Believe to Achieve

Up at 445am.  Got back from Courtney's soccer game in Riverton at 945pm.  Bed at 1040.  Just can't fall asleep easy and I wake several times a night.  My daughter Brooke wanted to surprise her friend for her birthday by getting several of her friends and waking her early (Brooke was up at 6:15) and making breakfast for her.  Lucky for me all I had to do was drive Brooke and pick up Jenna and take them to Kim's house. Kim was so nice to volunteer her house for the FUN birthday breakfast. I had to get back to make lunches and get Courtney off to school.  She hurt her foot in soccer so I drove her to the bus stop a half mile away.  Troy was off to work just after that then it was me and Amber for a half hour.  Was not in the mood to run so got on line and rented a car for Spring break.  Neither of our cars can make the trip well enough without causing more damage.  The girls and I are driving to Phoenix/Casa Grande to hang out with my mom.  9.5 hours if I drive it right.  IT should be a beautiful drive going through Grand Canyon and Lake Powell.  Could have flown but that was not adventurous enough for me.  And the girls have never seen the grand canyon (well courtney was 6 months old last time Troy and I were there).  Troy has to stay back with his new job.  : (((       When I get back three days later I will be flying to Boston for the marathon.  Lots of traveling but I will be in taper zone so it should all be FUN.  It is only 142 dollars total to rent a car for the week :D.    Now, ON to my AMAZING run today.  FELT super strong that by mile two I was sub 8  despite the STRONG winds.  I was EMPOWERED by the WIND.  I got hit in several directions but it never bothered me.  I invited it along with me.  That is how I felt the whole time.  Felt so good that the last mile was easily a 6:42.  AP for miles = 7:40.  The only complaint is my crushed leg is still healing...a deep bruise feeling in the outer shin and inner knee and the hip from my leg being yanked out of place so to speak. So currently icing it.  But it really didn't effect me on the run in my mind.  I am feeling more and more like my 2011 running self.  I hope it lasts.  The memory is there.  I have figured out the problem with the last two years despite going through menopause (which is HUGE)....it WAS the STEROID shots GOING systemic after each one.  I got SIX shots in my foot last year about every two months and ONE in my back which was really not good for my BODY at all.  I believe the steroids are the cause for my MASSIVE joint pains and INTENSE fatigue, muscle spasms.  Now that I have PROMISED to never get another one and more than two months have passed (four in fact)...my body is coming back from the great abyss.  IT took me down mentally too.  STEROIDS are BAD. Trust me. Some people can handle them but Julie Esplin and I both found out the hard way (lucky for Julie E for not as long) that STEROIDS shut our bodies down.  They are ADRENAL gland suppressors.  ADRENALS are the master GLAND for handling stress and disease and for FIGHT or FLIGHT.  Seriously can't believe I let it go on that long.  I am still having issues from EARLY menopause (insomnia, hot flashes) but the intense pains are few and far between (unless I shut my leg in a door or night ski in between two stupid snow boarder ;D).  I plan on improving daily. Life is certainly not easy and I plan on not making it harder for anyone else.  GO FIGHT WIN everyone!!!