Believe to Achieve

Another sleepless night.  What is with me?  But that doesn't matter I totally hugely PR'd today and I could have gone faster if I had motivation.  I just told myself the whole race that I could slow down after mile 8.  Then when I got to mile 8 I decided I would slow down at mile 10 and THAT's FINAL.  I mean mainly this half marathon is about teaching my legs to run fast CONSISTENTLY.  When I got to the 4 miles of rollers my legs kind of went through a "shock" of which muscles to use and it took two miles to get out of that slump.  By mile 13, I was feeling like I was ready to push again because my muscles adjusted to the nicer/easier grade.  I know this was a wicked downhill half but let me say you either run fast or put on the breaks.  Which do you pay more for in the end?  Last year I held back at the Halloween Half and BOY was I SORE for over a week.  I don't think I will pay too much for it.  I already feel like after a normal 20 miler now.  This is how it all started.  Drove to Payson at 4:30am.  Got my number.  The bus took forever to get to the start.  It was stopping "for air" on the way up.  My honda had no trouble driving it in normal speeds.  But I seriously had to pee badly and anytime I hold my pee in for long lengths of time I feel like I have to go all the time even after I finally go and I am trying to break out of that mishap.  TMI, too bad.  : D.  When I got to the top the air was crisp and I had my arm bands on my legs again just to keep warm.  I pottied, of course, then went right into running uphill for 2 miles then turned around.  On the way back  I tested the roads out with the descent and did about 3 x .1 mile pickups.  It felt fine.  My inner thighs were a little tight.  Ran a little harder than I should have yesterday (10 miles at 7:54) but I like to train thru my races to get my miles in.  After I got back at a lot quicker pace than I expected I had time for another 1/2 mile up and back down so  I warmed up for 5.1 miles at 8:06 pace.  Left my leg warmers on for the race because I pulled them up and the sweat started to cool me down too fast.  BRRRRRrrrrrr.  It felt better to leave them on plus I was hoping they would protect me from some major fall if it happened.  YIKES.  So glad it didn't.  I have to say this was the funnest half course I have run.  SO INCREDIBLY BREATHTAKING>    I took time to notice the mountains and the sun rising.  It seriously was incredible and the miles flew by.  When the gun went off  I was in front and then another chica passed me within .2 miles and I got nervous.  I slowed and just kept it real and see what my legs wanted to do today.  After the first mile at 6:11 I was laughing at myself.  I ran the first mile of the Hobble Creek half faster (6:08) when I was sick.  This might not be a good sign for me, but then I just kept my garmin in hide pace mode and would only look at the split for the miles.  Each time I got under 6 pace  I was in shock.  I didn't know I could hold out for that long.  BUT I gave my body a way out.  Make it to 8, then rest and coast in, no make it to 10 then rest.  Well  to 10 is where I got and it was flat with rollers and my mind played tricks on me.  I told myself "who cares?" you are PRing anyway.  There was a guy about 1 minute behind me and about 45 seconds ahead of me.  No rush.  No one to push to get to.  Just coast.  I took a water at 4 of the five water stations, alternating actually with taking powerade.  At the mile 9.5 station I wasted energy asking for a DEcaffeinated gu and the girl was confused.  There was only one worker here.  She tried to read the packaging.  I told her strawberry banana is DEcaf but I was cruising too fast and even slowed that  I didn't get a gu or water.  Oh well.  So I ran this race with 3 GU chomps 15 minutes before the race and 1/2 gu at the same time.  That's it for fuel.   Without the water there I was a little parched but didn't let it affect me too much and said "oh well".  Here are my splits: 

6:11,  6:05, 6:05, 5:54, 5:54, 5:48, 5:52, 5:54, 5:57, 6:15(course flattens out), 6:34 (leg adjustment some hillage in here),  6:35 (more rollers and anxiety about PRing majorly I have to take a breather because I am in shock, literally), 6:22 (got it together and downhill not so steep now),  6:17 for last .1.  My kick is SERIOUSLY lacking but what can I expect after 6 miles under 6 pace?  I find it intersting that my mile splits are right on with my 8 x 800s pace I did on the treadmill three weeks ago at 5:56 pace!! coincidence?  I don't think so.  Thanks TM for training my legs!! : D).    Came in second overall behind Danielle Johnson who ran a 1:16:35 I believe.  HOLY FLIP!!! She is seriously cruising.  So glad she is 30 years old.    Looking back I think I should have tried harder to keep on pace to at least a 6:15 for those last 3 miles but I really was panicking about my PR that I should just give myself a break right?  I just need to believe in myself more.  Three WEEKS until ST. George and the elusive sub three hour barrier to be broken. 

Finished this run with Rachelle for a two mile cooldown.  Asked Danielle before I saw Rachelle and she said she didn't know if she would be able to run after that race.  Rachelle and I started out and I got why she thought that.  My quads went into a spasm and I was a bit worried.  Then I just relaxed and it went away as we ran up the course .9 miles and turned around.  It was fun to see everyone running the ending.  I had to leave to see my two daughters soccer game (one at 10am , Orem,  and one at 11am, Springville) so I missed a lot of the post race hoopla but I did first take myself back to the mouth of Payson canyon and ice myself in the river.  AHHHHHHH!!!  I am really happy I dared to improve in this run.  Hope tomorrow my body is happy!!