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!