Believe to Achieve

Kids off to school just before eight.  off I go to my planned 18 miler starting at mile 9 of the AF Canyon half  (actually I parked just by the tunnel you run under by the golf course, across the street from north of lone peak high school) and headed UP the parkway trail  and into AF canyon for 9 miles-- passing the starting line of both the timp and af half and just getting about 10 feet into the dirt road up there when my garmin read 9 miles.  I didn't stop once (oh about 0.3 miles into my run my garmin started freaking out that it had NO room for more data so sadly I had to erase several of my runs this summer to make room for today.  my computer is being repaired so I can't download my garmin).    ANYWAY-- lovely headwind the entire run up the canyon (well probably not so much by mile 6) and why in the heck does the wind decide to change directions by the time I get to mile 16???  Headwind again.  Well at least a breeze feels good since by the time I came out of the canyon it was 10 am.  I finished my run at 1034am.  Started at 1016am.  I stopped for less than two minutes at the top to take a gel and some water and to use the hole in the ground potty-- stinky!!  But oh so exhilarating to have climbed 9 miles up knowing I only had to run downhill for 9 miles.  Well...I have to say after surging uphill at AP of 8:21 for 9 miles my legs and hips were in no mood to move fast.  I suppose I did just run SW on Wednesday and have been working every other day over 12.5 hour shifts (two coming up this weekend).  No reprieve.  I must go on.   I just let my legs do as best as they could.    Plan was to run the last 4 under 7mm.  That should be easy I thought since I was headed down.  First mile up 8:27.  By the last few miles up I was at 8:03 pace for three in a row.    Downhill miles-- 7:18, 7:22, 7:22, 7:01 (really ??  I was surprised since I ddin't push it but hey it is AF canyon) then when I got to where I needed to run my fast four I just told myself to relax and do what I could.  I should interject here that MY SAFETY was at risk on this run.  Late Friday morning is not a good time to run down this canyon.  I was early enough on my way up that I didn't feel insecure but the cars SPEEEING UPHILL was a freak show!!!  Are they TRYING TO KILL runners and bikers?????  I only saw two other runners (guys) and several bikers.  One truck WOULD NOT move to cross the lane to go around bikers going uphill while I was heading down (he didn't see me coming yet). This guy was beeping his horn like mad at the five bikers.  Very surprising behavior. I asked the bikers as I flew by "seriously that was on purpose???"  One girl replied "yes can you believe it?".   On an earlier encounter with another horn blower a biker was irritated enough with the driver that he "road the line" just to see if the guy would lay off.  He had two other bikers with him. Not sure what the biker thought he was proving.  He could have been killed.   Several times I had to jump to the side of the road for my safety.  And hey I was tired!!!  One water stop and car and truck encounters galore.  It surprises me how fast they fly up the canyon as if that would get them the tent site they need any quicker!!!  I wanted to yell out to the attendant at the front gate to tell drivers to slow down-- but I am sure even she couldn't have slowed them.  They are oblivious!!  Okay-- last five miles-- 6:41, 6:33, 6:33, 6:21, 6:45. ( I was planning on slowing the last mile to easy pace when I got to the rolling hills of the golf course but decided to stay below 7 and just get the run done!!).  AP over for 18 miles = 7:37.    Ice bath in my favorite locale for 15 minutes.  AHHHHhhhh. so Refreshing.    Then I had tons of energy when I got home that I listened to Journey's song "Separate Lives" like 20 times while I cleaned the  ENTIRE fridge and the bathroom.   Out to lunch with hubby-- his birthday was a busy day so we went out today.  Nothing fancy.  He loves cheeseburgers so we hit JCWs.