Believe to Achieve

Just couldn't sleep and since my plan was to run two I got out early--6:30am for 2.3 miles easy AP 8:52.  Just for good luck I will say, quoting Allie:  LEGS FEEL ALIVE.    JULIVE.   : D.  Seriously wish I knew what Allie's legs felt like.   Would like a pair.  But suffice it I am out for a good time tomorrow.  I probably will start out with a couple of 8 minute miles.  In the past this has worked for me.  It sure felt great this morning to warm up.  I was just getting in the groove and the run was over.  Good luck all of you.  I foresee a great day for all.   : DDDDDDD  We leave for St. George at noon or so.  Today is my daughter Brooke's 10 th Birthday.  We celebrated on Monday with a big party including her sisters and 10 friends/cousins for 4 1/2 hours!!   Next year the marathon will be on her birthday.  Lucky her.  

Was the most relaxed for any marathon or race I have ever run.  No nerve.  I felt calm.  Calm because it was not going to be a PR unless I had some breakthru so if  I did then all the better.  I even slept four hours.  After 2am I was up for good.  So....I decided to take the "EARLY BIRD" bus and see if its worth it .  The marathon gives out prizes randomly to anyone who is on a bus from 4am to 430am. I didn't win anything.  But  I must admit it was kind of cool being on the first bus to the top and the music pumping my blood on the bus-- our driver played some good 80s music.  Then to get off at the top and the air mild, warm even.  No need for the fires or my sweatshirt.  It was basically not a good sign but nice since I was up there early.  I sat outside the Elite corral having met a first timer and feeling young again as she was the same age I was on my first.  It was nice chatting.  Still no nervousness, just anticipation.  The music at the starting line was pumping me up.  I was ready to go and I still had two hours and fifteen minutes.  I tried laying down then I made my way to the Elite area and saw my Ragnar Teammates.  Never saw Mel and Kim until the finish.  We did our good luck hugs the night before.  So I stood at the back of the Elite start when the gun went off.  My goal was to feel good the entire time.  No nagging hamstring/back pain, limping hip problem.  I wanted to feel like running was a part of me again.    I went out by feel.   I pretty much ran a 22 mile training run then coasted slowly to the finish.  In fact I am the least sore of any marathon I have run minus the same old same old with my back and nerve pains to my butt and up my spine.  I was hoping to feel really strong at mile 15 and "fly" the rest of the way down.  But that's a story you are about to hear.  It became a mental game--- pain, no pain, pain , no pain......and I gave in.  I couldn't make my body be in that same pain as that dreaded 20 miler with Melanie.  Just as I was about to feel each vertebrae burn with pain I backed off.  I wasn't stiff and lactic or hitting a wall I was at my back pain threshold and striding quicker would surely rip my back and hips apart.  Wimpy me.  I plan on some hypnosis to overcome this fear  : D.    It all started on that last 7 miles of the Squaw Peak 50 miler....7 EXTREMELY PAINFUL MILES.  Every single step.  And so now.....HOW TO OVERCOME?  running a marathon is painful....I think I am getting to where I can train myself to a point but if the ENTIRE training isn't there I am not going to push beyond the point to where there is NO glycogen and muscle fatigue is too intense and I am sore for days.  I didn't do the work and I most certainly plan on doing it next year if all falls together right.  It makes sense to run smart.  I feel soo much better this year.  I can walk well.  I can bend over.  I can clean.  My back and spine hurt like crazy but that's really all.  Here are my splits:  I ran a huge POSITIVE split.  Too funny and pathetic.  Seriously I think I had my breaks on on the second half.  I am afraid to run fast downhill.  So bizarre.  But again MENTAL!!!  

Miles 1-13--- Felt so easy so wonderful so like really?  will I easily do the second half and come ahead without working hard?  I am just a fool.  7:40, 7:38, 7:07, 6:54, 7:03, 6:56, 6:58, 8:01 (Veyo, purposely slowed it down), 7:37, 7:39, 7:49, those all were with the uphill grade, mile 13--7:13.  Half way 1:37.  Pelvis and nerves in hamstrings beginning to burn.  Back beginning to ache.  Apparently my body is refusing another half. 

14-26.2:  Just keep running.  I just can't bring myself to pick it up in gear.  I thought at mile 15 (aide stations are every odd number miles) I would take some Ben Gay and put some on my hamstrings.  Well I grabbed  the tube from the gal and took a huge wad and rubbed my hands together and placed them on my lower back.  Within a minute I realized what a HUGE mistake this was.  STOP the marathon.  I have to stop.  I am burning up.  Stupid Ben Gay is burning my back.  My back is on fire.  Jalepenos to the spine!!  A million bandaids being ripped off at once.  Holy FREAKIN' MOLY how am I supposed to concentrate?  Every runner that went by me then got an ear full of my experience.  This stuff was penetrating my spinal cord.  Is this a legal med?  Geez.  I haven't used it in years but its powerful stuff.  It did the opposite of helping me.  I even picked up someones wet sock from the middle of the road and tried to wipe as much of it off as possible.  The intense buring lasted for over two miles.  NEVER AGAIN.  Thankfully this wasn't some major PR day for me.  That stuff should be banned.  My mom said Ben Gay shouldn't be applied when you are sweating because your pores are wide open.  LOVELY.  Where were you mom at mile 15?  JK.  Anyway....I pulled through that disaster.  Kept telling myself to hang on til mile 21 then just scale it down to 8s to the finish.  And those were the words my mind and body so muchly liked.  I high-fived little kids, I slowly ran thru sprinklers but I did sprint .27 miles to the finish.  Yup, all my weaving gave me an extra .07miles.  Dang then my time would have been a 3:17.    Last half splits, read em' and weep:  7:25, 7:05, 7:06, 7:19, 7:31, 7:58 (long uphill stretch), 7:43 (downhill and  I can't move my legs since they are attached to my back), 7:26, 7:56, 8:03, 8:01, 8:16, 8:03 and 7:16 for .27  the road I think was actually stretching.  Stood in the sprayer for a good 5 minutes.   High fived my family and hung around the runner crowd for a bit. Swam with my kids and Mel and Kim families at their condo.  Oh did I mention it was hot?  Yes, it was the hottest SGM on record.  Maybe that's why  I tanked?  I am not a good heat runner.  Myself and many other runners that ran today.  I did meet some bloggers that had exceptional races despite the heat!!!  Way to go!!! SERIOUSLY and you KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!! 

Thighs are a half size larger than normal.  Way swollen due to lack of lactic acid removal.  Spine from lower back to shoulders burning in pain AGAIN.    Sometimes its so intense I want to cry.  I had Troy massage my spine briefly.  That helped.  It is safe to say that I lost a few minutes in my SGM marathon due to Ben Gay.  Reading up on it, I apparently had an allergic reaction.  My face is also puffy and my cheeks feel numby/burny.  Dang nab it.  Where is my mind, I know I don't like stuff like that.  But sometimes in a marathon one will run towards a mirage if we thought we saw one.  So glad those sprinklers at mile 21 were real!!!  : D

nada, nothing, zilch. worked then got to go early at 5pm.  craving a cheeseburger and fries so ate that for dinner and went over to the Lakeside Sports Complex to watch my daughters soccer game.  Hamstrings heavy/sore.  

4 easy miles with sore hamstrings and lower back.  AP 8:49.  It was a nice early morning in the rain before the kids were up for school.  Sure hope these hamstrings figure it out.  I must be running wrong since my quads are fine.  Its all that breaking downhill.   I am so ready to change that!!  I might do the Halloween Half with Melanie.  Major downhill so I might be a Kite for my Halloween Costume.  : D.  So glad to be working days.  I think I am finally back to normal.  My training runs in August and September I think were run under "jet" lag.  My diurnal rhythm is getting better.  : DD  I love smiley faces.  Later today---  I  picked up a copy of Advanced Marathoning at the library.  The first page I turned to was the section on Iron and Iron levels.  First clue he writes that you might have low iron--- you don't feel like running and  your performance drops.  Then he goes on to write about a  Dr. for the USA track and field states that his athletes who fall below a ferritin  level (iron stores) of 20 show up in their performances and that anything below 25 is a RED flag.  MY LEVEL WAS   5 !!!!!  Five!!!   However I even resurfaced before I completely crashed!! so glad my NNP picked up on my signs right away.  I have been taking Floradix for 2.5 weeks now.  It takes a few months for stores to go up.  So I am not even there yet but am excited to feel a change.  I already do.  Apparently the book says that those athletes whose levels were back above 25 turned around very quickly in their performances.  And here I thought I just was getting old.  I am so glad it is not that. 

Ran up 1300 West past temple and down trail and over by way of 1800 North PG to my house. Was feeling good so picked it up the last mile.  It felt very controlled and breathing was very relaxed.  Left hamstring tight.  But it seems to be my "achilles" heel for many years now.  It likes to take out my hip as well.  Going to start getting serious about doing core excercises again since I only did them for about three weeks in July/August.  AP 8:29.  First mile 9:58.  Last mile 7:17.  Off to ice in the river.  I work the next FOUR days in a row!!! YUCK!!  will run Sat. am real early to get in possibley six miles.  Depends on fatigue level.  

worked. busy day on peds on UVMRC. Dinner at friends afterwards. Slept from 10pm to 420am.

Alarm went off at 422am.  I was in the middle of a dream but persevered and got my butt out of bed for my planned 6 miler before work at 6am.  AP 8:15 for six.  Hamstrings a bit tight quads sore from fast mile Thursday I guess.  But all in all nice run in the wee am hours.  Ran my 1.3 mi. loop 4.5 times.  

Early (430am) run before work around my "lit up" neighborhood 1.3 miler.  Roads to myself.  Nice and cool and starry morning.  AP 8:04 for 6.2 miles.  First mile  9:27, last mile 7:17.  Feels great to sleep well, run, then work all day with cute babies in the NICU.  

Got up at 530am (first I got up automatically without my alarm at 0420, guess I am easily trained) and was raring to get on my run but I wanted to see the sun and the leaves.....so I waited.   I was going to wait til my kids were off to school but I was worried the "ready to run" feeling would leave so I left at 6:50am.  IT WAS COLD in my shorts.  I tried to take off quicker than  I usually do and that was a mistake (leg  and back cramps) so I backed off.  Plan was to run 10 but I had to run half then half with a 20 minute break to hang with my 12 year old for breakfast and talk before school.  Ran 5.2 then after the 20 minute break ran another 4.8.  It was then that my joints and head began to hurt.  I felt achy all over, flu-like and then dizzy.  I was noticing yesterday that I hardly drank after my run while I was at work and even ate a very late breakfast considering my run was early.  I think I was quite dehydrated on my run.  The dizziness was tough to run thru and I wanted to throw up but I contained myself and forced myself to finish 10 miles.  I should have hydrated more, ate breakfast and left when the sun was up.  The cold was a surprise.  I was shivering. AP for 10 miles 8:26.  How do you make yourself drink when you are not feeling thirsty?  I felt super hungry yesterday.  I have heard that you are dehydrated if you are that hungry.  Mixed signals.  So confusing.  Now to enjoy the day off and back to work tomorrow.  Yes that is FIVE  12 HOUR shifts in 6 days.  Luckily I have UEA weekend off with the kids. 

Placed on call last night.  So when it was 530am  (instead of my usual pre-work run time of 430am) I thought I better get out and run or they will call me in soon.  I whispered to my husband that I was on call and I would be back and not to worry if the hospital calls I would be in the neighborhood running my loops.  So I was happily running along, more prepared for the  colder weather--headband, nylon pants and sweatshirt, listening to my iPod.  Thought I would run 7 or 8 miles.  Got to six and was ready to do 8 since I felt good running a nice and easy pace.  But then a car slowly pulled up along side me--eeeks,  nope it was just my husband circling the neighborhood trying to find me.  I was called in to work and could only complete 6.6 miles.  I thought about going the distance but really felt I should get in there.  It wasn't terribly busy. They were just short a  PCT so they called in a RN.  It was a nice shift.  I even got to come home early to pack for our vacation.   Yay!!  I have eight days off.  We are going to Disneyland again.  This time minus the TORRENTIAL WINDS AND RAIN FOR 7 DAYS STRAIGHT  in January.  That was a disaster!!  We are looking forward to lovely fall weather and Halloween Haunts with Mickey.  Kids are way excited. And I am glad I won't have to rely on the hotel's TM and run amidst the Palm Trees.  AP for 6.6=  8:37.   

Always loved Halloween but I do NOT love all the TREAT overload.  Everywhere you turn...and so much handed out daily at school even when it is not Halloween.  My joints are all achy...and I am sure it has to do with my poor nutrition lately.  I am going to focus on healthy eating more diligently for the holidays so I can feel better.  Anyway...ran 5.2 miles @ 8:37 this morning.  Have been up since 330am tried to fall back to sleep so got out at 5am.  Was spooked by a lone DOG in the way so had to vary my usual loop.  I yelled for him to go and he turned away but he would keep turning back to me and with the dark it was a little creepy thinking he could "sneak" up on me.  He was a boxer dog with a collar, a male.   I don't take chances.  A friend of mine was mauled by her own "innocent looking" dog she had gotten from a pound in Provo and took back to Oregon.  Her arm is wickedly torn up.  Police shot him but only after his docile presentation turned to a growl as the police approached him.  I still need to buy mace.  Well hopefully my next few runs in Sunny California will be spoiling me.  

The hotel's Fitness Center doesn't open until 7am because it is right next to a guest room.  So couldn't get any miles in without frowns from my kids pouncing to get to Disneyland the first day here.  Do to being so close to the time zone it is also pretty dark here at 600am to 630am (like home) so don't feel comfortable running on these streets in unknown neighborhoods.  BUT of course I got in a LOT of walking time and standing time.  Feet tired from walking in my "zeroes"  the only comfortable sneakers I have left.  Hope I get some miles in this vacation.

Still overcast and misty rain.   Yesterday we had sun briefly.  NO rain:  : ).   This morning I awoke after it had rained.  Got out for a run at 6:52 am on the streets.  Not interested in this Fitness Center.  It is small.  One TM, one elliptical and one bike with mirrors to watch all my caloric sins this trip bounce around in my gut.  No THANKS.  So I braved the slight dimness and ran to Disneyland (2 miles) and thru it   : )   That was a nice run.  Really felt so very easy breathing in the humid misty air.  Could have gone on for many miles  but again I could imagine my kids waiting for me in the hotel room.   They were supposed to sleep in but that just NEVER goes as planned.  We saw World of Color tonight.  IT was so beautiful with the streaming water colors.   We stood in the "you will get wet Zone".  Loved it.  More mist.  And front row seats.  A must see at Disney California Adventure.  AP today 8.1 miles @ 8:19.  Feet very tired this evening.  Another 1/2 marathon of walking around Disney. 

"Chalk Walk" today for the Children's hospital in Anaheim.  MANY walkers walking with their children thru Disneyland. ALSO so wish I could have b-lined it over to the California International Half Marathon (they also had a Marathon) on Long Beach only 15 minutes away from here. It starts at the Queen Mary and goes along the beach paths.   Can't really do a fun run with the kids waiting for me.  We are off to the beach today   : D.   

8.4 miles at 7:49 AP.  It seems easier to breath with this humidity.  Or is it the elevation change?  whatever it is I feel better here.  Maybe its because I am at the Happiest Place on earth.  I ran this run at 7:01 am.  Ran the same route -- almost as Saturday.  Got to run thru the park again.  They even let runners run thru while guests of the park stood in the bag check lines.  I felt like an honored guest as a runner.  Got lots of stares.  Like who runs when they are on vacation?  seriously.  It had just rained quite a bit so all the pathways, walkways etc...were drenched.  Just a slight mist in the air.  Feels great because the air is warm.  Got back and two of my kids were still in deep sleep so went upstairs to the 5 th floor and did a hillwork (grades of 2.5 to 7%)  out on the TM for 1.6 miles AP 8:57 to make an even 10 miles.  It was a nice cooldown yet I perspired greatly without ventilation in a hotel room made into a small fitness center.   So love the outdoors better.  Wish I could run out here everyday.  Wish I had time for a beach run.  My sister-in-law actually was at Long Beach watching her sister-in-law run the half marathon yesterday.  She said it was crazy busy with traffic because there were 20,000 runners!!   BTW  our car broke down  : (

Pouring rain to begin with at 7:10am.   So I opted for the dreaded TM in an enclosed space.  Goal was to run easy so I did.  AP 9:03 for 4 miles at 1% grade.  Still I dripped sweat due to the humidity and no ventilation.  Then ran to the Auto Care shop.  Glad I had my garmin to tell me how far.  Troy guessed 1.5 miles.  It was 2.6 miles away.  AP here 8:28.  It was a stoplight run or try to beat the stoplight and not get killed run with early morning drivers picking up their coffee at various donut shops.  Nice outside even though it was drizzling.  My car starts like its brand new.  Hasn't sounded this good in a few years so obviously their was a definite problem.  The auto old man showed me the parts that were frayed and beaten to a pulp.  I feel like I was dealt with honestly.  That's a plus.  Not sure if I will run today.  Legs are finally getting real tired of walking....after many a day at the Happiest Place on Earth : D  It pretty much rained all day today.  We seem to bring the "nice" weather wherever we go. 

Was going to rest today but all the food (I am hoping not to have gained weight on vacation) I have been eating needs some caloric output.  Plus I will miss this air so I decided to get out there.  Ran a neighborhood route close to Disneyland.  Fun to see all the preschoolers being dropped off for school.  There are like three schools in one square mile.   That's even more than Utah.  AP for 5.5= 8:27.  Gearing up for my cold long run at the homefront tomorrow.  15 miles I am planning.  The air here in California just got breezy and cooler with yesterday's rain so I expect it to be colder at home.  Looking forward to the Halloween half.  Haven't done any speed work so I don't know what kind of shape I will be in.  But hey its all DOWNHILL  I should just need to turn my legs over and over.  Big driving day coming up.  10 hours.   Fun.  : D

Oh MY!!  decided to run up 1100north fresh up from SEA LEVEL and although I was under a 9 pace my breathing felt labored.  My legs wanted to turn over quicker but my cardiopulmonary system was like "HELL O"  as I got to the summit and ran the canal my pace quickly went under 8 but my breathing was still labored.  Perhaps its just all the McDonald and Wendy's fries I ate in the past week.  We went a total of four times to fast food.  Lots of fries.  I like them dipped in sweet and sour sauce.  The salt and sweet.  mmmmm.  But apparently the fat from them is sticking to my lungs.  I eventually evened out my pace to about a 7:53 for a while and decided I would just run 10 but my route made it 11 so I had to keep going although I walked for .3 miles before the last mile.  I was done.  MUST MOVE SOMEWHERE HUMID!!!  I grew up in New Hampshire.  I miss the drizzling water in the air.  And the little curls in my hair (ringlets).  I am sure I will get back to normal soon.  It has only been 2 1/2 weeks since SGM and seems like it was over a month ago.  AP for 11 miles = 7:58.  First mile 9:04.  Last mile 7:58.  Marathon pace miles= 3  (7:33, 7:12, 7:32).     Addedum-- I suppose fatigue could be the issue-- 10 hours in a small car with my family and  I drove 4 hours of it, the last part until 930pm.  Then went to bed at midnight.  Got into watching the survivors of the  crash in 1972 over the Andes (Alive the movie is about that)  talk about their experience.  Got up at 7am and didn't get out to run until 1100am in the DRY heat.  I was parched.  Totally : D.

After three busy dayshifts and NO running I decided to get back out there.  I feel non-runner like in this cold fall weather and not very motivated.  I decided to add in 5 x .25 miles to see if  I knew how to run fast with .25 miles running easy in between.  I didn't know my pace as my garmin in this mode doesn't show it until after your done.  My pace was supposed to be controlled speed (not all out) focusing on form per book.  Splits as mile paces:  6:35, 6:13, 6:17, 6:05, 6:05.  Did some core and my pushups.  Only ran 6 total miles.  I am gonna take it easy until I feel like running again.  This worked for me last year and I ran a faster marathon on 40 and less miles because of it.  BTW today it was windy, sleeting and cold on my run.  DANG. 

Ran with Kim in the chilly am hour of 6.  Wore gloves, sweatshirt, headband.  Then put the sweatshirt around my waist after our warm up of about 3 miles.  Ran 1 minute on two minutes off at a comfortable not all out pace.  However it got pretty tiring and since we didn't know our pace until the end  I realize a few were too fast.  We were more trying for VO2 but I got more.  Kim could have run faster and she was already a head by two to four seconds each one.  Two speed works in two days but  I feel less tired today than after yesterday's workout.  It was hard running in the dark and not having depth perception completely there.  I think that is why  I ran faster at times yesterday.  I don't even feel tired at all today.  I feel like running another 4 miles.  Paces for minutes on (the slow ones were some significant starts on a hill)--5:58, 6:04, 6:11, 6:12, 6:28, 6:25, 6:44, 7:03, 6:18, 6:23, 6:49, 6:43.  Two minute off averages were between 7:30 and 8:00 a couple just over 8 when a car got in the way.  Cooldown.    Total miles= 9.2.  Would have ran to get 10 total but daughter's needs to be up for school.  

Ran with Kim.  Lucky Day for both of us.  I just happened to call her as she was about to call me.  Her husband is home sick for the day so she was able to run outside and not on her TM or at the gym.  Yay!!  of course that meant I had to run faster than my usual easy run but I told her "just let me warm up for three miles and I will be ready to run your pace"  and that worked. The first five miles were uphill some normal uphill some steeper.  It was a great fall day.  Kim and I were overdressed.  We laughed at ourselves.  We had to stop so Kim could remove some layers.  I am big on stretching lately so that was fine.  We were not in a hurry.  No kid worries.  So the first few miles were 9s and the last few were 7:30s.  AP for 10 miles= 7:57.  Did some core and my pushups.  Troy joined me for some pushups.  He could easily do over 10 no problem so I put him at the last category of 100 push ups work out sheet.  He made it look easy as I strained to do my measly sets.  Ate some dried apples fresh off the press and then salmon on grilled corn tortilla.  Had a craving for the tortillas.  We stopped practically every day at the tortilla factory at Disney California.  And the sour dough company too, yum.  They give out free samples  : D.  Feelin' pretty good.  Probably should have gone easy if I am trying to run MP at the half Saturday--goal pace 7:12.  If I feel really strong I will push it harder.  But we are going earlier 7:30am start  so the terrain might be icy and the buses will be coming upon us for the first 5-6 miles.  We all have busy Saturdays and a 9am start is just too late for us.  

6 easy at 8:41 pace.  Left my house at 535am.  Couldn't sleep after 4am and felt some energy so got up.  A little sore from core yesterday and upper arms from pushups but the run helped to unstiffen myself.  This isn't a big race tomorrow seeings how it is unofficial and I am highly unmotivated when its not official so I am trying for MP not half pace.  Anyway got to get a future schedule for me to adhere to race wise in order to reach some goals before I get too old : D.  Tentative goals:  a 5k to do a check on speed or lack there of in November,  Painter's half (Jan.), Antelope Island 50K or Riverton 1/2 in March (if they fall on different Sats  I will do both if work allows but I am leaning more towards Antelope), Provo 1/2 (April), Thanksgiving point 1/2 (May), Ogden marathon (May)--not racing it just a nice EASY long run, I am coaching my neighbor to run her first marathon, her goal is 5 hours,  Utah Valley Marathon (June), 2 10ks in July, Park City Half /Hobble Creek(Aug), TOU half (Sept), SGM  (Oct).  Post-script:  My Dr's office called.  My NNP, after further research on my low ferritin level (mine is 5 and performance decreases after going below 25 according to Advanced Marathoning) really feels I need to get Intravenous Iron as levels this low don't usually correct itself thru oral pills.  I have poor absorption for some reason or another.  Basically my body does not like iron.  I avoided it like the plague when I was pregnant and rarely eat red meat (now it is on the menu).  So perhaps I will feel a Zip to my Zap sooner than I thought.  I  still have these intense bouts of fatigue, and struggle more to breath then I used to at an increased pace.  I just thought  I was aging too quickly, being 41 and all and running with my 30-something friends : D.   I  am glad my NNP is on the ball.  I was trying to ignore it away, taking my floradix (iron) randomly and trying to eat more red meat here and there. 

First of ALL I am so excited about my PR today.  It feels so good.  I feel like I am coming back from the dead.  I just can't believe that something so simple as taking iron can do for the body.  I can't believe it got so bad.  I was so depressed and so Un motiviated and had no idea what was plaguing me was a bottomed out iron level.  I have some articles I will post to my blog.  I was case book.  They are written by track coaches of long distance runners.  I don't feel fully back but really close and after today's PR on an "easy" course-- the downhill can make or break you coming in to the more flat to rolling hill last 7 miles-- I have hope to come back even stronger.  I played it safe and could even talk the whole way.  I never got nauseated or felt terribly spent.  I was more like "don't fall apart" mantra based on all my races the past 4 months feeling miserable every step of the way.  But it didn't happen and after slowing at miles 6 and 8 due to flatness I was able to look at my garmin and tell myself to just stay even the rest of the way and I got my stride back and felt pretty strong passing a lot of people.  I believe I was first master as the girl I passed at the end came in about 1 minute after asking my age and bummed I was over forty.  But since I wasn't official I told her she gets the glory.  I was just too happy about PRing after such sadness preSGM.  I was (to be updated as official results are posted, either 8th or 9th overall) as McKenzie came in at 1:26 and was 6th.  I feel really good right now.  No muscle soreness and even felt I could add on.  I did do a two mile warmup, one uphill very steep and then back down.  The mile up was at 11:00 pace.  I was purposely running slow but was worried how I was going to try and do 1:30 to 1:32 today at that point.  The weather was SPECTACULAR.  The view was BREATHTAKING and the COSTUMES WERE AWESOME!!  Sidenote:  I was supposed to go early with Melanie and Kim at 7:50am but I got so excited seeing all the runners that I told them to go ahead (I didn't want to be burned by them anyway) and that I would start at the real time.  The start was only late by 10 minutes (9:10am).    Here is are the splits with a brief play by play:

1  6:38  A dip then a short uphill portion having to coral thru a small space between a bus parked perpendicular (basically blocking the road) to the road and a road sign.  Seriously?  My pace just 100 feet in the race only at 8:38.  We had to get thru a narrow passage right from the start.  It was rather odd.

2 6:27   Preoccupied by this ANNOYING runner knocking down EVERY cone in the middle of the road.  He was on autopilot purposely knocking every one of them down as he went by.  The were spaced about 100 feet apart.  He annoyed a lot of us.  I yelled to him several times but his music was blasting.  I finally told another runner blazing by me to go up and tell him to stop it.  Several of us were quite perplexed by this OCD behavior.  It ended soon after that.  I think someone finally got through to him.

3 6:21  Talked to Becca a bit (I told her her shoe was untied) just after passing the 1:30 pacers (two women) going way too fast for that pace.  I asked if they were going for a positive split?  Too bad for those who had never run under 1:30 and trusted them to get them there.

4  6:24

5 6:41  Course flattens out and steepness ended halfway thru this mile.  The 1:30 pacer girls pass me.  Seriously?  NOT a 1:30.  I was waiting for them to put on the breaks.  They never did.

6   7:05  Just told myself this was expected and try to regain composure and not lose it.  It worked.  : D   Talked to JulieE as I was right behind and then passed her brother.  She was cheering him on.  I couldn't help but tell her the story about the 1:30 pacers being ahead of the game.  Hope all this talking is okay?

7   7:08   Yippee still doing okay. 

8  6:54    I kept trying to average my pace and see how "slow" I could go and still get under 1:30.    It was a nice mental way to keep me going steady. 

9   6:58    A little uphill here but I just shuffled up it in short strides and didn't even feel out of breath.

10   6:58  Just cruising by people keeping it even.  However I can feel a blister on the top of my  (left big toe) forming.  It kind of messes with my form the last three miles but  I don't let it take me down  : D.  It was bleeding by the end.   

11  7:18  Water station I walked thru. 

12  7:11  Just hang on. Felt like I should just start sprinting I feel so good.  But who likes to start sprinting for the last mile of a half?  What if I fall apart?   Pass naked butt girl with a sign on her back that reads "does my butt look like it makes me run fast?" to which I told her "yes, your butt makes you run fast, I have seen "your butt" for miles and finally caught it".  I am sure that butt slowed her down a bit. 

13.1   6:59  Low and behold the last .1 miles of the race the 1:30 pacers come running up the course.  They see me and turn around with their signs held up and "run me in".  I didn't need them to run me in but oh well.  It was kind of funny cause my time was 1:27:40.   So much for their pacing careers  : D.  Allie had to pace for a 2:05.  I am sure she didn't try to run 1:50 for that group for the heck of it.   If I were a pacer I would LOVE the excuse to run SLOWER so of course I would run the appropriate pace.  Anyway it was an interesting distraction. 

Finally-- This race was well organized and I quite enjoyed the Halloween feel and the fall foilage on the course.  Truly a great day for me.  Finally   : DDDDD    PS I feel even right now  I could run another  5 miles.  Too wonderful.