Believe to Achieve

1:50 pacer for the midnight half which starts at 10pm (try to beat midnight I guess :D).   Ran all 8 min pace miles til mile 9 with one girl (ended up second place) and third place girl we picked up after the turn around at mile 7.  I didn't mean to go faster than pace that is just the pace that was nice and easy....but it was super hot!!  85 degrees at the start and muggy. No wind and no cool spots.  Just brief warm (less hot) spots.  I guess it was pacer slow down body strategy because after mile 9  I got cold chills like I was dehydrated or had heat stroke and my breathing became labored. Luckily it was when I was planning on slowing to 9 min pace what I didn't plan on  was how HARD IT WAS TO EVEN KEEP THAT PACE!!! mile 11 was a 9:30. I had to stop and walk to catch my breath.  My right leg cramped up at mile 12 after I tripped on the trail (fell off the side actually).  It was dark as I forgot my headlamp (I signed up for this Thursday and had lots going on friday, competition soccer for my girls).  I arrived at the race at 945pm.    And off we went about two minutes until 10pm.  The trail was bumpy from concrete lifting from tree roots.  It was like jump running to miss them at times.  I knew the route as I lived over there and used to 10 years ago run it all the time!!  Some new additions with the tunnels but all in all the same but the darkness was the tough part. It was eerie in spots.  So glad Mick ran by me with her headlamp (21 years old she ran it in 1:43:57).  I felt it was stifling. She said she loved running in warm weather.    Anyway, with the six tunnels on the way out and then the same six on the way back our garmins read the course shorts (12.87) as it can't pick up in the tunnel.  Because of that I thought I was on pace for 1:50 but actually ran faster in 1:48:11.    So today when I write this (Monday) it turns out that my leg cramp really is just my back (scaitica to the MAX!!, probably reinjured herniated disc), when I fell off the curb.  It is quite painful in my back radiating down my butt and hamstring to my foot burning on the bottom.  Icing it.  Motrin too.