Tax-free at Run On

Hey Texas runners! If you're heading out to take advantage of tax-free weekend and want new running gear, check out the deals at places like Run On. Their discounts include:

• Buy one pair of shoes, get 15% off all additional pairs (discount applied to highest priced shoe).
• Buy $50 worth of apparel, get 15% off all additional apparel.

Not to mention no tax on all items under $100, including shoes, socks, caps and apparel. Not too shabby!

*And thanks, Dano, for suggesting to add Sister Hazel (playing now) to my iPod. I forgot how much I enjoy them! :)

Here I Go Again

I didn't exactly leap out of bed when the alarm went off this morning. By the time I did get up, the sun was beaming through the windows and my stomach was growling for some breakfast. After downing a granola bar, checking e-mail and working on a few slides for my presentation at work, it was already 10:30. No excuses, I told myself.

I changed into running clothes and dug through the sock drawer in vain trying to find two that matched. No excuses. Wearing one pink sock and one blue sock, I rummaged around looking for my watch. I couldn't leave without my watch. I had only 30 minutes to spare in my hectic schedule. No excuses.

I gave up and strapped on my iPod. Only it was dead. How can I run without my tunes? I ran up the stairs and tried to find my old one, only it was dead too. Seriously, no music? No excuses.

With no music, no watch and mismatched socks, I finally headed out the door. It was super hot already, but it felt good to feel the sweat beading up on my skin. And to feel my legs fall back into an old habit. I put in just over a mile ... slow, but still a mile. With no excuses.

*Thanks to Running Around Acres for suggesting the awesome Whitesnake song playing now -- will be adding it to my iPod tonight!

Wanted: New Running Playlist

I'm chewing on your wonderful race suggestions and will figure it out eventually. As many of you have said, I just need to get back out there. So out there I will go. My goal next week is to put in a short run Monday, Wednesday and Friday -- I'm thinking a mile or so. Baby steps, people!

So over the weekend, I need to wash my running clothes, dust off the sneaks and update my iPod running playlist. I desperately need some new tunes to help spice things up -- and I'd like your help building my playlist!

What do you listen to when running? What tunes pump you up? What song will be the key to all of my running successes ... er, or at least get me out of bed in the morning? :)