I run because I can.

Wednesday I did my hard workout with a friend and her coach & some other runners. It was a lot of fun to be with others. She was doing 800, 400 repeats as a pacing exercise (she has a problem running too fast.. waaah! haha!!). I had 8x800 from my coach. We weren't going to be running any of them together anyway, she is way the heck too fast for me! She is about to break 19 in the 5K and kicks out sub 20 5Ks at the end of triathlons.

I received my "reward" for my fast 5K last weekend. That would be faster times for my workouts. LOL!! 8 x 800 goal pace: 3:15 - 3:20. I was worried about pulling it off, but didn't seem to be an issue:

3:16
3:15
3:13
3:17
3:15
3:13
3:15
3:03

My schedule was thrown off by still not having my truck back from the shop to take my bike to the ride w/my class - no way to do the 800's after 8 miles easy, so I did the 800's on Wednesday and Thursday instead of hill repeats, I just ran the hills at a steady pace while my class attacked them.

Today was another 5K. I had planned on taking this weekend off from racing, but one of our team members who is a world class triathlete was diagnosed with ALS in January. The store put together a race to benefit her and ALS. She raced for New Balance as well, so they made sure we got dri-fit shirts! :) The race was amazing - the number of team members there. We all gave her a hug before the start and she was so humbled by all that was done for her. It was so amazing.

I went in with the same plan as the last 3 races - a hard workout with a bunch of people doing it with me and cheering me on. My coach decided he wanted to pace me. I know it is helpful, but I sometimes find it a bit annoying as well. I decided I'm only doing a workout, so hush up and let him pace me. LOL! Well, the first 1/3 mile - I look and I'm going SUB 6?! What kind of pacer is that.. I thought the job of a pacer is to keep you on pace? When did I drop from 6:50's to 5:50's!??! LMAO!!! I make a comment and slowed the pace. I checked out my watch to ensure I hadn't slowed too much. I was still right behind F who usually goes under 20. This was good. In front of her "S" was the girl I raced to the finish for that strategic race in September. I remembered that it took until mile 2 to catch her, she went out way too fast. I tucked in behind F. The pace felt good, followed F until she got ready to make her move on S. I studied it to learn then watched her pick up the pace and get going before coming up on her and passing. I wasn't ready for that move yet, so I just slowly gained on S. I tapped my coach's arm and signaled that we split up on either side. I had no patience today for her sprinting games. With F passing her with such conviction that she couldn't respond, I needed to move now and shut her down. As soon as the sidewalk curved for me to take the inside we went. After we passed, coach cut back in next to me and shut her down a bit stronger than I probably would have. Mission accomplished, she never attempted anything and I didn't think about her again in the race except when my coach would look back - but now I think he was looking for K (my teammate) to see how she was doing. I was concerned about focusing on F too much, I thought maybe I should look further ahead - but when I did, I'd fall behind. When I looked at her, I stayed close. I tried to stay with her, but I had some trouble. Let me be clear - this is NOT an excuse, I'm very happy with my race - just an evaluation. I had trouble with my asthma and allergies and even woke up from it last night. The temp this morning was 50 and 93% humidity. Even my speedy friend said she had trouble breathing on her 20 miler this AM. I would have trouble breathing on the uphills and wanted to ease back and power through once I got to the top (small hills - more like bumps, but enough to get you). Before I hit mile two, I noticed I was having numbness in my fingers, they were heavy - this is when I'm not getting enough oxygen and my arms, then legs will get heavy and numb next.. I did not want that to happen. This is not an excuse - I can't control the weather - I need to train so I can run through this and I can handle the weather conditions, the strain of hills and my lungs. OK, so around 2, the owner of my store was there cheering, F was still close. We hit a "bumpy" area which was quite the challenge. I keep working. We get to the u-turn which means 3/4 of a mile left. I pick up my feet and make my stride pretty, I remove the grimace from my face, F will see me looking strong regardless of how I feel. I gave her a thumbs up as I saw her and she tried to look peppy but I saw her "turn it on" for me when she realized I was within striking distance. I kept the facade until I had passed S as she was coming to the u-turn, then I just focused on the race. Another great return with all my team members cheering me on! I couldn't cheer back - 1) breathing was hard 2) the cheering police was next to me - coach hates it if I speak while racing. haha!! I tried to do thumbs up to everyone. I lost my distance on F during this part. I think it was a combo of me sliding back and her being strong. This last mile was a 7:03.

I came to the finish and was looking at the clock, then saw our girl with ALS standing just past the mats cheering us on. I decided to ignore the clock and mats and focused on her - I ran through to her, then stopped my watch and gave her a hug. Some were confused saying "you can stop now" and I said I was running to her. It was a spur of the moment idea. I knew the chip would get my time. I went back to cheer for my teammate as well as the rest of the runners on the team and as I did - I told them to run past the finish to her. I think they all did because when my teammate did, she said that others were doing it and she thought it was a pre-planned thing and that it had her almost in tears! :)

My fast friend, who's sister is fighting stage 4 cancer, wished me luck last night and told me to remember why I am running. I run because I can. They can't.. I can. I remembered this during the race. I can't let myself forget it. I thought my racing was over with a broken foot, D's is ending if not over with ALS and my friend's sister was told to stop as the cancer is now in her lungs, around her heart and on her sternum. I run because I can.

Chip time showed 21:22. I am told the course was long. I'm happy regardless. :)