Believe to Achieve

FRB run starting at my house.  Fun seeing such a large group of great runners starting out from my house at 730am.  (should have warned the neighbors).   First of all the start was colder than I thought it would be.  Sun hadn't risen above the mountains yet.  The lead pack started out at a 730pace making it down to the 5s for the end of the run.  Jake ran 25 miles in like 2:39, he said!! YIKES.  We pretty much could not see them after mile 4.5.  I stayed in a "chase" pack that included Allie, Andrea, Rachelle, Kelli, Chad and Kam.  We ran a pretty decent pace.  Felt great the first 14 miles then the last climb and the brief steep downhill really made my PF ANGRY.  I pretty much ran on my toes on my right foot for the remainder of the run.  Dang.  I am not sure why this is happening. Plan to get my iron level checked this week and to get a second steroid shot as this pain is not conducive to a good time at Boston.  I was still able to push the pace a little at the end but nothing too drastic.   Slowest mile was the first one in 8:06.  The fastest mile was a 7:14 when  I ran to catch back up to Allie and Andrea after I stopped for water for about 45 seconds at mile 8+.  Stopped at the eternal fountain in Alpine for about 3 minutes then ran the back side of Healey drive that leads to the steep downhill.  After the nice climb we didn't feel like pushing that lovely 0.5 mile downhill but it was still a 7:17 mile, the same as the last mile.  BTW this is MY FIRST 20 miler since the St. George Marathon.  I hadn't run longer than 18 miles.  If my hamstrings/lower back and PF would clear I would be ready to go.  I am going to try some hamstring light weights that Allie suggested and get that shot for my foot.  Other than that not sure what to do??  Hopefully  I can get an IV iron transfusion and be miraculously cured like I was the fall 2010.  AP for 20.22 miles =  7:42!!   That is faster than my 18 milers that I have been running and which didn't include the last climb.   I run my 18 miler slow until 13 miles then 4 fast and my fastest AP has been 7:44.   Group energy is so wonderful!!   I honestly don't feel any different then my 18 milers.   Glad I didn't go for the fast four today.  Foot wouldn't have like that .   At the finish we had breakfast and chatted in my house.  It was fun hanging with the gang.  Thanks everyone for coming out here and running with me!!  (or at least the route I picked out SPEEDIES)