Believe to Achieve

After two very busy 13 hour shifts and some more Olympic viewing and hearing about Melanie trying to save a 7 year after drowning in the reservoir in Pleasant Grove I could not sleep last night before this run.  I was also in a lot of sciatic nerve pain-- took 1/2 pain med and 1/4 of relaxation med (I rarely take the pain med-- once or twice every two to three weeks) and I awoke so very ZOMBIE like.    Met with Jane, Jorge and Rachelle at my house for a just after 6am departure for a long run.  To me it felt quite humid.  Probably the meds and being over 40.  The first mile was a 8:21 which makes me laugh because on my shorter runs my miles are near or over 9mm for the first mile as a warm up.    Rachelle was being nice not to totally shock Jane in that slower mile so we went faster :D.  After the first mile I started to wake up and each mile felt easier and easier until the last mile of our four fast miles when I could definitely tell I ran speedwork and hillwork the day before.  My ankle was tingling and reminding me I had to watch footing so my back wouldn't freak out and spasm the sciatic nerve.  If this nerve was calm I would definitely be ready for subthree.  In a marathon I don't know how long I can concentrate on NOT focusing on the pain in the leg (if this makes any sense at all). Ran the last four right with the girls except the last mile where I slowed it just hoping for under 7mm-- 7:01 (wasn't sure if we were going to run fast or not so hence the slower first mile), 6:43, 6:50, 6:52.    In the Winter (training for Boston) I was faster but I didn't have an injury and I didn't do speedwork the day before.  The heat was getting to me as well.   We were a dripping sweat fest.  I rubbed arms with Jane and  EEwwww, sticking drippings!!  : D.   Fun times!!  No time for icing in the River.   Never sat down until  I went to bed that night.  Put on a 3 hour Olympic Games 14th Birthday Party for my daughter and her friends.  It was a hoot. We had a baby bottle sucking Olympic Event which was the funniest!!  We had prizes for Gold, Silver and Bronze.  The party went over really well with the girls!!  But man was I tired.  We then went straight from all the picking up of the party to SLC for a soccer tournament game for Courtney.  No more sleep again.