Believe to Achieve

4 easy pace miles before work at 5:11am.  8:14 AP.   Wore my trail shoes.  They are heavy.

4.25 easy pace miles before work with 6 x .1 mile strides at 6:00 pace.  AP 7:59.  Wore my trail shoes again.

JulieE's  husband drove us to Wallsburg for a 5:38am start time per garmin.  Cold.  Memories of UVM less than 3 months ago.  I ran alone for the first 6 miles because Melanie and Julie don't know how to run slow  : D.  I planned on running the first 8 @ 7:45 second 8 @ 7:15 and last 7 at 6:45 AP but since IT WAS WAY TOO DARK AND WE WERE IN UNKNOWN (as far as residents) COUNTRYSIDE I was too scared to run too far behind them so I was "forced" to run quicker from the get go.  At mile six I was at 7:14 AP.  Ooops.  But then two miles of hills coming out of Wallsburg and over the Reservoir fixed that down to 7:21 for a bit but by the time I was at mile 18 I was back to 7:10 and had been running right close behind Mel and JulieE from mile 6 on.  At mile 18 I  picked it up and since the speedstars already had quite the average pace (7:03) having gone so fast at the beginning ran behind me for the last 5 miles as I ran MP and faster.   I also don't like to stop much at the end.  I like to get it over with while I am feeling good.  So I rocked out the last 5 miles to my music and pushed myself to feel the MP.  REMEMBER IT.  LOCK IT INTO MEMORY.  NO ESCAPING IT : D  Last five miles were 6:42, 6:49, 6:51, 6:43, 6:41.    Waited a few minutes for JulieE and Mel to arrive and then we went to ice ourselves in the Provo River nearby.  Oh yah, we added on another uphill portion from mile 17 to 18 (the Provo Half course that takes you BACK UP the old road a half mile with the fierce head wind, YAY).  Overall, this run FLEW by for me.  Although I was cold and removed  and replaced my long sleeved shirt three times due to frozen arms and that my arm warmers I wore as leg warmers were cutting off venous return to my thighs, I felt really strong in this run, mentally and physically.  I held back on the uphills only slightly surged on the down.  I am saving myself for race day.  At least that is what I think I am doing.   AP today for 23.25 miles = 7:05.  7 stops, all brief except one where JulieE needed to use an ACTUAL restroom and not the ground.  We also ran into several other runners we knew.  This stop was probably 4-5 minutes.  The others were less than a minute.  I believe all stops were total 13 minutes and that the entire 23.25 miles INCLUDING stops took 2:57 minutes.  I need to download that data but I remember about what time we finished and we left at 5:38.  Had only one gu so took that and five "chomps", one every four miles.  Gatorade at two stops.    OKAY as if that wasn't enough for my day--- I spent the rest of my day boating with my nice neighbors who took us  on their boat (my whole family) for over 6 hours on Utah Lake.  We left 1 hour after I got back from my run.  I used the wave runner for 45 minutes straight.  So fun   :D!!  love WATER!!!  Didn't DARE do anything else, like water ski or knee board because ONE false move and that could put me out for SGM.  So I am on "rest" from irregular activity until after Oct 1st.  AFTER getting back from boating we left our house having ALL showered within a half hour and took off to SLC to watch a REAL Salt Lake Soccer game.  SO fun.  And here I am typing this.  I have been up since 3:40am because I just couldn't sleep.  Might as well practice race day no sleep simulation from time to time. : D D.

Our Stake changes church times with the new school year so this week we now start going at 1pm.  And it happened to be Fast Sunday.  I totally believe in the reason of the fast I am just not good at it.  I would rather run 4 marathons in a row then go without food for almost 24 hours.  Seriously.  However the blessings for those we fast for are far greater than my need to eat so I stick it out.  Then my stomach goes through some shock after finally eating and well, add the 23 miler in from the day before and a sudden change of plans to run the Onion Days 10 K with Melanie on Labor Day.....YIKES.    So I ate 5 chocolate chip cookies before bed.  By 2 am,  stomach pains.  I guess eating cookies wasn't the best idea.  We did have a nice barbecue chicken and baked potato meal after church though.  YUM. 

Mel picked me up at the bank where I parked my car and we headed for Payson.  Just like old times.  Me and Melanie just being ourselves--- runners and buddies, adventurous times over the years as we have pushed ourselves to do well together.  We ran a 2.34 mile warmup at 8:10 pace then within a few minutes the race started.  Me a bandit.  Mel official.  I just wasn't thinking I would want to race two days after the big run Saturday.  Mel felt the same way but she and I are trying to break our bandit habit.  She is obviously doing better in that goal.  So off we went at 7:05 am.  No plans to PR but I did in a way since my garmin measured what I ran to be 6.24 miles in 40:58.  If I had run better tangents I would have been in at 40:42 for 6.2 miles (a 5 second PR).  Oh well.  My bad.  I was all over the road.  I never looked at my pace except at each mile (I had it in hide mode) when my garmin beeped and showed me the split.  I should have looked at it at mile 5.  I knew I was most likely slowing due to the hill but if I saw my watch showing that I know I would have sped up because HELL--0 my 20th mile of my 23 mile Saturday was a 6:49 as well.  Granted this mile in the 10 k was uphill but really?  Duh.  But you know what?  I never felt like pushing it in this race.  I ran comfortable fast.  It all felt nice and controlled.  No heavy breathing.  No feeling like I am going to die.  No "get me the heck out of this race" feelings/thoughts.  Just the feeling like  I didn't feel like racing.  Burnt out.  Conserving.  No need to push, push, push.  JUST YET.  Here are the splits:  6:24 (right behind Lily, Melanie about 10 seconds ahead of her), 6:27 (next to Lily, want to stay with her and motion her to stay with me, running with someone is so liberating if you aren't trying to race each other but trying to help each other, you share the work), 6:30,  (3 miles in 19:21, the clock reader said 19:15 but my garmin didn't read that mile until after I passed her, but either way I look at it--- 5K PR, in a 10 k race-- surely I could run that last .1 in less than 43 seconds, my PR was 20:04, COOL  : D).    Anyway mile 4-- 6:30.  And then yahoo we get to run east into the sun coming up blinding us.  But luckily it is not blazing hot out.  Alleluyah.  But with the sun and the hill at the same time I lost perspective for a bit.   I didn't look at my pace and then when it flashed my split as 6:49 I was like YIKES what are you doing, lazy Julie get it in gear....but then I just kept my watch in hide mode and focused on the slight accent before the final turns to the finish. Mile 6-- 6:44.  I could see Melanie just beyond the guy in front of me.  Last .24 miles in 1:31.  I had no kick.  I still wasn't even breathing hard.  I was just like not caring about pushing it.  I was slightly worried about my sore back from waverunning Saturday and the fact that it was pulling a bit on my hamstrings so  I didn't overly put it in gear.  It is hard to explain but it didn't matter to me.  It was like a nice speedwork out without all the stress I usually have when running SW.  I finished right beside the finish line, luckily the road was wide enough that I could run beside the finish shoot.  AP for 6.24 miles = 6:34.  Time 40:58.   Mel came in second overall  and I just 36 seconds behind her.   We ran a 2 mile cooldown together at 8:19 AP.  Then Mel drove me to Pleasant Grove to my car off the freeway exit there and I literally jumped out of her car and ran towards Noah's Ark there in PG and got in 3.5 miles at 7:58 pace.  I was getting VERY lightheaded from fasting yesterday and not eating much before the race (1/2 fruition bar and 3 gu chomps before starting).  I decided to go home and eat something then finish up my 16 miles for the day.  First went to Macey's to get milk and bread.  Ate some toast at home and three hershey chocolate bar squares with some milk and OJ and off  I went for 2.1 more miles at 7:52 pace.  I have to say breaking up a 16+ miler like this is harder than running all of the miles together.  Sweat then cool off, sweat then cool off, sweat then cool off, sweat then cool off.   Three hours later BYU women's soccer game at home then 7 Peaks Water Park  for the last time this season.  Work the next three days in a row.  Blah.

7, not on purpose, progressively faster split miles before work at 4:50am.  First mile 8:51, last mile 7:32.  AP 8:00.  Did the same loop six times then decided to break out of that habit for one last mile.  Not sure why  I felt the need to run like that.   Taper in sight.  Looking forward to a little break after my last 20 miler Saturday.  I think all in all  I ran about 12   19-26.2 milers since UVM-- -let me go check and  I will fill it later.    Nope only 10 and one was only 18 miles.  A lot of 15-16 milers as well.   I seem to like to run long.  Thinking ULTRAS are my next adventure after SGM.    I also would like to SWIM across a large lake. 

AP for 5.5 = 8:10.  Easy pace before work at 5:02 am.  Tired but forced myself out there.  Once I am out there I feel great.  I honestly think I could swim a marathon.  Just throwing that out there. 

slow easy paced miles in my trail shoes again (like yesterday).  AP for 5.7 miles @ 8:12 pace.   No music as usual.  Me and the early morning sometimes eerie outdoors. 

Stomach felt really gross at 4 am.  Got up to try and settle stomach for an 1 1/2.  Then got too tired to go running so tried to fall back to sleep but couldn't but then it was time to be up with my teenager and get her off to school/make lunches.  Three in a row 12.5 hour shifts kill me off.  Legs feel sludge like from cheeseburger Wednesday and french fries yesterday.  Made it out the door at 7:44am and did an out and back hilly 10 miler.  AP to mile 5, 8:22.  AP 5 to 10 miles, 7:27.  Total AP for 10 miles = 7:54.  Wore my really old mizunos, hence while now  I feel really achy.  Cleaned all four of my bathrooms.  Fun.  Showered.  Blogging.  Eating.    Has anyone seen all the flooding pictures back east?  so very sad for all those people and their homes.  I am from New Hampshire so my hometown is also affected. 

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!! 

So I knew this would HAVE to be a recovery day after Saturday's wicked awesome Half Marathon.  I worked all day yesterday so I was forced to walk all day long on sore legs, mostly outer left shin, slightly in the quads, left calf and oddly my gluteus maximus muscles on both sides.  I don't have much of a butt so I am sure it was in shock from all those downhill miles.  I started thinking that 9 minute mile would be where I would end up.  The first half mile was like ouch, ooo, ohhhh, with my butt muscles.  But VERY WEIRD was that my first mile was at 8:08!! HELLLOOOOO this is recovery so I slowed it down.  My heart didn't feel like it was working at all so that was great news.  No arm or upper body pain at all.  Just a bit in the quads and left shin/calf.  But nothing that said "don't run".  So I did the remander of the miles at a nice route around my neighborhood and beyond in the coolish air at 6:34am.  AP 8:18 for 7 miles.  Iced in Grove Creek for 8 minutes. BRRRRRRrrrrr!!!    TAPER TIME.  So going to relish in taking it easy the next few weeks (meaning fewer miles).  YIPPEE!!! 

Going out for an easy nine after nine hours of needed sleep last night.  Still sore in the calves/glutes and quads but less so not going to risk picking it up.  The first three miles I felt like I wanted to lay down and take a nap.  I guess all the running around getting to me. After that I awakened but my legs said "back off" on pace.  So  I did.  AP for 10.25 miles (yup went over as usual) = 8:32.   I left at 9:25 am so it got a little warm.  I perspired a lot oddly, even in the cooler air.  I don't think I will do any speed this week.  I will do my 10 x 800s next week.  I am counting my 12 x 800s with my six miles in a row at AP 5:53 for last weeks speed and since it is making me recover longer I will take it where I can.  Imagine how bad off I would be if my focus WAS that half and put all my energy into it?  I don't think I could have run the last two days if that were the case. 

Left my house at 6:04.  Still dark but ran an out and back course knowing the light would appear soon.  Growling dogs on Canyon Rd.  freaked me briefly and then some guys tried to pass me (although they were on the "inside track" or the curve in the road on the inside and I was on the opposite side running longer), but I didn't let them have that glory.  I was doing about a 8:45 pace then and ended up with a 8:08 for that mile from picking it up.  Well that pumped me for the rest of my run so I just cruised through my hilly route and over to Lindon on their running trail there until I hit 5 miles and turned around and since I was running better than yesterday and a lot less sore I decided I had time to fit in one more mile so I turned right up another hill in Lindon for another 1/2 mile and turned around and headed home.  The cool air was refreshing and it was fun to watch the world come alive in just one hour on the roads.  It is dangerous at early hours when cars get on the street (more so then my 5am runs) because people don't expect runners but they sure expect a text or phone call.  A lot of swerving noted on the roads.  I just keep myself aware of EVERY driver in my vicinity and don't take chances they ever truly see me unless I wave my arm and hands at them to "connect" with the driver when necessary.  AP for 11 miles with two 10 second stops = 7:53.  Last .18 miles I was at about a 7:03 pace and I thought "let's get this down to marathon pace before it hits 11 miles" and in that short period of time I kicked it in gear and got that mile to be a 6:51 (I hit my pace to a 5:37  UPHILL  : D, legs feeling VERY strong as well as my arm swing to the back).  Good sign all is coming back after Saturday's race.  I have skills day today at work and also have to work the next two days so going easy.  If I had tomorrow off I would run speed work but that is hard in the dark so I will just do some pick ups.  A short long run on Saturday should be happening (17 miles, A VACATION for me ; D). 

5 measly miles at 440am before work. Drove to UV hospital.  Ran slow and easy.  Left shin having a bit of issues since race but I think its on the mend.  I just ran thru all the soreness so I am sure my legs weren't to happy with me.  I would not recommend the Nebo Half to anyone with bad shins or IT band problems.  AP 8:35 for 5.  I have no idea why I felt like not following a diet....I ate the worse I have in a long time--- Nacho Grandes and reeses pieces!! seriously, not me.  I am sure my legs will feel like lard tomorrow.

6 miles easy in the am before work with 8 x .1 mile strides at about 6 pace.  AP for 6= 7:59.   Off to TOU marathon tomorrow to run Risa in for her first marathon.  So excited to be there!!  She is picking me up after work today and we are only driving to Layton as all the hotels are taken in Logan an hour from Layton.  Plus she gets an awesome deal at Marriott (33 dollars a night : D). 

Absolute funnest time running with Risa and Nickie!!  Arrived in Layton at 830pm.   Chatted until 11pm.  Slept until 345am.  Drove to Logan in the POURING RAIN at 4:20am.  We were pressed for time because number pick up was until 520am and last bus 5:45am.  Amazingly driving slow in the rain we got there right at 520am.  Got our packets.  Nickie's husband was injured so there you have it.  This was a SUDDEN decision learning this while we were chatting last night.  I had never met Nickie but we totally bonded and they were both wanting a upbeat pacer to be help them run especially now in the rain.  When we got there the rain stopped but all above us were dark clouds.  We got on the bus at 5:40am and took the long ride to the top.  We had 40 minutes at the top to potty and then run for cover just 5 minutes before the race.  YUP DOWNPOUR just after we took off our top layer of clothing for the race.  We were quite drenched for the start but managed to spend the remainder of THAT downpour in the tent.  It lasted about 5 minutes.  WE found large plastic garbage bags and put those on.  But lost those after the first mile.  Still lots of dark clouds but  you could tell that daytime was approaching.  We took about a minute before passing the starting line after the gun went off.  Oh yah just before the start I briefly talked with Allie.  Somehow I knew she could STILL run well in the rain.  So glad this WASN'T the SGM weather.  Who knows?  There was really no plan and when I realized my garmin was only showing the time and for some reason not displaying distance or pace, just a blank spot I decided it just didn't matter and I was running whatever pace Risa wanted to.  Her goal was originally under 4 hours but a few times she would interject how the rain and lack of training would make her fall apart at mile 20 or so (she ran two 20s so  I knew she would be okay).  I would tell her how do you know, maybe you will feel great and not ever feel a wall.  We removed our jackets (nickie and I at mile 3) and Risa at mile 9.  Every mile I would stop and take a picture of the mile marker and then turn around and take a picture of Risa or run ahead of them, stop, and take a picture.  I got several comments about having too much energy to take all the pictures.  We pretty much  found ourselves with the TWO 3:50 pacers all the way until mile 20.  Risa needed to walk longer through the last few aid stations.  I would hold their stuff or pick up things they dropped but I didn't have to help them thru aid stations.  They walked.  I would hand the camera to some strangers to also get some photos of me as Risa and Nickie wanted them  They decided that I need to sell my services as a marathon pacer/photographer and they feel very strongly that people would hire me.  Never thought of that as an occupation.  But perhaps I should : D.  Talk about loving my job.  Risa is all set to set up my web page.  I had a blast.  EVEN at mile 11 when it began to DOWNPOUR FEROCIOUSLY and then HAIL for 7 miles!!  It was all too comical for Risa's first marathon.  She would doubt herself and her ability to run in weather like this but then TOTALLY persevere through it.  IT WAS TRULY INSPIRING.  AND to be back in the pack with all the other runners running ahead then snapping pictures of picturesque moments and people it was so cool.  Much more exciting then running a fast half marathon.  I even got to stop at three porta potties then  I would run a little pick up pace to catch up to Risa.  One time it took just over a mile to catch her.  Nickie was always right there.  Sometimes she would be right beside us sometimes just behind or ahead.  We gave no one any pressure to run faster.  Just finish and finish without crumbling.  Risa was even cheering other runners to stay strong.  She totally ROCKED it all.  She never gave up. It is hard to describe HOW AMAZING this run was for me.   It was the I- ChING of running. The YOGA moment of life.   It was super.  The countryside was so beautiful, the twists and turns and minor hills were just that.  All the volunteers were wonderful, and the spectators were fun to wave and give high fives too!!   At mile 23 Risa told me NOT to let her WALK again and that she was going to run and try to sprint the last .2.  So at the little blib of a hill, which at mile 25 of a marathon feels like a mountain, I looked over and she had started to walk so I turned back and strong and firmly grabbed her left arm with both my hands and literally pulled her up the hill and I told her "Risa you told me not to let you walk, YOU CAN DO THIS YOU ARE THERE.  She began to run as I pulled her. I said  IT IS JUST A SHORT HILL AND when she crested her strength was renewed and she continued strong to the finish.  SO INCREDIBLE.  I would do this kind of thing EVERY DAY.  I couldn't ask for a better way to help a friend accomplish a goal!!  Nickie was right there and at one point just before the finish I took a picture of them holding hands then they finished only seconds apart-- about 7. Risa. Then me then Nickie as I stopped just before the finish line to take a picture of the finish balloon and turn around to snap a picture of Nickie at the finish.  And Risa as she had crossed earlier.    Running is the answer to all ailments.  At least it usually feels that way to me.  LOVE RUNNING.    **funny competitve part in me story during this race--- around mile 5 or so when we were leapfrogging constantly the 3:50 pacer dude because of our walking through aid stations and stopping at the timing clocks for a photo etc... I was right in front of him and looked back after passing him and he said "hey I know you....I passed you at Bryce Canyon last year (meaning 2010) in the last 1/2 mile!!"  Of course he is yelling this to his WHOLE pacer group so  I had to yell out-- WELL (thinking how in 2010 I was injured for the race so I wouldn't be rude and say that to him).... instead I said "well I ran 1:26 there this year....and then we started talking about Mt Nebo half and he talked how his buddy ran a 1:10 and of course I had to tell him I ran a 1:19 just to shut him up  : D).  I got a few chuckles with that conversation....and one lady said "who in the heck am I running with?".  And then I proceeded to speed up and take more snap shots.  We found him at the finish and he is like "what did you end up running it in with all your stops and picture taking?"  yahta yahta yahta WE eventually realized we live in the SAME STAKE one mile from each other and have never LITERALLY RUN into each other.  He really is a nice guy.  So it was fun to officially meet him and not be competitive. 

Wasn't trying to run fast but it just came out of me the end of the first loop and the second. Ran 4.13 miles at 6:57 am.  Had to get back to see my daughter off at 7:30, make her lunch, talk with her about her day etc.. First mile 9:20. Last mile 7:08.  Then 20 minutes later I was out the door again for the last 4 miles.  I cooled down quite a bit in those twenty minutes but started out quicker than the first loop- 7:56.  Last mile I thought I was going slow and it came out to be a 6:46 mile!!!  That felt easy.  Yippee.  Then I was a bit from my house and I thought I was slowing down but apparently not-- for .3 miles I was at a 6:32 pace!!  I could have gone on and on at that moment.  No music.  Just me and the sounds of outdoors.  AP for 8.3 miles = 7:44 : D. ADDENDUM:  I do need to explain why I ended up running a mararthon Saturday.  Well, about a week ago exactly I was working with Risa and found out that she was no longer running the Minneapolis Marathon because her running partner bailed so he gave her a 100 dollar bill and she signed up for TOU a month ago.  I totally don't know how I missed that but we hadn't worked with each other for a while. She complained about her knee bothering her but that she had run two 20 milers at about a 9:30 pace.  She was wanting to bail on TOU marathon.  I told her she shouldn't and that these nagging pains were just signs the body gives out a week or so before a marathon especially if the mind isn't listening. I convinced her that she was ready and that she should just get adjusted and take her runs easy until the race.  And I volunteered to drive her home from the race.  Her biggest concern was that she wouldn't be able to drive herself home after the race-- a two hour drive. I also told her I would run up from the finish line and meet her at mile 18 and run her in.  Back before the Bryce 1/2 marathon I had run a 15 miler with her two days before my race. She was easy to run with and she was very impressive!!  I knew that running with her would be fun.   So all week I checked up on Risa and sure enough she was ready to go.  She picked me up at 730pm at my house just after I got back from work and we got to our hotel at 8:30pm.  She took 1/2 ambien and then we all talked until 11pm.   We forced ourselves to turn out the light.  In that conversation it just happened that I thought it would be fun to see them off at the top and well... one thing lead to another and I had a number to get to the start and ran the whole thing carrying a camera and any other things the girls needed me to.  I didn't have one down moment.  I was completely estatic to be there and cheer everyone on.  I think definitely I should like to be a pacer.  I don't know how I had that much energy on barely any sleep and just having run a fast half with sore legs for four days after ward but I did.  And I am feel pretty strong even today.  SGM-- the icing on the cake : D.

Chillaxin' in the cool mornin' air going easy going short...was going to not run at all but then couldn't sleep and then I was like silly julie you should have left earlier to get at least 5 in before work.  3.5 miles is short.  AP 7:53.   Although I am very crampy, my legs feel VERY good.  Strong.

Yes should have left earlier yesterday (I got out yesterday at 5:20am for 6am start time at work) because today I had to travel further to work.  I got pulled to Utah Valley Hospital a twenty minute drive from my house.  I got up at 4:30 and started running at 4:37am.  Got in my planned 6.5 miles.  AP same as yesterday.  First mile slower and then I woke up.  AP 7:53 for 6.5 miles.  Legs are seriously feeling so good.  Still majorly crampy.  TMI but this is the 3rd time in 6 weeks.   FYI for you younger women runners-- this is how it gets in your forties!! Blah. 

Read entire report to feel sorry for me.  Okay so I am grid locked with Thursday being piano day from 7-830am for all three girls and the fact I need to run 3 x 1600 meters with two minutes in between.  Obviously NOT going to run those on the track.  So...I decided it would be best to go after dropping my teenager off at 7am and let my husband deal with dropping the other two off at 730am for the hour together.  He also has to take Courtney back home and run the carpool to jr high.  But I was NOT about to wait until 915am to run (after everyone is in school).  I have been up since 5:20am, looking at the clock.  Blah.  PG rec opens at 5:30am so  I wouldn't be back in time to go then and come back for Courtney and my husband already rolled his eyes about how  I wouldn't be driving the girls to piano because I would be running.  This was a few days ago and I affirmatively stated that "no I am taking the girls, YES I am.  I am not running until later".  Well that was a HALF-lie apparently because I had a hard time waiting to go do this quick 9 miler.  So at least I took the first shift of driving : D.  THEN, off I went with just my iPod and water/some gu chomps to the rec center.  I started running at 7:20am.  THIS is the SAD part.  WHILE I was running my warmup, for the life of me I  could NOT get my iPOD to turn on.  I checked it before leaving-- just a visual of the light being on,  so I thought it was green.......but apparently it was NOT going to turn on.  I tried various tricks to try and get it to work WHILE I was warming up.  I thought "what in the heck? seriously?  am I really going to do this work out without music?"  all I could hear was my neighbor on the treadmill beside me coughing and hacking and blaring music from downstairs somewhere and all the other grunts and groans you hear at a gym.  Luckily it wasn't crowded but I was seriously NOT HAPPY and thought I should drive home now and come back later with a charged iPod.  But I told myself "julie this is ridiculous, you have to run now, you will just have to suck it up and deal with the fact that you will have to hear yourself working out hard and no AIDED run at all here".  Dang nab it.  I was getting more ticked.  But I finally threw my ipod in the water holder and tried to forget about it.  I ran 3.5 miles at AP 8:00 (3 % grade)---started at 8:34 and got to 7:41.   Just trying to work in some hillage here.  Then I pottied and pitied myself for what I had to do next-- 3 x 1600 (1 mile of course, 4 laps on the TM virtual graph).  First I stretched and then I was off for another 1/2 mile at 8 pace but now at 1 % to check my muscles at this incline. Then went right into the workout:  I ran  1  mile @ 6:07 (9.8mph, 1 % grade), one lap at 8:20 pace, 1  mile @ 6:00 (10mph, 1 % grade),  potty (I really needed to pee badly in those first two repeats, but I only piddled, that was weird, TMI again),  potty break was very brief, got on TM and ran a lap at 8:20 pace, then ran 1 mile @ 5:52 (10.2 mph, 0.5% grade, I like to give myself a mental edge so I decreased the incline 1/2 percent :D).  I actually ran the last .05 miles at 5:46 pace.  I   SOOOOO WANTED to quit after the first lap of the last mile but somehow I got my head out the "I want to quit zone" and made it through and instead of slowing the pace down I forced myself to speed up.  Cooldown 1.5 miles at under 8 AP and at 3 % again.  I have to say that the first 3/4 of the first mile felt awesome.  That last mile was a killer.  My shoulders got achy.  I felt nauseated.  I guess eating a cheeseburger and fries yesterday was not the best idea.  But it was so delicious!!  I really had to FOCUS due to the NO MUSIC problem.  But here is the most COMICAL part of today's run--- So I am driving home and I pull into my garage and I am walking into my house and I am like "where is THAT music coming from?" and LOW AND BEHOLD MY IPOD IS BLARING!!!  FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?  WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?  I was perplexed and was so NOT LIKING THE JOKE THAT MY IPOD PLAYED ON ME!!  Blah, blah.  Hoping that somehow running without the music today will make me stronger.  Ironically I don't wear my music on my other runs throughout the week.  I save the music for my speed work.  So it was just kind of funny that it worked out like that.  

RAN my last "long run" before SGM.  Left at 5:52am.  It was very cold in my shorts and short-sleeves.  My arms never quite thawed out.  I was sore from my workout yesterday-- hills and mile repeats.  I also got this terrific headache last night followed by nausea in my sleep.  I was worried I was catching something.  My daughters have been sick with a sinus cold and I found HUGE chunks of grossness in the sink from my daughter Brooke.   She had been complaining of a sore throat and headache.  LOVELY.  Courtney and Amber have had there sinus problem for about three weeks now but now Amber (my youngest) tells me her throat is hurting and last night and the morning before she kept telling me about her headache.  GEEZ!!!   HURRY UP SGM so I can stay healthy for the race.  Seriously think next year I will race TOU and  jog the SGM.  The third week of September I feel like I am still summer running.  When the air gets colder it brings all the germs with it.  We had to pick up my nephew (Troy's side) from school yesterday (early) because he threw up all over himself.  He couldn't make it to the bathroom.  Then when I called my own sister today she was on her way to pick up her daughter from school because she THREW up too. These schools our 12 miles apart.  She said her youngest threw up on Tuesday and her other kids were talking about how their stomachs hurt.  I also worked on Pediatrics Wednesday and the pediatricians told me the flu is going around quite a bit.  Duh.  Really!!!  So WATCH out everyone and stay away from RESTAURANTS for now.  Oh ran nice and easy hilly run to the mouth of the AF canyon and back to my house.  13 miles @ 8:10 pace.  Trying out different modes of my garmin so  I can't look at overall AP just time and mile splits.  First mile 9:02.  Last mile 7:11.  CARDIO-wise felt awesome.  Soreness wise I knew I had to slow it down for most of the run.  8 DAYS until SUBTHREE!!!  I am already there! : D.

OH MY!! WHAT a GROSS run until the final mile where I felt like a runner again.  Let me just say NIGHT running after I worked all day and ate a lot including two desserts-- banana pudding yum and chocalte cake with whipped cream topping along with Snickers and caramel!!!  I sure felt all that the WHOLE run after getting back at 7pm and taking off at 715pm.  The first mile was so sluggish and surreal, depressing sort of.  I think my cortisol level is at its lowest at this time.  I seriously felt depressed in the smoggy air.  I could tell it was a warm day and the stench lingered in the night air that wasn't that cool yet, but in spots it was.  Just NOT a good week for me headache-wise.  Smells triggering my headaches left and right.  I could smell anyone and everyone's laundry running as I ran by-- NOT pleasant for me.  I think that is why I run so well at 8000ft above sea level-- FRESH AIR without the toxins we put into it.  Off my soapbox...but after literally RUNNING INTO JANE as she was getting out of conference with all her sisters I got a little adrenaline surge.  She is driving me to SG and we have trained together all summer with Kim and Mel and Julie.  It was so nice to see her.  I exclaimed "Oh my goodness Jane there is no way I could feel this bad at SG next Saturday!!".  It wasn't that my muscles were tired  (although my legs felt "heavy") or that my breathing was labored it was just a nauseating depressed type feeling I get sometimes when I run at night.  VERY strange.  I am sure Sasha would have a take on this phenomonon.  After my first mile being a 9:40 (HELL- 0) I am not sure how I awoke the last mile to get in a 7:47.  AP= 8:26 for 6 miles.  I have to also say that it is DANGEROUS to run at this time because the drivers are speeding and don't think anyone would be running.  I had to swerve quite a bit.  So much nicer to have the streets to myself at 430am.  BTW I had to run this evening because I got back from the BYU game so late and our carbon monoxide alarm kept going off keeping us all up figuring out the deal.  My husband eventually detached the battery and opened all the windows.  We have NO FUEL on so not sure why it would do that.  I have had a long lasting headache however so hmmm.......

Ran for first time in quite a while with Kim and Jane.  They had a lot of little vacations and with my work we couldn't quite get our runs to coincide.  I think the last time we ran together was Hobble Creek 1/2.  They were sweet to change our 7 w/2 @ MP to today because  I work tomorrow.  I traded to have Thursday off.  I am leaving for SGM then and will be meeting April there : D.  I have to say I think sugar from cookies and candy corn is getting to me.  I was really good for quite a bit and with the fall and tapering I eased up on goodness but I can tell  I need to get back to no sweets this week except natural sugars in fruits etc...Okay so  I picked up Kim at 5:45am and we drove to Jane's house.  We warmed up two miles (8:02, 7:37, not my traditional slow warmup when I am with them of course).  Then stretched briefly and off we went.  We were a little over the top at first and saw our pace lingering at 6:06 for a while so had to slow it  down.  I always hate that about pacing because then I undershoot and end up with a slower second mile.  But not today.  We got to an even pace and ran a 6:30 first mile and a 6:32 second mile.  OBVIOUSLY NOT MARATHON PACE but it felt easy so we just kept it at that.  Ran a three mile cooldown back to Jane's.  When I got back home I added on another 1.7 miles to get the 9 I wanted.  Ran that quite swiftly with the last .7 miles (mostly uphill) at 6:46 pace.  Felt quite good and could have gone on and on.  Stomach on the other hand is really struggling.  I am not very hungry and have been losing weight.  So I better get over this quickly so I can STORE up my glycogen.  BTW I wore my NEW race day outfit.   I am actually running in a skirt.  My first one ever!!  It has hot pink bloomers in it.  My top is pink and purples with a matching headband.  Gotta look good even if I may not feel good at the end this Saturday!!  FIVE DAYS UNTIL SUB THREE!!  Weather isn't going to stop me!!    AP for 9 miles = 7:15. 

Zilch.  First time all summer I didn't run before work first time taking the day off in like a few months except Sundays as usual.  Yup trying to do the taper thing and see if there is really any truth to it.  Finally got my number for St. George.  A little problem with getting my number.   But glad I got a LUCKY ONE--- 5070!!!  I happen to love the number 7.   I am sure Smooth can fill me in as to what this number means.  But it was funny that I was hoping I would have a 7 in my number and there it BOLDLY STANDS. 

Easy miles at 6:22am.  Brrrrrrr.  Arms cold entire run.  Still refuse to put on long sleeves just yet.  7  miles at 7:55 AP.  First mile 8:59.   Last mile 7:08.   Then I decided I better just run another 1/2 mile SLOWLY, like why was my last mile a 7:08?  felt fine.  But LET's get real I need to take it easy.  REINS on for few more days.  Then I will visualize myself at the race gate--- in full race mode.  Honestly I am wondering why I had to put a TIME constraint on myself.  I would just be happy with a PR and that  for sure would happen.  So why the sub three?  Well I have a history of making lofty goals.  When I decided to run my first marathon in 1995 I heard about the Boston 100th marathon qualifying standard so I didn't just say I would complete my first marathon but I would  qualify for Boston.  I was 26 years old.  I was dating a bunch of creepy guys.  (I was reading my journal from then last night).  I also ONLY ran 4 times a week and worked full time NIGHTS!!!  Even funnier is on my first long run, while peeing in the woods, I wiped myself with a POISON IVY leaf.  YUP.  FuLLFLEDGED REACTION to THAT!!!  I had to be on prednisone all of July and August before ST. George 1995.  Tapering was awful for me and I developed Cushing's Syndrome for a bit from all the cortisol due to the steroids.  Poison Ivy  scars on my legs have disappeared but I sure had quite the training summer happening that year.  My first half marathon was on trail and I ran a 1:50.  Second was Provo Half in 1:45. Third half was Hobble Creek in 1:41.    I ran the marathon in 3:35:02--- what my chip time would have said.  In my journal I wrote:  "it took us 1:46 seconds to cross the start.   Some Chariots of Fire music please....I finished the St. George marathon in 3:36:44!!" We ran the first mile in 9 minutes.  I got to the halfway point in 1:50:42 (includ. the late start, all times ARE GUN) and said if I don't speed up I won't qualify so  I took off from my friends and finished the last half in  about 1:45.  I wore ALL PURPLE.  Seriously So NOT fashion concious.  I looked ridiculous.  Too funny!!!   Basically,  I hope to have the same kick in the pants at SGM this year when  I get to the half way mark and go "if YOU DON'T pick it up right now you are NOT going to run a sub three, NOW GET IT GEAR GIRL!!"

AP for 5 miles= 8:26.  The prerace run where I question my fitness and abilities even when  my legs feel light but 9:29 first mile seriously concerns me?  But that was the purpose of this run.  No work except for 6 x 0.1 mile strides--- pace for those were averaged at 6 mm, a couple under.  I thought I was a lot slower so that was nice.  It also woke me up....a little adrenaline to my veins.  My daughter in the car to school said  "have you ever ran it under 3 hours?"  when I told her to say a little prayer for me before the race.  I told her no.  It is hard to do.  She responded "what will happen to you if you don't do it under three hours?"  (she said it like she thought I would be punished).   I told her "nothing will happen to me, even if I get a 3:01 mom will be just fine, or a 3:04 etc.....".  She was worried about me.   Love my girls.  They are driving down SATURDAY morning at 530am.  It is a good thing April reminded me that the race starts at 6:45am.  I thought it started at 7am.  Would not be good if Troy rolled into town thinking he had the extra 15 minutes.  So....since I am leaving today and have no internet access...final words   " I will do what I have been trained to do and then a little more" .  Good luck my friends.  See you soon!!!

slow jog from SGM finish line to 25 mile mark and back.  Accidentally went off course and added  1/4 mile by running one more street south, oops.  Surely spectators will veer me in the right direction?   But now I know we turn on 300 south.  Locked in memory.  April had us run about .1 miles at MP, oops 6mm pace.  FELT light and fluffy.  Ready to race.  April and I are now vegging out here SGM.  BTW I also Won a free ENTRY in to the Painter's HALF marathon (40 dollars).  All I had to do was spin a wheel and land on the one pie without a color.  WINNER.  I will take that as a lucky sign  : D.