• 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.