View Workout (Jake Avery)

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Horse barn/ Tempo

August 4, 2016 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
First workout back and actually felt surprisingly great yet still a little rusty/out of shape. Before the run I did about 1 hr 30 mins of stretching and rolling. It sucked but if that's what it takes for me to run I'll do it before every run if I have to. It really did loosen up my IT though. Got to the practice and did a little more stretching and then coach put this wrap around the area a little above my knee and I was a little skeptical at first but willing to try anything. JV was doing like 2 miles before the tempo and we were doing about 3.5. I ran by myself so that I could keep it flat and keep it at my own pace. Went across campus and to A Lot then past the apartments where I met coach. We waited for the guys to show up and then we headed out for out tempo which we would go around the horse track then back and to the golf course. I had no clue what I was doing beforehand. I was planning on just going like 6 minute pace. But coach said it wouldn't really hurt my IT band at all. Plus the wrap was helping a ton I hardly felt the IT thing at all and the swelling was all gone. So I decided I would see how I was feeling once the tempo started and decided from there. But i know myself well enough to know that if I were to start with that top group I wasn't gonna let myself just fall off the back. We started the tempo and it didn't feel too bad, I was still trying to get used to running fast again but it helped to have people around me pushing me. So I decided to would just see if I could stick with the other varsity guys. Neil took over about 2 mins in which is exactly what I wanted him to do. He did a great job at being assertive in just pushing the pace. He's gotta be like that in races. I hung back with Silas and Ian until the end of the horse track where I decided I wanted to move up to Neil. I moved up and started pushing the pace on the downhill. I wanted to make these guys work for it. At one point I was feeling pretty out of shape, I think it was the small uphill. And I almost wanted to slow it down but I told myself that I've waited too long to get back to running to just give in like that. It was just my excitement to be back running with the guys that got me through the rest. The first mile we had was like 5:15. We went out on the golf course and I really started feeling it there. Cardiovascularly I was fine because of all the Aqua jogging I have been doing, but overall fitness I have a ways to go. I was just trying to just finish it. But when there was 2 minutes left I said to hell with it and threw in a random surge like there would be at the end of the race. Finished strong to the top of bluegrass rd. I was pretty exhausted but I felt better quickly. First workout back was a success and I feel like I could definelty hold that for another mile. Alexander stayed just a little behind us which was a good spot for him and so did Ben. It's important that they know that you'll improve the most if you just go your own pace. It's like in a race, you can't race based off anyone else in your race you gotta just go your own pace and make moves when you feel good. That's when you capitalize. Coach B was telling us that this season is really only once in a lifetime and that really hit home. This is my last time with these guys and this situation will never come around again. We gotta just stay keep the endgame in mind through the season. Jogged back with Liam and talked about the team and finding why you love to run. That's a crucial thing that all runners should find. Finished with drills and abs and hips. Then stretching for an hour at home afterwards. The positive that I found out of all these little injuries is that it builds your passion of running and desire to be back running. It just shows you how much you really want it.