couldn't hear a word they were saying (we were running in a line on the narrow trail and I was at the back), so I just chilled behind.  Need to roll out my hipflexor

AM- 3 to AC easy.  SO COLD NOW!  Dang...and I forgot my gloves so my hands froze!

PM- 5x1000m repeats w/ 3 min. recovery.  Harts warm, DI cool down.  So, to begin..coach made us believe we were doing 8, which was good cause we wouldve went way to hard, but I shouldn't have saved SO much for the last three (which I knew would be the hardest).  So, the first one I just stuck a little behind mike around a 2:53.  2nd 1000- I stuck with him the first half then stayed about 3 feet behind after the little hill- 2:51.  3rd 1000- Did the same only this time I tried shortening my stride and just giving it a little more push off the ground and that felt better- 2:53.  4th 1000- did the same, really controlled cause i was saving a lot- 2:54.  5th 1000-  Really held back on this one cause I thought there was more, but no haha but I'm glad there wasn't more, but also wish there wouldve been more...oh well!- 2:55  I really thought I did great this workout.  I really hit around my time every single one. And almost every one I was just 2-3 sec. behind mike.  I could've stayed with him, but I didn't want to go crazy like coach said not to...next time!  Seeing improvements!

AM- 3 easy to AC.  Had my cold weather gear, but it wasn't near as cold as yesterday!  Felt good though.

PM- 5 w/ striders out into middleton.  I felt really slow and a lot of little tiny pains sprung up...luckily it was an easy day!

AM- 3 easy.  Was pretty chilly but not too bad.

PM- 5 easy w/ 4x200m.  I felt really slow today, because I didn't get enough to eat (forgot a lunch) and so I did my best to just keep plugging.  The 200's I did really good the actual fast part, but the recovery was super slow, so I was behind everyone.  I'm in the open this weekend which means I know I should go for the win.  I also don't have to worry about who's "suppose" to be way faster than me, because they are all close to my speed in the season (which I think I've gotten way faster...or at least believed in myself more!) 

AM- 3 easy.

PM- 4 after a long trip.  Flagstaff has some good temps. 

AM- 4 on a flagstaff trail.  It was nice temps and felt good.

PM- 3 on the course.  Felt fine. 

Warmed up and saw the boys do well in the open. 3 miles. 

RACE-  I was in the back of my box, so I had trouble getting out.  I couldn't get my breathing under control and mentally something was just....off. Byron passed me early on and I just couldn't get myself to go.  I just felt so negative mentally.  I ended up finishing 6th on my team by time...which kinda sucks cause I wanted this to be my break through race and it turned out to be my break down race...Also, I have been doing so well in workouts lately I thought maybe this was it, but no.  I just need to work even harder these next couple of weeks to really get me in good shape mentally and physically for Foot Locker.  I know I haven't been close all season to these 'elite' guys, but I have been running workouts with Mike lately and he is elite in my opinion (I mean he almost beat Martinez at Southwest).  I think I just need to believe and GO.

AM- 3 easy to AC.  Felt a little tight and hipflexor just feel off (not really in pain)

PM- favorite run out on rollercoaster for a total of 8.  I notice that on hills I do really well...not necessarily because of my muscular legs, but because I just trust myself and glide up hills.  So, all I need to do is let go and trust myself to lay it on the line and give it what I got, because I got the ability to be fast, I just need to not just call for a raise but to put all chips in on every workout and race in order to get the performance I've been waiting for.  Hipflexor needs to be rolled and stretched.  Feels just a little jacked, but not in any pain really.

AM- 3 easy to AC.  Felt good.

PM- workout of 5x1000m w/ 3 min. recovery.  Mike wasn't here today, but I replaced him with Tyson haha.  I wasn't suppose to go crazy, so I held back from going with Tyson (who was going way faster than I intended to go).  1st 1000m- 2:50.  Felt pretty good, just warming up.  2nd 1000m- 2:53.  Held back from Tyson, who was like 5 seconds ahead of me.  3rd 1000m- 2:53.  4th 1000m- 2:57.  This one was off, because I kept the same distance from Tyson thinking he was on pace, but he wasn't.  5th 1000m- 2:48.  The last one coach told us to get out fast and if we felt good to kick it at the end and I wasn't really tired, so I decided I would.  Going up the hill colton was feeling good so he gapped me a little, but when we got to the flagpole I started my kick and I just felt amazing and like I was flying.  I ended very well and I was talking with Tyson and he said he would do thousands around the pace I am doing them, so I think that proves that I can do SO much better in races.  I am feeling better and better about my running, even after the below-par performance at NXR!

AM- woke up and ran by myself, because I had to work then leave to AZ later.  Went an easy 5 and attempted to to striders, but the grass was still frozen, so I just quit after half of them. 

PM- didn't think I'd get the run in, because it was dark when I arrived to AZ, but hunter was there and we decided to go on a run before dinner.  It was super slow, but it's nice to go easy every once and a while.  FYI- if someone tells you to try a hamburger patty with a krispy kreme donut as the bun...say NO WAY!

AM- 5 miles E.  Felt good

PM- 3 easy before thanksgiving dinner.

AM- 5 E. Ran to desert Vista high school to do my 200's but it was locked. So I'll do it later

PM- 3 E w/ 4x200m. Ran just as it got dark. Felt nice then a nice 200 sprints on the road.

6 miles with 2 mile tempo. I thought I'd go about 5:50 pace but I ended up running faster than that. I think because its so much lower altitude in Arizona. Before the tempo I was feeling really crappy but as soon as I got going in the Tempo I felt really good. 1st mile- 5:39. This one was all downhill. 2nd mild- 5:37. This second one I tried to keep mu stride at a good, quick length and it helped a ton. This one was flat with a little uphill at the end.  I was glad I got a good run in and I learned what my perfect length of stride because normally I make it too lengthy and slow so that was good.  Feeling real good about Foot Locker!

AM- 3 miles E to AC.  Felt good.

PM- Time Trial.  Was a little nervous because of short notice.  I was ready thought.  First lap me and Mike went fast, but I think it was good for future refrences (1:03).  The second lap, I don't know the time, was a little slower cause mentally I didn't quite prepare very well.  The third/fourth laps weren't good at all.  I really was so tight and I really just sat there.  I should've been at least 10 seconds faster this time trial (no joke.) I just fell back too early.  I think it's good though cause I PRed when we haven't done any speedwork on the track.  I know by the end of the season I can get in the low 20's at least.  I feel like I have improved so much but I just haven't trust myself when it's come to running.  Goal for the rest of the week and senior year: trust myself and just go.

AM- 3 miles E to AC.  Felt good, but I was super tight afterwards.  Need to stretch more.

AM- 3 easy to AC.

PM- 4 w/ 4x200m.  It was our annual ice cream run, but I didn't eat any ice cream, because I am lactose intolerant, so I just headed back with Ridge and Archie.  We did the 200's and I started out slow on the first one, but kicked the last 100m.  The next two I ran hard and really had no one to push me, because no one was near me (Mike, Paul, Kyler, etc weren't with me) until the last one Ridge wanted to keep up with me, so he started out super fast and I wasn't expecting it so he was well ahead of me, but I ran well.

AM- 3 easy to AC.  Feeling good.

PM- 3 down in california.  Felt good to shake out the junk of me from the trip.  Had some side aches, but nothing else to report.

Got our packets and such.  Then ran the course and it was super muddy.  Felt a little junky cause I haven't eaten well this trip.