The Running Blog

This is my 2nd blog, the one where I show you the mind of a runner. Not only how I feel about training, competition, and meets but how I see the world as runner- the social aspects of running.

Well about myself... I am a distance runner, I run cross country, as well as the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m in track. I am young, but I've been consistently training for a good 3-4 years now, and I have a good grasp on things. My PR's are good, but irrelevant. If you think otherwise, message me.

If you have any questions or comments on diet, training, racing, or anything else really, please don't be shy! I'm glad to give advice, or answer your questions.

Permalink

I’m so sleeeeepy.

I haven’t been able to catch up on some z’s in a few weeks…

Permalink

I’m gonna level with all of you. I’ve had several mental breaks in the last several months. AP testing, ap homework, act prep, pressure from family, peers, colleges, and myself to do well in all of these things, and what seems to be an endless pile of personal conundrums. I haven’t been performing as well as I should be this season, and I know this. My coach knows this- and truth be told no one else really needs to know. But I have been performing well in my classes(AP and collegiate) and in the long run this will eventually pay off(I hope). I’m trying to make it to the end of the season so I can finally get a full night of sleep without having to worry about getting through the next day. But once this year’s over, I can focus on running 100%. So I apologize to the 200 some followers of this blog for not actually fulfilling what I believe to be what I promised. I’ll try to keep this periodically updated, but I am very busy at the moment. 

Thank you all for sticking around, I’ll be back up and running(no pun intended) very soon.

-C.Ruiz 

Permalink

1600m @ Regionals

1st place: 4:23.51
2nd place: 4:23.52



Yikes. 

Permalink

REGIONALS

This track season has been slow, uneventful, and quite frankly frustrating. I’ve been busy as hell with AP classes, college classes, and so much personal shit that I won’t bother to elaborate on- purely to save you, the reader, time and… well, time. Tomorrow I have regionals. I’ve already raced the kid who’s seeded 2nd(I’m seeded 1st), and I wasn’t as threatened as I thought I would be. He was good, but far too ambitious in the beginning of races- poor pacing. Regardless, anything can happen at a regional meet(I’ve said it before) and I’m looking forward to the meet. Though, to be honest, this week hasn’t been my best. I don’t know if it’s been my diet all season, or maybe just stress, but I’ve felt just slightly better than shit all week. Or, well, all season. Oh well, running isn’t everything. I’m looking forward to the end of the season. 

Peace.  

Permalink

I managed to slice my foot on a recovery run. I should be alright, but I don’t have any skin on my heel. Ow. Other than that, I had an amazing run. 

Permalink

Hmmm…

I had a race yesterday. I didn’t do as well as I hoped, but I competed well. I hit a 4:26 in the 1600m, and was out-kicked(again) in the last 200. The thing about this race was, I finished the race hardly out of breath- as opposed to last year where I was dying with that kinda time. My 3200m run was hardly anything special- I won with a 9:50 about 100m in front of second place. I really want to RACE the 3200m, not just run it. Today was just a recovery run- 15 minutes and stretching.  

Permalink

AP tests, nap, AP tests, nap, run, studying…

Yeah, I know I’ve been lazy on the posts. But hey, I’m busy as hell! Haha, I’ll be done with all my classes by Wednesday morning. I have 5 more meets…


Saturday: Hemlock Invite. This is where I’m racing against one of the top runners in the state. He’s fast but his times are quite reachable. I was thrown in this race last minute, and I’m starting to regret this decision.(exhausting week!)

Next meets are…
Conference Championships: Going for 4x8, 16, and 32 gold medals.
Regionals: Going for the 16 and 32 PR’s. To be honest, there’s no one to race against in my regional. 
Pioneer Championships: Local “best of the best”. I’m going for the 4x8, 16, and 32 gold. The 16 will be rough(but doable) and the 32 should be a repeat of last year- I’ve won that since my freshman year.
States: Well, we’ll see how that goes, won’t we? I’ve had awful luck at state finals; last year I was tripped in the 1600 after taking the lead on the 3rd lap.  


Keep running, but have fun!
Peace. 

Permalink
Permalink

Today was just a 35minute run with 6 striders. Nothing special… I felt pretty good, but my diet has struggled. Not awful, just a lot of unnecessary sugar. I have a big race Saturday against the fastest 2-miler in the state (9:08, Jesus Christ that’s fast), and the plan is to stick with him for as long as I can. The goal is to break 9:20(I know I’m there- I did a sub 9 3k in the first 2 weeks of the season). Well, catch you later!

Permalink

Sorry I didn’t post the last couple days, rather busy weekend. 
Well, going into the meet, I was feeling rather confident in my ability to win, not so much in my ability to PR. I got there, not feeling anything special. My mind was elsewhere- this week was NOT going my way, and this meet wasn’t gonna be any different. The 16 started shortly after wind picked up, and I lead the whole way till the last 200m, where the person who (smartly) drafted off of me pulled out and front and won. Ouch. I didn’t even PR, but the conditions weren’t really for it. 4:30 flat. The 3200 came around, and I took the lead early, again, but this time I held onto it. The wind had picked up even more for this race, and even though I had a 150m lead on the chase pack, I still couldn’t manage to get anywhere near my goal time. I don’t recall the time, but I don’t mind if I never hear it. Yesterday was a recovery run, it went very well- fast, consistent, etc. Today was just a 40minute run, which, ironically, was harder than yesterday’s run. I did 6 striders afterwards to loosen up for Tuesday’s race. While it is conference, it’s our only competition all year. I’ll be racing the 1600m and the 800m. Wish me luck(after that week, I need it!). 

Leave messages, questions, concerns, etc whenever you please. Thank you, have a nice week! 

-C.Ruiz 

Permalink This is from last year’s TC meet. Barely edged for the win in the 1600. And yes, after a 100m sprint to come from behind, that is me celebrating. Stupid sophomore(me). 
Permalink

Morning run.

Today, despite the lightning, I had a morning practice. There wasn’t many people, so it was fine. I did a 25 minute run with 4 striders. I’ll be stretching tonight. It’s been raining a lot the last 2 days, I really don’t want the track to be swamped. 

Permalink

Praise the 40 minute run! Today was recovery, which is good because I was sore. Tomorrow I’ll have a morning run at 6am so I can have a full recovery period for the meet on Friday. Friday’s goals include a 4:16 1600m, and a sub 9:20 3200m. Both of which are doable, just a matter of heart and pacing. Well, I’m heading to bed, goodnight followers!

Permalink

Hello friends. I had a conference meet today. I didn’t bother telling you guys about it because our team kinda treats them as workouts. Today I did the 4x8, 16, 32. I tempo’d the 16 and I hit a season PR(4:34) which is still WAAAY behind my potential, and just broke 10 in the 32(part of a workout- went out at 4:40). The 4x8 was the only race worth mentioning, at least in my eyes. Our team was just barely in the lead after when I got the baton(our hand off was terrible which made it an even closer race). I already was running terrified; I’m NOT an 800 guy, I haven’t been able to break 2:05 ever. But today, their anchor was right on my tail- he made up the lost ground in the first lap. I went out at a 56 second lap- which sounds fast(and sorta is) but I always go out too hard on the first lap. The second lap I tried holding it for as long as I could. And in the end, I came out on top- the other competitor died. I ran a 2:00(finally). My next goal is 1:57, but I never race it in an open, so it’ll be hard. I have a big race Friday, I’m hoping to snatch the school records in the 16 and 32. Wish me luck. 

Peace.  

Permalink

I have a meet Friday. I’m going for 2 big PR’s in the 1600m and 3200m. I think I can PR, but I feel so far behind everyone else in the state. Today was just recovery from a long run yesterday. Sorry I didn’t post last night, I wasn’t really in much of a mood to blog.