Believe to Achieve

Designated driver for Halloween Half.  Dropped the girls up at the start of the race at 8:10am.  Brrr....in my opinion.  26 degrees!!   Drove to the finish line (theatres) and ran up 7 miles of the course just in time to see the first guys and gals to come through.  Right along with all the speedies was RACHELLE, rockin' it down with her red TuTu : D.  I was dressed as a zombie.  My pace up was nice and easy 7 miles @ 8:20.    Only there about 4 to five minutes (the water station at mile 6).  Asked Rachelle if she wanted me to pace her and she did.  We were chatty at first but I wanted her to conserve so later we didn't talk much, except cheering here and there for her.  She totally kicked butt coming in at 1:26:22!!  The course was probably a little long too.  I don't know.  Kelli got the course at 13.2.   I will read Rachelle's blog to find out.  I was glad to not have run the wicked downhill part and to run the 7 miles of not so down hill.  MY FOOT WAS AILING and my left foot has a DEFINITE NEUROMA in it between the forth and fifth metatarsal--- KILLER shooting nerve pains.  I feel like my body is just NOT happy with me NOT taking a break.  My heart felt great and I didn't ever feel thirsty the entire 14.25 mile run.  I didn't take GU either, no nutrition at all.  I just wish my feet felt better.  After the run it hurt quite a bit WALKING to my car 0.5 miles away.  It really was ridiculous.  My left hamstring has also been acting up.  However,  I really felt strong in those 7 miles with Rachelle after our first chatty mile at 7:02.  We ran a 6:38 for the second mile together :D.  I think I could have held that pace til the end, but I didn't run down the first 5 steep hills like Rachelle so instead I CHEERLEADED as best I could.  She RAN AMAZINGLY.  I broke into song at times since I had my iPod on.  Probably annoyed Rachelle more than anything so I turned it down low.  It was stupid that the race made this new run around the parking lot and into gravel right after the water station.  Lost a lot of time there.  But after that we were back on track.  The finish was different than last year and the course measured longer than last year.  So nice.  NOT short.  Rather have it long than short.  A lot of fun costumes again.  Jane came in  THIRD (PREGNANT TOO!!!, yup she ran the SGM a couple days pregnant--- hence her 23 seconds past the subthree hour mark!!).  Kim came in fifth!!  I think Mary Ann came in first and I thought I saw Tara too-- second  I think?, not sure.  I have to say running in a DRESS was interesting (along with my running tights).  I felt a little confined with the dress and makeup, but it was all for fun anyway.  Still feeling down about my physique.  Maybe  I should really take a WHOLE TWO WEEKS OFF.  Blah!!!  AP with Rachelle 6:46 for 7.25 miles--- Splits with her-- 7:02 (chatting and catching up on things), 6:36, 6:42 (walked thru water station),  6:32 (dropped glove and had to turn around to get it then sprint up to catch Rachelle--worked it there), 7:09 (gravel, walked thru water station, GO RACHELLE.  Also met a guy from the blog that recognized me --name?-- who wanted me to run with him but I told him I was with Rachelle so then he began to help her too so we all stuck together : D), 6:38  (PUSH IT RACHELLE!!), 6:43 (Rachelle tiring, CHEERING HER TO REALLY MOVE IT : D).   I really need to just be a Pacer for the rest of my life.  It feels right.  It's FUN to help others and really gets me fired up.