I took a few weeks off from doing much running because my illiotibial bands were really bothering me. Then I started running indoors, back on the treadmill, and that seemed to be much better than running on pavement, and I also made sure to stretch more, and then this week I started running along the dirt path in Fort Greene Park. It’s great except for the kid I saw masturbating behind a tree early in the morning the other day.

Today I went around 4 times, which I think is probably somewhere around 3.2 miles—I’m calculating that based on my usual pace of between 10:30 and 10:45 per mile. It was really hot this morning but somehow didn’t seem that bad. I guess I just gave myself over to the heat.

Since I started running in February I’ve lost around 7 pounds. I’ve also started eating better: not as many sweets and carbs, not as much drinking. I’m feeling better than I have in years, both physically and mentally. One definitely has influence over the other.