Believe to Achieve

Felt crappy all day yesterday and all night.  Allergy to some foods I ate.  Indigestion all night. Stomach pain.  Gross generalized  itchiness, achiness and migraine on the left side of my face (numbness, fluid in the ear).  Got up and CELEBRATED THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORNING with my new 9 year old BROOKE. We are bringing in Halloween oreos and Sprite with Rainbow Sherbert for a treat to her class.  Later it is Subway (her choice) and cold stone after her New Activity Day class at 6pm.  She is so excited to move up and be with her best friend Brooke again. 

Ran with Troy this am.  Started to feel like a zombie running.  Like night of the living dead or something.  Am I running SGM or not?  Get over it body already, it is happening.  So I picked it up to try to feel decent at some point.  Last mile 7:08.  Slowed it way down at the half when I realized I was at a 6:44 pace (3:22, oops).  Still though I feel gross.  Nothing new.  I just want to feel good one of these days......I think I will feel pretty good crossing that finish line Saturday....Positive Quote of the Day..... "Ain't about how fast I get there....it ain't about what's waiting on the other side....Its about THE CLIMB!!!  (Mylee Cyrus, really).  3.15miles @  7:46 pace, cool down 1/2 mile at 8:30 pace.  Shaking out the webs mentally and physically. 

I know it is 1040am and I just completed a cobweb 1.15 miler.  I am on my way to St. George at 11am.  All alone.  No family : (((.   Staying with Melanie though.  Would have been quieter with Josse but Melanie needs me to reassure her of her under 3 abilities and I need Melanie to focus on so I don't puke.  I am getting pretty excited.  Chariot's Of Fire is FIRING me up.  Pace for 1.15 miles 8:55.  How can I really do 7:07 for 26.2 (7:03 is what Kim wants me to stay with her at).  I am taking all rabbits out of the hat.  Run free or die.  I got this from the state I am from--- New Hamshire, live free or die,  is on the license plate.  Everything in my power to do the best with what I have been given and training for will show tomorrow.  GO FIGHT WIN!!!!   EVERYONE HAPPY RUNNING!!!

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Details to follow.  Most important a huge SGM PR.  Got a nice 8th place plaque from my age division (places go to 8th) and most exciting of my goals was to be in the top 10 for Master Women and I was 10th!!!!!!!!  I think I can definitely get close to 3 hours, I felt horrible the whole race.  I got the stomach flu- body aches and throwing up the night before and ran to the store at 3:45am to buy some zantac.  All my joints were achy so I just had to keep pulling out rabbits.  Can't say I EVER felt good but I knew I was trained enough for a 3:10 to 3:15 so I just forced myself to do it.  Got the HUGEST blister I have ever had on my foot filled with blood.  Started at mile 5.  Stopped at mile 12 to put vaseline on it.  Did not help.  I tried to land just on my toes and it just burned the remainder of the race--going to lose two toe nails.  My own fault for wearing cheapo socks and my sneakers with nearly 2,000 miles on them.  Pretty much no tread and holes in them.  I was afraid of my new shoes cause they gave me a lot of calf pain after runs.  So I paid the price in my feet.  But my calves are happy :D.  I was so on for a 3:10 but lost it at the last 2 miles, again.  The pain in my feet and back spasms were weighing on me that I just was fine with 3:11.  Someday I will stay tough to the bitter end.  Loved the cold cloths soaked in ice water and the sprayers at the end.  Will write mile paces later.  I fought the fight, I am so ready to enjoy the fall weather now and find that dayshift job.  Next year I want to get a 3:02 at SGM : DDDDDDD 

Okay more boring details, splits below:  Drove to SG by myself around 1130am.  Got there at 3:15pm.  Was having stomach issues.  Thought it was just nerves.  Tried to eat because looking back I realized I ate under 1200 calories/day the last two days before.  I had no appetite.  Started to get one Friday morning so kept eating and eating.  Well I was like the hungry child after the flu, eating foods that wouldn't go over well even though not unhealthy they just compounded the problem.  I figured I had 16 hours to get over this no problem.  Kim tried to get me to buy some socks at the expo but I was too over-stimulated that I just couldn't decide.  I figured if I wear my old shoes (I brought both) I might aswell wear my cheapo socks with them.  Big error.  Oh well.  I don't have a time machine.  So I slept for three hours from 1030pm to 130am.   Couldn't fall back to sleep and started having lots of indigestion, nausea.  Fingers and toes and eyelashes started to hurt, like when you get the flu.  I had sweated off something in the night after taking some ibuprofen at 9pm.  Crud-ola.  I am not a wimp so -blank- or high water I was doing this thing.  Drove to Maverick's down the street and bought some zantac.  By the time it was time to leave I was ready to fall asleep.  Dang.  Kim and Melanie were balls of energy and I felt like, well like I had the flu.  I was shivering and my knuckles hurt and I tried to eat.  We got to be in the elite section, weird.  Lots of room in that corral.  Suddenly we hear what we thought was an announcement but it really was the start of the race at 6:42 according to my watch.  It took us 26 seconds to cross the start because we didn't realize it started.  The herd of runners behind us were so ready they gained on us before we crossed the pad. Kim wanted me to run the 3:05 paces with her but with how I was feeling  I knew that wasn't going to happen.  I was thinking I would be watching the 3:15 balloon fly by me. Now for the play by play:

1-- 7:17  I just don't feel good.  I don't want to run even this fast yet.  So going to slow down.

2--7:27- Okay that hurt every bit as much. Whatever.

3--7:04  No, no.  I don't want to go fast but I am losing sight of Kim and Melanie.

4--  6:56 Close to the pace chart but I really don't care I am not going for  a 3:05.

5--7:10  Can't any of these miles feel good yet?  I am freezing having thrown off my ear warmers and gloves.  Starting to feel a blister coming on on my left foot big toe region.

6--6:45-- I tried to slow it down on the hill cause I was thinking of Veyo coming up soon.  Must conserve.  Cool thing was looking over at Veyo and seeing the leading truck with all the lights on the top runners.

7--6:53--Here comes Veyo and I want out.  I sound like the biggest wimp.

8--VEYO  7:45  Not good.  Too fast.  But I wanted to fight the demon so it slowed me for the next mile.

9--7:43  See. 

10--7:25.  Blister really hurting.  I change my footing and nothing is helping.  I put my shirt back on over my arms about two to three times.  I was still shivering. Praying for help and I was told to turn off my iPod.   I had a conversation that went like this "really? is music so bad while I  am about to crash?  I know I know I like to converse, what If I can't get thru and have nothing left?  I will just take it off at the aid stations so I can be social and thankful to all the volunteers".  Remember I used to run without an iPod then when noone talked back (because they couldn't hear me with their music on) I decided to try one.

11--7:48  I am losing ground from the cold.  Where is the sun?  The light is there behind the hills but no sun.  I guess when you run faster it takes more miles before it fully rises.  And now I realize I got to stop.  My blister is a huge thorn in my side.  Takes 24 seconds to take off shoe and sock, gob on some vaseline and replace sock and shoe.  Tried to get back on pace.  The vaseline didn't help one moment.  It seemed to hurt more.  Tried all different ways to land with my toes/forefoot off to the side.  Eventually I zoned it out until the final three miles.

12--7:27

13--6:59  The halfway split on my watch read 1:36:17.  The clock 26 seconds ahead.  I love chips.  Double that and that is a 3:12:34!! 

14--7:14  Hoping mile 15 will bring some sort of high to me.

15--6:57  No such luck....yet.  Still hoping.

16 &17-- 13:43  (6:52 avg for both)

18--7:04  Okay with these times but body aches not muscle cramps are just getting ridiculous.  I can't believe my muscles don't feel very crampy. 

19--7:27  With a slight uphill I was pleased with this mile.

20&21--14:24  (7:12 average), only 5.2 to go and my iPod is now almost completely going.  Mainly my earphones are staticky in one ear and fading in and out in the other.  I told myself to toss the thing out at mile 22 but the annoyance and time waster (I kept having to jiggle the wire to hear the songs) wasn't worth the 100 dollar iPod.  I wish I thought to just throw out the earphones. 

22--7:35  Kept taking out my 3:10 cliff pace wristband and realized if I could hold out  I could be just at 3:10.  Stayed on pace until the last mile.  The 3:10 pace guy passed me with his group before the first mile.  They were running under a 3:10 pace.  Kim said they came in just after she crossed the finish line at 3:06. 

23--7:20  Still on track for a 3:10 but mentally and physically losing ground.

24--7:16  If only.  When three women pass me I lose the edge.  They looked strong.  I felt so weak.

The REAL 25.2 mark--  1.2 miles in 9:04 (7:30 pace).  Because of the two 25.2 markers I lost the will power even though I knew the first one wasn't right.  I was just hoping. Love the cold towels, took two and drenched myself.  Really sad  I never got to my Chariots of Fire song on my iPod.  I forgot to reload the changes I made to myTunes on to my iPod.  For sure with that song I would have booked it in like a true blue 80s runner girl.

26.2 THE LAST MILE-- 8:25 dragging my feet, didn't even want to push it in.  Didn't want to feel anymore achy then I did.  Just wanted to be there and since I was already at a big PR I had no drive.  Heard my name announced and eagerly got under the cool mist sprayers,  AHHHHHHH.  A whopping 54 second negative split.  Should have been better.  I will wait for the stars to align for me.  No worries.  I will be back in finer form.

Long drive home alone listening to Conference then ENYA.  Not good for lactic acid build-up.  Had a lot of time to think of how I should have picked up the pace the last mile.   C'est la vie.

Soreness improving with movement.  Odd, I wasn't even very sore after the marathon (except for blistered feet) but it hit Sunday morning but only half as bad as last year.  Good sign :D.  No running for a few more days.  Experiencing some intense nausea and facial numbness/burning.  I think I am experiencing some adrenal fatigue.

No appetite.  Facial numbness/burning intense- like an immune reaction.  Went to orthodontist.  The facial numbness has been worsening since the bottom wire of my braces was changed out 6 weeks ago.  It is made of different metal than the last one (nickel, titanium and copper).  Dr. Remington (regular Dr., not ortho) ran a heavy metal test on me last year before my braces and nickel and copper were already high in my system then.  Yikes.  He ran the test due to my intense reaction to perfumes/cleaners.  Six weeks ago was when I noticed a marked change in my sleeping patterns and mood from how bad my pattern was from night shift to begin with.  I have a nurse friend at work who said that when she was a teenager with braces she had to stop going to school due to chronic fatigue symptoms.  Her Dr. noticed a pattern between three of his patients with Chronic Fatigue--- they all had braces.  He advised her to get them taken off.  She did and got better after a few weeks.  Weird.  When I was 14 I had braces for 6 months but got so literally sick of them I ripped them off.  Looking back I was also very depressive, not sleeping then.  Weird.  The answer ?  Endure the last of the 12 months (3 months to go :D), because I am hanging on for dear life to deal with it already.  It is just another Marathon in life.  I feel like ripping them off.  Luckily they just realized they were putting on the latex elastics and changed them back to nonlatex clear elastics.  I questioned the Dr.'s assistant twice on two different change-outs whether they were latex-free because they looked different then the first ones they put on me.  Little did I know I was adding to my chronic fatigue problem with latex in my mouth.  I kept getting sores but thought it was from all my long runs with a dry mouth.  If it gets much worse I may have to go on an immune suppressant.  Off to visit Dr. Remington again to see how I can build up my immune system and any further testing.  He will probably roll his eyes over me having braces.  

Missing running.  Ran an easy two mile loop from home with Troy.  Hamstrings tight otherwise no soreness.  Rode mountain bike on same two mile loop after wards. Felt better on legs.  Pace easy 10:04 first mile, 9:33 second mile.  Bike took 12 minutes.  Nice cool weather.  Work tonight and tomorrow night. 

Slept only three and a half hours today then another 90 minutes before helping kids with piano/homework.  Zombie-like until 10pm when I got a second wind.  Babies are just too cute to hang around with : DDDDD  Picked up a shift for a coworker for 4-6 hours Friday night so that is three in a row.  Sleep is overrated,,,, not!!!

Post night shift shake out cobwebs run in the afternoon--finally cool then.  Ran easy for 3.8.   Off to work for another 4 to 6 hours. 

PM  just got back from work at midnight.  Worked 6 hours for coworker.  Nighty night  ahhhhh. 

Ended up staying at work until 1145pm.  Got to sleep at 115am.  Too cold to run at 7am.  Lately I am ALWAYS cold.  So I waited until 8:40 for the sun to be out for my run. Ran an easy uphill (well the uphill is actually quite steep, but I felt great) run (1100 North) to the canal and over to the Farm Rd as I call it and down to my house.  Right hamstring/hip tight (from taking all the work when I avoided my huge left foot blister at SGM).  Just tried not to overstride, took quick short strides to not stress the muscle.  Otherwise felt great. First mile 9:04.  Last mile 7:44.  Really, really really tired 6 hours later, having cheered my daughters on in their three soccer games today.  Talk about adrenaline depletion.  I get in to soccer games quite a bit.  Who knew?  Getting back to the night shift schedule thing.    Hoping Dr. Remington will have some remedies to help me sleep normally and to get rid of  these allergies to chemicals and this endless  chronic fatigue.  Appt. is Wednesday.    Sleep = Recovery.  Off to take a nap before the BYU football game.  

Detox run.  I am itching all over and have lots of facial numbness and nerve/muscle pain and spasms.  Part of this endless Chronic Fatigue Saga.  I am reacting to the metal in my braces along with all the other environmental allergies I have.  My muscles feel weird and I can't sleep.  Appointment with Dr. Remington is Wednesday.  I live by the motto "Everyday is a Marathon, so why not Run One".  Really running keeps my focus on something other than my pain.  Did anyone read the article on Jenny Crain in the Runner's World?  Oh my, I cried and weeped for that family and for Jenny.  So I run no matter the pain because some people can't.  And a lot of people won't.  Read the article.  Life changing to say the least.        Ran 4.67 miles at 7:52 average pace.  Last mile 7:24.  Post running, itching all over.  Sweating out the toxins and now ready to take a hot shower (as sauna-like as I can get it, followed by cold water rinse, really helps me feel better).  Work tonight.  Look forward to working with the most precious little ones ever!!  Again : D.

Slow and steady uphill then downhill new loop mixed with old up 1100 north then past Manila Elem.  Autumn Air  AHHHHHH!!!!  Leaves are falling on the ground!!  Slept only three hours after work.  Blahh!!    peaks and valleys happening in my body by the minute...glad I got out there.  Ran 4.2 miles at 9:04 pace. 

Rain.  Oh well.  Good excuse for Troy though :D.  He stayed indoors while I started after the harder rain ended.  Actually I was dry until the last two miles.  Ran an old loop.  Avg pace for 5.88 including .5 cooldown = 8:31.  Thought I was slower so that's good.  Just taking it easy day by day.  May throw in a little speed if the mood is right with a moderately long run on Friday or Saturday depending on my work week.  Slept a three hour increment, hard time falling asleep but managed another 2 hours  when Brooke came in crying.  I thought she may be sick but she was sad the Tooth Fairy hadn't come yet.  Darn those Tooth Fairies.  I told her the rain and windstorm was slowing her down and that it is still night time (it was 530am) and she had until 7am.  Thank goodness!!!  That made for an early rise, waiting for my dear Brookie to fall back to sleep.  It called for some impromtu checks.  Ooops, she was awake the first check.  More stories.  Oh  to be a kid again.  It is also PJ Party day at school for her class.  They won this party for good behavior.  She also has a Pizza Party for her end of season soccer team tonight.  Amber also has a birthday party.  It is just a party scene over here.  We are off to the Scare Crow Festival tomorrow.  The kids hang out at the rock wall and get in line over and over again.  I hope the weather has a better turn out than today.  Journal entry complete : DDD.

Easy run.  Ran my warm up to my 5K around the church then just eased in to a gentle fast pace that felt easy.  5K in 23:50.  Pace increased each mile.  Avg pace for this 7:41.  Ran a nice and easy cooldown mile loop.  Total miles at 4.47 at 8:06 pace.  Just getting out and running is my goal.  No major goals.  Maintain fitness without adding stress to my stress.  Ran last .3 miles BAREFOOT.  My shoes were bugging me (the new ones I dislike, I swear the left shoe is not made right) and I have had a strong desire to run barefoot so  I put on Chariot's of Fire and ran a strong finish feeling every movement of my body in the breeze, mostly my feet : DDD.

First 5.08 miles by myself then came home to get Troy to run the last three with me.  I showed him a new loop.  He wasn't too happy that is was a long 3 mile loop (3.35).  I quite liked it.  Fall leaves etc... but he is needing to go slower.  Ran total of 8.43 miles at 8:43 pace.  Feeling good about just goin' easy.  Sticking to the plan : DDD.   Here comes the first of 5 of  7 nights.  I get to start off on the Pediatric Unit where the respiratory illnesses are running rampant.  Yikes!!  Dosing up on the Probiotics!!!  Everyone else, sleep well.  Add in a few hours for me :DDD

Still only slept 4 hours even with a new sleeping medication.  Not using that again it just made me more alert (ambien CR).  It was a free trial thankfully.  Anyway decided to just get out there as Allie's pics inspired me.  Ran up 1100 north to the Bonneville shoreline trail and ran to Battlecreek Drive (Kiwanis Park), got some water.  Hot out, I think.  It was 330pm.  Ran down battlecreek to the Canal and ran to 1100 north and back to my house.  This was originally going to be an up and back but the trails were calling me.  Ran 8.11 miles with significant uphill terrain at 8:31 pace.  Quite enjoyed this fall run.  Off to shower and to work again tonight.  Luckily I only worked with two post surgical patients and then a little girl with dehydration, contact isolation. So feel fine so far.  I love working on pediatrics.  I live again for another 10 hour sleep moment : DDD.   Oh and chocolate, sparingly of course.

How does a three miler turn into an 11 miler?  Let me count the ways.  I basically was lovin' the warm weather front and all the fall leaves and colors that I just kept adding on going north on to the canal trail then on to Cedar Hills trailways then Highland trails behind lone peak --- so beautiful and quiet.  Just kept goin' and goin'.   First two miles with Troy.  We parted because I told him I wanted to add more on.  First mile 8:57.  Last mile 7:56.  Takin' it easy.  Average pace for 11=  8:18.  Had some moments when the wind was beneath my wings.  Back and left leg still a slight thorn in my side.  Nothing that a 10 hour sleep can't conquer...just when will that be?  All this talk of the H1N1 is going over the top for me.  Work just called to tell me they have a "drive thru" for employees from AFH to come get it between 3 and 6 pm.  Hope you all got out there today.  Of course you did, unless you just ran a marathon or something : D.

Nada.  Won't bore you with details : D.  Basically too much to do, so little time, even when I am up all night and sleep only three hours :((((. 

Actually slept 7 hours straight last night.  Oh my is that what it is like to sleep ?    Since the weather is too spectacular I dragged my poor husband, literally on  the same run as Monday, but backwards.  So lovely even this way.  But not to Troy in the least.  We ran a slow pace of 9:40 to 10 minute miles to Lone Peak where I let him take the short way back.  I kept going North.  Ran the 11 miler but of course I had to "beat" Mondays time with a surplus of 5 to 7  minutes at this point running very slowly for the first 4.5.  So I picked it up nearly sprinting at the end to come in 24 seconds ahead with a last mile time of 6:24.  Ran a  0.7 mile cooldown in post long run puke mode.  That felt nice.  Then I went to acupuncture for my allergies.  Can't eat for three hours and I am starving already with two hours to go.  Part of the purity of the Sensitivy Removal Therapy I had done.  Next  Wednesday she introduces the perfumes etcc.... that I am highly sensitive too.  I sure hope it works.   Average pace for 11=  8:16.  

Oh my goodness could not sleep longer than three hours.  Got up.  Tried again then gave up.  Decided to try running real easy.  Great weather.  Felt "out of this world" but not as bad as Summer since it is cooler. Pace easy (9:16 for 4.7miles).  Then got home kids home from school.  Got homework happening then taught piano to Brooke then ran out of time.  Back to work....then my glorious three off :D.  

Last night soooooooooo difficult.  But I made it.  Babies help a lot.  Again today slept 3 1/2 hours.  My magic number I guess.  But I am going to try again here in a few minutes.  No running today.  Feel worse than yesterday "out of this world" like.

Ran a nice 13.41 mile loop  (my 11 miler from earlier this week with a nice add on by going up to 1100 north by way of Manila Elementary, 1800 north, and on to the canal, big hill) with Melanie and Kim.  Conversed a lot and still maintained a steady pace with significant uphills, including one we added on up 700 north to the temple and to Kim's.  Felt good, but still not much sleep last night.  We left at 7:25 for this run.  Nice weather after the ran storm last night.  FALL LEAVE smells  AHHHHH!!  Avg pace for 13.41=  8:09.  

Ran long route to Manila Elementary (2.4 miles).  Watched Brooke receive a Hero Award then resumed running a varied route up to Cedar Hills and back down to total 6.91 miles.  Avg pace 8:26.  Extremely busy day.  Visiting teaching, orthodontist appt., early out, work tonight, homework and  piano superivsor.  All in a days work : D.  Tired and now my jaw is elasticized shut so can't just eat whenever.  Have to take out elastics to eat.  Agh!!

Slept three hours.  Went to bed with a slight sore throat that came on about 3am at work.  Dang.  Stayed up until 1045pm.  Scratchy throat, achy a bit, no fever.  But taking ibuprofen so who knows.  No run.  Just running around getting stuff for Halloween costumes and taking girls to dance after school.  

Ran the "FREEZE -YOUR- BUTT- DELIVER- THE- HALLOWEEN-WARD-SOCIAL- FLYERS-RUN".  Ran 3.63 around the ward boundaries (help with Troy) then tagged on 3.37 miles at the end.  BRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!  SNOW?!!!! ARGHHHHH!!!!  High winds!!!!!  yucky, blucky and a nagging left-sided swollen tonsil!!!  Last part at easy 8:18 pace.  Before that I was running around like a mad-woman.  The flyers fell out of the plastic bag twice and I had to do the mad dash back to get them before a gust of wind took them withersoever it wanted.  Good little speed play extreme run.  Now to make a do-it-yourself  MUMMY costume for Amber (6) and add the finishing touches to the Corpse bride costume for Brooke (9).   Luckily I found a good Egyptian costume for Courtney.  Her six grade class is required to "walk like an Egyptian"  since that is what they are studying right now.  I am going to be a zombie.  Got the idea from my daughter's dance instructor.  Ward social is tomorrow night so  I better get going.  Spent the morning soaking Amber's shirt and white cloth in tea bags for the real mummy effect. Currently the outfit is drying.  Next I need to tear the pieces of cloth  and sew them on to her shirt and pants.  Way cool !!!!  Glueing plastic spiders to Brooke's homemade veil later with black feathers and making a bouquet of black and  off-white flowers. Cobwebs go on the day of.  Along with white hair spray and black fingernail polish.  Happy Halloween!!  Did I mention I work the most exciting holiday weekend ever?!!!!  

Stress miles.  Too much stress.  Going to break soon.  Irritated to the max.  Ready to go bezerk. Overcharged medical bills for 10 minute visits.  I could go on.  But I won't.  8:31 pace for 12.61 miles.

So I worked last night, dressed up in a Zombie costume (torn dress and scary make-up) over my running tights with a huge green button down light wool sweater.  Drove Melanie and Kim to the start of this half marathon at Aspen Grove.  Conversed in the warm building for a bit then headed down to the Riverwoods (the ending) to get started on my trek up the trail to meet them then run as fast as I could on no sleep with them.  The race started very late.  Could have run 9 miles before meeting them but stopped at Vivian Park (6.2 mile mark in the Half).  The run up was extremely cold to me, winds and ice and fog.  Just plugged along thinking how insane I was and how insane I looked.  Mostly my arms and legs were frozen.  Got a lot of comments on how I looked on the trail.  I fit the part, a true zombie running the trails on no sleep.  At Vivian Park the fog was more intense it was crystalizing the water at the station and all the surrounding grounds.  I waited about 20 minutes while my sweat began to freeze.  Jumped in a strangers car and warmed up (thanks again!!) and waited for Melanie or Kim to wiz by.  And boy did they.   Melanie was the first woman (a bandit, however) and Kim was third.  I also saw Julie Esplin (as I identified later).  I flew out of the car as I saw Mel pass trying to catch her.  I stayed pretty close to Mel for a bit then Kim was right there and I kept her in my sights (they finished in 1:22 an 1:24).  I came in just under 1:25 and something (not thru the shoot of course) but I did get tons of cheers.  I just pushed my body to the max on empty.  Actually felt more with it then Hobble Creek Insomnia Half.  Last 7 Miles were at a decent pace.  MaryAnn came up to me during the race and I was able to pull ahead.  Her breathing was labored (asthma?)  I felt strong then had weird sensations like my dress was falling off with my large sweater around my waist.  Just losing reality but still focused.  Ended up sixth girl including Mel and Kim (bandits), Julie E., and some young girl, and tutu girl that passed me the last mile.  No big kick at the end because hey I am a bandit and need to exit stage left, so I did about 20 feet from the finish, not long after Kim.  Now to try and sleep because I work tonight on Halloween in the nursery-- the best part.  Sad to miss my kids trick-or-treating.  The hospital is in lock down so they can't even come visit except outside.  Total mileage 14.  The course wasn't marked but course tooled it to be 13.25 mile half.  Garmins reading 12.8. Not sure of accuracy with either method.  Pace was 6:30  to 7 down, 8:20 to 9 on the way up.