Believe to Achieve

HOLY MOLY    I SURE HOPE I FEEL THIS GREAT COME JUNE11th.  Not sure why today I felt awesome!!!   Okay so due to my work schedule I had to add on to the 11 miler scheduled (including 6 x 1000meters, 0.625 miles) and make it a 15 miler.  I work the next two days and I can't get in long miles before work especially when I am being pulled to a different hospital and have to drive longer, get up earlier.  So to save time this morning I left my house at 5:49 am and ran to the rec center (actually I ran by it to get 4.2 miles before hopping on the TM there for speed).  ON the TM I warmed up for 2 miles and went into the 6 x 1000 meters.  Since I had been doing ONLY 600 meters and at times struggling I thought I would start at 6:18 pace, again I still don't know what 5k race pace is.  Welll it felt   sooooooooooooooooo  easy I thought perhaps the TM was being nice to me.  Like maybe some TMs are easier?  but it was the same as all the rest so I assume I just was having a good day.  I thought maybe it was because it was the first one so I ran the next and had the same results and the third, SAME.  All of these were run with 2 minutes in between at 8:49-8:57 pace.  So for the forth one I ran a 6:15, then another 6:15 increasing the pace for half of it to 6:11.  I ran the last one at AP 6:03.  SERIOUSLY I FELT WICKED GOOD.  Perhaps it was the CRYOTHERAPY with my run over to the rec center in my shorts.  I am sure it was 27 degrees this morning.  Frost but sun almost over the mountains.  I cooled down for a bit to 12 miles and ran another 3 miles home.  Helped a kid cross the road, because not a single car would stop for him with his bike beside him.  This is by the high school. Scary drivers and no mom watching out for him.  He said thanks and was on his way.    AP for road miles totally 7 =  8:15.  No plans to whip it on the other miles today since my 19 miler was decent enough.  Looking SO forward to this SATURDAY  : DDDDDDDDDDDDDD   I FEEL INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MORE SMILY FACES  :   DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

8 easy pace miles (8:23) at 4:20am before work at UVRMC' s NICU.   Worked all day.  PRETTY fatigued. Need some quality sleep but no time with training, work and mothering : D.  Got to get up and go early again in the morning.  Hopefully to bed soon.  

EASY tired run at 4:45 am.  Then got home and was pulled to UVRMC and had to b-line it to Provo in 13 minutes!!! NOT got there, clocking in five minutes late.  I just couldn't get out any earlier but I thought I was working just one mile a way.   I am REALLY needing some nice long sleep cycles.  But training must go on and there is too much to do.  My mother is in town and I don't want to be running when she is awake.  I want to be done with my runs so that means up early every morning this week.  6 miles at 8:31 AP

supposed to run 12 but couldn't run the extra 2 miles last night so planned on 14 then ended up being further from home than I thought so it took me to 15 miles to get home.  I ran up and around Highland.  Wow, cars/people are in a rush in the mornings speeding by to get their kids to school, texting and barely looking up.  I prefer my early roads to myself runs but the sun's rays were a welcome.  I thought it would be warmer and wore shorts.  My legs were red for the first six miles and tingly when I tried to bring them back to life by massaging them while running.  I left at 6:45 am.   I was VERY VERY thirsty and NO running water on my unplanned course.  AP easy cause I supposed to race part of the Provo Marathon on Saturday or at least do MP for 14.  Basically I am there to support my friends in the marathon.  15 miles @ 8:20.  btw my 10 year daughter scored the winning goal in the second game of the tournament.  They are currently undefeated in competition soccer tournament.  They should be going into the semifinals.  : D.

6   S  L   O  W    miles at 6:49am.  I am having a "flare" of whatever illness shows its ugly face to me ever so often and usually at the wrong times.  It started Monday afternoon with EXTREME fatigue followed by TONS of exposure at work to HEAVY cleaners and perfumes for two days 13 hours each.  Then WHAMO body aches, joint aches, INTENSE nerve pains mostly from the top of my head to the bottom of my foot on my right side.  I also have areas of numbness tingling.  And a lot of dizziness and out of body type feelings.  Even deep in my eyes hurt.  I hate when this happens cause it usually last 3 to 5 days.  I hope I am at the tail end of it.  It was VERY intense last evening and now mostly my right hand/elbow and neck, face and eye.  Time is the healer as well as nourishing foods and vitamins/minerals.  I actually had a huge flare the day before SGM 2009 and was able to pull off a 3:11 feeling super gross at the start.  So I am hoping I can just do what I need tomorrow for MP/1/2MP then cool it for the other miles.  My mother gets the same problem, so I am sure it is genetic.  She has lived with it for many years.  Her father had MS.  So who really knows, but it comes in with a pattern each time.  Glad my friends feel great for their race tomorrow.  AP today 9:10.  First mile well over 10:00.  I was so feeling sick.  

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

SOOOOOO glad I got my run in before finding out that I DID NOT GET INTO THE ST GEORGE MARATHON!!! after five lucky years NUMBER 7 (the total I would have run) was NOT SO LUCKY!!!  I am flabbergasted.  UVM was not WHERE I was going to break three hours plus hey SGM was a tradition.  Now a HUGE LETDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Blah.  blah.  AP for 10 easy miles in the rain  =  8:19.  

Recovery run.  1/2 mile with Courtney, my daughter. She wants to start to run again to get better in soccer.  Then 2.6 miles while Courtney was getting ready for school at 8:50.  Then called Kim and ran easy with her.  I made her go slow on purpose.  She needs easy runs for recovery from Saturday.  AP for 5.7 miles = 8:30. First two miles over 9.  Chatted and had a relaxing run while her kids were watched by my 10 year old and my husband who at the time we left was asleep.  Surprise for him!!  My kids were all ready for school when I got back.  And they were HAPPY : D.

I love it when you get and email titles "Congratulations (from ST George Marathon)" and think just maybe, maybe they forgot my name on the list and are writing to tell me. Then I open the email and it says "we regret to inform you that you didn't make it in but then lists charities to try etc... WHATEVER!!  I don't know why but I feel less spunk now that I am NOT in the SGM.  UVM was all for training for SGM and to see where my fitness level was.  I hope I can regain my mental focus.  I still believe I can run a 3:10 there.  I am just not sure how into it I am without out my favorite fall marathon.  Blah, blah.  BLAH!!  I will  get over it I am sure I will.  But it is VERY odd that MANY people I know did NOT get in.  It was like the chances of getting in were more like 25% then 75%.  I thought there were 7500 entries with 10,000 applications?  But maybe there were a lot of THREE TIMES a charm and 10 year clubbers.  So far no one in my neighborhood got in-- Jane, Kim, Kerri, Adrienne, Taunya and myself.  Also Josse and my sister and Michelle and her sister.  Weird Science.  Anyway today ran 4 miles to the PG rec. Then two on the TM then right into 5 x 600s (.38 miles) at 1 % with 90 sec in between at 8:49 pace.  FELT VERY NICE.   First one 6:15.  Second one 6:15.  Too easy so 6:11.  Then 6:11.  Then AP for last one 5:58 probably but I got down to 5:49 for a good portion.  Brief cooldown on the TM then ran home to get 13 even.  AP for 5 on the mill = 7:22.  AP for 8 outside nice and easy (last mile 7:22 however)= 8:13.

AP 8:03.  445am.  So tired during run having taken 1/2 a benadryl tab before bed.  There is something in the air giving me a headachce and burning eyes.  Ran for 7 miles before work with 8 by 100 meter strides.  Paces fun-- 5:49 to 6:10.   Currently VERY tired.  Going to bed soon.  Work again tomorrow.

Nice and easy, well sort of--- I was really tired dragging my bod out of bed to get those darn miles in before work.  Nice that I could wear shorts.  Got in a 7:27 mile the last one because I noticed I was running out of time for a shower.  Took too much time contemplating just getting out the door.  Hurried off to work.  I call my daily work triatholon---RUN, SHOWER, CLOCK IN TO WORK in record time.  I am always trying to beat the clock it seems.  I need a NICHE moment.  Which basically means an attitude about not caring whatsoever about time and just doing at the moment what feels good/right-- cartwheel if you want, run backwards, laugh, love, play, hopscotch, backbend, SMILE.          AP for 6.2  =  8:15.  Canyon run in the am-- the UVM course  : D.

No sleep last night.  My husband pointed out that it was hot.  I couldn't figure out why  I couldn't fall asleep.  Had to close my windows as neighbors BRIGHT light and NOISE (from kids' night games) added to my problem of getting to sleep.  I was up every hour.  And I felt achy, bones and joints.  Allergies?  Anyway picked up Melanie at Vivian park (she was running 12 miles and I   20 miles).  I parked my other car at the mouth of Provo Canyon.  My dear husband drove us up to Wallsburg and got us there for a 6:15am start.  It was chilly at first but then became quite nice.  Ran miles 1.5 to 19.5 of the UVM course.  It is hard to find the right road of the start so we just drove up the canyon 18 miles heading towards Wallsburg.  What a nice springy day.  Melanie felt great so she kept me alive the first 9 miles that I wanted to run slow but it didn't turn out that way.  We were doing awesome on all those hills.  It is NOT an easy course for those first 15 miles.  Anyway  ONLY had ONE water stop at Mel's ending (12 miles) and then I was off on my own for the last 6 miles to the mouth of the canyon.  To get in 18 miles I had to go beyond the light under the bridge on University past the parking lot then turn around to run back to the parking lot to get 18 even.  Pace for 18 miles = 7:04.  Splits:  8:01, 7:28, 7:12, 7:04, HILL- 7:14,   bigger hill  7:18,  6:47 a little break from the hills, 7:09 (more hills),  7:17 and more HILLS, 6:48, 7:03,  bye Melanie!!, 6:51, and yet ANOTHER HILL-- 7:04,  6:42 (living for the down hill : D) , 6:48, 6:46, 6:43, those last three were only slight downhill,  6:49 ( last bit uphill as I turned around).  FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THINGS.  NOT EVEN feeling it YET.  OFF to WORK I go for half a shift.  Happy DAY!! : DDDDDD

After Saturday I wasn't sure how I would feel, but I feel fine/normal.  A little achiness in my right achilles.  It has been my "gremlin" lately but I am working on it.  Mind over body.   So I laid in bed at 5:30am knowing I wouldn't fall back to sleep but wondering the time frame I had to run 14 MLR at relaxed pace.  Decided to get in 11 and head back to be there for my daughter to have breakfast then leave for jr. high.  I got in 12 leaving at 5:56am.   Then after 20 minutes went back out for the last two miles.  It was a windy run.  Ran on the trail by Art Dye Park passing Lone Peak and up through the golf course and then on the trail thru Cedar Hills coming out at Deerfield Elementary to home in PG.  AP for 14 miles =  8:08.  Wore shorts, headband, gloves and two nylon shirts.  Felt very nice.  First mile 9:22. When my pace got to 7:15  for a mile a LITTLE BIRDY whispered in my ear to SLOW down even though it felt easy.  I am trying to save myself for the big day.  : D.

8 RAINY miles at 4:40am before work.  AP 8:04.    Wore my trail shoes to give my feet a different feel.  Felt nice, especially in the rain.   :D

8 miles again in my trail shoes before work, in between rain storms.  Nice and easy-- AP 8:10.

4 mile warm up at 8:11 AP, 8:34, 8:20, 8:00, 7:53  on the TM-- 2 % grade until the last 1/2 mile where I put it to 1 % to prepare for the 6 x 1200s (I jumped off the TM and stretched at 3.5 miles and brief potty trip, refill water).   Ran 1/2 mile and went straight into the workout.  First 4 at 6:15 pace (2 minutes of jogging  in between at 8:49 pace).  After the forth one my husband was bugging me how long I had and I mentally lost a bit of focus due to lack of sugar to the brain.  I only had a sip of gatorade before this work out and a piece of wholegrain toast at 7:30am.  It was now 10:40am.  I felt quite hungry and then nauseated.  My thoughts were about worms eating my food in my stomach so that didn't help AT ALL.  So basically I hopped off the moving TM for a few seconds then got back on to do the in between time and REBOOT my brain to STAY IN THE GAME.  I tricked my brain and told it it was only doing 2 laps, also starting at a 6:18 pace but brought it down to a 6:11 pace by the end.  MY BRAIN fell for it and I was able to finish the fifth one  : D.   I hopped of the TM again very briefly to take some deep breaths, I was dizzy.  Got back on did the two minutes and right back into the LAST ONE.  Started at 6:18 but turned it to 6:15 before the first lap and then down to 6:11 for a bit and ended at 6:00 pace for the last .05.  Glad that's over.  Cooldown two minutes again then to 8- 7:04 pace for the last 1.5 miles.  This is the last difficult SW before UVM.  I do have a 3 x 1600 meters at the same pace coming up in two weeks but some reason that sounds easier than 6 x 1200.   : D.

Drove to meet up with McKenzie (then Aubrey around 1.5 miles in the River Bottoms) in Spanish Fork at the start of the 1/2 marathon route (main st. park).  Raining all night and drizzling on my way there....dark clouds over my house but whiter less harmless looking clouds down there.  I-15 was a sight!!   Made it alive : D.  Got there a little late but started out at 4:52 am per garmin.  The first 4 miles no rain, removed upper shirt and headband.  Then RAIN AND MORE RAIN.  We were PRETTY SOAKED.  Nothing was dry.  It rained until about mile 10.  But it already caused enough damage.  Brrr....my shoulders were numb because my nylon shirt was sopping wet.  Feet were fun to look at after the run-- you can see all the dead skin more clearly when your feet have been soaking in the water.    We did the half marathon loop and a lot of the 10k route as well.  A nice few hills in there.  Occasional wind but nothing drastic at all.  Ate two gus.  My quads were achy from the start but then that went away and then my pelvis and lower back to the hamstrings were burning with nerve pain.  McKenzie at mile 17 needed to pick it up to get home quickly to her kids.  I tried to stay up with her but man alive my butt and pelvis was in too much pain.  I was kind of cold too.  A double workout for me isn't alway the easiest.  But it is how I have to do it with my work schedule.  Yesterday's SW took the energy out of my legs.  I did manage to still pick it up, but just not as much as SPEEDSTAR McKenzie.  Glad Aubrey ran with me a bit more until she headed for home (and she offered to wash my outter shirt for me so I wouldn't have to carry that extra five pounds of water weight back to my car.  I was trying to rinse it out at our last stop to no avail).  Caught up to McKenzie as she turned around at the finish and ran another 1/2 mile with her then I finished one more mile to get my 22 miles in.  AP 7:29 for 22 miles.  It may actually have been faster (at least it felt like it) as my garmin read low battery early on in my run and then completely died at mile 21.75.  I turned it back on and it gave me a little bit more time, then died again.  Just trying to make my little garmin ENGINE get in some more mileage :  D.  I find when my garmin reads low battery my paces go a little more bezerk.  Feeling mentally tough.   I was able to push it even though my pelvis was getting up there on the pain scale.  My heart and mind were raring to go.  Will pretty much EAT all day. 

LARD LEGS!!!  chose to run AFTER work instead of before work.  Got home later than usual-- 7:15.  Got dressed quickly and got out the door.  The first 1/2 mile felt like I was running in a bounce house.  My legs were like jello.  I felt so non-runner like.  My legs are swollen from 22 miles yesterday AND mostly from working 14 hours and eating CRAP--- seriously a DONUT and an ORANGE roll for breakfast!!!  oh and yesterday I ate at In an Out with Troy and my little Amber.  FRIES, BURGER AND A SHAKE!!  not to mention KNEADERS FRENCH TOAST (two pieces, almost) for BREAKFAST!!!  I was sure feeling it.  Every few weeks I get in a cycle of poor eating for a couple days.  Then with runs like these I remember why NOT to eat like that and am back to "normal".  Thankfully I will NOT feel like that on MARATHON MORNING just three weeks away  : D.  AP for 5.5 miles-- 8:32.

 TAPER MADNESS BEGINS  :  D.  Come out come out wherever you are (phantom pains).  7 Easy miles (AP 7:56) with Troy on the Memorial 10K course.  Did  8 x 150 meters (.1 miles) STRIDES.  Felt way comfortable and fun.  Pace in these ranging from 5:40 to 6:00 depending on how I hit  the turns into traffic. VERY flat course.  Not a single bubble in it AT ALL.  Not sure what pace I should run it at.  I haven't run a 10k RACE in 22 months or so.    Should be interesting!!  My training schedule calls for it so I found one local in Orem.  I ran on RUN13's treadmill at the Women's Expo in April to get a free entry into it.  I am torn if I should run my 17 mile long run in conjunction with the 10K or just run the 17 miles the day before?  The race starts at 8am.  Kind of later than I like and I don't want to waste too much time away from my family on my OFF weekend or run too long of a warm up waiting for the start.  Temporary Decision- I think I will run the 17 on Friday at 8:00 pace and save energy for the 10K with a 3 mile warmup.  All of my runs have had NO recovery in them so I shouldn't worry  too much.  My goal for the 10k is to go under 41 minutes.  My PR is 43:51 (2009, 4th of July).  So BELIEVE I can beat that.   Unless I fall over.  NOT.  

12 miles--  6 UP  6 Down. Ran up to the AF CANYON and past the entrance than back home up THE GOLF COURSE CANYON HILL. Gotta love it.  A biker was disappointed I wasn't continuing onward (he yelled out to me, "awwww I thought you were going to keep going).  I so felt strong going uphill at 7:30 pace for a bit, I felt I could go on and do my long run today but I really should have my long run fall closer to the schedule than this so I am running it Friday instead of Saturday.  Invigorating run, however my right achilles is still my gremlin and  is compounding it to my upper knee.  I think I need an adjustment for sure as my lower back is very achy.  I am sure my discs haven't had time to REFILL in between all these runs and since I show moderate degenerative disc disease in the spine (bone scan last May) it is important to watch this. I don't drink well, I am camel-like.  Drink a lot than go a while and push myself without hydration.  This run was  without hydration whatsoever.  I was slightly parched.  I wore shorts, headband, shortsleeves (took off the second long sleeve).    It was cool out with a slight wind, more in some areas.  Love the smell of freshly cut grass  : D.   Ran 1 cooldown mile in 7:43.  AP for 13 miles=  7:43.  First uphill 6 at 8:08.  Took it easy on the way down (only one at 6:59).  I am forgetting I need to try to do well in the 10k and not over do it during the week.  Oh well, just couldn't stop myself.  : D.  

trail shoes, tired, slow, early, 5.5, 8:41 AP, before work.

garmin died, 5.5 easy miles, AP 8:30 or so, EXTREMELY WINDY, TWISTER-like ambiance, worried, persevered, MORE than tired, worked again in Provo.  Long BUSY shift.  Legs achy, shooting nerve pains in all sorts of places in my legs and feets, like walking on pins and needles.  EATING POORLY, obviously causing issues.  

garmin still dead, forgot to recharge.  the battery isn't holding its charge.  ran to kim's at 5:03am a 3.29 mile route (infamous course tool).  ran slowly.  legs so VERY achy especially right achilles and calf, needed to go easy today due to 10k tomorrow.  ran 10.62 miles with kim at 7:58 pace.  right on target.  besides the nerve pains I felt fine cardio wise, wondering if hopefully the down week now means UP week for UVM in two weeks : D.    ran the same route back to my house as i took to kim's house.  total AP 8:05  for 17.2 miles using the course tool and my ol' stop watch for start and finish time.  No gu or fuel except water at kim's at mile 14.    brief stop at texaco for kim to use an actual potty : d.    i am going to go get adjusted today and a massage i got for my birthday.  hoping for a better feelin' day tomorrow.  just going for 41 minutes or better.  

Woke to the same bum leg and worried about running this 10K  but I told myself I could make myself do anything, especially for only 6.2 miles.  I warmed up for 3.05 miles at 8:27 pace, I think.  Removed the headgear and overlying shirt, gloves.  Lined up at start and almost had an anxiety attack seeing the four REALLY fit looking girls towing the line.  GEEZ.  I felt so wimpy and blubbery.  Well one of the toner looking ones I beat by 8 seconds passing her at 3 miles and then she almost tripped me at 3.3 miles, running on my heels.  Basically the start was scary-- HELLO 6:07 pace, NOT ME.  I think I even saw 6:00 for a few seconds and that was REAL time.  I did NOT want to do this because it is NOT good pacing so  I slowed and then I find that that sets me up for a slower second mile due to the early SURGE.  The second mile was towards the canyon on 800 north with a NICE HEADWIND.  I was mentally not in the game and was asking myself why do you have to run in all this pain?  Why?  SERIOUSLY?  Why not stop?  JUST STOP. Pulled my head out when we turned south, and the wind was to the side.  Ahhhh.  I just passed a muscular girl (found out later she is 25 years old).  She passes me back and I let her stay ahead for a bit longer then pass her and stay ahead of her for the rest of the race.  At just before mile 4 there was a cop car on the side of the road with the crosswalk just in front of it.  I wanted to cut off going around the car to the right because we have to turn left across the street.  I was worried about cutting the course short so I went around the car.  But apparently it would have helped me to be right on 6.2 miles and to get that sub-41.  At mile 4.5 we start passing walkers for the 5k and some I have to kindly tell them I am on their left as they were walking not noticing the 10kers.  I saw two guys out in front of me about 20-30 seconds ahead of me and I tried to gain on them but my leg hurt like the dickens and I couldn't kick it in.  I also felt I needed my gu that I totally forgot to take out of my car before the race.  Dang.  I did get water at two of the three stations.  It tasted great!!  I finally heard Troy with .1 to go, even through my music, so I picked it up the last turn having to DODGE around at least ten 5kers.  I saw the clock at 40:55 and I knew I was going to miss the sub 41 but oh well 41:02 is pretty close and with a 17 miler yesterday/bum leg I feel pretty good about it.  My leg is currently throbbing-- mostly my inner quad.  It has a good sized lump on it. That can't be good.  It is as if someone punched me in my leg and it swelled up but when you feel it you can feel the muscle is swollen.  It is stemming from my right hip and radiates to my heel and toes.  Burning, pulsating kind of intense pain.  The massage therapist said is was VERY tight.  So for me it is massage, massage, massage until Utah Valley Marathon : D.  I am sure hoping it can respond well to therapy.  Splits:  6:26, 6:46 (mental game into the wind),  6:35,  6:29, 6:31 (thinking I  so HAVE THIS so not sure why I couldn't turn it up the last mile.  It was a long stretch, slight incline, very slight, majorly MENTAL), 6:46 (how in the heck?  GOT GU?  NEW RIGHT LEG PLEASE!!),   .22 miles at 6:25 pace (hard to go fast passing runners and turning, I don't think I picked it up until the last .05 miles).  Good training run. Now time to heal.  

Woke and happened to look up races for today for fun at 6:30am.  And lo and behold a race not even 2 miles from my house and a free one (donations accepted for the troops of course) if no shirt.  Race day registration as well.  So I called Melanie and hey she was already doing it.  Seriously didn't even know about this race.   I also annoyed my husband so much that he couldn't fall back to sleep so he joined me a half hour later, waiting in the freezing rain.  No lie.  There was snow on some parts of the ground and occasional bouts of a downpour.  But when the race started 20 minutes late-- the rain had stopped  : D.  The plan was to just go easy.  But easy was just TOO easy.  This was a very HILLY course.  Awesome.  Loved it all.  I felt great (besides the burning pain in my right hip and calf).  I welcomed the uphill.  I was visualizing conquering UVM's first half of rolling hills and these were very comparable.  I was at a 7:38 pace at first but at a half mile I was just too held back that I picked it up and passed a lot of runner's before the 5k/10k split off.  More people were running the 5k so runners were further between.  I was just enjoying myself climbing the hills.  I did my usual arm swings to the air to stretch and kick backs while running.  And then after passing about 5 guys I did the most stupid thing.  I went off course.  A guy just seconds ahead of me asked me which way to go.  He went straight, I was confused and thought we were already at the cemetery so I went left early which ended up adding on to make it a real 10k.  The course measured short for everyone else (6.0 miles).   I finally realized where I was and knew how to get back on course but when I met up with everyone in the cemetery I had already added on .2 miles and people I had already passed were in front of me.  Oh well.  At least I wasn't going for time today.  It was more like a LT (lactate threshold run).  I tried to catch and pass orange cap dude again and his friend but wasn't wanting to go faster than my 6:30 pace I was doing.  I need to conserve for the big day. A bit before I made the wrong turn I could see Melanie and Jane up ahead in the distance.  Adding on I no longer could see them.  Silly me.  But at least it was the right distance : D.  So 42:28 for 6.2 miles (6:51 pace).  So glad if felt easy even though I could use a normal right leg anytime soon.  I think it is possibly an ovarian cyst pushing in on the nerves in there-- I have had this type of significant pain before down my leg--piriformis like and then after 3-4 days it goes away.  Hope that is not too much info for some of you but it is what women deal with.  I have intense rebound tenderness in the lower right quadrant of my abdomen.  If it gets worse I will check it out further otherwise it is still massaging of the fascia (thanks Rad) for me from my hip to my achilles.  BTW Troy ran it 47:45.  When I cheered he sprinted in.  He looked great!! : D.

5 easy miles in the am before work.  I guess I am in taper mode.  Felt too easy.  Pace for 5 miles 8:37.