Believe to Achieve

I haven't run yet (WELL NOW I HAVE : D) but before  I do I wanted to write down my crazy marathon dream--- Not sure which marathon I am running in my dream but I am very close to the finish line, about 1/4 mile and I see lots of people "crashing".  I was really close to a subthree (but I didn't realize it at the time) and stopped to talk to some race directors (I can't remember why I stopped).  Then I started running and passing several people that were cramping up.  I saw the finish line ahead and tried to "sprint" in and could not.  For some reason (like a lot of dreams we all have) I could NOT move my legs forward.  Eventually I had to TURNAROUND and run BACKWARDS for several 100 feet crossing the finish line.  I couldn't see the time clock and had to ask the directors my time who were writing them down on a piece of paper.   My time was 3:03:27!!  Then I walked over to other spectators and ate and waited around for what seemed like a long time.  I then realized how "unexciting" the finish line was.  There were barely any spectators and no Big Balloon Finish line to cross.  I commented to a spectator and she said something like " the race director just does what his family wants" because they all run the race.    I guess his family doesn't like fanfare :D.  funny huh?

Today's Run:  Plan, 20 miler.  Unplanned: a quick 20 miler.  So I started out late and just was not in the mood to run at all but just kept planting one foot in front of the other and told myself I could run 9mm pace if that what it took but by mile 5 I was in a groove and I just could not let myself slow down.  I am so dang competitive with myself.  What is even MORE impressive to me is that I ran the same exact course that the FRB ran at my house on  Feb 18th.  The nice hilly five cities run.  It was not as warm as suggested (it is getting warm now that I am indoors) so I started out with all the usual gear but placed my black pullover around my waist for safe keeping never needing to put it on.  I wore my gloves until mile 5 and kept my headband on.  I also wore a thick hot pick long sleeved top.  It is tight fitting.  I feel so racer-like in it.  Like I am running under water or something :D.  Anyway I just cruised along with my usual foot ailments and a sciatica problem that occasionally showed its face on my left side.  But all in all I felt good physically except the last four miles when my pelvis and inner thighs began to burn.  I don't know why this happens but it makes it hard to finish feeling wonderful like I would like to.  I just try to ignore it.   I believe that is is part of being female.   Darn it.  Anyway.....I could not believe I was cruising up that back hillside of Healy like it was a breeze.  I tried to envision that being Heartbreak Hill and I can see that it could be just that.  It is not easy.  Even the steep decline that comes later is not easy.  It is just TOO steep.  I was wondering how in the heck I ran Mt Nebo so fast without fracturing something.  I will definitely have to start running some more downhill.  I haven't been running a lot of steep downhill.  In fact only this hill on this run and the one close to my house.  Again I only run it on this run.  To make a long story shorter I ran 7:37 AP for 20.3 miles with less than 2 minutes of stops--- one brief stop 10 seconds for a swig of water at mile 4 (yup the water bottle I cast away was still there, I finished it this time) and about 70 seconds at the Eternal Fountain then about 30 seconds at a stop light in Alpine.  Here are my splits. I am posting them because I am in shock that I ran this hard today after yesterday's insane LT run.   8:42 (see I started out easy), 8:08, 8:03, 8:06, 7:37, 7:38, 7:36, 7:31, 7:33, 7:28, 7:33, 7:22, 7:34, 7:46 (long uphill), 7:22, 7:29, 7:16, 7:17, 7:19, 7:08 and 7:14 for the last 0.3 miles.  AP 7:37.  Now to get motivated for an ice bath.  I don't think so.  Instead I will probably eat like a bear.  I only ate one Gu (mile 11.5) and a few swigs of water.