Iowasteph, I hear you about the competitiveness! Haha!!
I am still sore from my 6.6 mile run Sat (plus the 3 martial arts classes I did that same day!).
I am training with music. I also run with my large dog to deter wackos. My running shorts have pockets so I just stick the iPod in there and the cord doesn't bother me. Most of the races I am aware of ban music. Which worries me somewhat, because one of the reasons I can go so far is that the music keeps me from getting terribly bored.
4.4 miles this morning. The training's ticking over nicely, although I'm not enjoying it as much as I used to, sometimes it's a bit more of a chore to get up, but I'm still doing it which is the important thing!
