Which is super weird considering I absolutely hated it last year. It just makes me feel so empowered, strong and definitely badass! It’s like who doesn’t want to say “oh heyyy I ran a little over 6 miles today, no big deal.” It’s like the total sense on accomplishment and the perfect beginning to a day. I am definitely going to try to run before school in the winter, because I know if I don’t, I am going to be (and feel) unhappy and fat during the winter. Plus, cross country just makes me so happy. No only running with people, but running with friends. Real friends. Those kind of friends who high five you when we finish a workout and you both kicked some serious ass. The kind that make you want to work harder and keep you motivated. The kind that I hope will keep me going during a race and help me get my personal best. We motivate each other all the time and I hope that everyone improves this season and that we become a family. Cross country 2011 <3

Even though this is like ultra preseason, it still counts right? xD I did do some strength training this morning and a piss poor half mile on the treadmill, AND had cookies and cream ice cream today :) But, after being at the beach all day, I went to the school at 6 and we started with a mile warmup at a 10 minute pace, fair enoughhhh. Then we did a 1.5 mile field loop in around 10-12 minutes, we were pretty much hauling :P Then he had us do a tempo loop and I was soooo done before I even started. Before I started I thought to myself, am I really going to let freshmen beat me? and if I want to be able to keep up with Bri, I need to be kicking ass. I just got out fast and another senior was trying to pass me but she has pretty tiny legs so I could get past her. After that, I finished first and I felt unstoppable. I got 3:55. After that, it seemed like everyone was giving up! We had to do one more and all my friends were saying that “this is soooo my cooldown, I went hard on the last one!” That’s when I realized something, I WANTED to get a better time, like I wanted my coach to be proud! So, I bolted again. I get back, 3:54. I was so so so happy! We did a mile cool down at like a 15 minute crawl speed but I was just so happy after that workout! We ended it with pushups and leg lifts (30-60-90 style bitchessss ;D) and my coach actually told me he was proud of me….WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH COLLINS???? Anyway, awesome day :)