Believe to Achieve

3 by 3 miles, like last week.  Improved greatly on the in between miles even without the adrenaline rush from watching the Boston Marathon last week.  Wasn't sure I would be able to get into speedwork after doing visiting teaching all morning.  Got out at 1050am.  Started off with gloves and sweats over shorts.  Took them off at my house on the grass after the first round.  

Here is the breakdown:  Set One:  1-  7:23 (uh oh hope I don't have to measure to this pace, already 35 seconds faster than last week and I always like negative splits) 2- 7:18 (yikes (40 seconds faster), 3-  6:20 (headwind but still six seconds faster).  Set two:  1- 6:50 (oh no should I slow it down? how will I get negative splits)  2-  7:03. This is getting ridiculous.  Maybe air quality better than last week with all the burning on this route going on then.  Just one small area of burning on mile 3 on all sets noticed.  Last week it was on miles 1.5 to 2.  3-  6:18  (headwind again but down hill, not steep or anything, for first 3/4 miles then uphill.  Set three:  1-  6:47 (wow still a negative split from last mile 1!!! Told self if I got a negative split here I would be able to go easy on mile two to reward myself but by the end of it I decided to try and still get a negative split but missed it by 3 seconds.  Too much to make up for at the slower beginning.  2-  7:06.  Still happy about this considering I was near the end and reaching my threshold.  Hoping to do well the last mile.  3-  6:18 (three tenths faster, wooo!!, still counts as negative I guess)  Cool down two miler at 8:25 to 8:30 pace.  Stretched and then helped kindergartener do homework and read her book from school two times.  Finally took shower and cleaned kids bathroom.  Now I am feeling the workout as I write this.  Wish I didn't have to recover working a night shift in a few hours.  C'est la vie.  Avg pace for 9 miles:  6:50!!!!!  I should end up with a doozy of a headache.  A time for miracles may give me hope.

Boy was my mind and body tired today, not sore just tired from absolutley no break in my shift last night.  At least I continued to drink water all night to stay hydrated.  Anyway on my run I turned up my music to dull my senses even more and closed my eyes 3/4 of the  way and tried to sleep jog.  Pace was very relaxing  (10:20), just wanted to wake myself up and not put any stress on my body.  Got plans for a hill work out tomorrow up 1100 north and up into Grovecreek canyon for an exploration. 

Hill work.  Adventure run up 1100 north and then to Bonneville Shoreline Trail (not canal) that starts up at Grove Creek Canyon and I headed north.  So BEAUTIFUL, but a little anxious at times when I saw what I thought was the leg of a cougar on the trail or a dog that has legs that look like a cougars.  Felt I was being "watched" at times so turned my music down to safe guard my senses but mostly felt an incredible high from this new countryside.  Too awesome I could have gone on for a while.  Have to go get lower braces on after visiting teaching and get kids off to school.  Average pace for 7.39 miles (8:23).  I highly recommend trail running.  Go For It!!!

Easy run before the last big tempo/long run before Ogden.  Ran 4 miles at 8:30 pace.  First mile 9:20.  Last mile 7:47.   Ahhhhh relaxing.  Tomorrow I am thinking two miles at 8 then 13 miles at marathon pace of 7:40.  Not sure will be on canal after the climb to it. 

That's it. I was fine until mile 9 then I just was plain tired. Do you think running on the canal slows you down even when you are trying hard to run fast? I was thinking the dirt has something to do with it. I am beat. Too much this week I think. My first mile I knew I was taking off too fast at 7:51 on an uphill mile to the canal. Oopps. Then I was doing 7:31 for a good two miles then just had to slow down. I was trying to run just 7:40s. Came up short at 1:59:05 for 15.4 miles so 7:43 pace. I really am tired and have a headache. The bottom braces being put on my teeth on Wednesday have really been painful. And I can't shut my mouth all the way -- teeth do not touch now--so I am bumming about chewing. Only 9 months to go. I am so tired of my jaw hurting and locking all the time, even though my teeth were "straight" enough as anyone elses I chose to do this to get my jaw aligned correctly, my bite was way off apparently. Anyway, I am glad I was able to do this run in all this pain so I can at least try to be strong at the marathon after working 7 of the next 11 nights. How do you spell relief? I don't know at this point. I keep pushing myself masochistictly. I don't even think that is a word. Oh well , just not a feel good kind of run day. Where is the sun? I feel cold too. I will stop now. I think I just feel this way due to the oncoming work schedule. It is like this every two weeks since last November and still I am not used to it.

Wasn't going to run but had to shake the head to wake up in order to be alive for the night shift.  Left at 4:55pm.  Ran 3.49 miles at 8:43 pace.  First mile 9:10 pace last mile 8:15.  No soreness from Friday's long run.  The wet roads made the greenery even prettier.  Slight sprinkle for two minutes of the run.  Woke me up thankfully.  Clocked in at work for 6pm shift.  I just keep going and going....