C Mantz Running

     7ish miles overall. We got there kinda late, so I was able to run a shakeout on the track.  Ethan and I warmed up a little over a mile, then we did our strides on the track.  Ethan almost got DQ'ed because when he went to highlight his name, they had already scratched him, but eventually was let back in.  I felt sluggish, but it was alright, I was pretty ready to run fast.  I planned on running 68s for the first 5 laps before bringing it down to 65s or faster. 

      The gun went off, and I moved a bit, but someone pushed me from behind into a good position. We came off the curve and I made a small surge from third to first so I didn't run on the outside of the curve.  We came across 400m pretty quick, about 63, and after that I was too concerned that I went out too fast so after that I just went into a sort-of cruise mode.  I hit 68s/69s for the rest of the laps. I was expecting myself to hit a wall, but even at 2400m I felt pretty strong. I had planned to make a move with three laps left, but I was underconfident in my abilities to finish strong if I made it then, so I waited until two laps left to start speeding things up a bit.  I didn't speed it up too much, but on my last lap I felt pretty good still.  My last 100m I was hurting and I gave in to the pain.  I knew I could've closed atleast 2 seconds faster, but oh well. I missed the 4A record by .03 seconds.  More motivation to run fast at state.  After I finished there was a huge group that ran phenomonal times, especially for altitude. Ethan PR'ed by almost 10 seconds and qualified for state, so that was great to see. 

      Cool down after with a big group of AF, Davis, and other guys.  Then some more later to just get moving.

     Strangest race.  I ran to Einstein Bagels with Ethan for a shakeout/to get lunch.  I warmed up about 45 minutes before the race was supposed to start(I felt pretty awful).  Then again with Josh Collins and Krey Ramsey 45 minutes later because the meet was behind(I felt a lot better this time, but still not 100%).  I did a few strides before the start, but I didn't have much of a bounce.

      The race started, and I didn't want to lead it.  I was feeling a bit lazy, so I wasn't going to be the one to push the pace.  I slowly moved up in the pack though and there was a bit of jostling.  We hit the first lap fairly slow(1:03) for the time I was hoping for, but I just stayed relaxed behind Garek. I tried to pass him at about 500 meters, but he sped up, so I just let him lead.  We slowed down on the homestretch right before 800m, so I took the lead.  I felt nervous about others kicks, so I tried to keep it quick, but for some reason I couldn't speed up.  I didn't feel fatigued at all.  My breathing felt really relaxed, and I could hear the loud breathing of those around me. With about 400m left Josh passed me.  I wasn't giving up lane one easily on the curve, so we had a bit of jostling before he sped up and took it from me. I can't actually what happened for the next 100m, but I think I tried to pass him.  We got to the curve, and I remember my coach telling me that if I'm with anyone with a 100m to go, I can outsprint them, so I just hung on his tail until the straightaway.  Everyone was still in it, so I tried to go outside to pass Josh, but he was going oustide, so I swung back into lane one from the outside of lane 2 and I still felt really relaxed(this never happens when I sprint). I sprinted and was able to get the win.  It was a little slower than last year, but I'll take it.

       Cool down with Ethan, Connor Compton(Pr'ed with a 2:00 today) and Jordan Hunt after.  We ran with a few of the Davis guys for a bit too.  When I got home I ran two more miles to shake off the long bus ride.  Also, shout out to Connor Baller for qualifying for state and shout out to the rest of the Lehi team for running well also. 

      10 miles. Same workout as I did this time last year. 2X(200m at mile pace, 600m at tempo, 300m all out. )  200m was 29 on both, then the tempo was about 1:50, so a little slow, but not horrid, then 300s were 42 and 43.  I like this workout because it makes you feel fast and it doesn't hurt much.  The first 200m you're still fresh, and the next 600m feels like a jog before you do an all out sprint.  Overall was 3:03 and 3:05.  Kyle Peterson ran with us today too, so that was cool. 

5.5 miles when I got home to get up to 10.

      4 miles for pre-meet.  2.25ish with the guys, then .75 while waiting to practice handoffs for the medley, then about .25 practicing/getting strides in.  After I ran more when I got home. 

      I wanted to either not run the mile, or just take it easier to help Alex or somebody else help qualify for state, but the coaches wanted me to just run.  Stockton, Landon and I did a shakeout for a mile, then waited for a bit before warming up with Connor and Ethan.  Landon was in the 400, but he still warmed up with us.  After, we found out they were about 20 minutes ahead of schedule, so we got our spikes, went to the track and ran.  Ethan was in the second heat and ran a PR of 4:41, leading the whole way and it being windy and rainy.  I had the plan of going out with the pack for the first 1000m and then kicking it in. Garrett Barton didn't run due to an injury, so that got some of the guys on the line excited because it gave them the chance to qualify.  Sadly, the excitement didn't translate to running fast. We hit the first 200m slow(35?).  And Alex and I were in last.  Alex busted out quick, and I followed. It was windy, so I passed him and took the wind.  We hit 400m in 66.  After that I just tried to relax and hold the pace.  2:11 at 800m, then 3:15/16 at 1200m. About here I couldn't hear anyone breathing on my neck anymore.  The first 200m of my last lap I sped up, but then remembered it was region and I had the medley in an hour or so, so I just let up. 

       Alex ended fifth, Connor was 6th(PR), Stockton was 7th(PR), and Ethan was 11th(PR). After, Stockton, Cameron Anderson(PR also today), and I cooled down inside for about a mile(maybe a bit less). I got ready for the medley, but our 200 runners had a bad hand off, so we got DQ'ed.  I wasn't running if I didn't need to.  Ran 5 miles in the rain when I got home.

      Around 7 miles for the day.  Warmed about a mile.  Then we ran the 3200m. It felt really relaxed, and I stayed back for the first 550m, then just kinda ran. I just kept hitting about 72s for the first few laps, then slowly picked it up to 70s, then an all out last 100m for fun/practicing to kick.  After, Ethan, Stockton, Jordan, and a bunch of kids from other schools went on cool down for  over a mile. That was pretty fun.  Watched the rest of region.  It wasn't the best day for us as a team, but we still won by 80 points or so.  A few of us ate out after, then I ran 3 miles late when I got home.

       We did Golf Course unextended and had a light fartlek workout.  We would race to a random object ahead of us, and the winner got to choose the next object, and when we would race again.  It was fun. 

       6 miles later.

       8 easy miles.  I was tempted to keep going, but with state next week, I better play it safe.

      Warmed up, then we did an 800m at 3200m pace and 3X300m all out after.  Well, I was kinda stupid and felt pretty good, so I just relaxed and paid attention to feel instead of my watch for the 800m.  At 700m I saw I was going pretty quick(1:49), so I kicked my last 100m to a 2:02.  After I let Ethan and Connor go in the 300s because I wanted to stretch more.  First one was 40, the next one I started feeling beat, but just paced the first 200m and ran a 42.  Next one I started pretty slow, but closed fast to a 42.  Cool down after.

      5 miles when I got home.

     About 5.5 miles.  Warmed up, then did 3X1000m at tempo effort with a minute break. I can't believe we used to do 8 of these.  It was fairly windy.  Cool down after, then later at JV region I ran a warm up with some kids.

      Easy with 2(4X15 seconds at 4:00 pace, 15 seconds easy) With a 3 min. jog in between the intervals.  It felt pretty easy, but I could feel I was going fast.  I'm way excited for this weekend!

      3 miles pre-meet at UVU.

       Rough day. I just didn't have the mental preparation I needed to have just in case things went wrong. I kept invisioning things going right, but between schoolwork/teachers that weren't very good at cooperating/bad sleep/forgetting my race socks, and other stuff led to it not being an ideal 24 hours before the race.  I should've mentally prepared for it just in case things didn't go perfect(they never do, but I still thought they would for some reason).  Shake out by the hotel, then the coach drove me to the meet because people weren't ready to load the bus. We got there late, so I wasn't sure if I had enough time to warm up fully, so I cut my warm up short.  After I got my stuff and had my dad hold it.  This helped out a lot.  I decided to just not wear socks.

      The race started, and I was sure I knew Josh's plan, and he knew mine. I wanted to run fast, and he wanted to win. I took it out fast, but after 300m I hit a mental wall.  At 600m my right hamstring got super tight.  I knew I had to keep it fast to win or to make the dream mile.  At 800m I was 2:04ish I think. Slower than where I wanted to be(2:02).  After that I just kept getting distracted mentally and wasn't in it.  I kept thinking about how it was super rainy and the water between my foot and the buttom of my shoe. I just wasn't in it.  With 200m I could hear Josh, with 110m left he passed me and I just couldn't get moving. He finished quick and I just didn't have any motivation after that. 

       Cool down with Josh after. Even though we're tough competitors, we're still friends.  I'm super dissappointed I didn't run faster or give it my all.  Hopefully this isn't my last mile race before my mission.  Shake out again later in the evening.

      Rough day again. The 3200m was the same as the 1600m, but Josh was tired from yesterday, so he didn't catch me.  I went out fast, but just wasn't into it. I started hitting 70 second laps after the 4th lap, and it wasn't a good day.

      In between events, it was great to be by the Lehi team. What a great crew of guys. ConnorBaller was hilarious with his high jump commentating.  The 800m was later, but I was in slow heat.  I was hoping someone would push the pace like last year, but it didn't happen.  I got a really bad start and was in last in the first 80m.  First lap was about 60-61. After that I knew I wasn't going to podium or score points, so I thought about dropping out.  Our team needed points, and in just one minute I let the race go slow.  With 300m left, a kid from Spanish Fork made a push, and I realized, I can run faster, so I pushed to the curve, relaxed and sat in 4th or 5th on the curve, and then kicked around everyone with 80m left.  I won the heat, but the time was slow and it took 10th overall.

      Sadly, my last races as a bobcat weren't PRs or close to what I wanted, but I after my mission, I will continue running. Hopefully I will be able to get more competitive in college.  Thanks everyone for the support, it's been great to be part of an amazing running community.

      7 miles. Connor Compton drove Ethan and I to the start of dry canyon, where we ran up the trail that leads to flat top, but it was super muddy and a stream was going right through the trail, so we ran back to the school.  After I ran home and a bit more to get 3 more miles in. 

      Around 5.5 miles.  Tried some 200s, but just felt stiff and couldn't get moving. 

      Felt easy for the day.   Warmed up, 1 mile tempo(okay, maybe it was a bit quicker) in 4:45, then relaxed and did 2X200m, one was supposed to be at goal race pace, but was quick, and the other was all out(29 and 26).  Cool down and strides, then ran with some 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at the northern utah mile race(the top milers from all the elementary schools in the Sky View area run a mile race).  Some of those kids were quick, like a 4th grader that went unter 6 minutes.  It was fun to watch.

      4 miles with Stockton. We did Cedar Ridge run. 

      Hey everyone, there's a mile race being put on in Cache Valley over the Fourth of July that is trying to imitate the 5th Avenue Mile. There is going to be an open division, and an elite devision, and it would be sweet to see a big group come out to run.  It's right before the Cache Valley Cruise in, which attracts anywhere from 20,000-30,000 people, so the cheering is going to be unbelievable.  For more information, visit the facebook page for the 2015 Motor Mile (https://www.facebook.com/semmotormile?fref=ts) or find it on instagram under Motor_Mile.

        15 minutes easy.  Being at sea level makes it feel easy to run, so I think my last mile was at about 6:00 or faster(oh well, it won't make much difference going a little quick before a race).  I did some strides after. 

     First, I just want to thank my parents for sending me to Orlando to compete at this meet to try and qualify for the dream mile. While I wasn't able to get my goal, I was close. Around 9 miles overall.  Warmed up early because I thought there was only one heat of everything and they were cruising through the schedule earlier in the day.  I felt great.  It was really hot, humid, and windy.  I planned on letting the race go out and sticking in the pack the first lap or so. I talked to a few guys before the race and there was a cool group running in the race.  Bryce from Oklahoma was seeded second and asked before if I was going to start fast and if I wanted him to keep some guys from cutting into us early on.  I didn't think it would be necessary, so I said I'd probably be good. 

       Well, the race started and it was violent. There was plenty of pushing, and about 150m in, nobody would let me get into the outer lanes, so I slowed and put in a surge to get back up to the front area. I was in about 2nd or 3rd.  From here, Bryce led most of the race.  We came through 409 meters at 1:04, so fairly slow, and then 2:07/08 through 809 meters, so we were just on pace to beat the slow heat.  I wasn't feeling the greatest, it felt like a fast race, but wasn't.  Somewhere around here Avery passed me.  I just kept trying to draft on these guys, but the wind was at a weird angle and I seemed to always have a headwind on the first 200m.  We cam around 1209 meters at 3:09/3:10, and those two started to gap me.  They had about 5 to 10 meters on me with 175 meters left in the race. I just tried to stay close enough and hope to kick well.  With 100m left I cut out to pass them, and they both cut into the outer lanes.  Crap, I should've stayed in lane one.  With 90 meters left I passed Bryce, and then 50-60ish I passed Avery, and thought I have it. This thought lasted 2-3 seconds, and I had stopped giving it 100%, and he just passed me.  I kept trying with 10 meters left, but just came up short as could be.  He beat me by .02 seconds right at the line.  4:08.55 to 4:08.57.  

      I cooled down with Frank and another guy from Georgia, then watched the 800s, got my spikes back on and ran the 3200m. I wasn't mentally ready at all, and was just tired from the mile. I just ran it to run it.  The meet record wasn't extremely quick(9:22), so I just went for that. My last two laps were pretty slow, but I just didn't have much motivation.  I think I ran a 9:17 or something close to it. I ran solo from 600m to the end, but started leading at 200m.

      I cooled down with Steven Cross after.  He was actually also at Footlocker this year, so it was cool to talk to him about that stuff after.

      Ran up Smithfield Canyon to the campgrounds and back. I didn't feel that great, but it's alright.  It's been a little demotivating not making the dream mile this year and not getting any PR's, especially because I had plenty of chances where I should've ran some fast times, but it's alright.

     8 miles with Stockton. We both didn't feel very good, but when one was feeling bad, the other one dragged him along. On the first 4, I felt pretty decent and got him going, but on the last 4, he kept me going. 

      Felt tired for most of the day, then got vaccinations for my mission (3 shots, then an oral vaccine I still need to start taking.), and then I just felt very off. I started a workout, but after two 800s at 2 mile pace, I felt completely drained. I told myself I'd run later, but when I tried, it felt like an all out sprint to go 7 min. pace, so I just cut it and hoped tomorrows workout will be better.

       11.25ish.  I ran a mile, then met up with John Coyle who was in Logan visiting his in-laws.  We warmed up approx. 3 miles, then did 12 min. tempo wtih about 2 min. break before doing another 12 min. tempo. Last year we did a similar workout, and this time we were a lot quicker.  The first tempo I led, and then on the next one he kinda dropped me by about 10 meters by the end, and about 15 meters mid-way through.  If I wasn't running with him, I might've cut the workout because I felt like I did yesterday, but not as bad.  2nd half was uphill and quicker(covered about 200m more). About 3 miles cool down after. It was good to catch up with him, he ran a Weber and had a pretty good career there, and is just getting better.

       8 miles.  I wasn't feeling good at all. I've just been in a slump this week, but I'll hopefully get out of it soon. My parents think it's the vaccinations that are making me feel rough, but I also wasn't feeling good on Tuesday, so I'm not sure.

     Not the best week, but still a good one.  I wasn't able to run until late, so I missed running in the nice weather.  Oh well.  I ran to Sky View to run at the track. Well there was a football game going on, and weren't going to let me in to run, so I ran home and the drove to Utah State's track.   I warmed up about 1.25 miles, so I had already run almost 6 miles before starting the workout.  I tried to do 4X400m at sub-60 with a 400m jog in between and then 4X200m starting at 30 and getting progressively faster.  400s were 59.9, 58.9, 59.1, and 57/58ish(I forgot to stop my watch), and the 200s were 31, 29, 28, 26.  Cool down after.  I felt better than I did during any other run this week, so that was positive.