Believe to Achieve

Slept only two hours after Saturday's fiasco running experience.  Went to work and while the rest of the world relished in the extra hour I got to work it.  Yup, 13 hours and 45 minute shift.  It was the battle of mind over body.  I endured.  Came home Sunday to sleep only 3 hours with an Ambien CR.  Had four pills to try and that was the last one.  Since they don't work on me that's it with sleeping meds.  On to herbal teas.  Finally slept last night as I was getting congested.  I took half a benadryl, which helped.  Sniffles pretty much gone now.  Made it out for a run at 7:07am for only 6.1.  Even though it was really 8:07 it was still cold to me.  Just took it soooooo easy.  Some 10 minute miles.  Just getting in some mileage where I can.  6.1 in 56:22 (9:14).  Like that.  No overdoing it here.  Not sore at all from Saturday: D.

With the extra hour of daylight in the am sleeping problems worsened.  Slept 1 1/2 hours from 7 to 830am.  Tried and tried to fall asleep.   Took ibuprofen around 11am, got back in bed and slept from 1130 to 130pm.  Decided to go running.  Ran like an inch worm, creeping on the roads ever so slowly.  First mile 10:40!! : )  I was in slow motion just making tiny efforts, not caring about pace.  More concerned about feeling alive.  Ran up 1100 north to the canal, at times picking up the pace, but not long.  Pace 9:21 average for 6.51 miles.

Just get out and run, run.  The weather too beautiful to pass up no matter how drained one might be.  I got to wear shorts and a nylon t-shirt, never cold.  Perfect temps with awesome autumn colors.  Wanted to turn back at the 5 mile mark and make it 8.5 cause I was feeling fatigued but found some power within to pull myself through.  I am going to need this power at Squaw Peak next June (50 miler).  Working on my mental toughness wherever/whenever I can.  Mind over body.  That is the key to endurance events.  Ran my new hilly loop through trails and the canal into and out of Cedar Hills with the addition of last week plus a .5 mile cool down.  Average pace for total =  8:23.  First mile 8:58.   Last mile 7:11.  Cooldown 1/2 mile 8:32.  Pigged out on chocolate milk, less processed tortillas, and cottage cheese.  Will eat all night.  Work next two.  Slept two four hour blocks last night, no meds needed.  Ahhhhh!!!!!    Side Story:  On my run as I stared at Lone Peak High School's track thinking I should do speed  work(lack of energy convinced me otherwise) a guy was on the track then he hopped over the fence and came running in my direction.  Well about a 1/2 mile earlier I passed a guy with a backpack and beany on about 18- 20 years old roaming around the road up from the pond. He was walking towards the school.  I stood staring at how to get into the track but it just  wasn't worth my effort today.  So I turned to get back on the trail and there was the same backpack guy.  The guy from the track, dressed like a jock, was sprinting towards him.   I overheard him say "Man, I got to talk to you right away!".  Okay a jock and a suspicious not dressed for the weather ipod, backpacker, beanie man chatting.  I pretended and actually tried not to hear them.  I was worried I might hear something I didn't want to hear and then be this witness person.  The backpack guy made eye  contact twice with me and had this clever smile on his face.  Drugs?  Friendly banter?  Girl troubles? Who knows?  Another woman on the trail from the opposite direction with two dogs also stared at the two.  Who has time for this?  Away I went.  Left to my own suspicions.  

Slept three hours, briefly up and then slept another 1 hr 20 minutes.  Nice day.  Drank some water got dressed to run and headed out in a long sleeve nylon shirt (hot pink) and my only shorts I rarely wear (others in the wash) which are biker shorts and black.  Sooooo stepping into the outdoors wooooo!!! heatwave!!  The breeze was a warm one and the temps had to be in the 70s.  My double layer socks and shorts were bugging me.  I felt hot.  I wanted to tear off my shoes and run barefoot ( I ran my cool down without shoes, ahhhh!!).  Felt I should pick it up and see if I could jump start my brain/body.  First mile 8:45.  Last mile 7:08.  Average pace: 8:11.  This was a hilly course  up to Deerfield Elem. and back in a loop.  I felt strong on the uphill : D.  Ran a 1/2 mile cool down at 8:44 pace.  Stretched and meditated.  Work tonight and then I finally get three nights off.  Those always pass all too quickly : ( (((  This warm front must mean ugly weather approaching. 

Met Josse at  6am at the mouth of the canyon.  We ran on the Provo River Trail to the lake and beside it for 1/2 mile (all on the trail) to make it an even 10 out and back.  The weather was very nice.  Canyon winds at the start for just 1/4 mile.  So glad.   We both wore shorts and were fine with just our nylon long sleeved shirts and a short one under it, gloves and headbands.  The scenery on the trail was relaxing.  The way out was lovely making it to 10  at 1:25 (8:30) without looking at my watch really for pace.  The way back we picked it up to an average of 8:00.  Came in at exactly 1:20:07 to the gate at the parking lot.  The wind the last 1/2 mile was atrocious,  BRrrrrrrr!!!  It knocked the breath out of us.  However did I survive running up 7 miles last Saturday on a much colder day?  I shiver to think of that living nightmare : D.  Total time 2:45:00 for 20 miles =  8:15 avg pace.  At least now I can eat whatever I want.  But I will probably eat healthy.  It makes me feel and run/recover better.  Thanks Josse!!  PS  I need a nap now.