Believe to Achieve

This run is bordering on insanity.  Please keep comments of insanity to yourself.  I was only going to run 10 miles today.  I awoke at 520am and my legs could feel the swelling of two shifts after an awesome week of running last week.  So I went back to bed at 6:20am still exhausted even though I went to bed at 8pm last night.  There was A LOT of scented hair spray and perfume the last two days and they usually either give me burning nerve pain (which I got, but minimally) or extreme fatigue even if I sleep forever.  Which I tried to.  Waking at 230am the other night didn't help.  But who is counting that?  It was all in the name of a good time with Kelli.  So after fifteen minutes of tossing and turning I decided to get out the door for MY 10 MILER.  Really, that is what I was going to run.  Just 10 miles.  I took a sip of water and I was out the door.  I had it in my head to run the course from Saturday to five miles but starting at my house.  It turns out I am 1.12 miles from the course.  So when I got to where I remember the three mile mark was I looked at my garmin.  I was only .4 miles behind the course.  So I kept running and thinking wow this run seems too short.  I approached the mouth of the canyon, headwind and all and thought why not continue on a little further?  I was going so slowly I felt so good.  My first mile was a 9:26 (UPHILL).  Kelli and I ran 8:45 for the first mile of Sat's run with that lovely climb by the temple.  The hill I climbed by my house was shorter BUT steeper (1300 north)  and is a gradual climb until that point  but it is the shortest way to the course.  Well....As I got into the canyon (SANS music SANS  gatorade/electrolytes  Sans FUEL and having left my house at 6:42am the humidity was RIDICULOUS-- 76%, just looked it up!!) I had the ludicrous notion to keep going to where I had parked my car Saturday and turn around and finish the dang Sogonapmit Marathon from that point.  Well..... I felt so good that I just kept going to the top.  When I got to the top I had to add on .4 miles to get to 13.1 exactly.  LUCKILY my GARMIN GAVE ME NO TROUBLE on this run.  It picked up the whole time thankfully.  No beeps or anything : D.    Adding on however added on ADDITIONAL climbing towards Granite Flats Campground.  Why EVER do they call that Campground Granite Flats? FREAKIN give me some OXYGEN that CLIMB is a killer.  Worse than the climb just before the reservoir.  HELL--O.  So I turn around and think "oh boy, I could really use some SUGAR."  I had taken One pee stop on the way up at mile 4, and three water stops (two on the trail and one at Timp Caves).  I NEVER STOPPED my watch.  I am trying to not watch the watch.  I made it to the turn around at almost 1:56.  My watch said 1:55 and switched to 1:56 just after turning.  So slightly slower than Saturday, but hey this was an impromtu marathon.  It just kept playing out in my head with each additonal mile.  Totally UNPLANNED.  I am insane.  As I descended I was getting super thirsty and was in desperate need for ELECTROLYTES and GU or some food.  Whatever.  But the clean up was so good there was almost no trace there were people opening gus along the course.   I was hoping for an un-opened one.  No such luck.  I could not pick it up very well but I didn't care.  I was the one and only runner in the EILUJ Marathon.  I was going to win no matter what : D.  You can laugh here.   The best part about the run was that I remembered a water bottle I dropped here just after UVM marathon almost two months ago.  I had hid it and there it was.  Still over half filled and COLD.  AMEN.  A miracle.  I had stopped at the top for water just before furthering my climb.  There was a faucet next to the potties.  YAY.  And now I had this water bottle.  I carried it for 4 miles.  I stopped a total of 7 times.  6 water stops, 1 pee break.  As I neared my home I eyed the reservoir.  I so wanted a dip in that but I had 1.5 miles to go.  I couldn't quit now.  So I trudged along thinking about how insane I have become.  I mean should I really even post this run?  Why not.  We are all runners.  MOST of us are insane.  Hopefully I am understood.  It was truly hard at work after NOT completing the run the other day when I felt so AWESOME.  Today I felt great going up but at the turn around I could tell it was not going to be easy without fuel.  Some MINOR problems about impromptu marathons:  No one out there knows you are running it, so no cheers no "go Julie".  Nothing.  Also running 26.2 miles when you were going to just run 10 becomes  clear that you MIGHT be crazy.  Third, an impromptu marathon makes options for fuel along the way to ZILCH, except water.  In this crazy heat and humidity this only incriminates me more about my mental status.  My skin was DRIPPING sweat from every pore.  And I was SOOOO sticky.  Yuck.    Forth, I had NO tape set up to run through at the end.    Hey, I won my first marathon and no TAPE!!!  I didn't even sprint to the finish.  I just moseyed along toward my house.  I did treat myself with a PURPLE GATORADE from my garage refridgerator.  Ahhhh!!!  I took in about 28 ounces of a 32 ouncer.  MAN did that feel/taste good.  SO REFRESHING.  I must have needed it because it didn't make me sick at all.  About 10 minutes later I drove to Grove Creek and iced myself in the river.  I slowly broke the news to my husband.  He was shocked, but not surprised.  He is used to me after all.  AP 8:10 for 26.2 GLORIOUS miles, 7 stops, no clock stops, no miles below 7:10 pace.  In fact there was only one 7:10 and two 7:12s and the rest were  under 7:23, mostly 7:25 to 7:38 on the way down, except for three really slow miles.   When Kelli, Steve and I turned around I remember we did  almost two miles at 7:18 (before I had to drive off)  and I was gaining speed.  This time my legs weren't having any of that.  They were left on Saturday's run. I ran slowly-- 7:50 after the turn around  with that steeper downhill, then a 7:57, 7:42.  Obviously I was a bit more fatigued. Plus my lower back was hurting quite a bit radiating to both my hamstrings (sciatica).  A little too much down hill running.  No hurting going up.  Downhill the problem.  But NO DNF : D.

The ANOTHER problem with impromptu marathons is friends calling 7 hours later and letting you know they are running 7 x 800s at 6am at AF track.  Hmmm?  what to think about that.  Should I delay and go Wednesday instead by myself at the track or at the gym?  I gave Kim a "if I am there I am there" call back.  Didn't tell her about my marathon because I know she would lecture me.  So I just waited it out and see where I was at by 6am.  I awoke at 2am with a few kinks but mostly a troubled left knee.  AF canyon is very slanted and downhill running compounded the problem.  I fell like my knee is squished, and needs to be pulled out by my chiropracter.  Of course when I need him its his day off.  But he wouldn't be in time anyway for my run coming up this morning.  I went back to bed and awoke and looked at my clock (I had forgotten to set my alarm) and it was 5:40am.  Just in time for me to get my act together and join them.  I told myself I could just watch them or try one and see how I felt.  Well....things went way better than planned even with the bum knee and Eiluj Marathon yesterday so I just stuck it out to the bitter end.  On rested legs (meaning NO marathon the day before at faster than my first SGM marthon with 7 stops not stopping the watch up and down a canyon in 3:34) my goal was to be under 6 pace.  I gave it my best and after the first one I was hopeful and the second as well and each one felt better and better despite the fact that the other threesome left me behind.  They ran right into the second set and I thought we were going to stop and so my watch wasn't ready.  I stood there resetting my watch and frustrated.  Now I had nothing to gauge myself on and all the rest were by myself because they never waited for me.  But I am used to that so after kind of being angry I just let it go and decided that wouldn't help me and I could do this on my own.  I did 4 one way and three the other.  The forth and fifth were the hardest.  The boy's track team were coming onto the track and I switched directions but my friends didn't and got more ahead because I stopped to turn around asking them why they weren't turning around.  Oh well at least I wasn't lapped.  I was just 3/4 lap behind them at the end and I go a lot slower for the lap in between.  I need to.  I am an old lady  :D.  It is mental and it just feels right not to always fly through things.  Here are the splits (AP for all 7 x 800s = 6:01, not bad for not even one day post marathon considering I stopped running yesterday at 10:15am).    First, 2.8 mile warm up.  First mile so nice and pathetically refreshing-- 9:55 ; D.  Then I met up with the girls and ran 7:46, 8:06 for .8.  Five minute break/potty rest then right into the 800s.  1-- 5:56, 2- 6:00 (am I really doing these with this bum knee?), 3--6:01 (looking good so far), then a lull in 4-- 6:08 (I was focused on whether or not the threesome would turn around so we could run the last three in reverse), shorter recovery before the fifth one (1:30 minutes instead of 2:10 average rest), the fifth one being 6:05, --  I actually didn't know my splits until I finished them because we never stopped and had to reset our watches while running---  NUMBER 6-- 5:57!!! : D.  But number 7-- Mental cause I was thinking I would stop at 6 even though they were running 7.  But I just bit the bullet and ran it anyway-- 6:03.  AP for all 7= 6:01.  I am not worried. So I think next time when we do 8 I will definitely be under 6s for all of them with some recovery runs the day before.  DUH!!!  I am so silly.  Insane.  Cooldown miles 3.2 @ 7:50 AP (8:25, 7:31, 7:30, and .2 at 8:15).  Iced in river with everyone for 10 minutes.  My knee felt so much better after that.  I feel great now.  Today is my daughter Courtney's 13th birthday : DDDDDDDD  PF CHIANGs TONIGHT :D.  

7 recovery miles in my trail shoes, hilly route, what's new.  AP 8:59.  No soreness from the marathon monday or SW yesterday.  ODD!!! ODD I tell you.  I don't think I am doing anything different other than I am fully recovered from UVM.  6.5-7  weeks is the key.   I was running and ran 4 races through MARATHON recovery.   Now I am back.  Back and ready to ENDURE TO THE END!!    Oh I finally did arms again today. It has been at least a month.  Planks, side and front (45sec, 60sec), 40 girl push ups (4 x 10), 2 sets of 10-12 reps of  8 different arm exercises.  Should be sore. I work the next two days so will probably just run two easy days before work.  I am currently finishing the Phantom of the Opera movie with my daughters and my oldest' best friend.  You gotta feel sorry for the Phantom but he made his choices as sad as they are.  The music is so intense.  I love it.  Grasp it, taste it Feel it!!    

AP 7:41 for 4.25 miles before work.   Arms sore from weights but kind of a hurt so good feeling.  Just started to warm up and the run was over.  Not much time when I slept so well and got up at 5:05am.  : D.

am run before work.  Out of the blue I got EXTREMELY fatigued and ONCE again all my joints ached down my spine, in my fingers, lower back--flu like but no fever.  It lasted all day at work. Eye lids heavy, head fuzzy like and then when I got home I could hardly talk or finish my dinner without wanting to just get in bed.  I ate, got in bed at 7:35pm and lied there, sleepless hoping I could drift to sleep soon.  Troy gave me a light massage.  Again I felt like I was BUBBLE WRAP and I needed to be popped.  This happened exactly 22 days ago two days before the Bryce Half---so who knows? hormonal, weather changes?, autoimmune?  Man did the joints hurt.  Maybe a delayed reaction to my marathon on Monday?  possibly because when I had this the last time, five days before I ran that hard 21 miler with the girls at 7:23 pace.  This was four days after my marathon.  Wowsers!!  plus I did arms on Thursday and SW on Tuesday.  THE FATIGUE WAS INTENSE ALL CONSUMING.   I still feel achy but not as badly and now NAUSEATED.  It is early Sat morning and I am about to run with Mel and Julie. YIKES.  Seriously.  AP Friday morning before work = 7:49 for 3.1 miles with 5 x .1 strides at relaxed pace 6-630.

Ran  UP PROVO CANYON starting at JulieE's house at about 600 north in Orem and got on the trail by 1 mile.  22 miler today so ran up South Fork to almost the VERY top (4 miles up there HELL0).   HEADWIND galore about the entire first half except up South Fork.  AP up 7:41 for 11.  AP down 6:49 (just working on my mind set for pace for the last half of SGM-- and the last half of SGM is WAY MORE DOWNHILL :D). AP overall 7:15 for 22 miles.  Got back before Mel and Julie so took one wrong turn to her house so running back the right way added on .3 miles of cooldown.   Stopped briefly six times, actually twice for over a minute the rest were brief.  I wanted real time and AP to be 7:30 or better.  So I did that.  AP with all the stops = 7:27 pace :D.    Will completely verify that when I download my garmin.  I am just going off of overall time, start time, and end time to get the REAL running time of 2:44 minutes and running time of 2:39:40.  : D.   BASED OFF OF THE MOST INTENSE FATIGUE YESTERDAY and running this well today,  SUB THREE IS IN THE BAG with the right taper and no DOUBTING.  : DDDDDD      ADDENDUM Splits for future reference-- 8:08, 7:47, 7:28, 7:34, 7:36, 7:27,7:14,7:54,7:28,7:54, 8:01, 6:38, 6:26, 6:48,6:37,6:57,6:50, 6:51, 6:52,6:56,6:53, last HOORAH up a steep .3 mile hill to run towards Julie's house-- I just didn't have any motivation to pick it up any longer and the light slowed me down.  Plus the short breaks were starting to get to me, so 7:15.  I expected Julie and Melanie at any moment but I had time to get a 0.3 mile cooldown and my gatorade/banana out of my car and stretch for a bit.   Then there they were, they ran right past me without seeing me.  But alas they did and we drove to the river and iced ourselves for over 8 minutes.  Brrrrr.

Coming upon my recovery week-- meaning a cut in miles for one week : D. 55 miles : D.

12 miles at 7:33 AP-- first ran at 6:36am to AF high school and onto the trail behind and up through Art Dye Park.  Turned around after the steep climb then came home (7.5 miles) and  got daughter up for Piano Camp (two minute stop) then went out for one more.  Drove Brooke to camp two miles away then took off again when I got home for 3.5 more miles.  Did some arms-- 40 girl push ups, and planks 45secs sides, 60 secs front.   Hopefully a pattern and that I will actually stick to it.  Was going to lift weights too but ran into my neighbor while dropping off my other daughter for her ride to Piano Camp.  She had a broken hand from tripping on to her boat at Lake Powell.  We chatted for a while.  Time went by and I was too hungry to do weights.  BTW NO SORENESS from Saturday.  Right achilles is always slow to warm up, that's all.  I guess everyone has an achilles heel.  Actually the BIGGEST ANNOYING problem since Saturday's run is that I had run out of body glide and had put on my natural deoderant instead in all the usual places, but I MUST have forgotten my thighs because they ARE SO CHAFED.  I MEAN PRETTY BADLY THAT I had to wear BIKER SHORTS to run in today.  Too early to go out and buy glide and THAT WASN'T going to help NOW anyway.  My right thigh got it the worse.  It burned like crazy all day Saturday.  I think some of the lotions I put on I reacted to because my thighs swelled up pretty good.  It will take over a week to heal for sure.  LET ME TELL you that my biker shorts are WAYYYYYY outdated and make me look SOOOOOO   80s stylin'.  I am sure I looked horrifically geeky.    I did wear my Ragnar relay TEAM shirt-- Crack O'Dawners.  It is a tank so I looked semi-like I knew how to run.  Oh MY!!!   also I am in desperate NEED for a new pair of running shoes. I have overly TRAINED in my MIZUNOS, there is NO forefoot tread left in either pair.  They sure don't last longer than 500 miles very well.  I think I put in at 600 miles on both pairs.  Oooops.  No wonder I have to stetch my calves more than usual.  Oh well.  Doing fine now, except the inner thighs.  OUCH. 

6 miles before work.  Tired.  4:55am, back in the nick of time.  Clocked in at 6:02am.  AP 8:09.  New precision 12s.  NICE.  Easy day.

SLUGGISH THIS MORNING at 4:51am.  6 MILES 8:15.  SURPRISED I EVEN MUSTERED UP THAT MUCH ENERGY.  oops had cap lock on.   LONG day at work, so busy.  Then Activity Days with Amber.  Now I am so tired.  Should sleep well.  SW tomorrow.  YIKES, feeling crampy.  You know the feeling.   BLAH.

8 x 800 on the TM.  It has been three months since I have run on a TM.  Wow time flies.  I was worried because I was wondering if my body could adjust to the SHAKING MILLS at PG rec especially going faster and for LONGER than I have anytime on the TM.  I am HAPPY to report that I made it through ALL eight quite well.  I followed what Melanie did just to see if I could even do one at the 5:56 pace.  It went like this (after dragging my tired butt out of bed to my car and drove the three short miles there)-- WARM UP, AP 8:30 for 4 miles.  First mile 8:57.  1 % grade.  In fact I ran the first 5 x 800 with a 1 % grade and the last three at 0.5% just to let my mind deal with the stress of 8 x 800s.  I ran .25 miles (400 meters in between at 8:34 pace, 7.0 mph).  I would make sure to increase the TM pace before crossing the "starting line" on the TM virtual track (you know the TMs that show where you are on a 400 meter track) and I would NOT decrease the pace until I crossed the line completely.  I felt good on the warm up and stretched and took a potty break.  Sips of water was all I had to drink.  Dang it was warm water though and the AC in that rec center was hardly being used.  It was HOT in there.  Glad the TM had a fan on it.  After the brief break I ran another half mile warm up and went right into the 800s no stopping in between, no holding on to rails.  I am definitely WAY more in shape then I was in the winter.  I couldn't do 10 mph for a minute with out feeling winded and that my legs were uncoordinated.  BUT this was a shocker for me to 7 x 800 at 5:56 PACE (10.1 mph)!!!! and the LAST ONE at 5:49 pace (I started at 5:52 , 10.2 mph then increased the last lap to 5:46, 10.4 mph).  I loved the last one.  There is definitely something about KNOWING you are almost done and HOW MUCH EASIER it feels.   Ended with 2.5 miles cooldown at about 7:50 AP.  Felt such a great feeling of accomplishment and then my heart sank thinking about how we intend on doing this workout again-- 10 x 800.  I wanted to cry.  Please not again!!   It is such a mental game to get through this workout.  I was living for the .25 miles (2 minutes 9 second easy running) of "rest".  I ate one gu half way through.  I didn't eat much yesterday at work due to the VERY busy shift and felt I should be a little NICE to my body.  I ate half after the fourth one and the other half before the sixth one.  So glad this workout is done.  I think it seals the CONFIDENCE deal that I needed for that SUB THREE.  Mathmatically it all makes sense and I love math.  I am so a NUMBERS person.  : D

Kim and Jane were running 22 miles at 5:30am.   I ran my 22 last week so I met them at the mouth of the AF canyon and ran 1.5 mile warm up 8:30 pace.  Then we ran UP the canyon to almost the reservoir (their 11 mile turn around).   They ran their 800s on Tuesday so their legs were like SPRING chicken cause' I was feeling LARD-leg like after my mill SW run yesterday and a long day at 7 peaks without a nap (my sister has three little kids, four that can watch themselves, busy times).   Just throwing out my excuses for my creeping pace up AF canyon.  It wasn't that I was winded.  My legs just felt heavy, swollen.  I ran WITHOUT a garmin but with my Ol' Faithful STOPWATCH.  I got my mileage from the gals then course tool for the warmup.  The plan was to run 17 miles but when we passed my car and I was to turn around in one mile Jane said "why don't you just keep running with us and NOT run before work tomorrow"  SO I DID of COURSE.  Plus, turning around meant UPhill again even though it wasn't a huge grade it was still up hill.  My mind easily accepted 3 more miles over one mile uphill.    Basically I was about a total of 2.5 minutes to three minutes behind the SPEEDSTARS on the way up, taking my time.  Wasn't sure how my body was going to like the downhill.  AF canyon is pretty slanted and at least four miles are pretty steep downhill.  BUT amazingly I kept up with them and perhaps PUSHED them a bit at the end, I was ahead for a bit feeling pretty great.  Without my garmin I tend to run FASTER without realizing it.  Jane said I was doing at least a 6:15 pace at that point.  Who knows.  She told me to throw my garmin out so I wouldn't look at my watch and freak out over the fast pace that my mind would inevitably tell me was TOO fast for me.  AP for 11 miles back to Jane's = 6:36!! : D.  Oh yah the AP to the top pace was ONLY 8:17.  See total LARDNESS.  But my legs felt ALIVE on the downhill.  This is SUPPOSED to be recovery week so I guess it is time to relax.  Iced in new spot of AF river.  We so LOVED it.  Waterfall, and REMOTE.  NICE.  AP for all 19.5 miles= 7:23 pace.  I am feeling STRONGER and STRONGER. I have never run back to back workouts like this and totally optimistic since I feel GREAT :D. Splits (Kim's garmin)-- 6:52, *7:00, 6:40, 6:20, 6:14, 6:20, *6:36, 6:57, 6:53, 6:31, *6:35.

2.54 miles before work-- 8:11, I think.  Garmin is upstairs.  Got out to run at 5:33am BEFORE work.  That is all I could fit in but it got me to my scheduled 59 mile week. So much for only going 55 miles.  I have a sore throat. Odd because no other symtom.  Something I ate that was contaminated no doubt.  Taking my super defense all natural pills.  :D.

Off to go camping in past Heber a ways in a remote area. Not sure if I will be up for running when I can't shower afterwards and the mosquitos bugging me.  Father in laws birthday present-- spending time together camping.  I am bringing my running gear in case I feel the need to go running at 8000 ft.  HELLO!!  I was told not to worry about pace UP there.  So I won't.  Just taking my garmin in case I get lost :D.    Only dirt roads to run on.  Basically today was make up the miles day, just in case-- so I intended on running a 20 miler, well I ran the Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills loop from my house and I was at 20.7 so I just decided to run to 21 miles of course : D.  I left at 6:30am.  Sore throat still there.  I think it is from when I gave my nostrils/sinuses a kiddie pool enema when riding down the slide and the water pressure/height was pretty high and went right up my nose.  It burned etc.. and my sinuses hurt for a bit.  Less than a day later- sore throat.  Inoculation with lots of fun microbia I am sure.  Lovely.  I was a little achy leaving on my run today and felt kind of "fighting" something off feeling but I was determined to get those miles in and just "do it" like I always do.  Well I felt better and better despite the DANG HUMIDITY that hit our town once more after a MASSIVE warm front  with thunder/lightning flew through here last night-- tornado-like in nature.  I thought our house was going to be lifted.  I had to hop over SLUGS/snails crossing along the river trail.  I did NOT want to hear the CRUNCH of a shell.  I am just humane like that.  Stepping on purpose on insects etc... is not me.  The poor snails probably got hit by many a walker and biker today but I was not going to be one of them.   This was a hilly 21 miler.  I ran the back side of Healey drive via 300 north in Alpine.  I had NO WATER  or fuel until mile 12 where the eternal fountain was flowing.  Unfortunately it wasn't refreshing.  It was warm.  My next stop was, after the nice climb, not until Walmart in Cedar Hills.  The water from the fountain was even warmer from their indoor fountain.  Seriously?  I let out a sigh and a worker told me to get some water from the Subway that was inside this Walmart.   Ahhhhhh ICE WATER.  I put some ice in my bra front and back and hoarded the water like it was my last ever water I would be drinking.  I ate no gus or gels.   Wasn't running prepared.  No music either.  Just me and my garmin in "hide" mode, just telling me my mile splits.  AP for 21 miles = 7:51.  First mile 8:29.  Last two miles were the fastest-- both 7:10s.  All miles under 8 except the first four.  I so love a good warm up.   No rushing it.  This all felt very easy.  : D.  Off to go camping.  Hope I come back with some adventures to post.  : D.

So.....I awoke this morning at 6:36am  after a scenic drive to our remote camping area in Heber (yesterday afternoon), nice campfire dinner with roasted marshmallows (too many to count) to start my first day of ALITITUDE training.  Oh yah baby!!!  it was 94 degrees in PG but 69 degrees when we got there at 3:45 pm yesterday.  Well I was a BIT off on the elevation--  I just downloaded my garmin and I was camping at 9510 FT !!!  YUP UP THERE.    So I go the way grandpa (father in law) said to go and where Troy and I briefly 4 wheeled yesterday and I ran until 5.5 miles.  HELLLLO !! It is like I have altitude reserve training for just 5 miles because turning around and running back UP and DOWN was like sucking through a straw.  I stopped for a total of 2 min 9 seconds.  Once for pottying once for "holy moly give me some relief here" moment.  I sure could have used my water belt.  I keep forgetting to plan for water.  I just run without.  Oh yah there is only DIRT and ROCKS to run on. I ran without music and put my garmin in "hide" mode except for mile splits.  I am telling you this was an intense run!!  Ending on a  1 mile steep incline at 9500 feet is intense.  Total elevation gain on run 1298 ft.  Elevation start 9343 ft.  Highest elevation 9893 ft.  Tomorrow I run shorter but HIGHER.  AP for 11 miles = 9:20.  Nothing too fast, no heart attacks out in the wilderness alone.  SO VERY BEAUTIFUL.  I was envisoning myself running the Wasatch Back 100.  At least then I would have water/fuel and a few friends along the way.    btw-- I awoke again with a sore throat. OUCH.  But I ran through it.  I think it is allergies-- all the smoke from the campfire not helping.  Even my left ear feels full of fluid.  FINISHED THIS DAY OFF WITH a FOUR HOUR 4-wheeler ADVENTURE ride with my daughter Courtney on the back and Amber with Grandpa and Brooke with Troy.  OH MY quite the bumpy ride in parts.  MY THUMB GOT A GREAT WORKOUT holding down the gas!!   4 HOURS!!! 

This time I started a little higher (9510 ft) and climbed higher (9995 ft) on the dirt road/trail.  No wonder on my way back at the half way point 4.5 miles away a net downhill apparently but after the huge climb, I was like just barely moving my legs and arms to conserve energy.  Could certainly use a little agua here, maybe even Kelli's crystal light.  There was an almost full water bottle from like Costco on the ground, but really should I?  Not unless I was truly dying.  Oh and there was one glacier I passes.  YUP you read right, a glacier.  There were several up there.  This air was thick and amazingly refreshing to run in.  I even ran a 7:43 mile at one point before my HUGE accent.  I decided "no need to push it" this high in the clouds.  I am supposed to try to run the Hobble Creek Half at 1:24:xx or another makeshift event that is timed and includes all stops to = 1:24:xx.  YIKES.  I hope my altitude training pays off.  AP for 9 miles and 1,031 elevation gain = 8:38, must be adjusting now pace quicker, but less overall elevation gain today.   Oh I must mention that I have had to take TWO BABY WIPE BATHS at Camp.  I used five each day.  Sparkly clean.  Good as new and ready for adventure.  : D.

sore throat moving to my sinuses as I descended to 5600 ft.  Feeling achy.  Getting a full blown cold.  Blah.  I was achy on my run.  AP 8:19 for 4.5 with 7 x.1 miles at race half marathon pace or faster.  Thought that would unleash the grossness.  Got to work.  Was feeling fine and then wammo sinuses plugged, ears plugged, on and off achiness.  Hung on til the end of work and apparently many of my coworkers had similar symptoms this past week.  The new fall virus hitting early.  I thinks I have a little sinus infection.  I started taking my antimicrobial today.  Not sure how Saturday's race will go now.  I am going to try and sleep longer tonight as I called in sick because working with newborns and wearing a mask just does not look right.  Odd to have a cold in August but this is better than Sept 30th.  That would be tragic. 

AP with a SUPER SINUS INFECTION going on = 8:40.  First mile 9:30.  So feeling gross.  Ran planned run and to try to work out this grossness.  But 4.5 miles never felt so long.  My head felt so heavy and if I picked up the pace my throat would hurt.  So tomorrow?  Well of course I will run my 20 miles, just not sure how I will run the half (I am not registered so it is not do or die).  I think I will just do the run but do it at marathon pace instead of 1/2 marathon pace.  It wouldn't be wise to full on take this on like a race--- I haven't had a cold like this in a long time.  I am super bummed.  I hate decongestants because they make me feel more out of body so I am just taking tylenol and advil.  BLAH.  That's what I get for going down a kiddie slide and not plugging my nose.  Man did that inoculation hurt.  So gross to still think about what germs invaded my head. 

First I must add that I rode up to the race start by Mel's sister and dropped off at the mile marker 2.  We ran up two.  Started the race early because we were bandits.  Sad LET DOWN race for me because of STREP throat/sinus infection. Seriously POOR timing.  All night I tried to REASON with myself...I really shouldn't run this, really Julie.  You are sick.  How many people would even venture to think about racing feeling this lousy?  Well I just DON'T listen to my self speech.  I am driven.  I am not going to care about today's time and I will just "take it easy".  I told myself even "Secretariat" had and off race due to an infection and then HE WON the Triple Crown.  That is the only way I can think about this race today to not get depressed about SEALING THE DEAL of CONFIDENCE today. AND actually I think I have a 1:23 in me after my first 6.5 miles at 6:18 AP (6.2 miles at 6:17 AP for my fastest 10K ever of 38:57 with a serious head cold, so I am happy).   I don't even feel sore because this overall AP today is what I have been running so often.  I decided MP today was all I could muster but when I was doing so well and just 20 seconds or less behind Jane and Kim til mile 7 I thought maybe I could hang on but then I decided to take that pee stop and I couldn't pee (no WATCH STOPPING< NOT ALLOWED) and then I couldn't start running again.  I hadn't had any water until mile 8 because we were bandits and I felt guilty and I didn't take any GU with me (big mistake).  All I had were two HALL's cough drops creating a gross taste in my mouth.  After the Pee stop I couldn't see Jane and Kim and Mel anymore because we were in the woods/trail now and it became mental when the first few guys that started 11 minutes after us because we started this race on our own time since we heard there were still two more buses of people to arrive.  Apparently we started 11 minutes BEFORE true start time.  Luckily I was NEVER passed by a girl :D.   I just mentally lost it because my chest started to hurt, the muscles for breathing hurt.  I was not able to breath through my nose and it was just TOO hot for me without water.  I finally just HAD TO TAKE A WATER at the last three aid stations.  I was getting dizzy due to the race, antibiotics, ibuprofen, tylenol and NO WATER/Fuel.   My head got fuzzier and fuzzier that I just had to bring down the pace to 7s for the last 4 miles.  Oh we also made this course right on.  It seems to always measure about 12.92-12.96.    Mel, Kim and Jane went straight (not thru the shoot) and were called bandits and liars.  Mark Harmon directed me to turn right before the park so I just ran until 13.1.  I ran 1:27!!!  This is a PR on this course by OVER A MINUTE.  And I am willing to guess that we can take off that .18 miles since HAWK swears HIS COURSE is USAFT certified and the canyon causes it not to pick up accurately.  I don't know. There are MANY different opinions about this.  Despite my SADNESS of not BEING/FEELING my best at this race I am going to PERSEVERE AND CONQUER that 1:24 at Mt Nebo half.  Surely I shouldn't still have strep throat in three weeks?  Sadly Jane and Kim aren't running it.  But at least I will be official and start with RACERS and not try to race when there are ONLY FOUR OF US RACING from the get go.  Seriously it is NOT easy to push yourself with no one in front or behind (except the four guys that passed me).  I am thinking 1:23 is within my grasp.  Why oh why did I have to be sick today of all days?  Ran 2.9 CD miles slowly.  I felt like I needed an inhaler at the finish line yet my muscles don't even feel worked much at all.  That is a good sign so I will take that positive :D.  Splits: 6:08, 6:20, 6:20, 6:12, 6:16, 6:23, 6:42, 6:43, INHALER NEEDED WATER NOW PLEASE!!  I lost 5.5 pounds since Wednesday!!!!!!  okay the last four dreadful giving up physcially and mentally miles, pretty sunny and hot, 7:00, 7:08, 7:13, was going to stop and walk so started to drag my feet greatly, no muscles are even hurting I just can't breath and my throat, head  and lungs are spent, 7:33, 7:12, last 0.1,  6:38 pace.  These are the splits that add on to the course so if I were in the real race my time would have bee 1:26!! : D.

Just still upset that I was sick for this race because after signing up for Mt Nebo on Sept. 10th  last night I decided I am going to NOT run it and get my entry to another of their races.  I looked on the course tool and it drops over 3200 ft!!  2000 ft in the first 6 miles!!  that is INSANE.  I don't want to INJURE myself going down that steep of an incline 3 weeks  before SGM.  The Halloween Half doesn't even drop that bad and my calves were injured for days!!  so where do  I get my MORE honest 1:24?  btw yesterday and last night I finally began to SWEAT OFF my fever.  Still coughing up huge funness but at least it is out and not in.  I have also lost 5 pounds.  Apparently 5 pounds of mucus.  YUCK.  Slept REALLY well last night, AHHHH!!! since I can breath through my nose and my throat no longer hurts, life is good.  I still sound funny though.

Okay so  I was/have been feeling pretty sorry for myself that I slipped into a bit of a depression yesterday.  The antibiotics kind of due that to me too.  But the fact that I sound funny and my brain is still congested isn't helping.  But I AM FEELING BETTER. The sore throat is completely gone.  I am not coughing up as much stuff.  I did cough and got some junk out of my TEAR DUCTS!!!seriously, snot through my tear ducts!!  Apparently my FRONTAL sinus and maxilla sinus are the issues right now.  So when  I woke this morning (ABSOLUTELY NO SORENESS WHATSOVER!!!  HIGH MILEAGE BABY!!) but feeling kind of out of if, fuzzy headed and down.  I mean really I pictured August 20th so differently a month and even a week ago.  But I had to pick myself up out of the gutter of despair and SHAKE MYSELF silly.  GET OVER IT Julie!!  at about mile 5 after climbing a steady slight incline and approaching a steep incline I started to slow down and then caught myself and said "this is it Julie, you can't let this little sinus infection/cold get you down.  You can conquer this.  BE POSITIVE>  YOU CAN OVER COME THIS YOU HAVE COME SO FAR STOP WITH ALL THE MOANING AND GROANING.  There are other AUG 20ths out there and that was NOT THE DO ALL DIE ALL DAY.  KNOCK IT OFF.  YOU ARE OVER IT>  MOVE ON>  DO WHAT YOU HAVE TRAINED TO DO.  YOU can still run a 1:26 half and run SUB three.  It is so HAPPENING>   I CAN FEEL IT> IT JUST HAS TO.  Blah blah blah.  mome monologue......  So I did just that.  I kept pushing through the hills and forgot about my sinuses and did what I usually do and kept running.  I even added an extra mile and ran up a rolling hills course to the booth at AF canyon where I hit 8 miles and then turned around and ran back  the same way following the AF half course to AF high school then two more miles to my house.  AP gently rolling up for 8== 8:25.  AP  rolling gently down-- 7:17.  Last mile 6:57.  I am back.  and the GAME IS ON!!  for me anyway.  It is my game and I am playing it to the finish.  NO HOLDING BACK!!!  SUB THREE :D.   AP for 16 miles= 7:49.  Had to stop at a conveniently placed porta potty on 200 north AF (antibiotics giving me the runs) and at the golf course for the same problem.  Water at the golf course up and when I was coming back down.  Alleluyah!!  IT WAS VERY HOT!!    Side story:  On this run I  ran in to Amber Sandberg on the way up as she was running back down.  She told me Brandon told her that he was running up South Fork  when I passed him (I don't know him but he remembered me from his other van in Ragnar last year) running up it on my 11th mile of uphill running (my 22 miler two weeks ago with Mel and Julie) he said  to Amber- "I have never been passed going up South Fork". Well,  I remember after passing him and the other two  guys he was with and then all of the sudden he was right beside me and pushing the pace hard to pass me, so I let him. I thought "Hey I got 11.5 miles to go yet".  Apparently Amber said he totally paid for it  (at least his body did, that last mile up south fork is pretty steep) and she thought it was pretty funny that it was ME that had passed him..  I thought it was funny too and gave me a boost of how far I have come with running hills.  But how with this cold my hills have felt harder.  And now I am re-inspired to push the hills again.  No slacking when I see one up ahead.  PUSHING THROUGH ALL OF THEM.  : D.  At mile 12 coming out of the park where the hill is pretty steep, I was going to slow down but instead, NOPE I SAID YOU ARE PUSHING THROUGH THIS HILL DANG NAB-IT DO IT BY GOLLY YOU ARE  NOT GOING TO DIE!!  And you know what I did and it FELT GREAT!!  :D. 

4:40 am run for 7 miles at 8:15 pace around my darkened neighborhood.   No music just me listening to the sounds of my own shadow.  YIKES :D.  Got to work on time and was told I was to be at the other hospital.  The superviser forgot to call me.  Soooo got in my car and drove to Utah Valley's NICU.  Took care of some pretty cute premies!!  : D.

NICU again but this time I knew I had to work there so  I couldn't just show up a half hour late like yesterday when the supervisor forgot to call me.  We went to the BYU's Women's Soccer game.  We beat Univ. of Utah 4 to 0.  : D.  That was a great game.  It was very hot at the beginning.  I got off work just a mile away from the stadium in Provo.  It was nice that I was conveniently working at the Provo Hospital.  I met up with my kids and husband and tons of other people who had the same idea.  The alarm this morning definitely came too early (4:35am).  I almost talked myself out of it but I did some "you are almost to taper Julie then you can have a break" type of talking to myself and got my butt out of bed.  First mile 8:57.  For a while there my garmin was saying a 10 pace and I was like "surely you are lying!!"  I must have been soooooo tired that I thought I was exerting myself.  But somehow that little "rest" was the motor turning on.  I finished 6 at AP of 7:35!!!   THAT sure woke me up!!  :D. 

NOT liking the kids being back at school.  It is messing with my running schedule.  Since I was at work the last two days for the kids' first two days of school I couldn't leave my house at 6:30 to get in my 20 miler with MP.  But then I totally didn't feel like it right then.  I was nervous to run it by myself so I talked myself out of running 20 today and then I drove Courtney's carpool to school at 7:45am.  Stopped at my other daughters' elem. school to see if I could switch tracks and have my kids go on A track and be out of the house by 7:55am.  But nope.  No room for one of my daughters.  I also have no carpool since everyone in my neighborhood is on A track.  Anyway....TIME KEEEPS TICKING away and after I take Amber and Brooke to school at 9:10am I decided I would just do my 6 x 1000 meters and go over to the rec center since it is already in the high 80s outside.  Geez.  But I get there and the way my morning was going this just put the icing on my cake---THEY ARE CLOSED FOR CLEANING UNTIL AUGUST 29TH!!! seriously?  Melanie had run at AF because Lehi's Rec is also closed for cleaning and she said the TMs don't go fast enough, just to 10 mph.  Of course my goal was only a 6:15 for them but I just didn't feel like going to AF.  It is a VERY CROWDED little TM room.  Blah.  Time is still ticking.  As I pulled in my driveway feeling HORRIBLY unmotivated I called Kelli.  Darn she already ran.  I whined to her about my UNMOTIVATED SELF and then Kim called me back and I WHINED some more.  WELL  I finally in my tired body DRUG IT TO THE SIDEWALK and thought "just put one foot in front of the other and see if you can run today one step at a time".  My goal was to run 4 mile warmup and do some 1000 repeats at AF high school.  WELL..... I ran a 7.1 mile warmup *AP= 7:48,  towards down town AF and by Good Earth and then North and then East and then on the new River trail, where I soaked my hat in water and continued a loop coming back to AF high school.  AHHHHHH cold water in their school.  I must put in here how I NEVER looked at my pace except when it beeped that another mile passed by.  I WAS UTTERLY in shock that my first mile was 8:20.  I told myself to slow it down but then  I ran an 8:00, then 7:38, 7:42, 7:41, 7:43, 7:31!!!! THIS IS IN SEARING 94 DEGREE HEAT (the sign at AF high school was such a welcome sight with THAT news).  I thought for a moment HOW CRAZY I was to even attempt some 1000 meter repeats (2.5 laps) but decided everyone already knows that so no biggie.  I  ran the first one (no watch peeking at all) and AGAIN SHOCKING--- 5:59 pace for 1000 meters at 94 degrees!!  I ran 1.5 laps in between at 8:11 pace and ran the second repeat at even faster pace--  5:54!!!!! HELLO. Ran 1.5 laps at 7:58 pace.  But boy was this SEARING dryish heat  giving me a VERY dry scratchy throat!!  I ran inside the school and got some cold water to drink and dipped my hat again.  I also ate a gu chomp.  I took four with me on this run.  This was my third one.  They helped a lot.  Then ran the third one at 6:03!!!!  HELLO!!!  WHAT is the deal??    this WHOLE no looking at the GARMIN thing is so GOOD FOR ME!!    I have to say that the third one I started out too fast because some guy was staring at me from under a shade tree but he was gone by the second lap.  That quicker start made me overshoot and slow too much.  But I also have to say I NEVER FELT TAXED aerobically.  My breathing was even.  The only problem was when I stopped I could tell I had been sweating a lot because I got that feeling you get in your body when it is trying to cool you off so you don't have heat stroke-- your arms feel tingly etc... and you feel a bit cold but shouldn't because it is hot out.  Sooo  I used that as a good excuse NOT to run anymore 1000 meter repeats today.  Went inside the school  for more water as all the kids were coming out for lunch/recess so I was definitely glad I didn't run any more laps.  Ran 3.65 mile cooldown to my house.  AP 7:52.  MASSIVELY HOT NOW!!!  Probably 96 degrees for sure.  Not sure why I am running faster lately more easily and especially in the heat. Weird.   All in the name of SUB THREE BABY!!! :D.   Oh the best part about this run was the finish.   I rubbed an ice cube all over my body then a half hour later iced myself in the river for 9 minutes. VERY REFRESHING :D.

Since I am changing MP to next weekend I ran this conservatively and THANK GOODNESS I did or I would have been admitted to the hospital for IV fluids.  HOLY MOLY did the TEMPS start to sore.  Again I had to be there for my kids this morning so I didn't leave my house to drive to the mouth of the canyon until just before they left with my husband to school at 8:50am.  I arrived at 9:02.  Left for the ascent at 9:05 am and ran up 6.5 miles!!!  I ran so slowly because the first few steps I was completely thinking I should go back home and forget the 20 miler today.   I just wasn't into it.  There was a great WARM  head wind for the first four miles up and the sun was intense in the unshaded areas.  I tried to stay focused and didn't care what my pace was.  My legs began to feel light and fluffy.  And my shoes (not my new ones) were like I was on squishy pancakes.  After a while it became harder and harder to run in these old pair of mizuno precision with well over 500 miles on them.   You should see the "nonexistent" tread on them, especially the forefoot.  They felt way too squishy.  No shock abosorbment going on.  Just squish.  I fatigued way too early in this run and when I hit the valley in the 94+ degree weather--- survival run is what became the point here.  I stopped at the bathroom at the Golf Course bathroom and put my hat  AND shirt under the faucet.  In fact I already had stopped six times before this point, although they were short for the most part, less than a minute except at the top.   I was utterly losing it in this heat.   When I finished leg cramps hit me hard so I knew I was not getting enough water.  But I did at the finish take in over half of a 32 ounce gatorade.  I got on the scale and had lost over 3 pounds!!!  NOT good.  So I kept drinking and drinking but then felt like puking.  So I took slow sips.  The water at the high school I gulped and gulped and gulped and couldn't get enough.  It was ICE cold and amazingly refreshing, but I still had almost two miles to go. 8 stops.  What a wimp.  One was only a half mile from my house under a shade tree.  My body was begging to be cooled down.   But you know what, heat is a curse for a runner.  It is not easy to run in the heat.  My gatorade at my car (mile 13) was PUTRID warm   and I took 5 gu chomps and ate one every four or so miles.  This run was only easy until mile 6.5.  My six MP miles downhill were fine but I was too hot.   My muscles didn't ache, my legs just weren't in the mood to turn over.  So at least I averaged 6:42 for those.  I thought  I might try two more but that was enough.  The valley heat was just too intense.  The only other people I saw out there was one couple and several bikers enjoying the cooling wind when riding downhill fast.  AP UP NICE AND EASY, it really did feel quite wonderful after the first .5 miles--6.5 miles at 9:04 AP.   1/2 mile easy downhill before starting  the  6 MP miles.  Then 6 miles @ 6:42 AP--splits:  6:56, 6:58 (can't seem to run fast), 6:43, 6:40, 6:35, 6:33.    The rest were 7:30s until the last four or so miles at  8  (8:02, 8:02, 8:02, 8:18)  with the last .8 at 7:56.  DOWN AP for 13.8 miles= 7:27 AP.  Total miles 20.8 @ 7:56 AP.  Talk about heat killing my pace.  I guess in the heat like this you are to factor in being at least 30 to 60 seconds slower per mile so I will try to be positive here.  What a morning!!!   Leg cramps gone now.  Totally hydrated.  I even sweated up a storm vaccuming.  My AC is on so I must be a bit hormonal here. 

6.1 miles @ 8:28 sleepy tired legs pace.  Well at least the first mile I was in a slump (9:15) but it was UNbelievably HOT out.  I sweated ENTIRELY way too much in this run.  I was so sticky and slimy.  VERY WEIRD.  Then after a cold shower as I drove to work it was MUCH cooler all of the sudden as the clouds had drifted away and revealed a starry sky.  I must say that my left foot has been in pain for the last week.  Shooting nerve pains through my third and forth toes coming from the metatarsal.  I think I have a neuroma.  It feels like glass poking in my foot at times.  VERY sharp and sudden.  YIKES.  I am able to land okay running that I haven't noticed it while running.  It acts up GREATLY after I run. 

DECIDED after MANY BIG MILE MONDAYS  (hmmm let's see-- 16, 21, 12, 26.2....) to take it down a notch and run only 8 miles today and I am glad I did as all these hot flashes weren't for nothing.  Now timing is way off for SGM.  Who the heck knows how anything will fall then besides my SUB THREE!!  : D.   It is definitely a neuroma in my foot.  I forgot to mention also that years ago I had one removed between my second and third metatarsal after failed cortisone shots times two or three.  I am determined NOT to even consider surgery this time.  I just need to replace my shoes faster.  DANG these mizunos don't last long in the forefoot.  I need to write the company.  Some improvement could be added there.  In fact all the fancy swirling rubber on the sole doesn't even touch the ground and that looks the most stable.  I think the colored rubber doesn't last as long or breaks down quicker, one in the same.  AP in the gross humid air (still sweating like I have a hormone problem)-- 8:15 for 8.   This run I ran 4.5 miles came inside to talk with Courtney before school.  Melted in doors then significantly cooled off and started running again 30 minutes later when the sun was out.  Just not into it with my fluid-filled legs and abdomen.  BLAH.  Tomorrow is another day : D.

Well.......since  I missed the BIG MP run on Saturday that Mel, Kim, Jane and JulieE ran, I was on my own for 14 MP.  But what to do?  Kids are in school.  Husbands birthday.  Too dark and scary to run early up the canyon, too hot to run late.  Too much to ask my husband to come pick me up at the canyon if I left at a more decent hour like 6:30am and ran up South Fork like the gals did in Provo Canyon Saturday.  I was also not excited to run up there even at that hour all alone on a weekday.  It is usually not as busy with the kids in school.   So..... I was doomed for a new and improved relationship with the PG rec TM.  I ran,  back in  May of this year, a 12 mile MP,   TM run and started out at 7:13 pace and got down to 6:44 by the last 1/2 mile.  That being said I am in MUCH better shape currently as I ran ALL of my miles at 6:49 or faster with ONLY one stop at 8 miles to refill my water and take a gu and go potty.  This is how it played out (dreading it as each warmup mile got me closer to commiting to the goal today):  arrived at 5:20am.  It doesn't open until 530 am so  I ran a warm up mile around the track since I didn't have a watch on and needed exact mileage  of course  : D.  It was cool running in the dark around the track with a few overhead lights on.  One guy was on the track doing speed work.  NICE.  He was doing quite well.  Ran to my car picked up my 20 ounce water, gu, and 1/4 of a 32 ounce purple gatorade left from my last workout.  Ran  another 2.5 mile warmup on the TM  at AP of 8:00, 2 % incline.   Stretched and pottied.  Pscyched myself out for what layed ahead of me.  YIKES.  Ran yet another 1/2 mile warmup at 8:00 pace, 1 % incline NOW for MP readiness.  Went right into MP-- 8.8 mph (6:49).  It was all mental.  I decided since I cleared the TM,  I would run to the nearest mile before the TM would shut off at 60 minutes.    That ended up being 8.5  miles (including the 1/2 mile warmup).  I ran that in 58:11.  So 54:11 for 8 miles=  6:46 pace/ 1% incline.    At about mile 6 I began to vary the pace down to 6:40 to shake my legs and mind up a bit.  Hence why the faster pace for all 8 miles.    Got off the TM to get a much needed refill to my water and take a gu and potty break.  Then RIGHT back on for the last 6 miles.  This time I put the TM at 0.5% because like I said this run is mental.  Any giving from the TM I can get is gonna get me finishing this run.  I WAS SWEATING LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.  THE HUMIDITY INSIDE the REC CENTER WAS SO GROSS.  They finally turned on the AC around the time I got back on the TM for the last 6  ( just before 7am) and I got a burst of energy feeling the coolness.  AND then it went off again.  I am not kidding I was the sweatiest girl or guy there I am sure.  I think I have some sort of sweating problem lately.  I was SOPPING wet through ALL my running gear.  I didn't feel overly spent just bored with trying to keep focused on the TM that fast for that LONG.  I started to get spent after mile 10 however.  When I got back on the TM I had this SURGE of I don't know what and FELT SO AWESOME.  I thought these last few miles I am going to ROCK.  And then after TWO miles at 6:49 pace again I was like HELL---O  what happened to all that energy.  It is like my GU lasted only TWO miles.  BUT despite that I increased my pace to 8.9 mph (6:44 pace) and tried to keep it together taunting myself that I would stop at mile 3 but then  I wouldn't and I made it to mile four at the same pace (6:44) and told myself "COME ON JULIE only TWO miles left".  I just got through this thing at the end 1/2 mile at a time.  At 1.5 miles to go I brought my pace back to 6:49 for a 1/2 mile  to somehow give my brain a break.  But by the last mile I kept upping the pace every 1/4 mile until at the last 1/4 mile  I was at a 6:18 pace.  I ran the 6 miles in 40:30, no stops, AP 6:45.  Total MP miles= 14  @ 6:46 AP.  Ran 1/4 mile cool down.  Then drove to Grove Creek and iced myself and to REMOVE THE SLIME from my body.  SERIOUSLY what is with all this SWEAT I am producing?  There was not a DRY part on my body.  NOT right!!!  So VERY GLAD to be done with this one.  The TM  for MP miles in my OPINION IS WAY HARDER THEN RUNNING DOWN PROVO CANYON.   It must be the heat and the fact that the TM does NOT go downhill.  And the fact that when  I run down the canyon I am running with friends.  We also stop more than once, even if they are brief sometimes.  I am pretty pleased with finishing this hard workout. and sticking with my goal.   : D.

Recovery miles at 6:25 am.  Hilly route into Cedar Hills.  Refreshing coolness but the humidity kept me sweating again.  AP 8:26 for 8.8 miles.  Quads very slightly sore and the blister on my big toe that seriously rubbed during my run yesterday was PAINFULLY working on my ability to run well the first few miles without thinking "yikes, ouch, eeeks, ouch".  After two miles I didn't feel it anymore.  Mind over matter.  It was weeping when I got back.  So very tender.  It does mess with form however.  Took this run real easy.