Believe to Achieve

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!!"