Believe to Achieve

So today started rough. I slept dreadfully still in pain as spoken of yesterday.  My right calf was burning.  Kind of like cramping up tons like I used to in pregnancy.  I was not looking forward to this run.  I needed to run MP for 14 miles but I also wanted to run the race I didn't run last week due to the snow so was hoping I would feel up for 1/2 MP.  I went up to the start of the Provo Marathon with Mel, Kim and Jane.  It was the smallest marathon start I have ever been to.  Not many runners at all, only five buses.  So, I warmed up by running up .75 miles then back down .75 miles nice and slow.  The calf was trying to work itself out.  It was cold before the warmup but after that I was able to remove all my gear and wear my shorts and lime green nylon shirt.  My plan was to keep the girls in site since they were going for MP at 6:49.  And that's what I did until mile 4.5 or so and I felt SOOOOOO good and was gaining on them, being about 20 seconds back from them in the earlier miles.  I passed them and told them I would be the rabbit for the fast girl up in front.  I was wondering what the heck I was talking about?  Seriously, like I am going to pass Sariah Long?  But not long after that I passed her.  I was running 6:30s out of the canyon.  Like where did that come from?  I am thinking soon I am surely going to crash but maybe not.  Maybe my training is paying off maybe I can run this thing well.  So I kept on.   And then a couple miles later I passed the leading girl and then at mile 12.7 or so Sariah came from behind me with a pacer friend and I heard "here she is"  and I was like "no worries about me I am nobody I am just a rabbit and running half of the race and hoping to break three hours at SGM this year and I am running UVM in five weeks and just got the time off work just yesterday to run this morning,......blah blah blah and HEY I AM LIKE TALKING NORMALLY at a 6:40 pace. Seriously?  Seriously?    I wasn't EVEN feeling all out in this race.  It felt SUPER controlled.  I was like save up Julie You are running 20 miles today this ISN'T race day this is LONG RUN with MP day/1/2 MP day.  I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS STRONG IN A RACE.  I felt I had TONS left in the tank.  But I was like why mess up a good thing?  So I stopped briefly at 13.1 miles (1:27:06) and waited for the girls.  Cheered them on then shortcutted to meet them at another place.  Then watched the lead ladies in the half marathon at mile 12 or so then found McKenzie and Aubrey (and someone I don't know) and turned around and ran the finish of the half with them.  Then FEELING EVER SO IN NEED OF FUEL I STOPPED AT THE FINISH, found 1/2 a banana and some water and took off for two more miles to get just over 20 miles.  AP for all 20 miles= 7:15.  AP for half marathon=  6:41.  Seriously in Shock at how WONDERFUL I felt and how strong I felt.  Just bizarre.  The ONLY PROBLEM I had with this race was that at mile 1.5 or so I reached for my gus I pinned to my shorts in a plastic baggie and only one of my three remained.  I decided right there that that wouldn't upset me and that I could run this on one gu.  The water stations WERE ridiculous.  Miniature Dixie cup portions and I only got gatorade once.  But somehow that didn't matter.   After the finish it mattered.  I could tell during the five mile easy pace cooldown that I was dehydrated and fueless.  It was getting hot out and my calves began to cramp.  BUT after getting to work, showering there, and working with one of my longtime friends in the NICU, hydrating all afternoon I  FEEL AWESOME.  Like I never even raced today.  What if June 11th I don't feel so well?  I just don't know.  Sometimes I just want to quit while I am ahead.  : D.   Goals. smoals.  I HAVE TO PUSH AHEAD AND CONTINUE HEADSTRONG.  Splits for the half:  6:51, 6:52, 6:50, 6:42, 6:38, and now the course flattens...6:27, 6:33, 6:32, 6:36, 6:39, HILL-- I purposely slow down to see if I can handle it after this--6:54, 6:44 -- no problem getting the pace back feeling great, 6:41 (chatting with Sariah), .1 6:17.    1:27:06   : DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD