• 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.