Monday 19 laps

33:42 minutes, half:half lap run/walk ratio

Well. I'd meant to take a week off while I was visiting my friend in Monterey... but that week kind of turned into six weeks. For one thing, it was really hot here for about three or four weeks after I got home. The temperatures were near 100 F every day, and it never really cooled down. Even early in the morning, it was too hot to run. Plus, I suddenly found myself giving notice at my job, and I just kept thinking about how much easier it was all going to be when I wasn't working any more, so I just put everything on hold until the end of July. Then, when I did stop working, I spent about a week just lazing around enjoying not having to do anything.

But finally, today, I decided it was time to get my butt in gear and start exercising again. I will most likely switch back to my usual Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule after this week, since I'm volunteering at the library on Fridays, but I didn't want to lose the momentum I woke up with this morning, so I went ahead and did my 19 laps around the house.

I'm not sure I will want to do the Las Vegas Half Marathon in December—I'm going to have to cut back on my expenses now that I'm not bringing in that extra money working at the library—but, for now, I'll continue training as if I'm going to be doing it. I've got plenty of time, still, so there's no hurry.

I didn't get outside until 9 am this morning, and it was already getting hot, although nowhere near as hot as it was a few weeks ago. I think I'm going to have to start doing my runs first thing in the morning, after doing morning chores, instead of sitting down to have my cocoa and read journals and email and click dragons and such first. If I get up around 7-ish, I could be out running by 7:30 or 8 am, which should be cooler than 9 am. I'll try to do that next time.

I listened to the Dalai Lama's audiobook this morning. After I finish it, I think I'll listen to Pema Chodron's again. Then I'll have to get another Buddhist audiobook for my morning runs.