Believe to Achieve

Ran easy pace 12 today.  Man Alive "CHRONIC FATIGUE ATTACK all day yesterday and until the morning.  I slept 9 hours and still felt exhausted when I awoke at 7am.  Last week my husband and I stained a new front door for our house and at first the stain and paint remover was okay to my system but doing it for four days I think was just too much for my body to handle.   I think that is why I couldn't sleep several nights last week-- like it made my brain hyper or something and then it fatigued my brain completely out not to mention that I continued to run my usual runs.  Nothing I ran was too taxing but with all the chemicals it just compounded greatly.  Plan today was easy pace run.  Planning a tempo run for tomorrow.  I am torn as Josse invited me for SW on the indoor track at BYU.  YUCK I hate track work-- goes back to my track trauma days I mentioned before.  Today I ran incline at 1% for all miles AP for 12= 7:52.   8:27, 8:20, 8:13, 8:06, 8:00, 7:53, 7:47, 7:47, 7:41, 7:41, 7:35, 7:24.  All felt comfortable.  Followed up with 15/15/10/10/8  pushups.  The floor was hard on my wrists so I am sure they will feel arthritic-like the next few days.  I need to do them on my carpet at home but I wanted them over with.  The grass is also a great place to do them on.  Also did one minute plank and sides at 30 sec x 1.  Yup lazy, but really just hungry.  I started this run at 8:20am and I had to wait 12 minutes for a TM.    Oh yah wore my Altras.  So love them.

Tempo Intervals:  3  x  2 miles.   Warmup 4 miles, 1% incline:  8:57, 8:41, 8:27, 8:13.  Reset treadmill, pottied and  stretched.    Another 1/2 mile warmup 8:00 pace.  Then put incline to 0.5% for the intervals. 

6:35  x 2 miles (last 1/4 mile run at 6:31 pace)

1/2 mile at 8:13AP  ( 1% one lap, 0.5%second lap)

6:35 x 2 miles  (last 1/2 mile run at 6:31 pace)

1/2 mile at 8:13 AP  (same as above)

6:35 x 1 mile,  last mile 1/4 at 6:35, 6:31, 6:31, 6:27 (last corner 6:18).

1/2 mile at one lap 8:00, one lap 7:47AP.  1% incline. 

8 miles @ 6:54 pace.    :D. 

Comment:  mentally I am NOT ready for Painter's half.  Physically?  I just don't know where I am at compared to last year since I essentially didn't run well for 8 weeks from Oct to Nov.  I kind of forgot about this half marathon and NOW it has snuck up on me.  YIKES.  I haven't done any tempos as long as I used to before such a race.  Goal is exactly 1:30.  6:52 AP.  Cross fingers.  I heard there is a 1:30 pacer.  If it is Seth Wold that would be wonderful!! 

Decided just as I awoke at 6:30am to get four miles in outside and then get back to see Courtney off for school/make her lunch then meet with Troy at the gym at 9:20am. But that all changed when I got myself out the door and realized the air was a lot warmer than I thought it would be. "The CALM before the Storm". So I ran FIVE miles and got inside before Courtney made it down the stairs. Made her lunch and breakfast and then here carpool came. 20 minutes lapse between runs. I figured since Troy is home to get the other two girls out the door I would just get the last 7 miles in. Today was RECOVERY JOG day. So slower than usual and as needed mentally and physically. It felt so VERY nice to run so easy and not worry about pace. I wore my Altras again but this time I wore the "strengthen footbed" insole. Meaning no arch or fluff to the sole. Basically pretty close to barefoot : D Felt light on my feet. I forgot to mention however that since I wore my brooks for the 18 miler(and the run the next day) they flared a little IT band problem. I didn't break them in and I had some good pain from my hip to the side of my knee about a day after the run. I was slightly worried but after wearing my Altras the last 3 days my alignment is quickly changing back to my normal. Yay. Just a slight pain at the side of my knee with a nerve like pain in my left hamstring. The hamstring was tight for my SW yesterday but I stretched it good. It is good that it was tight or I would have overdone it yesterday. Finished today off with 5 x 10 NORMAL pushups. And side planks x 1. Got too hungry again. AP for 12 recovery miles = 8:40.

not good....so very tire.  (I am with ya McKenzie!!).  look at that I can't even complete my words.  TIRED.  I ran so very slowly this morning. I almost bagged the entire run because the first mile was like a 9:34.  I just could NOT get moving or get my legs to feel like my legs. I wore my new Brooks Pureflow (I had to trade them in because I swore something was wrong with the way the right shoe was made, but now I am ALSO having problems with the new pair).   In all this trialing of shoes I have liked my Altras the best.  I think they flattened my feet out so very well that when  I put shoes on with any sort of hold on my feet I don't like it, nor my body.  Blah.  I am like the "Princess and the Pea" . I notice anything in my alignment that is off and my mind can't let go of it.  Hence my utter failure (as if I needed to bring this up again) at SGM with the whole NEW sock scenario.  My feet are ultra sensitive.  Blah again.  I am at some sort of low point.  Hopefully this means I will be good as new by Saturday but I am not too hopeful....I work ALL day tomorrow at Utah Valley Hospital in the NICU then I have to drive back home here in PG, pack the remaninder of my things (this will be about 7:15 pm then leave about 7:45pm for St. George, getting in about 1130pm after TWO very long days of work, non stop and my head (currently still spinning) just utterly and completely exhausted.  So miracles for me on Saturday?  I don't know.  I just don't know.  I am sick and tired of any all of my races being after I work two days in a row!!! It is just how I have my schedule---th, fr then weekend off!!  I can't even change it.  It is a set schedule.  I will stop complaining.  I just have a headache and I am moody.  I need to relax.  I am overstimulated from running around all day taking care of 10 patients!!  AP 8:42 for 8 miles.

0 miles.  So very tired and needed the extra hour before heading to work in Provo NICU.  LUCKY BREAK--- AMAZINGLY got to get off work early.  Seriously NEVER has such a break worked out  like this when I needed it when  I work NICU.  Clocked out at 330pm!!    Got home after 4 pm.  Left for St. George at 5pm.  Arrived at 9pm.  Watched most of Phantom of the Opera with Courtney and Troy.  Love that movie.  Didn't sleep well.  Some perfume allergy problems.  Oh well.  Figure I will just stay with the 1:30 pacer, not take off with Kim and Jane.   

Woke several times during the night and was wondering what the "pitter patter" was all about and then it started POURING.  This was 4am so I was pretty sure the race would be a wet one.  Called Melanie and she didn't even know it was raining (7:30am).  Must be her condo versus my trailer : D.  Oh and her MELATONIN!!  Need to try some.  Anyway, Kim picked me up with Jane and then we drove to pick up Melanie.  Got there about 8:25am.  Ran to the start from the other side of the freeway.  I was alone as the other three went in to the hotel to pee again.  I warmed up alone (2.5 miles, 8:21 AP) and pretty much didn't see them again until 2 minutes before the start.  I looked around frantically for a private place to pee outside but nothing.  Dang..bladder uncomfortable.  Pretty much ran the entire race feeling like I had to pee.  Quite annoying and feel it slowed me down during the race as I often thought about stopping somewhere but it was rural and there was nothing private.  Sorry TMI.  Moving forward, I lined up and met for the first time Walter (from the blog, who said he really doesn't blog much any more) and another guy holding the 1:30 pace sign.  I think his name was Shawn.  I stuck with them and honestly thought they were going way too easy the first five miles (BUT IS NECESSARY).   After talking with Walter on and off for the first 4.5 miles I began to drift from them at mile five and began to run with this old guy (turned out he was 58, looked older).  He quoted elevation for each mile as we came upon different parts of the course.  It was entertaining.  He was very cheerful and upbeat.  I felt extremely good.  Probably from starting out so conservatively.  I had been worried about my 1/2 marathon fitness since I have only been doing short speedwork with my longest one (finally) being last Tuesday of 3 x 2 milers.  All the others were 3 to 4 miles.  The old chap chatted away all the way up this long hill.  I honestly didn't even feel like we were going up hill (thanks TM!!).   When we got to the top I flew down the other side and cranked out a 6:19 mile which panicked me a bit and then we were on trail that was soaked with water and I became nervous about slipping with running fast so the next mile was a 6:35.  It wasn't downhill like the last mile either.  Rolling.  I had left the old guy behind but then suddenly there he was--- again quoting elevation etc...I at that time was listening to my music (I had pretty much kept it low and off at times the first 6.5 miles).  But when he started talking about elevation again I told him politely "I can't talk right now".  Now many of you who know me know very well how much I like to talk during runs. This behavior was VERY new to me.  I decided that in order to get to my goals, I am going to have to be quiet and focus.  I felt bad for saying that and ended up following about 20 paces behind him and two others he started running with.  He found me after the race and wanted to apologize.  I told him "no worries" it had nothing to do with him but with my strategy this year.  I need to focus.  I told him I am very much a talker when I run but I need to not talk to reach some of my goals this year" .  We exchanged a few stories and we understood each other.  He is a very kind man.  I came in 6 seconds behind him.  I wonder if I should have just talked?????  I wasn't out of breath ever in this race.  Mainly it was my lower back and my left hamstring that was a little achy.  I need to get to the last two miles and KNOW FULL WELL I HAVE GAS IN THE TANK AND BURN IT UP AND NOT WORRY I MIGHT CRASH ON THE GROUND!  I finished feeling like I could very well have done two 6:30 miles the last two.  It is a mental game I tell myself.  I worry I won't have gas or I will fall to the ground and then have to start walking.  I am disappointed that I didn't push myself to the point where  I was giving my all.  Mt. Nebo I felt that way.  Bryce Canyon I felt that way.  But here....NOPE.  I had a lot left and when the finish line became visible it was too late but don't get me wrong I am VERY happy with this race for me.  This felt VERY controlled, like a MP Tempo run, SERIOUSLY!!!  So YAY!!  Quite glad : DDDDDD

From memory (will change if I have them incorrect)-- 7:00, 6:54, 6:56, 6:43, 6:50, 7:02 (uphill), 6:56 (uphill), 6:19 (downhill), 6:35  (short downhill), 6:42, 6:53 (uphill), 6:47, 6:37, 0.1  --  5:31!!!   CD 2.5 miles in the pouring rain-- 8:20 AP.  Waited for the awards in the pouring rain.  Ate some rolls with cinnamon butter, frozen yogurt, two frosted (small) cookies and chocolate milk, two cups.  Figured I deserved all of it for a great 18 miler.