Run Parker Run

Hicham El Guerrouj, Holds the fastest mile record, (3:43.13)

GT Running

I’m in 8th grade and at the beginning of the year I decided to try something I’d never tried before, Cross Country. During this I set a goal to run a 6 minute mile, but by the time I was getting in to the 7’s it was almost the end of the season. Latter I was accepted into the GT (Gifted and Talented) program and decided my project would be my goal for a 6 minute mile.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

I trained on my long distance and strengthening my lungs by running after school everyday. I’m now going to start recording timed miles and post my progress as I go.

My Sunday Run Day

Today was a cold day so I went to the gym to run with my dad. I went way to fast on my first lap and was burnt out by my sixth (I was on a nine lap track). But I still got 6:31. Next time I will run at an even pace throughout the mile.

I Slack Off

About week ago got sick and stopped running and posting. I did this for about a week and half and haven’t gotten back to running. I plan to start running again as soon as possible.

I’m Forced To Start again

In PE, for my fitness testing, I was forced to run a timed mile and to no surprise my time increased quite a bit. I got 7 flat for my time and was amazed at how much my stamina had decreased. I need to start running consistently again and will get to do so when Track seasons starts in two weeks.

I Start Track.

Yesterday was the first day of practice and was pretty light, but today was insane. We only did 2100 meters, not even a mile and a half. That said it was still hard especially because It was timed and if you didn’t meet the goal you did 20 push-ups, it was great. I loved being back in a practice with other kids, everybody trying their hardest and working to improve.

Timed Trials

Yesterday and today we did timed trails for different distances. Yesterday we did the 100 m First. My time was 14.5 seconds which is an okay time. Next we did a timed mile; bam bam bammmm, I got 7:05. Instead off burning my self out in the first to laps I was a little more methodical and kept a steady pace. Today we did 200 m and 800 m. My 200 m was 31.31 s which is not very fast. My 800 m time was 3:36 (terrible). My left calf and upper hamstring were super tight and impaired me from extending that leg all the way.

My first Meet

Yesterday I had my first meet for track. My events were 800 m, 1600 m, and the 4×4 relay. My 1600 m was up first and I had no warm up, I got to the track cold. I was one of only two eight grades racing and from what I had seen of him during cross country made me pretty confident I could beat him. My first two laps were pretty fast I was in second with a 7th grader from my school in front of me. by my third lap two other people had passes me, one person from my school and one kid from another school, they were still both 7th graders and I didn’t have to beat them. My fourth lap was deceased more in speed and I was in fourth over all and still ahead of the other eight grader. After running through the finish line a ran to the grass and thew up the Doritos I had eaten an hour ago and went to clean up. After I was cleaned up I learned that I had come in first (ahead of the other eight grader) by 200 meters and my time was 6:27. I was pretty exited to find that out but immediately knew I had to get faster to really beat other guys at track meets. After that I waited and waited for the 800 and 4×4 to roll around. Finally they came and I was on the starting line, again I was racing against the eight grader I had beaten in the mile so I decided to relax. My first lap I stayed with the pack and by the second was in fourth and slowing down because when I looked back on the second to last corner the guy I was racing against was easily 200 m behind. So I loosened up a bit and slowed down to save my energy for the 4×4 which was my next event. By the time I crossed the finish line in Fourth and caught my breath and looked back he was still on the last curve. So again I got first place with a time 3:10, 26 seconds faster than my time trials. When the 4×4 rolled around I was starting and all the way warmed up and ready. BANG! When the gun went I took of from lane four I was already only several paces from my only other competitor. By the end I was so tired but still 15 m ahead of the other 8th grade team and got a nice head start for my second runner who almost immediately lost meters and by the end was 50 m behind the second runner for the other team. The next to runners caught up a little and finished 15 m behind the the guy on the other team. I was kinda disappointed that I didn’t get a third win but everybody tried their hardest. I’m a little nervous for my next meet because three other schools weren’t there and I will have to bust it out on every race, but that’s track.

My Book

I have been reading a book, as another aspect of my project, about Usain Bolt: the fastest man alive. Holding records in the 100 m 200 m, 150 m and the 4×1 relay. He is a living legend. Reading his book has been interesting. Firstly, It doesn’t show you only amazing sprinter side or just his wild side, it shows all of him. It show his personality, his slip ups and doubts, and his greatest achievements. It was interesting to read over and over that he was so ‘chill’ before races, no mater they were training sessions or even the Olympics. He was always confident not matter what. Another why this book was so interesting to read is because he was brought like a lot of other kids in Jamaica. He wasn’t very wealthy as a kid, ha wasn’t pushed from the time he could walk to run, he didn’t even see a professional career until he was winning junior against other guys way older than him in events by whole seconds. Lastly Usain Bolt was a natural in all aspects of the word, He was very fast from a young a age. But something that surprised me a lot (witch shouldn’t have) was that, he had to work really hard 6 days a week before events. He describes his training as “agonizing” almost everyday. It goes to show me that if he had to work had and was already naturally that good than I have to work really really hard. So thats what gonna do. I only have 27 seconds to go.

I Do It!!

Yesterday was the league meet. I was running against all the schools. I was kinda nervous. As we stepped to the line I sized my competition and realistically placed myself in about 10th place. BANG! As the gun went off I settled into the back of the group. I was making powerful strides and breathing steady. As I came across the finish line my coach called out my time, “1:23, Parker keep that pace”. As normal I lost no pace and kept going and as I pulled through the finish line a second time my coach called, “2:55”. this is were things started to differ from my normal races I kept the same pace the next to laps. My third lap was clocked at 4:05. After I sprinted across the finish line and as I stood in line my coach came over and said, “Parker, you did it, 5:55”. As you might might expect I was pretty exited. I reached the goal i’d been trying to reach for a long time, it felt awesome. While I’d only placed 7th and was pretty satisfied with the race.

My Next Goal

I’m not just going to end my blog here, my net goal will be to run under 5:45. As the track season is ending so is the school year and since I’m in eight grade I will be running all summer for cross country and can keep up my fast mile.

9th Grade

I haven’t posted in awhile and I wanted to update you on my progress over the summer. Practices are every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but because I live 30 minutes out I don’t make it to all 3 all of the time. Running all summer has been very beneficial in several different ways, not only was I setting at home losing my ability to run, but I was improving on my long distance running. Aside from that I got to meet many of my teammates. The only thing I have not been focused on this summer is my mile time, because I was training long distance I am almost certain my mile time is somewhere in the 7s. Its no the end of the world though I don’t need to have a crazy fast mile during Cross Country I need to have a fast 3 mile. School (and Cross Country) will start in less a week and when I have my first really hard practice I will post an update. That’s all for now folks.