My first Marathon

I can't really even believe I just typed that post title.  It still seems surreal to say that I ran a marathon:  26.2 miles, just last weekend!

For those of you not interested in hearing a complete break down of my marathon experience, here it is in a nutshell:  

• I did it! (I'm sure you'd already figured that part out from the beginning of this post...)
• I had a great time! (Everyone should visit Charleston, SC at least once!)
• I'm super pleased with my finish time! (4 hours, 41 minutes, 55 seconds)
• I'm not opposed to the idea of doing another one. (Yikes. I just put that in writing!)

There you have it. 

If you don't want to read on for the play-by-play and nitty gritty details, I completely understand.

Really.

Don't feel obligated to read more.

It could be a long post with too much information...

Still here?

Alrighty then.  

I flew to Charlotte Thursday evening to meet my sister and spend the night...except for we didn't spend the night because a snow storm was on its way. (Trust me, the last 30 minutes of turbulence on the flight convinced me that we did indeed need to head further south.)  The last thing we needed was to get stuck in Charlotte where there's little to no snow removal!  Instead, we drove to Columbia, SC in the rain to spend the night.  Friday morning we leisurely drove on to Charleston, SC.  

Our first stop was the race expo at Burke Middle High School to pick up our bibs and race bags.  It was a small expo at an amazing looking school.  I still managed to find several "needed" items!  (Running sunglasses, new 26.2 pink stickers for my car, Clif bars, throw away gloves, etc.)  The volunteers at the expo were very helpful answering questions and explaining the drop off points for bags, the sweep truck for dropped items, and the shuttle bus.  Next, we grabbed a late lunch with some good protein and carbs too (burrito bowls at local Mexican restaurant).  Then we checked into our hotel and rested!  (No point walking around Charleston and tiring out our legs pre-marathon!)  

We prepped our race outfits for the next day, going through the checklist of what we needed to check to have at the finish line (fresh socks, shoes, shirt,...) and what we needed to carry in our new FlipBelts.  (My generous sister had purchased each of us a flipbelt for the race after I showed her the site.  The belts are amazing and a race must have!)  The predicted starting temperature of 30 degrees threw me a bit in deciding on exactly what to wear, especially knowing it would quickly warm up to 60 while we ran.  I decided layers were the best plan of attack.

We had dinner at a near by restaurant, knowing that grilled tilapia, potatoes, and veggies would be a good choice for a pre-race meal.  That evening we watched a movie in our hotel room, read, and tried to get a good night's rest before the big race!  (Neither of us are great sleepers, so the emphasis is again on "tried".)  The morning of the race we got up, dressed, and drove back to Burke Middle High School.  A plus about starting at the school?  Indoor bathrooms.  Lots of indoor bathrooms.  Neither of us realized how close we were to starting race time as we milled through the runners and sought out the 4:30 pace group.  We'd barely gotten into our place when the countdown to run was on!  (Probably a great thing:  less time for nerves!)

The beginning of the race was really congested with lots of runners and very little space to move or pass each other.  For the first 10 miles of the race, the half and the full marathon runners were set to be together before the course divided.  We settled into a steady pace, keeping the Pace Leaders in sight.  The beginning of the course was beautiful!  

Running by the water, through the Battery, downtown Charleston...all made for great distractions!  Charleston is such a beautiful city and I LOVE the ocean.  My biggest issue was being aware of parked cars as I multi-tasked while running:  snapping photos, texting friends, and tweeting updates.  I really wanted to document as much of the experience as I could because I knew later on in the run I wouldn't have the energy or focus to do so.  Having my phone buzz and ding with encouraging tweets and texts encouraged and inspired me so much! It may sound cliche, but the miles really did seem to go quickly.  I bypassed the first few water/gatorade stops but had to grab a cup full of my favorite running snacks when I saw them at mile 5.5.  I ate them slowly, carrying the cup for about 2 miles!  

Around mile 14, I noticed my watch was dead.  Yep.  Dead.  Turns out it only had an 8 hour charge and I'd forgotten to charge it!  Not being able to see my pace and time made me more aware of just listening to my body and enjoying the run. My sister and I ran together for almost 17 miles before she got ahead of me.  We were making great time and I really wanted her to PR during this marathon.  I shouted to her, "Don't you dare wait for me!"  and settled into running at a comfortable pace and continuing on.  

thanks to PBC Sports Photography for pic!

I talked to a few people as I ran (one guy and 5 of his friends had driven from Canada for the race!).  From mile 18 on, I ran with a friendly art history professor from Georgia (Hi Dinah!).  She was running her third marathon and recovering from plantar fasciitus.  We carried on a great conversation the rest of the race, spurring each other on to finish strong.  She suggested we walk through each water stop and I gladly obliged.  For the last 5 stops we grabbed a cup (or 2) of gatorade, drank up while walking to the trash can, then got back to running.  I think these small breaks really helped me.  At each mile marker, we listened closely to our time and were thrilled to hear how well we were doing!  Finishing under 4:45 wasn't a problem for us and we were stoked!  At mile 26, a volunteer held out a bag of candy offering us pieces.  When she said "gummy bears" I knew she was an angel sent from heaven!  She put several in my hand.  Dinah and I both sprinted the last .2 miles to the finish line, smiling and congratulating each other on a fantastic run.  

I met up with my sister soon after who had indeed finished with a Personal Record.  It was such a moving experience to share my first marathon with her!  We picked up our checked bags:  Dry tops and Nike flip flops have never felt so good!  We gingerly sat on a curb and ate a bowl of shrimp-n-grits.  Neither of us were sure we could stomach it, but after one bite it all seemed to disappear quickly!  We checked our official finish times (mine didn't actually show up on the site until that night!) and boarded the shuttle bus back to the start line.  I think I smiled the rest of the day thinking about this amazing accomplishment.  

I won't bore you any longer with the run-down of the rest of the day, but cupcakes and a wonderful seafood dinner were just some of our food rewards!  Was I sore the next day? Some, but not nearly what I expected to be thanks to compression socks worn after the race until the next morning.  My quads were still sore on Monday but by Tuesday I felt great!  

Will I run another marathon?  

Yes.

There.  I said it.  

#runteacherrun

A marathon? Really?

I began running almost 3 years ago.  I talked a bit about my journey into running in my first guest post on this blog here.  Even after I identified myself as a runner, I knew I would never be "that kind of runner" who ran marathons.  26.2 miles?  Are you kidding me?  No thank you!  I would NEVER do that.

Well my friends...never say never.  

My first year of running I tackled a 5K race, a 4 miler, and then jumped to a 15K.  My second year of running I ran three half marathons and a few 5Ks.  My plans for 2012 were to run at least four half marathons. I had found what I felt was the perfect distance for training and races.  Not too short and not too long.  Definitely a Goldilocks type of distance:  just right.  

Unfortunately, my body had other plans.  The very first day of school in August 2012, I was diagnosed with pneumonia.  Needless to say, the 6 weeks of mandated no running put quite a cramp in my fall half marathon training and plans.  My first race back was a 10K at the end of September.  My lungs were not back to full capacity yet, but I could run. 

That very same day, my sister texted me about a marathon she had decided to run in January.  I texted her back and told her it sounded great to celebrate my 40th birthday with a marathon.  She thought I was joking...which I was...but then something clicked.  Why not celebrate turning 40 by doing something really big like running a marathon?  I called to talk to her.  A decision this monumental could not be expressed through a text alone.  I expressed my desire to run the marathon but my doubt and fears that I really could do it.  We began to talk about training plans and how it would require 16 weeks.  (The timing was perfect with the race 18 weeks away.)  I decided to give the training a try but not actually register for the race.  

After a few weeks of training, I decided to register for the race, with the idea that I could always run the half marathon instead of the full if I needed to make the switch.  I still couldn't convince myself I was going to really do it.  But then I began talking about it.  I figured if I told people about it, I would be more likely to truly go for it.  Running friends encouraged me and told me stories about their own first marathons.  Non-running friends asked if I was crazy.  Apparently so!

Six weeks into the training, I ran my longest run ever: 14 miles.  I survived.  Two weeks later it was a 15 mile run.  My long runs grew and I continued to survive.  After a miserable 18 mile run in cold, rainy yuckiness I knew I really could do it.  I kept thinking that half the battle was mental and at least during the marathon I'd have my sister to keep me company, much better weather, and amazing views and scenery in Charleston, SC.  My final long run of 20 miles before my taper was a few weeks ago.  I ran with a new running friend for 13 of the miles and enjoyed the companionship and conversation.  (and I survived running 20 miles in the snow!) The last two and a half weeks of my training have been the famous taper. 

And now...here I am:  exactly 6 days before my first marathon.  

I'm excited.

I'm super nervous.

But I'm going to do it.

I'M GOING TO RUN A MARATHON!

I've told many people that this is a one-shot deal.  

A bucket list item.  

Check it off the list and be done with the whole marathon thing.  

I suppose I should re-read the beginning of this blog post and never say never. :)

Guest Blog Post by Susan Geidner: Raising Boys, Running Races, Reading Books

Today's guest post comes from Susan Geidner. I put out a tweet last week asking for guest post and have been so excited about the people I've met and the stories I've heard because of that tweet.  (I already LOVE Susan's new blog (BRB) and excited to read it regularly!)  From what I can tell, Susan has figured out how to do it all--be a teacher, a mom, a wife, a reader and a runner!  You can follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanGeidner.  Here are her brilliant tips!

When Franki put out a request for guest bloggers, I had no idea the impact it would have on my life.  During what I like to call a "happy accident" I stumbled upon Franki's request on Twitter recently while vacationing from Facebook.  I had reached a point where FB posts seemed in large part to either be negative, emotionally draining, redundant, and/or self-involved.  I had briefly experimented with Twitter in the past, and have an account for my library, but the combination of my FB vaca and winter break gave me the perfect excuse to delve a little deeper into the Twitter world!  This quickly led to exploring blogs written by other teacher/runners/moms for inspiration, and I can honestly say I have never felt so empowered and supported by a community of complete strangers!  It was just the stimulus I needed to reflect on where I've been, where I am, and where I want to be as a runner, teacher, and mom.  As a result I spent much of my winter break creating my own blog.  In part to make my journey more meaningful, but also to hopefully play a more active role in inspiring others as I have been inspired.  The cherry on top?  Over the course of the past week, everything I have learned has re-connected me to Facebook, but in a much more purposeful, positive manner.  Love it when that happens!

Here are a few tips from my life as a running, teaching, mom...

Raising boys:

• An open mind and a sense of humor is essential!  There is rarely a reason boys do what they do-as Nike says "they just do it!"  So when my oldest declared that May 21st is National "Ryan appreciation day" and everyone should honor him by waving Twizzlers out the window, you just go with it!  Love them for the unique little creatures that they are!
• Safety 1st!  Boys WILL do crazy things!  They are simply wired that way, and I have to admit that over the years they have taught me that this is not always a bad thing.  So instead of saying "no" to all of their hair-brained ideas, I tend to say "yes." (And I wonder why they don't ever go to their dad for permission!) They simply have to explain to me what safety precautions they have in place.   This has forced them to become very creative about how they perform their crazy stunts, and it has saved us many trips to the ER!  (Plus they tend to be less sneaky & more upfront about their plans if they know I won't automatically shoot them down.)
• They ARE capable of taking care of themselves!  A wise friend once told me that if a child can work a Playstation, he can also work an appliance.  Consequently my boys have been doing their own laundry, dishes, etc... since about the age of 7.  Their clothes may not always be pretty, but they're clean, and I get more time to run & read!  :)

Running races:

• The hardest step is the 1st one!  Sometimes I spend 3X as long procrastinating and psyching myself up for a run, than I do actually running it!  (And some of my runs are several hours long!)  In 3 years I have never once regretted a run, but I have definitely had days when I have regretted not running!  (Which I usually respond to by eating...NOT GOOD!)
• You do not have to be in perfect shape to be a runner!  I am proof!  No one would ever look at me and think, "Wow!  She's obviously a runner!" I am 5'2" and 25 pounds overweight.  3 years ago I participated in a Santa Shuffle 5k on a whim with a friend and got hooked.  I have run over 4,500 miles since then, and while I still battle the weight, I know I am far healthier now than I was 3 years ago.
• Run races for the right reasons!  Unless you're an Olympian and/or an elite runner, the purpose of running a race is NOT to win it.  The reason everyone gets a medal is because everyone that crosses that finish line truly deserves one!  Be inspired by other runners! Most have overcome some type of challenge and running is their reward.  It is evident in the sea of personalized bibs and t-shirts.  Set goals for yourself including longer distances, PRs, new terrains, or even visiting new cities; but mostly just enjoy the adrenaline and euphoria that comes with completing something amazing!

Reading books:

• Read for a variety of reasons!  Read to relax, to laugh, to grow, to wonder, to learn, to challenge yourself, etc...  I can't think of one good reason not to read!
• Read "outside the box!" In other words, don't get too stuck in one genre.  One of the reasons I love working in a k-5 library is that I get to read lots of picture books and "kidlit."  Don't ever outgrow these wonderful treasures!  That said, it's also important to read grown up books both for pleasure and professional growth.   Give a new genre an honest chance before you decide you don't like it.
• Share your reading!  While reading itself is most often something you do independently, books really come to life when you discuss them with others.  One of my favorite things to do at school is to casually make sure that the book I am currently reading is visible at my circulation desk.  It is guaranteed to spark interest and conversation with students and staff alike!  (Not to mention, an impressive hold list!)  Social media makes it so easy to discuss books, so don't hesitate to jump into a virtual book group!

Bio:

I taught grades prek-3rd for 20 years, before becoming the ITC director/library media specialist for Avoca West School in 2009. I live north of Chicago and randomly started running in December 2009.  I completed my 3rd marathon last October in Chicago, qualifying for Boston by 48 seconds! (This was another "happy accident!" Running Boston was never a goal of mine, and the reality of it all probably won't sink in until I'm crossing the finish line on April 15th!) Oh yeah, I also have a husband and 4 wonderful sons who range in age from 11-18! Needless to say, life is crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!  

Follow my new blog at BRB! I've got...Boys(to raise), Races(to run) & Books(to read)!

Guest Post by Gretchen Taylor: I Run for Selfish Reasons

Today, we have a guest post from Reading Teacher/Runner Gretchen Taylor.  Gretchen is a Sixth grade Language Arts teacher in Dublin City Schools. She is married to a baseball blogger, and is a soon-to-be-mother of two.  She is hopeful to be racing again this summer!

I run for selfish reasons.  

My running journey did begin for selfless reasons, though, when I started running as a participant in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program.  A former swimmer, I liked the idea of working with a team -- albeit one that didn’t require hand-eye coordination -- to benefit an important cause.  Don’t be fooled, though: a former swimmer does not necessarily an enthusiastic runner make. When I say I started running, I mean, I started. At first, I couldn’t run a mile. I swear. During my first half marathon, the culminating experience of my Team in Training season, I threatened my well-intentioned runner friend -- she’d generously offered to run me through the race -- that I’d throw up on her shoes if she kept talking to me.  That was at mile six. Of 13.1.

But after that first half, something strange happened.  I wanted to keep running. I continue to run today because I (usually) love it.  I started running for others, but now, I admit that I run for myself.

I run to feel the burn of a hill repeat. I run to gab with my running friends.  I run to pass other people while I’m pushing a jogging stroller.  I run to start the day with a rush of adrenaline.  I run to work up a good sweat on a summer morning.  I run to beat a bunch of college girls in a half marathon.  I run to problem solve.   I run to get faster.  I run to work through the haze of post-partum hormones. I run to set a good example for my daughter, and I run to give birth to a healthy son. I run to wear cute running clothes.

I run because it’s mine.

In teaching, we have learned to internalize every “failure” and externalize every success, probably because we by nature aren’t quitters.  The student who still hasn’t really finished a book this year, despite my best efforts? I haven’t found the right book to hook him.  The standardized test scores that I want to be higher? I should have been more aggressive with my diagnostic data results.  The poor behavior choices that just won’t quit?  I need to develop a better relationship with the student.

On the other hand, the student who explodes as a reader? Probably a combination of years of elementary support and being surrounded by other enthusiastic readers.  

We teachers are conditioned to beat ourselves up over the toughest missions and pass off to others the most gratifying credit.

It’s a bit of a twisted sense of efficacy.

But when I’m in my running shoes, I own the successes and the failures. I can internalize both the good and the bad; it’s a refreshing dose of intellectual consistency.  When I reach a personal best in a race, it’s because I trained hard and I earned it.  When I bomb, it’s because I slept in too much, ate poorly, neglected my strength training, or slipped up in any number of areas, all of which are firmly in my control.  

The running community’s all mine, too.  I get up at 4:45 a.m. for the running itself, yes, but also for the community.  For that hour or few, no one has an agenda for me except for making sure I get through my run, preferably with a sense at the end that I could do it all over again the next day.  When I run, I’m surrounded by people who are invested in and excited about each other’s successes.  We truly want each other to succeed.

I get a little twitchy when, in reference to the miles I put in, non-runners say things  to me like, “Oh, it must be nice to have that  kind of time!” or, better yet,  “Oh, but don’t you feel guilty being away from your daughter?”   (Because every two-year-old wants to play at 5:30 a.m., right?)

Some of the busiest, most accomplished, and happiest people I know choose to spend their time running.  Running makes us all better at all of the things we do.  Because of running, I’m more patient, more level-headed, more refreshed, and more confident, in everything I do; I’m more for myself and I have more to give everyone around me.

I might be selfish with my reasons for running … but I don’t feel guilty.

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.