June/July races

So, this race a month thing is getting sort of like a job. I had a really hard time finding a race for June and July. Two reasons are that I have been super busy and June and July are the hottest months ever and not many races are out there.
June's race was the Dash for Dreams 5K at Westside park. A small race, but pretty good except that the 1st leg of the race was on 8th avenue - up the hill! What a crazy first mile. Also, they only had one water station at the one mile mark and I think that they could have done with a second one. (Things I will note for the 5K that I am planning.) Overall, it was fun. They had an auction for some items and I got $20 gift certificate to Ivey's grill for $15. I guess the highlight of the race was that Shelley Meyer ran in it. I don't remember seeing her, but somebody mentioned it like it made the race more official or something.
July's race, ironically, was the Dream Society's Firecracker 5K in Inverness. I happened to be in Orlando on the 2nd and 3rd, so on the way home I stopped in Inverness for the race that started at 6:30PM. It was actually kind of cool. The race course was an out and back on the Withlacoochie Trail, so it was kind of naturey (I may have just made that word up) It also happened to be the same night as the city of Inverness' fireworks display, so there was a bunch of people and they had a little miss firecracker contest and some churches sang patriotic songs. I would have liked to have stayed for the fireworks, but I was by myself and it was a little depressing to be there alone.
My times for both races were around 35 minutes, which doesn't sound good to me, but I just don't know what to do to make myself faster.
Actually, I feel like I am stuck. I love to run, but I don't want to "just run." I'd like to improve myself at the same time. I thought about hiring a running coach, but that might cost too much. I don't know what to do.