I really can't believe it's less than a week until the election. It seems like all the candidates vying for the presidential nomination were just here trudging through the snow. What will everyone talk and argue about once it is over? This presidential election has done more than affecting people's conversation, it has also affected my running. Not directly affected the actual running part but I have been inspired to run fast. So this is the story of how Obama has helped me run fast. (This story has a total bias because I love Obama. Now if McCain did the same thing as Obama, I still wouldn't support him but I'd like him a lot more.)
Obama has supported my running since February when track started. To get on the trail we usually run on, my team has to run about 3/4 mile to actually reach the trail. During this 3/4 mile there is a large hill. it doesn't seem too big when you drive over it or when you run up it on the way to the trail, but on the way back, especially after a long run, it seems huge. It is longer and possibly steeper on that side, but after 6 miles a huge hill isn't very fun. If you are running to the trail, at the bottom of this hill is an Obama sign. It's one of the inspirational HOPE signs. That means that when you are almost done with your long run and you see this big hill when you are tired, you also see a HOPE sign. Beginning in February, when this HOPE sign when only half this sign appeared over the snow, I was inspired by this sign. Before that track season I used to sometimes walk up parts of the hill because I was tired. When that campaign sign was there, I looked at it and hoped that I could make it all the way up the hill.
I began making a wish on the sign every time we passed it on the way back from our run. It was always running related, something like "I hope I can finish this run strong" or "I hope I can make it up this hill". This might sound sort of creepy because I was making "hope" wishes on a campaign sign in someones yard but I didn't walk up that hill during track season. When I made it to the state meet only a year after I wasn't able to run 6 miles without walking, my mom gave me a picture of a HOPE sign in part of her good luck wish.
During the summer I only ran by the sign once but the sign was there for me in other places. When the great floods came and the water went down, I found a flooded house that had a HOPE sign out front. They had to have put it up after the water came because there was no way that the flood could move a house but not a flimsy sign. To see this house all dirty on the outside, it was sad to see the HOPE sign sitting next to flood debris.
When cross country started this year, I had improved a lot and gotten a lot faster, but the HOPE sign was still there. I was so happy to pass that on the first day at practice because I had missed it. During the summer I had ran a route that had at least 10 signs along it, but since it was all flat it just didn't have the same feeling. Seeing the sign at the bottom of that hill made me charge up the hill and finish my workout strong just as I hoped I would. I walked up the hill once when my shins were hurting but I walked on the other side of the street, on the less steep side, on the other sidewalk because I would not walk past my sign or that side of the hill. I didn't walk up that hill for 2 seasons. Seeing the HOPE sign made me believe that I if I hoped and tried hard enough, I could run up that hill and finish practice strong. That inspiration always worked even as I passed the McCain/Palin sign towards the top of the hill.
At the beginning of October, the sign was just gone one day. I noticed it on the way there and for the rest of the run I was upset. On the way back while passing the spot were the sign once stood I made a "hope" wish. For the rest of the season, I made a wish when passing by the spot were the sign once stood. I don't know what happened to it, if the people who lived in the house no longer were Obama supporters, if it was stolen, or if it just went away one day. No sign replaced it's spot but you can still see where the HOPE sign once was. I know it wasn't always going to be there; after the election it would probably be taken out no matter who won, but I wanted that sign to finish the season with me. It had watched me improve and I had grown attached to my HOPE sign.
I know I could have gotten a sign to put in my own yard, but once Obama chose Biden, the HOPE signs kind of disappeared. I still want one even though the election is almost over. I probably wouldn't put in in my yard, but instead hang it in my room as inspiration. I always told myself that after the election I would steal that campaign sign, although that is very unlikely because I'm not that type of person, but it was MY sign. It had helped me run fast, faster than I have ever run before. I don't think they make them anymore because almost no one has them in their yards and I can't find one, but I still want one.
Not only has Obama inspired me with his campaign signs, but because he inspired the "Yes We Can" video, he has indirectly inspired me again. During hard sprint workouts in the heat, I would chant to myself "Yes we can, yes you can" as I ran the repetitive route. It helped get me through many workouts and after watching it yesterday, I find it still inspires me.
Even though elections don't always bring out the best side in people, they can still be inspiring in the most unusual ways. I am an Obama supporter but not only because of his campaign signs or his videos. That is part of the reason though. He has helped teach me that you achieving something great starts with a little hope. (Sorry for this incredibly long post that's the size of a small research paper, but I can't help it. Obama has just given me so much inspiration.)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3
One of my downfalls is High School Musical. I don't care if people don't like it or think it's dumb. I don't care if it's main audience is 10 year olds (which is so not true). It's a fantastic movie and it makes you believe that anything can come true. High School Musical 2 was good, but I didn't like it as much as the first. It just didn't feel the same. But I've been super excited for High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Probably more excited than I should've been but the previews and commercials just made it look so good. Plus the music videos/previews they've shown on Disney Channel made it look fantastic.
So today I got to see High School Musical 3 and it was amazing. The people weren't all 10 year olds there either. I wore Wildcat colors (it isn't that creepy) to the movie and wore a white sweatshirt so I could do the part in "Now or Never" that they do in the music video. They didn't do that in the movie though which was a little disappointing. It really was a great movie. We've come a long way from High School Musical 1, that's for sure.
This movie was really a love story. It made you believe in fairytales, that there really is that perfect guy and that everything would work out. All the songs in this movie were pretty good, my favorite might be "Can I Have This Dance". The part in the movie is just beautiful.
I also think that Troy is the cutest in this movie. I think that the third one is the funniest. There are some parts where you just have to laugh, like when they are in the tree house or when Rocket Man shows up. "The Boys are Back" song is pretty cool too, I liked the little kids that looked like Troy and Chad, they were cute. Then there are parts which you wish would happen to you, like when Troy shows up in the tree to dance with Gabriella for the prom or when they dance on the roof in the greenhouse. The opening scene was a little dramatic but I think it fit the movie. I also liked how they went farther into Troy and Chad's friendship and how Troy wasn't the cool strong guy or a jerk, but that he was vulnerable. There were parts that I almost started crying at too. When Gabriella says she's not coming back, when Chad is playing in the gym and Troy comes in, and of course at the end, because it was the end of the last High School Musical movie ever. Just knowing that this was the first and last time I would see High School Musical 3 (and Troy) on the big screen, I tried to soak every little thing in, I wanted to remember it all. It fit that this one was on the big screen in the theaters, it was so cool. And who wouldn't want to see Troy on the big screen.
If you come into the movie with the preconcieved notion that it will be bad then you probably will just make fun of the movie. True fans will love it and it might just win over some undecideds. From the mesmerized look on my younger sister's face, who had been waiting for this day for a long time and actually counting down the days, I knew that most will love the movie. I absolutely loved it but you just can't help it. This might even be the best one of the trilogy. It certainly was a fantastic movie.
So today I got to see High School Musical 3 and it was amazing. The people weren't all 10 year olds there either. I wore Wildcat colors (it isn't that creepy) to the movie and wore a white sweatshirt so I could do the part in "Now or Never" that they do in the music video. They didn't do that in the movie though which was a little disappointing. It really was a great movie. We've come a long way from High School Musical 1, that's for sure.
This movie was really a love story. It made you believe in fairytales, that there really is that perfect guy and that everything would work out. All the songs in this movie were pretty good, my favorite might be "Can I Have This Dance". The part in the movie is just beautiful.
I also think that Troy is the cutest in this movie. I think that the third one is the funniest. There are some parts where you just have to laugh, like when they are in the tree house or when Rocket Man shows up. "The Boys are Back" song is pretty cool too, I liked the little kids that looked like Troy and Chad, they were cute. Then there are parts which you wish would happen to you, like when Troy shows up in the tree to dance with Gabriella for the prom or when they dance on the roof in the greenhouse. The opening scene was a little dramatic but I think it fit the movie. I also liked how they went farther into Troy and Chad's friendship and how Troy wasn't the cool strong guy or a jerk, but that he was vulnerable. There were parts that I almost started crying at too. When Gabriella says she's not coming back, when Chad is playing in the gym and Troy comes in, and of course at the end, because it was the end of the last High School Musical movie ever. Just knowing that this was the first and last time I would see High School Musical 3 (and Troy) on the big screen, I tried to soak every little thing in, I wanted to remember it all. It fit that this one was on the big screen in the theaters, it was so cool. And who wouldn't want to see Troy on the big screen.
If you come into the movie with the preconcieved notion that it will be bad then you probably will just make fun of the movie. True fans will love it and it might just win over some undecideds. From the mesmerized look on my younger sister's face, who had been waiting for this day for a long time and actually counting down the days, I knew that most will love the movie. I absolutely loved it but you just can't help it. This might even be the best one of the trilogy. It certainly was a fantastic movie.
Friday, October 24, 2008
I DID MY BEST
Well, my miracle didn't happen. We didn't make it to state, we got 6th out of 9 teams. I'm not that disappointed but I still am a little. You always have this hope at the back of your mind that you will do whatever you set out to do. What I'm most upset about is that xc is over. Sure, I hate it sometimes but I really love it. I can barely walk right now, my right hamstring hurts so bad, but I'd give almost anything to go to state and continue practice. Right now my life seems empty. A week without running is basically empty. So to make it seem like xc hasn't ended yet, I must do my race report.
First off, it was a good day for a race. Only 42 degrees, pretty windy (although the wind was mostly gone by the time we had our race), and it was misty with only a little rain as I made my way to the starting line. It had raining before though so the ditch we usually run through twice was now a stream. They had to change the course so we went over another little bridge instead of through the ditch, which adds around 20 seconds to your time. I would rather have run through the ditch, we could have just jumped over the stream. They should let the runner's make these choices, it would have been around 3/4 of a mile with wet spikes which I would willingly go through to get a better time.
We actually warmed up as a team for the first time this year and we had 9 people warming up because, also for the first time this year, we were running a full varsity team (with 2 alternates). We warmed up 50 minutes instead of an hour before, which is what I usually do, because it gives me more time to stretch and do all my stuff. My right ankle was hurting a little bit but my hamstring felt pretty good. I was wearing all my under armour so I wouldn't freeze although I liked the weather. As I walked over to the finish line, it was beginning to rain. But around 3 minutes later it stopped. We did the usual strides but we didn't do a cheer or have a pep talk like the other teams.
So we take the sweats off at the last minute of course and right away the gun goes off. I was going to try to keep track of my teammates so I could try to keep up with them. I was actually trying to pace myself this time, but at the beginning you don't pace yourself. You run with everyone else who has to sprint the first 800m. My first 800m was in 3:07 before I settled into the pace I wanted. I was going to try and run 6:30's throughout which on a normal course would get me around 16:15 but around 16:35 on this course. Before we went over the bridge to get to the other side of the course, we always go through this huge crowd of people. When the race started it seemed like no one was there, and although the crowd was a little smaller it seemed a little louder. After we cross the bridge, we go up a slight hill and there is usually people lining the sides. I kind of like this part, because even though it's a hill, it makes me feel like I'm in the Tour de France riding up a mountain. As I went up that hill, I kept repeating to myself that this might be the most important race I have ever run, so I must run fast now and breathe at the end. It also helped that another coach was screaming at his runners that they weren't going fast enough. Our coach is more supportive during the meets, although he's not always the greatest at practices. My first mile was in 6:30, right on the mark.
I really don't like the middle part of the course. It seems long and it's pretty hilly although it doesn't really look that way. There's a bunch of trees too where people tend to bunch up around. The second mile, my hamstring started to hurt. I had put some Bio Freeze stuff on it so I tried to make it feel better. What really helped me during the second mile was the fact that the guy's team cheered for my by name. They've cheered before but this time they called me by my name which mattered more than the other people cheering for me (we also had more people cheering for us this time). I also passed this girl who I really wanted to beat, we kind of have this friendly rivalry thing going on, so I told myself to beat her. I also kept telling myself that I could rest later. At the 2 mile mark, I didn't look at my watch but a coach yelled out 13:30. I started sprinted around this point.
Around 500m to the finish, I started slowing down a little. This girl I had been running with (from a different team) told me that I could do this, that I could keep up with her. Besides wondering why she would tell an opposing runner this when we are all trying to beat each other so we can go to state, it really inspired me. I immediately sprinted and I tried to keep up with her as long as possible. At about the 400m mark there was a lot of people yelling and cheering. On the left side I could see the finish line and people cheering. I knew that I had to make these last 400m good. Then there was almost nobody and everyone was sprinting. I sprinted the straightaway, but the last 100m I was exhausted. I was running myself into the ground, I wasn't standing tall. It was a weird feeling. Around 10m from the line, me and the girl who talked to me caught a member of the team that runs together. My coach had told me to try and catch these girls and now 3 of us were sprinting for the line. I accidently (and it truly was an accident) elbowed the other girl. The fact that I was sprinting and I was tired was making my form get sloppy. All of a sudden the other girls elbow each other and we all started elbowing each other. The other girls beat me across the line, but I really gave it all. My time was 16:46 which was only 2 seconds faster than last week but they had made the course around 20 seconds longer. I think I could have dealt with wet shoes though to maybe get a new PR. My coach was happy with me and another girl and even though we didn't make it to state I still am proud of my team. I beat the girl I wanted to win against and it helped the fact that I got caught at the finish line. I think I improved a lot mentally and physically in this race though. I'm going to miss xc. I tried my hardest and I did pretty good.
On the plus side, after my race when I got into the car one of my new favorite songs, "Gotta be Somebody" by Nickelback comes on. They always make you feel better.
First off, it was a good day for a race. Only 42 degrees, pretty windy (although the wind was mostly gone by the time we had our race), and it was misty with only a little rain as I made my way to the starting line. It had raining before though so the ditch we usually run through twice was now a stream. They had to change the course so we went over another little bridge instead of through the ditch, which adds around 20 seconds to your time. I would rather have run through the ditch, we could have just jumped over the stream. They should let the runner's make these choices, it would have been around 3/4 of a mile with wet spikes which I would willingly go through to get a better time.
We actually warmed up as a team for the first time this year and we had 9 people warming up because, also for the first time this year, we were running a full varsity team (with 2 alternates). We warmed up 50 minutes instead of an hour before, which is what I usually do, because it gives me more time to stretch and do all my stuff. My right ankle was hurting a little bit but my hamstring felt pretty good. I was wearing all my under armour so I wouldn't freeze although I liked the weather. As I walked over to the finish line, it was beginning to rain. But around 3 minutes later it stopped. We did the usual strides but we didn't do a cheer or have a pep talk like the other teams.
So we take the sweats off at the last minute of course and right away the gun goes off. I was going to try to keep track of my teammates so I could try to keep up with them. I was actually trying to pace myself this time, but at the beginning you don't pace yourself. You run with everyone else who has to sprint the first 800m. My first 800m was in 3:07 before I settled into the pace I wanted. I was going to try and run 6:30's throughout which on a normal course would get me around 16:15 but around 16:35 on this course. Before we went over the bridge to get to the other side of the course, we always go through this huge crowd of people. When the race started it seemed like no one was there, and although the crowd was a little smaller it seemed a little louder. After we cross the bridge, we go up a slight hill and there is usually people lining the sides. I kind of like this part, because even though it's a hill, it makes me feel like I'm in the Tour de France riding up a mountain. As I went up that hill, I kept repeating to myself that this might be the most important race I have ever run, so I must run fast now and breathe at the end. It also helped that another coach was screaming at his runners that they weren't going fast enough. Our coach is more supportive during the meets, although he's not always the greatest at practices. My first mile was in 6:30, right on the mark.
I really don't like the middle part of the course. It seems long and it's pretty hilly although it doesn't really look that way. There's a bunch of trees too where people tend to bunch up around. The second mile, my hamstring started to hurt. I had put some Bio Freeze stuff on it so I tried to make it feel better. What really helped me during the second mile was the fact that the guy's team cheered for my by name. They've cheered before but this time they called me by my name which mattered more than the other people cheering for me (we also had more people cheering for us this time). I also passed this girl who I really wanted to beat, we kind of have this friendly rivalry thing going on, so I told myself to beat her. I also kept telling myself that I could rest later. At the 2 mile mark, I didn't look at my watch but a coach yelled out 13:30. I started sprinted around this point.
Around 500m to the finish, I started slowing down a little. This girl I had been running with (from a different team) told me that I could do this, that I could keep up with her. Besides wondering why she would tell an opposing runner this when we are all trying to beat each other so we can go to state, it really inspired me. I immediately sprinted and I tried to keep up with her as long as possible. At about the 400m mark there was a lot of people yelling and cheering. On the left side I could see the finish line and people cheering. I knew that I had to make these last 400m good. Then there was almost nobody and everyone was sprinting. I sprinted the straightaway, but the last 100m I was exhausted. I was running myself into the ground, I wasn't standing tall. It was a weird feeling. Around 10m from the line, me and the girl who talked to me caught a member of the team that runs together. My coach had told me to try and catch these girls and now 3 of us were sprinting for the line. I accidently (and it truly was an accident) elbowed the other girl. The fact that I was sprinting and I was tired was making my form get sloppy. All of a sudden the other girls elbow each other and we all started elbowing each other. The other girls beat me across the line, but I really gave it all. My time was 16:46 which was only 2 seconds faster than last week but they had made the course around 20 seconds longer. I think I could have dealt with wet shoes though to maybe get a new PR. My coach was happy with me and another girl and even though we didn't make it to state I still am proud of my team. I beat the girl I wanted to win against and it helped the fact that I got caught at the finish line. I think I improved a lot mentally and physically in this race though. I'm going to miss xc. I tried my hardest and I did pretty good.
On the plus side, after my race when I got into the car one of my new favorite songs, "Gotta be Somebody" by Nickelback comes on. They always make you feel better.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN
Tomorrow I will believe in miracles. Not that I don't today. I have a chance tomorrow to make my own miracle. That might be exaggerating a little but that's almost what my team needs to go to state. Tomorrow is my district cross country race and to qualify for state we must get in the top 3. The first 2 places are basically decided, so everyone is trying for third. What we need to get third, is for about 3 other teams to not have a good day and for my team to run an almost perfect race.
The weird thing is, my coach didn't say anything negative today. He told us what we would need to do to qualify for state, not times but places. In his words, he, in his way, gave us hope that we could and would make it to state. He usually doesn't do this, so I think he is going to believe in miracles tomorrow.
I am going to run with hope, hope for a miracle. I want so much to go to state, I have worked so hard. Miracles do happen though. Lance Armstrong won 7 consecutive Tour de Frances. Emil Zatopek was able to come back in the 5000m race at the 1952 Olympics. Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in Beijing. Because these things do happen. I am going to make it happen when I run. I am going to give everything (while pacing myself, if I manage to do that). This is going to be my race, my team's race, our race because we have worked hard for it, and deserve it. We want to go to state and make my coach believe in miracles. So when its below 50 degrees, possibly raining, and very windy, I will be running as fast as I can. I will do everything I can, I will pass those girls. I will do this. Because miracles can happen.
The weird thing is, my coach didn't say anything negative today. He told us what we would need to do to qualify for state, not times but places. In his words, he, in his way, gave us hope that we could and would make it to state. He usually doesn't do this, so I think he is going to believe in miracles tomorrow.
I am going to run with hope, hope for a miracle. I want so much to go to state, I have worked so hard. Miracles do happen though. Lance Armstrong won 7 consecutive Tour de Frances. Emil Zatopek was able to come back in the 5000m race at the 1952 Olympics. Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in Beijing. Because these things do happen. I am going to make it happen when I run. I am going to give everything (while pacing myself, if I manage to do that). This is going to be my race, my team's race, our race because we have worked hard for it, and deserve it. We want to go to state and make my coach believe in miracles. So when its below 50 degrees, possibly raining, and very windy, I will be running as fast as I can. I will do everything I can, I will pass those girls. I will do this. Because miracles can happen.
Monday, October 20, 2008
HOW WOULD.....
Well, I took those 2 days off. It didn't do too much for my leg either. It started out better when I did a whole 1.25 miles yesterday but then it got worse. The pain kind of spread too, the back of my knee hurt but then the side of my leg kind of hurt. My coach didn't even make me do the speedwork. One of the worst parts is that this is the easiest part of xc, when we sit around and watch movies and sip gatorade. If I had been hurt earlier than I could have gotten out of our long runs but no, now I just get out of a short run.
Butttt...good news! Even though my coach only let me run a total of 1000m, I felt so much better. My leg barely hurt and I'm going to keep putting this gel pain reliever stuff on it and of course icing it. I'm relieved though since I felt like I could run the whole course.
In the midsts of my beginning of my injury, I came across this post on Runner's World. I like it, because it is a good question. So I have come up with 10 ways my life would be different if I didn't run.
1. I'd have more and different friends. I wouldn't know any of my running friends, mostly because they are in different grades but I usually wouldn't talk to the people in my grade that do run. Also, being free on Friday nights greatly helps your social life. I'm so tired Friday from practices that I usually just sleep. Plus, I have to rested for Saturday morning practices.
2. I would think Porta Potties are gross. After using them about 2 or 3 times at least at every meet they don't bother me anymore. So I really don't get it when people refuse to use them. Or stand in line for 20 minutes when you'd only have to wait 2 minutes. They are just bathrooms, get over it.
3. I'd have to wear real clothes. I wouldn't have a bunch of running/xc/track shirts so I would have to wear the same clothing normal people do. That would mean I would have to find shirts to replace what I wear 4 or 5 days each week. I also wouldn't have my beautiful running shoes because there is no reason to buy running shoes if you aren't running and there's no reason to buy Nikes if you aren't exercising.
4. I would have to find some other sport. Something that requires teamwork and yelling and possibly some type of ball. Like...eww volleyball or softball or tennis or soccer. I'd have to interact with people and I might have to wear like spandex shorts *shudder* or short sleeved jerseys. And other sports are big into the matching clothes, hair, and even paint their faces. I'm so glad I run.
5. I wouldn't eat so much food. Not because I wouldn't because I would be worried about my weight (although I'm sure I might be a couple pounds heavier but that is NOT at all why I run) but I wouldn't be hungry. I wouldn't be so incredibly grossed out by fast food or pop either. I probably would eat less Subway and pasta and more hamburgers and chips.
6. I would think 3 miles is long. Just like all the non runners I know, which is kind of sad. Because I consider 3 miles a really easy day. I could race 3 miles, but if I didn't run than I might not even be able to run the whole thing.
7. I would be a wimp. Running makes me believe that I can do anything. One day, to get through a 7.33 mile run around the lake, I was literally telling myself in my head that "you run xc, you can do anything". My belief that running and xc can help me do anything spills over to the rest of my life. The pain I put up with when running allows me to be a lot braver in other areas of my life.
8. I would not have the fantastic running tan I have now. I would really miss my glaringly white feet and the white bands around my arm where my watch and LiveSTRONG wristband are. I would not have to worry about how I look in flip flops and halter dresses (although I've mostly gotten over this). But I would not have the lovely leg muscles I have now.
9. I would have more free time, but not in a good way. I might get more work done, but I'd also be more likely to slack off since I wouldn't have disipline or a schedule. I'd have all this extra energy too but I think I would be depressed or something. Running makes almost anything better.
10. And finally, the most simple reason. I would not run. These words have a hard time registering with me. There's even a page from a magazine in my room that says "I'll keep running". I wouldn't be out in thunderstorms or on New Year's Day when the roads were slick with ice. I wouldn't be out when its snowing or when just going outside makes you sweat. Sure, I might be able to walk without pain or be able to straighten my leg, but I wouldn't get to experience life without running. Running allows me to do so many different things. It also gives me a lot of opportunities. So after looking at this list, I really can't find a way that not running would help me. So I'll keep running. To put it simply, I have to.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
NOOOOOO
I have hamstring tendonitis, starting last Wednesday, the day before our divisional meet. Besides the fact that it sucks for me, it sucks for my team, because it lessens our chance of placing highly at districts. To get to state, my coach said we'd all have to have our perfect race and my perfect race isn't going to happen if I can't straighten my right leg without pain.
This is my first real running injury though. I had runner's knee in middle school and slight shin splints earlier this season, but I don't count those as real injuries because I could still run. I ran 3 miles on Friday but I was in an extreme amount of pain. My coach even told me not to run at all this weekend, which is difficult to do. Difficult to do until I accidently straighten my leg or somehow stretch it and feel how hurt I really am.
This injury also makes me question what right I have to run at districts on Thursday. I could only run 9 minute miles on Friday, so how am I going ro run 2.5 miles in under 16:30? We don't have much chance of making it to state, but as one of five varsity runners, I have to run. My friend ran with a stress fracture in her femur earlier this year, so I think I might have to borrow some of her bravery and use it for my race.
After this week, if we don't make it to state, our xc season is over. If I am still hurt then I won't be able to run, and I won't be able to surround myself with running related things. I need to run though, or else I will fall apart. All these problems make me want to go for a run, but I can't which is the problem in the first place. I think my goal for track season will not to get hurt at all.
This is my first real running injury though. I had runner's knee in middle school and slight shin splints earlier this season, but I don't count those as real injuries because I could still run. I ran 3 miles on Friday but I was in an extreme amount of pain. My coach even told me not to run at all this weekend, which is difficult to do. Difficult to do until I accidently straighten my leg or somehow stretch it and feel how hurt I really am.
This injury also makes me question what right I have to run at districts on Thursday. I could only run 9 minute miles on Friday, so how am I going ro run 2.5 miles in under 16:30? We don't have much chance of making it to state, but as one of five varsity runners, I have to run. My friend ran with a stress fracture in her femur earlier this year, so I think I might have to borrow some of her bravery and use it for my race.
After this week, if we don't make it to state, our xc season is over. If I am still hurt then I won't be able to run, and I won't be able to surround myself with running related things. I need to run though, or else I will fall apart. All these problems make me want to go for a run, but I can't which is the problem in the first place. I think my goal for track season will not to get hurt at all.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
MY SUITCASE OF COURAGE
Going into my xc race today, I somehow thought that I could PR. Somehow knock like 20 seconds off my last meet's time to beat my time at the short and fast course, where I had my fabulous race. I ignored the fact that the back of my right knee was hurting badly during my 2 mile run yesterday. I ignored the fact that I felt tired and didn't feel fast. I ignored too many things, and didn't PR. I did have the excuse that the back of my knee hurt and I couldn't stretch my right hamstring at all, but as one of the 5 runners on our varsity team, I don't want to make excuses. People do great things when they don't feel great, so I will not expect any less. One thing salvaged this race for me. The ending.
So the first mile was pretty good. I felt like I was doing nicely, maybe went out a little fast, but I was going to see how long I could keep it up. Plus all the crowds are at the beginning and it makes me feel like I'm in the Tour de France in the mountains. I was also trying to hang on to the girls of a team we were trying to beat. Time: 6:15
The second mile. I didn't feel like I slowed down too much but.....I fell apart. There was no people except the coach of the team we were trying to beat who was EVERYWHERE. And since I was running with one of the girls, I had to listen to him scream at us for her to beat me. I was ready to smack him or ask him how he managed to be every single place in the race. It also didn't help that the only supporters over there were from the team we were trying to beat. I could feel myself kind of falling apart and at one time it seemed like everyone in the race passed me. The back of my knee started hurting a little and I lost that fast feeling. Now I think that they didn't update the 2 mile mark when they changed the starting line position but....Time: 13:40 or 7:25 (When I got my PR I ran around the same first mile time but was around 13:00 or 6:45 for the second mile) This time was incredibly slow and I don't really know what happened. However, right before I crossed the bridge in the course I suddenly realized that I had like a mile left and I had to somehow save this race. I also managed to pass the girl from the team we were trying to beat, while her coach was near us (although the coach was always near us) and I managed to make it up the short steep hill right before the 2 mile mark.
The last half mile. I ran this somewhere around 3:07 or 3:08. Somehow. I kind of freaked out at the 2 mile mark and once this girl passed me, I tried to hang on to her. I was basically sprinting the last half mile when usually I sprint the last 400m. With 200m left, I was feeling tired and I had slowed a little. The girl I was running with moved ahead of me and all I wanted to do was finish this. There is a 150m straightaway at the end of the race. This is my home course and it is hilly but I like the end. A girl from another team that we were kind of trying to beat passed me. She seemed to have a bunch of energy and I resigned myself to the fact that another person would beat me, because I was exhausted and had no energy left. But then I had some kind of awakening or enlightenment kind of thing. I (told her kind of in my head) "you are not going to beat me". It wasn't like I was surprised or just wanting this to be true or trying for it to be true. It wasn't just a statement either. It was like I was yelling at her, and myself, in my head a declaration that she would not beat me. That I was going to beat her. So I repeated this to myself and somewhere within myself I, as Phil and Paul would say, dug deep in my "suitcase of courage" and sprinted. I couldn't even feel my tiredness anymore and I didn't look at the girl. I looked at the girl's ponytails 10m in front of me and I raced that girl. At one point she pulled ahead but I just kept repeating "you are not going to beat me" and she didn't beat me. I beat her. My time was around 16:48 so I didn't really improve. But I did improve on my racing and on my last little bit of the race. I managed to motivate myself when I was tired and I somehow beat that girl. So what if our team might have gotten last or that our our 4th and 5th runner were the last 2 people. This race helped me realize that in every position, whether it's first or last, there is a race going on. We might have been in the second half but we still had a race. I even beat that girl when I didn't think I could at first. I still can't even stretch my right hamstring that much but I beat that girl. And for me that was all that mattered in that race. For me, it was the race.
So the first mile was pretty good. I felt like I was doing nicely, maybe went out a little fast, but I was going to see how long I could keep it up. Plus all the crowds are at the beginning and it makes me feel like I'm in the Tour de France in the mountains. I was also trying to hang on to the girls of a team we were trying to beat. Time: 6:15
The second mile. I didn't feel like I slowed down too much but.....I fell apart. There was no people except the coach of the team we were trying to beat who was EVERYWHERE. And since I was running with one of the girls, I had to listen to him scream at us for her to beat me. I was ready to smack him or ask him how he managed to be every single place in the race. It also didn't help that the only supporters over there were from the team we were trying to beat. I could feel myself kind of falling apart and at one time it seemed like everyone in the race passed me. The back of my knee started hurting a little and I lost that fast feeling. Now I think that they didn't update the 2 mile mark when they changed the starting line position but....Time: 13:40 or 7:25 (When I got my PR I ran around the same first mile time but was around 13:00 or 6:45 for the second mile) This time was incredibly slow and I don't really know what happened. However, right before I crossed the bridge in the course I suddenly realized that I had like a mile left and I had to somehow save this race. I also managed to pass the girl from the team we were trying to beat, while her coach was near us (although the coach was always near us) and I managed to make it up the short steep hill right before the 2 mile mark.
The last half mile. I ran this somewhere around 3:07 or 3:08. Somehow. I kind of freaked out at the 2 mile mark and once this girl passed me, I tried to hang on to her. I was basically sprinting the last half mile when usually I sprint the last 400m. With 200m left, I was feeling tired and I had slowed a little. The girl I was running with moved ahead of me and all I wanted to do was finish this. There is a 150m straightaway at the end of the race. This is my home course and it is hilly but I like the end. A girl from another team that we were kind of trying to beat passed me. She seemed to have a bunch of energy and I resigned myself to the fact that another person would beat me, because I was exhausted and had no energy left. But then I had some kind of awakening or enlightenment kind of thing. I (told her kind of in my head) "you are not going to beat me". It wasn't like I was surprised or just wanting this to be true or trying for it to be true. It wasn't just a statement either. It was like I was yelling at her, and myself, in my head a declaration that she would not beat me. That I was going to beat her. So I repeated this to myself and somewhere within myself I, as Phil and Paul would say, dug deep in my "suitcase of courage" and sprinted. I couldn't even feel my tiredness anymore and I didn't look at the girl. I looked at the girl's ponytails 10m in front of me and I raced that girl. At one point she pulled ahead but I just kept repeating "you are not going to beat me" and she didn't beat me. I beat her. My time was around 16:48 so I didn't really improve. But I did improve on my racing and on my last little bit of the race. I managed to motivate myself when I was tired and I somehow beat that girl. So what if our team might have gotten last or that our our 4th and 5th runner were the last 2 people. This race helped me realize that in every position, whether it's first or last, there is a race going on. We might have been in the second half but we still had a race. I even beat that girl when I didn't think I could at first. I still can't even stretch my right hamstring that much but I beat that girl. And for me that was all that mattered in that race. For me, it was the race.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
MY LONG WAIT...FOR THIS?!?!?
So apparently I have waited weeks....weeks to find out that all the doping positives they promised us with in the Tour, a "mountain of positives", we get 4. 1 of which we already knew (Ricco), 1 we kind of knew (Piepoli), and 2 we thought we knew (Schumi and Kohl). Now they are telling us there are no more. I feel let down. Not that I like hearing doping news, but I thought that there were all these doping positives going to come out and it would shake the sport upside down. It really did nothing, nothing I could see. Sure, the cyclists will be less likely to dope, we found out that we were right about the riders who surprised us (that they were doping), and we found out that our favorite riders are clean, or clean from the known drugs. I feel like I keep getting lied to though, by the media, the riders, the race directors. We get told that cycling is being cleaned up, then we are told there was widespread cheating at the Tour, and then we are told that there was just a little cheating. It makes you very confused on who you want to believe.
I may sound like I think pro cycling=doping, but that's not true. There were only 4 cheaters (that were caught) out of over 170 riders. I think that the sport is moving towards being clean, more than other sports. Cycling is catching cheaters, yet it is always talked about badly. Yet other sports who don't catch cheaters, like baseball or track, don't get a bad rap like cycling does.
At least I had a good day in running today. A new 3M Pr (23:14) with only 2 days before a race. Maybe not the smartest run, but it felt good.
I may sound like I think pro cycling=doping, but that's not true. There were only 4 cheaters (that were caught) out of over 170 riders. I think that the sport is moving towards being clean, more than other sports. Cycling is catching cheaters, yet it is always talked about badly. Yet other sports who don't catch cheaters, like baseball or track, don't get a bad rap like cycling does.
At least I had a good day in running today. A new 3M Pr (23:14) with only 2 days before a race. Maybe not the smartest run, but it felt good.
Friday, October 10, 2008
MY FAVORITE THINGS
There are 2 things I could probably talk on and on about...running and pro cycling. My sport is running, specifically xc and track. I love to watch cycling though, I think the Tour is the best thing ever.
Running will always be my sport. I don't always love running but those days where you feel like you could just keep on going, when you feel amazing, it makes it worth all the bad days. It's the days when you finally have a good race, and set a new PR by 27 seconds and improve by 51 seconds. Or when you aren't happy with your race and your coach has stopped believing in your team tells you (about your race) that it was "so much freaking great". The days when you finally get under 40 minutes for 5 miles, and on the same day you actually co lead the run, for the first time it counts. Or when its cold and raining outside, but you feel great because this is your kind of running weather. It's the days when after your run, the exhaustion you feel actually makes you feel good. Running is just amazing. To understand runners I think you must run. It's too hard to explain the feeling that running gives you, all the feelings that it gives you. The way it makes you fly.
I have debated starting this blog until after the CERA positives that are supposed to come out from the Tour are announced, but I've been waiting too long. We all knew about the ones you've already announced, Schummacher and Piepoli were obvious. But the fact that there is supposed to be all these positives is making me a little nervous and sad. I don't want it to be one of my favorite riders. There are only 2 riders I think that would make me stop following cycling though, that honor belongs to Jens Voight and George Hincapie, everyone's favorites. And if Cav is guilty, I'm going to take that picture down from my bulletein board. And maybe George's too. Jens could make me lose faith in cycling, he's just the best. I think that Jens would make a lot of people lose faith in cycling. Not ever Cancellara, who I like, could do that. Just please don't let it be them. But as always we will have to wait....and wait.
Running will always be my sport. I don't always love running but those days where you feel like you could just keep on going, when you feel amazing, it makes it worth all the bad days. It's the days when you finally have a good race, and set a new PR by 27 seconds and improve by 51 seconds. Or when you aren't happy with your race and your coach has stopped believing in your team tells you (about your race) that it was "so much freaking great". The days when you finally get under 40 minutes for 5 miles, and on the same day you actually co lead the run, for the first time it counts. Or when its cold and raining outside, but you feel great because this is your kind of running weather. It's the days when after your run, the exhaustion you feel actually makes you feel good. Running is just amazing. To understand runners I think you must run. It's too hard to explain the feeling that running gives you, all the feelings that it gives you. The way it makes you fly.
I have debated starting this blog until after the CERA positives that are supposed to come out from the Tour are announced, but I've been waiting too long. We all knew about the ones you've already announced, Schummacher and Piepoli were obvious. But the fact that there is supposed to be all these positives is making me a little nervous and sad. I don't want it to be one of my favorite riders. There are only 2 riders I think that would make me stop following cycling though, that honor belongs to Jens Voight and George Hincapie, everyone's favorites. And if Cav is guilty, I'm going to take that picture down from my bulletein board. And maybe George's too. Jens could make me lose faith in cycling, he's just the best. I think that Jens would make a lot of people lose faith in cycling. Not ever Cancellara, who I like, could do that. Just please don't let it be them. But as always we will have to wait....and wait.
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