Believe to Achieve

Well not the way I wanted today or yesterday to go for that matter.  Chiro appt went really well yesterday. First time pain free in my legs in a long time-- lots of adusting and stretch table/massage/heat/ultrasound to the lower back.  Lovin' it.  THEN--- after 2 hours of shopping with my husband and youngest daughter,we got back home to our dog yelping at anything that went by him.   I had my husband hold him down (he is only 10 pounds) because by process of elimination he had something hurting in his mouth.  I found a broken tooth.  Amber had given him a chew stick and his teeth have a lot of tartar (his breed brews tartar, dang it!!).  Well I pulled it out but left some root and he continued to yelp an hour later. Stupid me, without the aid of my husband who was busy at the time, I tried to check his teeth again and HE BIT my thumb!!!! OUCCCCHHHHHH!!!  I freaked out and screamed from the pain and my thumb was first in shock then it began to bleed all over.  I was so angry and I had to be at a staff meeting in 20 minutes.  While I was at staff meeting my husband took him to the vet.  My dog also has another tooth that is broken.  Our dog has a teeth cleaning and tooth extraction appt on Friday.  He got a shot for pain and an antibiotic shot.  He just barely yelped as I typed this.  It is going to cost us over 300 dollars!!!!  Plus another 100 dollars for last nights visit.  We chose a different hospital as Timponogos Animal hospital quoted us over 700 dollars to 900 dollars depending on what they find when they get in there!!! HOLY FLIP!!  I stressed out and am still stressed out.  I love my dog and I don't want him in pain so of course we are going to get him so help. I just can't take all the expenses this year!!     My plan today was to run a 3 mile time trial.  I had a hard time sleeping from the stress and the pain in my thumb.  I had to take Courtney over to where she would leave for YW camp at 9am and still I watched the hours go by for a cooler morning run.   I didn't get out until  1130am!!   I was so hot running.  There was a breeze and I wanted to just give up on the the time trial but I ran to the AF track anyway.  I went inside the school and used the bathroom and put water on my head.  I wore my visor.  I tried to feel motivated.  My leg went numb this morning when I got up and my ankle started to tingle again (my back problem still not going away).  Running at first felt off but I just couldn't not run.  I didn't run with my garmin and used my stopwatch for my entire run.  It took me 21 minutes to get there.  I course tooled it and it was 2.43 miles.  I then ran two warmup miles (as if I needed to warm up in this seering heat) around the track.  I took to swigs of my water I carried there and I was off.  Afte the first two laps I wanted to be done.   This whole run I was mentally battling the heat.  I wanted to stop after each turn.  I just couldn't get past wanting to stop.  Hence the complete breakdown in the pace.   I am telling you it was very hot.  Oh I had a head wind when I would turned south.  I actually was thankful for it.  It helped remove some stench but once I ran around the corner out of the wind-- stale humid sun beating down heat.  Why the heck am I running out here in the heat? I detest the heat.  This is not going to be pretty.  In fact I was so delirious at the end that  I couldn't figure out my watch to find my splits and eventually I accidentally erased them (my thumb was hurting pressing the numbers, I was handicapped!!) I do remember a few of them--  they went like this for the first four laps-- 1:33 (oh yah looking good), 1:37, 1:37, 1:38(first mile at 6:25, not too bad I suppose) then I just got worse.  I wasn't out of breath I was just so DARN hot, dripping beads of sweat.  At mile two I was at 13:14 (so my 6:25 mile turned to a 6:37.5 average pace-- that means this mile was a 6:49, how pathetic is that!!).  I kept telling myself "okay you can stop after 6 laps, okay try to go to 8 laps.  Alright Julie just do four easy laps the pace doesn't matter."  My mind was the issue.  I was under too much stress to run decently today but I had to get it done.  My last mile was 1:44, 1:45, 1:45, 1:40 from what I can remember.  6:54!!!!  so ridiculous.  It wasn't like I was giving it my all I was AGAIN too darn hot!!!  Overall time 20:09.  AP 6:42.  Stopwatch time.  I quickly walked over to the shade and put my head between my legs then walked in to the school.  AC on in there.  I had to pee really badly the last 5 laps.  I drank a lot of water before this run and apparently my kidneys kicked it in gear just before (when I pottied) and during.  I almost peed my pants after the run!!!  My muscles were twitching all over in my face and legs.  I am sure I was salt depleted as all I drank was water.  I am not really smart today.  Ran home easy after two cooldown laps around the track. 

recovery run--- slept well last night and got out in the cool of the morning.  Felt soooooo good.  So much better than yesterday when since I got out at 6:35am!!  I was like awwww  I am not even the least bit sore from yesterdays semi-speedwork (mostly heat simulation run!!).  Then when I saw my first mile pace of 9:40 I knew exactly why it felt so easy.  I seriously thought I was at least a 9mm.  Too funny!!  Like I must have been asleep!!  The next mile was still over 9-- 9:08!!  My legs felt great.  I didn't feel like I was working hard (duh the pace) but really?  Oh well this is a true recovery run.  AP for 8 miles 8:21.  NEWSFLASH-- I am the 3:40 Pacer for  the Pocatello Marathon (thanks to Rachelle :D).  Yup it is Official!!  8:24 pace.  Going to have to contain myself as the pacer director wants me to run that pace regardless of the course elevation changes.  This should be interesting!! :D.  I am soo gonna run it right on.   Kind of nervous too-- I am suppose to be a first responder as well if someone collapses during the race!!  A no brainer but my pacing job goes out the window if someone collapses.    This is going to be a nice training run.  I had only three 18 milers planned before SG and now I only have two planned with one 26 miler : D.   I am driving up with Rachelle, and Rachel. Fun times!!  The marathon is September 1.  Beautiful scenery!! 

Cancelled from work.  Yay now I can go to the zoo with my extended family in the hot sun ; D.  Up at 530am.  Out by 6am.  Ran 8 miles at 7:50.  First mile 8:53.  My first miles are just slow.  Last four miles-- 7:50, 7:30, 7:17, 6:57.    AP 7:50.  1/2 mile cooldown 8:45 pace.  I am not sure about any PR at SG at this rate.  I just don't feel into it yet.  I have no base and one speedwork, oh and a nice Timp Half Pacer time.  I have yet to run a long run.  I think I am clinically depressed. 

Met at Kim's house a mile away.  Drove up with Kim, Jane, Madison and met Melanie at the mouth of AF canyon.  Left one car there then drove to Timp Caves Monument and parked.  Ran up 5 miles past Tibble Fork Reservoir on to  dirt trail for like .1 miles then turned around.  5 miles up then ran the Timp Half course to mile 10 and turned right at Deerfield Elementary instead of left.  Plan ORIGINALLY was 14-15 miles then realizing the run we were doing (the rest were running 20 miles except Melanie who was running 12-- she ran 20 Thursday with JulieE) it looked like I would get 16 plus miles--I stopped running at mile 16 and walked towards Kim's house leisurely.  It felt so nice and I never give myself a break.  I always push, push push and today I was just going to follow the plan.....except as I started walking down the steep hill to Kim's house I decided to jog back to my car, this mile also has the nice climb back to Kim's.  It ended up being 0.6+ miles so of course I just decided to run to 17 miles even :D.  I was running easy.  I felt really good today (except the electrical feelings to my left ankle, but no pulling hamstring/sciatica pain.  I awoke with a good amount of nerve pain to my ankle but I tried to relax and not worry as I know it is from my back and I am seeing a pain specialist on Friday.  I needed this run.  It started out easy and the threesome in front of Madison and I were going easy ( I could tell since we were right with them).  If only they wouldn't look at their lap pace.  It always makes them speed up.  There is NO slow running with them EVER!!!  Madison and I didn't look at our watches until the end of the five miles of uphill.  We were proud of our 8:13 AP at that point.  We talked the whole way, in between breathing heavy.  Air is thick up there not to mention the incline.  I was surprised at our splits the first 5 miles--- 9:09, 8:05, 7:55, 7:53, 8:13 (last mile up includes that steep incline just before you reach the reservoir.    we were out of breath there!!).    Jane and Kim were a ways ahead.  Their AP was 7:30.  I told Madison that I don't like to train that way and that booking it on long runs is not how I am going to get faster.  But kudos to my friends who can always book it!!  I just can't mentally or physically do that to myself.  We stopped for water at  the top then ran back five miles for another water break.  Then another 2.5 miles to Melanie's car at the mouth of the canyon (bye Melanie!) and then on to the golf course.  I split from the others as they continued toward Lone Peak and  I had to turn and go up the hill (mile 8.5 of Timp Half).  I got the great shade of the river trail though and turned my music on for the first time.  The remainder of the splits from the top (all felt easy except last three miles I was tired!!)-- 7:18, 7::21,  7:15, 7:06, 6:55, 6:32, 6:34, 6:48, 7:08, 6:49, and 6:45 (my last mile was the rolling hills mile and I was at 7:10 average pace at 1/2 mile to go so I kicked in gear to get it under 7mm).    Walked a mile then ran a cooldown mile of 7:57 pace.  AP for 16 miles =  7:21.  AP with cooldown mile 7:23.   Iced in River 8 minutes at Timp Caves.  Brrrr!!!

Okay so I decided to check back at MY INSANITY last year--- and I was in fact INSANE (so VERY OVERTRAINED for St. George last year, especially for someone 42 years old, now I am 43).   Here is a training eulogy of death---

sat July 30th (and I am not even counting the madness happenings from Utah Valley Marathon til now-- two fast half marathons, two 10ks)-- Sogonamit at 340am 15.5 miles with Kelli, then worked ALL da y 12 hour shift starting at 6am.

Monday Aug 1st-- Impromptu marathon in heat and humidity(10am start time!!)up to the reservoir and back from my house-- exactly 26.2 miles-- eight stops, no watch stopping, run in 3:34!!

Tuesday Aug 2nd-- I show up to track work (not planned but that was what the girls were  doing.  I ran 7 x 800s PRETTY decently-- some of them at 5:57 pace!!

Sat Aug 6th -- 22 miler up and down  Provo canyon (11 up, 11 down )  6:49 Average down under 7:45 on the way up!!!

Aug 11th-- 8x 800s (but I ran 13miles too!! In fact most days I ran over 12 miles except days I worked I ran 5-7 miles).

Aug 12 (friday)-- ANOTHER long run 19.5 miles  FAST too!!! 

August 15th (monday)-- apparently I forgot  I ran long just three days before-- 21 miles!!!  I was going camping so I thought I had to squeeze it in.  Got strep throat but still ran up in the HIGH UINTAS 10,000 feet above sea level the next several days!!

Sat August 20 -- 18 miles with 13 fast (Hobble Creek half) several of the miles at 6:07 ish pace!!

Monday August 22,  YET I still run a 16 miler!!

Friday August 26th,    21 miles with 6 miles fast!!!

Tuesday Aug 30th-- 18 miler with 14 of the miles FAST on the treadMILL!!!!!!!!!  What in the heck am I doing to myself????????

Saturday, Sept 3rd--- 23 miles!!!!  AP 7:05    Wallsburg to Provo.  I am seriously sick in the brain!!!

Monday, Sept 6th-- Payson onion days 10k. 

No taper and here it comes-- Sept 10  Mt Nebo half in 1:19:35 with a  five mile warmup!!!!!  So another 20 miler!!!!   I need therapy!!!

The FINAL straw  TWO WEEKS BEFORE st george marathon--- I ran the TOP OF UTAH MARATHON  on Saturday Sept 17th pacing my girlfriend in the hail,cold and rain-- running a head EVERY mile taking pictures, stopping at a porta potty twice for several minutes then sprinting to catch her. Carried her clothes, her GU etc... It was fun but by the end I could tell I was very tired---I needed to be done with running.  Soon after that my heel started to hurt just a few days before SGM and I couldn't sleep.  I stopped sleeping well at all.  My body rebelled with three periods in six weeks and major insomnia.  I AM trying to learn from my mistakes last year.  I really should never have run the TOU marathon and Mt Nebo only if I didn't run all the other insane runs in the weeks before.  I over did it MAJORLY!!!  If I had run SG in early September I  am quite sure I could have run under three hours.  This year I am not sure what I am capable of. My body breakdown with injuries puts me mentally on the defensive.  No trying for subthree.  I am trying for a PR.  3:07 would be nice.  My body knows how to drive it hard I just want to peak at the right time and be watchful to overtaining signs. 

Yesterday I wrote up on all the wrongs of running I did last year for SGM subthree training.   You can read it and weep for me!! D :   Today, I was only going to run 8 miles but I  was feeling so good (after my opening 9:34 pace first mile :D)  that I decided to make it 10.  That way the next two days at  work I can run 6 miles before work instead of 8.  I will run 10 on Thurday (I think) and 16 miles with friends on Friday and another 8 miler on Saturday before work.    I wasn't the LEAST bit sore from Saturdays run yesterday OR today.  Legs feel alive.  I was VERY tired getting out the door this morning at 730am.  I had awakened at 2 am only to find my husband not yet in bed.  He was on his way when I went down stairs. He is a night owl.  Always has been.  I couldn't fall back to sleep so I looked up about the Pain specialist Dr. I am seeing Friday-- I found two quite negative comments written about him and his office since last year--- one in February.   Always makes me nervous.  But those were the only negatives I found.  In fact there weren't any others that made comments.    His name is Dr. Rosenthal in Provo Jamestown-- Nexus Pain clinic.  I just want my sciatic pain to be gone.  When I awoke at two in the morning it was all back.  I sleep on my stomach and that is a big no no with a herniated disc.  I took 1/4 of a relaxation pill and fell back to sleep around 3:15 am or so until 7am.  I slept on my side and the pain was minimal when I awoke.  I think that is why I was so sleepy (the little 1/4 pill hit me good).  I awoke in my run around mile 3.  I was under 7 mm by mile 4 so I had to slow it down on purpose.  I am happy with how strong my legs feel!! :D.  AP 8:08 for 10 miles.   Last mile 7:30.  No faster miles : D.  This run was easy but  it was qutie humid out.  I was dripping with sweat!!  Pruned some bushes after taking some swigs of powerade zero.  Just finished  rolled oats (cooked) with cut strawberries and blueberries.  I don't add sugar to my oatmeal.  I also added a teaspoon of flaxseed.  YUMMY!! :D.   I forgot to mention that this run was Olympic Marathon London Style course--  I probably ran as many twists and turns in this run as half of the marathon does in London-- no lie-- I made my run interesting by turning down every road in my neighborhood and I climbed several hills along the way. This kept my mind off the distance and pace.  I only looked at my watch as the mile markers beeped.  I was quite surprised the remainder of the miles after the first three-- it all was easy running like I said.  YIPPEE!!

6 miles before work.  Worked in Orem.  Nice shift.  Cute babies.  AP 8:29.  440am run.  Kind of asleep. 

Did not set my alarm to go running BEFORE work.  Had to work in Provo (Utah Valley NICU) and stayed up past 11pm watching Olympics.  Worked all day in overflow for NICU.  Dark no windows nursery-- three lamps, six babies.  13 hour shift.  Luckily we had air conditioning.  I brought my running clothes so I could have the option.  Thought about going to the PG rec center but Hey I was right next to the Provo River Trail-- all shaded.  So after walking to my car realizing the STIFLING heat (97 degrees with quite high humidity I am for sure), I proceeded to get dressed in my car.  It was about 105 degrees in there.  Stayed in there for 15 minutes so that 97 degrees would feel "cooler".  Proceeded to stagger towards the trail running over to 8 th north.  I used to run this trail ALL the time.  But this run was eerie.  Gang members and gang member writing on monuments just made as a memorial and on the newly built bridge and the smell of smoke from 75 percent of the people I jogged by.  It no longer felt like a safe place to run.  The heat was ridiculous even though I began my run at 7pm!!  So very humid and it made the cigarette smoke stand out more.  I kept waiting to feel a cool breeze but nothing-- just stench.  I ran by all my old haunts-- where I used to do my 4 mile loop when I lived in west Provo.  I am sorry but west Provo seems getto like.  What has happened?   Skate boarder boys and chain-links on pants and many a tatoo.  I was definitely thinking I could outrun any of these guys but was worried about lurking weirdos.  I just did not get a good feeling during this run.  It saddened me as  I loved the west provo river trail back in the day-- 8 to 14 years ago.  I used to push my babies in the stroller along there. NOW if I still lived there I would NEVER let my kids even go over there alone.  It was 3/4 mile  from house.  It was a true run through memory lane.  I knew every mile marker--- I didn't wear my garmin-- forgot to bring it and NO music.  I just ran to the 1/2 mile from the lake marker and figured  I would course tool it when I got back.  I ended up running 8.42 miles.  My legs were tight from the 13 hour shift and crab I ate the last few days at work.  Was certainly glad when this run was over--- I was dripping with sweat.  Heat running and I do not get along.  AP for 8.4 miles = 8:15.  First mile MOST definitely over 9mm.  : D   Now to go watch more Olympics.  Oh yah, my sciatic nerve in my low back was a killer all day.  I did some pressure point massage and it so very tender but ignored it during my run, as usual.

Couldn't even save on the AC-- the smoke-filled air is gagging.  I like to keep my windows open at night so when I got up and checked air quality with a sniff--- nope don't want to run outside today.  The haze was/is a dead give away too.  But I did ride my bike 3 miles to the PG rec center and run on the treadmill for the first time and several months.  I have a pass and I am not even taking advantage of it.  Luckily it was not too expensive but seriously  I should go at least once a week.    I decided to try a workout I have read about through April's blog.   I warmed up 1 mile at 8:34.  1% incline.  Stretched and BR break.  Then another 1.5 mile warmup 8:20-8:27 pace, 1% incline.  Then 2 miles at 7:30 pace, 4% incline.  Then right into 3 miles at 0 percent incline (don't have a downhill TM like April : ((  ).  Ran 6:40, 6:40, and last mile at 6:30 AP (three laps 6:35, last lap 6:00 to 6:18 pace).   Pseudo 3 mile time trial-- 19:50.  6 miles in 42:52 (7:08 AP)  This was very doable but it was ridiculously HUMID in the rec center and I could smell the smoke outside coming through  the vents.  AM I the only one that drips sweat like a faucet in a humid environment??   I started this workout at 840am.  Road my bike three miles home nice and recovery like.  It cooled my sweat off really nicely but the smokey air was nauseating.  ANKLE NOT happy-- the electric shock like nerve pains are back--- stemming from my DANG sciatic nerve in lower back!! 

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.

So very tired and sat in bed contemplating too long so only got in 3.6 miles.  I was called to Orem Hospital while I laid in bed at 5 am so that cut off even more running time since it is 8 more miles away from me.  Started to walk after 0.2 miles due to fatigue and a blister under my toe nail.  But that tricked my brain into thinking I wasn't running as I turned for home--- I just kept running past my cul de sac.  Too bad body.  No break.  Ran recovery run 8:22 pace for 3.6 miles.    Long day at work. Finished with three days catch up on Olympic events on TIVO.   :D.

Saucony 5s flats--- second time running in them.  Risky with PF but decided the track would be soft enough and I would run realy easy in them running to/from the track.  Got out the door at 630am.  Ran to the track 3 miles (incl. two laps around the track--8:38 AP)  The sprinklers inside the track were in FULL force but I thought - maybe I could out run them during my three mile time trial....HA!!!    They soaked me every lap-- LITERALLY.    Kind of put me out of race mode trying to not get drenched more and more.  My shoes were soaked too.  Oh well.  I did a lot better than the noonday time trial 1 1/2 weeks ago.  I was VERY tired getting up today with little sleep and the long run Saturday still affecting me along with SW Thursday.  I wanted an easy day but  I had to get this time trial done because  we were on our way to camping for two nights in Midway.   I was basically in no mood for speed but I am happy that I was 26 seconds faster than 12 days ago. I didn't look at my watch ONCE the entire time (I think I will look at it next time starting at lap 6 because I seem to struggle laps 8, 9, 10 and 11....progressively getting slower and ruining the outcome. Perhaps if  I see my slow time I will speed up?????  hopefully it doesn't back fire.   I  feel  I do better WITHOUT a watch.  I knew I was slowing. MENTAL for me.  I want energy for that last lap you know).  Okay enough griping.  Here are my splits-- 1:35, 1:36, 1:36, 1:36, 1:37, 1:38, 1:39, 1:40, 1:40, 1:41, 1:42, 1:37 (I didn't even pick it up here until the last 20 yards so obviously I have enough in the tank to push those other laps, I need a pacer.  I am nervous on the track thinking I might collapse.  HIGH SCHOOL TRACK TRAUMA once again.  I was sooooo bad at track in high school. VERY serious here.)  TIME for 3 miles 19:43!!!  : D.   6:34 AP.  MY GARMIN read my run at 3.06 miles --  6:26 AP.     Look how consistent those first several laps were.  HONESTLY if I ran this with ONE more rest day I could have done better.   I was very tired.   Cooled down with 4 miles to my house  --8:33 pace.    Liked the shoes on the track.  The road I had to run guarded with no suppor at all.  Foot/ankle in one piece.  Time to camp.

Tent sleeping.....ahhhhhh the best!!  (yah right!!)  waking three times to get out of tent and hike to bathroom.  Luckily there were flushable toilets!!   Went down stream in tubes yesterday with the kids--- two hours on the cold Provo River.  Ate huge roasted marshmallows before bed--- perfect recipe to a staggering running start UPHILL then down from my campsite.  I was on the "you' ve got to be kidding" portion of the Ragnar Relay-- mile 1 -- Wasatch Campground.    So I got to run downhill for four and four STRAIGHT up.  8:30 pace for 8 miles.  No pushing pace.  It was tough enough to even run well down hill.  Legs sleepy.  I wanted to just take in the beauty of the run and not worry about pace so I kept in in time mode only.  It was such a relaxing run-- except the last very steep mile up to camp.   I didn't even run faster downhill-- that's how easy I ran the first few miles!!!    Off to the Alpine slides and the Olympic Park!! 

This was supposed to be 8 miles then while running I decided to run out to five miles from my campsite--- well then there never was a turn off to the right again so  I ran all the way to the highway that passes thru Heber City --- yay--- 2.5 miles on the highway with many a eighteen wheeler.  I am like "holy moly Julie where is the beauty of yesterday's run?"  finally there was a dirt road turn off (1200 north off the highway) that I took back towards camp only it didn't resume straight after two miles you had to turn right or left.  Right looked quicker (the mountains helping my sense of direction) but then it turned right again after a half mile and well.... don't want to head back to the highway again so I turned around.  Basically I am running a on farmland dirt roads for 4 plus miles.  Flat to slightly uphill in the middle of Heber/Midway.  I went back to the crossroads and tried the left turn.  I ended up on Main street Midway where I ran the last leg of the Ragnar relay.  In fact mile five of my run was Jorge's leg of the run--- if only I knew where he had turned then I wouldn't have ended up at the highway (this is in reverse of his direction).  I ran toward town and decided I would finish at the 7-11 and call my husband as I knew from there it was still 3.5 to 4 miles home.  I was at 15 miles when I got there.  Now don't get me wrong I could have run it but I have my 18 miler planned for Saturday and I don't want to unleash the running demon just yet!!  :D.    Pelvis a little achy in this run due to the dirt and street terrain in my mirage 2s and absolutely no hydration or fuel since the Granny's shake the night before at about 8pm.   Thankfully my husband swiftly came and got me while I was sipping ice water from the local  grocery store.  Sweet life :D.     Soccer Tournament game for Brooke this afternoon. Off to the heat in SLC at 2pm.  Work the next two days.  15 miles  easy pace (never pushed pace) =  AP 8:11.   btw I think the elevation is a bit higher-- the air felt thicker to breath in.  Troy thinks 7,000 feet.  I think 6,600.  I guess I will look it up sometime.  Anyone know Midway's elev?

440am run before work in Orem Community Hospital.  If I thought about it better I would have road my bike there (7.5 miles away).  But probably would have talked myself out of it anyway.  Ran 5 sleepy miles in the humid air.  10 x 30 sec/10 off just to remember a little speed.  Huh.  Not much there in the dark of the morning worrying about tripping in cracks in the road and nodding off.  Long day at work.  I hope I don't talk myself out of running tomorrow morning for the same mileage.  AP today 7:52 for 5.08 miles.

THE ALARM--- just TOO early.  JUST too TIRED.  435am BUZZZ.....should I just fall back to sleep????  no just DO IT julie!!  blah blah.  Got out and DID it.  Amuzingly shocked and wondering if my garmin was playing tricks (or my eyes that can't seem to see close up anymore) as my first mile was 8:03 and I felt like I was jogging.  Then....oddly it just progressed from there--- 7:31, 7:14, 7:10 and 6:50.  WEIRD.  I think I was sleep running and I must have been dreaming that I was racing ; D.  AP 7:22.  Now if I can just keep up with Rachelle tomorrow!!!    12.5 hours of work in Orem.  Lovin' the babies.  : D.

Sleepless night (okay I got four hours from 930pm to 115am!!  Then just could not fall asleep.   Walked around a bit then got back in bed for another couple hours.  Couldn't take looking at the clock any longer so got up at 5:15am.  Met Rachelle at 615am--- actually her car was there but no Rachelle.  She wanted 20 so  I figured she arrived early and was warming up with two beforehand as I was only going 18 miles.  I jogged a few times around the parking lot waiting/looking for her.  I got in 0.6 miles nice and easy (8:53) then we were off after a brief chatting moment.  9 miles up/down Provo Canyon.  Neither of us peeked at our watches until mile 9--- the steepest up hill mile was faster than our starting miles!!!  funny it didn't feel different.  We ran two up south fork and the last mile up was 8:02 and we were talking the whole way.  Turned around without stopping.  In fact we stopped at the bottom of south fork on the way up (about mile 7 and then again at mile 11 same place)  We probably stopped about 90 seconds for the first stop and  60 seconds the second stop oh and one 10 second stop after our 4 fast miles.  Out of shape moment!!   We ran miles 13-17 fast (14-18 for Rachelle) -- We ran it on the least amount of slope of the run with all the little rollers, so we feel pretty good about it-- 6:40, 6:39, 6:43, 6:31.    AP for 18 miles = 7:41.  I think at mile 11 we were at 8:04 average so that is a big jump.  We ran sans music and we talked during our four fast-- a few grunts here and there and yelling at stupid bikers in our way ; D.  Honestly it was a relaxing run with Rachelle.   One that I needed.  We both were bugged with little ailments-- my pelvis was burning and my calves were really tight, her feet and hamstrings were burning.  We iced in the Provo River x 10 minutes.  Thanks again Rachelle!! 

sluggish run after Saturday up/down Provo Canyon.  Didn't look at watch until mile 10.  Ran up into Highland/Cedar Hills.  Last two a little quicker.  very salty run!!  busy day getting ready for first day of school.    Ankle pain is really daunting.  So done with pins and needle and sharp like pains to my feet. Yup both feet now but mostly my left.  I think this is my last fast SGM attempt.  I am only attempting a PR-- so 3:07.   I can't take this training anymore.  I want to rest for a while so I can get this pain diagnosed and controlled.  Appt that was rescheduled due to insurance carrier problems at the pain clinic is Thursday.  Thinking that a miracle is yet to be found.  AP 8:00 flat for 12.

having a hard time sleeping.  didn't rest at all yesterday.  it was go  go go getting kids ready for school.  then my brain couldn't relax.  slept 5.5 hours and got up at 425am and ready to run 8 miles very easy.  Recovery run at 8:34 AP.  Worked all day. Barely stopping.  Feet hurt so very badly-- they are in a lot of pain when ever I stand or sit for a while-- burning and tingling with shooting pains into mostly the left ankle.  done with pain.  i figure since the pain isn't going away i will continue to torcher myself through training.  6  and 1/2 weeks --- then a long break from running!!!  I will watch racing though!!  and try to get my fat gut in shape!!

8 comatose miles after going to bed at 10pm and waking at 430am before work.  I am in need of many hours of MISSED sleep.  Legs VERY achy at the start then they awoke.  AP 8:10 for 8 miles.  Another easy day.  Worked 13 hours.  Legs achy at the end.  Too many hours on my feet.  No down time.  Go Go Go!!

ZERO miles.  Legs (mostly left foot and ankle and hamstring again) twitching a lot with shooting pains.  I just couldn't bring myself to justify running today with this "injury".  I went to pain clinic.  They feel they can help me and that it is my L4 and S1 nerve roots that are inflamed.  I have fluoroscopy guided steroid shot into these areas of my back next Tuesday.  If my numbness/pain and tingling don't improve the Dr. is going to due nerve testing (EMG) to see if the nerve is damaged due to disease or otherwise.    Most common cause of the pain I am having is radiculopathy (nerve compression from hernaiated discs) so he wants to do that first however my MRI is NOT speaking loudly but he said my BODY is.  He has done many injections and is very experienced.    I have hope of course that it is just an inflamed nerve.  I am QUITE worried about having a disease (Multiple sclerosis being my main concern, as my grandfather had it and he was a big runner back in the day and no longer could run after 30!!  He had twitches in his right leg (mine is the left) and a lot of paresthesias (numbness and tingling).  I am optimistic but I can't rule that out yet until the shot.  My Dr. said my pain/numbness pattern isn't completely clear as most radiculopathy patients (which is why I am worried) as areas of numbness seem to skip normal pathways-- like it would do in MS (a dymylenating nerve disease).  I have ignored getting a brain MRI for some time. Sometimes it is best not to know!!   Seriously!!!! 

Okay.... THANKS to RACHELLE for driving over to my house and running one of the MOST miserable runs in our lives together.  We were both on the same page the entire run.  Rachelle said it all around mile 13 ... with a pause in her voice..okay....(pause) I am just going to throw this out there ..I don't feel good at all, just sayin'....  my reply "me too what the heck?????"   SERIOUSLY this 16 miler felt like the end of a marathon!!  we didn't even run any of the miles fast.  We ran a hilly course without fuel (on 15 second water stop and one 2 minute stop to find my girls at school at 8 am).  It was hot and it was humid.  We couldn't get past the sweat drips from all the humidity and the calf and achilles cramping and generalized achiness and then nausea.  So ......I just looked up the humidity....70 %!!!!!!  and 67 degrees!!    That is a high of humidity as Utah can get.  In fact the humidity over the course of the day will drop to 20 percent so Rachelle and I ran outside in the worst part of the day and all of our muscles are feeling the mineral loss from sweat and running a lot.  We are so glad this is over!!    Living for a better run day!! Thanks Rachelle.  I wouldn't have made it past 10 without you!!!  AP 7:59 for 16 miles.  Muscles twitching.  So very thirsty.  DONE.  : D.

PM  RUN:  SCARY but TRUE-- if this morning wasn't enough....90 degree temps at a 545pm start time takes the CAKE.  I tried desperately to "feel the love" the first few miles and I just told myself this was a recovery run (which it was intended to be) and  ALL 9s were okay.  The heat was so intense with the WARM breeze that I honestly thought I was running a 10 mm pace.  Glad to see a 9:10 for the first mile and knew I could make it if I just went THIS easy, but by mile four somehow (and it felt easy) I ran an 8:06 mile.  But I didn't want that so I told myself to cool it.  I tried to run where there was shade going this way and that.  Managed to find one drinking fountain for some putrid warm quench, huh!!  My left ankle quite the thorn in my side the first four miles.  By mile four it tunes out to the endorphins circulating.  Gotta love that part of running!!  Last mile I easily dipped into the 7s and ran a 7:27.  AP 8:31 for 8 miles.    So why might you ask did I run 24 miles today???  ANSWER:  I am all alone.  My husband took my three girls camping for Daddy's camp out in AF canyon.  Just me and my dog.  I didn't want to get up early and come home to a dark house before work tomorrow.  NOW I can sleep in until 540am!! Doesn't that sound glorious??!!!!  : D    Off to my neighbors to watch a good movie!! 

No running today since yesterday I ran 24 miles in the heat and humidity-- AP 8:09 for those.  Yee haw.  Worked a long shift-- 13 hours.  Work again in the morning.  Got Friday off from work for my trip to Pocatello for my 3:40 pacer job. Riding up with Rachelle and Rachel.  Good times!!  If only my feet weren't so painful!!  Go away heat.  Come on Fall!!

Saucony 5s.   2.63 mile warmup to the track.  Slept 5.5 hours.  Just can't seem to sleep past 4am.  I try to fall back to sleep but I can't.  When I can't sleep (like before work) my body COULD sleep.  It is a vicious cycle of insomnia and fatigue.  I did not want to do this 3 mile time trial. I chose today and now I think I should have waited until tomorrow.  I just felt so crappy.  I started out nice and easy to the track in my flats and man alive I had to work out many a muscle cramp.  Why am I getting so many muscle cramps and spasms??????  My legs and feet just hate life and the I spiral into a sad state...just wondering if I ever will feel good again and maybe it is literally all DOWNHILL from here.  Honestly I can't feel like this every day much longer....my muscles just don't synapse right or something.  They are still spasming.  What the heck?????   Am I that old?  Geez louize!!   I am angry at my body. I am trying to feed it right and still-- Pains everywhere in my joints-- from my neck to my elbows to my right pinky finger--- these are less severe than pains in my legs (mostly left) and ankles.  FLIP OUT!!!  I am trying not to fall into an abyss here but day in and day out of this is really getting to me.  Say a little prayer for me, anyone!!  I do everyday I start a run I just ask that I can do my best at what I have planned.  Okay on with the time trial-- oh I ran into Kim and Jane at the track.  How cool is that?  only I can't even run with them anymore because I feel so losery.  But it was great to see them and to know they were out there working hard too (they were pretty much done just as I started)!!  I warmed up two laps at the track (total warmup 2.63 miles at 8:33 pace) then stretched shorter than I liked but I wanted to start before Kim and Jane got to me (the finish of their last SW) and then I would feel I had to run that fast when I was running 12 laps and they were running 800s.  The only good thing about this run is the fact that I ran 9 SECONDS FASTER but HOLY crap I was nauseated the last several laps.  I ate 1/4 of a banana and two sips of gatorade before leaving.  Not sure why the intense nausea???  I was slowing not speeding up.  Oh and the LOVELY SPRINKLERS were in FULL FORCE for my entire run.  I was soaked to the bone after two laps.  They seem to try to "get me"....grrrr!!!!  My feet are soaked.    I sure hope they stop them over the next few weeks so I can run sans DOWNPOUR!!!!    So I lost you again, sorry.  Here are my laps:  1:34, 1:36, 1:34, 1:36 (6:20 mile :D), 1:37, 1:38,  1:40, 1:41 (6:36 mile), 1:39,  1:40, 1:41, 1:36 (6:36 mile).  3 mile trial in 19:34 (two weeks ago 19:43).  Garmin read it as 3.03 miles, same course no swerving either time trial and last time garmin read distance at 3.06 miles!!!  SO obviously the GARMIN IS NOT ACCURATE on a TRACK.  I started and ended the same place so no error there.  Funny about the garmin.  So NO more freaking out over garmin distances please!!!  If it is certified turn off the garmin mode of your garmin and run in lap mode and overall time mode, the safest way to play the game!! :D.     BTW after two laps my thighs felt so very tight I wanted to give up at lap 6.  Somehow I got my brain to fire those legs.  Turnover was pathetic.  Not a good track day at all.   Cooled down with 1/2 mile around the track and two miles back to home.  8 miles total today.  Off to shower.    Oh one last thing--- I need to do shorter distance speedwork to work out turnover.  OVERALL I am happy with 9 second improvement feeling as crappy as I did, poor sleep and NO speedwork since Rachelle and I ran four fast at the end of our 18 miler two Saturday's ago.  Hence the need for some shorter speedwork. 

okay plan was 12 at "i don't know" pace.  Started out and was like....FLIP out NOW my right achilles is bugging me (it bothered me since my run with Rachelle on Friday) and yesterday I thought I wouldn't be able to run a mile but I just waited for my muscles in my calf to calm down.  Well today I was like SERIOUSLY????  and when I sas my pace at 10:30 in the first .3 miles I was going to call it a day--- but something in my head clicked and I told my body to do some little "bursts" of speed (10 seconds or so) to WAKE my body up.  First mile ended up being 8:51 (phew!!)-- but then oddly my pace increased EASILY each mile (despite my stupid left ankle and the tender achilles-- my endorphins kick in running a little quicker and my form is MUCH better, more natural).  So after 3 miles in I was at a 7:09 pace for mile four (so 8:51, 7:56, 7:31 and 7:09) and for some reason I could NOT slow down.  I just wanted to run fast so after each mile I just decided to make it a tempo (marathon pace tempo that is) and even thought of Jake's advice yesterday around mile 7 so I kept it up on a hilly course (up and around Kim's house etc...).  Last 6 miles--- ( I only had time for 10 miles (had to take kids to school and got out too late, dang!!)   7:12 (all uphill), 7:04, 7:10 (HILL at Kim's house :D), 7:05, 6:58, and 6:50.  The 6:50 pace was not easy for me but all the other miles felt comfortable.   So  I am guessing my MP is 7:04-7:06.   AP for 10.2 miles =  7:23.  THEN I dropped off the my kids and the jr. high carpool and drove up to the mouth of the canyon--- 30 minutes later I added my last 1.8 miles in the breezy tunnel of the canyon, nice and easy, though my legs tightened up from the rest they awoke after the first mile but darn after that it was uphill and into the wind!!  AP here 7:53 :D.  12 minute ICE bath in the AF river.  AHHHHHHHHHhhhhh!!! very refreshing.  LIKE WHAT IS UP WITH THE WEATHER?????  98 degrees yesterday. Today it was MUGGY and LOTS OF BUGS flying in the air.  I swallowed one.  Geez.    Pretty much a 7 mile MP run at 7:04 AP :D.   Felt strong.  Now to go get an injection.  VERY nervous about this.  Like what if I can't run after he injects me?????   

My run today was what I needed. Read below. But first--injection yesterday into my left L4 and S1 nerve space in my lower back.  The needle going into the skin of your spine makes one jump even though the Dr. says "don't move".  Ha!!  When he confirmed the S1 nerve with the tester-- Zingg!!! to my ankle-- the problem foot!! Ahhh the right spot.  Then he proceeded to tell me AFTER the injections that the anesthetic works for a few days and then the steroid takes up to 10 days to take affect!! 10 days!!!   If at that point I have relief or quite a bit thereof he wants to do ANOTHER injection as he says the pain relief from the steroid is cumulative.  But NO third shot.  After that it is electrical stimulation and an EMG (muscle/nerve test).  All afternoon the nerve to my ankle was trying to come to life-- lots of spider feelings. So I am hopeful that it was my back the whole time. 

So today-- I woke to my days thoughts-- hmmm I want to run up AF canyon.  Plan only 8 miles so I said I will run  4 up/4 down starting at my ICING place (where the Timp half gets on the trail at the mouth of the canyon).  I drove my kids to school and the carpool and headed up there (four miles from the school) and nonchalantly started running.  Nice canyon breeze and the smell of pine trees.  It was 8:10 am.  I am loving life.  Okay, not the purest amount as my RIGHT achilles (I had this problem for several years ending last year so I should be used to it) very tender but the more I climbed the less sore it was and then it stopped hurting all together about 1.5 miles up.  I was running easy and it was weird to see a faster mile on an uphill mile in the canyon then I see around the morning loops at my house before work.   Miles up  8:33, 8:21, 8:24, 8:22 (hey my marathon pace for Saturday going UPHILL :D).  I stopped for about 40 seconds at the top to let two girls who were running down catch up with me.  I wasn't in the mood to have them pass me downhill.  Mental crush even though I had no plans to run fast.  I was running at the seat of my pants you might say. The best kind of run because after saying hi to the girls (realizing they were running about 8mm) I took off running and while running changed my garmin out of hide mode and changed my settings so I could see pace (I am getting talented at doing this)-- 6:53 in the first .2 and I wasn't even breathing hard.  The uphill obviously got me ready.  So downhill miles were so easy that I just took it in stride-- 6:40, 6:27, 6:15, and the flattest mile in the sun....  the mile that goes by the toll booth and swerves several times and ends at my car across from the Cedar Hills trail was a whopping 6:06!!!  granted I picked it up the last 1/4 mile but I am in shock I could even run that well from the last two days-- SW Monday, Easy Tempo work yesterday but not slow that is for sure yesterday.   This felt easy except for the last mile.  6:06 I was sweating profusely with the sun gleaming at me and the cars wanting me out of the way.  But my WELCOME mat at my car was the COOLEST of RIVER spots.  The best therapy after a run.  I cooled off quickly with 13 minutes of icing.  AWESOME.  I meditated.  NOW don't you go thinking that I got any sort of subthree in me this year.  That is not my mindset this year.  Getting there in a comfortable piece is my goal.  NO PAIN at the starting line.  Kind of like today.  I felt NO pain running downhill (a slight soreness in my back at the injection site thatis all).  I felt like myself.  A little glimpse of last year.  AP for 8 miles= 7:23.  AP up= 8:26.  AP down= 6:22.  : D.    I have no idea why I ran the way  I did other than I will be running 26.2 miles at 8:24 pace-- this may have gotten some of the boredom out of that pace.  Okay I won't be bored-- I will be a cheerleader.  : D. 

Worked all day in Orem.  NO run today.  Planned day off.  Then BYU football game as soon as I walked in the door. VERY bad idea.  Wicked late game (supposed to sleep well the night before the night before the marathon).  Got home at 1230am.  Buzzed from all the commotion and could not turn my head off. 

Regrettting my decision to watch the game last night.  Troy's birthday.  He enjoyed it.  I was exhausted from getting up at 530 am and working all day.    In bed at 1245am and head was spinning.  Eventually fell asleep.  I saw the clock at 445am and felt like I had not even slept a wink  You know the hangover headache you get from being up all night, like ragnar??? that is me right now.  I didn't even think I could run this morning.  And what is up with this humidity???  It is draining me.  My head hurts from lack of sleep and so wondering how I ever pulled off my SGM last year as well as  I did on NO sleep.  I was a train wreck before that race.  I feel the same way I did a year ago that day.  So glad I am just pacing ever so slowly at 8:24 at the Pocatello Marathon or I would have tons of regrets like last year.  I am going to have to find a way to fall asleep  SG marathon week.   I can't do that again.    8.5 hilly miles = 8:23 AP.    Don't worry followers I will hopefully sleep tonight :D.