We had maybe our most enjoyable workout of the year on Thursday, and we followed that up with some outstanding performances at Sugar House Park. I really feel like these last few days were our best of the year. Let us continue with that same energy for the last few weeks of the season.
Time, as you know, is running short on the year, so we need to maximize every opportunity. We are on the right track, let's continue to hone in on the things we can control and make the most of each shot we have.
We have to do better as a team of attending practices on A days. We have not done great in that regard, so each of us must find a way to do better. If you have been coming each time, find a way to help your teammates be there. There isn't time to waste. Especially this week, as we're doing our tougher days on those A days. That isn't to say that distance runs aren't important, because they are equally important. The various types of runs work in concert together to help become who you want to be.
Race Recap
We had a great day at the races on Saturday. Going in to the meet there were a lot of nerves related to the course profile, and worry about struggling with the hills. However, in most cases, you guys dominated the hills. Tons of you ran faster over the second half of the course, and many more had their best race of the year. Considering how hilly the course is (it's a beautiful course) anything close to your current PR means you're due for another great race in our next one.
I'm in the process of entering the new times into the "nerd report" so I'll have a more complete view later, and I can't wait to dive into it all.
Shout out to Trey and Josh, who led our senior boys to a team victory in the senior boys race, finishing in 3rd and 4th. They had 5 finish in the top 15 (Tommy, Sam, and Henry). 4 senior girls finished in the top 20, Brooklyn, Sahara, Audrey and Courtney. Love to see it.
Shout out to Tai, who was unable to race this week, but still came down and supported like a champ for each race. The better we are at that, the better our team will be.
Other top 20 finishers included Hailey, Koda, and Spencer in their Junior races. Gabri, Henry, Kyler, and Micah in the sophomore races, and Hudson and Kage in the Freshman race.
Alexis and Skye finished in the top 20 of the championship race, both running under 19 minutes!
Many of you may relate to Alexis, when after finishing a race a few weeks ago in about the same time as a few other races, or maybe slightly slower, she asked something to the effect of, "do you think I'm going to get faster?"
We are often faced with doubts about what we will be able to do, especially on the heels of a few performances (races or practices) that aren't up to our expectations. What we do from there determines the outcome. What did Alexis do? She stayed the course, she was consistent, she worked hard, she strived to eat and sleep enough, she sought feedback, etc. She wasn't perfect, she had doubts, but she gave her best effort each day, and here she is now with a nice new breakthrough race and the excitement for what is to come. The best is still ahead for her, and for all of you who stay the course.
The training design of summer and fall is to really accumulate a lot of volume and then some long tough workouts. We are only now getting into a groove of balance between volume and intensity, which will help you really reap the speed and strength rewards of what you sowed for the past 3 months. The best is still ahead.
Upcoming
This week will not have an official race. Some of our team will be travelling to Idaho to race at the Bob Firman XC invitational.
I keep repeating that the season is going by quickly, and here we are, with 2.5 weeks until region. Next week (meaning the week of 9/25) we will have our District championship meet. The week after that is Region. The week after that is Divisionals. The week after that is fall break, then 2 days after that is State. Time is all but up, so we have no time to waste.
We keep repeating it, and we will do so until the end of time, but it takes all of us. We are better together. If we are going to get where we want to go, we need everyone at their best each day. Take it one day and a time and just keep grinding.
This week
While some are going to Idaho on Saturday, the rest of us will be doing on a long run on the weekend (hurray!). We'll be able to get a quality week in leading up to the final few weeks of the season.
