• run: 5 mil
• time: 50 min
• temp: 24
• road conditions: pretty clear
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: radiohead - paranoid android, pearl jam - just breathe, jackson browne - lawyers in love, star track song, buster - airport song, fanfare - ghosts
• comments: lost my little green shuffle. i charged it yesterday and couldn't find it before i went out. my spirits were low when i headed out, but i kept going, trying to keep my promise of 5 miles. i did. was late to church, but i'm trying not to get into the habit of dropping a mile when i don't "feel" like going so far. i know i can, so that excuse is out. saw the girl who taught my running class run by my house as i was getting home. she saw me walk for a bit after climbing the last hill and i felt kind of wimpy.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 50-55min
• temp: 27
• road conditions: snowy
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: fiona apple - parting gift
• comments: got up and out early today. there was about a half inch of snow on the ground, just enough to make it pretty during daybreak but not enough to worry about slipping. it continued to snow during the run. it still feels fantastic to be back out there.

• run: 5 mil
• time: 50 min
• temp: 19
• road conditions: clear mostly, snow and ice patches
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: night ranger - you can still rock in america, bf5 - last polka, ac newman - miracle drug
• comments: shocked and thrilled to look at the clock when i got home. then i heard my hubby turn on the shower. i was left with little hot water and less time to try to get to church on time. i was going to shorten the run because i'm lazy and i was time pressured, but decided to do the 5 miles. so glad i did. at least i can feel i've accomplished something i wanted to accomplish today :)

• run: 5 mi
• time: 55 min
• temp: 10
• road conditions: snow covered ground, sunny skies
• aches/pains: r hamstring near the end
• what i listened to when i ran: queen - killer queen, guster - barrel of a gun, robert plant - tall cool one
• comments: i made it 5 miles! tough terrain, but it was kind of fun. there's something about running in the winter that makes me feel like a superhero. maybe it's the tights and the form-fitting hoodie, along with the challenge of going uphill when there's a sliding down element. or maybe it's knowing i'm doing something that most people think is insane. i'm just relieved it's still fun right now. the last thing i need is another struggle in my life.

• run: 4.5
• time: 50-55 minutes
• temp: 21
• road conditions: icy patches, sun coming up
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: ac newman - straight time, bf5 - don't change your plans, stone roses - i wanna be adored
• comments: it's all coming back to me now. how to run to avoid the icier spots on the sidewalk, how to go downhill and make sure you don't slip on an icy patch. it takes a lot of concentration and effort. once i found a nice stretch of cleared pavement i sped up and it felt pretty good. i love this weather! i watched the olympic marathon trials for about 15 minutes yesterday. pretty dull.

• run: 4.5
• time: 50 min
• temp: 19
• road conditions: a little less than an inch of snow on the ground, light snow falling
• aches/pains: my ass for the first couple of miles, l knee for last half mile
• what i listened to when i ran: didn't turn on the iPod
• comments: what a ride! for the first time in a long time, or ever, i got lost in the run. the first mile i was enjoying the beauty, but worried about slipping (no yax trax), my toes freezing, getting my breath to get up the hills. the effort required concentration and took my mind off of the burdens of work, which have been soul crushing (to put it mildly). i started to think about how things could be different, and was able to think of a few ideas. i'm so grateful to have some hope. this is much better than curling up in the fetal position and crying. i need to get a new blue nike hoodie because it is awesome in this weather. i put the hoodie up for the first part of the run, when i was cold, but took it down after i warmed up.

• run: 4 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 39
• road conditions: blinding sun
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: lcd sound system: someone great, new pornographers - adventures in solitude, bf5 - philosophy
• comments: i'm coming back! there were so many people out there today. it's just so darn warm and beautiful. i left the tank home and it was a good decision. the nice thing about running in this kind of weather is that you stay cool and don't get so dehydrated without freezing your ass off. as i was rounding the corner to go up the hill to get home, two beautiful boys ran past me. i remembered again why i love running. sigh. i'm pretty sure i can get myself back to my baseline again. it may not be very soon, but it can happen if i'm willing to work for it.

• run: 3.75
• time: ?
• temp: 38
• road conditions: tiny rain sprinkles for a few minutes
• aches/pains: r knee at first, now fine
• what i listened to when i ran: white rabbits - percussion gun, lcd sound system - something great, elliott smith - miss misery
• comments: getting better. enjoying the new route. didn't up my game as i don't want to get injured and i'm lazy. so lazy i wore the same outfit for the 3rd day in a row. it didn't smell that bad, but i will do laundry today. didn't wear the gloves today which was a good call. i miss my running buddy.