I have been MIA for several days. MIA from school, running, and blogging. Wednesday morning, I slogged through my run, but my throat was starting to hurt. What I thought was just disgusting sinus drainage, turned out to be full blown strep throat by Thursday morning. I made it into school to get set up for a sub, but by the time I made it home, I took a shower and passed out in my bed for 5 hours. I felt so ill, I didn't even make it to the clinic until 2:00 p.m. Needless to say, I ended up taking Friday off as well. Total weekday mileage of 12.
By Friday afternoon, I was feeling like a real person again, and decided I would attempt at least a few miles of the trail run I had planned for Saturday. Well, once I hit the trails with great company, all pain was lost and I made the entire 22 miles. That felt AWESOME!
Sunday, I was still not quite myself and decided although I had kind of low mileage for the week, my body needed the extra day off. So my mileage for the week was only 34.
Today is the start of my new/fresh week and I hit the pavement by 4:30 a.m. and pounded out 6 great miles. Only ONE long run to go!!!! CRAZY!!!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Grandma's Marathon Training
It's getting down to the wire in running land, and I am ready to taper...more than ready! Sunday I ran a 16 miler and although it took over an hour of coaxing myself out of the door, the run itself went great. I took Monday off, and today I went out with my hubby and dog for 6 miles.
I told my hubby that my legs felt like bricks, but by about 3 miles in, they felt much better and I could feel myself picking up the pace. What was so nice about our run this morning was that instead of shoving the headphones on and drowning out any outside noise with music (which trust me I usually prefer), we just talked to each other. I didn't really see the hubby yesterday because of work and then he went to a baseball game, so the run gave us a chance to catch up.
I have two weeks left until taper starts. My weekday runs and one of my weekend runs will remain at 6 miles. I have an 18 miler and a 20 miler left for long runs. Praise the Lord, I think I'm going to make it! After that, I will reduce my week day runs for the first week to 5 miles and run a 12 miler on the weekend. The next Saturday will be a 7 miler and only a couple of runs that week before the race.
I am so excited to head up to Duluth for Grandma's marathon weekend. I have not been to Duluth in about seven years, and I haven't been up for Grandma's weekend in about 12 years. The hubby and I will leave the kiddos with his parents, and my parents are coming along. We have these little cabins rented which sit right next to lake Superior. They are nothing fancy, the man on the phone told me, but I told him as long as there was a hot shower and a bed, we would be good! Heck, the cabins even come with little kitchens, so I don't think we will really be roughing it!
Here is a link to the North Shore Cottages where we are staying: http://www.northshorecottages.com/index.html
If I just keep reading running blogs, searching for a great deal on one last pair of shoes, and looking at the race website, I think I can make it!
How do you stay motivated on those last few tough/peak weeks of training?
I told my hubby that my legs felt like bricks, but by about 3 miles in, they felt much better and I could feel myself picking up the pace. What was so nice about our run this morning was that instead of shoving the headphones on and drowning out any outside noise with music (which trust me I usually prefer), we just talked to each other. I didn't really see the hubby yesterday because of work and then he went to a baseball game, so the run gave us a chance to catch up.
I have two weeks left until taper starts. My weekday runs and one of my weekend runs will remain at 6 miles. I have an 18 miler and a 20 miler left for long runs. Praise the Lord, I think I'm going to make it! After that, I will reduce my week day runs for the first week to 5 miles and run a 12 miler on the weekend. The next Saturday will be a 7 miler and only a couple of runs that week before the race.
I am so excited to head up to Duluth for Grandma's marathon weekend. I have not been to Duluth in about seven years, and I haven't been up for Grandma's weekend in about 12 years. The hubby and I will leave the kiddos with his parents, and my parents are coming along. We have these little cabins rented which sit right next to lake Superior. They are nothing fancy, the man on the phone told me, but I told him as long as there was a hot shower and a bed, we would be good! Heck, the cabins even come with little kitchens, so I don't think we will really be roughing it!
Here is a link to the North Shore Cottages where we are staying: http://www.northshorecottages.com/index.html
If I just keep reading running blogs, searching for a great deal on one last pair of shoes, and looking at the race website, I think I can make it!
How do you stay motivated on those last few tough/peak weeks of training?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Education Evolution
Education is powerful, especially when we actually let our students learn. Here is a cause to stand up for:
Watch the video, follow their blog, make their cause go viral!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Maxed Out
Lack of posting again due to stress-induced neurosis. The last couple of weeks have been a build up of emotional/physical stress that I think finally broke yesterday morning when I woke up to run. I had a 20 miler on Sunday and it felt great. I took Monday off from running, and even though I physically feel alright as in no muscle soreness or fatigue, I feel like a lump.
Yesterday, I woke up for my 4:30 a.m. 6 miler and decided that it wasn't happening. I had a tight chest and lots of crap in my throat/nose. In fact, I was so "lumpish" (yes that's my new adjective for my mood) that I decided I needed a day off from work. I ended up getting the 6 miles in (you would have thought my dog had never been outside before-that's how excited she was), but my groin was tight the whole way and overall I just wanted to get through it.
As I sit and ponder why my mood is so off, I've realized it comes down to two things: running and work. According to about.com (http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/overtraining/a/aa062499a.htm), over training can lead to irritability (check), lowered immunity (check), down feelings (check), constant tiredness (check) and a slew of other symptoms, most of which I am suffering.
Work is also a cause for stress as we are approaching the end of the school year and everyone is getting on edge. Testing is over and the kids think we are done. The weather is nice and not only the students, but teachers as well, would rather be outside. Throw in a few feelings of betrayal, lack of being appreciated, and probably pity, and you can see that this stress along with overtraining has pushed me to be as my title states, maxed out. Burnt out. Stressed out. Done.
Today I woke up and shut my alarm clock off. I did not run. I feel guilt being in the middle of marathon training but I think I need a few days off. I will take tomorrow and Friday off as well before a couple of runs over the weekend. Maybe it will help with my feeling of BLAH.
So, enough of my pity party.
I read another book last week entitled, Alex Van Helsing - Vampire Rising. It was not really my favorite, but was on the Texas Lone Star list and I am using it in my book clubs at school. The kids are liking it for a couple of reasons such as it is a shorter book, includes vampires, and the protagonist is a boy. I will give the book credit for being a great introduction to the stories of Dracula and Mary Shelley's, Frankenstein which many will be asked to read in highschool.
I'm trying to stay positive and think ahead to summer reading, so I printed off teenread.com's list of must read books (http://www.teenreads.com/features/ultimate-reading-list.asp). I have the list printed and will go through and highlight which ones I think I should add to my library at school.
Yesterday, I woke up for my 4:30 a.m. 6 miler and decided that it wasn't happening. I had a tight chest and lots of crap in my throat/nose. In fact, I was so "lumpish" (yes that's my new adjective for my mood) that I decided I needed a day off from work. I ended up getting the 6 miles in (you would have thought my dog had never been outside before-that's how excited she was), but my groin was tight the whole way and overall I just wanted to get through it.
As I sit and ponder why my mood is so off, I've realized it comes down to two things: running and work. According to about.com (http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/overtraining/a/aa062499a.htm), over training can lead to irritability (check), lowered immunity (check), down feelings (check), constant tiredness (check) and a slew of other symptoms, most of which I am suffering.
Work is also a cause for stress as we are approaching the end of the school year and everyone is getting on edge. Testing is over and the kids think we are done. The weather is nice and not only the students, but teachers as well, would rather be outside. Throw in a few feelings of betrayal, lack of being appreciated, and probably pity, and you can see that this stress along with overtraining has pushed me to be as my title states, maxed out. Burnt out. Stressed out. Done.
Today I woke up and shut my alarm clock off. I did not run. I feel guilt being in the middle of marathon training but I think I need a few days off. I will take tomorrow and Friday off as well before a couple of runs over the weekend. Maybe it will help with my feeling of BLAH.
So, enough of my pity party.
I read another book last week entitled, Alex Van Helsing - Vampire Rising. It was not really my favorite, but was on the Texas Lone Star list and I am using it in my book clubs at school. The kids are liking it for a couple of reasons such as it is a shorter book, includes vampires, and the protagonist is a boy. I will give the book credit for being a great introduction to the stories of Dracula and Mary Shelley's, Frankenstein which many will be asked to read in highschool.
I'm trying to stay positive and think ahead to summer reading, so I printed off teenread.com's list of must read books (http://www.teenreads.com/features/ultimate-reading-list.asp). I have the list printed and will go through and highlight which ones I think I should add to my library at school.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Move Over Edward!
Yep, somewhere in all of the craziness of the Girard familiy's life, I have managed to read a couple more books.
While reading The Book Whisperer, I came across another title that Donalyn recommends called Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It by Kelly Gallagher. WOW! Another one of those teaching MUST READs! I have become passionate about free reading or SSR (silent, sustained reading) and my class is centered around it. All of the concepts we must teach as language arts teachers can be taught through our student's own choices of novels - a concept Donalyn Miller taught me. The book Readicide focuses more on how all of our standardized testing is KILLING reading. Who wants to read when every chapter is broken down into various tasks that have to be completed with it or questions to answer afterwards? What I found especially sad/frustrating/maddening was that the low students who NEED to just read are the ones that are put in remedial classes where all you do are test prep passages when really, they need exposure to books - lots and lots of books! A great read with helpful tips and suggestions on how to bring in nonfiction to our students as well.
And now for my post's title...Hush Hush. There's a new bad boy book boyfriend in town and his name is Patch. Sorry Edward, but we are through; I am over you and Bella. It had to end my beautiful vampire, and now my heart belongs to Nora and Patch. This was no short read, clocking in at 400+ pages, but I couldn't put it down - like, ignored my family for the night to finish it! I was a little sceptic at first since the book really resembled Twilight in the beginning...nice girl who isn't popular meets a handsome badboy in science class. Nice girl drives an old crappy car. BUT, the plot and characters were quite different once you get into it. Patch happens to be a fallen angel whose wings were ripped out. It was too mature for my middle school kids (well, I would secretly give it to an 8th grader as the only sex discussed was during their science class reprodution unit), but I'm hooked. I had to immediately go out and buy Crescendo.
I am reading Matched by Ally Condie right now, but as soon as I finish, Patch, Nora, and I have a date!
While reading The Book Whisperer, I came across another title that Donalyn recommends called Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It by Kelly Gallagher. WOW! Another one of those teaching MUST READs! I have become passionate about free reading or SSR (silent, sustained reading) and my class is centered around it. All of the concepts we must teach as language arts teachers can be taught through our student's own choices of novels - a concept Donalyn Miller taught me. The book Readicide focuses more on how all of our standardized testing is KILLING reading. Who wants to read when every chapter is broken down into various tasks that have to be completed with it or questions to answer afterwards? What I found especially sad/frustrating/maddening was that the low students who NEED to just read are the ones that are put in remedial classes where all you do are test prep passages when really, they need exposure to books - lots and lots of books! A great read with helpful tips and suggestions on how to bring in nonfiction to our students as well.
And now for my post's title...Hush Hush. There's a new bad boy book boyfriend in town and his name is Patch. Sorry Edward, but we are through; I am over you and Bella. It had to end my beautiful vampire, and now my heart belongs to Nora and Patch. This was no short read, clocking in at 400+ pages, but I couldn't put it down - like, ignored my family for the night to finish it! I was a little sceptic at first since the book really resembled Twilight in the beginning...nice girl who isn't popular meets a handsome badboy in science class. Nice girl drives an old crappy car. BUT, the plot and characters were quite different once you get into it. Patch happens to be a fallen angel whose wings were ripped out. It was too mature for my middle school kids (well, I would secretly give it to an 8th grader as the only sex discussed was during their science class reprodution unit), but I'm hooked. I had to immediately go out and buy Crescendo.
I am reading Matched by Ally Condie right now, but as soon as I finish, Patch, Nora, and I have a date!
Pictures of the Birthday Boy
For some reason when I created the last post, pictures would not upload. So, I am trying again!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
One Weekend, Two Birthdays = EPIC!
In an attempt to save money as well as lose sanity, the hubby and I decided to let our oldest have a sleep over for his birthday. Because I really didn't want to spend my entire Friday night trapped in the house with four nine year old boys, we took them to the movie. I guess that was not very economic, but I wanted to save a small portion of my sanity and well-being for Saturday, as I explained in the last post what that was all going to entail.
I have to admit, it all went rather smoothly; the movie was fabulous, and the boys were as well behaved as could be expected in a rather small house. They were sleeping by midnight which is about 4 hours past all of our bedtimes, but luckily, Saturday bestowed upon us a surprise opportunity to nap...we took it!
Saturday night after the two and a half hour nap, we dressed in our best 80s duds, put the kiddos to bed, and headed a couple of houses over to the neighbors to celebrate a 30th birthday. Did you realize that at one point, chest hair was in? Well, apparently the 80s held all kinds of surprises besides ratted hair, lacey, fingerless gloves, and men in eyeliner. We rocked the night away courtesy Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, and the rest of those legendary music makers. Unfortunately, 20 and 30 somethings rocking the night away equals one hard morning when the kids are fighting by 8 and we have church friends coming at noon (luckily the church friends had been at the party with us and we were all in the same boat).
I still ended up getting in my 13 mile run, although I am guessing the exhausted and dead feeling legs had something to do with trying to break dance on floor... Now, here it is Sunday night, and finally I have a small chance to breathe before we go to bed and start the week all over again. Luckily it's a short week and I have my parent's Easter visit to look forward to. Haven't seen the rents since Christmas, and now that they are not being snow trapped, they will arrive on Friday to enjoy the Texas spring with us.
I have to admit, it all went rather smoothly; the movie was fabulous, and the boys were as well behaved as could be expected in a rather small house. They were sleeping by midnight which is about 4 hours past all of our bedtimes, but luckily, Saturday bestowed upon us a surprise opportunity to nap...we took it!
Saturday night after the two and a half hour nap, we dressed in our best 80s duds, put the kiddos to bed, and headed a couple of houses over to the neighbors to celebrate a 30th birthday. Did you realize that at one point, chest hair was in? Well, apparently the 80s held all kinds of surprises besides ratted hair, lacey, fingerless gloves, and men in eyeliner. We rocked the night away courtesy Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, and the rest of those legendary music makers. Unfortunately, 20 and 30 somethings rocking the night away equals one hard morning when the kids are fighting by 8 and we have church friends coming at noon (luckily the church friends had been at the party with us and we were all in the same boat).
I still ended up getting in my 13 mile run, although I am guessing the exhausted and dead feeling legs had something to do with trying to break dance on floor... Now, here it is Sunday night, and finally I have a small chance to breathe before we go to bed and start the week all over again. Luckily it's a short week and I have my parent's Easter visit to look forward to. Haven't seen the rents since Christmas, and now that they are not being snow trapped, they will arrive on Friday to enjoy the Texas spring with us.
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