Today I ran an out and back route 7miles out on a country road just outside of town. I ran alone, I just wanted it that way. I wanted to reflect on my race and figure out what I need to do to run like I want to run.
The run was great, I hit 6:53-7:04 for every mile until the last three where I ran 6:49, 6:49, 6:37. It was easy for the most part too, especially easy for running a race 13 hours before. So that adds on the fustration slightly haha.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
sept 4th
Today S-U-C-K-E-D!!! This has to be one of the worst performances of my life. We ran the University of Houston Johnny Morris intvitational today, which was on a intermural soccerfield that had long grass and too many sharp turns. The times were slow but there were still some good performances in this 3mile race.
I ran 16:15, almost a minute slower than the time trial last week. I got out there and ran with Blake and Patrick, our plan was to run 5:10 the first mile and work our way down. It did not happen though as we went through in like 5:16 at a mile. Once I saw this, I knew I was in trouble because it was really difficult to run that 5:16. After that it just went down hill and hit rock bottom when Julius and Clint passed me in the last 400m. I finished 5th on our team and 18th overall out of 34 people in the race.
Flat out horrible.
Sevral things fustrated me with this race. First, I ran 15:09 and placed 3rd on this course last year and the course was unchanged.Secondly, about an hour after I cooled down, I was not sore or even fatigued. I hate not being tired after a race because I can't help but think I had more left. I was hurting so bad during the race though so it just doesn't make sense for this senario to occur. Finally, it really got to me to see guys I beat all the time in high school and previous years getting in the top ten in the race and running way better times than me. I know I should not care about what they did and just focus on myelf, but common I do this to beat these guys, I do this to be the best. That is my standard.
When I met with my coach Jesse Parker at the hotel during confrence track last spring, we discussed what I needed to do to be the "home run hitter" runner or more importantly the LEADER of our team, I took it to heart because he saw this type of potential in me. It also opened my eyes to how "off "my lifestyle and training habbits were from where they needed to be to be this leader or runner. He explained to me all of the things I needed to do and this summer I did them and then some. Now I open up cross country with this joke of a perforamance and it just fustrates me to no end. Thank goodness we have another meet at A&M next week, it'll give me something to take my mind off of this along with all the other runs I have this week.
I ran 16:15, almost a minute slower than the time trial last week. I got out there and ran with Blake and Patrick, our plan was to run 5:10 the first mile and work our way down. It did not happen though as we went through in like 5:16 at a mile. Once I saw this, I knew I was in trouble because it was really difficult to run that 5:16. After that it just went down hill and hit rock bottom when Julius and Clint passed me in the last 400m. I finished 5th on our team and 18th overall out of 34 people in the race.
Flat out horrible.
Sevral things fustrated me with this race. First, I ran 15:09 and placed 3rd on this course last year and the course was unchanged.Secondly, about an hour after I cooled down, I was not sore or even fatigued. I hate not being tired after a race because I can't help but think I had more left. I was hurting so bad during the race though so it just doesn't make sense for this senario to occur. Finally, it really got to me to see guys I beat all the time in high school and previous years getting in the top ten in the race and running way better times than me. I know I should not care about what they did and just focus on myelf, but common I do this to beat these guys, I do this to be the best. That is my standard.
When I met with my coach Jesse Parker at the hotel during confrence track last spring, we discussed what I needed to do to be the "home run hitter" runner or more importantly the LEADER of our team, I took it to heart because he saw this type of potential in me. It also opened my eyes to how "off "my lifestyle and training habbits were from where they needed to be to be this leader or runner. He explained to me all of the things I needed to do and this summer I did them and then some. Now I open up cross country with this joke of a perforamance and it just fustrates me to no end. Thank goodness we have another meet at A&M next week, it'll give me something to take my mind off of this along with all the other runs I have this week.
sept 3rd
Today we had morning and evening practice. The morning run was 7 miles at an easy 6:51 pace and the evening run was 5miles at an easy pace. We did not keep time on the 5miler.
I felt slightly tired today, but not too bad. The UH meet is tomorrow, I'm super psyched. It's ben a summer of extremely hard work is complete and now it's time to go out there and take some names!
I felt slightly tired today, but not too bad. The UH meet is tomorrow, I'm super psyched. It's ben a summer of extremely hard work is complete and now it's time to go out there and take some names!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
easy 11mile run
Today we went to the state park at dawn and ran a recovery run. I went 11 in a 78minute run. I felt good.
We also met at the recreation center and did some cross training. I did 5X 3laps breast stroke and 1 lap freestyle in the pool and then went and did the eliptical for 20minutes.
We also met at the recreation center and did some cross training. I did 5X 3laps breast stroke and 1 lap freestyle in the pool and then went and did the eliptical for 20minutes.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Threshold intervals
Today's workout was great for me. We had 8X1200m at 15K (5:20-5:26/mi) pace with a 1minute recovery between each followed by 8X120m strides up hill. 10 miles of running.
Travis and I started by running to the cinder track that we sometimes use called prittchet field. We, with the team, warmed up about 2 miles, stretched, did a couple strides and then got started. We were divided into groups. The first group consisted of the faster runners (based off the time trial) of Patrick, Blake, Clint, Travis, Julius, and myself. The second group consisted of everyone else. My group was instructed to run between 4:00-4:12 for each 1200.
We started off slower and worked our way down.
My splits were 4:09, 4:06, 4:04, 4:02, 4:04, 4:01, 3:59, then Patrick wanted to pick it up so him, Blake and I went 3:47, whoops haha.
After that we went up to the hills and did our strides with a jog down inbetween. Those weren't so hard. Once we were done we jogged back home a mile.
I have been quite impressed with how Patrick has been running. I wasn't sure after the time trial whether or not it was just a fluke but he's been consistent. Between Me, Blake, and Patrick, we are so close that we are going to be able to work together in races and hopefully with the help of a second trio of Travis, Clint, and Julius, we can pull out a top three finish at confrence. It's going to be really tight though between us, McNesse, A&M CC, and UTSA. We are going to have to pull one out, but we can do it if we do everything right this season.
Travis and I started by running to the cinder track that we sometimes use called prittchet field. We, with the team, warmed up about 2 miles, stretched, did a couple strides and then got started. We were divided into groups. The first group consisted of the faster runners (based off the time trial) of Patrick, Blake, Clint, Travis, Julius, and myself. The second group consisted of everyone else. My group was instructed to run between 4:00-4:12 for each 1200.
We started off slower and worked our way down.
My splits were 4:09, 4:06, 4:04, 4:02, 4:04, 4:01, 3:59, then Patrick wanted to pick it up so him, Blake and I went 3:47, whoops haha.
After that we went up to the hills and did our strides with a jog down inbetween. Those weren't so hard. Once we were done we jogged back home a mile.
I have been quite impressed with how Patrick has been running. I wasn't sure after the time trial whether or not it was just a fluke but he's been consistent. Between Me, Blake, and Patrick, we are so close that we are going to be able to work together in races and hopefully with the help of a second trio of Travis, Clint, and Julius, we can pull out a top three finish at confrence. It's going to be really tight though between us, McNesse, A&M CC, and UTSA. We are going to have to pull one out, but we can do it if we do everything right this season.
8/31
Today I ran 6 miles at 6:36 pace alone. We had OYO today, which stands for 'on your own'. I felt really good again and strong.
I tend to like running alone more than running with another person, for two reasons. First, when I run with other people, everybody wants to take the lead and lead the group so they look like they are the fastest. While this is normal among distance runners, a collegiate athlete should have more discipline and self control than that. When the faster guys on the team run 5:45 pace easily for a steady 8 mile run and you run 5:55 for that same run, they are obviously at a higher training level and there for should be leading the pack or running faster than the pack. It's just a common understanding that runners should have, but most do not.
Secondly, I like running alone because I did it for the first 5-6 years of my running career and I'm used to it. I trained for years by myself and it was a pleasant experience. I never had to worry about someone trying to push the pace, or somebody having to stop and using the bathroom, or running too slow. I had complete control of the run and that's the way I like it. It's harder to do when running with others.
I tend to like running alone more than running with another person, for two reasons. First, when I run with other people, everybody wants to take the lead and lead the group so they look like they are the fastest. While this is normal among distance runners, a collegiate athlete should have more discipline and self control than that. When the faster guys on the team run 5:45 pace easily for a steady 8 mile run and you run 5:55 for that same run, they are obviously at a higher training level and there for should be leading the pack or running faster than the pack. It's just a common understanding that runners should have, but most do not.
Secondly, I like running alone because I did it for the first 5-6 years of my running career and I'm used to it. I trained for years by myself and it was a pleasant experience. I never had to worry about someone trying to push the pace, or somebody having to stop and using the bathroom, or running too slow. I had complete control of the run and that's the way I like it. It's harder to do when running with others.
8/30
Today we had our long run. This marks the end of the recovery week for us. I ran 10 miles dirt slow, (1:13:29) but I ran the second half a little bit faster and it felt good. After this run I finally started feeling good for once. I have been a little tired since the time trial, nothing too drastic but I definitely haven't felt 100%. That's a constant though. I have never really feel 100% in all my years of doing this sport, it's normal.
Tomorrow we start a new high mileage week, I hope I'm ready for it.
Tomorrow we start a new high mileage week, I hope I'm ready for it.
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