• 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.