Believe to Achieve

Hiked from Sunset point to Sunrise point at Bryce Canyon.  The downhill was a killer, my calves and quads spasmed out.  Found glory in the uphill.  1.5 miles down 1.5 up.  .5 flat.  Very awesome hike.  It is claimed to be the best 3 mile hike around. 

One mile hike (Mossy cave and water falls) at Bryce Canyon located at mile 4 of the Half Marathon.  Totally refreshing to dip legs in the cool water.  Not near as cold as Provo River but cool nonetheless.  Legs have been rebelling.   The Half was rough on my calves and hamstrings, lower back.  Sleeping in a tent for three nights hasn't helped.  Work tonight, to make matters worse.

Thought I would get out but the heat was unbearable.  My calves ridiculously sore, tight, same as hamstrings.  No upper body soreness at all.  I am massively fatigued.  Decided not to push it, try to sleep tonight then run long tomorrow.  Can't believe I haven't run since Saturday's race.  But I think recovery calls for this with my schedule.

630am, beat the heat run finally.  And finally I got myself out there although I dragged myself out there.  Legs, meaning calves and hamstrings extremely tight, burning pain to my left toes, and numb-like feels in places.  Obviously, lower back problem cause now after resting my back is throbbing.  Will try heat pad soon.  I have had this issue before on downhill runs, especially.  I also go through a period of almost 24 hours of peeing like over 1-2 times per hour.  I have ignored the professionals advice to check further for a tethered cord (MRI shows a lower than normal cord and this goes with the malformation I had surgery for on my brain).  I figure I have it and I would refuse treatment anyway (which is to surgically detether my cord that is tied to my sacrum, not ready for open spine surgery again).  I flew all the way to NYC to have them tell me that I needed to have further testing and that I have all the symptoms of a tethered cord.  This was June 2008.  I threw away the order for the test which is a voiding test, to test if I am able to empty my bladder all the way or not.  Obviously not since Monday night at work I went over 12 times to the bathroom, no joking.  This happens more often after downhill runs which strain my spinal cord, and everyone elses for that matter.  I feel like I have to pee the entire race, annoying but normal for me.  I am sure you all wanted to hear all this.  Its the blog in me.  My life is an open page : D.    9.77 miles at 8:38 pace. 

Shoot, shoot shoot double shoot, darn double darn.....yah and  I still run 10 milers for plodding miles as Sasha calls them.    My back is killing me and my speed.  It radiates to my hamstrings and calves to my feet, throbbing aches in lower back.  Just did heat therapy and massage by hubby.  Feels better if I am not moving around.  CAN'T HAPPEN!!!!  Everything feels good otherwise, so is it my undiagnaosed tethered cord or a bulging disc?  Do you think I am going to be taken down by this?  I am a runner, I don't think I will stop.  I am taking ibuprofen too.  I would rate this pain an 8 of all back pains I have had including back labor.  I am used to pain, mainly migraine pain to the nth degree so you think I could hang in there, but it is meddling with my speed.  I can't lift my legs high without even more intense pain surges.  YIKES>   10K tomorrow, if a miracle happens  I will race it.  If feels the same will tempo it at 7s or slower.  Chiropracter visit on the horizon.  Remember I am insane so not running is not the answer  :  D     10.48 miles, same loop as yesterday with an addition at the end.  8:41 pace, so at least I took it a little slower  : )

No rabbit today, No hat today for that matter. Knew this was going to hurt so just tried to keep it a tempo/marathon pace run. Ouch. Rubbed this unsented Myomed all over my hamstrings, lower back and calves, ran a two plus mile warm-up and could feel the strain on my back. But just tried my best. Could not make it in the 6s but once. Even after the first uphill mile and we headed slightly downhill my effort for lifting my legs did not show on the clock so I mentally gave up to my physical ails. Oh and I ran this race minus my iPod. I think it definitely would have improved my pain focus and perhaps my pace in seconds so the consensus for me, if in pain I would rather have something to distract me and not the other guys huffing and puffing beside me trying to not get chicked by me. That was hard. The breathing patterns were intense but hey if felt more real, like I was REALLY there. Sadly, I think this course is easier than the Freedom Run 10K two and 1/2 weeks ago and I was 3 seconds slower!! I guess back pain minus iPod is worse than sore throat pain and iPod. Oh I guess I did just run the Bryce 1/2 and ran two 10 milers the last two days. I guess that might have something to do with my inability to perform well today. Or even feel well at all in this run. Glad I got some tempo miles : ) Not looking forward to staying up all night tonight and Saturday. No rest for the weary. Here are my miles: pretty consistent even with the first big uphill: 7:09, 6:54, 7:06, 7:02, 7:15, 7:06 Last .2 in 81 seconds. Cooldown with 2.4 miles (ran to mile 5 and back to finish)

Got home at 7am from the busiest shift in a while.  Lots of IV meds all night long. Stayed up to watch kids swim in last meet before County.  Luckily it got over earlier than expected (1100am).  Went to bed at 1105 and slept three hours, yuck : (  Tried again and got only two more of broken sleep.  Went off to work again.  Was in my comfort zone of the Level 2 nursery but thinking the night would be smooth turned to rocky by midnight.  No time to rest/break.  Came home like a drunk wobbling from side to side (wasn't that way at work, I try to hold it together there, of course).