Speeding Up :)

80 degrees Fahrenheit, 58% humidity, 9 mph winds....Practice started at 10:30 AM, leaving my team under the direct gaze of the sun. Whenever I begin feeling fatigued in while running in hot weather, I just think of the athletes that run a marathon through the lava fields of the Kona Ironman race in Hawaii.
Despite the heat, I thought that practice went pretty well. There was a strong breeze that was a welcome relief in between reps. Here is a run-down of today's practice:

• 1600 meter warm-up (7:55)
• 400 meter recovery
• 2*200 meter sprints (approximately 44 seconds each), 200 meter recovery in between
• 200 meter recovery
• 1200 meters hard (5:54)
• 400 meter recovery
• 800 meters hard (3:51)
• 400 meter recovery
• 400 meters hard (1:45)

Total interval distance: 2.75 miles
Total recovery distance: 1 mile

My legs felt great today, and I am psyched by the fact that my times have gone down. I was super surprised that my warm-up was done so quickly, especially since I have not run 1600 meters on the track so far this season. It probably is because of all the crazy 800 meter and 1000 meter repeats Coach has had me run.
Cat was the only other distance girl that came to practice today (today being Saturday), and it was super awesome being able to run with her.  I am astounded by the amount of grace God gave me during Sophomore year to run track despite being the only distance girl. Running solo is hard during painful workouts. I have also found that I run faster when I have someone to compete with at practice.
Despite being a freshman, Cat has a ton of potential. I can't wait to see how she and the newer girls do during our first track meet next Wednesday!

Tina's cello lessons are right by a Dunkin' Donuts, so her and Dad saved me a glazed donut for after track practice.



A book that I just finished reading. It really encouraged me, and I would refer it to anyone seeking spiritual and training inspiration. It's like running advice and a devotional morphed into one.

  

Chocolate protein bar that I devoured after getting my hair trimmed. Sitting in the salon makes me hungry, probably because I usually go 2-3 hours after eating lunch.



On the Bright Side

 I realized that yesterday's post wasn't exactly full of love and thankfulness, so I decided to write about some of the sweet things that happened yesterday.
After I finished taking my shower at 5:35 AM, I found a package of Ferrero Rocher chocolates from my Daddy. These are the best chocolates EVER, right next to 75% dark chocolate bars. For my Valentine's Day breakfast I basically had a handful of chocolate and an apple. Lunch wasn't much healthier, with a banana, chocolate chip cookies, and half of a peanut butter sandwich. All of that sugar made me crash during Prob. & Stats class. Math class never fails to be the most.boring.hour.of.the.day. It's like the clock slows down and everything moves in slow motion. 
Track went pretty well, I was able to focus and push myself during the 400 and 1,000 meter run.
Like a creep, I was checking out the photos from Saturday's preseason meet to see if there were any familiar faces (I wasn't able to attend the meet).

Chocolate Cravings

Weekends. So far, I have indulged in Tina's organic banana bread, Rocky Road bars from the Farmer's market, and now, an organic chocolate molten cake that I baked to satiate my family's  chocolate craving after church. With a side of vanilla bean ice cream of course.

Afterwards, Tina and I completed our first triathlon training brick together, biking 5.61 miles in 30 minutes (about 10.86 mph) and running 2.5 miles in 21 minutes.

"Wood" you vacation here?

My Cracker Barrel conquest in the middle of our drive to Wildwood, Georgia.

Our final destination, a cabin out in the boondocks, is a perfect wooden square furnished with wooden chairs, wooden cabinets, a wooden ceilings, a wooden toilet seat, and to top it all off, a fireplace in front of a woven rug. Yep, no fire hazards here. Just about every article of furniture and art is inspired by Native Americans and lumberjacks. The only break in this theme is  a photograph of JFK oddly placed in the bathroom. Whoever decorated this rustic cabin was influenced by a desire for functionality, as two wooden paddles hang beside the front window partly for decor and partly for self-defense if the cabin dwellers have to fend off wildlife. My sister and dad are catching fireflies outside...