Started at Vivian Park and ran 3.5 miles "warm-up" up South Fork avg 7:42 pace which didn't necessarily feel easy. Started up South Fork with Melanie, Melody, Emily, Josse and Rebecca. Then we headed down the canyon for a 12 mile downhill faster pace run. Melanie, Melody and I kept up a 6:20 overall average on this part until mile 10. I was doing ok until about mile 9 when my legs became very tired. Melody left us and headed back to her car at the mouth of the canyon at mile 9.5. At mile 10 I stopped running and said, "I need to reevaluate this." I didn't think I could go 2 more miles. I said my legs felt like the end of a marathon and Melanie gave me a good pep talk, "It's only 2 more miles...you can't quit when your legs are tired at the end of a marathon... you want your 2:54:45 don't you...etc." I did the 2 more miles, but they were at a 6:30 pace instead of 6:20. 1.75 of it was continuing South on University Ave with a slight downhill and the last .75 was heading back up north. Finished with a 6:23 overall average for the 12 miles. We stopped three times to drink on the 12 mile stretch, again when Melody broke off , and for my mental breakdown at mile 10, but we kept them short.
I really need more sleep and feel like a broken record as it seems like I say that every week. Last night I went to bed @ 11 p.m., but didn't think I had even fallen asleep when my husband got home at 12:15 a.m. from being up at scout camp. Then the carbon monoxide detector went off at 4:20 with a low battery and I didn't go back to sleep before my alarm went off at 5:10 a.m. Four hours just isn't enough for me to feel good. I'm happy I finished the run though, and that I have a good training partner to push me. Thanks Mel! | 