Naps on Naps on Naps

There are a few phases every distance runner goes through each year in the transition from track to cross country.  First is the summer training phase, where you basically turn into a machine capable only of napping, running, and eating.  Mileage goes up, and number of pants that actually fit you correctly go down.  You eat entire boxes of Otter Pops each week, exclaiming, "Gotta get those electrolytes!" as each one goes down, knowing full well that they're basically just frozen sugar sticks.  Next comes the "Back to School" phase.  Everyone is back in town, and stoked as can be to be training again.  You have a few weeks between when you get back to school and when classes start, so you're free to continue your habits of sleeping in late and running whenever is convenient for a short period of time.  Then you have all of the compliance meetings, team barbecues, and exciting discussions about what the season will look like.  The workload from school isn't too big, so you say to yourself, "Ah, yes.  This whole semester will probably stay like this and be relatively easy."  And if you listen closely, you can actually hear the lady from Game of Thrones whisper, "Oh, my sweet summer child."  The fourth and final phase of cross country is the Peak Phase.  The money is in the bank, as the old folks would say, and all that's left to do is trust in the hard work you've put in, peak, and compete.  It's the championship phase, the part of the season that you look forward to every week leading up to it.
The third phase is what we are currently in.  The Grind Phase.  This is where you put in some of your hardest workouts, where you wake up for early morning practices and badger the training room staff almost daily for new stretches and more ice bags wrapped onto your body.  It's where you have three or four exams in one week, plus two papers and a new design for rocket fuel due on the same day.  It's where life gets a little bit challenging, but it's also where you can take yourself from being good to great.  Yeah, that summer work is incredibly important to build your base and get you ready for the year.  But if you let your effort slip when things start to get tough, you won't get to see the results of that hard work come the end of the season.  Nobody wins a national title off of the first race of the season alone.  This is the phase where you are no longer just competing against the ideas of your opposing teams every day in practice.  This is where you have to start competing against yourself.  You have to be willing to accept that there will come a point in the workout where your body wants to quit.  Your mind might try to tell you that you can't possibly run another interval, but you have to tell both your mind and your body that you don't really care what they think is possible because you're going to make it big and that's going to hurt.  Maybe you'll have to overcome some setbacks.  Maybe it feels like the hardest thing you've ever done.  But if you can choose to not just make it through the Grind Phase, but come through it stronger than you started, you can do just about anything in this sport.

So You Want to Run D1

Hey folks.  Several of my high school bbs have been asking me for advice on how to go about becoming division 1 runners recently, so I figured I might as well just compile it all here.  Sorry if you're not a high school distance runner between the ages of 14 and 18 so this post has no relevance to you.
First things first:  If you can, decide early on whether or not you want to pursue collegiate running.  The earlier you can get on the process of recruiting, meeting with coaches, and looking into different programs, the better your chances will be of a) Having the time to work down your times and figure out which events will be the best to focus on and give you the best shot and reaching the collegiate level and b) Getting into your ideal program.  If you have a list of top-ten programs to consider by the beginning of your junior year, I'd say you're off to a good start.  Junior year is around the time that colleges will really start considering your performances.
Don't be afraid to get in touch with coaches.  At the beginning of my junior year, one of my coaches put me in touch with the coaching staff at Montana State, and another coach asked for my top 15-20 college choices so that he could email them my credentials and inform them I was interested.  The sooner you make it clear to the coaches you are interested, the more likely it is that they will be able to set aside scholarship money for you.  Don't be afraid to email back and forth with the coaches-Keep them updated on your performances, and find out if their type of training would be a good fit for you if you are seriously interested.
Another aspect to bear in mind if you want to run D1:  Grades.  Even though people always emphasize the student in student-athlete, many of the athletes I knew in high school who were looked into the next level didn't think grades would be all that important in the recruiting process.  Although you don't need to have a perfect GPA, colleges don't exactly love to see a 2.0 GPA because it means that more of your financial aid will have to come from athletics, since you won't qualify for as much academic funding.
Going into your senior year, possibly the most important date for recruits to remember is July 1.  This is the first day that coaches can call you or go on a home visit.  Basically, you are going to feel like a secretary and you'll probably get a lot of calls from unfamiliar numbers until you sign your letter of intent.  If a coach has expressed interest in coming on a home visit or giving you a call, I would definitely recommend going through with that before committing to anything bigger, like an official visit, because it allows you to get to know the coach a little better than you might over email.  At this point, try to narrow down your choices to a top five, as you're only allowed to go on five official visits.  (Narrow it down even more if you can, because visits can get a little exhausting and they take a lot of time away from school).  Be realistic when considering schools and planning visits.  If you want to run at a school that is lower altitude and is within driving distance of the ocean, don't schedule a visit with a school in the Mountain West region just because you heard they get a sick gear pack or you want to see the area.  If you know you wouldn't actually want to spend the next 4-5 years of your life there, be considerate to the coach and don't schedule the visit.  Also, plan your visits carefully.  I took my final visit the day after my state meet, and I was exhausted the whole weekend.  It was still a good visit, but I definitely didn't get out and do as much as I would have had I scheduled it for a different weekend.
When you take your visits, you are going to be doing essentially the same thing every time, so it may get a bit redundant after the third or fourth.  Typically, the coaches will arrange for one of the members of the team to show you around campus, take you to meetings, and introduce you to the team.  You will meet with the head of your academic department (or university studies, if you are undecided), and the academic director for student athletes, as well as take a tour of the athletic facilities.  You will usually close the visit by meeting with the head coach, so be prepared with any questions you have about the program or university.
There are two signing periods for track athletes:  One in November and one in April.  If you have made your decision by November and don't need/want any additional financial aid, I would highly recommend signing in this period because it relieves a great deal of pressure and allows you to focus on competing for the remainder of your senior year.  However, if you feel you can improve your times and gain more aid, it could be worth waiting, just be aware that it could also hold additional risk.
Either way, don't forget to enjoy the whole process!

Pre-Race Fire Mixtape/Cross 2k16

Am I updating my blog because I have thoughts that I feel I should share with the world (Or, you know, the portion of the world that actually has access to the internet and can read random running blogs), or because I'm trying to procrastinate doing my physics homework while still feeling like I accomplished something?  The world may never know.  (Just kidding, it's a little bit of both.)
Since we're back in competition season after what felt more like three centuries than three months without racing, I've come to the decision that it's time to let you all in on the true secret to any successes I might have:  My fire mixtape.  Along with that, since I'm still a deadbeat and don't update this nearly enough, I guess I could also fill you in on how summer training has been, what college is looking like for me this year, and how I think the season is going to go.
Because I'm often a very high-stress individual, especially going into meets, my fire mixtape may be uncomfortable and confusing for some people.  It doesn't exactly follow any sort of pattern or style.  Honestly, it's incredibly random and it jumps from high-key pump up music to chill tunes with little to no warning.  The reasoning behind it is that I need some tunes to help me calm it down and keep from having a complete meltdown, but I also don't want to go into a race with the mindset of a sloth on Xanax, so I also have to include your standard hype music.
1.  Gold-Imagine Dragons
2.  Roses-The Chainsmokers
3.  Polaroid-Imagine Dragons
4.  Remix to Ignition-
5.  Dancing Song-Little Comets
6.  Everything About Me-Shrink the Giant
7.  America-Imagine Dragons
8.  Borderline (Vanic Remix)-Tove Stryke
9.  Holding On To You-Twenty One Pilots
10.  Fake You Out-Twenty One Pilots
11.  Guns For Hands-Twenty One Pilots
12.  The Run and Go-Twenty One Pilots
13.  The Hills-The Weeknd
14.  Victorious-Panic! At the Disco
15.  Boogie Shoes-KC & The Sunshine Band
16.  Come and Get Your Love-Redbone
17.  Hooked on a Feeling-Blue Swede
18.  Feralicious-Fergie (Singing this one word for word is a MAJOR key to success.  If you don't hit the rap part, you might as well just quit running forever.)
19.  Hallelujah-Panic! At the Disco
20.  U + Ur Hand-Pink
21.  Good To Be Alive-Andy Grammar
22.  On Top of the World-Imagine Dragons (Tradition since my first year at Arcadia when my teammates Emily, Ali, and Annie played it on repeat all weekend)
23.  Back in Black-AC/DC
24.  Pumpin Blood-NONONO
25.  Middle Distance Runner-Sea Wolf
26.  Centuries-Fall Out Boy
27.  Blame It On Me-George Ezra
28.  Miracle Mile-Cold War Kids
29.  Cats and Dogs-The Head and the Heart
30.  All of You-Betty Who
31.  Just Like Me-Betty Who
32.  Shut Up and Dance-WALK THE MOON
33.  Work This Body-WALK THE MOON
34.  Favorite Record-Fall Out Boy
35.  Toothbrush-DNCE
36.  Love in the Middle of a Firefight-Dillon Francis, Brendon Urie
37.  Hell No-Ingrid Michaelson
38.  Cold Water-Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber
39.  Heavy-Birdtalker
40.  Chocolate-Landon Austin
41.  The Ocean-Mike Perry
42.  Make Out-Julia Nunes
43.  I Want Crazy-Hunter Hayes
44.  Girl-Jukebox the Ghost
45.  I Wanna Dance with Somebody-Whitney Houston
For best results, play on shuffle starting anywhere from one to three hours before the beginning of competition.  There is one other song that I listen to last before every race, but the individual who introduced me to it has sworn me to secrecy because it is a very well-kept secret on their team that has been handed down for centuries, give or take a few years.

Team bonding trip up Hyalite

Now that you've got that information, let's talk running and skewl for just a second.  This year is going to be pretty darn great for the bobcats.  We are going into the season tied for third in the coaches' poll for the conference meet, and you'd best believe we have big plans to move up.  Since we have such a young team, I think we can really upset the rankings, since no one really knows what to expect from all of the new freshmen.  We had our time trial this last Saturday, and four of our top seven based off of that are newcomers which makes me excited for not only this year, but the future of the program.  The new girls are all absolutely fantastic-Not only do they work hard and support each other in the sport, but they are all also incredibly quirky and fun.  This team is definitely not your typical division one team, but I mean that in a good way.  We keep the competitive edge and drive to succeed, but we also throw in some very unique personalities and a whole lot of goofiness.
As for my individual plans/goals for this year, I think it's going to be a big one.  As far as academics go, it's definitely going to be tough since this is my last year of prerequisite classes before I get to do the really fun exercise science classes like abnormal psych and anatomy.  This semester, I'll be in physics, statistics, cellular/molecular biology, and American popular music (Arts credits, what can ya do?).  It's been one week, and there is already a constant dialogue of a panicked pterodactyl shriek running through my mind anytime someone mentions the word "education".  While I was doing my homework today, I seriously considered switching majors at least five times.  On the running side of things, life is much less terrifying.  This last summer was probably the best consistent training block I've ever had, and it's got me stoked as can be for the upcoming season.  I hit my peak mileage at 65 miles a week the last three weeks of summer, and dropped back down to 55 the first week of school.  I'll probably stay at 60 through most of the season.  It was strange thinking back to last summer because when coach said to hit 55 miles a week anytime during the season, I thought I was actually going to die.  Last week when I only got to do 55, I wanted to light myself on fire because I felt like I had way too much energy and time on my hands.  And despite the fact that even just eight weeks ago, fifteen mile long runs sounded more like a distant nightmare than anything I could possibly enjoy, they actually feel totally normal now.  I've got some lofty goals for this season, per the usual.  I fully intend to win the Big Sky conference meet this year, as well as qualify for nationals and make the All-American standards.  Hashtag go big or go home.

Trial of Miles, Miles of Trials

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Such is my story every time summer training rolls around.  Summer training is the best!  All you really have to do is run, work, sleep and repeat.  You can build up mileage carefully without fear of overtraining, and you can hit the gym all the dang time.  You can meet with friends that you haven't seen in ages to run with them.  You can do the trails at home that you've missed all year.
Summer training can also be the worst.  It's hot, you don't get to race for three months (!!!), and you start to go a little stir crazy missing your training partner and the town that you learned to love over the last nine months.  Overall though, summer training is always a positive experience.
This year has definitely gone much better than last year due to one small change that I made.  Instead of starting work at seven and running when I finish at four or five (I don't know why I ever thought this was a good idea.), I do my runs at seven before I go in to work, so not only is it much cooler, I'm not worn out from a day of washing windows.  I also have my sister and her husband to train with this year, which has helped a ton.  It's much easier to push workouts when you have people to run them with.  Looking over my training log from this time last year, I'm already pretty far ahead of where I was then fitness wise, and I've been doing much more of the "little things" like foam rolling daily, taking ice baths, actually doing core, strides, and hurdle drills.  Today I did my longest run ever with a fourteen miler, and next week I plan to bump it up one more mile.  I'll also be doing my highest mileage, finishing the week up with 60 miles.  Before the end of summer, it should be up to 65, and hopefully by then these long runs will get more comfortable because right now, they honestly feel a little bit like death.  I think the only upsetting thing about getting up in mileage is the fact that I finish a thirteen or fourteen mile run and start to feel accomplished, then remember that I know some people who are running that every day and cry a little bit.  Other than that, it's all upsides.  You get to eat more, nap more, and buy more running shoes 100% guilt-free.  I'm fairly sure I ate dinner three times the other day and did not have a single regret.  Plus, my friends and I hiked Mt Timpanogos this past Monday, and it was definitely the easiest ascent I've had yet, so I guess we can put "Less whining on hikes" under the list of added bonuses for actually doing summer training right.

The Body Issue(s)*

With summer training, there always comes a few inevitable factors.  The obvious small annoyances, like bugs, heat, and sweat, that we all know and love are some of the first that come to mind.  There is one more concern that comes when temperatures get higher and shorts consequently get shorter:  The body issues.  Suddenly, bodies that have been covered up by layers of tights, long sleeves, and parkas are out in the world and exposed again, and with them emerges the crowd of people who still take issue with an athlete's body.
The first kind of critic comes in two forms:  The person who approves a little too much and the one who says you were asking for whatever harassment you got because of your apparel.  This has been said thousands of times, so I'll keep it brief.  No one wants your nasty comments, and the chances of us responding to your attempts at catcalling when we're already incredibly uncomfortable because distance running is just not a comfortable sport are below zero.  Unless you A) Know me well enough that we've actually had a conversation or B) Are simply supportive of others in their quest for fitness and want to yell something encouraging, please never yell at me (or anyone else for that matter) while we're out trying to get some miles in.  And as for those who say, "Well, you were really asking for _______, going out dressed that way."  No.  This is nonsense, and it needs to stop.  When myself and countless other athletes choose to go out in our tiny shorts and tops, we are not asking for your attention.  We are not seeking your leers, your comments, or your approval (Or lack there of).  Mostly, we are just hoping to making it through another summer workout without being boiled to death in our own sweat.  No one questions it when we run in full-length tights and gloves in the winter, or when we wear bathing suits to a cross-training session at the pool.  This situation should not be viewed any differently.  Wearing activity and weather appropriate clothing should not be made out to be anything more than it is-An attempt to stay comfortable while working out.
The second body issue that has been on my mind for some time now is body image.  Please know going into this that I believe in celebrating and loving all healthy bodies, not just a specific type.  However, I've noticed that not everyone feels the same way.  For some reason, people seem to think that one certain brand of body shaming is absolutely acceptable.  As I'm sure you all realize, many distance athletes are more sharp angles than "curves".  And you know what?  There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, just like there's nothing wrong with being a size 10.  Body-shaming should never be viewed as acceptable, and yet people don't often see a problem with it as long as it doesn't go the way that they typically think of when they hear the phrase "Body shaming".  A glaring example that comes immediately to mind is Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass, which seems to indicate that it is perfectly fine to celebrate and love your body...as long as you are curvy.  If you are a "Skinny b****", as she puts it, you have no right to think of yourself as someone who is beautiful.  Another example of this:  The other day, I was on Facebook and I spotted a photo from someone's fitness Instagram.  You all know the type-A photo of someone pulling their shirt up to reveal a six pack with a caption sharing their workout or diet plan for the day.  Again, I'd like to reiterate:  THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TYPE OF BODY I CONSIDER TO BE BEAUTIFUL.  However, upon reading some of the comments on this young lady's picture, I was highly disturbed.  Some direct quotes went like this:  "No one likes to cuddle a twig.", "If she thinks that's what beauty is, then she has a serious mental issue.", and "Someone just get that girl some ice cream."  Excuse me?  So if someone has a larger figure, we assume that they have no self control, and when someone has a smaller frame we assume that they have some kind of mental disorder?  It's ridiculous.  And telling someone that they are not beautiful because they look differently from you is disgusting.  I have friends who are curvy, and friends who are petite, and I have heard from both sides (and experienced myself) how hurtful it is to be told that your body type is unpleasant to look at.  Especially considering your body shape is not always something that is in your control.  Some people exercise religiously and still have a larger figure, and that's okay.  Some people eat like crazy and can't put on weight, and that's okay too.  So, please do me a favor.  The next time you see someone's body and have any desire to criticize them for it, zip it.  Nobody needs to hear that.  Thanks!  
*Not the one by ESPN you're all thinking of.

Outdoor Season 2016

Hello friends.  I'm sorry it's been 568 years since my last post.  The spring semester was just insanely busy between both track seasons and the end of the school year.  The team got to travel all over the place, which was incredibly fun.  We had several meets here in Bozeman, a few in Missoula, a weekend in Utah, and one in California.  Over the year, my events solidified into the 5k and 3k steeple outdoor, though I only had a chance to race the steeplechase twice and only raced the 5k at conference.  I can definitely see why I wasn't permitted to race the steeple at conference though-in the two times that I ran it, I fell in the water pit the first time and tripped over the barrier the second time.  Someday I'll make it through all three thousand meters without being so closely acquainted with the track.

Conference went fairly well.  It was in Greeley, Colorado at the University of Northern Colorado, which was at about the same elevation as Bozeman.  I finished the season with a seventh place finish at conference, and my converted time there was about two seconds off of my personal best that I ran in California.  I was a little disappointed with my placing, as I still wanted to medal at conference, but I plan to up my mileage over the summer and place at conference starting as soon as possible.  

I will also be racing at the USATF Junior Championships this summer in the 5k on June 24th.  The top two places in each race will be advancing to the junior worlds in Poland at the end of July, so that will be my goal going into this meet.

Outdoor Track=Identity Crisis

The arrival of my first collegiate outdoor season has led to a very serious identity crisis.  Why?  Because I no longer have any idea what I am.  During the fall, I can obviously tell people I am a cross country runner.  I know during indoor season that I am a mile/3k runner.  But so far during outdoor, I have run the 10k and the 5k, and will be running the 1500 and 3k steeple at some point during the season.  That just leaves me with too many options open.  Do I say I'm 1500/steeple?  3k/5k?  What do I tell people?  I'm obviously still distance, but you can't just say, "Oh, I'm on the distance team."  That would be like a tiger saying, "I'm a large cat."  While it is true, there are many types of large cat.  Are you a tiger?  A lion?  An overweight housecat?  It just leaves too many options open.
To narrow it down slightly, I'm almost 150% positive that I am not a 10k runner.  I did race the 10k last week, but it was definitely not my favorite.  My coach tried to subtly sneak the idea past me by saying my options for the week were to do either a tempo on Thursday and speed work on Saturday instead of the meet or do the mile pace work on Thursday then a tempo on Saturday...on the track...in the distance of 10,000 meters.  For some reason, I decided I needed at least one 10k in my resume and that 25 laps weren't really that many.  Although it honestly wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, I also wouldn't say I want it to be my main event.  Around 19 laps, I hit a wall hard and honestly contemplated faking my own death and fleeing the country to avoid finishing, but alas, I had made it that far, and there were people everywhere so I was far too visible to make escape feasible.

The 5k definitely seemed like more of a possibility.  Although yesterday was the first time I've ever raced it on the track, it went fairly well.  I was about two seconds off of a personal best outright, and eleven seconds faster than my previous personal best after altitude conversion.  All in all, it was pretty good, and I think the fact that it was only 12.5 laps instead of the 25 I did the previous week definitely helped.

The 1500 and the 3k steeple have yet to be tested, as I've never raced either event.  I'm both excited and terrified to try the steeple, for reasons I think are obvious.  My greatest fear is that I will take myself out over a barrier and get concussed or something.  Hurdle drills have been going reasonably well in practice, though, so I'm at least 62% sure I won't totally wreck myself.  #prayforlys2k16