Running away the stress

It's been a week.  Work has been as stressful as usual, but feels more stressful since I had to take a break from the workouts.  Today, after a particularly stressful meeting, I decided to begin workouts again.  The back is better, but I need to be careful.

Shoulder cramps began around 8 minutes into the run, spreading to the neck at around 12 minutes, but I didn't stop throughout the complete run - the route was based on the lights - if it was green, I went that way, rather than stop for traffic.

Funny, I shaved 20 seconds off my pace that way - wow, I feel so much improvement..... I'm still in the uber-11-minute mile..... I'll be impressed at a 10-and-something-minute mile.... got about 30 more seconds to shave off the pace before writing home.... maybe if I workout more often, I'd have a chance.....

On the bright side, it was a good week to take a break, since we had pouring rain most of the time, especially over the weekend, and I basically rested with a heat pad on my back.  Good timing for the pain, I guess...

I plan on swimming tomorrow morning, provided the cramping in my shoulder subsides by bedtime.

Nothing exciting to report otherwise, I'm afraid - mostly just trying to wind down from work.  

Another bonus for the running break - I wasn't tired of my songs in the ipod.  Though I have 264 songs in my Run folder, I haven't made it through the first twenty - keep starting the week anew at the beginning.... think I need to run more to get through more songs.....  There's good incentive....  I have to workout more so I can get through more songs......  maybe that will be my new mantra - or Run farther sing harder......  or A song a block keeps the pace on lock.... 

Probably have to work a bit more on that.....