I don't have an iPod either-- most of my waking life, there's some kind of background noise, and I like the respite. And I don't get bored, somehow (unless I'm on the treadmill).

Today's run was awesome-- 10k in 1.5 minutes less than my best race time! 56:55!! Maybe it was hitting all the stop lights/ traffic just right, maybe it was *really* needing to go to the bathroom towards the end... hey, whatever works...

So now I'm thinking of revising my goal time for my upcoming first half-marathon (end of March). I was hoping for something from 2:10 to 2:15, but maybe sub-2:05 will be possible... Still, the great thing about the first time racing a distance is you know you'll get a PR if you just finish!