Today's run...

... as well as Monday's, took place beneath the stars early this morning. Strength training was included. Just started a fitness camp with other members of my community, and we're all having a love-hate relationship with it. Typically, we hate it until it's over, and then we love the fact we did it, and then we walk around bowlegged like cowboys and hate it again.

You often hear people say that a workout made them painfully aware of muscles they never knew they had. That's silly. I had a very good health teacher in 5th grade and learned all the Latin names of all the muscles. I may not remember all of them, but at one point, I did know that I had them. I am currently painfully aware of their existence.

Fitness camp lasts a month, and although I'll keep running throughout and afterwards I won't be regularly blogging about it anymore, because the only thing more boring than my molasses jogs is reading about them.

Today's run...

...was long overdue.

It was overdue because it had been sixteen days since I'd gone running (last Thursday's attempt being too piddling to mention).

It was also overdue because I finally overcame the Exercise Equipment Phobia that has prevented cold-weather consistency throughout my running career.

That's right: I conquered the running-to-nowhere machine.

I logged only two miles but increased my pace by more than two minutes. And now I'll join the throngs of latecomers who won't stop raving about the bandwagon to those who jumped on it long before. Beyond the practicalities of ensuring a steady pace and keeping track of the time, there are mirrors! accessible bathrooms! security! day-and-night, rain-or-shine availability! the privacy (having my apartment's little weight room to myself) to play music out loud, even sing along! My life will never be the same.

Tune in next week for my enthusiasm over other bright ideas like Facebook (I never dreamed I'd reconnect with so many old friends -- and even see pictures of their babies!), GPS (no more phoning friends for directions for me!), and Google (why, you can find out anything you wish to know! Just type in your query and poke the "Search" button and up pops the Internet!)

Today's run...

...took me past a sign for Tangley Lane. Isn't that a good name for a street? It reminded me of getting my hair brushed as a kid. So did my three-mile jog, actually -- an it-hurts-but-it'll-be-over-soon experience.

The only difference? Instead of a pretty ponytail on the other end of it, I got sore muscles and a sweaty face and the satisfaction of knowing that I didn't give up.

Today's run...

...was preceded by a lovely game of football. Yes, I called it "lovely," because that's how I feel when a crisp autumn day is followed by a tussle with the ol' pigskin. There was one other girl playing, and she runs faster and catches better than I do, but I was definitely the best at yelling and falling down.

I am, in fact, so hardcore that I ran 2.5 miles afterwards.

Then I rewarded myself with a mint brownie from Sharon. It was so good that if Sharon were to write a blog devoted to mint brownies, I would link to it right now.

Today's run...

...was cut short after about 1.2 miles in the rain. My goal for the fall has been to never quit a run without meeting my goal for that day. So today I failed in both goals. Never mind the stitch in my side! But there's always tomorrow. I will not go quietly into the night.

Today's run...

...was a study in mind over matter. Two sluggish miles managed to pass beneath my tennies while I cursed the chili I ate for lunch.

One great motivator: the new-to-me dress I tried on this afternoon that would have looked a lot better on last year's BMI. Oh, and also the knowledge that healthy choices honor my Creator.

One great demotivator: the overweight power-walker in the "Mom" T-shirt, huffing and puffing along in the opposite direction, who kept passing me at roughly the same place on the loop - meaning that my run was about the speed of her walk.

Today's run...

...happened.

That's about all that can be said about my 1.5 mile jog, at no particular pace, this evening. It happened. Still, that's more than can be said of most of my runs this year. Despite a tight schedule on a muggy evening, despite inhaling a bit of gravel, despite a few guys that probably weren't creepy (but I'm awfully creepable), today's run happened.

And if I boast*...er...blog about it, there's a greater chance that it will keep happening.

*Please disregard yesterday's post about all the good things I accomplish being like filthy rags or clanging gongs or whatever.