• run: 7 .12 mi
• time: 1:10
• temp: 36
• road conditions: dry and chilly
• aches/pains: none, really
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - dog, guster- airport song, the babys - every time i think of you, radiohead - fake plastic trees, wham - freedom, ben folds - bitches aint shit
• comments: somehow i was able to convince myself to do 7. looked back to december to figure out what to wear - capris, tank black long sleeve - and it worked well. i hope it doesn't rain tomorrow so i can do the twinkie run.

• run: 3 mi
• time: ?
• temp: 57 and dropping
• road conditions: windy
• aches/pains: l butt/leg r knee, just slightly
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - practical amanda, doc pomus, all you can eat, mull historical society - watching xanadu, buster - beginning of the end
• comments: did not want to go out there. i think i was having flashbacks of last saturday and how miserable i was. put on a long sleeved shirt and my shorts and took the short route. wasn't fast, chose to walk a bit. the rowers were out on the river. i really like songs that have chimes in them.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 55 min
• temp: 54
• road conditions: a little sun
• aches/pains: butt didn't hurt until the end
• what i listened to when i ran: mostly nothing, didn't turn on the ipod until i was almost home
• comments: much better than yesterday! got passed by the u of m men's cross country team and didn't mind a bit. wore a t-shirt and shorts. for the first 5 minutes i wished i had put on a long sleeved shirt, for the last 50 i was glad i didn't. took the new sports bra ($79) out for a test run. thank goodness i like it. i just don't know when i'll be able to cough out that amount for another one. looks like i'll be doing some hand washing in the sink.

• run: 7 mi
• time: 1 hr 10 min
• temp: 52
• road conditions: light rain
• aches/pains: everything, especially elbows, back, legs
• what i listened to when i ran: matthew sweet - smog moon, night ranger - can't find me a thrill, pearl jam - just breathe
• comments: wow that was painful! i wore a t-shirt and shorts. it was really, really cold when the rain got harder. i've been really achy all over the past couple of days, waking up in pain. i took some tylenol around 6am so when i left at 9, i wasn't in pain. now i'm struggling. i forgot to eat before i left and that was not a good move as i ran out of energy, too. i'm still chilled to the bone. but hey, i did 7 miles!

• run: 4.88
• time: ?
• temp: 80
• road conditions: humid
• aches/pains: l hamstring, ball of r foot
• what i listened to when i ran: army/navy - dark as days, ben folds - all you can eat, hir0's song (my new favorite running song), bf5 - narcolepsy, guster - happier
• comments: wasn't hard to get out there even though i knew it was hot. still won't swap out my winter clothes because we'll freeze again soon. tried out my new saucony tank and i like it. i also like having a long ponytail. practice makes it better was my mantra today. still can't imagine running for 2 hours straight. maybe if i think of it as only 2 hours?

• run: 7 miles!
• time: little over an hour
• temp: 47 (but was warmer)
• road conditions: sunny
• aches/pains: my butt, hips near end
• what i listened to when i ran: regina spektor - better and on the radio, ben folds - learn to live with what you are, night ranger - can't find me a thrill, elliott smith - say yes, crowded house - mean to me, ty segall - johnny
• comments: forgot it was st. patricks day until i saw the beer pong tables surrounded by guys (and a few gals) in green shirts with red plastic cups. it was 10 am by the time i got out there. i had confidence that i'd make it a longer run. it felt longer than it was. going up that hill, not seeing any road to turn on, was a little daunting but i knew it would be fun to map when i got home. i screwed up my nike app and wasn't able to track it with my nano, so i gave up and enjoyed the nice day. i feel pretty good about conquering an additional mile.

• run: 4.88 (thought it was less, but nike app says)
• time: 45 min
• temp: 62
• road conditions: beautiful
• aches/pains: l hamstring. not sure if it's really my hamstring. need to ask. neck extremely tight.
• what i listened to when i ran: regina spektor - on the radio, ben folds - learn to live with who you are, nin - head like a hole, nin- happiness in slavery
• comments: can't run on thursday, so i conned myself into the longer route i do after work. now that it's daylight savings time and i'm trying to convince myself to increase my miles, i don't have excuses. the first mile is hard because it's a slight incline. i told myself to not wimp out, i can do it, so just do it and get it done. no regrets. i also told myself that each time i catch myself complaining about my job, i have to donate a dollar to the rabbit rescue. i didn't complain directly about it today out loud, which is progress. i didn't even complain about my planned run this evening. not even once out loud. just do, don't bitch. this is my new mantra :)

• run: 3.1
• time: 26.09
• temp: 35
• road conditions: dry and sunny
• aches/pains: l hamstring
• what i listened to when i ran: jeff beckley - hallelujah, mona - listen to your love
• comments: the kids ran the 1k hand in hand. it was the sweetest thing ever. i missed them crossing the finish line as i was trying to hit the middle of their course to make sure the girl wasn't throwing a fit. the boy took care of her and my husband met them at the finish line. he was thrilled, she seemed a little baffled by the whole event. we found the people handing out ice cream and all was well, but they went home before my race started. it was still a little chilly for them to stand on the course (the temp crept up 30 degrees by 1pm). i wasn't really sure where the start, course, or finish line were. i knew i was overdressed (addidas tights, tank, blue hoodie) but it worked because i was out before the race for quite a while. i was pretty cold when the race started and sweat out buckets by the halfway point. it was exciting to be out racing again! i thought we were close to being done, and then there was a turn, and then a hill, and then...ugh. but what a rush to push through it and keep going. i saw my time on the clock and knew i did well. it wasn't a pr, but it was really good for the course and time out of for injury. it was better than my time for the same race last year. i'm pretty happy with myself. i almost want to sign up for another st. pattys day race next weekend (10k) but maybe i should increase my long run to 7 miles instead. knowing myself, i'll spend the money to race a shorter distance rather than increasing my long run.

• run: 6.2
• time: 58 min
• temp: 25
• road conditions: dry and sunny
• aches/pains: l hamstring
• what i listened to when i ran: beach boys - hang on to your ego
• comments: wasn't into it when i started, but hung in to do 6 miles. i need to increase that and i feel like i can do that. going out during the week made this run much easier. it really is all about practice. i'm sooooooo excited about the race tomorrow! it's been way too long.

• run: 4 mi
• time: 40 min
• temp: 35
• road conditions: windy
• aches/pains: back
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with my running buddy
• comments: i was really glad to see the rain had stopped, the sun was out, and the temperature dropped when we headed out. we did a new, very hilly, route. beautiful neighborhood. it was a lot of fun. i'm so glad i'm a runner. i noticed that i had over 300 entries - that means i've ran more than 300 times in the past couple of years. i'm impressed with myself.

• run: 2.5-3 mi
• time:?
• temp: 59
• road conditions: busy
• aches/pains: l back of leg
• what i listened to when i ran: blondie - atomic, the rembrandts - some song, ben folds - annie waits, komeda - boogie woogie, guster - ruby falls
• comments: long, tough day at work. it was 60 degrees, the sun wasn't down, so i changed as quickly as i could and did a short run before the sun came down. felt very freeing. i didn't use the nike+ to time myself. i did it because i thought it would make me feel better and i could use the miles to condition myself to run further and faster. everyone and their best friend were out there tonight. good for them. good for me. i can run well.

• run: 5 mi
• time: 48 min
• temp: 26
• road conditions: lightly snow dusted, sunny
• aches/pains: back of l thigh
• what i listened to when i ran: ben folds - carrying cathy, practical amanda, claire's ninth, kalamazoo, radiohead - karma police
• comments: that first mile was hard. i cannot see myself running for 2 hours. i can see myself getting really good at the 10k again. i can see myself running a 5k next weekend. last year i placed 6th in my age group. i don't know if i can do that again, but i can have fun and get a t-shirt. my soul aches to race.

• run: 6.16
• time: just under an hour
• temp: 34
• road conditions: light snow/freezing rain
• aches/pains: r elbow
• what i listened to when i ran: bf5 - malice, duran duran - the chauffeur, ? - it's in every one of us, death cab - transatlanticism, elliott smith - bled white
• comments: despite the weather, i decided to try for 6 miles. the route was very familiar but seemed hillier than i remember. i'm trying to imagine myself running for 2 hours straight. one hour seems like more than enough. i think that if i'm able to meet the challenges i set for myself in my runs, i'll be able to meet the challenges facing me at work. it's a nice theory and provides my soul with comfort.

thursday, march 1

• run: 5.3 mi
• time: forgot
• temp: 40
• road conditions: dark and dry
• aches/pains: none
• what i listened to when i ran: chatted with running buddy
• comments: went out and diverted from the route. i promised i'd find our way back and i did. i missed my friend. i was also angry as hell and it felt good to run and talk it out. i came home feeling brighter than i have in a while. i also am thinking seriously about committing to a half this summer and a 10k in a couple of weeks. let's see how the weekend runs go. i wish i had the confidence and will to just register for them and be done, but i need to continue to question my own strength and determination. it's like that line from that cake song - "bowel shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse". it's starting to feel like my own personal motto. i need to find me a new one.