Believe to Achieve

Why is it when you get an idea in your head for a great run that when it comes time to run torrential winds and pelting snow begins to fall just as you take your first few steps? Yup just another NAIRC thing to do.  And I dragged Kim along with me.   Actually she dragged me along in the run.  She felt great.  My upper body was spent.  I have been working it out the last week and a half.  And yesterday was upper body day.  I am following that 100 push ups .com program Smooth showed  me plus lifting weights.   Just walking around this morning I didn't feel sore but when I got on my run and asked them to workout they were screaming.  It didn't help that there were over 20 mph winds in our face and we only got one BRIEF tailwind on our run and a total of a mile with lesser wind.  The rest was fierce head and side wind from the Northwest.  You'd think when we headed south things would change but the sidewind was just as bad with the pelting snow.  I am sure I noticed it more too with my sore upper body trying to fight it.  I stayed from 4 to 10 seconds per mile behind Kim after the first two miles.  Here is what we did:  I picked her up at 5:30am and we drove to AF Canyon entrance booth and parked.  Ran two warmup miles up and turned around and ran straight out of the canyon in to the incoming snowstorm.  4 am no wind, no snow.  Of course.  Even 525am when I left my house.  Blah.  We ran to the light and turned left on to Lone Peak HS road and turned left at Walmart and right at the turnabout and left by Lincoln Academy and right towards 2600 North PG and over to 1300 west to Kim's house after a brief lower loop.  Ummmm...as we turned west again the wind was even stronger for our last mile.  The first part downhill and the second part like a stand still into the wind.  It was kind of hilarious.  My arms were of no use and then we ended up hill.  Wowsers!!  Kim said she felt great.  My heart was okay, my legs actually felt like they barely worked.  But these arms/shoulders are just a shaking and can barely type. I am such a wimp.  But I WILL get stronger from this.  I know it takes time.  I have got to start somewhere.  Splits: 9:17, 9:22, 6:42, 6:54 (see how the wind slowed us as we neared its mouth?), 6:43,  6:57, 6:54,  6:53, 7:01,  7:00.  Total avg pace = 7:22 .  Geez I didn't even beat my half pace last Saturday.  That's weird.  Oh yah, 1.2 mile cooldown to my house from Kims at 8:27.  BRrrrrr.  I let my sweat cool off too much. 

16 wonderful miles with Smooth on the JRP an out and back loop of 8 miles run twice.  Lovely sun, some breezy moments and coolness but NOTHING  compared to Mother Nature yesterday.  So glad to have a willing partner to run with.  Thanks Smooth!  Avg pace for 16 miles= 8:38.    We were starving at the end.  Skipped on fuel except some water/powerade at halfway point.  Ooops.  Cafe Rio made up for that. I chowed down an entire pork burrito in less than 10 minutes after Easter shopping for the Kids.  My husband was trying to keep up on the eating pace.  Now I am stuffed and due for a long nap.  But the kids will be home in 30 minutes and I work tonight.  No nap for me for a while.  For Smooth's benefit on the splits here they are (her garmin went whacko):  8:52,  8:47,  8:32,  8:42,  8:36,  8:35,  8:41,  8:32,  8:42,  8:36,  8:43,  8:38,  8:34, 8:34,  8:46,  8:13.  Smooth ran so well.  She doubts her abilities too much.  She can TOTALLY run SUB FOUR at Boston.  Even 3:50 to 3:55!!!  She cruised along, I had to slow her down at the beginning : D.  YOU CAN DO IT SMOOTH!!!!

7.25 moody miles.  The cold wind and lack of sleep could not flee my mind easily.  However managed to get each of my daughters to ride on their bikes for at 2.1 mile loop.  First my 11 year old, then my 7 year old and then my 9 year old.  Each ride in their on style.  Brooke got the benefit of learning from the others that she should wear a hat (Courtney) and gloves (Amber).  Our dog even joined in for the last loop.  He was running as fast as his little four legs could carry him.  He is a little dog about 10 pounds.  A mutt.  He got quite the work out.  Myself on the other hand slept 2 hrs 45 minutes in awareness sleep after getting back from a very stressful ending to a shift.  Clocked out at 7:15am!!    So I am kind of moody.  And yay I get to go back early tonight for a co-worker at 445pm and work all night again.  I think I might see if I could be the one to go home early.  Hope I am that lucky.  Avg pace 8:37.  Felt much harder than yesterday mentally.    Off to nap again.  

Okay, so today called for SW 3 x 1600.  I awoke after the usual make up sleep night feeling still wiped out.  But dragged my tushy to my closet and got dressed to run indoors on the TM.   Looking outside there was NO WAY I could face the wind and overcast again.   JUST NO WAY!!  I thought I will just get it over as quick as possible on the TM, maybe get in 10 miles.  As I was about to reconsider where I ran (PG rec or maybe Kim would let me run at her house) I reached for the phone to call Kim and low and behold the phone began to ring.  8:08 am on Spring Break.  Who would be calling?  I saw who it was and immediately picked it up.  It was Melanie.  She immediately announced that she just ran 20 miles on the TM.  20 miles!!! We had just talked last night on the phone how we both needed to run 20 today to detoxify all the junk we put in our bodies over Easter weekend.  (I had 3 cupcakes with an inch of yellow frosting on them at work Saturday night.  They had bunny rings on them so I told myself it was for a good cause, my three daughters for their baskets.)  This wasn't good, that Melanie announced this.  I certainly was going for the 10 miler with a little SW.  I was dragging as it was and really didn't even think three miles at 6:20 was even possible at all.  Soooooooo...I got in my car not knowing what to think of Melanie's call.  It got me thinking....maybe if I start out real easy I could convince my body to wake up and do a 20 on the TM.  Basically that is what I did.  Progressive run to a 7:30 pace finishing up at a quicker pace, forcefully.  The first 10 miles were at 2 % incline and they went like this:  8:57, 8:41, 8:27- 8:34 (avg 8:30), 8:13- 8:20 (avg 8:16), 8:00, 7:47, 7:41, 7:35, 7:30, 7:30.  Can I let go of this incline already?  I told myself to just make it to 10 miles and then I could take it down to 1/2 percent.  So I did just that.  It took a 1/2 mile for my heartrate to adjust and be glad.  7:30 was now feeling doable.  Here are my last splits, I ran the last 4 miles at 0 % in order to finish strong and get over the boredom already:  7:30, 7:30, 7:30, 7:30, 7:08- 7:24 (avg 7:16), 7:47 (needed to take a breather here, TM running is quite monotonous), 7:41, 7:35, 7:24-7:30, 6:40-7:24 (avg 7:08) = DONE!!!!!  AVG PACE for 20 miles =  7:45.  Total time 2 hours 35 minutes.  Got off TM and ran to fill up water bottle at 5, 10, 15 mile markers.  Really gave that TM a needed workout.   Wowsers.  Of course I had my cell phone on the TM so as to call Melanie immediately of my accomplishment.  We rejoiced together!!!  We are both done with our detox!!  : DDDDD

Addendum at bottom.  So far nothing.....I just awakened an hour ago.  Felt like a smoothie,,, the close as I get to cryotherapy in the winter....I mean really is it winter in April again?  Snow!!!!!  Wind!!!   Cold!!!  Not in the mood to get out there but might now that my body temp is lowering with my smoothie.  But here is some SCARY I'D BETTER GET MY ACT TOGETHER NEWS...THE MAIN DIRECTOR OF SQUAW PEAK WROTE ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT I COULD COUNT ON BEING LET INTO THE RACE-- HE ALREADY CASHED MY ENTRY SO I GUESS I SHOULD THINK IT TRULY IS HAPPENING.  I AM GOING TO RUN THE 50 MILER ON JUNE 5TH!!!!!    I PLAN TO JUST TAKE OFF TWO SATURDAYS AND RUN AND RUN AND RUN ON THE TRAILS OF THE SHORELINE UNTIL MY GARMIN READS 32 MILES.  I ALSO PLAN ON RUNNING UP SUNCREST SEVERAL TIMES AND SPEEDING DOWN.  AND RUN A COUPLE OF BACK TO BACK 20 MILERS TO SHOCK THE OLD BODY.    My goal is to get in under 10 hours 26 minutes.  That is the top master course PR.  Time will tell.  Currently I work 5 of 7 nights before that big day.  I am going to get the Thursday night off for sure!!  I think one night of sleep is necessary before I conquer 50 miles of steep terrain.  I am both excited and terrified.  I wonder what my body will say after 32 miles.  Antelope island was quite the feat and I am more trained to take on this distance with my mind.  The 20 miler on the TM with only music and random TV shows without sound or words keeps me thinking I can endure this well.  I look forward to the descent at mile 40 and trying to "fly" down the steep terrain to the finish line.  It may not be pretty.  Should be very fascinating.  I look forward to eating and eating while running and new socks at each aid station if necessary.  I just hope I don't get lost and add on more miles.  Those are my thoughts at the moment.  PS This race is three weeks post Ogden so this will be VERY fascinating in deed.  A fast marathon followed by miles and miles of treachery?  Eeeks.  Maybe I'd better slow it down at Ogden....nope not goin' to do that!!

 Ran OUTSIDE in the frigid windy (18 mph per weather report for Pleasant Grove, I just checked) but I didn't care.  I dressed prepared today.  I wore a turtleneck, sweatshirt and long sleeved nylon shirt with my tights, headband, gloves AND GOGGLES. Yup that's right GOGGLES for skiing.  They really are more like sunglasses with foam edging and a strap for holding in place.  Problem is they fog up easily so I easily went from quiet alert state to non-rem sleep and sometimes REM sleep but noone noticed because I was the only NUT out there in the snow to hailstorms that were comin' and going like a bad memory.  Anyway did NOT look at my garmin once.  I wanted a recovery run from yesterday and the wind was going to be my friend.  I was going to run with it, against it with a smile and which ever way I could with it, but certainly not try to run fast in it.  It turned out I ran quite the progressive run.  Was only going to do 5 or 6 but of course just had to add on when the moment was on.  First mile 9:43, fastest mile (2 of them) 8:15.  Avg pace for 8.1 miles = 8:50.  I guessed 9:20 avg so I guess that's good enough for me.  After my run I laid on the grass and meditated then did my pushups from the 100pushups.com program. Hadn't done them since last Wednesday.   They went really well, felt really easy.  Total 23 pushups the hard way.  Then I worked my arms with the three pound weights.  Time to move up to five pounds.  But I will probably wait until next week. 

To the Lehi Rec Center (had a 1/2 off coupon), boy is it CrOwDeD in there!!  And STILL hot!!  Plan to run 3 x 1600 at 6:20 pace with 400 meter recovery.  So I start my warmup and another exerciser approaches me to ask if she could put her "treadmill class" pass on my TM to reserve it for the class that was starting in 15 minutes.  What?  Oh no.  There's a class?  Yikes.  I called Melanie the pro on this rec center and she told me to go and get one of those passes so I could keep running.  The other woman also told me I could do this if I wanted to do the class.  So I quickly ran down and got one of the last passes and placed it on my TM and continued my warmup.  I was a little stressed now that a class was going to start and I would look silly doing my own thing but I did it.  I took off my iPod and listened to the instructor's music and ignored her directions.  Although I do feel that class would be quite effective.  Anyway it was very hard to continue sprinting while the other TMers were taking breaks on the edges of their mills.  I sooooo wanted to stop too.  When they started running again it was easier to focus.  I seriously have ADHD/anxiety on a TM doing SW.  My form falls apart and  I can't focus very well as there are sooo many distractions, TVs all on different channels, runners goin' by on the track, instructor yelling out instructions....etc... But all in all I achieved pretty close to my goal.  After my 3 mile warm up ran a 6:18 mile, a 6:20 mile (2 laps at 6:18, 2 at 6:22, starting to struggle with focus), and last mile 6:25-  first lap 6:31, 2nd lap 6:31, third lap 6:27, 4th lap ending at a 6:00 pace so average = 6:25 for the last mile.  I was too anxious, self concious, thirsty and hungry.  I ate the gu too late, after the second repeat.  Rested for only the 400 meters, HR not fully recovered with that.  I am not sure I can get any faster.  I am more for the endurance mode.  Ran 2 mile cooldown.  Total mile 8.5.  Seemed so short but pressed for time.  Went home picked up my girls and brought them back for a swim at the rec center with Melanie's kids.  They are all currently playing at my house, three of her girls with the three of mine.  She took her baby and son home, to hopefully eat and sleep.  She gets the big standing ovation for her performance today.  YOWSERS!! 

Slept 4.5 hours!!  Woke at noon.  COULD NOT possibly pass up the opportunity to run in sunshine, and a nice breeze.   Ahhh  the smells of nature!!  So rejuvenating!!  Just took off and ran up to the canal and on to the Cedar Hills trail and up by their golf course and around down by the Lone Peak park and over to AF high school.  I felt like I could have run and run.  Ended up running 11 even.  Not on purpose I was just goin' and goin' and it played out that way.  Loved the adventure of the varied terrain, dirt trail and road and awesome views.  Avg pace= 8:33 for 11 miles in the hills.  Work tonight.  MAY pass on running tomorrow.  With everyone running their marathons I am lonely on the mileage board : D  , hey wait Allie's with me!!!

Should not have given in to the french fry craving AND a grilled chicken and avocado sandwich from JCWs.  I felt sluggish on my run.  It was a recovery/easy day and felt that way but really was hoping somehow easier was getting faster but I guess not in a semi-coma state will that happen.  Slept 4.5 hours again when I got home at 6:45am.  So when I got on my shorts and headed outside I thought yippee its spring still, but I felt a cold breeze, more so than yesterday that I grabbed my sweatshirt.  I definitely was more sleepy on today's run as it took me 5 miles before I felt warm enough to remove my sweatshirt.  Ran 7.5 miles @ 8:57 pace-- 2.7 miles of which were on a gravel path that goes around the stake center by discovery park, almost a 1/2 mile loop.  I was wanting less pounding.  Notice my right  (last time it was my left and much worse) achilles acting up, but not due to shoes but doing "guy" push ups.  My ankles are skinny and the stress of my body weight on them during push ups is stretching that area pretty good.  Hope I can just get em' strengthened by doing this gradual push up program.  Or I might have to take longer breaks in between and watch my form more closely.  Goal possibly 70 miles this week if I can get in 15 tomorrow am   : D.

Ran to Kim's at 525 am to meet Kim and Melanie for a 10 mile run (ended up 11.3) with Kim for her taper before Boston and added on with Melanie for her to get 15 and I would run home to put me at 15.5.  A  funny thing happened to me on my way to Kim's.   It tells you how sleep deprived I am,. I ran right into a pile of dirt in the road.  Someone had it there for their  yard.  I was like running a few steps up into it before noticing the soft gushy feel of it getting into my sneakers and quickly turning and sliding off it getting more dirt into my shoes.  What the heck?  Whatever.  More dirt to follow on my 50 miler so I better get used to it. We ran uphill for three miles to the canal by Lone Peak and headed south on it to 1100 north where we turned down for a couple of MP miles.  The canal we were limited on speed as neither of us had on a headlamp and we couldn't see pot holes and we can't afford a twitsted ankle.  As we neared 1100 north daylight was upon us.  We were trying to run JUST MP not faster so I cautioned my speedy friends to tone it down and let it feel easy.  Kim and I chatted away which is probably why those splits were about 7- 710.  Mel was a few paces ahead.  The last 1/4  or mile after we got up to Melanie., Melanie told us to push hard to our finish line which we put as the new traffic lights placed just passed AF hospital road on 1100 north.  I am thinking my garmin is on one because it says my maximum pace hit today was 4:18 mile!!!!!!!??????  How long must a person be at a pace when the garmin makes this calculation?  I was pushing hard to follow Kim and stay up with her so MAYBE I was there for a split second : }    Anyway we took it down a notch after those three miles and got to Kim's  house making it  12.4 miles for me then  Melanie did an easy two mile loop at mid 8s going back to Kim's ( she lives on a hill BTW so I was getting some good hillwork here).  I  then ran home and ended with a quick pace, last 1/2 mile at 6:56.  I felt better here than I did going down 1100 north.  Total mile 15.5 at 8:06 avg. Ummmm hit OVER 70 miles this week and this is my awful work week working those 5 night shifts in 7 nights.  I feel so good. 70 is my magic number.  I think I will try for this every three weeks or so.  I haven't run over 70 since late November/early December. 

AVG pace 7:54 for 15.1 miles.  Ran 4.8 mile warmup to the AF high school track at 8:08 pace then ran my scheduled gruesome 10 by 400 meters.  I am just not a track star in any way shape or form.  Wayyyyyy bad memories of my struggling teenage years.  No joke.  Anyway ran the first 5 clockwise and the last 5 counter clockwise.  Problem with a north/south outdoor track is headwind  (17 mph) is your friend either way but somehow it seemed more pronounced clockwise.  After the third one into the wind I was about to give up but decided to take my gu and some water and see if that helped.  I hadn't eaten breakfast and it was 1030am.  It seemed to help.  The repeats were done with a 400 meter recovery run.  I sure needed the recovery.  My heartrate is sooooo thankful.   Here are the splits:  86 sec (5:46), the first one is always soooo easy and too quick, my goal is 6 even, 89 sec (5:58), 91 (6:06)  did not take in the wind as my friend here, 89 (5:56), yay back from the abyss, 90 (6:00) GOAL : D, 90 (6:00) GOAL :D, 89 (5:56), 90 (6:00), 89 (5:59), 88 (5:53).  DONE!!!   What a "friendly" headwind!!  I just reached deep.  Funny I seemed to pick it up per garmin more so in the wind.  I could see my garmin go down on pace.  Its like a hill in a race, I go slower coming up to it.  Its a mental thing.   And then I push hard up the hill.  I should probably try the reverse.   I may be exerting too much energy this way.  AVG pace for 2.5 miles of SW = 5:58 : D     Glad I finished when I wanted to quit.  Ran home 5 miles at 7:53 avg pace.  

To go from no run at all to 7 miles, how do I count the ways?  Well, I awoke after 4 hours of broken sleep and desired a frosted brownie my husband made Sunday.  So  I ate 1 1/2 pieces with a large glass of milk.  Like that wasn't gonna need some penance for.  I still was like "I'll take the day off and wallow in my brownie mishap".  But then I did my pushups then my arm workout with a window open in my living room and could hear the birds cheering me on for a run with the coolness of the air as a welcome too!!  So I just got out and started out on a nice and easy run.  It once again turned progressive.  I also had a mission with this run.  Yesterday I left my headband, I thought, on the field.   My favorite headband, my only headband.  I drove back yesterday and the ladies at the HS office said try back tomorrow and the janitor said "teenagers are cleptos, you won't see that again".  I was like really?  gone forever?  : (  But I didn't give up hope as today I got the idea to run by there again and check once more.  I was literally drawn to the drinking fountain first out of the way of the office then I thought maybe I will use the bathroom right next to it( I had gone in there when I first arrived at the track yesterday).  Voila, MY HEADBAND!!! LIKE A LONG LOST FRIEND THERE IT WAS!!  AND NO CLEPTO teenage girl dared to take it!!! TAKE THAT.  The janitor didn't have a lot of faith.  Silly story, but hey I am ready for the next run in a snowstorm, my ears will still be warm : D.  Avg pace for 7 miles = 8:17    I felt great the last three miles so I picked it up.  First mile 9:18. Quickest mile 7:31.  Cooldown mile 7:56.   This was supposed to be  a recovery run.   The after the rain falls Spring run was SOOOOOO worth it.  I even saw a few worms Allie. 

Ran a MOST pleasant 1/2 marathon so to speak with Melanie this morning over in Lehi and on the JRP etc....  We picked it up at the end when at over half way we were averaging 8:08 pace (we had some position in the universe problems, so we slowed a bit) to end up for an average pace of 7:52 at the end for 13.1 miles  Cooldown of .4 miles.  Mel was about 8-10 seconds ahead of me by the end.  I was soooo very parched and my arms were sore.  But still I am NO match for the speed queen who took lots of time off this winter.  Now she's burning me : D.  Should have conserved energy yesterday.  We just came up with this run at 830pm last night, at first we weren't even running together and then the pieces started to fit so we worked it out to run together at 630am.  Weather a cool and crisp 30 degrees, but no WIND.  How about that?  Got in  a few good hills with the fine surroundings and wonderful blooms for the sight and smell.  LOVELY.  Birds a chirpin' and hearts a beatin'.  First mile 8:53.  Last mile 7:16.  Getting serious about getting serious now.  Heat wave arriving soon.  

Supposedly a recovery run.  Ran my planned 17 mile course for tomorrow in reverse to the mouth of AF canyon so 7.5 miles of UPHILL  then  I turned right out of the golf course and up that GRUESOME hill out of the AF canyon.  Somehow I averaged a 8:34 mile on that all uphill mile.  Hence the tired feeling on the way home.   Leg muscles achy from yesterday I suppose and I keep forgetting to carb and electrolyte load so today I will do that.  Took the Cedar Hills path home.  Had ONE gigantic downhill and I realized my legs are scardy cats.  Basically I kept the breaks on here because tomorrow its at least 13 miles of MP in that 17 miler and mostly downhill untill the last 2.5 miles.  Still I don't think my legs were prepared for a straight downhill.  I practically kept the same pace on the straightaways as that downhill.  Thats pathetic.    My uphills speed was decent for rest mode.   I kept it real.  Just recovery pace there. No pushing it.   Avg pace for 12.64 miles =  8:30 even.  I think I need an ice bath to shock treat my legs.  

I think I am out of shape or just plain old tired of running fast or is it that I just hit 65+ miles for the week and ran my third SW?  I figure with a nice taper and a couple of nights off the marathon will feel tons better.  Plus this course is waaaayyyy downhill (1700 feet) and over a 1000 of the feet are the first 7.2 miles downhill.  Ouch.  In fact  I caught myself "putting on the breaks" for the first few miles and finally I found some sort of rhythm.  The first 7.2 miles average pace was 6:38!! after my initial slow pace for a good downhill.  I did start this run going UPHILL 2.15 miles the last bit being VERY steep and managed a 8:39 pace there.  UPHILL.  I was slightly adrenaline-ized for this.  I was sooooo  NOT wanting to do it but tried to get in "race" mode on my own and just do it. I started at about 1010am.  Ran the uphill portion feeling pretty strong.  But then thinking no way "this for  1/2 of the 50 miles?  You've gotta be kidding!!"  I will most likely walk a lot in that thing.  Okay back to my run.  Ran 13.1 miles and stopped.  I didn't know my time but I knew my average so I decided to reset my watch to see my time---  it was a 1:29:57 Half Marathon!!!!!!!!!  6:52 average.  If I known I was that close to my PR I would have picked it up (NOT : D).  I did have three water stops along the course that were a HUGE welcome.  I even tried to take a dip in the river.  More like I was trying to put some water on my hands and I nearly fell in at mile 12.  It was hard to pick it up again after this stop for just one more mile.  Then I ran home another 1.75 miles to my house at 7:51 pace.  Average pace for all 17 miles= 7:11.   Splits:  8:46,  8:20, .25 @ 9:52 (MEGA-STEEP, I was delusional), 6:49,  6:41,  6:55 (this was a not so steep downhill),  6:30,  6:26,  6:25,  6:31, 6:58 (rolling hills), 7:14 (rolling hills),  7:11, 7:14 (getting pretty tired of running fast), 7:05, 7:11 (after the almost river fall in),  .1 @ 6:39.  Done with that already.  Took a brief breather and started my uphill trek to my house.  Last splits = 7:54, and .75 @ 7:46 (this was all uphill).  So doing the celebration dance.  My legs don't feel sore YET.  Its mostly my heart rate that was having issue.  Less chocolate chips more protein.  

So very asleep.  Slept two hours went to Amber's soccer game.  Slept 1 1/2 hours got up and went to Brooke and Courtney's soccer games.  They were on the same field at the same time.  We sat in the middle trying not to miss anything.  I missed Brooke score the only two goals for her team.  Hard to focus turning my head back and forth.  Of course I told her "great Goal!!!!".  Anyway, got out for my planned short run to get 70 miles and low and behold my NEW ascics gel cumulus 12s arrived from Arizona!! Yippee!! They feel quite good.  I am barely sore from yesterday and even did 4 pickups to 6 pace for 30 seconds.  Time will tell but I think these shoes are thinking of getting me some PRs.  Crossing toes here.  So tired of searching and spending for the right shoe.  5.25 miles at 8:33 recovery pace.  Nice warm day.  Shorts and visor.  

The SW that should have never been.  Was UNbelievably wiped out.  Chronic fatigue attack hit Monday am.  Could barely move around.  Headache throbbing from lack of sleep. My shoulders felt heavy and  I was not interested in eating.  Just plain exhausted.  Watched the Boston Marathon and even that failed to liven me. At 1pm I made my way out into the searing heat and "tried" my 3 by 2000 meters (1.25 miles).  First warmed up for just over three and ran my goal of 6:15 to 6:20 at 6:19 for the first one.  Feeling ever so headachy I "attempted" the second one that started uphill.  That hurt me and then I had a stop light to stop at or get hit by a school bus and a car turning right but looking left I had to avoid.  Frustrating hurtful 2000m.  Managed a 6:32 for the 1.25.  Gave up on the last one.  The combination of 70 miles last week, working nights with no good sleep, new shoes and the heat was the first clue of NOT doing today's workout.  But I am not one to give up when I really should even if it would benefit me.  Not good.   I currently have a huge atypical migraine of numbness, burning and tingling on the left side of my head, face down my arm to my left foot.  Lovely.  Nothing I haven't been thru many a time but very nerve wracking to say the least and no pun intended.  I think I will have a lazy few days off and attempt a VERY LONG run Thursday before my next two nights in a row.

I am going to try to pull thru this week the best I can.  The headache lasted all night and I awoke with it after my short nap this morning.  I worked last night of course.  My husband has been mudding and taping and just textured yesterday and due to my allergies and the carpet measuring guy coming to my house completely lathered up in cologne I had no chance to rebuke.  I was in for it, since I was already intensely fatigued.  I just got out and ran about .29 miles when I happened across one of our scooters in a church parking lot (not our church).  It had been missing for a month now.  "Mr. Nobody" is the culprit.  That's the term I use when none of my kids fess up to what happened.  So I turned around back to my house for a .29 mile scooter ride.  It worked my thighs good.  Then I had to regroup because even those .29 miles wore me out.  I was going at a 11 pace, how's that for silliness?  I just was going to go as slow as my body would allow me and not stress my heart/body/head at all.  The new shoes have been comfortable to walk in but I notice different joint aches from the non-adaption as of yet.  My legs feel sluggish in them but I really feel they will adapt well soon.  Ran in the heat of the day, but luckily there was a significant wind in parts to cool me down.  8.25 miles at 9:14 pace.  At least I didn't average 11.  My second mile was still a 10.  I was literally trotting with out a care in  the world for the moment. 

Plan was to do 5 miles at PMP (planned marathon pace), hard to do when you don't know really what your PMP is.  I tried for 7 to 7:08.  Was going to do them outside and then the wind picked up and the clouds came in and it began to rain.  So I had to TM it.  Still have quite the headache.  Husband is painting our basement and now my head hurts more and my joints are in pain.  The new shoes have caused a change in muscle use that I am certain I will adapt to soon.  Nothing like the zeroes however.  Ran 3 mile warm up at 8:49, 8:27, 8:00  (2.5 to 3 % incline) pace then ran 7:08, 7:08, 7:05, 7:03  (0.5% incline) and a 6:50  (0 percent).  Done. Two mile cool down at 8:06 and 7:53.  7:08 feels more like my pace, felt real easy but I am feeling quite lousy so maybe I am better than that but not sure about a whole 26.2 miles yet.  Time will tell.  Not sure what my goal is for Ogden--- 3:05 to 3:08?  Dare to dream.  : D     BTW pushups 10 12  7  7  9  = 39.  A long way from only 2 two weeks ago!!!  Sit ups I still need to look at the right way to do them.  Allie?  Pull ups, probably on 1/2 of one.  Haven't tried yet.  Am I missing something? 

Get away recovery run.  Great stress reliever.  The basement painting job is stressfull to watch and learn from.  I am the observer, criticical eye.  I just had  to get out before it consumed me.  First mile so was not wanting to run when two hours earlier I was so excited to go easy.  But as my planned 8 miler got easier and easier as the endorphins hit my bloodstream I just kept going, of course.  I ran on the new trail thu Art Dye park and up by Cedar Hills golf course and down the Cedar Hills path and by the silos.  So very relaxing now.  11.5 miles at 8:25.  Not bad for first mile a 9:38 I think.  Amazing power of a good run.  Things don't look as bad now.   : D

This was right up there with the Top Ten of Time Dead Runs.  I wanted to reach 40 miles by today in hopes of running 23 miles tomorrow but not sure how that's possible since I work again tonight.  Oh and I switched back, hopefully briefly, to my old shoes once again.  My new ones are throwing out my hip/hamstring.  I guess that gives the reasoning behind orthotics working.  The new shoes shift my left foot outward.   My old shoes hold them pretty neutral.  Hmmmm?  They are the same make and model of shoe, just a different year.  But you know how they always try to make a better shoe even if  the old shoe still "fits" so to speak.  3.5 miles at 9:29 pace.   Wind speed 20 mph or more for sure.  It is wicked zooming. 

This was my first NO sleep start of a race.  Meaning I toed the line of the Thanksgiving Point Half  at 7am with Melanie after clocking out from work at 6:30am sleeping only 3 1/2 hours Friday  morning after working Thursday night.  I made a stupid trade for someone and work three Friday nights in a row  : (((.  I never got a moment's rest at work.  Lots of sick babies, crying babies all through the night.   So I didn't register and went to support MelanieB.  I couldn't even make sense out of my legs beneath me.  NO neural drive and no neuron connections to my muscles.  It was as if I was running in slow motion.  My garmin was full and it was the first time it didn't pick up my pace.  I swore I was running 10 minute miles.  The universe was in stand still.  But I thought I'd try my lap button and was glad to see that thru all the MAJOR rolling hills with steep inclines I ran a 7:28 avg (5 miles).  My breathing was never labored I just couldn't get my dead asleep legs to move.  My head was in a cloud and I began to think that I am an ULTRA personality.   I think I could tough out 100 mile runs because of the runs I do on no sleep no matter the pain as the nerves in my legs feel totally fried, burning and I am still pushing through it.  So when I got to the road that crosses past the JRP I started to cross the street and stay in the "race" that I wasn't racing and thought I should just turn off left and get in to the finish line to be there for Melanie's finish.  I got to be right there as the lead guy passed mile 11 and was over 3 minutes ahead of the next guy.  I felt like I was "way in the lead" : DDDD as spectators looked at me.  I tried to stay off the course and ran on the side walks and on the opposite sides of the true course.  I got back with over 10 minutes to spare before Mary Ann S.  came in first followed by a runner I did not recognize.  And another fast BYU track girl and then another and then MELANIE.  Since my garmin was messed up I had no idea where they were at for finish time and when I heard Mel's time I was sooooo proud of her.  1:30!!!!! She is tooo awesome.  I am thinking that work is overated and running is not.  I am taking some time off so I can be a real runner.  I hope that goes over well.  I just got to be brave and stick up for myself.  I am working too much and I am at the end of my rope in survival techniques.  No worries I am sure I will get a grip on myself come Monday's 23 miler.  BTW  I do love my job its just that I love running/racing more.  10.41 miles at 7:15 pace average.  The last five miles I was booking it pretty good at 6:55 to 7:07 pace.  

JULIE'S 23 MILER, running at the seat of her shorts.....basically  here and there and everywhere.  Rather than waste time driving up Provo Canyon to Vivian Park I decided to just take off from my house with no water and one gu.  That's all the gu I have left.  I headed North through Cedar Hills and to Alpine.  Meaning, I headed uphill for over 10 miles and still more hills to 12.5 miles where I crested the Top of Healey Dr. the back way through Alpine a very gorgeous loop and then back on the Golf course trail to the mouth of AF canyon, still going over tremendous amount of hills to mile 17.4  to that infamous STEEP hill at the mouth of  the canyon where a man running down showed his support by saying "just keep at it".  I am sure he never thought I was at mile 17 in my run.  I stayed at it and pushed the pace as much as I could without fuel for the last 6.2 miles.  Did some crazy ending making it an uphill ending so I wasn't spoiled or anything.  I will course tool the run later so you all can check it out elevation wise.  Avg pace 7:57 for 23 miles.  A good effort after being at at a 8:21 average at 12.5 miles.  This run should make me stronger, hopefully.  Luckily the fountain of youth was still running at Alpine Park (a water fountain that is always running spring water) where I took my gu (mile 10.5).  Got two other brief water stops at mile 7.5 at a gas station at the Alpine round about.  The ice cream cookie sandwiches looked so welcoming.  The last water stop was at Cedar Ridge Park on the trailway.  So glad that's open now.  Cruised home.  Forgot I had my music with me and put on my iPod at mile 19.  That helped.  Last big run before Ogden is now over.  YIPPEE!!! SKIPPY!!  : DDDDDD  Splits:  9:12, 8:42, 8:50,  8:46,  8:25,  8:17,  8:08, 8:09,  7:51,  7:52,  7:57,  7:56, 8:16 (good uphill coming to the crest at 12.5 miles),  7:25, 7:55,  8:09 (forever uphill),  7:59 (HUGE UPHILL), 7:06, 7:12, 7:07, 7:07,  7:08, 7:29 (wish I ended on a downhill to look better : D).  Total Time=  3:03:07. 

Recovery afternoon run after dropping my daughter at dance in Cedar Hills.  Ran on the trail and a little off.  Awesome welcomed wind.  It just gave me permission to take it easy and enjoy nature along the way.  Too bad this wind is the preempt to five days of rain in the forecast.  Of course I have three of those off of work.  Ran to total just over a marathon in two days.  3.31 miles at a lovely 9:00 even.   26.2 miles in just under 3:32!!   I love those last nine minute miles!!  Hope to have more in me for the real showing in less than three weeks.  I think I do and that is the first step.  PS I don't want to toe the line at the start but with all the gun versus chip problems with overall and master divisions last year I may have to.  Yuck.  I think I will do what I always do and go toward the end of the first third.  PS I am hoping to place in the masters top three again.  

Plan:  6 x 800 meters at 6:10 pace (TM goes to 6:11 so I settled for that, no point going overboard).  Warmed up for 2.5 miles easy.  Ran all of them at 6:11 except last two I picked it up at the end especially the last one to a 6:00 pace for the last 100 yrds.  32 mph winds kept me from running on the track today.   My left hip/inside hamstring bugging me and I am sore in the arms from working them yesterday which I also compensated with the use of my left leg in place of my wimpy left arm.   Funny, I wasn't sore AT ALL from my 23 miler on Monday.  Then I do arms and I am sore in the upper body.  Totally had to use reverse psychology to get all six done.  First four I ran one lap (.25 miles in between) at 8:00 to 8:13 pace.  To help myself out on the last two I walked .07 miles then got back up to an 8:00 pace before finishing the lap.  I sure appreciated that.  Cooldown to make an even 10 miles for the day at 7:30 to 8:13 pace.  Avg pace for last 8.25 miles = 7:27.   Ready to eat tons now.  And take a hot shower.  Would like to ice in the river but the breeze is not welcoming.  Later.  Next week after the storm passes.

Left hip/hamstring injury.  Day off to implement ancient healing remedy--- REST.

lower left back hip pain bad level 8.   i think its my disc crunching down on my nerve.  I can exact the point of intense pain but it radiates every where around the hip and front of thigh is burning and foot is buzzing.  Off to chiro at 1040am.

The Visit:   Quote:  "Uhhhh   your hip is out a mile".   Nice of him to put it in runners' terms : D.  Also he told me the  reason why new shoes put me in distress is that I keep making "them" conform to "me".  When my shoes are probably right but my foot, hip .... etc...is not.  That's why the old shoes feel just right as I "pounded" them into submission : D.  I am not a conformist apparently.   He adjusted me from head to toe focusing on my hip, foot and tibia. Apparently my tibia also is displaced inward.   He wants me to keep running.  He'll call me later and see how things are going.  I need to see him again next week.  He charges only $15.00 and is quite thorough, has a nice office on main st. in Lehi.  And also to do the piriformis stretch on that leg (lay on your back leg crossed over knee, pull knee in to really stretch it), which BTW hurts like no other.  Pain level went to a 5 to 6 but is currently back at an 8.  Got my prescription for relaxant just now and took 1/2 a tab.  I don't want to be knocked out all day.  Will ice and take ibuprofen as well.