Believe to Achieve

So I tortured myself by REVISITING the Utah Valley Marathon Course, first in reverse (about mile 15 to mile 5 of the course) then turn around at about 10.62.  Garmins threw some MENTAL fits but I think mine was on looking at my splits-- one mile too fast and the next mile pretty slow for how we were booking it.  Seriously I like A LOT longer warm up.  One mile, the first one, being 8:47 pace and then right to the under 8 pace to Average 7:25 for all 21.24 miles (that's with NOT stopping my watch EXCEPT at the turn around where we pottied and "stretched".  This was a VERY tough ROLLER uphill 10 miler with the reverse seeming just as hard since we still had that LONG climb out of Wallsburg.  I am DEFINITELY a PUSHER and NOT a PULLER (see Kelli's blog).  I do not like people 20 yards in front of me the whole way "deciding the pace".  I don't think long runs should be run that quick, at least NOT the first 10 miles of significant uphill.  AP for the first half 7:31. AP for the second half: 7:20.  I purposely DIDN't stop my watch at the three other water stops.  I am working on being efficient at my stops in order to gauge my ability to pick it up in a race when I stop.  I usually don't stop but I want to start stopping in races and see if this helps me regain greater strength.  So obviously my pace wasn't too affected for a long run.  Later we iced in the Provo River for 10 minutes.  Felt a little nicer than Grove Creek. Since I lasted 10 minutes I figure it definitely WAS warmer.  EVEN though it was VERY COLD.  Just NOT freezing.   Oh btw my water stops were just a few swigs of only water and the last one just enough to wet my whistle and I was off to run the last 3 miles.  I think I must be part camel. Somewhere in my body I was conserving water.  I didn't feel too significantly drained in this run.  My feet hurt because of the REINFORCED CONCRETE road.  I took the path from South Fork back to our car and ran to Nunn's Park before turning back to the car parked just below bridal veil falls.  My feet felt SO much better on this and there was lovely shade.  I seem to run faster in a trail setting.  Open highways with CARS flying by me gets me anxious and I end up slowing down.   All in all this was a good run for me.  Now I must hang on for 12 more weeks, getting stronger and stronger on my way to that elusive SUB THREE MARATHON.  So going to HAPPEN : D.