Believe to Achieve

Rest day.  Moving quite well.  Trail running is much easier on the joints.  My feet don't hurt at all.  My quads are the only part of my body that is sore.  Survived BYU game in 100 degrees.  Went into the bathroom took off my shirt and soaked  it under the sink (I had to do this three times while I was at the game, no I didn't care about the stares) along with my hat.  I was a walking air conditioner.  AHHH!!!!  That is how I survived the eggs on a frying pan feeling I had going into the stadium.  I have a terrific cough that got worse and worse as the day went on.  My daughter's is worse and she is still feverish.  I was surprised I mustered out 23 miles on how bad I felt the night before.  I think running is my natural immune booster if I don't push it too hard.  I am going to beat this thing!!

Ran an easy run with my husband.  Gave my husband an Ironman Timex watch for his birthday Saturday.  Tried it out today.  He is going to get faster now.  My legs slightly stiff at the start but felt quite well after the first mile (9:40).  Which pace we increased to 8:36 by the end (34:59).  Felt I could go faster but trying to keep easy days easy, run smart to avoid injury.  We managed to come in seconds before the wind and rain.  Perfectly planned somehow. Still have this horrid cough, kept me up quite a bit last night, went away on the run, but back as soon as it ended.  I plan on running the Spanish Fork Half this Saturday, got to stay healthy.  I will be happy with anything under 1:40 since I heard it is a flat/rolling hills course.  Anyone do this one and can tell me if this is so? 

Now as I don't know how to switch to the triathlon mode (if anyone knows please comment) I put my biking with my running miles.  Biked to school and back (2 miles) and thought maybe I will crosstrain today with biking 20 as this ridiculous cough is holding me back.  But as  I started to get on my bike I decided to ride to the new PG rec center (3 miles from my house, like the AF recreation center) and try some speed work in case I do the half this weekend.  I began on their new  outdoor track but being made of tires (the track) and very new I got a headache after the first lap from the tire smell.  I finished four easy laps at 9:30 pace then to the recreation center to go on the treadmill.  I did a five minute warmup at 8:57 then increased the pace to 6:40 for an 800 at a  0.5% incline then back to earlier pace for 1:40 then repeated this for a total of four times but increased my pace each time until at 9.4-9.5 miles per hour for the last few minutes (6:19 to 6:23 pace).  I felt I could do at least three more but was getting sick from the smell of cleaners coming from a dispenser in a nearby bathroom door that was open. This recreation center is only two months old so all the new smells were enough for me.  I did brief recoveries to work on my endurance. The cough gone during run but back after the run of course but better during the cool air bike ride home (total bike 29 minutes).  Took it easy on the bike.  Refreshing for my legs.  Now to hydrate and take it easy until Saturday. 

Biked to school and back (2), about to do it again to get my kindergartener.  Got up the focus to do 7 miles at easy pace (8:30 to 8:50 the last five miles).  The first two were up hill and were just at get thru it pace of just under 10:00.  The next three and 1/2  were uphill but not as much and the last one was straight down (1100 north PG).  I took it easy as the nagging cough won't let up and my legs feel heavy from yesterdays speedwork.  Decided to mail in my SF half entry even though I am torn:  will I make my cough linger more or should I help coach the soccer game my daughter is in?  Just found out yesterday that the tournament starts this Saturday and our game is at 8am.  It is double elimination so we still would have one more game if we lose and if we win at least two more after that so I feel I can sacrifice the stress of coaching/watching the game for a good tempo workout that offers so fellow runners.  I like to be involved and wish two good things weren't happening at the same time.  Happens a lot to all of us.  Now to stay healthy and strong until Saturday.  I think I might try to take it real easy at first to do it more tempo then a race. 

Biked to walmart and back at a good pace (7 miles).  Having a good time biking.  I feel so free and fast (faster than running). 

REST DAY.  Felt lazy all day and actually a little depressed.  Without my running my brain dwindles.  I didn't even ride my bike.  I was completely stagnant.  Got to get going tomorrow.

Ran to 600 west and up to farm road and down my 800 route.  Did two by 800 easy at 3:23 and 3:27 (more uphill).  Felt good.  Not sure if good idea to do this before the half tomorrow.  Not even sure about the half tomorrow at all.  A little race anxiety since I don't know the course.  Anyone?  Took 39 minutes.

Okay here is the report:  After my bike crash yesterday and a wicked migraine from the whiplash, I suppose, I tossed and turned and got up to the bathroom 4 times.  I felt achy like I was an old lady that fell and broke a hip.  My knee swelled (serves me right when my neighbor asked yesterday morning "how do your knees hold up?"  I said "my knees are great, they are bionic".  But then I said "I better knock on wood".  Well that didn't work since I crashed on my bike about three hours later).  Tried to think "it's okay" just run thru the swelled knee pain.  I even broke down and took ibuprofen in the middle of the night.  At 530 am I made my way over to SF.  Met PURPLE PONYTAIL WOMAN, KIM.  Great job killing your goal time, Kim.  Anyway, still feeling achy and now chilled (cold at start), I hung out in my car for a few minutes ate two fruit snacks (the wholesome kind that are 100% real).  I talked a little to Josse and Michelle (Fast Women).  I wanted to get under 1:40.  I met that but it wasn't very easy.  I am still feeling achy and flu-like.  But I told myself "just do it" (thanks NIKE) and I would somehow feel good about it later.  I do but I have to say I am disappointed I didn't win one of the zillion great prizes.  Here is my breakdown:

1--  7:42, I better pick it up if I want 1:40 or better

2-- 7:31

3-- 7:50, wrong direction with the time, took GU before this.

4--  7:40 I think my goal is dwindling, unless I do a negative split (HOPE)

5--  7:27

6--  7:52 the hill starts just before here

7--  7:40  decided to be stronger than the hill

8--  7:07  yay a downhill

9--  7:27  that pace didn't last long

10-- 7:19  okay maybe I can get my goal

11--  7:27  not liking my iPOD music, why do I have Philadelphia playing?  Fumbled to find a better uptempo song.

12--  7:29  I am okay with this as now I am at the last mile and plan on picking it up, can I?

13--  7:08  Ahhhh, glad my effort showed on the clock!!

.1--   .37    (6:10 pace I believe, I do a weird way of calculating but I think I got it right).

GRAND TOTAL:  1:38:22, Does that really mean I will get a 3:16:44 at St. George.  Would like to dream so.