Why is the first part of a run the hardest? I slogged through the first 10 minutes today. I had no get up and go at all. And then the negative thoughts crept it–just general bitchiness about getting up early, the crowd at the lake on the weekends, and disappointment that I haven’t magically…

   I strapped on my new kicks, stopped for my green tea, and headed out all excited that the road repair was complete and I could get back to enjoying my run around Lake Miramar. Greeting me when I pulled in was another “Lake Road Closed” sign. Sigh. Looks like the repaving will be a…

   I was glad to be back to interval training today. Unfortunately the road around the lake was closed, so I ran back and forth along the front. (Me and about 30 other people who were determined to exercise even if the gates were closed.) I started off dragging. I could barely put one foot…

After my Day 2 do-over, I felt more confident for today’s run. It’s the first long one–no walking. The road to the lake is closed for a few days, so I started at the Scripps Ranch Library. Once I reached the lake, the empty parking lot and lack of people made it both eerie and…

  Today was a bust. It was already 80 degrees when I got to the lake this morning. That’s really hot for San Diego. Yet I wasn’t concerned about the run. I assumed it would be exactly like Day 1 this week and I survived that while on vacation. I did the 5-minute warm up…

  I squeezed my run in last night. The lake sparkled in the early evening light and the bright sky cheered me. It felt good to be out in nature. I was all set to enjoy myself and then a few minutes in my left calf tightened and wouldn’t let up. All I could focus…

I kicked ass today. Just so you know, that was not my attitude this morning. I woke dreading this run. Week 4 ups the ante–the total run-time doubles again. Last week the longest stretch of run-time was three minutes. (I know that sounds pathetic to some of you. This is truly a program for beginners…