View Workout (Ruby Kaplan)

Return to Log

DC states

November 2, 2019 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: cold

Comments:
I woke up and checked the temperature, it was 34 degrees. That's cold. I put on a lot of layers and gloves and a hat. It was very nice to be able to sleep in this morning because the bus left at 10.

We got to the place where we ran DCXC but it looked very different. We put our stuff in a new place, it was muddy, and it was freezing. During DCXC it was super hot and dry. We put our stuff down and ran the warmup, we ran around the main loop and looked at the parts that were going to be different. My feet were very wet and cold from all of the puddles. I decided I might want to check out some more of the course, so I asked Annie if she wanted to, we recruited Ella and Arya too. We ran for like a minute (actually, maybe it was 30 seconds) before we stepped in a giant puddle and decided that maybe it was a better idea to just run back to the stuff. We stretched and watched JV girls fly by us. Everyone was running so incredibly well and it got me super excited for my race. I want to give a quick shoutout to Camilla because she had been a little disappointed with some of her races this season and today she was so tough and ran super confidently and she was really happy. She really inspired me today to run like she did.

It was an hour before our race, time to warm up. After spending a few minutes finding everyone we ran out to a bus in the middle of the loop and stopped to cheer, then we ran back to our stuff. But on the way, we realized we were running a little late so we started our warmups on the way back. This messed up my warmups a little because I kept forgetting ones, then going back, then doing too many. I don't know it got a little confusing. Well, we heard from JV girls that we might not be able to do all of our striders on the line, or keep our sweats on. So we did 4 at our stuff then spiked up and ran over. We took off our sweats before entering the box area because DCSAA officials are weird like that. But before that, we did two striders out there with our stuff on. Then we went into the box area and did our last two striders. While we were out in the field some people spoke and then I spoke and may have cried a little then we did some nice chirps a good run good. Well, the first attempt at the run good I said "G-D-S!" instead of run good, so we re-did it. Then we strode back. At the line, Ella told me she had to blow her nose so I told her to snot rocket which I had tried to get her to try for a while because she doesn't like to do it. Well her first one was fine then the second hit me right in the leg. I screamed and then proceded to wipe my leg on the ground. This was a very fun way to start a race because all of us were laughing and the nerves seemed to have faded from all of us. then the official yelled to everyone that their feet should be "BEHIND THE LINE!!!" at least 20 times. Then the guy blew a whistle then fired a gun and the race started.

I saw Ella absolutely take off at the start, so I kind of? went with her. I was closeish to the front and was just trying to pass some people which got a little aggressive at the start with a little pushing going on around me. I guess what EJ says is true, XC is a contact sport. I got around the half-mile when I thought to myself, hmm im going a little fast in this race right now, I'm kinda tired. Then I flashed back to the beginning of the season when someone told me I shouldn't feel tired at the beginning of a race. Then I realized I should not think that because then I won't make moves during the race because I'll feel bad for myself for going out too fast or something. So I willed my brain to turn off, it didn't, I was tired. I moved through the race listening to what people were telling me. "Catch that pack of red" "get that girl" I was trying to pass people but we all were moving so slow, not that we were running slow, just that we weren't making many moves. I was fighting hard to try to get up to this girl in red, and eventually, I did. She was staying with me though and not in the good way where we were running and pushing together, she was right behind me, a reminder that if I slowed a little bit she would pass me and I may not be able to get her back. At this point, I was just pushing and pushing to try and lengthen the space between us and eventually I looked up at her teammate, another st John's runner in front of me. I set my gaze up to her and going up the S curve trying to get to her. On the last straightaway, I saw a Maret girl with a cramp or something up ahead of me. The St John's girl I had just passed was trying to pass me, she was sprinting, so I sprinted along next to her I kept going and she fell back. Then the blue mats finally passed under my feet. oof that was exhausting. I couldn't even speak to Ella but i managed to give her hand a squeeze. I got some water then blew my nose in the cup (sorry gross, but It happened) then we all hugged and huddled up.

After the race we got on sweats and watched the boys Varsity race which was incredible. Then we went back to our stuff, Anthony spoke, I grabbed some food and we went over to the award ceremony. Girls Varsity got 4th!!! I got a nice lil 13th place bronze medal. Oh and the race was not a 5K!! a little longer than a 5k actually. So maybe I would have broken 20? who knows. I guess we'll have to wait until next year! What a fun day and last XC meet of the season.

What an amazing team to have by my side every single day. Every single person on this team means so much to me and this has been a truly amazing season. So thank you to everyone for making this team what it is.