The streets of my hometown in the suburbs of Washington DC aren't marked with street names but with the names of the families who live on them, who have watched me grow up here. When my mother was explaining to me her three-mile route through town, she didn't use one single street name. It was all, go by the Smiths', turn the corner there by the Jones' house, you know, then down past the Greens' and up the hill, etc., etc. I don't think I even know the names of the streets. No one is up early enough to see me running, but I think about them as I use their houses as the signposts on my journey.

When I started running in September I took my music with me on my weekday runs by myself, but I just go without it now. I thought I would be bored, but I'm not. I just listen to my breath and my thoughts, and for now, the chorus of crickets.

This morning on my group run we did eight miles! It was stunning, perfect autumn, with an unassuming last-quarter moon high in the cloudless sky. We went from our starting point by the Waterfront-SEU metro station all the way to the Kennedy Center and back. Running up by the Kennedy Center we had great views of the river, where people were kayaking, and Rosslyn, and the National Cathedral, and the new Air Force Memorial, which was dedicated this morning. It was a great run and I am really enjoying myself.

A BIG THANK YOU to all the people who have donated so far! My fundraising total is now $495. My goal is $2,700 by November 1, so if you haven't donated yet, do it now by clicking on the "Donate Now" link at the top of the page. Thanks for all of your encouragement and support!