10 Things Week 4: I'd Rather Be Doing Puzzles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/themensp/2158316660/ byMononc' Paul

So, I realize I am using the word "running" but in reality, I am still walking far more than I am running. I just finished Week 3 of my 16 Week Running Plan.  The plan is pretty brilliant--put together by my online coach Tonia at TMB:-)  But it is hard. This week, I am running 45 seconds and walking for 2 minutes. Today was my "long run" that lasted 33 minutes. It was not easy even though I never run more than 45 seconds at a time. This coming week, I stick to the same interval times but extend my short and long run times. I feel better going into a week where I don't increase the time running. I need another week with this.

1.  I would rather be doing puzzles.  Really, when I decided I wanted a hobby, I am not sure why I didn't think harder about this idea of running.  Well, I did. But I hadn't considered becoming really good at doing puzzles until my friend Meredith mentioned them this week (as something she would rather do than run:-) I am pretty good at them actually. Even though no one in my family enjoys them.  It seems like I made a mistake committing to running instead of puzzles.  Oh, well.

2. I am sooooo tired this week.  It is the week when life started getting busy again.  I have been tired all week. Every day. The good news is...I still did my workouts.  I went to yoga on Monday even though I didn't want to. I ran three times even though I didn't want to. None of my workouts felt good because of my energy level all week, but I did them. I think that matters. I did love the second when I was halfway finished with each "run" and I loved when I got to being 2/3 of the way done.  

3.  Several of my friends received this random text message during the week:  "I. Hate. Yoga. And. Running."  If you received one of these texts, thank you for not telling me to just quit.

4.  I learned about Wheatgrass Shots from my friend Jen at Teach Mentor Texts. She is my reading teacher health food idol. Wheatgrass shots sound awful but worthy.  I will try one soon. This alone should be reason enough for you to keep reading this blog.  You never know when I may post about the experience. I am sure you won't want to miss it.

5. Who knew that Miley Cyrus would save me with one of her crazy songs?  During my Wednesday run (just after I almost fell of the treadmill), Miley was on my Playlist.  "Let's Get Crazy" or "Hoedown Throwdown" or something. I was so happy to hear that song. It had a nice little beat. Reminded me of watching Hannah Montana with my kids when they were much younger.  Got me through a few minutes of running. Who knew?

6.  When you can't stand running, it helps to put the music EVEN LOUDER. I am not sure why this works but really loud music helps you keep running when you don't want to.

7. Last January, I read 40 books. I loved last January.  It was the month I decided to relax and re- energize. I spent lots of time on the couch catching up on great books. I had a great year of great books in 2011. This month, I have only read a few books. Well, more than a few. I've read 18 books--2 Young Adult novels, 1 adult nonfiction book, a professional book and lots of picture books.  I read 305 books in 2011 and I have to get over the fact that I may not be able to do that this year. I have to realize that I can read lots AND exercise --just may not be able to read as much as last year when I wasn't exercising.

8.  I am beginning to understand people who say, "I need a run." I don't really think it yet but I am practicing. A few times this week when I was irritated and stressed, I realized that this would be when runners thought to themselves, "I need a run."  So, I practiced. And on Friday, I was very annoyed with something and then I went for a run. Guess what? It actually helps. You can't really be mad when you are thinking about breathing and oxygen and after 33 minutes, you can think more clearly.  For those of us who can't clear our minds, running must give you no choice but to clear them.

9.  It is a treat week. Remember, every 2 weeks that I meet my exercise goals, I give myself a treat--the plan is to buy myself some exercise attire. The idea has two benefits--I like to shop and buy things. New exercise attire will make going to exercise the following week more fun because I'll have something new to wear.  Going to Lululemon for my treat--wonder what I'll buy...

10.  I donated to my first running event this week.  Heather of 365 Days of Awesome has been a huge inspiration to me in this last four weeks of beginning to run. I heard about Heather on Another Mother Runner.  It was from this blog that I learned about my new running coach. (AND, I learned about Team Sparkle from Heather!) Her posts are genuine and upbeat and I look forward to reading what she has to say each day.   She is running a race for Pediatric Cancer and is also organizing a virtual race. I was going to join but cannot yet run 5K. But she is taking donations for her own race, in honor of her daughter, Gabby. If you are looking for a great place to donate your money today, TEAM GAB is a great cause.  I am hoping that at some point, I can actually join one of the virtual races for this cause. Heather's blog is definitely one that makes running look not only worthwhile, but fun.  It has been important for me during this first month of running.

10 Things Week 3: I Like Numbers (most of them, at least...)

So, I am finished with Week 3 of becoming a runner. Today was my last running day of the week and that finishes up Week 2 of my 16 week plan to a 5K.  It was a good week and I find myself paying attention to little things. I knew this blog would be good for me because I am always wondering what I will have to say on this blog each week--what new I could possibly add. So, as a writer, I am paying attention. And that paying attention on top of this written weekly reflection is somehow helping me. Hopefully that feeling lasts...

1.  I Love Numbers. I am really a math person turned reading teacher.  So I thought about numbers a lot this week.
    *I realized time is not really an excuse for me. I am only running 3 times a week. Even if I ever work up to running an hour at a time, that is only 3 hours.  That means if I sleep 30 minutes less a night, I have plenty of time to exercise.
    *I wanted to know how many times I was running around the track and how fast I am going. I finally discovered the lap counter on my stopwatch. My pace is not impressive. I am going at about a 14 minute mile these days. Nowhere to go but faster:-)
     *I think I ran/walked 6ish miles this week. That is exciting news.  I can understand people who add up miles for the month, etc. Almost as fun as number of books I read.
     *I do not like all numbers. I ran on the treadmill last week. A good workout because the treadmill kept me at a consistent pace. I was happy to see the numbers of minutes I had gone, etc. But I HATED to see that I was working really hard and burning almost no calories. After 25 minutes, I had burned like 145 calories. UGH.  I know, my resting metabolism goes up, blah, blah, blah, but I hated that number. I felt like I should have run off about 3 pounds at least.

2. Icing your knee is much easier than icing your foot. I had to ice my foot with Plantar Faciitis and it was such a pain. This week, I have inflammation in my knee so I had to ice it. It is easy--you just sit somewhere with a bag of ice on your knee.  How my knee is already inflamed with only 30 second spurts of running is beyond me but I have come to understand icing because of it. Here's the thing--I am not an athlete and I never really believed that icing helped. It seemed silly to me.  However, after a day of icing, my pain was gone. Who knew?  Something important to know, I think.  These athletes seem to know what they are talking about...

3. Lululemon has free shipping ALL OF THE TIME!  I love this.  And, not only do they have free shipping but when you order, you get a Lululemon BAG (pictured above)!  I love my new bag. I am thinking it will be my lunch bag this week--the bag to carry all of my healthy food and snacks to school in.  It will make me happy to look at it. I never understood why people got so excited about the bags but now I do!

4.  My mom has offered to buy me a pink Team Sparkle skirt for my first "race". The Columbus Komen Race for the Cure is on Saturday, May 19. I should be able to run a 5K by then. And I think if I have a Team Sparkle skirt, I can definitely do it. We have a huge team of walkers/runners from our elementary school and I am hoping lots of team members wear a pink skirt. Seems the perfect event for such a skirt I think!  It is so odd that such a crazy little skirt is motivating me, but it makes this journey to running far more fun.

5.  People have medal holders. There seem to be lots of these for sale all over the web. That means a lot of people need these.  I am fascinated by this whole idea of medal holders.  Who knew? I am quite the shopper and I have never seen medal holders. I can't imagine I will ever need one but I do like to know the things runner shop for.   I personally like this one on Etsy but there is quite a variety.

6.  Runners drink CHOCOLATE MILK! It's right up there with green tea and vegetable juice!  This is the best bit of information I learned this week. I LOVE chocolate milk and to find out that it is a good thing to drink as a runner made me very very happy. It is particularly good after a run so I may have to buy a few individual servings.  This is great news.

7.  I found a runner who has 17 pairs of running shoes. I love her blog and I love it more now!  17 pairs of shoes--LOVE that! Maybe I can become one of those fit women who wear running pants and running shoes everywhere. Then I can have 17 pairs of running shoes. Really, I had no idea that some runners had this many shoes. This is almost as good as the Chocolate Milk information.

8. I can only run to songs that I know the words to. That is pathetic I know. But otherwise, I am so confused by the meaning of the song that I can't focus on running.  I need to work on my playlist and my 12 year old showed me how to edit today so I am set.

9. I need to buy a sleeveless yoga shirt. It is like 100 degrees in yoga and I am over the fact that my arms are fat. A sleeveless shirt makes good sense!

10.  We motivate each other.  I can't tell you how many friends are being supportive in so many ways. I don't know that anyone can make big changes without lots of support.  I loved Katherine's post on Motivation this week. We are motivating each other because we know we are not in this alone.

10 Things-Week 2: This Week I Learn that Some Runners Race in Costumes

From Flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrtopp/3518866589/

I'm thinking this 10 things format might work for me. Here is my thinking. I am on a 16 week running plan. This is the end of week one.  15 more posts and I will be a runner, right?  By the end of my road to runner, I will have written 160 things about my experience. I like that idea.  I think 160 things will make me feel like a runner.  I know in reading, we want our kids to consider themselves readers always and I so believe that they are.  And my running friends believe that if I have run once, I am a runner. But, deep down, I know I am not yet living my life as a runner. I am just becoming one. It is a process. I am at the very beginning.

So, here are my 10 thoughts for the week.

1. The week was better than last week.  I went to Yoga twice and made it through the workout both days. I did not do Chaturanga, but learned many new poses and words. I am still lost but am definitely feeling improvements.  I believe Warrior 1 is my favorite Yoga Pose as of today. (well, if you don't count Child's Pose, that is.)

2.  Running started slow, as per my plan. I love my plan.  I started with a 20 minute run/walk.  30 seconds run/2 minutes walk. I thought it would be easier than it was the first day. It was actually a perfect place to start.  The second run (same walk/run combo) was better. I had about 3 seconds of "runner's high" and remembered why I had loved exercise in the past.

My online running coach is very smart. I am learning about long runs (mine this week was 22 minutes) and the importance of rest after a long run. I am learning how to increase either my pace or time--not both.  It is an interesting plan and I like the idea of it.

3. Again, readers are like runners in so many ways. I see so many similarities between the communities.  There is a weekly Twitter discussion called #runchat which reminds me of #engchat and #titletalk.   There are posts about people as runners--runners reflecting on their runs, just as readers reflect on their reading.  And runners celebrate new things just like readers celebrate and anticipate new book. (A New Luna Bar flavor and a new running shoe out this month:-)

4. Some runners have fun by adding costumes when they race. Who knew? I discovered this when I found a video clip of this year's Disney Princess Half-Marathon.  (Really, what better way to start a race than to have the Fairy Godmother wave her wand at the castle?)




There is a big TINKERBELL EXPO and Half Marathon at Disneyland at the end of the month, so lots of running bloggers are getting ready by buying new wing and things. TEAM SPARKLE has suggestions for costumes for the race.  If you are wondering what Team Sparkle is, I discovered it this week. It is an online running store that these costume-loving runners love! They have lots of ideas for running costumes. Check out some of these great costume combinations here. So,  I am thinking, what fun could we have if we had a 5K for Literacy and dressed as book characters? I am thinking I can get a Skirt at TEAM SPARKLE, a T-Shirt at CAFE PRESS and make some pink ears. I'd be so set to win a race, I think!

5. I love rest days. (I get 2 per week!)

6.  I have no idea how or why people run in all weather. Today was snowy, windy and almost 0 degrees out. I am sure there are people who run in this but I can't imagine.  I am confident I will never become an all-weather runner.

7.  Music matters when running. Even bad music is better than no music.  I have lost my headphones so my first day was without music.  It is really much harder to run without music.

8. I am not sure how to integrate this into a balanced life.  This week and last, it seemed to take over much of my life--eating healthy, finding time every day to exercise, etc.  This coming week, I plan to try exercising in the mornings 2 days a week to free up some evenings.  Early January is easy in terms of keeping evenings free but I know life is not always like that. So, I am going to try to make morning exercise a part of my routine so Yoga is the only evening commitment.

9. The Hunger Games Movie comes out on March 23rd. I am very excited. Luckily it is our spring break so I will be able to fit in the movie and exercise:-) If all goes well with my 16 week plan, I will be running 35 minutes (4 minutes running/1 minute walking) at this point.    


10.  I am treating myself to exercise-ware every 2 weeks --only if I am completed my goals. Imagine how many great fitness clothes I will have at the end of 16 weeks this way:-) This week, I needed essentials--running/yoga pants and some boring t-shirts.  I need to build the basics so I don't need to do laundry every day before I buy some fun extravagant thing. But I continue to add to my Pinterest THINGS I WANT TO BUY board.

Week One: 10 Things

From Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/vestman/3210770788/ by Vestman

Week One of Becoming A Runner is complete.   I've immersed myself in finding people to follow online and checking out the running community out there.  This is definitely a club that looks to be fun--one I'd really like to be part of,  The week of exercise was not so fun, but I knew that going in.  My running life doesn't begin until this coming week. This past week, my goal was to exercise 5 days and to get my head around a long-term plan.  I met my goal.  Again, it was not fun.

Here are 10 Things I am Thinking About After the First Week to Becoming a Runner:

1-Started Year as Usual.
January always starts out so organized and full of promise. I cut fresh veggies and put those in tupperware for the week. I packed healthy lunches, had fresh fruit, finished laundry.  I even started using my own fabric warmer for my daily Starbucks Venti Awake Tea.  I was ready for the week as I always am in early January. And it paid off.  I ate pretty healthy, had low-stress morning, and time in the evenings for exercise and things.  I exercised 5 nights which was my goal.  But I know this organization doesn't always last past mid-January so I am taking note of what works. I realize if we grocery shop in the morning on Sunday, I am more willing to cut veggies than if we wait until later in the day to shop.  I am paying attention to the things that will make it hard to keep this up.  I did already lose my fabric warmer and have no idea where it is so I need to find that but the rest of the week went well.

2-Panic Attack
I did have a small panic attack when Sara posted her blog post last Sunday.  I realized that we had put this plan out there publicly and I had some anxiety. I woke my husband up and said, "What if I can't really become a runner?"  I was up half the night wondering what it was I had been thinking.  Here are our tweets to each other that night:

I realized that blogging with Sara may actually be the thing that keeps me going. I can't abandon her when we've both committed so publicly!?

3- Power Yoga
I began my Power Yoga class. It was not fun. I made it about 25 minutes before I wanted to vomit.  And the good news was that I did not vomit. Hopefully next time, I can go a few more minutes.  I am going to take yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays at a great place in Dublin called Harbor Yoga.  Even though I have a long way to go, I really like the feel of this place and know that once I can handle the workout, I'll love it. I went with my good friend, Katie DiCesare. (TIP: Do not begin an exercise program with someone who is both 10 years younger than you and in much better shape than you...)

4-Online Running Coach
As I wrote my article for Nerdy Book Club last week, I realized that I needed support.  Just as our kids need support and instruction to become readers, I need support and instruction to become a runner.  I had been attempting to become a runner on my own for years.  And clearly, that hasn't been successful. So, I  hired an online running coach. I found her in my blog reading (recommended by 365 Days of Awesome) and had an initial phone conference with her on Monday.  She is creating an individual plan for me to begin this week and my plan will be for 16 weeks. She will check in with me regularly.  I love this and we hit it off right away.

5- Runners are Very Similar to Readers
I've been immersing myself in reading running blogs, finding blogs of women runners I could relate to and who were inspiring to me. What I found is that runners are very similar to readers.  Their New Year's posts were not so different from the readers whose blogs I read.  Runners set goals (Run a Marathon in Every State, Run 1500 miles, Beat my Personal Best Time at a 70.3--whatever that is, and Plank for 100 minutes.) They reflect on their running year and set new goals. They announce the plans they have for 2012 and have wish lists for races to run. They seem as overwhelmed by not having enough time to participate in every event as I do when I don't have time to read every book.  They are truly passionate about what they do.

6- Supportive Friends
I am a true believer in the fact that it takes a village. My friends have been supportive in a variety of ways. Some call to check in while others think ahead to when we could run together.  Some try other, more sarcastic tactics:-)  Some of my long-time friends have done this with me every year since they've known me and they are as supportive as ever.  Katie joined Yoga with me which will get me there every Wednesday. Others have offered to meet me at the gym.

7- Running Humor
There is running humor. I don't totally get it yet but I am starting to.  You know, to be part of a club, you have to get their humor.  I don't quite get all of the inside jokes but I am working on it.  The Brooks Rusty the Racewalker series of videos is actually pretty amusing. (It is actually making fun of people like me, but I am good with that:-)


8-Virtual 5Ks
I am amazed at the impact runners make on the world. The races they run are definitely connected to issues that matter to them.  And the races look to be fun and social. Each has its own personality.  And this week, I learned that there are Virtual Races. Lots of them.  I got excited, thinking I could just have my avatar participate or something. But the races are virtual in that you participate where you are, report your score, become part of the team, etc. I like this whole idea and will investigate further.

9--I Have Time
As I reflected on my year of reading in 2011, I realized that time is no longer an excuse to avoid exercising. I read 305 books. When I mentioned that to a few of my friends, they looked shocked.  I didn't think it was a big deal. Reading is what I do.  I've also written 2-3 blog posts a week, tweeted daily, and  had time with family and friends. I worked but also had balance.  Finding a few hours each week to exercise seems doable and not having time is not an excuse.  I realized reading the blogs that I've discovered, that runners are busy people. It isn't like they are sitting at home doing nothing during the other 23 hours each day.  They fit it in because it is important.  It seems silly that my goal is to read less this year, but I could read 250 books and still be happy:-) I'd much rather read than exercise but I have time to do both.

10--Things I Want to Buy
My daughter took me to Lululemon over Christmas break. She is a yoga and running addict so she had gift certificates to spend.  I fell in love with the clothes but could not justify buying any since I hadn't actually started exercising.  One of my big issues is that I usually stop exercising after I get into routine, get feeling better and lose a bit of weight. I have been trying to figure out how to avoid that this round. So, I made a deal with myself. Every two weeks that I meet my goals in terms of exercising, I will buy some exerciseware.  Maybe a water bottle or a yoga mat. Maybe a pair of running pants or a headband. That way, I will be excited to exercise the next week because I will have something new to wear.  I prefer a treat every day or every week but that is not doable money-wise. (I don't know if every other week is doable money-wise but it will be for the first 16 weeks at least.).  I started a "THINGS I WANT TO BUY" board on Pinterest and many of the things are connected to this bi-weekly treat. (Don't worry, I will post my new purchases on the blog.)

About that first step...

(via eelovestorun)

I bought my first REAL pair of running shoes in mid-December, thinking that I'd take the ten days of "break" to establish some new habits - and once again chase (however literally) the title "runner." I've tried before. Twice. And, both times, something big happened to disrupt my stride, distract me from myself, and refocus my energies in a different direction. Motivated by both the need to keep up with my two growing boys and the continual memory of what it feels like when I am strong and fit, I wanted to demonstrate to myself (and the husband, sons, and graduate students who are used to a level of "access" to me that doesn't include time spent between me and the road) that I was really serious. Hence, the pair of REAL running shoes purchased at the local FleetFeet (the experience of which is likely another post as it was not for the weak of heart).

The lanky, ridiculously-fit guy who sold me my brand-spankin' new pair of running shoes kiddingly winked and shared, "just remember, the hardest step is the first one out the door."

That sentence has tripped through my brain each day since - especially as my lovely pair of runners sits in their box. I spent my time over the "break" loving on my kids, building family memories, reading while snuggled under afghans, and completely ignoring the nagging voice deep inside that was urging me out the door. And, in all honesty, that lovely pair of shoes is now buried underneath holiday remnants, a tipped-over pile of books that I meant to read in preparation of the semester (that begins tomorrow), and one of the boy's stuffed animals that MUST be repaired before spewing any more stuffing...

How could that salesman have known all that was blocking my first step out the door? Do I have a "tell" that true runners can see? (Or did I give it away when I mispronounced the name of the "brand" of the shoe I was trying on?)

Along came Franki's insightful post at the Nerdy Book Club... Her words resonated with me with the same kind of spark and energy as I see "fire" in kids in our classrooms who find the right book at exactly the right moment. The biggest spark of all? The invitation to join her here as we blog our journeys and experiences as we start stepping out the door.

I continually urge the teachers (and students) with whom I work to go public with their practice. Together, we explore the power of blogging, vlogging, tweeting, and sharing the successes, failures, questions and provocations which emerge in our teaching. Where that feels completely intuitive to me as a teacher, it feels risky when it comes to my life as a really-wants-to-be runner. Something tells me that the learning ahead will teach me both about the process of attempting to join a particular (and expert) community of practice AND about myself.

My gratitude (at least until the muscles start to ache) to Franki for the invitation to come along. The one thing I am confident about is that the first step out the door is made a little less daunting when you know you're doing it with a trusted friend (and teacher-hero).

The Fun Begins:-)

In 2012, I would like to get fit....again. It seems to be the story of my life. My lifelong friends are used to my New Year's plans of health, balance, and fitness.  I usually do okay for the first few months focusing on eating right and exercising. Then somehow, with work or something, I get busy and I quit. I usually quit slowly and I don't mean to quit, but I quit.  And every time I start up, I am a little older and a little more overweight. And it gets harder and harder to get back to exercise routine.

This week, I wrote a piece (Running-Nerdy) for the Nerdy Book Club blog . I compared my wanting to be part of this "runners' club" just as some of our students want to be part of the reader club.  As I was writing, I realized that I wasn't really taking my joining this club seriously.  I wasn't doing all I could or should to actually become a runner. To get past the phases of coming in and out of fitness... I also realized how many posts like this I've written. Being in and out of shape has definitely helped me understand kids who struggle in our classroom as I explained a few years ago in an article for Choice Literacy (Fitness Boot Camp Helps Me Understand Struggling Readers).

However, it is time to really get serious. Thus the blog.  I feel like I need to journal and track my progress for myself--to help me reflect and be a bit more successful. Blogging/writing/sharing has worked for me in all other areas of my life so I am thinking it will work here too.

I think teachers have a hard time having a balanced life. Maybe no more than other people, but it seems like there is always something to do--as a teacher, I am never caught up.  So, sometimes I feel guilty taking care of myself when I could be reading a book that might hook that one reader, or looking at work to figure out what a child needs next.  It is work that I love so it is always easy for me to put work before fitness.

I decided that if I want to become part of this "running club", I had to really jump in.  But it is interesting how few blogs/resources are easy to find for women like me--working moms over 40 trying to get started with running. There is Couch to 5K, etc. but the running club does not seem to be filled with too many women like me.  But I've also discovered these runners' habits are not so different from my habits as a reader. Runners set goals, have fun, track progress, and share with others.  I know for a person to become a reader, the most important thing to do is to give them time every day to read. I imagine it's the same for running. How can I not become a runner if I give myself time every day to exercise/run?

Over the past year, I have loved the Follow This Mother series in which I've learned stories of why women run. I've also appreciated blogs like PRIOR FAT GIRL and MY NEW ENDING--people who have made public their struggles for health, fitness and balance.

So, 2012 is the year for me to join the club. And hopefully this blog will help me do that.
As I don't have much time to commit to this and I don't want to write about fitness instead of actually get fit:-), I will be posting once a week on this blog, sharing my journey.

Here goes...