• run: 3.75
• time: better
• temp: 36
• road conditions: dreary
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: depeche mode - every second counts, bf5 - raindrops keep falling on my head, non - gave up, avett brothers - isolation and greed
• comments: wore the same thing but gave up the gloves on state st. my heart wasn't in it as much, but i felt speedier. considered trying the 5 mile route but said nah. maybe tomorrow i can up the ante. i slept in past 9 and it was awesome. i have more hope today.

• run: 3.75
• time: over 30 min
• temp: 36
• road conditions: dark
• aches/pains: none, really
• what i listened to when i ran: bf5 - missing the war, ben folds - dr. yang, elton john - harmony
• comments: the roads weren't frozen. wore my capris, black half zip with tank and i was very comfortable. i like the new route and the scenery. i'm so slow, though. i'm a little sad about it. i guess i'll have to try again tomorrow. i got better before by getting out there and running consistently. i can do it again.

• run: 3.75 mi
• time: 35 min
• temp: 32
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: neck and shoulders
• what i listened to when i ran: new pornographers - mutiny i promised you, josh ritter, golden age of radio, queen - one vision, bf5 - eddie walker
• comments: knees and legs felt much better today. gait is improving. can move my jaw into place now that i'm home with a little effort and a little discomfort, which is an improvement over 2 days ago. i'm glad i took yesterday off to rest. my jaw was in good alignment most of the day yesterday and i really didn't feel like messing it up. wore my new black long sleeve over a tank, tights, and headband and was very comfortable.

• run: 3 mi
• time: 30 min
• temp: 26
• road conditions: lightly dusted with snow and sunny
• aches/pains: both knees, shoulders, quads
• what i listened to when i ran: hotel lights - amelia bright, fiona apple - shadowboxed, jeff buckley - hallelujah, ben folds - dr. yang
• comments: jaw doesn't seem so off right now, but i may just be getting used to it. i'm so slow and it's so painful. the nice thing is that my mental game tells me to keep going, so it's not hard to complete such a short run. i tell myself that i'm finishing a marathon when the pain gets bad. i really lost so much by being out for a month. my gait feels horrible. at the same time, there's a part of me that loves being out there again and is willing to keep trying to get back to where i was. i missed 2 of my favorite races that i know i could have pr'ed in and now i'm back to where i was 2 years ago when i just started.

• run: 4.2 mi
• time: 45 min
• temp: 28
• road conditions: sun coming up
• aches/pains: knees, legs, jaw, even elbows
• what i listened to when i run: ben folds - dog, duran duran - new moon on monday, new pornographers - sing me spanish techno, belle and sebastian - the model, elton john - this song has no title.
• comments: got the wires cut 3 days ago, but the arch bars are still in. i'm glad i didn't try running with the jaw wired shut because of the breathing. my jaw is a little sore and this little jaunt probably didn't help the healing. i'm just hoping it didn't hurt it. it was healing for my soul. i started to cry when i got around the river and saw how beautiful it was with the early morning light hitting it, hearing the geese. i took it pretty easy and went further than i thought i would, but the aches hit about halfway up the hill on summit. i practically limped home, but what a ride. glad to be back in the game.

• run: 0 mi
• time: o min
• temp: 55
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: my broken jaw
• what i listened to when i ran: no playlist
• comments: broke my jaw a week ago, got it wired shut 3 days ago, so no running for a while. any suggestions on how to keep my fitness level going for the next month while my jaw is healing would be welcomed from all of you readers out there :)

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45 min
• temp: 50
• road conditions: cloudy and windy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: teenage fanclub - alcoholiday, an elliott smith song, night ranger - at night she sleeps, bf5 - battle of who could care less
• comments: no coffee or cold pop this morning. i made instant coffee, no milk in the house, so it was really nasty. wore shorts, guster long sleeve without tank and it was good. i wish i could have convinced myself to do an extra mile, but it wasn't going to happen.

• run - 6 mi
• time - 1 hr
• temp: 30
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: couldn't breathe - bra too tight
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - saskia hamilton, belle and sebastian - ?, elliott smith - between the bars
• comments: no coffee this morning and i felt it. got up in time to join a running group to see about increasing my long run, like my friend suggested, but didn't. stuck with the 6 mi because it's comfortable and still challenging. wore my new blue hoodie with the soft inside cuffs that cover my hands and it does not let the wind through. with that and capris i was in good shape today, got a little hot at times but really not bad. i still can't see myself doing more than 6 miles. it's getting less pretty out there with most of the leaves off the trees.

• run: 5 mi
• time: pace under 10 min/mi
• temp: 32
• road conditions: wet on the ground, snow earlier
• aches/pains: arch of my r foot when i got home
• what i listened to when i ran: caught up on my friend's dinner club membership, talked way too much about my boring life
• comments: felt really strong out there. some cute guy at the running store asked about my headlamp. that made me feel sooooooo cooooooool. wore a tank with my saucony jacket over it, earband and tights. perfect.

• run: 5 mi
• time?
• temp: 29
• road conditions: chilly and sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: foo fighters - overlong, josh ritter - golden age of radio
• comments: took out my sauconys for a ride today and it went really well. i could have lengthened my run, but it was nice to keep it at 5 mi. had a busy morning at church. in a stupid fight with the husband and i want to leave. make him take the kids to school and deal with that shit on his own for once while i spend the night in a nice hotel with nice tucked in sheets. but i won't.

• run: 6.2 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 38
• road conditions: sunny, windy in places
• what i listened to when i ran: teenage fanclub - sparky's dream, ben folds - in between days
• comments: had a large coffee and half a sausage mcmuffin with egg to fuel me, but had a hard time feeling it. glad i went with a cotton long sleeve and capris vs. something heavier. it's so beautiful out there. i considered going further but couldn't muster the will. ran into a friend when passing the "occupy ann arbor" crowd and followed them as they marched towards the bank. really feeling like joining a credit union.

• run: 4.5
• time: 35-40 min
• temp: 49
• road conditions: cloudy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: elliott smith - biggest lie, foo fighters - learn to live, pink floyd - one slip
• comments: my running buddy had to cancel, and i needed to get out. so i put on some shorts for the last time this year, a cotton long sleeved shirt, and ran. i don't remember thinking until the run was almost over. i didn't even turn the iPod on until i was already on the downhill slope home. the run took me, and it felt fantastic. for the first time i wish i had a garmin because i know i was going faster than 8 minutes per mile. now, back to netflix.

sunday, october 30

• run : 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 25
• road conditions: frosty grass
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: foo fighters - best of you, elliott smith - waltz #2, ben folds - get your hands off of my woman
• comments: so grateful for the ability to run. i'm glad i didn't pressure myself to get ready for a halloween run. i have too much of my plate already. looking forward to the turkey trot, though.

• run: 6 mi
• time: 1 hr
• temp: 33
• road conditions: very fall like
• aches/pains: NONE :)
• what i listened to when i ran: elvis costello - welcome to the working week, elvis costello - this fractured atlas, fiona apple - shadowboxer
• comments: the clogs were the problem. i'm happy that it's not something bigger, but kind of sad because those things were rad. it was pretty chilly, but i put a tank under the green long sleeved shirt with my capris and got sweaty. i saw runners wearing hats, but i'm not there yet. it felt really good to be out and my gratitude for the ability to run was back in spades. it also brought out gratitude in my heart for other things and people as well. my anger feels lighter than it has for a while now.

• run: 4 mi
• time: almost an hour
• temp: 33
• road conditions: cool and sunny
• aches/pains: knees started to hurt for the last 1.5 miles
• what i listened to when i ran: blondie - atomic
• comments: wore a tank under the green long sleeve and it worked well. my knees hurt so damn bad i would have called to get a ride home if i had a phone, but i kept walking and running. enjoyed the view on jefferson. by the time i got to main it was just too hard to keep running the whole way. i felt good for the first half of the run. because it was both knees today, i'm guessing it's from the clogs i bought earlier in the week. they're really heavy and different to walk in. i'm going to stop wearing them this week and see if things get back to normal. if not, it's time to see the doctor.

saturday, october 22

• run: 6 mi
• time: i hr
• temp: 38
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: l knee for last 2 miles, r knee last half mile, felt hobbled for the last half mile
• what i listened to when i ran: can't remember
• comments: felt like doing 6 to prove to myself i could, even though i didn't get out during the week. struggled over what to wear - decided on my capris and new long sleeve half zip and it was perfect (glad i didn't put a tank under it). felt really good until my knee started hurting. it hurt really bad for the rest of the day when i'd walk or do stairs. so i did the laundry i had to do but other than that, tried to stay off of it as much as possible.

sunday, october 16

• run: ?
• time: ?
• temp: 50
• road conditions: crisp, but sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my cousin
• comments: we ran along the road near the bay. it was a beautiful fall morning. i'd been hoping to run with her for a long time and it was really like a dream come true. she was fast but kept apologizing for being so slow. we forgot to check our watches to see what time we left to get an idea of how far we went, but it really wasn't what it was about for me. running with someone i love is the ultimate experience to me, even better than winning a race, because it's shared.

saturday, october 15

• run: 4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 49
• road conditions: wind and rain
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: can't remember
• comments: ran the 2 miles up to the bay and back. my dad claims it's 2 miles, so i'll trust him. it was nasty out and i was glad i wore my jacket over my long sleeve and capris. my dad was waiting for me at the end with a towel. i'd like to think it was because he was concerned about me, but i think it was more about how he didn't want me to drip water all over his nice clean house. he did say that he considered driving out to get me. how sweet.

thursday, october 13

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 64
• road conditions: nice and crisp
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend
• comments: perfect night for a downtown run.

• run: 6.2
• time: 54 or something like that. not sure because the results STILL aren't up yet
• temp: 60
• road conditions: crowded and sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: lots of new pornographers, a couple of chuck arrington's, and a few belle and sebastians
• coments: got dropped off just as the national anthem was being sung. had enough time to tuck my iphone in my pocket and get my headphones on before it started. wow, was it crowded! i started running pretty fast because i felt like i needed to get ahead of all of these people in front of me. around mile 2, i went to wipe the sweat off my face with my shirt and felt like i was going to pass out. then i noticed my heart was pounding and i was sweating really, really hard. i slowed it down a little bit and toyed with the idea of quitting. then i saw my family cheering me on and decided to stick it out. i grabbed water at the stops after that, too, because it scared the hell out of me. i felt there were too many people my age to try to pass and tried to give it up. i saw my family for the 3rd pass and gave them all a hug, then started to race again. the clock said 54: something when i hit the finish line, but i didn't see where any results were being posted in the stadium. it took me a few to figure out how to get out of the stadium. then we all went out for breakfast and i made it to church just a couple of minutes late.

saturday, october 8

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 60
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: l knee at very end
• what i listened to when i ran: couldn't tell you
• comments: the coffee didn't put as much spring in my step this morning as it has in recent mornings, but it was so nice out there! i ran into an old friend the other day so i decided to hit a meeting a block off my regular run. it was a nice detour and good to see some old friends.

thursday, october 6

• run: 4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 80
• road conditions: sunny and warm
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy
• comments: took it easy today. for one of the first times, she suggested a shorter run. i was totally fine with that, just enjoying the nice weather and the company.

• run: 4.8 mi
• time: 45
• temp: 71
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: weezer - unbreak my heart, radiohead - karma police, cake - going the distance
• comments: good run. worried about my knees that have been hurting when i've been sitting for long periods of time (like behind a desk or in a meeting), but they hold up really well during the runs. i'm going to commit to the run this weekend. i needed to make sure my knees would take it :)

• run: 6 mi
• temp: 40
• road conditions: crisp and sunny
• aches/pains: l knee at end
• what i listened to when i ran: prayed a lot, blondie - atomic, weezer - unbreak my heart
• comments: best run ever! got my large coffee before going out and i felt great out there. dressed appropriately in my capris and red long sleeve. it showed me that i can be ready for a race next weekend if i get out on tuesday and thursday. i won't place, but it would be fun. kept me in a good mood all day long. i love coffee and i love feeling strong and invincible!

• run: 4.9 miles
• time: 45 min
• temp: 50
• road conditions: light rain and very windy
• aches/pains: none, really
• what i listened to when i ran: rem - you are the everything, bf5 - raindrops keep falling on my head, ben folds - songs of love, blondie - atomic
• comments: so angry about work stuff it took more than half the run to even try to get past that. i'm glad i ran. i kept telling myself that if i finished the full path, i could skip my run tomorrow. i'm angry that i have to be to work tomorrow, too, but glad i don't have to run in the cold dark early morning hours and in possibly more rain than this. the music was good. it was so hard to get out because the cold and rain is such a good excuse. i can't imagine training for a marathon and end up having to run for almost 4 hours in the rain. i'm glad to be in my pajamas.

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 69
• road conditions: rainy/misty
• aches/pains:none
• what i listened to when i ran: matthew sweet - everything changes, avett brothers - kick drum heart
• comments: felt like i was sleep running for the first 4 miles. i didn't have the energy or mental game. when it kicked in, it felt good. glad i kept going, and glad i didn't try for six. it's just an off day.

• run: 6.3 mi
• time: 1 hr
• temp: 50
• road conditions: busy with tailgaters, but the most beautiful day and running weather with nice, crisp air and a hint of sun
• aches/pains: l knee for last .3 miles
• what i listened to when i ran: hotel lights - run away happy, rem - talk about the passion, ben folds five - battle of who could care less
• comments: felt really good to be out there today. my goal was to increase to a 6.5 mile run, but i always prefer to keep going and map later. woke up to a large coffee and a sausage mcmuffin with egg again, so it's been a beautiful start to the day. i headed up this new street to turn around and found myself going up a really steep hill. i'm seeing that if i keep increasing my run by increasing it where i do, i'm going to keep going uphill. maybe i should find a new point in the run to go further...

thursday, september 22

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 69
• road conditions: a little muggy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend
• comments: saw someone i knew on the way back. had a lot of anxiety as i'd just gotten some interesting news just before i started the run. my friend did well as the life coach/therapist i needed. i talked more than usual and got out of breath :(

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45 min
• temp: 49
• road conditions: cool and sunny. perfect, really
• aches/pains: r knee halfway through. really bad
• what i listened to when i ran: tori amos - spark, ac newman - the town halo, hotel lights - run away happy
• comments: felt kind of sluggish when i started, but i was able to get lost in my thoughts by the time i got up to 7th. knowing i was going to do a "short" run of 5 miles felt like a treat. then the knee started to hurt. that sucks. the weather about made up for it, though. i thought about putting on a long sleeve shirt but glad i stuck with the short sleeve. ahhhh.

• run: 6 mi
• time: 55 min
• temp: 59
• road conditions: cool
• aches/pains: l knee for last mile
• what i listened to when i ran: duran duran - new moon on monday, the new pornographers - laws have changed
• comments: woke up, hubby had a large coffee and a sausage mcmuffin with egg waiting for me. ahhhhh. went out there like a happy little sprite and wasn't the least bit intimidated by a 6 mile run. i actually considered upping my mileage but didn't want to chance it as i haven't had time to get out side last weekend. good move, as the knee ache came in at the end. i think i'm going to commit to 6.5 miles next weekend. i'm just playing around with the idea of a half marathon right now. i know i can do it. part of me wants to.

• run: 6 mi
• time: 60 min
• temp: 75
• road conditions: cloudy, patches of sun
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: plum near forgot
• comments: i should have run the 10k yesterday. this felt really good. spent most of the run in prayer. kept it a little slower, but not too slow. perfect weather. i'm so grateful i can run 6 miles.

• run: 3.1
• time: 24:53 - another pr
• temp: 68
• road conditions: rainy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: belle and sebastian: string bean jean
• comments: signed up for a 5k at the last minute. was supposed to be out of town this weekend, but at the airport the hubby realized he didn't have his id so we came back home. ugh. the only good thing was that i got to see my son run a half mile kids run with his cousin and they came in first place! i started the race with my brother mid-pack, running the first bit of a mile pacing with him, and then took off. i raced with a woman for a while, but couldn't keep up and let her pass. when she passed, i finally saw she was definately younger than me. it was really cool to be with my brother during his first timed race. amazing, actually. i'm so proud of him. i placed 3rd in my age group and feel a twinge of regret that i didn't do the 10k. maybe i'm not ready to do a half marathon in may after all.

thursday, september 7

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 65
• road conditions: damp, but not raining
• aches/pains:none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend
• comments: it was raining all day, so i assumed we'd do 4 miles. since the rain broke during the time we ran, we made it 5. probably could have done 6. i don't know how i'd keep doing this without my friend.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45 min :)
• temp: 56
• road conditions: cloudy and some misting rain
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: hmmm
• comments: felt a little weak at first, but mentally worked to make myself strong. it's only 5 miles, for crissakes. prayed a lot, which is always good, and really wanted to make today a better day than yesterday. it was. less judgemental, more supportive. now let's see if i can carry that attitude back into the workplace...

sunday, september 4

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 74
• road conditions: cloudy and muggy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: can't remember
• comments: sweat a lot, considering the nice temperature. lots of runners out there now that the students are back on campus. not much to do with the power out but go for a run. i got to see that most of the west side of town had power, saw some trucks out hopefully trying to fix the situation. that gave me hope that i could soon be hiding out in the girl's room watching stupid stuff on television.

• run: 6 mi
• time: 1 hr
• temp: 82?
• road conditions: sunny, muggy and miserable
• aches/pains: scraped knee
• what i listened to when i ran: alanis morrisette - invited, the new pornographers - high art
• comments: i didn't turn on my ipod until my last couple of miles. tripped and fell about halfway through. i saw myself going down and i leaned toward the grass. scraped my knee and hands, got an armpit full of grass and dirt. since i didn't have a phone, i just kept going. i could have shortened the route, but i was out there to do 6 miles and i figured i'd better finish. luckily, my knee did stop bleeding. lots of people out running today. i didn't see much tailgating action, so i'm guessing the game is later today. the girl and i want hamburgers so i hope we're going out to get some soon :)

• run: 5+ mi
• time: ?
• temp: 90
• road conditions: humid and buggy
• aches/pains: legs were tired
• what i listened to when i ran: caught up with my running buddy.
• comments: ran into a friend in the 101 class. i'm so proud of her! we were getting thirsty near the middle of our run and stopped in at yost to get some water. there was some kind of football and cheerleading camps going on, but we found a drinking fountain. we were supposed to go 6 miles, but the heat wasn't on our side. we ran well and it felt good. nice to have a little adventure during our run and get back to running downtown. with all the students back, it's fun.

sunday, august 29

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: ?
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: it was good, if i remember correctly
• comments: feels good to be strong.

• run: 6 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 68
• road conditions: cloudy to sunny
• aches/pains: l knee at last half mile
• what i listened to when i ran: new pornographers - laws have changed, ben fold five - twin falls, ben folds five - raindrops
• comments: feels good to feel strong. i've been struggling with a lot lately and i think i've figured something out. if i can't make things better for everyone, maybe making things better for at least one person is enough. i can't save the world. i can make a small difference for a few people, though, if i let go of the bigger ideal and focus on the person in front of me.

• run: 4 mi
• time: 32 min
• temp: 76
• road conditions: some sun
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend
• comments: we ran fast today. it was a good, easy 4 miles.

• run: 6.2
• time: 53.53 - a new pr!
• temp: 68
• road conditions: rainy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: depeche mode: stjarna, guster - the captain, an ac newman song
• comments: it was cloudy, but didn't start to rain until mile 2. i thought it would be a nice mist, but my shoes were soggy by mile 4. it was really hilly, but i knew that going in. paced with and passed a few guys. around mile 4 we ran into the walkers from the 5k, which really threw me off, but i kept passing them. i kept telling myself i could do this and i felt i did the best i could. i was even able to rally a bit at the end. i saw a co-worker and his big black lab at the finish line and he asked if i was okay after we high-fived (i must have looked a mess). i was fine, i just needed some water. then i saw that i placed 2nd in the masters division. i went to the timing guy to tell him there was a mistake. he asked me how old i was, so i told him, and he explained that everyone over 40 is considered "masters". wow. my time beat all the other women in my age group, and only one woman over 40 beat my time (and it was a a few minutes faster). i still can't believe it. i should, though. i worked hard and it paid off. i got a trophy instead of a medal. it's so silly, but i really wanted a medal. the medals have a green ribbon and are gray (co-worker's wife placed in her age group). the trophy is gold. i just never imagined i'd ever win a trophy. i'm going to enjoy this before i decide what's next :)

• run: 4.5 mi
• time: 45 min
• temp: 86
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: r big toe - nail had chipped last night and rubbed against the front of the shoe
• what i listened to when i ran: matthew sweet - smog moon, the lemon heads - if i could talk i'd tell you, the big pink - velvet, bff - missing the war, josh ritter - harrisburg
• comments: i decided that it would be good to get the run done tonight so i could sleep in and take a day of rest tomorrow. felt good, felt strong. i'm ready. it's going to be hilly, which might take me down, but i'm ready as i can be for the challenge. i'm excited about sleeping in and hanging with my peeps at the festival tomorrow. spent some time flipping from wedding porn to project runway for a couple hours after my run. its all good.

• run: 4 mi
• time 35-40 min
• temp: 86
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: lcd soundsystem - someone great, ben folds - effington, foo fighters - times like these
• comments: had to get the miles in and not stop. so i did. i did 20 non-girly pushups with a co-worker at work. others commented that my back was straigher :) it's all in good fun and getting in shape. i so want to place. i don't want to train too hard and get hurt. i just need to push myself on Sunday. i went out today to make sure i could keep up the aerobic capacity. one more short run friday or saturday will do it and i'll be as ready as i can be without a coach.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 60 min
• temp: 85
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: caught up with my running buddy
• comments: we started off with a jog as my friend wasn't feeling up to it. i was. i was angry about work stuff and am really determined to do my best to place in that race. i just found out that they're offering medals for the top 3 in each age group. i want a medal. i feel like i'm in shape enough to possibly get one. i'm usually the wimpy one, but this time i almost asked to do 6 miles. there's always tomorrow to put in more miles. may need to after the meeting i have going.

• run: 6 mi
• time: 55 min
• temp: 64 :)
• road conditions: cloudy with light rain
• aches/pains: l knee for most of the run, icing it now
• what i listened to when i ran: elton john - harmony, josh ritter - harrisburg, matthew sweet - everything changes, ben folds - saskia hamilton, ben folds - hire's song, tori amos - spark
• comments: perfect amount of rain to keep me cool. i'm amazed at how it wasn't struggling with my breath and wanted to keep going even though my knee hurt. it doesn't hurt when i walk, so that's a good sign. i really want to place in the race next weakend.

• run: 6 mi
• time: 1 hour even with the "stop and chat"
• temp: 70
• road conditions: sunny but cool
• aches/pains: my l knee and thigh during the last half mile
• what i listened to when i ran: be good to yourself - journey, twin cinemas - the new pornographers
• comments: great run. i was ready to do it, walked hardly at all, and felt good when it was over. i did see an old friend who is doing well. i wish i could have talked with him further as i think his life experience stories could help me better understand the nuances of homelesness. AND we got my new green ford escape today!

• run: 4.5
• time:50 min
• temp:73
• road conditions: sunny and breezy
• aches/pains: legs achy at end
• what i listened to when i ran: cake - going the distance, scala and kolancy brothers - creep, matthew sweet - smog moon. basically, songs about running and or running away. totally random.
• comments: been feeling pretty discouraged about a lot of things so i conned myself to get out there and get an extra run in to get ready for the race on the 21st. i felt competent and strong. haven't been feeling that way lately. it was good.

sunday, august 6

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 78
• road conditions: sunny and humid
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: can't remember
• comments: kept looking for cars that i'd like. had decided that the CRV was the top option, Escape second.

saturday, august 5

• run: 6 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 78
• road conditions: warm, sunny
• aches/pains: walked a little
• what i listened to when i ran: no clue
• comments: got the long run of the week done.

• run: 3-4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 83
• road conditions: hot, humid and sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: the new pornographers - laws have been changed came on just as i was getting home. i wish it came on earlier.
• comments: i ran the lake trail loop one time today and loved it. because of the heat and worries of overtraining, i kept it short today. i'm really going to miss this trail. i feel like i enjoy running in nature more. i also kept my iPod off for half of the run. time to go to the mall with the lego store. i might get a new polo shirt out of it if i'm good :)

wednesday, august 3

• run: 5-6 mi
• time: 1 hr.
• temp: 78 (according to iPhone - yeah, right)
• road conditions: hot, sunny and humid
• aches/pains: scrape on r ankle
• what i listened to when i ran: prayers and elvis costello - poor fractured atlas
• comments: no time constraints this morning and with a goal of placing 3rd in my age group at my next 10k in a couple of weeks, i got to work. i completed the "lake trail" twice around. i could have really hurt myself on some of those tree roots, but didn't fall down. i tripped up but caught myself many times. luckily, no one witnessed my flailings. it was challenging and fun. there was a drinking fountain at the boat dock (i have yet to see a boat in the lake in the past few years) which was helpful as i passed it twice. i'm proud of myself for meeting the challenge. i dripped sweat like i never have before. i would have wiped my face with my shirt but it was so soaked there wasn't a dry place to wipe it. i'd feel like an athlete but i've been skipping my push ups in the morning (because i'm on vacation). it feels fantastic to be in good shape. i did make sure i drank a lot of water when i got home because i've been feeling really dizzy for the past couple of days. standing up, blacking out, grabbing a wall or some furniture while waiting to come back to isn't cool. seems to have helped.

tuesday, august 2

• run: 4-5 miles
• time: 40-45 min
• temp: 78
• road conditions: hot and sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: my prayers and elvis costello - green shirt
• comments: woke up a little late and i was going to meet my sister-in-law's bunnies at 9, so i didn't do the lake trail 2 mile loop twice. still scared of the trail and of being too late to meet the bunnies. gosh they were cute.

monday, august 1

• run: 4 -5 mi
• time: 40 min
• temp: hot
• road conditions: hot and sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: bff- one angry dwarf
• comments: here at the greenway trails in nc again. the signs spell things out a little better now, but i ended up going back and forth on the cement part. a little afraid of how long the "lake trail" really is.

• run: 3.1
• time: 26.36
• temp: 87
• road conditions: wet trail grass
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: a nin song, ended the race with guster - the captain
• comments: ran with my nephew's cc team - parents vs. alumni vs. team. the ladies got a 3 minute head start, the dads got 2 minutes, and the alumni started a minute after the team. one mom was ahead of me after the first half mile and i was going to let her stay in front of me, but she headed the wrong way. i was the lady in the lead for a while, but she passed me up and then led me the wrong way again. this time, i found myself behind my nephew and a lot of the team (was in front of them before we took the wrong turn). i wasn't going to try to pass her as she was way more into it than i was and her kid is on the team. my brother was able to find a guy to pace with and he finished it without walking, but said it was 5 times harder than he thought it would be. i thought i'd be running beside him, but it didn't happen. i'm so proud of him and proud of my nephew who beat my time :)

thursday, july 28

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 94
• road conditions: sunny, a lot wet on parts of the path
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy
• comments: waded through a huge puddle near the end and soaked the mizunos. they felt really heavy afterwords. walked a part of it, but my friend had some good stories to tell. plus, it was really hot. my brother invited me to run a 5k with him this weekend. i'm so excited!

saturday, july 23

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45 min?
• temp: 74
• road conditions: overcast and humid
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: a hotel lights song on my iphone
• comments: my dad dropped me off at the tart trail and showed me on the map where i'd be if i headed west. i had on my new mizunos and happily trotted off on the trail. the iphone seemed so heavy compare to the shuffle. i ran past the back of some hotels, past the airport, past some cute neighborhoods and then finally hit the bay, where i decided to stop. it felt really good. i called my dad and he picked me up. everyone on the path was friendly and said hello, unlike home.

friday, july 22

• run: 3.5 mi?
• time: 35 min
• temp: 70
• road conditions: sunny and rocky
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: ?
• comments: i left my folks house to try to find the tart trail and thought i knew where i was going. turned out i had no clue. i ended up running on the gravel/stones on the side of a busy two lane road with little shade. i did find a dead end street (with a hill) that i went up and down a couple of times. the run helped me start my morning off to a good start, but also determined to find a better path.

• run: ?
• time: 35 min
• temp: 78
• road conditions: cloudy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: guster - airport song, foo fighters - long road to ruin
• comments: did a nice little run around the art fairs. kind of winged it and didn't feel like mapping everything out. i knew i was coming home to shower and walk around with the husband, so i kept it short and easy. still can't get used to the sweat dripping off my face, but other than that i'm starting to like summer running.

• run: 4.5 mi
• time:?
• temp: 83
• road conditions: cloudy, sprinkled rain at the end
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: elliott smith - waltz #2, guster - the captain, matthew sweet - smog moon
• comments: it was a pleasure to take out my mizuno nirvana 6's for a test ride. it felt as good as i expected. awkward for the first couple of miles as i've never ran in anything besides the same saucony progrid guide, but it felt really, really good. i even enjoyed it out there. i'm trying to get my miles in when i can, knowing that it's going to be a busy week. i also came home much less crabby. when will i learn that going on a run often improves my mood, rather than make it worse?

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 78
• road conditions: sunny and hot
• aches/pains: top of r foot, l knee at end
• what i listened to when i ran: i heard miss misery on the radio later today and it about made me cry
• comments: i'm dying to try a pair of mizuno shoes. i bought a pair yesterday on sale, but can't stand the color (pink). will go back to the store to try on more non-sale ones after i take a nap. it's not the run that wears me out, it's the church, fellowship and grocery shopping.

• run: 6 mi
• time: hour
• temp: 72
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: knees felt it a little
• what i listened to when i ran: elton john - harmony, alanis morisette - uninvited, an elliott smith song, fleetwood mac - tusk
• comments: trying to stay in 10k shape. decided i need to run a 6 mile run once a week in order to do this, as my next 10k is in a little over a month. looked at the 5k times from last year and know i could beat that. not too sure about the 10k times. it would be cool to place again.

• run: 3 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 70
• aches/pains: top of r foot still a little sore
• road conditions: muggy
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - annie waits, rem - shaking through
• comments: pretty much rolled out of bed to get out for a short run before a busy morning. glad i did.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min
• temp: 68
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: top of r foot getting better, ache in l knee at end
• what i listened to when i ran: underground right before the last polka. felt like i was at a concert with really good sound.
• comments: didn't feel as strong today, but i didn't get out of breath. i really am not crazy about the sweat that pours down my face in the summer. it's probably easier to deal with than ice, though.

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 78
• road conditions: mercifully mostly cloudy
• aches/pains: top of r foot, wore old shoes again
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy.
• comments: felt so very strong. no problem going along with the 5 miles today. i feel like the little extra work of running 4xweekly makes a difference. my friend makes it fun.

monday, july 4

• run: 3.1 mi
• time: 25:31
• temp: 73
• road conditions: partly sunny, nice and flat
• aches/pains: top of r foot, wore my old shoes
• what i listened to when i ran: guster mix
• comments: a new pr! i started a little fast, tried to relax a bit when a gal my age went past me and i knew i couldn't keep up, but got into a good rhythm and stayed with it. i tried to rally at the end, did a little, and almost barfed at the finish line. i actually had to walk to the side to make sure i wasn't going to hurl on anyone. my time is 3 minutes better than the same race last year. not too shabby :)

sunday, july 3

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 75
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: top of r foot, still adjusting to new shoes
• what i listened to when i ran: ?
• comments: if it weren't for the sweat dripping off my face, this wouldn't be so bad.

• run: 5 mi
• time:?
• temp: 76
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: working on getting my r foot pad right
• what i listened to when i ran: avett brothers - kick drum heart, a night ranger tune, i just can't think and i just ran 15 minutes ago
• comments: felt really strong for a long time out there. maybe it's my new yellow singlet. or the fact that my knees and lower legs aren't hurting.

• run: ran 4, walked 1
• temp: 88
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: blister in r baby toe
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend
• comments: next week we'll do five. i can be ready for that.

• run: 3 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 85
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: ball of r foot
• what i listened to when i ran: radiohead - karma police, army/navy - dark as days, ben folds - dr yang
• comments: i love my new shiny shoes! new saucony pro-grid guide 4's. got some new socks, a new singlet and new shorts, too. i had to try them all on and see how they worked. i think i need to run in more cottony ones to break the shoes in, but otherwise it was a lovely run. my knees are feeling better, thank goodness. i haven't been able to cross my legs and it's made me very cranky.

• run: 2 miles
• time: ?
• temp: 63
• road conditions: beautiful
• aches/pains: knees, l mosty
• what i listened to when i ran: a depeche mode song
• comments: my knees hurt when i woke up, but i felt i needed to try a "recovery"run. my l knee was really hurting, which is the opposite knee that i've had problems with. i'm hoping if i'm able to rest, all will be well. i had to stop the run early (hoped for a 3 mile loop) because the pain was affecting my gait. oh well. i'm still happy about the race.

• run: 6.2 mi
• time: 55.33
• temp: 68
• road conditions: blessedly cool and cloudy
• aches/pains: knees and thighs were done at the end
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - golden slumbers. it came on as i was running up main street, neck in neck with a woman who appeared to be in my age grouping. i almost started to cry. then it ended and i still had less than half a mile to go so i sucked it up.
• comments: i got my medal! it was so worth it. i started slow, passed on the water stops because i didn't want to slow my steady pace, and tried to amp it up at the end. i wasn't able to power my way to the finish line. there were two ladies i was trying to pass during the last mile and i just couldn't do it (even though i'd passed them earlier on several times). because i prepared, i did enjoy the race. i was surprised at how hilly the course was, and how we ran through neighbohoods of mcmansions. i think i even recognized one of the subdivisions we ran through as one i'd biked through with my dad eons ago. it was great to wait for my friend after my race and take a picture of her coming to the finish line.

thursday, june 23

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min
• temp: 75
• road conditions: light rain
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend, who is running the same race (longer distance) this weekend!
• comments: can't believe she got me to do 5 miles, but it was very pleasant.

• run: 2.75?
• time: ?
• temp: 90
• road conditions: hot
• aches/pains: knee later on
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - belinda. twice. still good
• comments: ran fast as i had a meeting at 6:30. so fast i didn't stop sweating until a half hour after my shower. i felt like a pony who needed to be reigned in. trying to get miles in between the rainstorms this week.

• run: 6.13
• temp: 60
• time: 1 hour
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: r knee for last half.
• what i listened to when i ran: don't remember
• comments: didn't get to ice my knee for a while after the run. seemed to have helped. the long walk downtown with the fam made it a little testy again. i think it will be fine tomorrow. i think i need to just register for the race and be done with it. mentally i'm there. my knee is the only holdout.

saturday, june 18

• run: 6.13 mi
• time: 1 hr or so
• temp: 60
• road conditions: got sunny near the end
• aches/pains: r knee for last half mile, r shoulder during the middle, all over achiness
• what i listened to when i ran: can't remember
• comments: got out early because we had a big day ahead of us. i really like looking at the additonal mile at the top of the hill. my lower legs ached for the rest of the day. maybe i need to look into getting some new shoes ;)

• run: 6.13 mi
• time: an hour
• temp: 70
• road conditions: overcast with sprinkling of rain
• aches/pains: lower legs ache still
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - bitches ain't shit, ben folds - golden slumbers, bf5 philosophy, alanis morisette - joining you, josh ritter - harrisburg
• comments: i won. i got out there and ran the 6 miles. it's a nice neighborhood up there. could have gotten hit by cars several times, but the traffic wasn't bad in the neighborhoods i was in for rush hour. i'm beat, though. time to do it again saturday am!

• run: 4.5
• time: ?
• temp: 78
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: the new pornographers - sing me spanish techno, pink floyd - one slip, bf5 - theme from dr. pyser, 2 foo fighter songs
• comments: today i sucked at my job. i didn't suck at running, though. today i want a medal. i have 10 days to get ready to earn one.

sunday, june 12

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 55
• road conditions: cool and perfect
• aches/pains: r knee
• what i listened to when i ran: can't remember
• comments: felt fantastic to be out there! had to ice the knee a bit yesterday, but that's the nice thing about having a day off with not a lot to do. thinking about doing a 10k that give out medals at the end. do i have what it takes to get ready for that?

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 62
• road conditions: cloudy and cool
• aches/pains: knees near end
• what i listened to when i ran: a few night ranger songs, guster - manifest destiny, elton john - goodbye yellow brick road, avett brothers - salina
• comments: i was mentally and physically exhausted last night. i could have slept all morning, but i had to get the run in. it's beautiful out there but the caffiene only got me so far. had to walk a bit. saw some fake snow downtown. it looked really fake close up on the curb. i'll have to check out the movie when it comes out to see if it looked somewhat real on film. time to get ready to get the gift before the birthday party at noon.

• run: 5 mi
• time: pace was under 10 min/mi
• temp: 78
• road conditions: muggy, threatening rain
• aches/pains: knees and thighs for last mile
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with running buddy
• comments: got a slurpee after work because i was close to a 7-11, but it was blueberry, not mountain dew. felt a little sluggish before the run, and during, as my friend PRed on her half marathon this past weekend. i made myself finish the 5 miles even though i was hurting. my gait was not affected, i needed to run through a little pain. i'm hoping it will make me a more determined runner. not determined enough to try a half marathon yet, but eager to find a 10k.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min
• temp: 74
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: upper thighs near the end
• what i listened to when i ran: guster - the captain
• comments: had to walk a bit today. came home soaking wet with sweat. i kept telling myself i'm an athlete but had a hard time believing it at points. i feel like everyone is running in the race tomorrow but me. i really could use a race to shoot for at this point to get me back into 10k shape, but i haven't seen anything close or interesting in June. maybe it's time for my competitive edge to calm down a bit.

thursday, june 2

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 75
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to while i ran: chatted with my running buddy
• comments: she's fast and fit. i'm a little less than that, but she hung in there with me. my knee is fine but it put me back a little bit in terms of how well i can run 5 miles.

• run: 4.3
• time: ?
• temp: 72
• road conditions: sunny and muggy
• aches/pains: none!!!!
• what i listened to when i ran: saw someone with the same green shuffle i had. can't remember what i listened to, though
• comments: i took a different route that wasn't as hilly, and then continued along as i wasn't having knee pain. yay! i really wanted to run this morning, knowing i might not be able to. let's see how long this kind of motivation lasts.

• run: 3.4
• time:?
• temp: 60
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: knee on any incline
• what i listened to when i ran: my head telling me how silly it would be to go to a doctor, also telling me how stupid i would be not to.
• comments: i iced it for over a half hour last night and again for a half hour after the run. i'm going to try to go out again tomorrow morning and keep it easy if i need to. maybe it will just go away. yeah, and so will that big bruise on my shin.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min
• temp: 56
• road conditions: muggy
• aches/pains: r shoulder at beginning, r knee at beginning and then bad at the end
• what i listened to when i ran: night ranger - you can still rock in america
• comments: it's been raining solid for the past couple of days. the railroad tracks a few blocks from our house were wiped out due to flooding. it felt really good to be out there on such a green, chilly day. the knee is still bothering me a little, hours later. i iced it for a couple of minutes but haven't had time to sit with it. i'll try that tonight. let's see how it does when we take a family walk now...

friday, may 20

• run: 4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 74
• road conditions: muggy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: can't remember
• comments: passed the shop that an old friend just opened. i saw her inside, waved, and came in. we chatted for quite some time and it was really nice. then i came home and the door was locked. sat on the porch angrily for over a half hour. got over it and hugged my family when i saw them coming up the street. glad i got in the miles in the evening rather than trying to get up early saturday before the training at work.

sunday, may 22

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45 or so min
• temp: 68
• road conditions: sunny, with a cloudless stormy slate blue sky
• aches/pains: pressure in my lower back when i stopped
• what i listened to when i ran: depeche mode - wrong, matthew sweet - smog moon, elliott smith - xo, guster - lightning rod, lemonheads - if i could talk i'd tell you
• comments: sweaty. drank 2 diet pepsis and went out to run. passed 2 dudes coming down the hill on division. oh yeah. i was so tired when stretching out at home i found myself staring at the wall. if i could only be that calm all the time.

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 68
• road conditions: pavement was wet, but the sun was out
• aches/pains: r knee and my heart when i got mud on my shoe
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy
• comments: she had such good stories to tell that we got the first half of the loop done very quickly! it was great running weather. i'm sad about the mud, but i've had the shoes since september or something, so it's about time. i saw that there's a saucony sale at the running store this weekend...

• run: 4.5 mi
• time:?
• temp: 52
• road conditions: windy and rainy
• aches/pains: l hip near the end
• what i listened to when i ran: bf5 - eddie walker, elliott smith - the last hour, queen - killer queen, matthew sweet - everything changes
• comments: it was sprinkling until the last half, then the rain started up. i got home before my shoes were soaked, but my jacket was soaked through. the hardest part of my day is done now. i love that.

• run: 4.5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 66
• road conditions: muggy and gray
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - bitches aint shit, ben folds five - theme from dr. pyser, night ranger - don't tell me you love me, guster - airport song
• comments: sweat o rama. i don't feel the same sense of victory over the weather that i did the other day, but i'm glad i gave it a go anyway. i think i'm feeling a little lost without a race coming up. but, there's a big sale at the running store today and it's time to get some new socks :)

thursday, may 12

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 86
• road conditions: muggy and sunny
• aches/pains: upper thighs
• what i listened to when i ran: stories from my friend
• comments: i sweat buckets but it felt good. really good. my legs stung with the sweat and i hadn't even shaved them. i feel like i'm ready to handle summer running, just as soon as i get some more mesh-like singlets. had to bow out of the upcoming 10k because of yet another church commitment. this is a good one, though. i'll keep training like i'm going to run it because i can always find another one to run.

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 47
• road conditions: sunny and perfect
• aches/pains: l groin and knee
• what i listened to when i ran: hotel lights - run away happy, foo fighters - long road to ruin, rufus wainwright - danny boy, rem - shaking through
• comments: wow was i sore coming home. it was so beautiful out i wanted to do the 5 miles, so i did. came home and curled up with the guster road journal while i iced my groin and knee. then i made pancakes for the family.

saturday, may 7

• run: 5 mi
• time: 55?
• temp: 44
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: upper legs, but minor
• what i listened to when i ran: lots of early depeche mode, a few good foo fighters songs
• comments: i physically felt like i needed to get back out there. i was only going to do 4 miles, but it was a nice day and i was up to it. glad it's still chilly in the mornings.

• run: 4 mi
• time: 35 min
• temp: 47
• road conditions: foggy, muggy, chilly
• aches/pains: hip sockets
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - jesusland, white rabbits - percussion gun, lots of old rem from murmur
• comments: had the morning off because i'm doing food distribution tonight. even though it's threatening thunderstorms, i got out there. and i didn't get stuck in a downpour! i wore my capris, tank, and black windbreaker. the windbreaker came off shortly after the first mile. it felt really cold wearing that when i was pumping gas. tried hard to enjoy the run but i couldn't get my focus off of it.

• run: 5 mi
• temp: 47
• road conditions: gray
• aches/pains: dull aches all over
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - free coffee, some other good stuff i can't remember now.
• comments: i was half asleep going out there with 2 diet cokes in my belly. i just kept going, felt good, knowing it was all about wanting to do 5 miles. and i did want to do 5 miles, so i did. i decided i'm ready to commit to a 10k next weekend. then i realized i had a church commitment the same day at the same time. then i got a little sad. i was looking forward to running in a new neighborhood, ready for a loop so i could know the course a little better the second loop around. oh well. it very well might rain that day.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45min
• temp: 54
• road conditions: muggy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: guster - manifest destiny, queen - one vision, ben folds - annie waits, josh ritter - good man, elliott smith - the biggest lie, mgmt - can't remember the title,
• comments: fantastic weather for shorts and a t-shirt. i was up at 4 for the easter vigil and then brought home mcdonalds for the family. i enjoyed a large coffee and went out for a very energized run. i'm considering signing up for the 10k this weekend, but we'll see how tomorrow goes. God is good.

• run: 3 miles
• time: ?
• temp: 45
• road conditions: very windy and gray, but not raining
• aches/pains: ankles for the last mile
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - hiro's song, elton john - this song has no title, guster - happiness, night ranger - at night she sleeps, elliott smith - waltz #2
• comments: i found myself struggling with my pace when waltz #2 came on. the "one, two three" beat threw me off because it was a step or two slower than how fast i was going. i'm glad i got myself out there, but it wasn't easy. my excuses not to were plentiful, but the skinny jeans that arrived in the mail today (a steal on ebay) tipped the scales (no pun intended) in the favor of getting out to at least try. i know i could have done 5 miles. the problem is that i didn't want to. my husband was telling me about that there are people in the phillipines who have themselves nailed to a cross in order to reach religious ecstacy. i asked him how long they stay up there. he said he didn't know.

sunday, april 17

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 37
• road conditions: very windy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: bf5 - the last polka, other poppy goodness on the new shuffle
• comments: wanted to wimp out at mile 4 but soldiered on, reminding myself to get the miles in while it's dry outside. wore capris, tank, green jacket, gloves and earband and was perfectly comfortable.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 44.11
• temp: 50
• road conditions: wet, but the rain stopped just before the race started
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: my new little shuffle! rufus wainwright - do you believe in love, bf5 - underground, the babys - everytime i think of you, guster - the captain. the shuffle doesn't have the capacity for all of my music, so i put on a bunch of songs i know i like to run to. that made this run so much more fun!
• comments: got to the race just as it started. poor timing on my part. i had to run back to activate my chip and catch up with the last of the bunch. i wore my green longsleeve with my old shorts and it turned out to be perfect for the weather. i was afraid it would start to rain again or the winds by the river would make me too chilly, but no. my distain of sweat won out and worked well for me. it wasn't a big race and it was a little daunting trying to get to the finish line by running through a big group of walkers (while dodging mud and puddles, too), but it felt really good. i signed up with a team who were doing the 5k and waited to see them at the finish line. it was really fun to give val a water bottle when i saw her finish and catch up. i didn't place, but i feel ready to commit to another 10k. so awesome to finish while singing along with "the captain"!

thursday, april 14

• run: 4 mi
• time: pace 9.25
• temp: 50?
• road conditions: windy
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy
• comments: she's going on a bike trip for the next two weeks. guess i'll be able to attend that maundy thursday service after all. i need to keep up the work while she's gone. i kinda let us wimp out at 4 miles today instead of going for 5. i need to remember to get the miles in when it's dry during the spring season!

• run: 4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 67
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: r ball of foot where my callous is
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - carrying cathy, death cab - transatlantacism, guster - airport song
• comments: for the first time in a long time, i wanted to go out today because it was just so nice (and i have a race this weekend). i forgot how thirsty i can get in the heat. i was able to keep the tempo up the big hill on summit to "dear catastrophe waitress", which was a pretty good clip in my opinion. when i was starting up the big hill to get home, dying for some water, i saw my family on the other side of the street. they were just starting their walk. my son and i raced to the party store. he's a lot faster than i am. we were stretching on the sidewalk, waiting for the rest of them to catch up to us, and some gentleman carrying a 24 pack commented "be careful, you might get stuck that way". the kids got ice cream treats, i got some sparkling water, and it was a good time had by all.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45-50 min
• temp: 50
• road conditions - foggy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: nice mix. ipod is held hostage by hubby who needs it as an alarm clock as he broke his own. i do remember being propelled by The Pipettes down the hill to the broadway bridge.
• comments: wore shorts for the first time this weekend, with a long sleeved guster shirt and no tank. still got very hot, but it was good. i'm noticing that my feet hurt a lot when i don't have shoes on. i go down the stairs like an old lady without shoes. it's sad. is this how it's supposed to be?

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 43
• road conditions: muggy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: teenage fanclub - the cabbage, nin - closer, the beach boys - i know there's an answer, bf5 - tom and mary, ben folds - kylie from conneticut
• comments: totally overdressed in light tights, tank and jacket. i ended up taking off the jacket and tying it around my waist at mile 2. looked like a dork in a tank and tights while the many other runners were wearing shorts and long sleeved tees, but it was better than sweating more. glad i've been doing those push ups. picked up the mail, too. maybe tomorrow i'll commit to some shorts.

• run: 4 mi
• time: pace 9.43
• temp: 46
• road conditions: cloudy and gray
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: heard about my friend's half marathon
• comments: panicked about what to wear, ended up in light tights and a long sleeve without a tank and it was perfect. it was a quick 4 miles and felt pretty good. i thought about going out yesterday but it was pouring all evening. i've been feeling fat and sluggish lately, but not fat enough to run in a downpour.

• run: 4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 23, but i think it was really 33
• road conditions: gray
• aches/pains: l knee and thigh for last mile. walked the last block and have been fine since.
• what i listened to when i ran: thompson twins again, a nin song i can't remember the title of, kylie from conneticut twice
• comments: made it to jefferson and took a new route through kerrytown home. felt good to mix it up. when i was walking up my street i saw my husband pulling the car into the driveway, and then saw him walking into the house with 2 large coffees! we only had enough milk and sweetner left in the house for one of us to doctor up our cup and he took his black. that's true love. i also read the "runner's rule book" by mark remy in less than an hour. it was just a bunch of self-absorbed fluff that i've already figured out by trial, error and group runs with more serious runners who make me feel like i'm a lazy idiot. rule # 1.67 is to "never underestimate the value of a trite slogan". "you're a spineless little twit" came into my head during the first mile and wouldn't leave until i almost got home. ugh. i really didn't need my inner self-critic to start yelling at me like that.

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 33
• road conditions: chilly but good
• aches/pains: r shoulder a bit
• what i listened to when i ran: guster - manifest destiny, radiohead - karma police, bf5 - twin falls, jefferson airplane - count on me, pearl jam - black, depeche mode - everything counts, guster - careful, bf5 - last polka, ben folds - your dogs, josh ritter - bone of song, thompson twins - king for a day, elliott smith - can't make a sound, ben folds - you to thank
• comments: stopped to walk a bit. trying to figure out why i'm having a rough time. first reason is because i didn't get out mid-week. second reason is because mentally i'm not able to let go and forget what i'm doing. i'm feeling like i'm enduring it, not enjoying it. i did forget myself, the route and the run for a few blocks and it was magnificent when i realized what happened. that used to happen a lot before. i've got 2 weeks to get it together before i run an 8k. got out really early because we had to put the dog down this morning. i didn't want my sadness that he's gone to be an excuse not to get out. got to spend some time saying goodbye. still don't realize he's really gone.

sunday, march 27

• run: 5 miles
• time: ?
• temp: ?
• what i listened to when i ran: ?
• comments: i remember i felt really strong while out there. running 3 days a week really makes a big difference. i need to keep this up!

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 22
• road conditions: frosty but sunny
• aches/pains: r hamstring from bowling the other night
• what i listened to when i ran: the new pornographers - twin cinema, elliott smith - a question mark, saturday looks good to me - ultimate stars, metallica - fade to black, teenage fanclub - the cabbage, elvis costello - welcome to the working week, nin - last, afghan whigs - fountain and fairfax, the beatles - and i love her, depeche mode - everything counts, michael giacchino - hella bar talk, josh ritter - moons, elliott smith - angeles, chuck arrington - hymn meledy, teenage fanclub - the concept
• comments - the boy lost my earband so i went out angry and overdressed with a hat. ran into an old, dear friend who it was nice to see. the run felt easier because i'm getting out more. came home to find water all over the basement floor. between this and the dog who can't pee i'm about ready to tear my hair out. at least i got in the run.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 48
• temp: 32
• road conditions: wet and misty
• aches/pains: ball of r foot
• what i listened to when i ran: a little chatting, but mostly we were up and down hills, focused on getting the job done
• comments: she made me keep going up the damn hills without stopping to break at the top. i was able to carry on just fine. i feel my stamina coming back. i wish the whining brat in me would go away, though. time to watch some well-deserved tv!

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45 min
• temp: 30
• road conditions: chilly, but totally doable
• aches/pains: none, really
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - from above, josh ritter - rattling locks, ben folds - jesusland, belle and sebastian - seeing other people, radiohead - no surprises, international orange - fayetteville, metallica - for whom the bell tolls, elvis costello - welcome to the working week, foo fighters - baker street, bf5 - one angry dwarf, sia - breathe me
• comments: feeling good, getting into 3 times weekly runs again. that sia song gets on my nerves. used to relate to it, but now it seems pathetic. i did really enjoy the metallica. i used to drive around town listening and rageing to it. now i run fast downhill to it. an old elvis costello fave and radiohead made the playlist all good.

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp : 31
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: lots of nin, a couple of bf5, a few elliott smith songs
• comments: it felt like a refrigerator out there. in a good way. just chilly enough to keep the sweating bearable. felt more like a chore today, but that's okay. i really should change up the route. i came home to find that the hubby made pancakes for the kids. he forgot that the smell of syrup makes me want to vomit. i got pretty upset because i got stuck with cleaning up the smelly, icky mess. i apologized, though. my husband said "i thought that running made you more calm?" not today, i guess.

• run: 4mi
• time: pace was 10 min
• temp: 68
• road conditions: several drunken undergrads blocking the sidewalk
• aches/pains: ball of l foot this time
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend, lots of "chug" and "take my picture" shout outs along the route. i expected nothing less for a run partially on campus on st. patricks day
• comments: what fun! put on shorts, a t-shirt, my shoes, and it felt amazingly good. so much anxiety all day about the "heat" but it really wasn't bad. it felt like summer for a little while. it was nice to see people out and about. we're going to do 6 miles next week. i'm going to be ready.

• run: 3.2 mi
• time: 26:33
• temp: 34
• road conditions: cloudy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: belle and sebastian - a summer wasting, ben folds - zak and sara, ben folds - before cologne, teenage fanclub - commercial alternative, airborne toxic event - innocence, matthew sweet - get older, josh ritter - drive away, the new pornographers - three or four
• comments: the boy ran his first 1k! he now wants to know when and how he can get his next medal. i did a lot better than i expected, seeing how large the race was. saw the family at the top of the hill a few times, which was encouraging. i didn't recognize anyone else there. raced against someone i didn't even see and beat her time. came in 6th in my age group (there were over 100 in the age group alone). i need to remember that i'm good at this and i keep getting better at it.

• run: 5.5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 36
• road conditions: sunny and perfect
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: new pornographers - sing me spanish techno, international orange - the singer with nothing to say, elliott smith - single file, rem - sitting still, yaz - situation, anchor&braille - sleep when we die, matthew sweet - smog moon, bf5 - smoke, josh ritter - snow is gone (3 times), art garfunkel - so much in love
• comments: laughed each time "snow is gone" played as the snow is almost gone and I knew it was probably going to play at least 3 times because my ipod wasn't on shuffle. also, i was on the stretch home and felt really good. perfect running weather. when i wanted to stop and walk up the hill on 7th i told myself i could stop after the song was over. that mental trick worked, got me up the hill and around the corner. went out with the boy for a short run after. he enjoyed running on the little bit of snow left, crunching it down. tomorrow is his big race! i'm going to try to just enjoy mine because i know there's no chance in hell i'll place.

• run: 5 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 36
• road conditions: wet but not rainy
• aches/pains: ankles felt weak for the first mile
• what i listened to when i ran: teenage fanclub - guiding star, rem - hairshirt, rem - half a world away, gladhands - half the battle, jeff buckley - hallelujah, international orange - hand to mouth, teenage fanclub - hang on, the beach boys - hang on to your ego, guster - happier, elliott smith - happiness, nin - happiness in slavery
• comments: it felt like a chore that needed to be done, so i did it. it was nice to get out on a thursday morning instead of evening. i'm feeling the effects of cutting back on running and i'm not liking it. i'm also seeing that some 5k's i ran last year are also 10k's. i want to make the commitment, but my mental game is so off at this point. i actually considered giving up running for lent. running has given me a new life, a better one than i had before. quitting is not logical, nor does it feel right. how do i become willing to get back in and stay in 10k shape?

• run: 4.5
• time: 50 min
• temp: 24
• road conditions: icy and snow covered
• aches/pains - l groin
• what i listened to when i ran: good mix, from what i remember
• comments: had to break out the yax trax and glad i did. felt like i was running in sand. feet were completely snow caked when i got home. i'll miss the snowy runs, expecially when the rainy season hits.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min (could be less)
• temp: 36
• road conditions: medium ran and very wet
• aches/pains: hands and forearms got very red and tingly near the end, shoes were fully squishy for the last mile
• what i listened to when i ran: bf5 - raindrops, josh ritter - another new world, belle and sebastian - she's losing it, new pornographers - high art local news, beatles - it's only love, belle and sebastian - ghost of rockschool, belle and sebastian - you made me forget my dreams, tears for fears - mad world, love and rockets - no new tale to tell, bf5 - kate, rush - new world man, toad the wet sproket - good intention, josh ritter - wait for love, guster - bad bad world
• comments: had to cancel weeknight run because of hubby's car problems, so i had to go out today, despite the flood warning. it was a pretty good run until the shoes got soaked and my arms/hands started to freeze. the latter freaked me out a good bit. this reminded me it's not so bad to run in the rain. i like it on my face. i got totally splashed by a car but by then i was already soaked so it didn't matter. what matters is that it was an ugly beige minivan. glad i wore my old shoes because it was a mess out there.

• run: 4 mi
• time: 40 min
• temp: 32
• road conditions: foggy, a little slippery
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: elliott smith - last call, death cab - transatlanticism, elvis costello - you bowed down, radiohead - fake plastic trees
• comments: minimal motivation today. i really didn't feel like running. the temp was good, the snow was pretty, it wasn't too slushy, but my heart was elsewhere. overcoming apathy and sloth is not going to be easy.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min
• temp: 18
• road conditions: little slippery
• aches/pains: groin at the end
• what i listened to when i ran: a genius mix of alt. singer/songwriters. lots of elliott smith and ben folds. i thought something was wrong but enjoyed it nonetheless.
• comments: i took a mid winter break. sat home in the evenings all week, watched movies, enjoyed being lazy. took it easy on the run today and it felt really good to get back to it. it was only a 5 day break, but it seemed to really help my attitude. trying to enjoy the run rather than see it as a chore, a means to get faster. i think i got a little greedy when i placed the last 2 races. time to back off and enjoy. i'm starting to look forward to a nice evening run this week. it's not going to be dark in the evenings for much longer. as much as i hate that headlamp, i do enjoy the peacefulness of running after dark.

• run: 5 mi
• temp: 21
• time: 50 min
• road conditions: perfect
• aches/pains: chest pain, not on the heart side
• what i listened to when i ran: queen - killer queen, ben folds - effington, miniature tigers - annie oakley, nin - happiness in slavery, hotel lights - dream state flying, the rembrandts - what will it take, bf5 - video, teenage fanclub - i gotta know, teenage fanclub - radio, radiohead - karma police, billy joel - movin' out, tori amos - silent all these years, miniature tigers - hot venom, depeche mode - any second now
• comments: dressed perfectly in tank with fleece, hat and mittens. passed a bunch of 20-something girls who ignored me when i said hi. i think that may have dampered my enthusiasm, but it's hard to tell. made myself do 5 miles vs. 4. it was a mental effort for sure. requested "in rainbows" at the library. i keep hearing good things about the new radiohead but i never got on board with the last album. i figure it's worth another try as it's hailed as genius.

• run: 5 mi (then .7 mi)
• time: 55 min
• temp: 26
• road conditions: sunny and windy
• aches/pains: chest pain going up the hill on 7th
• what i listened to when i ran: elliott smith - waltz #1, spoon - the underdog, ben folds - saskia hamilton, kings of leon - sex on fire, saturday looks good to me - untitiled, ben folds - free coffee final, jackson browne - the pretender, josh ritter -golden age of radio, belle and sebastian - step into my office baby, tears for fears - everybody wants to rule the world, metallica - for whom the bell tolls, teenage fanclub - what you do to me, chuck arrington - i'm gonna praise you, nin - wish
• comments: felt a gust of wind going up the hill, like it was pushing me, just when i needed it. that was pretty awesome. i still struggle with not wanting to keep going, to turn around. i'm always glad when i finish. not identifying with "wish" should be enough to keep me going. the boy wanted to come out for a run with me when i got home. he was all ready. he put on his sweatjacket, hat, and lighter gloves and we went around the block. he actually wanted to keep going, so we ended up at 1.3k. he wants to enter the 1k kids race and i'm convinced he can do it. my heart feels so full right now. i can't wait to run with him tomorrow!

• run : 5 mi
• time: ?, but pace was 9:41
• temp: 46
• road conditions: wet
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend. i hope her physical therapy appointment goes well. it hurts to think she's in pain from running
• comments: felt like we were running way too fast, but it was good. sweated like a pig. i'm getting a glimpse of what it will be like to run this summer and i can say i think i like the winter running a little better. people were coming out of the woodwork today. my family walked downtown while i was out for a run and said they almost got mowed down by a group of runners. socially awkward self-important people really don't know what to do with a man, his 2 little kids, and their large dog. i'm still trying to figure it out myself and i live with them. got to run in my new colorado socks - felt really good!

• run: 5mi
• time: 55 min
• temp: 33
• road conditions: wet and a little slushy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: stone roses - "i wanna be adored, the new pornographers "twin cinemas" and "sing me spanish techno".
• comments: took my new ring out for a run! because my mittens flip back, i got to look at it several times. i knew i wanted to get out early before it got too slushy and i'm glad. i saw lots of people out there with shorts on this afternoon. this was a nice run. i took it easy for the most part because i just wanted to enjoy it and focus on avoiding puddles.

• run: 3.1 mi
• time: 27.36
• temp: 24
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: started with "sing me spanish techno" and it led to a pretty good mix.
• comments: i placed 3rd in my age group! nice mug filled with gummy bears. even though i was alone, i stayed to get my prize. i think i said "holy shit" when i saw my placement on the kiosk. it was so exciting. the race itself was okay. i really wanted it to be done and overwith. i saw the first mile marker and said to myself "you've got to be kidding me". I was running faster than normal but couldn't just stop to walk. slowed down to catch my breath. seriously thinking about doing some real training so i can get better with my speed. krisin's training plans have gotten me this far, but if i want to do better, i need to do more. but do i want to is the question. always has been. ah, just go out for a 5 mile tomorrow morning to think more about it.

wednesday, february 9

• run: 6 mi
• time: pace was under 9 min/mi
• temp: 14
• road conditions: still snow covered in parts and at ends of streets
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with running buddy. tried to keep up with the faster runners and did for a good long while. hard to chat when running so hard
• comments: neither of us were up for a run, but we didn't stop at 4 and completed the 6 mi route. felt so good when i was done.

• run: 4 mi
• time: 55-60 min
• temp: 25
• road conditions: unpredictable
• aches/pains: chest tight, r ear
• what i listened to when i ran: new pornographers - sing me spanish techno, paul simon - mother and child reunion, elliott smith - for no one, elliott smith - baby britain, george harrison - give me love, belle and sebastian - i didn't see it coming, thompson twins - king for a day, elliott smith - i better be quiet now, paul mccartney and wings - another day, belle and sebastian - lazy line painter jane, bf5 - video, matthew sweet - i almost forgot, arcade fire - cold wind
• comments: tough one. dressed fine with fleece over my tank and wore my yax trax, but i was still having a hard time getting my breath a lot. the thigh high piles of snow at many corners didn't help much. achy and exhausted when i got home. my friend made me tea at church and that made me feel a lot better.

friday, february 4

• run: 3-4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 21
• road conditions: mostly shoveled
• aches/pains: frozen toes, wheezing, pain at the top of my incision
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my friend
• comments: wore my green jacket, tank and new hat. i was really underdressed as the temp dropped almost 10 degrees in a couple of hours. had to head back instead of finishing the full 5 mile route because my toes were frozen and i was audibly wheezing. it was exciting to see her new trail shoes. i was surprised to find i didn't feel the need to immediately buy a new pair for myself.

• run: 2.5
• time: ?
• temp: 19
• road conditons: beginning of a blizzard
• aches/pains: chest is uncomfortably tight
• what i listened to when i ran: the morning benders - waiting for a war, fiona apple - shadowboxer, the pipettes - we are the pipettes, elliott smith - the last hour, elliott smith - single file, ben folds - you don't know me, ben folds - the bitch went nuts, elvis costello and the brodsky quartet - taking my life in your hands
• comments: work was called off tomorrow before the kids school was. felt the need to get out before the blizzard hits in full force. it started snowing as i was getting dressed so i cut it short and ran the old path i used to run a year ago. glad i cut it short as i was struggling to breathe by the time i got home. i think it's just a cold as i've been coughing all day.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min
• temp: 24
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: lots of alterna brit pop. seem to enjoy the guster songs more than anything nowdays.
• comments: tough time. had to stop, blow my nose a lot. the stopping led to walking for a bit, which is not like me. i had a hard time catching my breath during the initial hills and that hasn't been the case for a while. need to get out more than 2x weekly. proof i can't rest on my laurels if i want to keep my current fitness level.

friday, january 28

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50 min
• temp: 26
• road conditions: iffy
• aches/pains: none, but worried about friend's ankle
• what i listened to when i ran: stories about the race last weekend
• comments: good to get out again finally. still struggling with the pre-run anxiety. wore my tank with my green jacket and was perfectly comfortable.

saturday, january 22 2011

• run: 6.2
• time: 1:28
• temp: 9
• road conditions: groomed and ungroomed trails
• aches/pains: r knee for last couple miles, toes turned blue in the shower
• what i listened to when i ran: a lovely mix of bf5, belle and sebastian, and guster, among other things
• comments: amazing race! the snowshoes were bigger than i thought and i had a hard time getting in a good rhythm. the first leg was slow, as there were a lot of people walking because the snow was knee high and we followed each other through the ungroomed parts. seeing my brother and dad cheer me on was amazing. the second leg was hard until i relaxed, knew i was going to finish, and enjoyed the view, the music, and knowing that family would be at the finish line. just thinking about that makes me cry as it was such an unexpected joy. i found my friend when we went into the more crowded room at the lodge and she told me i placed (so had she)! makes all of the hard work, anxiety, doubt, pain, all worthwhile.

• run: 4+ miles
• temp: 25
• time: ?
• aches/pains: none
• road conditions: light dusting of snow
• what i listened to when i ran: chatting with others
• comments: the anxiety that comes before a run is killing me. it takes over and doesn't let up until i'm in mid-run. i don't know why i still don't feel like i can run 6 miles when i've proven it to myself several times that i can and do it comfortably. i'm sure hoping that finishing this snowshoe race gives me the confidence that i can do more than i think i can. i'm setting the bar so low for myself that i'm tripping over it.

• run: 6.3 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 24
• road conditions: icy in patches, didn't wear yax trax
• aches/pains: mental game down
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with runners
• comments: had the stamina to make it through! need to do it again tomorrow night and i'll be as prepared as i can be for the snowshoe race!

• run: 4.83
• time: ?
• temp: 24
• road conditions: fine
• aches/pains: weird pain in r calf that went away
• what i listened to when i ran: new pornographers - twin cinema, ben folds - sentimental guy, ben folds - not the same, belle and sebastian - winter wooskie, elliott smith - between the bars, camera obscura - if looks could kill, sugarcubes - hit, ben folds - all you can eat, ben folds five - underground, guster - barrel of a gun, a flock of seagulls - space age love song, cake - the distance, saturday looks good to me - untitiled, hotel lights - nobody let you down
• comments: either that was the best mix ever or it was a really good run. "no trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine. he's haunted by something he cannot define. bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse assail him, impale him with monster-truck force." sing it to me. sing me home.

• run: 6.13
• time: hour
• temp: 0 to -2
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: r knee better this am
• what i listened to when i ran: radiohead - paranoid android, ben folds - kylie, spoon - the underdog, the new pornographers - high art local news, belle and sebastian - you made me forget my dreams, moby - wait for me, the remembrandts - the deepest end, ben folds - fred jones part 2, pearl jam - black, elliott smith - somebody that i used to know, chuck arrington - forever worship thee, camera obscura - razzle dazzle rose, beatles - here there and everywhere, foo fighters - the pretender, nin - piggy, nin - get down make love
• comments: i about crapped my pants when i saw what the temp was this morning. been used to running in the 20's. i put on the outer shell i bought last year for the first time, wore it with a tank, longsleeve, warmest tights and hat and was great out there. so glad my knee is feeling better. it was nice to take a detour off the old route. i guess i really did need a goal to get myself going again.

• run: 6.39
• time:??
• temp: 20
• road conditions: fair
• aches/pains: noticed my r knee started aching from the start and i'm icing it now.
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy.
• comments: getting lost without setting the garmin leads to a longer route than planned. it's okay. i wanted to run that tonight anyway. i'm exhausted, but good. i'm glad the race is in a week and will be all over, life can return to normal after that. or, should i change it up?

• run: 4.83
• time: 50 min
• temp: 24
• road conditions: light snow
• aches/pains: thighs and r knee at end
• what i listened to when i ran: new pornographers - sing me spanish techno, ben folds - side of the road, rem - you are the everything, queen - somebody to love, elliott smith - no name number 1, rem - orange crush, rem - supernatural superserious, art garfunke - so much in love, the morning benders - loose change, rufus wainwright - danny boy, saturday looks good to me - underwater, night ranger - play rough, josh ritter - folk bloodbath.
• comments: loved the night ranger at the top of the hill. it was delightful to sail down a long hill with "danny boy". went up to brooks and back down. beautiful evening run. i didn't want to go out, but i had to. since i'm running a 10k in a week and a half, i need to get cracking. i've got a plan now, i can stick to it and do it. wore my cute little saucony outfit and it was perfect for the weather. yay!

• run: 5
• temp: 15
• road conditions: fair
• aches/pains: none at time, but feeling achy all over today
• what i listened to when i ran: eddie walker got me up the big hill. good mix.
• comments: had to run without vision correction. my contacts have been bugging me and i couldn't wear my glasses for this. it turned out okay. i could see well enough to not slip on ice and see the walk/don't walk signs. my hubby hugged me when i got home and asked why my shoulders were wet. guess the fleece does a good job with moisture wicking.

• run 5 mi
• time: 55 min
• temp: 10
• road conditions: snow covered sidewalks but sunny
• aches/pains: yaxtrax was strapped to tight on l foot but when loosened it was fine
• what i listened to when i ran: josh ritter - snow is gone, radiohead - no surprises, josh ritter - change of time, guster - long way down, nin - help me i am in hell, elton john - harmony, elliott smith - sweet adeline, fiona apple - shadowboxer, cheap trick - i want you to want me, foo fighters - everlong, josh ritter - kathleen, alice cooper - you and me, ben folds five - last polka, teenage fanclub - when i still have thee
• comments: it took me forever to get dressed and out there. i perked up with the radiohead and told myself i could do it. i've been whiny about running lately. whined about it to a co-worker who's injured and felt like an ass about it. i either have to suck it up or give it up. glad i did it.

wednesday, january 5

• run: 5. something
• time: 57 via garmin
• temp :22
• road conditions: light layer of snow on the ground
• aches/pains: r groin
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy. we got left behind in the dust by the rest of the running group. i'm not all that fast and she had a twisted ankle that's still swollen. dissapointed by our time and by the not so friendly attitudes of the hard core runners. hey, at least i still menstruate.
• comments: should have gone the 6 miles, but was concerned about my friend. now thinking about a snowshoe race. i'm losing it.

• run: 4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 19
• road conditions: tiny snowflakes
• aches/pains: hips
• what i listened to when i ran: damn iphone won't let me look at history
• comments: promised myself i would let myself order a couple things from the jcrew sale if i got out there. now the site is down. hubby wouldn't grant me permission to not run even though i wanted him too. i've got a slight cold and no motivation. but, i made it out there and went to church.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 45
• temp: 49
• road conditions: dry
• aches/pains: r thigh
• what i listened to when i ran: elliott smith - amity, a night ranger song, some other stuff i can't remember
• comments: wore capris with my green long sleeve - no tank and was fine after the first mile. crazy weather. was really surprised that most of the melted snow had evaporated and my shoes are still clean. it was hard to do again today. it's all mental. i saw that there's a group run tomorrow morning but it's an hour and 20 minutes long. screw that. i'll be lucky to put in 4 before church tomorrow with my motivation and stamina lately.