3/25/10 Track meeting

Due to intense rain, on Thursday, we just had a quick meeting about our events for Saturday. I also signed up my name for our track t-shirts. It was nice to get a break for a day.

3/24/10 Track Practice

On Wednesday, the distance runners had a light practice. We got into groups and ran down Schenk creek road for 25 minutes. It was a great lactic run and afterwards my legs felt refreshed. Coach is getting us ready for our meet on Saturday. I alo got my event for this weekend. I am running the 4xmile which is a relay team where each leg runs 1 mile. Im pretty excited.

3/23/10 Track Practice

After missing two days f practice, I was pretty anxious to get back to practice on Tuesday. Coach had us run 2 timed 1 1/2 mile splits. I finished my first split ahead of the second pack, but after that my shins froze up and I could hardly move my feet. I ran my next split in about 12 minutes. Instantly after practice I iced my shins and took ibuprofen for the swelling.

Change of plan

Now that I am so wrapped up in track season, it seems that I have no time to train for the half marathon. I am also training for mid distance running at high speed, which is different than marathon training. I believe that I am going to put off half marathon training, and pick up my mileage at the end of this season.

3/18/10 Track Practice

Thursday was a specific practice for ironmans. We had to run 8 - 200 meter sprints in under 36 seconds. I made all of my times, and got 8 points. I was concerned that my shin would hurt, but surprisingly, I think that it is getting better. I am attending a Columbus Blue Jackets game tonight, so I will not be blogging my Friday track practice. I plan on getting a workout in this weekend though.

3/17/10 Track Practice

On wednesday, my shin didnt feel up to the task of running, but I went anyways. Coach had us run an 800 meter interval, and then a 1 mile cooldown. I was not able to run at my full potential because of the pain in my leg, but I still completed everything. After practice I iced my shin and took ibuprofen for the swelling. I read in an article that ibuprofen is a great anti-inflammatory to use for shin splints.

3/16/10 Track Practice

On Tuesday, coach had us run 3 - 1 mile splits. I ran my fastest mile in 6:07. At then end of practice my left shin started with an unbearabnle pain. I could hardly move my foot. I think I have a shin splint now. I iced it, and took ibuprofen to help with the swelling, so hopefully things get better.

3/15/10 Track Practice

After a lazy weekend, we picked up on monday with a light 1 mile run. My legs felt incredibly flat and dead. After the mile we got to pick out our jerseys and warmups. MY number is 907, just like last year! I also got brand new warmups so that's a definite good thing! After that, the distance runners did a circuit workout in the weightroom. It was easier than last Friday, but still a challenge.

3/12/10 Track Practice

Yesterday, I was told that track practice would be easy, and that we would just do a light workout in the weight room. That did not turn out to be the case. Upon arriving at practice, coach informed us that we would be running Ironmans. For those of you that don't know what an ironman is, it's a timed competition where everyone must run a certain distance in an allotted time amount. We had to run four 200 meter sprints in 36 seconds. This was a semi-easy pace, but the fact that there were 4 is what made it hard. After running the ironmans, coach Montoya had the distance runners do a circuit workout in the weight room. This turned out to be one of the hardest workouts I had ever done. It was a nonstop workout with ab workouts in between each weight set. I'm really happy that coach Montoya is pushing us to our limits. I'm convinced that no other school is training their distance runners as much as coach is training us. I have high hopes for this season.

USA's pride

Here's some motivation. It's truly amazing.

3/11/10 Track Practice

Today, coach informed us that we would have a hard workout ahead of us.....he was right. After warmups, we got into our groups and split off. We started with one mile as fast as we could. I found it hard to get into the groove with my breathing, but once I found it, I felt pretty good. I believe the time of my first mile was a 6:02. I was pretty surprised because I shattered my PR from last season by 23 seconds. After resting, coach had us run another one mile at full effort. I felt way better this time, but I did not finish with a time as well as my first one. I had a 6:27. I was still pleased with my time though. After resting for a few minutes, we ran an 800 meter at 100%. The idea of this had me afraid that I was going to hit the wall! Coach told us that he wanted us to cut our pace in half from our mile. This meant that he wanted me at a 3:00 pace. When we started, I wasnt sure which pace I could handle. I believe I got down to a 4:00 pace. I finished my 800 extremely strong, with a time of 2:41! I even finished close to the more "elite runners in our group. I felt great and extremely confident knowing what I had just done. Hopefully I can keep doing it. I am now very sore, but it's getting better. I have noticed that I am getting much more tone that I previously was. This is definitely a good thing!

3/10/10 Track Practice

On wednesday, coach was not able to attend practice, but he specifically told us to warm up and then run for 40 minutes. This was an exciting run because we were free to basically roam the back roads of Howard. We decided to run down Schenk Creek. THe group kind of split off from one another and it turned out to be David, Mitchell, Jerrad, and I in one grouping. We ran down Schenk to the bike trail entrance, where we followed the bike trail back into Howard. We ran back to the school and finished our remaining time on the track. First of all, this run was beautiful! running over the hills into the sunset is so relaxing. It was almost a picturesque rave run. David and I plan to go on more evening runs into the sunset. There is something ominous about it that gives me an adrenaline rush.
Surprisingly, after the run, I was not sore. I think that running at a steady 8 minute pace was almost a lactic washing. This was definitely a good thing, because the crossover to intense training has my legs feeling like they've been destroyed.

3/9/10 Track Practice

On tuesday, the whole track team warmed up with our routine 2 laps and then dynamic stretching. After that, we broke off into groups, and I went with the distance runners. Coach Montoya, and Fannin told us that we would be running 3 laps of intervals, and then a hard 800 meter sprint.
I thought that only 3 laps of intervals would be easy, but it was harder than I had expected. What it basically means is that on the track, we sprint the corners, and jog the straightaways. Coach instructed us to run at 100% for the sprints. This had me worn down by then end of the first lap. I read an article saying that intervals are the hardest to run because it takes such a drastic toll on the body, due to constant starting and stopping. But on the good side, intervals burn fat more than basic running, and increase efficiency of fast-twitch muscle cells. After the intervals, we ran a hard 800 meter sprint, (2 laps) and then did a cool-down lap.
One thing that totally rocked about Tuesday was that I had my Garmin GPS with me. This is so much fun to use on the track because I can view my heart rate at any moment. Also, when coach gives us a specific pace to run, it is convenient because it has a pace calculator in it. I found the group of distance runners to be kind of dependent on my pace time. Also, David Downey took his GPS (the same one as mine) so we could constantly compare heart rates!

3/8/10 Track Practice

On Monday, the official mandatory practice began for track. I was anxious due to the fact that Joey Montoya's older brother would be our distance coach. Rumor had it that he was a great runner who planned to push us farther than we had ever gone.
When I got there, the team did the routine warmup of 2 laps and then dynamic stretching. After that, coach told us that we were free to go. Instead of leaving, the distance team ran 1 mile to kick off the week. This was a great mile. We took it at a slow pace, and it was sort of a bonding time for the new members. Afterwards, we stretched down and left. I felt extremely optimistic, and back in the runner's focus when I left.

3/7/10 weight lift

Yesterday I had a light weightlifting session at the Apple Valley gym. I wanted to take things lightly since I have track practice tonight. I have a feeling that track is seriously going to interefere with my half marathon training. I am not sure how I am going to do my long runs and then be ready for track on the following Monday.



1 set = 12 reps

chest press 80lb x 2 sets
tri ext 30lb x 2 sets
bicep curl 60lb x 2 sets
shoulders 40lb x 2 sets
back machine 70lb x 2 sets
leg ext 90lb x 2 sets
leg curl 110lb x 2 sets
planks 1:00 x 2
leg lifts 1:00 x 2

3/5/10 light run

Once again I have not been very diligent with my blog posts. The other day, I ran an easy two miles on the treadmill. It was a very easy/fun run at an 8:00 pace. My heart rate maxed at 185bpm. I experienced no problems during this time.

2/3/10 Stretch and Strengthen

Yesterday was a light workout. I focused more on my core. I read an article that your abs are a vital part of proper running mechanics. Strong abs ensure the correct running technique, and increased speed. After my workout, I stretched heavily. I have become surprisingly more flexible than I would have thought I would be. This is good because a flexible runner is less likely to get an injury. Tonight is track conditioning, I will be using my GPS :) so I am definitely excited about that.......even though I have a blister on my foot.

2/1/10 long run

On Monday, I had my first "long run" in my training program. It was a 6 mile run. I thought this run was going to be easy, but it turned out to be surprisingly difficult. I had trouble catching up with my heart rate at the beginning of the run. once I was in the zone, my legs got increasingly sore. I'm guessing I tried to pace too fast. Next time I plan on slowing things down to maybe an 8:00 minute pace.