3.5 miles in the sunshine

It hasn't been very sunny since I got to Portland 4 weeks ago, but today was an exception. I did yesterday's run in reverse and felt much better about the splits 8:40, 9, 8:40, although I really have to stop worrying about my time. My allergies still were bugging me, with some pretty heavy weazing towards the end, but I remembered the claritin today and they were better.

I don't know about running with the iPod. It is a distraction when I have to adjust something which I'm running, and the headphones aren't really comfortable. I'm also not sure that it is very safe. I do agree with Melissa that it helps to not listen to yourself breath heavily. And some good songs came on during my last mile which really helped me finish strong. Maybe I'll look into a shuffle, that would be less of a distraction.

That is exactly what I need right now though, more gear. I started running 13 weeks ago and I've bought shoes, 2 x shorts, 3 x shirts,3 x sports socks, Hal Higdon's Marathon, a camelback (used once so far), 2 issues of runners world, and
$130 worth of Chicago Marathon registration. I still need to get a hotel for the event. I thought running was going to be cheap!