Guest Post: Amy at Runner, Reader and Rockin' Mom

The stories of other runners have inspired me incredibly this year.  I love hearing stories about how people keep at this running thing.  Today, we have a guest post form Amy at RUNNER, READER, AND ROCKIN' MOM. She tells us all that it takes for her to run.  I know her words will help me keep going.

All You Need to Be a Runner Is…

Some INSPIRATION:  My mother would have never told you that I would be a runner.  In fact, I would have never told you that I would be a runner.  However, I was inspired by those around me.  I guess it all began with my daughter.  One day she told me she wanted to run and she did. I thought I would give it a try and I lasted a whole TEN minutes.  It was tough, but I stuck with it, taking baby steps for a LOOOOOONG time. It wasn't until I ran my first 5k that I considered myself a runner.  My family, my friends, and complete strangers cheering me on inspired me to keep on going.  In turn, I have inspired others to give it a try or keep on going.  Who inspires you?  Who do you inspire?

The MOTIVATION: Running buddies are the best motivators.  They motivate you through the good, the bad, and the ugly. They push you to be your best, they celebrate your accomplishments with you, and they get you through those running trials and tribulations.  There is nothing better than the running community for motivation.  Actually, I think runners might be a part of a secret cult!  Before I was a runner, I would see these magnets on cars that said 26.2 or 13.1 and I had no idea what that even meant.  Now I can't go out without seeing magnets, magnets everywhere or a runner here and a runner there. Oh!  And, don't forget about Twitter!  #runteacherrun motivates me when I am running buddyless!  What motivates you? What do you do to motivate other runners?

A lot of DETERMINATION: I love the saying, "Quitters never win and winners never quit". This is definitely true in the running world.  Yes, there are going to be days when physically your body is tired or even injured!  And, there will be days when mentally you just want to quit and you doubt your abilities. So, you take a break, but you are determined to get right back at it. My hubby always tells me that the mind controls the body; the body doesn't control the mind.   How determined are you? 

Much DEDICATION: Of course I have another saying for you, "Failure to plan is planning to fail!"  Dedicated runners have some kind of plan or goal.  Whether it is a time, a pace, or a specific distance, being dedicated will help you keep on going!  For me, signing up for a race helps me stay a dedicated runner.  I always follow a training plan for a 1/2 or full marathon, but I can pretty much "wing it" for 5k races :)  What kind of plan can you devise to keep you dedicated to running?

An ADMIRATION for other runners:  I truly love to hear running stories of other runners.  How did you begin? How long have you been running?  What kind of pace do you run?  Where do you like to run? I admire anyone who is out there running! As Lebow said,  "It doesn't matter if you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last.  You can say that you finished and there is a lot of satisfaction in that."  What do you admire in other runners?

Well, the laces are tied, the Under Armor is on, the Garmin is ready to go, and the iPod is charged...it's a great day for a run! So, if you are looking for some inspiration, motivation, determination, dedication, and admiration please join Twitter at #runteacherrun.  It's all you need to be a runner!  

Last but not least, I would love to hear your running story.  You can find me on Twitter @RunReadMom, or visit my blog at http://runreadmom.wordpress.com.

Happy Running,

Amy :)

How Do You Measure a Year?

Seasons of Love from RENT is one of the songs on my running playlist. It is one that sits in the early middle of the list when I am not too tired but not totally into the run yet either. It's not a fast song, I know but it is good for me on most days. It reminds me that it isn't easy to measure a year, a life, a journey.  It is a song that grounds me every day that I run.  I was listening to it today and realized that it has been almost exactly a year since I  decided to start my running journey and to start being public about it with this blog.  I thought it was a great time to reflect. How do I measure this year in terms of my goal to become a runner?

No, I still do not consider myself a runner. It is not an identity I have --I consider myself a mom, a teacher, a reader, a wife, a daughter, but not a runner yet.  But I do think to myself that I run.  I am getting closer to considering myself a runner.

As I move into my 2nd year of this goal of becoming a runner. I find myself catching up from 1-2 months of not really running.  Once August hit, I became less committed to my goal and got caught up in work and school and stuff. And then when NCTE time came around, I took more of a break, then got a 2 week sinus infection and then felt crummy. So I went almost 4-5 weeks with no running at all.

And this week, I started again.  I started the C25K program using my iPhone and the first week consisted of running 45 seconds, walking 90 seconds, running 45 seconds, walking 60 seconds.  I decided to just go with the full 8 week program instead of figuring out what else to do. It wasn't too easy but I did add a few 2 minute runs. I figure I'll know in a week or two if this program is the right match and I can revise then.

Last year, I started with a 16 week program. Day one was running 30 seconds, walking 2 minutes for 20 minutes and it was not easy.So, I have definitely made progress.  But I have realized over the year that is about more than the minutes run or the time run. I've learned a lot more.

1-I learned that consistency matters but taking a break doesn't necessarily mean quitting. There are times in life that we are busy and that we can't follow the schedule we've set out. I have been a reader my entire life and there are weeks and months that I can't fit a book in for one reason or another. But I don't consider myself a non-reader during those months and I never worry that I won't get back to reading. I've realized this about fitness. Every other time I've started something and had to take a break due to illness or some life thing, I feel like I've quit. This time, I didn't ever let myself feel that way. I realized that I would just have to work hard after my break to get back to where I was. This is a huge aha for me.

2-People matter. Because of this running thing, I have gotten to know some amazing people.  I am thankful for blogs like 365 Days of Awesome and Another Mother Runner that first let me think, "Hey, I could do this." These blogs helped me realize that running and fitness don't fit neatly into anyone's life. It takes effort and commitment for anyone who runs. There is something so amazing about people willing to put their stories out there for others.  Somehow someone's story helps someone else.

3-And then there are the #runteacherrun peeps who never let me down.  There are so many people who take the time to share their journeys and to be cheerleaders for others on similar journeys.  The online community has been an amazing support and it is fun to talk both running and books with so many great people.

4-Books like Running for Mortals, Run Like A Mother/Train Like a Mother and Sole Sisters were hugely important to me.  I need to read stories of runners often and these books gave me lots of aha moments.

5-I learned a bit about balance. Even though I ended up sick and ended the year with low energy, I spent most of the year feeling better than I have in years. I had more energy and more fun  and I just felt better. I realized (even though I knew it) that I am a better mother, wife, teacher, daughter, sister and friend when I am exercising.  There is always something to do and I am always on a quest to get "caught up".  But this year I realized that 30-60 minutes of exercise 5-6 days a week did not  change the length of my to-do list.

6-My reading life stressed me out a bit this year. I only read 160ish books this year, compared to 300+ in 2011. It took me a while to be okay with that number. Part of the reason for this is that I am in the classroom instead of in the library this year. The other part was that I was a little more active. I'd still like to read a bit more than I did this year but I am happy with the balance I have. I am still amazed at all the people I know who work hard, are great parents, run daily, read 1500 books a year and more. I am not sure how they do it all but I am getting better at balance and that has been a goal for me for a decade or more.

7-Work continues to be my problem.  I love my work and I fall back on working too much often throughout the year. Sometimes I just get energized by the work so I let other things go. Other times I over commit and then have to follow through.  I am working on this and consistent exercise has helped.I think the fact that I had a running goal all year helped. I was working toward something outside of my job--something that had a goal. The goal matters, I think.

8-Even though I don't quite consider myself a runner, I do feel part of the running community. After Hurricane Sandy, when the news was covering the NY Marathon and whether they would hold it or not, I had opinions. I understood the issues around the cancellation and also understood what this meant for the people who I knew who had worked to run this marathon. I was talking to my brother about it one day and he said, "Why do you even care if they cancel it or not?"  I said, "Because these are my friends. I am part of the running community.". We both laughed but I do feel much more part of this community than I ever thought possible.

9-This blog mattered.  I never assumed anyone would read it and I appreciate all of those who do. I can't tell you how important this blog was to my progress. The process of reflecting and tracking my journey was important. I couldn't ignore the progress I was making or the support I was getting along the way. I know writing and goal-setting matters but this mattered a lot throughout the year.  Rereading the year's blog posts helped me to realize how important it was.

10-I learned that sometimes you have to learn things for yourself. None of the things I learned are earthshaking or new.  Lots of people have told me these things over and over. But learning them myself helped me to understand them.  To internalize them. To believe them and to live with that understanding.

So, I go into 2013 with the same goal but with a better understanding of what I am trying to accomplish. I have a support group that I didn't have a year ago and I can look back and see what worked and what didn't. I came to know myself better and I actually now believe I can do this if I really want to.  Again, I am going to commit to 3-4 days of running each week with 2ish days of yoga each week. The yoga is important I think--it helps me with all things I need to run and it gives me the strength and balance work I need. Plus it is a good way to stay balanced and strong.

So, 8 weeks of C25K and some yoga.  I have registered for a Yoga workshop so that I can back up and learn the things I don't really get about yoga.  A basic workshop helping me to understand what it is that I am working toward seems important now. I think it will help me get better and enjoy yoga more.  I also plan to register for a 5K in March.  There is a Pi Day 5K that I think fits right in with the #runteacherrun idea.  What better thing to run for than math education, right? I am thinking I need to do more 5Ks just for fun. The 2 I did were a "big deal" to me and they shouldn't be.  If I can get used to doing more, that might help this year.

2012 started with this Nerdy Book Club post about my desire to be part of the running community.  This past year gave me a better understanding of what it means to be a runner. I've met so many great people who have invited me into this running community. I think what I realized is that the goal to become a runner is not a 1 year goal and it can't be easily measured. Instead, it is a long-term goal and I am ready to begin year 2.

Guest Post by Paul Hankins: The Road Behnd Me...and The One Before Me

I am VERY excited to share this guest post by Paul Hankins, teacher, reader and runner. Not only does he keep us all informed about the best new books and run Raw Ink Online with his students. But his running journey has been a huge inspiration to so many of us! You can follow Paul on Twitter at @paulwhankins. Thanks, Paul, for sharing your story:-)

“The Road Behind Me. . .and The One Before Me”

Franki Sibberson has been wanting me to write a post for #runteacherrun for some time.

And I have been resisting.

Resisting for probably the same reasons that kept me from running (and sometimes from writing) for some time. The truth of the matter is this: there are so many people who have been doing it longer than me. Doing it faster than me. Doing it better than me. What could I possibly have to write that would add to a discussion under the banner, “Run, Teacher, Run?”

And when this kind of thinking is allowed to persist for too long, it can lead to inactivity. Before you (or I) know it, we are dragging ourselves quietly to a local Weight Watchers location on a Monday, during a time when we are sure no one will be there (and sure of this because we have already done the online research to assure that no meeting will be taking place when you finally come in). And, if you are like me, you’ll find that you’ve not only swallowed a wealth of ideas that are not being expressed out in the open, you’re also carrying around weight you don’t need to be carrying around.

So. . .for the express purpose of full-disclosure. . .so that you will know exactly where I am coming from (by way of telling you where I have been). . .I can tell you that on August 27th, 2012, I weighed in at 303 pounds.

Hold it. I want to put that number out to my friends again. I said 303 pounds. Are we clear on this?

I walked out of that local Weight Watchers location with a tangible piece of information, in the form of a small, computer-generated sticker to be placed into a blue folder that told the story I had not been telling. I was overweight. Out of shape. I would go so far as to say that I was, quite possibly, in the very worst shape of my life. I walked out with the shame and the pain that might weigh as much as three hundred and three pounds.

But. . .I also walked out with a plan.

The next day, I would begin running a mile a day. That’s it. I would run it for my students in Room 407. This seemed like an earnest offering. For each day that we were in the classroom, I would go downstairs that evening and I would give them a mile.  

A mile on the treadmill. Downstairs. Nice and private. No one in the subdivision would have to watch me struggle with my mile.

And I struggled.

That first mile on the treadmill left me absolutely gassed. That first mile took me seventeen and a half minutes. I was sweaty and red-faced, but I had put a mile on that treadmill.

And I kept doing this for the rest of the week until that next Monday. Where I went back to Weight Watchers. I was greeted by the same lady that I had already quietly built a trust in just seven days before. I trusted that she did not run out of the building to tell my story before I could (after all, I’m always looking for a good blog post, and I didn’t want this lady to take the story of the big man who came to weigh in talking about running at 303 pounds. . .I mean, admit it. . .this is a ripe material for a blog; I wasn’t going to lose it).

I stepped on the scale. And I was nine pounds lighter. I couldn’t believe it. One week. Nine pounds.

Oh, and I might mention, that those miles on the treadmill became easier during the week as well. I committed to walking uphill on the treadmill up to thirty minutes (with the time remaining after my mile). Some evenings, this meant running for fifteen minutes and then walking uphill in two minute increments until the time reached thirty minutes.

I kept this up for the month of September. I tracked points religiously. I ran my mile every afternoon after school. I purchased a ten pound Reebok training vest to walk in to remind myself of the ten pounds I had lost

And then, October came. . .and the whole family went to Disney World for a week. There would be no treadmill. I might tell you that when we left for Disney World, I had lost just over twenty pounds. I was going to Disney World at two-hundred and eighty pounds.  

And I would run. It would have to be outside. But I would run.

So, I downloaded the Nike App to my i-Phone to track the miles I would run at our Orlando resort. I would get up at five each morning, before the rest of the family was awake, and I would run.

The first morning, I ran a mile. I was still pausing the Nike App now and then as I wasn’t doing what I have come to deem “running miles” yet. But I was excited to post the fact that I was running. And I came to find an online community at Facebook and Twitter that was excited for me and the running I was doing.

Outside. On the road. In the dark. One mile.

And that is how it has been since that first week in October. I still run on the treadmill when the weather or family schedule makes it so I need to get a run in for the day, but for the most part, my runs have been early in the morning, before the break of day.

And I love it.

I remember the morning I put together two miles. And the morning I ran three miles and the Nike App told me that I had just run a 5K. And I remember that the lady at Weight Watchers (who has become a good friend in the past three months) gave me a 5K piece to put on my keyring even though my 5K was not an official run. It felt good that she recognized this personal achievement and I will not forget that she did this as I think about the power of words and informal assessment and praise I might offer to my students when they quietly achieve some personal goal.

By the time I got ready to leave for NCTE/ALAN in Las Vegas in mid-November, I had already logged fifty miles on my Nike App. I was putting together three and four mile runs now and then. I did not make my goal of getting to 250 pounds as I had planned, but I felt better than ever. My rings did not stick on my fingers during security checks at the airport. The belts I had purchased last fall because I needed bigger belts were starting to fail in their task. I felt great.

And while in Las Vegas, I ran seven miles from the MGM GRAND to CIRCUS CIRCUS.

Not once. . .but twice. Once with a partner (Noah, husband of Jennifer Ansbach) on a Sunday morning and on Monday morning before having to leave ALAN to attend the funeral of my neighbor and friend, John Blois.

I came back to s. Indiana with the new truth that I could run seven miles and and not just seven miles, but seven “running miles.”

On Thanksgiving morning, I lined up with over six hundred other runners of various levels of experience and fitness. Not in the dark, but on Thanksgiving morning.

With other runners. Other people who came to run. People like me.

I ran that five miles in just over forty-nine minutes, four minutes faster than the time I had predicted on Facebook to my friends, who were now sending comments on status updates and private messages telling me that they were going to Weight Watchers or that they had started running because of what I was sharing.

I. . .had become a source of motivation to others? Did they not know that some mornings, I still got up thinking about not going outside. About how nice it would be to just stay in bed for another forty-five minutes (which, if we think about it could be at least four miles ((approaching five)) now. . .I have come to think in these kinds of terms now. . .).

I have been encouraged by Franki Sibberson and Sherry Gick and so many other Facebook friends and Twitter followers and those following and using the #runteacherrun hashtag.

And I HAVE been resistant to share any of this with the blog. Because I didn’t think I had anything to share. Well. . .except for this past week:


I ran with local students and teachers in the Miles for Merry Miracles 5K.
I ran my personal best 5K in 28’38’’.
I ran my personal best 7K in 1:10’00”
I ran eight miles on Saturday morning down a beautiful country road.
I am currently in training for a mini marathon at the end of April 2013.

and

I have put 108 miles on that Nike App I downloaded back in October.

If I am encouraging anyone to weigh in. . .to take stock in where they are vs. where they want to be, then I am truly excited about this. I cannot believe that I am encouraging somebody else when I am still self-talking all of the way up the big hills and to that next mile, but I will continue to share so long as it helps one other person.

Because I have found:

that I am a better husband and father when I feel like a better person.
that I am a better teacher when I want to be outside of my room interacting with students.
that I am a better mentor/instructor when I can share my own path with others.
that I am a runner at heart or I wouldn’t be on the road in the morning.
that my program is my program, no one else’s, but I can share it.

And this week. . .I have to share. . .on a line all of its own:

I bought a pair of Yak Trax.

Yes. So I can continue to run on the snow and ice.

And I have found a platform upon and by which I can generate new ways of thinking and new ideas for classroom approaches. The ideas are coming as I spend time each day just plodding along.

Drawing lessons from where I have been to where I am and to where I think I may be going has me thinking about a new idea for. . .something. . .a blog series. . .a workshop piece. . .a book. . .I don’t know just yet. But there are parallels in the path I have been down since August 28th to the end of this first semester of the 2012-2013 school year that I do not want to miss.

And I don’t want you to miss them either.

On my eight mile run, all of my miles were under 10’30”. My fastest mile over the past three months was an 8’32. By way of formative assessment, I would say I am doing pretty well. I have over one hundred miles on this beloved pair of Asics that have run in Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and here in Floyds Knobs, Indiana.

So, I am here at Facebook and Twitter (@paulwhankins). I want to share with you and I would love for you to share with me. I have found the sharing of successes (and those near successes when I have actually gained along the way) has been so important early on in this journey.

So. . .friend. . .how’s it going?

Are you ready to take that first step?

Resistance, I have found, is futile. I can say this from a position of someone who is not open any more to hearing anything that sounds like “I can’t.” CAN’T never took a hill like I saw yesterday morning that went up consistently for a half mile. CAN’T never stepped off of the front porch and said, “I think I will do eight miles this morning.”

But don’t let me try to convince you that CAN’T doesn’t exist. It does. It has a physical matter even.

CAN’T weighs exactly 303 pounds (but measures and results may vary).

Eventually, you will draft a blog post just like this one. I know. Because at one time, I was three hundred and three pounds. I am two hundred and fifty-five as I type this post (hey--it’s not a diet. . .it’s a lifestyle).

Legs want to run. Minds want to teach. Hearts want to share. There are people here who will encourage you. Remind you that your program is your program. Give you some advice on what to do next. But in all things, I have found here, there are people who will continually remind you that you are a teacher. And a runner.

A running teacher.

Run, teacher, run.

Starting Over...Kind of....

Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/5749192621/ by stevendepolo

So, I decided to start back with the C25K App this week. I've been so sporadic with my running over the last 6-8 weeks that when I did run, I didn't have a plan, didn't know what I could/couldn't do, and finished a bit disappointed and/or exhausted.

So, I decided I'd restart a Couch to 5K program. At first, I thought 8 weeks would be too long to stretch it out so I found a 6 week program that had me run/walking about an hour a day.  But when I got to the gym on Monday, it was peak time and I could only sign out a treadmill for 45 minutes. And my iPad with Netflix ready to go, would not fit on the tray on the treadmill that was available. Luckily, I had C25K App already on my computer from other attempts. And my friend CJ had texted earlier that day that she was starting the C25K again that day.  So, I made a quick decision, put my iPad away, pulled up C25K and got started.  I am so glad that I went with this plan instead of the other. It seems a perfect fit for me with where I am runner-wise and where the school year is (parent conferences, etc.).

Yes, I started from scratch again. But not really. Here is what happened:

--A few weeks ago, I was reading one of my running resources -a runner's magazine or something-I don't remember which one.  One of the articles was about coming back to running after some time off.  I was intrigued because I didn't realize there were so many reasons to take time off--injuries, deadlines at work, family obligations, etc. seem to impact all runners. And there are strategies to get back to running. Who knew? It reminded me of the conferences I have with struggling readers who are shocked to know that everyone gets to places in their reading when they don't understand. I really had no idea that real runners had times they didn't run (except for injuries). I figured I was just not cut out to be a runner if i couldn't commit. So that article helped me see that maybe this is just part of being a runner. Sometimes things will get in the way and there are strategies to get back to it.

--The thought of starting from scratch seems silly but here's the thing. Thinking back to January, there was no way I could do C25K. I had to have Tonia create an individual 16-18 week program for me because I was so out of shape.  Now the C25K is easy.

--Because I was too out of shape for the regular C25K program, when I started in January, I had to keep track of time. I had to run 30 seconds, walk 90, etc. Because the app tells me when to run and walk and keeps track of the time for me, it makes a big difference. One less thing to focus on while running. Much more enjoyable.

--I know myself as a runner now and I didn't the first time around.  I know what I need to wear. I know when the best time for me to run is. I know that I feel better after I run. My music is set so that the right songs hit when I need them to. I know how fast to push myself without hating it (thanks to Running for Mortals). I have a community of people who I can count on--some local friends who always cheer me on when they get a text from me announcing my run (thanks guys!) and some Twitter friends who cheer me on from afar every time I tweet out that I ran.  This need to announce my accomplishment is fascinating to me but it seems to work.

--I am learning to "Finish Strong". I realized this week that I never understood that phrase. Finishing was enough for me.  But since this is my second time around, I've learned to pace myself and I have been adding 15ish minutes to the required C25K plan.  Instead of dying out early, I have learned to pace so I can push myself at the end. It took me 10+ months but I understand the phrase now and get why people like to "Finish Strong". A new concept for me, one that I would never have understood had I not started from scratch again.

--I am completing C25K and adding 15 minutes. I am slow, very slow. So what happens is that I get to 30 minutes of straight running and that isn't really close to 3 miles for me like it is for most people. So then the jump is bigger than it is supposed to be. So this time, I am doing C25K but adding 15 minutes so I am going 45 minutes a walk/run session. I am thinking that this way, I'll build the time running but also be building to 45 minutes of straight running.  The other thing it is doing for me is giving me time to see how far I can run at the end of my run. A little less stressful to push myself once the "real" workout is over.

So, here we go with Round 2, kind of. The week was easy and enjoyable actually. I actually kind of enjoyed all 3 of my runs. I am not dreading this week's runs. I actually think starting at the beginning is will be really good for me. I know what to expect. I know myself better. I know strategies for hard weeks and hard days.  I have the right clothes and the right shoes.

This becoming a runner thing is such a process. Not really just about getting to the point where you can run a 5K. A lifestyle change with highs and lows forever I guess. I am starting to understand it better, I hope.

Not So Bad...

So, I have had a pretty sedentary two weeks. And a semi-sedentary two months.  Getting ready for a trip for my Choice Literacy Workshop, finishing up fall assessments, getting ready for parent conferences have pretty much consumed me. I got to the point where I am just okay with taking the time to catch up and keep up at work knowing that once this fall round of work was finished, I could find time for myself again. It's not ideal, and I wish I'd been more disciplined to fit it in, but I didn't. I have been beating myself up over this.  Knowing I can't let this go on much longer but not quite finding the energy to get started again.

This weekend, I ran into an acquaintance who I see once a year. I guess last year when I saw him, I was all about mentally preparing to become a runner. (This means I was telling people I wanted to run and they were listening to me nicely with no expectations that I really would:-)  It was October 2011 and I don't really remember the conversation. But I do remember that somehow me wanting to start running was part of the conversation. This year when we ran into each other, he said, "So, did you ever start running? Last year when we talked, you said you had wanted to and I wondered if you ever did." I hesitated for a minute, because I haven't run in a few weeks and I am always honest (with others and myself about these things.)  But then I realized, he didn't ask me if I ran this week. He didn't ask me if I'd run this month. He asked if I ever started running. And you know what, I did. I could honestly answer yes. I could say, Yes,  I ran consistently for 6-8 months. I could say, I ran two 5Ks. And I could say that when I started, I could only run 30 seconds at a time.

So, looking back at the year since I had this quick conversation about wanting to become a runner, I realized I've made some progress. I am in such a different place, than I was last year at this time--more balanced and more confident about exercise.

So often, I think we beat ourselves up for what we don't do.  We feel guilty for the weeks we don't get exercise in. But yesterday's conversation helped me to realize that I don't really have a reason to beat myself up. I did commit to running. I met lots of goals and in a busy time getting back into the role of a classroom teacher, I haven't run so much. But the hard work has been done and I know I haven't quit.

So, it was a pretty good moment. I was shocked myself that I could  actually say, YES! I HAVE STARTED RUNNING!"  I accomplished more than I realize in the year since I was talking to anyone I could about the fact that I wanted to run. The conversation was a good boost to get me back to some kind of routine this week.

My Weekly Questions

Did I exercise 3-6 days this week?
Nope. I didn't exercise once. Hmmm.

Did I do really good work?
I feel like I did okay work. Not my best week in the classroom but lots of good stuff.

Did I have fun? Did I do some things for myself?
I finished Gathering Blue, got together with friends on Wednesday, went out with family on Friday and Saturday.  So yes.

Did I get some non-working things accomplished?
I baked a few cookies for the family events.  I did a few loads of laundry.

Was I organized for the week?
I was organized for teaching but was scrambling every day for what to wear, what to take to lunch, etc.

Did I spend time with my family.
Yes:-)

Did I have energy? Did I have enough down time to remain positive?
This is my biggest no. My energy was low all week and I could tell from my attitude. I am feeling the impact of not enough exercise.   These things all fall into place better when I make time to eat a little better and to exercise a little more.

I have talked to so many teachers who are struggling with healthy living and balance during the last few weeks.  But there are many others who are managing balance a bit better.  I am inspired by those who are sharing their successes during this crazy time of year.

Hope next week is a little better when it comes to answering these questions!

Here We Go Again....

My coffee table on Friday night as I worked on school stuff.

If you have visited my house in the last several weeks, you have seen the piles of papers pretty much everywhere.  (I did manage to hide them for my daughter's birthday party last weekend...). For the first four weeks of school, I have been dragging a teacher wheely-cart back and forth to school. So much to do in terms of Fall Assessments, planning, getting things organized, etc.  Coming back to the classroom after being in the library for 4 years, sometimes it feels like I am starting from scratch.  So I feel like I have been working 24/7.  So this week, I didn't exercise once. I couldn't stand the piles or my TO DO list anymore so I worked nonstop in the evenings and all day Saturday to get things finished and put away.  I needed to get a handle on where kids were and on the units that are coming up. I needed to find books that would match what I was teaching. I needed to think about the routines that were in place and where to go next. I needed to get to the big picture of the year.  So I did  that.

The good news is that the tables in my house are clean. The papers are filed away at school. I still have lots to do but I feel like it is manageable if I do a bit every day.  And I feel like I can move forward.

The bad news is that it is time to get back into a routine again. And I know how un-fun it is when I've been not so good for a bit. I know the next few weeks are going to be hard.

I am signed up for 2 yoga classes at Harbor Yoga. I am also looking at some classes at our Rec Center. I know I need cardio but I also need to be consistent with the strength training.  I need to go back to where I was in the winter--5 days of exercise consistently.  3 cardio and 2-3 strength.

So the next two weeks are about being tough--just doing it even though I am really nervous about it. I am nervous about how hard it is going to be but I am mostly nervous about how tired I will be and how I will get everything else done in my life that needs to get done.  I am nervous about not being at my best for a few weeks until my body gets used to this again.

I have talked to so many teachers who have been inconsistent with their exercise in September. Maybe there is no way around it.  Maybe it is just how things are and we need to know that we pick back up in October. But I don't think so. Because I know other teachers who are somehow training for an October marathon and some who ran races this weekend.  I just haven't figured out how to do it all.

So, here we go again. It feels like I am starting from scratch. Again.

Revisiting My Questions--Did I have a balanced week?

So, I have a bad cold. I look like a toddler with a runny nose.  I feel yucky. Not terrible, just yucky.  This is typical for the beginning of the school year. I have been working hard, as we all have.  So much that needs to be done. I can't seem to let much of it go. I keep telling myself; Another week and then I can rest. Well, the cold is my first bit a proof that the idea of resting later isn't really a great idea. Time to get a little balance and slow down. For everyone's sake.  I realized this week that my kids learn more when I slow down ( I have learned this before but I seem to forget it every fall!)  The same goes for me.

In August, I posted these questions as a way to check in with myself about how I was doing in terms of balance:

Did I exercise 3-6 days per week? (ideally 3 days of running and 3 days of something else.)

Did I do really good work?

Did I have fun? Did I do some things for myself (read a good book, spend time with friends, etc.)

Did I get some non-work things accomplished (laundry, cook dinners, etc.)

Was I organized for the  week?

Did I spend time with my family?

Do I have energy? Did I have enough down time to remain positive?

And here are my answers:

-I did exercise 3-6 days per week. Not 6, but 4. I ran 3 times and walked once. My running was hard and I almost cried on the treadmill because I feel like I have really gone backwards.  I have gained a few pounds back and can't get back into the groove. But I did it. And I signed up for Monday night yoga so the week should get off to a good start.  

-I feel like I did really good work at school this week. Routines are in place. Kids are great. Learning is happening. I am not so ahead but I am not totally behind either.

-Fun? Hmm. I read a bit. I did dinner one night with friends.

-Work at home--not so much. My husband pretty much did 100% of house stuff this week.

-I was organized enough at school. Scrambling to iron clothes, etc. in the mornings.

-I spent a bit of time with family. Not a ton but everyone was busy. This weekend is my daughter's birthday so I'll have a weekend of family time so I will say yes to this one.

-Energy--this is the one I struggled with most this week. Trying to do it all but very tired a lot of the week.  A little drained of energy pretty much all week. This is the piece I'll be working on next. I am hoping with consistent exercise in semi-place, the energy will creep in. Getting 4 days of exercise in during a week when I had lots of meetings and after school things, daughter's birthday, etc. is a plus. I am hoping that becomes routine again.

A better list of questions than I realized. We'll see what next week brings. 

Back to the Running Routine....

From Team Sparkle-one of my running motivators!  http://www.team-sparkle.com/2012/05/just-run/

Were you worried that I had completely quit running? That I had ignored this blog and running for so long that I'd given up?  Well, I was worried about that too! Once August hit and the busy/crazy fall life of a teacher began, the days I skipped runs turned into weeks and the weeks kept on going.  I know this cycle well. I get myself in decent enough shape to not hate exercise then I become consumed with work and I quit.  Only to go back to exercise months or years later in worse shape than ever.

Believe me, none of us WANT this cycle of exercise/no exercise to continue, but it is so hard to fit exercise into the beginning of the school year--not so much when it is part of who you are, but when it is new or fairly new, it is both physically and emotionally hard.

And for me, going back to the classroom took more time and energy than I imagined.  Not only did I start lots from scratch, but I forgot how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE the work of the classroom, I would much rather score DRAs or read student reading logs or think about comments during problem solving than run. No question.  And at the beginning of the year, when we are starting from scratch with a new group of students, this work is critical.

Last weekend, I worked nonstop from Friday at 4 until Monday at noon. It was crazy but I knew I had to catch up on paperwork and thinking now that I knew my kids. I was happy working but I couldn't really catch my breath.  Then this week was busy with lots of evening meetings.  But yesterday morning, I woke up and I felt like the heaviness of fall was over--the first few weeks of the school year were behind me. I loved my class. I had met the families and our routines were pretty well set.  I could take some time to not work and I felt okay about it. I am ready for next week and it was time to pull myself and the house back together.

Yes, the house is a mess but today, my plan was to run.  I have walked a few times in the last few weeks thanks to a good friend who keeps me exercising just a bit. But in the last 4-6 weeks, I have run very little if any. But I have been getting clues that it was time to get back into it.

Last week, I was at a local arts festival and the band was playing a song from my running playlist.  A little guilt kicked in along with a little feeling that I was actually missing running.

Friday night, I had a dream that I was running. (I guess now that the first day of school nightmares are over, this can be expected. ..) And I was running happily.  I woke up actually really it.

Earlier this week, I got an email from my friend Jen Allen. She always seems to say just the right thing to me. This week she said, "Hey... Don't let the school year get you off balance so that you give up your runs.  You have worked too hard..."  This line stuck with me all week.

And yesterday I received this tweet from a Twitter friend who started running recently, "Thanks for helping me get started and get back on track. Those first few weeks of school were too tough to run. Glad to be back into it now."

And my stress level was up. I could actually feel it in a way that I haven't felt it since January. 

Finally, when I was reading Every Day by David Levithan in bed before falling asleep last night, I read this line, "I run. I am made for running.  Because when you run, you could be anyone." I figured at this point that I was getting far too many signs that I needed to run, to just not.

So I went to the rec center today. I was terrified. It is actually a beautiful day for running. A day I should run outside. But I was too terrified of what this run would be like so I went for safe. I decided to go 30 minutes and try for the run 7 minutes, walk 1 minute. But I didn't think I'd actually be able to do 7 full minutes.

I got on the treadmill next to the girl who was running a 7 minute mile. She wasn't even out of breath.  And I started to run.  At two minutes, I got tired.  Much quicker than usual but I got through the 7 minutes. I was shocked.  I completed what I had hoped to complete but had to drop my speed just a bit. (I know you are wondering how someone as slow as I am can possibly drop my speed, but I can:-). And I was actually happy to be running again.  I feel like in 2 weeks, I can be back to where I was 6 weeks ago.  I feel like I can do this and the little blip in the running did not take me back to square one.

My heel hurts as I have been lazy about my plantar faciitis.  I will be better about that. I need to eat better and drink more water. But I feel like today's run is over. And the terrified feeling I have going into it is over. And I know I can do this and that taking 4 weeks off doesn't mean I can't do this.

If you are a teacher who has fallen off the exercise wagon, it's okay to give yourself a week or two to get back into the school routine I think. Don't beat yourself up if you have. Our life is just like that. Taking a few weeks off doesn't mean we've quit. I am actually going to use this as a reading minilesson this week--the whole idea of kids who didn't read this summer and building that stamina again.  Just because they didn't read over the summer, doesn't mean they aren't readers.  

I did work too hard from January to July to let this go and not get back to it.  So, I did.

A Plan for Maintaining Running/Exercise Through Fall

(CROSS POSTED ON A YEAR OF READING)

I've been slacking, as I am sure you can tell. It's August and I can already see that exercise is getting harder to make time for.  As you know, the life of a teacher is a bit crazy. The cycles are very predictable. There are times when we are so busy working and thinking about working that it is hard to be balanced. Then we seem to get a long weekend here or there or a vacation that we just crash for a few days.  I have talked to lots of my teacher friends who have not exercised as much as usual during these last few weeks of summer. It isn't just me.  And it isn't really about time-I think it is more that our work with children is a job that we think about a LOT--not only when we are at school. So the times when we are overwhelmed and consumed are not necessarily because we are working more physical hours. I think it is more that our brain is constantly thinking about what we can do to make learning better for kids. It is hard to justify exercising when you have a kid whose learning you need to support in better ways.

And the Summer Goals didn't go so well. I did the Color Run but pretty much just walked it and hung out with friends. I decided not to do the COLOR ME RAD (although I will be thinking about my friends who are doing it, friends who I let down, cheering them on from home:-)  because the races seem to be a stress for me right now. And I end up getting off of my exercise routine after a big run like that.   I lasted about 2 days on Another Mother Runner's June Challenge. I lasted about a week or two with #bookaday. And I am not sure I've finished a book yet in August. My house is clean enough but there are still summer projects that I didn't get to.  So, my point is, I am not in some great exercise routine that I just need to keep up. I need to actually bump it up for the fall.

I personally define fall as the time between now and NCTE's Annual Convention. The annual convention to me marks the time when the first parent conferences, first grading periods, first units of study are over. It is usually around that time that the classroom is working well, routines are set, there is strong community. NCTE's annual convention is always kind of a turning point in the school year for me. It moves me from "Beginning of the Year Crazy" to the next phase of the school year.  So, to be honest with myself, the beginning of the school year--when it is most difficult to keep up a healthy eating and exercise routine- is not merely the first few weeks.   It is really the first  2 1/2-3 months.  That is the time I am thinking about in terms of keeping a healthy, balanced life-complete with running and exercise.

So, what did I do?
Now that I have been honest about all that I didn't do, I have to think about what I did accomplish this summer. I did exercise and although I am in no better shape than I was on June 1, I am not much worse. (a little, but not much)
I have a different attitude about running. Since reading RUNNING FOR MORTALS, I really try to push myself, but not so hard as to hate running.  I am going slower and that seems to be a good step for me.
I cleaned my closet and found I have gone down about 1 size. I got rid of lots of clothes and bought a few new things ( a size smaller).
I moved in and organized my classroom. A new role and a new space so a lot of time was spent in the classroom getting organized this summer.
I completed the copyedit of my upcoming Minilessons book with Choice Literacy which will be coming out soon.
I did lots with family and friends.
I tried a few new exercises.
My house is more organized than it was in the spring. (not a ton, but enough..)
I did workshops for Choice Literacy and All Write.
I attended All Write and the Ohio Innovative Learning Conference and learned lots.
I participated in the NCTE Executive Committee retreat in July.
I read about 40 books.

Here's the thing. I tend to over plan and tend to think I can do more than I actually can. I like to do lots of things and I tend to say yes to anything that sounds interesting. I am also not so good at not overdoing. I seem to overdo things because they sound like good ideas at the time.  I want to do really good work but not spend time doing worthless things that take lots of time.  In teaching, there is always more than can be done but sometimes I over plan, over think when my first idea and plan was best anyway.

So, I am trying to learn how to deal more rationally with my never-ending TO-DO list. I HATE having things to do that I am not doing. I have trouble relaxing or having fun when I know there is something I should be doing. I cannot pace well--I like to get everything done all of the time.  Clearly, this does not work. Last year, I found a system that seemed to work. I plotted out my to-do things by week so that I could spread out my to-do list a bit. That seemed to help. But with school starting, my lists are again becoming unrealistic.

I do not give myself much time to do the things I enjoy by myself...baking, exercise, reading, etc. Then I get very cranky.

And one more thing--Ialready have a full fall planned:
I am starting with a new class of 4th graders in a week. I am VERY excited about this and having been out of the classroom  for 4 years, I want to give it lots of time.

I am participating in two sessions at NCTE that I'll need to prepare.

I am doing a one-day Choice Literacy workshop in Maine in October. I'll be gone for most of that weekend.

I will participate in the yearlong Literacy Connection.

I oversee the district new teacher/mentor program.

There are things like curriculum night, Ana's curriculum nights., parent conferences, first trimester school events, etc.

Ana turns 13 this year so there are birthday parties to plan.

So, even if I don't add one more thing, I am busy enough.  So this fall, I am giving myself permission to say no to things I enjoy but don't really have time for. For example, Jack Gantos is speaking in Columbus in a few weeks. I would LOVE to hear him. Cover to Cover has several authors coming this fall who I will want to hear.  There are Saturday local workshops that sound interesting. Writing group is meeting.  There will be blog events and other things.  I have gotten better at saying no to things I don't want to do, but this fall, to keep up with exercise, I am going to try to say no to work/literacy related things that I WANT to do, but just don't realistically have time for.

I also found that adding a 4th run to my weekly goal was too much for me. I actually ran less because I had no flexibility in the schedule. 3 runs is perfect and then if I can fit a 4th in, great.

I find that I like to do the extra work but not on a set schedule..Too many scheduled events make down time and exercise time hard to find.  I am learning this about myself slowly. When I am too scheduled, even with things I love to do--exercise is the first thing to go.

So, here is how I will measure balance each week this fall--these are the questions I hope I can say yes to every week.

Did I exercise 3-6 days per week? (ideally 3 days of running and 3 days of something else.)
Did I do really good work?
Did I have fun? Did I do some things for myself (read a good book, spend time with friends, etc.)
Did I get some non-work things accomplished (laundry, cook dinners, etc.)
Was I organized for the  week?
Did I spend time with my family?
Do I have energy? Did I have enough down time to remain positive?

Originally, I decided that I would schedule fall. I would decide on 3 days to run in the mornings, 2 days to go to Harbor Yoga for a hot yoga class, and one day to do something else. And I would stick with it all fall. But then I reflected. And I realized that every week is different and what worked best for me last winter was looking at my week each Sunday and planning accordingly--it was easy to decide when I could plug in exercise each week. Rather than skip a workout because I had a meeting after school, planning each week as they come up gives me a better chance of exercising lots.

I am still debating on doing the PUMPKIN RUN. My gut says to sign up and make this the 5K that I actually complete and enjoy.  I haven't totally decided yet because I haven't had the best luck with races and since I am still running a 15-16 minute mile, I am worried about being too slow for a race that is really about running.

Ideally, I'll run 3 days (2 in the morning before school and 1 long run on Saturday) and I'll go to yoga twice. And then once a week, I am hoping to walk with friends or  do something low-key.

That's my plan. I'll keep you posted....

IT'S AUGUST!?!? And I'd Rather Work Than Exercise...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22964099@N05/2204059683/ by bottled_void 

So, it is August. There are only a few weeks left until school starts with lots of things to do before that time. I love this time of year. I am usually ready to get back to school and back to some routine.  But, I always have so much to do to get ready for a new school year. This is one of those times in the year that it becomes difficult to exercise.

I started to feel the stress of August this week. I traveled off and on during the last two weeks, doing work for Choice Literacy and attending NCTE executive committee meetings.  I was feeling pretty good before I  started the travel--I had set up lots of my room.But, when I came back, I felt swamped and overwhelmed with all I had to do.  My to-do list was growing.

This is one of those times when fitting in exercise becomes hard. One of the things about being a teacher is that the year's cycle is a little crazy. We have months where we can almost do nothing other than work, and other times when we can have a little balance. It is easy to push off exercise during the crazy times. And I almost did that.

I did the Color Run the day before I left for my 2nd week of travel.  I knew the 2nd week gone would be crazy so I gave myself permission to take the week off, if exercise was too hard to fit in  or if the facilities didn't have treadmills, etc.  I figured either way, it would be fine and it ended up that I didn't fit any running in.

But, then I came home (Sunday night) and I was totally exhausted from the travel. We had relatives in town and lots to do. I had an all day workshop on Monday and didn't exercise ...Then I planned to get up early Tuesday to exercise before a session  had to give at a conference, but didn't. Then I was going to get up Wednesday morning before a meeting to exercise, but I stayed up too late watching the Olympics Tuesday night, so I didn't.

Wednesday, I got a ton of work done for school--thing created, curriculum studied, ideas solidified, etc.  I had a meeting around math from 9-noon and then worked the rest of the day on school things. The feeling of "so much to do" was strong as it had been for days. My thinking, as it often is when I am in workaholic mode is, "If I can just get this done, then I'll have time to have a life."  

But, I was going on about 10-12 days without exercise.  This was the first time since January that this had happened. Really the first time I hadn't fit at least 2-3 days in. And I knew I had to recommit.  As much as I wanted to stay at home, finishing up projects I had started, I knew I had to take 45 minutes out of the day and get to the gym. So I did.

Yesterday afternoon, I got out of my exercise vacation.  I didn't want to go. I didn't feel great. And I had lots of work I wanted to do.  I figured I'd have to take it easy and even if I just walked, it would get me back to exercise.

But I got on the treadmill and actually enjoyed the 30ish minutes I exercised!  I had actually almost missed it. I have learned a lot reading RUNNING FOR MORTALS and by running even a tiny bit slower than I have been running (and hating it), I can run and semi-enjoy it. I knew I had to do a pretty easy workout if I was every going to go back.  So I ran a REALLY SLOW 2 mile (15-16 minute mile) and I took minute walk breaks sometime every 7-8 minutes. But I planned that ahead. And I actually did not hate the 30 minutes I was on the treadmill. I had missed my running music and actually felt better and less overwhelmed almost immediately.

I came home and got lots more work done yesterday and I am so glad that I finally got out of this rut I worried would last forever.

This teacher thing makes consistent working out hard for me. I always get caught up in the work that needs done and it is hard for me to break away and get the workout in.  I know this about me and exercise and I am terrified of quitting this round. I am hoping that throughout this fall (which I know will be crazy), I don't get to the point that I go 10 days without exercise.  I can't believe how much better I felt after just a few minutes of running.  And I can't believe how much better I felt that I didn't put the workout off another day.

I am working on plan/schedule that keeps me exercising, even when I have a ton of work to do.  It is the reason I struggle with exercise and all things healthy. It is easy to exercise in the summer, in January, etc. But not so much at other times during the year. I often choose work over a healthy lifestyle.  This is the first time, since January, that this teacher-workaholic thing kicked in.   And I learned that (as I've learned many times), I just have to go out and do it.  This lesson seems so simple, but I seem to need to keep relearning it!

In the next week or so, I'll share my plan for keeping a running schedule up during the first few weeks of the school year. What plans do you have to keep moving once the craziness of the school year hits?

The Color Run Columbus

Today was the Columbus Color Run. I signed up for this one as soon as it opened because it looked like such fun!  I have not run as often as I've planned because of travel and work but I've run enough that I felt like I could run enough of this race. I've been running 2 - 2 1/2 miles per run.  I feel better than I did in May when I did the Komen Race for the Cure.

The day was fun and it was fun to hang out with friends but I wouldn't consider today's event a run event.  It was hard to actually run for more than a few minutes at a time and the focus was really more on being goofy than on running.   The start line set off in waves so runners did not go first which made traffic a bit crazy as the race continued. The streets were narrow for the size of the crowd so it was hard to run at any consistent pace.  The color stops were fun, but definitely required walking and often waiting in line for the color. Lots of "traffic jams" at the color stops.  Some people rolled around in the color so you had to be careful not to step on or trip over people.

Some things I noticed about the race:

People had a great time dressing for the event-fun socks, fun hats, fun hair clips, colorful skirts. You could tell people had fun getting ready for this event.

I was glad I had sunglasses. They were fun and the protected my eyes from the color.

The color was fun and not as hard to get off as I was worried about it. After a long shower, I only have two small spots of pink left on my hands.

I wasn't able to wear my newest running shoes as I didn't want to ruin them so I wore my last pair. I definitely noticed a difference on my heel pain with these shoes today but glad I didn't wear my new ones.

I was better able to run outside than I was in May. Today didn't seem quite as hot a it was in May or there was more shade on the course. Either way, the outsideness was less of an issue for me than it was in May.

The first few minutes of a run are killer for me. I need about 4-6 minutes to get into the run and that is hard to do in a crowd.


Some things I noticed about me--Since this was my 2nd 5K, I noticed I went into it a little different:

I woke up tired. I wasn't worried. I have learned that tired or not, I can run. It is sometimes harder to start when I am tired, but once I get going, it's fine.  Last 5K, I was so worried the whole week before--so worried that if I was tired on race day, I wouldn't be able to run.

I wasn't nervous the whole week before. I had no real expectations for this one other than going.  I knew I could run 2-3 miles at a time and I knew that  this run, however it turned out, wasn't going to change that.

I walked the first 2 miles with friends. It wasn't worth running and navigating around people so we walked. But I decided to run the last mile and did most of it except for a few stops when I couldn't get around people, for color, etc.  I wanted to at least run a little bit of it and there seemed to be more space to run at the end.

Thoughts:


If you are a new runner, I would not use a Color Run 5K as your first race if you really want to see if you can run a 5K or if you have a specific time or distance goal.  I had trouble even considering this a run event--it seemed more like a festive walk or a fun time with friends. More "Party in the Park" than 5K.  If I had gone into this with a goal of running the whole thing or of finishing in a certain time, I would have been really disappointed. It isn't set up for that so I wouldn't recommend doing it for that purpose. For me, it was a race on my calendar that kept me running. It was a fun day with friends. It was an experience that I'm glad I have.  But if you are going into it as a runner with a running goal, I might pick another race.  I am registered for Color Me Rad in Columbus in August. If I end up doing it, I'll know better what to expect  But I know not to have any big goals for that race.

It is interesting to learn the differences in these organized runs--what I like, what I don't like. I like getting experience with 5Ks--seeing how they work, how to navigate crowds, etc. I am still not sure I even like these big events. For me right now, they just give me dates to work toward. Dates that keep me running.  But I feel like I need to try a few more before I decide I don't like them.  I am looking at a few October/November races.

Definitely a fun day:-)