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 : )