Training Post 9 - Why isn't it September 18th yet?

I've just returned from my Sunday run, which this week was 6.8 miles, and took 1 hour, 7 minutes and 54 seconds. It should have been 7.1 miles, if I'd stuck to the pre-planned route, but I wimped out on the home straight and took a shorter route (I was tired! Plus I wasn't in the mood for running up St. George's Terrace, which is probably chocka with pyjama-clad rahs going to Tesco at this time on Sunday). But considering last week I had a 5 minute break in the middle of my run, and this week I didn't, AND I managed to go further, I don't think it went too badly.

Still got MP3 player issues, sadly. This time I managed 4 miles before it stopped working. Maybe it just doesn't like running (a bit like me then...). And I still haven't found my sock-armband; to be fair, I haven't exactly dedicated a lot of time to searching for it. It may turn up, it may not. The MP3 player cutting out is a bit more of an issue though. Not that I can't run without it, it's just that it makes things far more pleasant. Maybe I should get a really cheap, small one which has just enough memory to store a couple of hours worth of music. Any ideas?

Right now I almost wish that the race could be next weekend - not because I'm fully prepared for it, no chance, but because I don't relish the idea of spending the next few Sundays going for runs that get longer and longer. I would quite like it to be over as soon as possible (I gave up on the idea that I enjoy running, or could ever enjoy running, a long time ago).

Cartoon time!