The Green Lake Buddy Run!!

This morning's cool, cloudy weather set the perfect atmosphere for an "intense" Buddy Run competition...okay, so maybe the GL Buddy Run isn't the biggest workout of the year, but it is still a fun tradition. This boy-girl partnering is one of the few times our workout is really integrated across the entire spectrum of athletes. Yes, Jess and Jane run with the guys during many workouts, but this time everyone got to mingle. I love the element of luck involved too. Now, those who won the smallest time gap and closest to predicted overall time prizes might not want to admit it, but it really is a matter of luck/chance. (I was pretty excited - I just took a wild guess on the overall time and was actually close enough for second place!)

I think a lot of the Stanford folks were still feeling a bit run down (at least I know I was), but that is sort of what this week is all about - being tired/not fresh but still getting the work done.

Kelsey and Natty were both able to run with us today!!! Praise the Lord! It was so great to have you two out there again. =) We really missed you.

Also, a little side-note...something I've been thinking about a lot since after Stanford is how much of running is mental. I know I have always known that that element is important, but I still usually focus so much on how my legs are feeling that I usually don't consider it enough. My goal for the rest of the season is to really remember the mental side of running all the time, in practices especially, so that when the races come, I'm ready.

Here's a little motivation for everyone: 23 Days to GNAC
what we do everyday until then counts!!!! Keep your eyes on the prize ladies...and start visualizing yourself passing an Alaskan-African or a white/blue Viking... (today, I pretended Kate was the "Rockstar" girl :P and i sang 'party like a rockstar'....haha. it helped)