Believe to Achieve

Met with Kim and ran a half uphill run for 12 miles in 1:46.  Probably a little longer.  We ran strong but talked the whole time comfortably.  Some steep uphill, intense for a moment.  We ran up the Cedar Hills trail.  Awesome with all the leaves covering the ground.  Spectacular weather!!! I started out with headband for my ears and a second shirt based on my last two Saturdays and immediately removed them when I met up with Kim.  We totally enjoyed our last day of warmer than normal temps.  Besides nerve pains in my legs and feet I kept up strong because it was just too beautiful.  Did I say how wonderful today was for running?  Hope everyone got out there!!!!   Avg pace: 8:45.  Last mile just under 8 and didn't really pick up pace so I think the course tool is off due to the corners and turns in the trails not shown on the map.  Oh the baptism today of my daughter Brooke went well.  My daughter was beaming!!!!  Wonderful day!!!!

Ran at 6:45 am knowing still like 7:45am so what should I wait for?  This time change thing gets me every time.  Basically it is about change because I end up complaining in the Spring too.  So which do I prefer?  Light in the morning of course!!!!!  So I ran another hilly run.  Like I said, difficult to get away from them unless I want to run on more congested streets.  No thanks.  So I ran up 1300 west with some twists and turns thru different neighborhoods then to the infamous Farm rd up to the fire station in Cedar Hills but turned left ( awesome tough but exhilarating uphill!!! Really builds a lot of strength).  Then to the Cedar Hills path going South to Deerfield Elem right then down thru some nice neighborhoods (rarely a car in sight) and to my 800 road (easy pace of 4:01).  Picked it up last mile but still felt pretty easy, muscles slightly tightening but heart loving it (7:27).  Then decided to do a cool down since reading the new Runner's World about cooling down.  So jogged real easy around the block.  Not counting that in my running time or distance total.  Total:  59:25.  Avg pace: 8:15. 

Hey, does anyone know where I can rent Spirit of the Marathon?  Or I guess buy it a good price?  I have not seen it yet and have checked Hollywood video and Blockbuster and they don't carry it.  Thanks for any help here.

Ran a 3 by 3200 not intentionally but first one I ran so I could come back and wake my daughter at 715am (too busy to run later in the day).  Then second one while she got dressed. On Tuesdays and Thursdays she has school choir so she goes an hour early and I almost forgot as I was getting ready to run.  The third after I drove her to the school.  A thirty minute lapse here as my other kids were up and needed me.  Glad my husband was home so I took off for my third 3200.  It consists of running the back way to Manila Elementary followed by a completely different way back so it goes in a loop.  One mile both ways.  Pretty good loop.  Good hill both way.  Not too steep just right.  Not really racing them just at a feel good pace which I was glad averaged out at 8:08 for the six miles.  It is getting easier and easier going at a faster pace for my easy runs.  Yay!!!  Just got to keep it up as the weather is changing.  Brrr... it was chilling on my third two miler.. as the winds came a blowing.  Happy Voting!!!!

So I am lying in bed thinking okay let's get going on a run it is 7am.  I answered myself with no let's wait til the kids are off to school so I put on my sweats  and peak out the window much to my surprise Voila!! a mega storm.  Ah No!! I am not ready for this kind of weather running.  Not gonna do it.  It wouldn't be prudent.  (Dana Carvey acting out George Bush).  Anyway..... I wait for a change in the weather pattern.  I may have to drag my husband to the PG Recreation Center and do a treadmill run.

So we made it to the Rec Center.  The weather was on and off flurries to big flakes... so forget outside running.  The treadmill speedwork was now on schedule cause if I am going to pay money to use it, it better be a good workout.  My husband ran the track for 50 cents while I paid the big $3 for the treadmill and darn it I forgot my ear phones.  Makes for a very dragged out focus on something to get me thru kind of workout.  Yuck!!    I ran a modified Allie workout.  She is way too in shape for me.  Wish I had a young bod.  It was 1x400 (6 min/mi), 1x 800 (6:18), 1 x 1600 (6:40), 1x 1600 (6:40), 1 x 800 (6:27) 1 x 400 (6:00).  All with 2 minute recovery at 8:45 to 9 minute pace.  First warmed up with 18 minutes at 845 pace then cooled down with 7 minutes of gradually taking the pace down from 9 minutes.  Glad that's over mainly because of the cleaners around me.  The fresh air outside felt awesome!!  Hope I don't get a headache later.  I usually do in this situation.  But I am hoping to be doing better these days. 

Took my hubby out on a run.  How long he asked?  I said maybe 7, 8, or 9.  I logged it in the course tool (the run I visualized) and it came in just at 9 (redone more accurately after the run, 9.2).  Sorry hun. First mile slow and easy trying to warm up in this COLD weather (9:35). After that while going uphill, Troy's knee was bugging him and his chest from the kick to it in a soccer game four weeks ago.  So he kept telling me to slow down. We were probably at 8:45 to 9 in the middle.  I felt great so I was glad that he thought I was pushing him so I slowed for him.  I didn't want to leave him stranded.  But his advil kicked in the last three miles so he started pushing the pace.  We ran 7:37 our last mile (I have the mile marks to my home in all directions that lead to it).  The  1/2 mile before that I clocked us at 8:32 pace (my 800 road).  So average pace for total run (which route I loved!  up and around a park in Highland that is like abandoned by Lone Peak High School after passing the Tri City Golf Course- long up hill- like three and half miles).  Awesome.  Just felt great.  Besides the burning headache I had ALL night the cold weather kind of puts it in remission while I run.  Endorphins help too.  But it is still here as I type.  Burning down my neck and spine and my right eye twitch is back.  It is my lot I guess.  I try to find a cure but most days I say to myself just another marathon to get through.  You can do it.  Some times this mantra gets old and I lose my positive attitude.  So I am glad running can keep me in check most days.  Average Pace: 8:55.

Easy run to and around Elementary school for three miles, stopped at school and helped in my daughter's second grade class.  Ran to home (another mile).  Total miles:4.4 in 38:19.  Average pace:  8:42.  Lovely easy run.  Gear up for 14 tomorrow. 

Left at 630 am up since 2am on and off, mostly on.  Didn't feel tired either.  Felt like we pushed it yet the course tool says I ran only 13.7 in 1:59:45 (8:44 pace).  Last mile was even 7:51 and the pace checker half mile pace was 8:06.  Does anyone know how accurate the course tool is?  My butt didn't warm up the whole run but at least we all (Kim, Jane and I) wore black so the tiny bit of sun we did get near the end began to show some promise on our frozen bodies.  Glad its over.  BRRRrrrrrrr!!!!!!!  Now to get ready for two girls indoor soccer games and a BYU football game.  

My 5K.  First mile at 7:17 relaxed pace.  Second mile just slowed a bit (8:30.  It was raining and I was soaked and I had a "deja vu" feeling.  Like didn't I just run 26.2 miles in this exact weather?  Third mile started to pick it up and last 1/2 mile pushed it hard to make the average at 7:24.  5K time 22:55.   Not bad for not going too fast until the end.  I was drenched at the end and then just did a .6 mile loop for cool down.

Ran up 1100 North to canal in just under 16 minutes (best 15:39).  But wasn't trying to beat it.  But ran strong remainder of miles to get pace quicker each mile.  Last mile 6:30.  Mile before 7:08.  Total average pace:  7:39.  Ran at 7am.  Working first night shift as a nurse at AFH in a long time.  Used to work NICU for 16 years and worked days 6am to 6pm forever.  So this was tough for me the last two hours especially waiting to go back to sleep until I got my kids off to school at 9am.  Luckily next shift I work Troy will be home in the morning so I can sleep.  Having headaches after acupuncture still  so wonder if I will ever find a cure.  Get worse if I breath in fragrances (artificial, perfumes etc...).  Darn it.  Wish I was "normal".

This is supposed to be yesterdays entry that I wrote so really today I ran the 7 miles and on Tuesday I ran all over town doing errands (in my car) so doesn't count. 

Woke after only four hours of sleep and a night shift from 6pm to 6am at 2 in the afternoon.  Kind of like the dreadful third leg in wasatch back relay feeling kind of run .  Ran a decent wake up pace (first mile wondering where my body was in relation to my brain) after a mile or so.  The pace was fairly decent considering my need for normal sleep.  Pace: 8:39.

Major nerve pain headaches past few days.  Bordering on incapatible with a functional life.  Like how bad can they get without killing me?  Anyway....  Ran with husband felt good out in the fresh air and felt okay to pick up the pace.  Surprised by the course tool we had run 5.8 miles in 48:30.  That's an 8:22 pace.  Not sure how long I will keep up the better running as the health is declining from working nights again.  Something is up...like something isn't being checked on me here.  I am a nurse without a for sure diagnosis.  The nerve pain was in my left face to the side of my head to the base of my skull to my shoulder and blades somewhat going to my arm and hand.  It has subsided a bit but suddenly it will strike again, kind of like trigeminal neuralgia but persistent and not as intense.  My ear feels under water when this happens but my friend in audiology checked for me.  No fluid there.  "normal", so obviously neurological.  It goes in a pattern after it is in my right side of my head and down my neck and spine burning like the dickens.  My mom still thinks I may have MS because that is how her dad felt with it.  So far no plaques on MRIs so I think it is environmental cause perfumes and strong smells trigger it until I get way fatigued.  Sometimes it attacks my legs (no headache at this time, yay) but then my legs throb in constant nerve pain mostly in my thighs and feet and I just have to sit down.  It is no fun and I am finding I got to be strong so perhaps this trial could be overcome and I can be cured.  Sorry about pouring out my feelings today it has just been one of the worse "attacks" in a while.  My thinking also gets confusing and I get very forgetful.  Any advice please feel free.  Any known cures come on over and heal me.  IN the meantime I fight to live with strength and run with hope. 

I guess I post this run under fast miles.  Must be the weight loss and stress/anxiety helping to run faster without feeling like I was running faster.  Part of my plan I posted a bit ago (to improve to where running faster felt easier, meaning my baseline easy running pace would be quicker).  The nerve pains are great in the neck/tmj/ back and shoulders but running improves the pain (thank you endorphins).  I was amazed my first mile pace was 8:01 and my last mile was 7:14.  Avg pace for 4.7 was 7:51 (used zoomed in course tool to be exact as possible on mileage).  

Can't remember exact mileage or route as I am writing this on Sat the 22nd of Nov.  I just know I ran.  Probably at a quick pace but also probably longer I just can't remember right now.  Brain cells dying being up all night.

Ran next to five year old daughter my 5k.  Needed an easy run being tired from being up all night as a nurse at AFH.  New job.  Nice and easy pace of 9:15. 

Pace 7:44 at 2 in the afternoon after sleeping 3 hours and working the ENTIRE night (12 hour plus shift).  Was in a fog like state so was surprised at my pace.  Stress/Adrenaline phenomena I suppose.

5.2 miles in 39:46.  Felt easy again.  A little too much adrenaline working 12 hour night shifts now and sleeping only 3 hours when I get home.  Afternoon runs nice in the cool sun.  Pace swift but oddly comfortable 7:38.  1st mile 8 last mile 6:53.  YaY!!!

Adrenaline still in high gear.  Hope to do a Turkey Trot this Thursday but have two night shifts in front of me (12 hour shifts) so who knows how my head and body will feel.  Felt strong the almost the entire time during this run. My iPod kept me going though at the end.  Feeling very tired in the head like I did before the SGM without sleep when I ran out of fuel the last two miles.  I got to re-learn how to fall asleep.  I love that feeling when you doze off in to a deep sleep but haven't been there in a while, hence my fast pace with all this pented up adrenaline.  It couldn't be that I am just getting faster?  I am almost forty.  I have lost 18 pounds since May.  Maybe my body likes this smaller me.  It has been five  and 1/2 years since I weighed this (after post partum depression with my third baby born Dec. 2002).  Okay so I ran the 10.2 in 1:21:51.  Avg pace: 8:02.  First mile 8:04. Last mile 7:29.  Some really good uphill by the Tri City golf course and Cedar Hills Drive.  Good down hill at the end. Phew!!!

Easy run, but brain is EXTREMELY fatigued.  Only slept two to three hours after night shift.  Couldn't go in for second night shift.  Slept only four hours last night.  What the heck?  Reading up on melatonin and from what I can tell I am lacking greatly in it due to night shift work and stress.  So I need to buy some supplements.   I have been grumpy.  So this is not good.  I couldn't wait for the run to be over.  Just trying to go easy and not fatigued myself more.  4 miles in 35 minutes.  So 8:45 pace.  Not thinking I should do a Turkey Trot.  I have two hours to decide. 

5K starting at Fleet Feet in American Fork (by the Walmart) that looped around Target and the Movie Theatres then the backside of Walmart/Home Depot then the front side.  Not fully knowing the course (but well marked as to which way to go, and saw the two mile mark on the ground) I think I could have run faster just was timid at first and then managed to come in after a bandit girl (she missed registration) so apparently I was first.  I kept an even pace for the first two miles then passed the girls that passed me but was always somewhere between 1st and third not including the bandit.  I was very tired in the head due to lack of sleep STILL but felt strong during the run.  Can't wait to figure out this sleep thing.  Bought some melatonin to try to regulate my sleep.  Got another 12 hour night shift tomorrow night.  Yahoo!!!  At least I had the last two nights off.  Overall pretty happy I won a Turkey and came in 1st overall.  Wouldn't have been this way at Orem though.  Hope all you Orem runners had fun too!!!