• 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!