Day 7-

I was going to shred the book "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami via my own personal book review, but I am exhausted tonight. It was a busy weekend, and I really need a fresh mind to do that one right.

My exhaustion can be attributed to many factors, but the best one by far is that my friend was here visiting, primarily checking out Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, but also visiting me. And she's pretty draining. Other factors include: a walking tour of Boston in the rain, a trip to Ikea, getting a (p/t) job, the most delicious boston cream donut I have ever had in my life, and a great church service. And waddling through most of it, resulting from Friday's extremely squat-intensive workouts that rendered me so sore that my grandma offered me her walker. Seriously.

oh yeah, and my first long run!!! This one was exciting because it has been raining all weekend. Down pouring. And besides snow, rain is my favorite weather condition for running because it makes me feel, in the words of Kathryn Waller, like a badasss$$$! You only see really hardcore people running out in the rain, and even though I'm not one of them, it makes me feel like I could join their ranks, and that is enough. I mean, that is until I run through some low-hanging tree branches that just happen to have thorns that catch on my ponytail, yanking me back and keeping me stuck for a good minute while I hunch over, but still jog in place (if I stop during training I will NEVER make it in the race!) trying to get free. I only wish that one of the honking cars had stopped to ask if I needed help, because the would have made the moment truly inspiring.
anyway, I haven't run anything over 6 miles straight since...May. That's a long time ago, so I am really pleased and very encouraged. I even managed to stay on pace!

Speaking of all things badass, my older sister has agreed to run a Turkey Trot 5k with me on Thanksgiving Day. That's kind of a big deal because she HATES running. Well, you just go, Jessica. And those nine weeks of intensive training will seem like a small price to pay for the sweet new running outfit you get to buy yourself for the race : )

Day Four- and free ice cream at Cold Stone!

So it's already day four of marathon training. I don't know how this week has gone by so fast, but it has. And it's been good as far as running has gone.

One of the things I have enjoyed the most is the feeling of hurting muscles. Not like, injury hurt, but good work-out hurt. It's a great feeling, and I think it is because the pain is a sign that I am pushing myself. I have not done that in a long time. One time last year in Charlottesville, I was running a few miles and I realized halfway through that I wasn't even breathing hard. It's like my body is so used to it that I can do so without actually trying that hard, and that is not a good thing. I'm not good at pushing myself physically, so this goal that I have set for myself is a good thing. Yesterday's run was a "tempo run," which means that I have a mile for warm-up and cool-down at a comfortable pace, then all the miles in between are faster and gradually increase in speed over the course of training. I have a love-hate relationship with tempo runs, because the only way to survive long runs is not to think about it while you're doing it, but the only way to run fast is to be completely conscious of how fast your legs are moving and if in fact you are moving them to your full potential. (And by "you," I really meant "I"). So anyways, I survived, and then I got home and stretched, and then I couldn't move. My butt hurt for the rest of the day, and I love that. I'm looking forward to the complete exhaustion I will feel, especially after super-super long runs, because after all that work I deserve to lay around in my pajamas all day : )

Anyway, just in case you did not know,Cold Stone is having the World's Biggest Ice Cream Social tonight and they will be giving out free ice cream, so go if you can! I know it's not exactly in my diet (oh, when I get to a sugar-withdrawl breaking point, there will most likely be a whole post dedicated to this), but its benefiting the Make A Wish foundation, and who am I to disregard an opportunity to be generous?

Have a wonderful day!

Get Pumped!

Training officially starts tomorrow. Today, I am preparing for tomorrow by celebrating Kathryn Waller's birthday in a most appropriate way- Macaroni & Cheese and Ice cream. Obvi.