This Week's Running Stuff

Katherine and I getting ready for our "Babymouse Run" in our Team Sparkle Skirts.

Well, another week, and I still seem to be running. It wasn't a great week of exercise but good enough I think.

This week was the week of the All Write Summer Institute.  One of my big issues is exercising when I travel.  So I was excited months ago when Katherine (my virtual running partner) and I decided to do a run at All Write.  We knew it would be busy but thought it would be crazy to get together and not run. Plus we had our Team Sparkle Skirts and Babymouse t-shirts for the event. (I also had a special pink Sparkly Soul headband for the event!) It ended up to be a 90+ degree week and there wasn't a lot of free time at All Write but we did fit in a very short run (about 10-15 minutes) in the heat, outside of our hotel.  We ran before all of the fun began. Funny thing, we ran into quite a few people in our costumes.  And I am sure the drivers on the road wondered what exactly we were doing. So, we had our own "Babymouse Run". Hopefully this will become an annual All Write tradition. (Next year, I am thinking we can even try the great trails that are near our hotel.) And we will be doing a run the next time we see each other which will be NCTE Vegas. Katherine wasn't thrilled with the costume ideas on Team Sparkle but I find the Vegas options quite amusing! Luckily, we have lots of time to think and plan for our run-and it looks like November in Vegas will be perfect running weather. (And we already know that Katie --another reading teacher who runs--will also be joining us.)

I learned a lot even though our run was so short.  I really had never even attempted to run in 90+ degree weather. Seemed impossible. But we did it and I realized I could definitely do a short run in any kind of weather. It wasn't ideal and there were no real sidewalks and we didn't know where we were going but we ran.  So, I expanded my idea of what kind of weather I could actually run in.  I also really enjoyed running with Katherine. Talking and catching up during the run was nice. I have only run with my husband (once) and my friend Meredith (at 5K--long run) but a slow, low-stress run with a friend was way more fun than I thought it would be. I can see the fun of running with friends if I could find friends around her who are new to running. Who knew?

So, the week before All Write started out well. I ran on Sunday and Monday. I did 3 miles both days--the first day I ran 2 miles and walked one. On Monday, I ran 2.5 and walked .5. I am trying to make sure I get in 3 mile runs or run/walks several times in the next few weeks.  The runs went well--as they often do on the treadmill. I have moved to running in a tank top because of the heat (even indoors). I am over the fat arms thing, I guess. It is what it is. And I do love my Lululemon tanks!

I still read so much about running. The reading and hearing from others is one of the big things that keeps me going.  My favorite post of the week was from one of my favorite new finds, I Run Slow, LET ME TELL YOU A STORY. I can so relate to this story. I too was always chosen last in gym ( I could have cared less--I would much rather have chatted with friends than played a physical game.). I was not an athlete. I have struck out in kickball and scored an 18 in bowling. My best sport is Bejeweled Blitz but my husband tells me that sitting on the couch playing a game on my phone cannot be considered athletic in any way. I did try out for the tennis team in high school ( a few cute boys played this sport, thus my reasoning if you are wondering why a non-tennis player would try out for the tennis team....).  I made the team as did everyone who tried out. At practice once, I accidentally hit the tennis coach with a ball -he was coaching between a few courts and I had trouble keeping the ball in the court.)  I think I appreciated the I RUN SLOW blog post because I could so relate and I do think that I am not really built to be athletic.  Not that I can't do it, but I do think that running is harder and takes longer for me to get good at than it might for other people.  There is definitely a pattern to my struggles with being an athlete.

Another plus to reading the post was that I discovered another blog I plan to follow. Teeny Victories
is a story I want to follow--one that will help me to remember to celebrate growth rather than focus on all I can't do as I move forward.

I registered for the Color Me Rad run in Columbus this week.  My friend started a team and it sounded like a good idea.  The run is the Sunday before I start back to school and I figure this way, I'll have my long run in for the week before I start back to work.  I also figured another 5K would keep me running through the summer, without giving myself much permission to take a break. As you know, I did not enjoy my first 5K but if I can get to the point that I am not miserable, scheduling 5Ks with friends every so often may be just enough to keep me going.

I am also registered for the Color Run in Columbus in July. I signed up for this one long ago when I didn't know how much I would hate the first 5K. So I was thinking about my goal for this upcoming run. It is a low stress run, smaller than the Race for the Cure that I ran in May. I think it has a more "fun" feel and I think there will be more kids and walkers. But I know the color will add one more thing to distract me. But I think I know better what to expect going in.   I loved Heather's marathon goal on 365 Days of Awesome. She wants to "finish-without being dead" and "don't hate it (or my friends that are running with me)". I love these goals and they helped me solidify my own goals for the Color Run.  I want to have more fun than I had at the last 5 K. I want to get through it pleasantly, even if that means walking a minute between miles (this strategy helps me a LOT).  I will reevaluate as the race gets closer but I'd love to feel happy after the race. Feel like I had fun and it was worth it.  I want to enjoy this running thing. So, I am working to run to get to the point that the running part won't be as hard as it was in May. And knowing what to expect should help too.

I am scheduled to try a Pure Barre class this week. I am really hoping that in the next 3 weeks I really increase my overall exercise time.  I think my body does well with 3 days of running but I need to add some other things --cardio and strength. It has been hard for me to figure out the right amount of exercise and to find a class I love.  I'll definitely post about my Pure Barre experience.

My last random thought is that I am pleasantly surprised that people are reading this blog. I noticed at All Write that several people asked me how my running was going--people who could only know that I am running from reading these posts.  I appreciate all of the support people are giving me on this journey.  I feel very vulnerable writing about this struggle with exercise and I really never expected anyone to read along.  It is amazing how non-judgemental and supportive everyone has been.   Teachers are such good people, and this running journey has reminded me of that.

Finally, you can follow tweets of teachers who run with the hashtag #runteacherrun.

Las Vegas: What I Learned About Goals, Running and Balance

So, it is Day 16 of Summer and I have already messed up on 2 of my goals.  I committed to ANOTHER MOTHER RUNNER'S June challenge to work out 5 days a week. I also committed to #bookaday--one of my favorite annual traditions.

Last week, we went to Vegas. We went with friends and took our 21 year old daughters. I was determined to run 1-2 times in Vegas. I checked out the options for exercise and found info about the fitness facilities at the hotel. I started out doing what I had planned, waking up early Monday morning to get on the treadmill before heading to the pool.  I was very impressed with myself.  I also took 7 books. With a 4 hour plane ride there and back as well as lots of time at the pool, I figured a book a day would be easy.  I read 2 on the plane ride there. Again, I was very impressed with myself.

Then we got in vacation mode. On Day 2 I didn't feel like getting up early to exercise and I was too busy to fit in any reading time.

We spent a lot of time walking in Vegas--shopping and walking the strip.  We walked a few miles each day, but in a tourist kind of way. Nothing that could be counted as cardio.

And I was way too tired to read much on our late night flight home.

Not only did I mess up my goals while in Vegas but I feel like I have lost 3 days recovering.  We got home at 3 AM on Thursday morning so Thursday was like a nothing day.  Still, on Day 3, I feel tired and disorganized. I'm trying to catch up on phone calls, emails, etc. that I missed while we were away. Trying to get organized for next week and my next trip to All Write Summer Institute (Which I am VERY excited about!)

So, I have really been thinking about my bigger goals.  Are my goals really to be a runner and to read every single day? When those things get in the way of a balanced life, how do I deal with it? How do I continue to fit these things into my life on a regular basis without them becoming an "assignment" I've given myself.

For me, when I decide to give myself a challenge like #bookaday, it is really frustrating when I can't read a book for a few days. It makes me cranky to give up on a goal. And then if I can't complete the goal completely, I often just quit altogether.  I've learned this important thing about myself in this (almost) 6 month running journey.

So, I think this is key for me to understand. And I feel like I keep relearning it over and over.

During weeks like this, I want to be happy that I ran once, walked miles and miles in Vegas and will get in at least one more day of exercise.  And I read 2-3 books.  Not meeting my goals, but not quitting either.  Ready to give it my all again during the next few weeks when life is a little more routine.

Ultimately, I want a balanced life. I want to be able to enjoy vacations without putting pressure on myself to read a book. I want to know that if I miss a day running, it isn't the end of the world.  I want to make time for these things, but I don't want them to consume me.  And I want to continue running, but cardio health is really my goal so I want to try other things.

I have plans to get out of this new rut this week. I plan to run a few times. Katherine and I have been talking about running together at All Write so we'll run before the event begins wearing our Team Sparkle Skirts and our Babymouse t-shirts.  We won't run long and we won't run fast, but we'll run. I am also going to try to run 1-2 other times this week and to try a new class. A new Pure Barre just opened in Dublin and I am on a quest to find some strength classes that I LOVE. I am dying to find a class that I love as much as I loved 80s aerobics.  I know that will take some time.

I loved my week of non-routine. But I am ready to get back to some kind of routine. I think last time this happened (just a few weeks ago), I realized that a bad week isn't as big of a problem as I thought it was. I was so worried I'd have to stop running after 30 seconds after a week off that I was thrilled to realize I didn't really lose much in that week.

So, my Vegas week gave me some time to reflect on my bigger goals. I've had a lot of trouble figuring out where to go next once I ran the 5K I was prepping for.  And, I can't really celebrate meeting my June goals. I've kind of lost out on that. But I realized I am meeting some bigger, more important goals.

 One thing that I noticed in Vegas was that walking for hours and hours was easy for me. It would not have been easy a year ago. A year ago, lugging a heavy suitcase through the airport would have exhausted me. Walking for miles and miles would have been totally no fun.  But this year, having gotten into better shape, life is more fun because I can do more. I don't have to try to have a conversation when I can hardly breathe because the person I am with is walking so much faster than me.  I can actually enjoy doing things more because I am in better cardio health.

I have people who cheer me on. I have made new friends because of this running thing and love the #runteacherrun group on Twitter. It is a simple group that has been a huge support for me.  Many days that I've run because of them or because of one of my other cheerleader friends. I love when a new journey adds new friends to my life!

And, I am actually looking forward to getting back to a running/fitness routine.I have realized that exercise has actually become part of my life.  As hard as it is, I actually want to make time for it.  That is a huge revelation for me.  Exercise has become part of my life and I want to keep it that way.  I don't quit exercising after a bad week. I try to fit in a workout or two when I am out of town.  And I actually enjoy a workout or two in a different location.

So, when I look back to why I wanted to start running, it was more about being more healthy, fitting exercise into my life, becoming more balanced. I feel like I am well on my way to these bigger, more important goals:-)

100 Things About Me as a Runner

So, I got myself back to running. Ran 3 times this week. The first two were not pretty but today I got up and went to the rec center at 6 am and ran 3 miles.  I took 2 one-minute walk breaks but it was a good run.  I do not think of myself as a runner and can't imagine ever thinking of myself as a runner. I've been thinking about all the times I told kids they were readers and believed it completely but they did not believe it about themselves.

A couple of years ago, as a way to begin conversations around reader identity and to help kids begin to see themselves as readers I did a thing called 100 Things About Me as a Reader. We worked to create lists about ourselves as readers--lists that I knew would change and grow over time.  I did this activity, not so students would think about 100 things about themselves, but they would begin to see that they WERE readers and that all readers were different. I wanted them to begin to identify as a reader. I also hoped that they would begin to pay attention to things others shared about themselves and those things would give them new ways to think of themselves and to come to know their identity as a reader.

So, I decided that to build my own identity as a runner, I'd start my own list of 100 Things About Me as a Runner. There, just writing that makes me at least CALL myself a runner, even if I don't feel like one. I am going to start the list today and add to it over the next several weeks and months.  I am hoping other runners will join in the fun and post their own lists of things about themselves as a runner. (The 100 was originally put as the number because I didn't want anyone in the class to say, "I'm finished". I wanted this to be something they thought about long-term. So, nothing important about how many items on the list.  Here goes--

1. I like to run on the treadmill (inside) FAR better than I like to run outside.
2. I need to understand things about running and the running community so reading books and blog help me.
3.  I started running in January.I've started Couch -5K programs before but never got past the first few weeks.
4. I am better at sticking to running this time because I focused on a 5K rather than on weight loss.
5. I am not competitive but I am goal oriented so I like to meet my own goals.
6. I like to listen to music only when the run is not killer hard or I have to pay attention to too many other things.
7.  I wear Mizuno running shoes but want to try a new kind soon.
8.  My best runs are when I am wearing Lululemon running pants.
9. I had no idea my ankles could sweat but it seems they can when I am running.
10. I cannot run in shorts--until I lose weight in my thighs, I can't imagine ever running in shorts.
11.  If I run in the morning, I like/need to take an afternoon nap.
12. I like anything that makes running amusing--Color Run, Sparkle Skirts, my Run Happy t-shirt, my Run Fast socks.
13.  I ran 2 miles once in college but have no run more than a few minutes at a time until now.
14.  I hate even the smallest of hills.
15.  I have plantar faciitis but it seems to be doing okay with 3 runs per week.
16. I run 3 times a week. I try to make one of those runs a longer run than the other 2.
17. The smartest thing I've done as a runner was to hire running coach, Tonia.
18.  I wear my hair in a crazy ponytail on top of my head, Pebbles-style, when I run. It is the only way it stays out of my face.  It looks ridiculous. As soon as it grows a bit more, I am hoping to move to Sparkly Soul headbands exclusively.
19. I like to run in long t-shirts.
20.  I need to carry tissues when I run.
21.  My favorite treadmills are the ones with the fans.
22.  I enjoyed the indoor track at the beginning but HATE it for running more than a few minutes at a time. I now understand why people hate running in circles.
23.  I do not enjoy running. Of my 5 months of running, I have had 3-4 good runs.
24.  My mother has promised me a new Team Sparkle skirt for every race I run.
25.  I did not enjoy Race for the Cure. Except for the part that I got to hang out with my friends. And of course, my skirt.
26.  I like to run alone.
27.  Once I ran in the morning and enjoyed the morning sounds of the birds. That is not something that has happened again.
28. I run VERY slowly and probably always will.
29.  I have gotten over my fear of running in the neighborhood. I figure if I blog about it, I should be able to handle my neighbors seeing me run past their houses.
30.  I am registered for the Color Run.
31. I am not sure how I can possibly keep this up for years. Running is hard....
32.  I wish I could run in hats but I can't. It is just one more thing to think about--having it stay on my head.
33.  I started running at 30 seconds every 2 1/2 minutes. Even on bad run days now, remembering that helps me continue.
34.  I'd rather run when it is a little bit cold than when it is a little bit warm.
35.  My dog is too little to run with me. I can see the fun in running with a big dog that you liked.
36.  I like to shop for running clothes.
37. I like to wear running clothes all the time when I am at home. They are extremely comfy.
38.  I cannot run before I have had something to eat in the morning.

That's it for now!  If you'd like to join in this fun, share 100 Things About You as a Runner on your blog and link here in the comments. Or, you can do a guest post here on this blog.  I'd love to see what others say and I think it will help me expand the things I know about myself.

Have a happy running day:-)

GUEST POST: My Running Journey by Sherry Gick

It helps me so much to hear from others who run--I like to know why they run, how they started, if they loved it right away--anything that will help keep me going. Sherry is one of the Twitter friends who helped get me out of my running rut this week. I loved reading the story of her running journey. You can follow the conversations that a small group of us have about running by using the hashtag #runteacherrun.

Sherry Gick just finished her third year as School Librarian for Rossville Consolidated Schools in Rossville, Indiana. Previously, she has taught special education, worked at a public library, and supervised a Parent Resource Center.  As the mother of two and the wife of a Varsity coach/PE teacher, she stays quite busy with a variety of family activities. Sherry loves to read YA and children's literature. Running seems to be the only time she spends alone, so it is sacred time! 

You may find Sherry on twitter @LibraryFanatic and occasionally on her blog: mrslibraryfanatic.blogspot.com

My Running Journey

It has been two years since I began my running journey.  Two full years since I laced up my shoes and began following the Couch to 5K plan to become a runner.  It officially began at the end of the school year in May of 2010.  Looking back, there were many reasons why I was inspired to give running a try.  

First and foremost, I was unhappy with my weight and knew I needed to be healthier which involved dropping several pounds accumulated over many years.  I had been following Cathy Zielske’s blog regularly and was intrigued by the fact that she was running and liking it!  She was a couch potato scrapbooker like me, yet she was making an effort to improve her overall health.  The whole Couch to 5K plan sounded doable for me because it was very organized and would allow me to check each day off of a list.  (Yes!)  My sister, an avid runner and triathlete, advised me that running was the best “bang for the buck”.  If I put in the effort, the pounds would drop quickly.  I liked the sound of that.  

Running made sense to me as an exercise activity.  It required only a good pair of shoes.  I didn’t need to go to the gym to do it.  I could just walk out my front door, go down the road, and run.  All of these were pluses in my book.  I was not an athlete in high school, did little to no exercising at all, but knew it was time for a change.  I also liked the idea that it was a solitary activity.

So, I did it.  The old saying about “the hardest step for a runner to take is the one out the front door” is true.  I did not exactly enjoy running when I began.  It was hard work! I sweated a lot. (Summer in Indiana = humidity galore!)  But, I printed out the schedule and tried to follow it as closely as possible.  Then, ever so slowly, I began to “get it.”  I began to feel a sense of accomplishment that I was doing something just for me that was actually good for me.

Two months later, I graduated from the Couch to 5K plan and moved on to the Bridge to 10K plan.  I ran a 5K in our town in August and then a 4 mile race a few weeks later.  I had to walk part of it but I still finished!  A friend at school wanted to run together so we looked for a 10K to work up to for September/October.  None could be found so we decided on a 15K run in Chicago...in November.  We invited two other ladies to join us and had a great time. We ran the entire race, shivering in the 29 degree start weather, and shedding layers by the end.  Finishing that race made me understand that goal setting and achieving was entirely possible through hard work and determination.  My goals had been to lose weight (30 pounds = gone!) and be able to run steadily for a chosen distance.

After the Hot Chocolate race in Chicago, I signed up for “the big one”: the Indy Mini in May of 2011.  I devoted myself to making time to train for it.  The idea of running a half marathon was daunting but I was excited to accept the challenge.  In 2011 I ended up running not just the Indy Mini, but also 2 other half marathons!  Needless to say, the running bug bit me...hard.  

Becoming a runner has taught me a lot about myself.  I’m not as much of a wimp as I once thought.  I’m capable of more than I ever imagined.  I may not be fast, but I can endure.  Not every race or run is glorious, but every run is better than sitting on the couch.  Every run is a conscious choice to do something good for myself, both physically and mentally.  As a wife, mom, and school librarian finding balance is always difficult.  There’s always something or someone that needs my  immediate attention.  I am glad that I’ve finally made the choice to take care of myself too.  Making this choice helps me be better at everything else I do in my life.  

Two years later, the hardest step is still the first one out the front door, but I never regret taking that step and always feel better for it.  

Teachers: The Challenge of Balance

by Hugh MacLeod at Gapingvoid.com

Mary Lee shared this great visual about balance on our blog last week.  It was the perfect post for a very unbalanced week as a teacher!   That week felt so different from the way I feel today. I love the first days of summer.   I feel caught up and ready to set new goals.  It is these first days of summer that I feel the most balanced. Today for example, is my first day of summer vacation. This morning, I woke up, finished Penny Kittle's brilliant book PUBLIC TEACHING, baked a bit, and have plans to see a movie with the family later tonight..

There are very few days that I feel like I can be everything--a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter, a good sister, a good teacher, a good friend.  Add fitness and healthy eating to that list and life often becomes overwhelming. I have been on a quest to learn better balance for years. (In 2007, I committed to "81 Days of Balance".)

It is not an easy thing for teachers and I think sticking to an exercise program or plan is difficult for us because we are teachers. I don't want to imply that it is any harder. I have learned from Another Mother Runner's blog and books that most people are too busy for exercise-especially moms. And somehow people fit it in.  I don't want to imply that teachers are busier than other people.  I do think however, that teaching has unique challenges that make  justifying exercise and sticking with it over time difficult. Our jobs are all consuming at many points during the school year.  I know staying healthy and getting fit needs to be a priority for us. But honestly, it is not in my Top 3 priorities no matter how hard I try to force it there.  If I had the choice to be fit or to be a good mother. I'd choose good mother. If I had the choice to be fit or a good wife, I'd choose good wife. If I had the choice to be fit or to be a good teacher, I'd choose good teacher.  I know deep down that it is possible to be all of these things but in the day-to-day of life a a teacher, it is hard to remember this. It is hard to give ourselves time to take care of ourselves when there are so many others who depend on us.  As a teacher, the balance of family and work is a hard one.  I miss a lot of my children's events because they are during the school day and teaching does not allow me the luxury to take a late lunch or take a few hours off.  And often, those same events are happening in my classroom and I can't often justify leaving students with a sub during these big events. Adding exercise to that balance is even harder.

I guess my point is, there is always something that I could be doing for a family member, a friend, or a student. As teachers, there are always students who we can't stop thinking about,  as we try to figure out what to do differently to better support them.  And, if I am honest with myself, I think that all-consuming feeling is the one that prevents me from exercising consistently. Even today, on the first day of summer, I am thinking about the books I MUST read because each might be the key to a child's growth as a reader. I am reading for students I have yet to meet because I know from experience that my toolbox must be full before August. And honestly, I LOVE my work as many teachers do. So it is very easy for me to choose work over exercise. And when we do, it seems almost noble because we are doing it for work that matters. We aren't workaholics because of money or promotions.  We work hard because of the children in our care. But this really isn't an excuse-we need to fit in exercise no matter what else needs to be done. No matter how important our work is.

When I think about this blog, it is about more than my journey to run. It is really about the constant struggle I have as a teacher to live a healthy lifestyle with the all-consuming work that I love. It is so much easier to see that living a healthy, balanced life is possible during many times during the year. But there are other times when that vision seems like an impossible one.  Today is one of the days that it all seems possible. I know during fall parent-conference week, I will not have a minute to myself and I could lose the vision and stop exercising completely. I know this from experience as it has happened many, many times.

I also know how important being healthy is to my life as a teacher.  As part of our end-of-the-year tradition at school, a few colleagues and I ate fast food for lunch every day for the last week of school. It is a fun tradition and a fun break in the crazy last days of school, but I quickly remembered how little energy I have in the afternoons when I eat junk at lunch.  I have less physical energy and I have less energy to be patient and to give kids what they need.

I also think exercise matters the more I age. Yesterday a first grader was sitting on the floor, sad--having trouble with the idea of the end of the school year. I walked over to see what was up and to chat.  As I bent down to chat, I realized that I needed to sit next to this child for the conversation to really matter. But my knees don't make it quite as easy as it used to be. I realized in that moment that I don't get up and down from the floor as often as I used to and that can't possibly get any easier. It isn't that I can't--it is just that I am far less graceful about it that I used to be. I am not quite as flexible.  But just the fact that I stopped to decide whether my sitting on the floor was really that  important  told me something about the importance of exercise.

Our lives as teachers are all about cycles--we work hard and then we crash. We have weeks when we hardly have a minute to do anything but work and other times when we can take a breath.  Teachers have no choice but to do this in our work. We start the year off strong knowing that those first six weeks are critical.  We put our all into those first 6 weeks and then rest a bit before parent conferences.  The cycles of the year are built into our jobs. We have no choice.  But do we have to do this in our outside-of-work lives too? That's what I am trying to figure out...how to find balance within these cycles of the school year.  My thinking is that summer is just part of this cycle--part of the balance.  If I can use the summer to really commit to some healthy routines, I will be more likely to find time to fit those in once the school year gets crazy. And once I get to a certain point, a crazy week shouldn't make a big difference in the big picture.

If you read my last post, you know I've had trouble exercising for the past several weeks.  After kind of meeting my 5K goal, I've hit a wall and have had trouble getting moving again. I am not sure if this was because of the running alone as lots of runners experience "Post Race Blues" I guess. But the timing of the race was at about the time that work got to the point that it was all-consuming as I got those end-of-the-year things done.  I gave myself an excuse to not-exerise.  I didn't have time or energy to focus on a new fitness plan so I've spent the last two weeks being lazy about it.  I know better than this, but I did it anyway.

So, on this first day of summer, I am thinking about goals, about balance. How should I spend the summer so that I am energized for the school year?  How can I be a good mom, set up my classroom, read all of the books that will help me grow as a teacher, attend workshops, try new healthy recipes for the family AND exercise 5 days a week.  I know I can't do it all but I can set myself up to be better balanced and to build in routines to live a healthier lifestyle that includes consistent exercise all year long.   It would be easy for me to just hang out, read lots, do fun things with the kids and continue to put my fitness goals last. Honestly, they are the least fun but the ones I know that I can't afford to do without. I know that I have to get to the point that I look forward to my exercise time and that I enjoy finding new recipes. But that won't happen without a commitment to actually make time for these things. And I don't want to repeat past years where I exercised hard in the summer only to quit completely once school took over in the fall.

So, as I mentioned last week, I am committing to Another Mother Runner's June challenge and will exercise 5 times per week. June is about routine.  Adding 2 more days of exercise in while keeping with 2-3 days of running will be key for June and that is my goal. I know that in order to do this, I need to eat a good, healthy breakfast and have healthy, energizing food around the house.  It is so easy in the summer to stop those routines (like a healthy breakfast) that are so vital during the school year.  Small steps but steps that will set me up to continue in August once the school year begins.  These are two habits I will work on in June--5 days of exercise and a healthy breakfast most days.  And I am hoping to find 2-3 good new recipes that are healthy, yet easy enough to make during the school year.  One of my favorite new blogs is Peanut Butter Fingers. Between her blog and Pinterest, I am thinking the recipe piece will be easiest of the 3!

I'll keep you posted!