It wasn't until I got home that I actually took a look at my knee. I did a good job - it's not as impressive as the time I scraped up my knee after falling down on the trail, but it's big enough that I'm glad I won't have to wear a short skirt in public for a while.

Despite the injury, the pilates class was good. It was listed as "steel pilates", and described as "pilates using a BOSU, body bar, and weights to tone and strengthen your core." However, I think a better description would have been "a class to kick your ass and make you cry for your momma." Seriously. I couldn't believe how hard some of the exercises were, and I couldn't believe how sore I was the next morning. Furthermore, I couldn't believe how much I felt it while running on Saturday. If you ever doubt how much you use your core muscles while running? Go for a run when they're sore and tired, and you'll be amazed.

However, despite the sore abs and the sore knee, the run on Saturday was good. It was my first run I'd be doing outside at my new super-slow pace, so I was interested to see how it would go. Surprisingly, it was a lot easier to keep my pace down where it needed to be than I expected, but I think all the credit for that goes to my shiny new HRM. Without it beeping at me when my heart rate got too high (over 80% of max), I don't think I would have done as good of a job with my pace. Score one for technology.

After Saturday's 3 glorious miles outside, I opted to do my long run of 6 miles on the treadmill Sunday morning. It was 40 and overcast and raining, and I just wasn't feeling it. However, the run went much better than I expected it to - I don't know if it was because I got a chance to work out the kinks in my stride while running outside or what, but it wasn't anywhere near the death march that last week's indoor runs were. I still would have much preferred to run outside if the weather had cooperated, but it really wasn't bad at all. I had my iPod with me, but I never even took it out. Instead, I watched professional bowling (until they changed the channel and put the basketball game on) and CNN. I also came to the realization that it might be worthwhile to get one of those little armband radios - if I could hear the sound for the TV, I could get totally wrapped up in it. So, after tonight's swim, that's the plan. We'll see how it works out tomorrow morning during my 4-mile run.