Week of: September 22nd -September 28th
Training
Monday: mile repeats on railroad bed
Tuesday: 2 miles hard/easy, 20 minute speed workout
Wednesday: 6 miles easy
Thursday: (Meet at Brunswick) 50 minute workout around course
Friday: 3 miles easy
Saturday: Manchester meet @ Derryfield Park NH
Sunday: off
I still think I need to get my mileage up, but it's easier to say it than do it. Wednesday I ran with Kelton, Jaron, and Alex L. which wasn't an LSD day for me because they kept changing pace that wasn't right for me (but I can't complain because I need someone to run with). So they started out faster in the beginning and I was dying, then towards the end I think they slowed down so I was like hmmmm... funnnn.. haha
BRUNSWICK
This week should have been better, but I wasn't allowed to run the meet Thursday because I got to school THREE MINUTES after 1st period started and “you're not allowed to do any after school activities if you get to school after 1st period ends”. Yeah, thank you school rules for ruining my life.. not really, but I was like, LAME. Then coach Kelley tried to argue with them on it but they “have to enforce the rule on everyone”. I still went to the meet though and got a good workout in. Also Abby Mace didn't go because she sprained her ankle. I was really angry after I found that out because it was way too ironically unfortunate for me. So Taylor Burr was the winner in 20:41. I think it was really good mentally for her to win though because let's face it, I know what it's like to be on a team with an Abby Mace, and I know how stressed I was finishing second to her every time (yeah, Silver Hunt). So Taylor was able to take the lead and run a very strong race at Brunswick. It was weird because while I was doing my workout on the course I ended up right behind Taylor on one of the loops and I felt like I was kind of in the race. Overall it wasn't a very good day for me. Our team ended up getting 3rd to Brunswick and Mt.Ararat. Things would have certainly been different if Abby and I had run, but I can't speculate anything. Both teams ran great races, as did our team.
MANCHESTER
Me, Addie Cullenberg, Lindsey Keenan, Jaron Jones, and Kelton Cullenberg decided to take a trip to Manchester for the big race. I'm really glad it worked out because I didn't get a race in Thusday so Saturday was my meet of the week. There were supposed to be 12 girls' teams in the elite race, but when we got to the line they were like, “MT.BLUE, MOVE DOWN (the line)”, because there ended up only being 50 girls in the race total. It was kind of nice, because top 50 got medals! I ended up 12th, Addie was 37th, and Lindsey was 50th. The course was soaked. It was such a hard course in my opinion! The start tired me out immediately because it was a long gradual uphill. The first loop was pretty easy but I didn't like the pavement. I left my shoes without spikes because of that, and the cement barriers on the course. Those were strange also. When we walked the course I was looking forward to jumping them but by time I got there, do you think I had enough energy to do that? NO! The hills killed me, and I felt like I was slow jogging the whole thing.. I thought I was on pace for something like a 24. I ended up running my 2nd fastest time ever though in 20:12. My fastest is 20:07 at FOC last year. Addie ran 21:51 which was amazing because she just ran a PR on Thursday of 21:46. It was sprinkling and it was a hard course, but I'm glad that I know the course now, and know that I'm capable of going faster on it. That course was hardcore. Jaron didn't end up finishing because he hasn't been feeling well lately. Kelton also wasn't feeling well after the 1st mile and had a sub-par race. He's still getting back into things since he just had surgery 3 weeks ago, and just did his first hard race since surgery on Thursday. I'm really glad we went because we needed to see the course, and it was nice to have the competition. Greely boys won the small school race which was really sweet, and Emily Durgin for 2nd in the large school race. We were standing waiting to cheer for the girls to come through and someone started coming up the hill really fast and we were like, “Who is coming already?!”, then I looked and it was Emily in first. She had it for the first mile or so. It was so ridiculous to see someone running that fast. I mean I can read about it online and stuff about how fast these girls are, but seeing it in person is a completely different thing. It was amazing, and I still can't imagine how they do it. We cheered for the Maine teams and it was really cool seeing them all representing.
Next weekend is FOC and I'm currently seeded 9th in the seeded race, which is the place I got last year. I think my coach put me in with a 19:50, which would be amazing to run for me. I want to go faster though. I don't know if I can, but I'm certainly going to try. There are certain people that I'm hoping to beat for the first time.... no I'm not talking about Abbey Leonardi or anything like that! I kind of wish I was seeded worse like I have been the last 2 years because then I get to aim higher and prove it wrong. I think last year I was seeded 36th or something, or maybe that was freshman year... I don't know. Oh well, I'm excited!
Congrats to everyone that ran at Manchester, and thanks to all the Maine people that were cheering for us during the elite race.