Believe to Achieve

alarm went off just after nodding back to sleep (my oldest daughter woke me to tell me she couldn't sleep at 3am, JOY).  was a struggle but since I teach Activity days on Thursday nights and I hate running after working all day I went for option A which was easier...BRRRRRrrrr.  The  windchill from the icy mountains was the best part.  Oh yah.  Ran a two mile loop around my house four times in case I wanted to cop out.  But I persevered and didn't stop once.  Legs tight.  Eyes heavy.  AP recovery jog pace 8:39 for 8 miles. Off to activity days and another day at work tomorrow!! 

New mizuno precision 11s arrived last night.  Yes.  It was like coming home.  My feet were so happy.  I got up at 4:25am and out running by 4:31am--- I opened the door to my house to find my door buried quite a bit in a snow drift and the streets covered with snow.   I was like--- "this looks adventurous, let's do this"  so I ran off slow at first getting used to my footing on crunchy and possible ice below snow surface.  After the first mile I was quite comfortable out in the winter wonderland that I was able to pick it up pretty good but  just going easy.  At mile two a strong wind came  blowing in another snow storm.  The flakes pelted my face and froze it.   But I didn't mind.  I was so much loving this run.  I had missed my wintry snowfall runs.  That is why this winter seemed so long-- no change in season.  The white stuff makes some runs a nice welcomed challenge.  The flakes turned quite large and then flew around again several times.  I was just loving running on crunchy snowy surface.  I even did some 0.1  strides.  I felt light and my legs and arms were loose.  AP easy at 8:33 for 8 miles.  First mile 9:36.  : D.  Worked all day, non stop.  Ate a shake late in the day for lunch that I got for my birthday coupon from my manager.  Now I have a sugar overload and can't even eat dinner from the nausea.  Finished the first week 100 push up challenge when I got home at 645pm-- 8/10/8/8/10.  : D. 

Nice long run with Rachelle and Cam.  Met up wtih Rachelle at the Provo Theatres at the Riverwoods.  I totally always thought those theatres were in Orem and told Rachelle that so luckily she felt the vibe I was sending out (as she hadn't showed and it was 10 minutes passed our meeting time).  I was so glad she found me!!!  I totally forgot my cell phone so that made it more difficult.  We left about 20 min. later than planned.  We met Cam on University about 2.5 miles into our run as he ran UP from the other Provo Theatres.  I totally screwed up on my knowledge of theatres around here!!    Then we ran part of the Provo Half marathon course--- well actually the entire thing but just two years ago course.  We had water at mile 4.5 and 16 (same place, the tabernacle).  We only stopped briefly x two.  I also forgot my Gu in the car so ate only two gu chomps (thanks Rachelle :D) and half a roctane (thanks again Rachelle).  That kind of buzzed me a little.  Well my heart at least.  I took it just before we ran our fast four miles.  My HR kind of raised a bit.   Oh well.  I never learn do I.   Just say NO to caffeine.  I can't even take it  in small quantities.  Our AP at mile 16 was a relaxing AP of 8:09.    Rachelle and I never quite warmed up enough.  My hands were warm but my thighs were stiff.   It was 23 degrees but cooler due to humidity.  I also felt like the inversion was significant today.   The last four were not so easy.  They weren't downhill however and had a net uphill grade so I should be happy.  I just narrowly beat my goal of having them all under 7 mm-- 6:49, 6:51, 6:59 (that was close), 6:56.  These were run by feel AND net elevation GAIN 184 feet, no down hill except 15 feet.  I don't have my watch in pace mode. BUT--  I actually slowed down for a good reason.  Just after the second quick mile my left hip and buttock spasmed greatly and painfully.  I had noticed an odd sensation at my left inner knee while running the first 16 miles (only when I did kick backs to stretch while running, but it was a feeling I had never had.  It felt totally muscular. )  I think I brought that on from my running in deep snow yesterday in new shoes.  My muscles weren't ready for the change in dynamics.  Then I go and run 20+ miles in the same shoes today.  My feet were happy but my unadapted muscles were a little upset.  It wasn't really painful just a fluttery tight feeling at the side of my knee.  Well when I got to that fast mile it like spread to my hip or something like wild flowers.  I was about to stop but I decided to push myself through.  I started to run with a limp.  I managed to mentally take over my body's protest and finish what I started.   It is totally muscular so I am not worried.  Got home quickly showered and headed out the door to my daughter's soccer game.  AP for 20.5 miles = 7:54.    I forgot to mention that one driver felt he needed to tell me how he felt about HIS driving.  It was not easy mentally to run fast when there are traffic lights that may or may not be ready for you.  I only got stopped by one just as I neared the first mile.  The others I was slightly illegal running through.  Cam has learned today that runners have the right away.   I taught him that ; D.

So very sad for the people in Indiana and thereabouts.  That is quite some hardships for all those people.   How devestating!!! 

All day yesterday  I got this twinge in my  left knee on the outside(on the run it yesterday it was more on the inside but not painful) when I walked on it more hyperflexed/normal.  Not every step but one out of 10 or so.  OUCH.  It seems to be eminating from my sciatic nerve.  The pain comes out of my back and to the side of the knee.  The pain is UNwalkable and kind of sends a YELP sound to my voice box when it comes on so suddenly like it does and lasts for two seconds.  Not sure what to make of it????  Right heel was tender but not so noticeable with my knee giving me grief at times.  I iced it (no inflammation noted on the surface) and took ibuprofen and had my husband massage my entire left leg.  Sooooo.....plan today was to ski.  And that went as scheduled.  My other plan was a "3 mile time trial."   I bagged the 800s until next week.     Well.....certainly I can't run a time trial on the mill so  I just put the mill on a speed that is close to goal and kept it there for three miles.  Of COURSE I was worried about both legs now but hey I am not one to quit a thought in my head too easily.  I got to the gym at 6am and ran this:

 4.5 miles warmup (1/2 mile increments:  8:57, 8:49, 8:41, 8:34, 8:27, 8:20, 8:13, 8:06, 8:00) at 2 % incline.  Then started my SW plan dropping the incline to 1%.  YUP,  ONE PERCENT!  Keeping it real.  I ran all three miles at 6:22 pace, no stopping, no slowing down, no holding on to the sides.   I didn't need to.  It felt really good.   I didn't even decrease the incline BUT   I did increase the speed the last 1/4 mile to 9.7mph by the end (6:11 pace).  RAN my time trial in 19:04.  I didn't want to be an over achiever just yet so I didn't try to go under 19 minutes.   I will save that for two or three weeks from now.  OKAY so then I cooled down for 1/2 mile at 8:00 pace.  BUT that was only the beginning.  Went SKIING ALL Day at Brighton in the bright sun and WIND gusts at times at 30mph or more at the top of the mountain (forgot sunscreen, thankfully I didn't forget my goggles, like my poor husband).  My kids and I had a ball skiing thru the woods and in and out of moggles.  No sign of knee or leg pain.  Well,  if you ski you know that ski boots force your leg to always be bent.  Soon after I got home and started walking around the dang pain in my knee/IT band hit again--- PULSATING pain--- kind of shocks you.  DAng NAB IT  I am getting old.  I just want to think I can be a spring chicken changing out my running shoes whenever I want without my body noticing.  BUT it does.  It notices every little change.  Ahhhhh ahhhhh ahhhh WHATEVER!!!!    BTW the 3 x 6:22 miles FELT very good (the pain in my heel went away after two miles of my warmup  :D).   I could have run another mile at 6:22 :D!!!!  I think I just have anxiety some days when  I get out to do speed.  As soon as I talk to myself and focus it all feels comfortable but as soon as I let in anxious thoughts I fall apart.  HENCE I ONLY RACE AGAINST MYSELF.   I don't have the personality to "hunt down" other runners in a race.  If they hunt me down I will gladly move aside.   No reason to battle it out.   EXCEPT with myself.  It is not business, IT IS PERSONAL!!!  PERSONAL TO ME!!!   : DDDDD

5.5 miles in the wee hours of the am. Actually decided to leave a little later as I was just too wiped out from skiing Monday. Also, my cousin Jessica is in town again. She has been visiting often lately. I think she is bored. But her visits often wear me out. I told her not to visit until after Boston, so I can focus. She doesn't ever seem to get the message however. If you knew Jessica, you would understand. Some things just don't change. Even as we get older she is still quite involved in my life. I feel guilty (but not really) talking about her this way. Anyway..... AP recovery run pace 8:28. Windy. But not cold. : D.

Worked all day on pediatrics. Ate lots of Oreos. Who knew Oreos were turning 100???

Came home at 630pm. Choir jr high for my daughter at 7pm. 8pm to the rec ctr. TM run 7 miles easy 2% incline AP 8:25. Track, 1.5 miles AP 8:15. All easy. NO rush these days. Like I said my cousin has been just chatting up a storm exhausting me day in and day out. She leaves Thursday. Alleluyah :D.

Not long ago I was on the TM at the rec and here I am out running again at 450am.  Slept in a little.  Not caring about mileage these days or pace.  All easy. The lack of sleep isn't helping.  AP 8:08 for 6.2 miles in the WIND and QUITE cold temps.   That's got to count for something :D.  Not sure where my training is taking me.   I hope somewhere I want to be ; D. 

Don't even remeber falling asleep last night and what I was doing beforehand.   Good sign.  I didn't wake up until 530am!!   It is these kinds of nights I need more of.  I am tired of getting up once or twice each night.   Plan today was to run 7 miles at Lactate Threshold pace (half marathon pace).    Wow,  7 miles fast.  Am I up for it???  Got to the gym just past 6am.  Waited briefly for an open TM (not good because I have to take the TM that comes open and I often end up with the  TM with the "earth quake" shake to it, which I did).  After the first two fast miles of running with anxiety I mellowed out and felt so much better.  I really got to calm down about doing these runs.   Anyway here is what I ran:

2% incline, 4 miles--- 8:34, 8:20, 8:06 and 7:53. Off TM to stretch briefly and take a drink.  No fuel for the run (and no breakfast) except two sips of gatorade and a few sips of water from my water bottle.

1% incline, 1/2 mile-- 7:53 pace.

1% incline, 6 miles--- 6:44 pace for each.  No stopping.  No rail holding.  Tried not to get bored.  Music helped :D.   Then right into the last mile-- so glad to be here :D.

1% incline, 1 mile--  6:31 AP-- first two laps at 6:40, 6:35 x 1 lap then upped it to 9.7mph by the end (6:11). 

Cooldown 1/2 mile-- 7:47 AP.  1% incline.  AP for last 8 miles = 6:48 including a 1/2 mile warmup and 1/2 mile cooldown.  After the first four miles I zeroed out the TM so it wouldn't zero out on me!!! 

At home:  Push ups.  Week two day 2.  (53).  Upper body Body for Life weight lifting.  Planks 60/45/45.

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.

Do you know what I really love???   It's getting up at 4:27am to my alarm, wanting to just drift back off to sleep instead of exit my house for a February-like March run, but forcing myself to get out there and get my 8 miles  (8.1 to be exact) and come indoors get totally undressed and ready to hop in the shower when I hear my husband say "your work called.  You are on-call."  Meaning, I don't have to be to work in 6 minutes and here I am red patches all over my stomach from the freezing temps-- 24 degrees for my run.  Dang, nab it I could have got to 70 miles knowing this.  Better yet I could have gotten two hours more of sleep and ran in the sunshine (but that is always risking it, being on-call and all).  So what did I do?  What any normal JulieC FRB runner would do.  I put on a new outfit (certainly NOT going to place my previous clothes back on or I would have froze to death) and decided to run another 1.5 miles.  But what's another 1.5 miles.  So  I decided to run another 4 miles.  Now these miles I ran in my altras and ran at RECOVERY pace.  My first mile the first time out was a 9:29.  The first mile the second time out was 9:12.  I sure stiffened up considering my AP the first 8.1 was 8:45mm.  The second four miles AP was 8:36.  AP total for 12.1 miles = 8:42.  I ran a two mile hilly loop x 6.  Boring I know but I was sleepy and I needed to know my surroundings.  I really wish my heel would let up. But it won't I am sure until I stop running for several weeks.  I will do just that right after Boston.   Truly I will :D. Btw I was really hungry by the end of this run.  I didn't eat much after yesterday's run and I only slept 6 hours.  I had run 32+ miles in 20 hours.   

daylight savings kickimg me hard--- it always falls when  I work.  I actually TOTALLY forgot it was daylight savings.  Sunday morning when I got up for work my husband had changed the clock for me while I was sleeping.  I got in my car, drove to work and flipped out when I saw the clock in my car and my watch read 5am!!!  I thought  I had inadvertently changed the time on the clock or my kids did and now I was at work a whole hour early (but not really).  I sat in my car for a few minutes wondering if I should go home then decided the night shift would be glad I came in early.  But it turned out to be daylight savings and I was OBLIVIOUS.  Sooo....thinking I got more sleep when I got less was a good thing. It is better then going to bed thinking I was going to get one hour less before getting for work at 6am.  It was funny to me.  On Saturday I was put on call AFTER I already got up and ran at 430am.  Then Sunday I got up at 430am (530am really with the new daylight savings) and then today I got up at 415am (but really 315am only two nights before) and ran before work and heading to Provo's hospital.  I am beyond tired.  My feet hurt.  My whole body is begging to drift off for hours and I plan to do just that when the darn sun finally goes down!!!  I am so tired I am eating junk.  Gaining weight and feeling sluggish.  AP this morning 7:51 for 8 progressive miles (not intentional at first, but when I got to mile five and seeing the progression I decided why not continue with the trend).   Splits for fun: 9:13 (so stumbling, so tired), 8:19, 8:02, 7:47, 7:37, 7:25, 7:19, 7:07.  : D.  I think after Boston I am going to mellow out for several weeks and see if I want to even race SGM.  I am feeling too tired.  And my feet and heels aren't healing.  I need a long break.  REally long. 

okay....something is going on....my legs and feet are THROBBBINGGGG!!!  they HURT SO VERY BADLY!!  the last time they hurt this badly my iron level was almost nil-- 5.  Crap.  Off to get it checked here today.  The pain is intense throbbing /nerve-like pain from my knees down to my feet-- ALL OVER my feet.  Soo okay last night I fell asleep early about 9pm.  BUT why on earth did I fully awake at 12 midnight????  could not fall asleep. Went downstairs and counted sheep.  Didn't work so I took a sleep aid.  BIG MISTAKE when I awoke at 630am to get my daughter up for piano and take her there then take off to the rec center for my 12 planned miles.  I was going to do 800s and just COULD NOT do BUT ONE.  First I ran 5 progressive miles for a warmup at 2% incline (acually 1 percent for the first .75 miles and 3% for the last 1.25 miles of the warmup).  The miles were: 8:57 (so feeling incredibly tired), 8:41 (starting to wake up), 8:27 (ahhhh this pace feels nice), 8:13,  8:00.  Off TM and stretched and pottied.  But getting back on was tough.  I was so tired.  I ran a 1/2 mile at 8:00 pace at 1% and tried to do an 800 at last summer's pace (6:00) and the DARN TM was off center and dragged me over to the left side.  I think the rec TMs are adding to my left leg sciatica problem.  AND the fact that I was so very tired I knew this was not the day for speed.  I opted for plan B from a lesser workout that is on an old schedule  - 6 x 600s at 5k pace.  I ran them faster than 5k pace but slower than the 800.  6:11 pace for all of them at 1% incline.  After each one I had to hop off the TM in TOTAL dizziness and tiredness as I put the pace down to 8:57 for one lap.  It was miserable I tell you.  So miserable that I considered quitting after only doing two but I got all six in-- one being an 800 at 6:00 pace and the rest 600s at 6:11 pace.  Those felt fine except I was so LOOPED out on the sleep aid that I could not focus and my legs were behind.  I ended with three cooldown miles at 8:00 AP 2 % incline.  It doesn't end there.  I got home and Troy was all raring to go shopping.  3.5 hours of grocery shopping!!! double coupon and price match galore.  I was complaining the whole time.  I am sure glad my husband doesn't mind shopping. I absolutely DETEST it!!!!!  My legs and feet were the real problem. THEY THROBBED so badly that I could barely stand.  INTENSE nerve pains in both feet.  I am not sure why I am having this flare but it DOES not feel normal at all.  I am beyond exhausted.  My body seems to be shutting me down.  Blah.   My mind has different intentions but it is going to have to give in for a few days.  I am going to run so very easy the next three days.  Like a TURTLE.     And OUTSIDE in the nice air.  

Newsflash:  I could sense the spiral.  It was all too familiar.  1 1/2 years ago in August before the SGM I could no longer keep up with my friends and it was hard to breath uphill.  I also had so many joint aches especially in my lower legs and feet and back.  I mean intense pains that I could barely move.  Well....over the last few weeks (except for a good week last week but was preceded by a LONG visit from my cousin)....I crashed hard this week.  The lack of sleep and the continued pounding of my feet to the ground (foot-strike hemolysis) I was having a hard time with my breathing (especially on my run yesterday).  I had to jump off to the sides to catch my breath when other workouts I could easily decrease the pace while still on and go faster. My left foot also developed QUITE suddenly-- plantar fascitis, during and after the speedwork)-- obviously I was oxygen depleted to those areas.  Well, ALL day yesterday my legs and feet hurt.  Excruciatingly so.  Pulsating, burning, tingling, like I was walking on coals or something.  They have been hurting since SGM (but not to this intensity) but  I am just that stubborn.  BUT,   I just could not stand it any longer so I got out my order form my Dr. wrote out for me for December (yup, bad patient=  nurse).  I headed over to the lab for my ferritin and DHEA level (the hormone responsible for dealing with stress on the body, sleep cycles, the powerhouse hormone for cortisol and all other hormones in the body like progesterone, testosterone, mineralcorticoids-- fluid/electrolyte balance).   Just now I looked up the results on "MyHealth" where Intermountain Health allows patience to see their results.  My ferritin is VERY low.  Running performance has been highly noted to drop when the level goes below 25.   Mine is 10.    1 1/2 years ago it was 5!!!  I felt worse then.  But I feel VERY close to THAT crappy.  Like anymore strenuous workouts will take me down.  My DHEA was VERY LOW.  Today it is 48 and it needs to be above 75!!!  1 1/2 years ago it was 44.  It was 61 (still low) just after SGM   LAST YEAR!!!  When I felt crappy.  I honestly DON'T know how I made it thru these past few months of training.  I have pushed through A LOT of pain.  And when  I say I pushed it was ALL MENTAL.  It hurt but I was so angry about the SGM that I wanted to be back where I was.  And here I am a bottom DWELLER again.  My feet and lower legs hurt so much.  Low ferritin and DHEA cause your body to SHUT down.  Low ferritin (iron) doesn't allow your tissues to get enough oxygen and your legs cramp and feet will hurt.You will feel fatigued often.   DHEA won't let you sleep normally if it is low.  The body won't adapt to stress well.  And this leads to problems with cramping as well.  Pains everywhere.  BLAH.  I hate pills.  But I can handle the DHEA so  I am sure I will be a good patient this time.  I expect after four transfusions of iron I will feel like WONDER WOMAN again!!!   ANOTHER thing  I noticed after the transfusions were that ALL MY INJURIES disappeared.   MY LOWER back pains and leg pains. GONE.  AND I SUSPECT the double plantar fascititis (it used to only be my right foot) that is currently showing its ugly head, will be ANNILATED!!  Plan after Boston???  To get rid of my cousin once and for all.  Sorry.  It seems the best thing to do.    She has overstayed her welcome.    10am--  8 miles easy pace.  BUT OH MY if I thougth my right foot had bad plantar fascitis my left took over the slack and won the Gold Medal!!  Holy smokes--- yup I ran 8 "easy" paced miles on an injured fascia.  OUCH, to say the least.  It would not let up the entire run.  I kept thinking it would but it just would not.  Surprisingly I was able to run 8:21 AP.  First mile 8:53.  Last mile 7:56.  Right now I have ace bandages wrapped around my ankles and feet.  This helped a lot last night.  But when  I awoke this morning my left heel/plantar was quite painful to walk on.  I tried massage. OUCH.  Then I warmed up my foot in warm water.  Both of my feet were cold to the touch.  I thought this would help oxygenate the fascia.  It felt good.  But as I started out on my run it wasn't so.  But lucky for me the wind and air felt so very lovely.  It was nice to be out there.  It is all in the name of PAIN.  Those last few miles at Boston can't be ANY worse.  Mind over BODY-- until the body screams out for IV iron I guess.  I should be getting my first transfusion Friday.  They are weekly x four.    I can be RE-BUILT  :D.

INJURED.  LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM RUNNING.  TEMPORARILY OUT OF SERVICE.   CLOSED FOR REPAIRS. 

13 painful hours working on pediatrics caring for sick children.  Non-stop busy so tried hard to use my leg as only a peg to walk on as any way to push off on my foot was beyond what I would think necessary to get a point across to me.  I stopped running BODY,  SO THERE!!!!    The only way out of this is a steroid shot.  This pain WILL not let up.  What in the heck???????  10k this weekend in SG will be a walkathon with my daughter Courtney.  We may run one mile of it.  She has never run over 1 mile.  This is part of the Runner's Series for a guaranteed entry in to SGM.  LOL that I want to torcher myself with THAT race again.  I am losing that runnin' feelin'.  I couldn't even cycle right now if I wanted to or use the elliptical it is THAT bad.  blah. blah blah.  So FRB NON-INJURED runners MAKE ME PROUD.  I will be cheering for you!! : D.  

I was feeling really super about my AP today of 4:42 for 8.4 miles on my bike when I realized that (despite the fact that his company would be wonderful) Jake would be right up beside me running a tempo run.  Then my head sunk.  Must go for 4:00 pace next time.  This was actually just a rolling hill get my legs going kind of ride (and occasionally my heart) on my daughter's Walmart brand mountain bike.  My foot was not runnable in the slightest but is 50 % better than yesterday.  Can't quite find a Dr. to give a steroid shot yet so running this weekend looks grimm.  10k with Courtney in SG.  I will run/walk it unless I am miraculously FAITH healed!!  

Steroid shots 445pm.  Left for SG at 530pm.  Arrived 9:00pm.  NO miracle.  Feet actually worse.  Pain pretty bad.  Like wheelchair bound type walking.  OUCH.  I got my right heel done (got the fascia done in november) and the left plantar fascia and the shots actually made the pain there about 10 times worse--- making it hurt more than my left foot before the shot.  After my last steroid shot in November I was instantly cured.  This had me worried.  Walking the race was going to be difficult.  We (my daughter Courtney and I) got to my in laws close to 10 pm after we stopped at Panda Express for Orange Chicken and del taco for a strawberry shake.  My father in law insisted we watch a movie with them.  So I gave in.    We went to bed at 1250am!!!  Tossed and turned mostly the whole night.  Yay.  Not nerves just because the movie we watched was about two lions that ate people.  It was historical so I actually didn't mind watching it.  But  quite intense in parts.  It is called Ghost and the Darkness with Val Kilmer.  Anyway.....my father in law insisted that we watch it.  Got to our packets at 8am and headed up on the bus to the start.  Saw Smooth, Teena and Rachel.  A nice surprise.  I  suddenly NO longer felt like I have ever run a step in my life.  The pain in my feet was that unbearable bit I had to hang tough for my daughter.  As we started out I was tip toeing and still it was awkward running.  After two miles my right heel pain settled a bit but we were only running an 11 minute mile pace.  We actually ran a progressive reverse run--- faster at the beginning and slower every mile thereafter.  Courtney was very upset.  She had never run over a mile before and was barely hanging on mentally and physically after the first two miles even though it was rolling downhill.  I was surprised how many runners run this slow in a trot like place.  We would pass the same people over and over.  It really was an eye opener to the variety of runners out there.  It truly was inspiring!!  Courtney got cheers which only made her more upset at me.  She didn't want anyone to change her mood about wanting to quit.  But like a trooper and with my CONTINUED gentle verbal pushing she got going when she tried to stop and walk.  She walked about a mile total of the race.  Maybe a little more.  Oh and a two minute porta potty stop.   She came in just before me as she gained momentum seeing the balloons.  I was so glad to be there with her and am actually glad my steroid shot bombed on me so that I wouldn't be tempted to "race" this one and miss out on encouraging my daughter to finish strong.  She agrees she would have come in over 20 minutes later if  I were not there.  I have to give her credit.  She wasn't feeling well and has hay fever and a possible asthma diagnosis.  She tends to have to catch her breath a lot.  Wish we had gotten her a dose of Teena's inhaler.  I plan on getting Courtney worked over with an allergist this next week.  She has a lot of allergies to outdoor pollens.   I take for granted that I can breath easy but she honestly struggles to breath with running and states "mom I am just not a runner like you",  " I hate running because it is hard for me to breath".  So under those circumstances she is quite the trooper for sure.    As for me??? Boston may be walked as well if I don't get these feet heeled up.  I am taking it one day at a time.  What will be will be.  I am not too worried.  Baffled.  But not worried. 

After a bit of delay with preauthorization for IV iron therapy, I get my first transfusion on Thursday.  My Dr. feels I have an absorbtion problem related to food allergies that inhibit the ability of my body to absorb nutrients correctly.  My uncle was diagnosed with celiac disease when he was 40 so it is in my family.  I was tested once and didn't have it five years ago.  I am sure I am allergic to several foods.  Dr. Remington (a different Dr.) already did his VooDoo on me and told me with an electric bio-current that I was allergic to a list of at least 10 common foods-- like dairy, corn, strawberries, citrus, chocolate (YIKES!!) etc....  That is when I went on an allergenic diet and took tons of probiotics and LOST tons of weight quickly.. Wow I really deToxified!! The test my Dr. wants me to get is a $362 dollar blood test that tests EVERY THING from molds and bacteria to gasoline and every food additive and food group.  I can't get this test done until I get more health savings built up over the next few months.  I just paid in FULL with my health acount for my daughter's braces!!!  Anyway....I can't believe it my right foot is practically pain free-- the plantar fascitis is GONE but I got the injection in my heel not the plantar region and there is a spot at the back of my heel (that I don't think the medication got to) that is very tender.  But NOT near as tender as my darn left foot.  Dang thing!!  The shot must have hit a nerve because when I push on it I can feel it go up my toes.   It feels like I am walking on a badly bruised plantar fascia.  All other parts of me are raring to go.  Chomping at  the bit.  This weather is a bit of a drag, but hey it's March, how long could this go on????  Tomorrow IS the first day of spring  :  D.  Oh and the sun came out!! :DDDD   4 easy.  8 at 7:50.

Worked all day, 12.5 hours.  Left foot--- with push off even when walking I feel a pull-- almost tearing feeling in my heel from the plantar region.  Tender.  Dang.    I wonder if  I tore a ligament/tendon.    Like several microtares to equal one larger tare!!!  blah.   probably going to get fat now.  Don't have time for spin classes when  I work all day.  Work tomorrow.  How long can this go on???  hmmmm maybe I will walk/run Boston ; D.   8 @ 8:25 before work.  easy.  but not for foot.

12.5 hour work day.   Not sure what to think about my foot.  Thinking if I wore a boot on both feet for the marathon  I could probably run it......slowly.    Feeling a miracle will come thru for me.  : D.   You know I really didn't have much of a race plan for Boston anyway.   I was just making it up as  I went.  I think about what I am going to run usually the night before.  It would be nice to have had a steady workout plan.  Melody told me about Mcmillan's pace calculator a few months back and that gave me some guidelines but still.... my direction????  I just like to do whatever comes to mind....but that lead to my injury--overdoing it when I shouldn't have because I wasn't willing to let my conceived plan NOT happen after the big DST folly of zapping me from any energy left in me and VOILA--- INJURY!!!!  This was after a SUPER workout week of 3 miles at 6:22 pace then 7 miles @ 6:44 pace straight in a row followed the very next day with the Alpine 20 miler at 7:37 pace.  THEN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND WORK AND APPARENTLY NO IRON IN MY BODY =  THE END OF TRAINING.   I am completely baffled.  I was so doing what I thought I needed to and NOW ROADBLOCK!!!  8 outside before work.  AP 8:17.

5537.   Wave 1.  Corral 6.    : D.   Boston2012!!!!!   sw.  nothing fancy.  foot ailing. 

Spin class.  Man am I ready to run fast.  All this resting is making me crazy.  Gave myself home IV therapy yesterday.  A lot cheaper than in the hospital.  Saved myself 500 dollars!!!  The truck came to my house and gave me the liquid iron to give myself intravenously.  My coworker placed the IV.    Foot is a real P.O.W.  (piece of work).  I am determined to get a second steroid shot today even though it has only been one week.  I don't think my GP Dr. gave it correctly.  The one I got in November for my other foot worked it less than a day.  AND when he gave it back then IT HURT LIKE THE DICKENS.  The shot last Friday hurt for a 1/2 a second and NOTHING LIKE the last one.  It did however hurt to stand on it for two days after the shot.  Odd because my last one I could run with a problem the next morning.   Blah.  ALSO--  a week ago my daughter brought home The Hunger Games book from her Jr. High School library.  She had it on hold for me.  She read the books over a year ago when she was 12 and absolutely loved them.  She is an avid reader and has been reading chapter books since before kindergarten and I am not kidding.  She has read more books in the last year then I have read in my entire lifetime.  Still, not kidding.  ANYWAY-- we are going to the Hunger Games today at 3:50pm.  I have to say the premise of the book is just plain disgusting!!    9 outside. foot is telling me it is not going to happen.  no long run.  no more running for a while.  AP easy 8:30. 

worked all day on a very tender foot.  seriously!!!  this is getting ridiculous.  I have a podiatry appt on tues at 10am.  ANSWERS!!!    a pediatrician at work who is good with feet/bones....told me I could have an avulsion fracture where my tendon actually pulled a piece of my heel bone off!!   He figures my podiatrist will order an xray.  And if not broken (which it really only feels like the tendon and not the bone) he will probably allow for another steroid shot since the first one the other dr. gave me did not work.  I can hardly wait.  The pain is messing with my brain and my other leg muscles since I they have to work hard to work around the pain in my foot.  I am getting used to the idea of wearing two boots at boston.  but honestely I am still just in the denial phase.  as it gets closer I am sure I will have the depression part sink in.  no depression just yet.  feeling optimistic.  I was fit a week ago so I should still be fit in three weeks.  I won't be where I would have been at I just hope to run Boston without pain.  STRANGE COINCIDENCE--- I got my first and last steroid shot in March of 1996 just before the 100th Boston.   I could not train well because of bone pain in my right big toe.  The steroid miraculously worked (and hurt like nothing else) but I was able to run.   I ran slow and everything hurt but my foot in the race.  And here I am, repeating history.    Very odd.  Maybe I have fears of being back in my home town.  PSYCH!!!   Okay wait a minute  I am getting depressed..... I just read some blogs and how well their runs are going.....and I can't run.  Nothing.  I think denial phase is passing.  SADNESS. 

trail shoes.  spin class breakdown.  got there.  no cycles left.   no way doing the elliptical.  stair climber.   15 minutes.  hard workout.  saved by ragnar team member.  he gave me his spot in the cycling class.  i told him i was injured just before he started the class.  he knew i was running boston.  after 20 minutes of class he felt bad that i could not cycle and because of no tm running or running for that matter he let me take his place.  so 40 minutes spin class.  came home and air felt nice.  just had to try running.  wore trail shoes.  no push off with left foot.  felt so wonderful -- except left foot--- better but not completely healed.  i feel strong.  so ready to run fast.  so ready to run a marathon WITHOUT my left foot.  ran two miles easy, 8:15, 7:50.  felt light in my HEAVY trail shoes.  lost weight with all this lack of training.  no appetite.  cousin visiting again.  seriously the last visit!!  storm just blew in.  was planning another 2 miles but not in high winds and rain.  should have known why the air felt so nice.  been using dr. christophers bone and tissue ointment-- a natural healing ointment a pt's mother highly recommended for my foot.  put it on the last two nights and then wrapped saran wrap around my foot to keep in on there.  foot was 40 percent better sunday and another 10 to 15 percent better today.  hmmmm????  natural medicine. who knew?  felt like a part out of the hunger games--- leaves on me changing them every few hours and miraculously healing!!  time will tell.    REPEAT SPIN class at 9:30am.  Better workout. Tougher being the second hour of spin.  Did a complete hour of spinning.  Home.  ran two miles easy in the cold.  storm brought in frigid temps and more wind, 8:10, 7:44.

not sure what to think.  guess i will keep my podiatrist appt.  i went out to run thinking since it didn't hurt too much walking on my foot maybe it would go away on a run like old times.  NOPE.  it got worse as the run went on.  blah.  i may end up with another steroid shot after all as time is NOT in my favor.  i can't afford to "sit" on this and see if it gets better.  blah.  AP 8:22 for 4 short miles.  UPDATE:  from an xrays point of view....no fracture.  : D.  got steroid shot which definitely WAS different then the one from my GP.    it was an entire syringe of white stuff!!!!  ouch.   i had a bit of a panick attack just before the shot.   the nice nurse let me crush her hands.  my dr thought i was funny he said to the nurse " she can run four hours in a marathon but she can't handle the momentary pain of this shot".  yah, we know runners are weird.  i was hopeful just after the shot but currently my foot is sore and when i just got back from 2.5 hours of grocery shopping (yay not 3 hours!!) my foot was tired/sore.  mainly sore on the side of my foot where i have run on to avoid my painful plantar area.  kind of funny.  the rest is numbish so that may why that stands out.   crossing fingers.  i decided a blessing is in order. 

Warm up on the indoor track at the rec.  Ran a couple of laps with Jason from my Ragnar team who told me our other ragnar team member is also injured.  We talked about the POOR tms at our gym.  He brought it up and I agreed that that was the end all to my foot.  When I went to run SW on the mill after two days of daylight savings no sleep the mill was shaking so badly but I was too tired to care and I could feel first my knee pulling to the right and then suddenly my foot.  NO more SW for me on the TM until they get better ones.  The shaking is unreal after 8.5 mph.  So imagine 10mph.  EARTHQUAKE running.  What's done is done.  Foot experiencing another cortisone flare so......only running two miles today.  AP for two miles 8:27 (8:42, 8:12).  Spin class with Karen.  She worked me good.  Inner thighs were burning at first with our long uphill climb seated!!!  Good workout. 

sorry guys and gals....I don't know why my body is giving out on me.....I am "blogging out".  I will check in from time to time.  Good luck to all.  Run strong.  Run well.  Run your best.  Count your blessings if you are injury free.  I will try my hardest to fight back but for now, see ya later.    miles before work.  foot a P.O.W.  Pain not subsiding.  Taking next two days off,  AP 8:29. 

Foot a huge problem.  Drove up with Rachelle.  Warmed up four miles-- last mile felt like I was jogging and was a 7:25.  Wore my trail shoes to slow me down as a pacer for the half marathon at 2 hours.  I couldn't do that pace with my pain.  I decided to be the in between pacer at 1:57.  I even acted as the "transport" pacer for a few runners-- taking them from the 2:00 pace to the 1:55 pacer.  When I got there I then "transported" a first timer from the 1:55 pacer to almost the 1:50 pacer (1:51:31).  I let her go at 100 feet before the finish.  I went back and pick up the 1:57 runners and got them all in under 1:57.  I really need to be the pacer for 1:35 to 1:40.  Sorry Walter.  Don't fire me.    Foot hurt a lot the whole run.  I tried to focus on the people I was pacing.  Boston will not be very fun with this pain but at least I know I can run it.  I think that I will be dropping back to Rachelle's wave (wave 2) and run her in at 3:20 to 3:23 like she wants : D.     If she is with me I can't think of my pain.   Ran 1 mile cooldown after race which foot was really not happy about.  Got home, watched my daughter's soccer game then watched afternoon conference.  So glad I got to listen to Elder Holland's talk :D.