Believe to Achieve

8:00pm run starting at mile marker 10 of Hobble Creek Half Marathon and running up to just past mile marker 3 with Melanie and Kim  and Stacy then turned and ran down back to our car.  Kim and Stacy shot out of the "block".  Melanie and I were wasted.  We felt we should be gettting ready for bed.  We are not night runners, we decided.  My left leg, mostly knee, hip and quad was really tight.  Aerobically fine but pretty tired.  First mile I thought *(markers on the ground) was tough effort (up hill on the up and down trail) was 8:42, but I did lose my hat in the early canyon wind and had to fetch it so I guess that is why.  But after that we were booking it (I was like I can't believe I am pushing myself on this much stiffness and tiredness).  Kim and stacy were at least 30 seconds ahead after the first mile.  We told them we wanted to take it easy. But we did get stronger.  Stacy stopped at mile 5 wanting to only run 10 and Kim ran with us for just over a mile but because of forthcoming darkness turned around to be with Stacy at the campground she stopped at.  Melanie went to mile marker 3, took a brief potty break (no water for us, yet, didn't have any and didn't have light time to waste).  It began to sprinkle on our way back when we picked it up.  Hey we are downhill until the dreaded trail again.  Here are our splits uphill with brief downhill:  1-  8:42   2-  7:57  3-  7:54   4-  7:54   5-  7:52   6-  8:06    7-  7:57    Downhill with brief but tough uphills:  8- 6:38 (wooo Nellie !!)  9-  6:47  10-  7:29 (getting quite dark, eyes not adjusted, cars speeding by, Melanie needed to adjust sneakers, I kept running slower for her to catch up, ended up stopping to wait but was afraid I wouldn't start again), 11-  7:15   12-  7:14   13:  7:13  14-  7:10.   Ended in the dark with sprinkling rain, refreshing!!  but oh how glad we are we stuck it out and finished strong despite our exhaustion.  And those last miles were those gross up and down trail miles that we all love so much at the end of a half marathon.  Ate a big meal when I got home at 1030pm.  Took a warm shower and immediately slept until 630am.  Oh what a feelin'!!!  Needless to say minor soreness today, left leg no longer stiff or tight but now just generalized intense fatigue.  Went to girls swim meet from 7am to 1130.  It was fun.  I love watching swimming meets.  Off to a baptism and BBQ then work tonight!!!