Information Overload

Today I have a few things to talk about. First off, I started school today. Yep. Started Graduate School. Oh My Goodness!!!! I had a hard time falling asleep last night and no matter how hard I tried, I knew it was becuase I was anxious for today. I haven't gone to class for two years! TWO YEARS! But, like riding a bike, I got right back into it and it felt natural.

This week consists of two classes. 8-5, tuesday thru friday. They are only 1 credit classes, but that is a lot of information to cram into four days. So I am currently feeling like I am on information overload right now and it is only the first day of class.

With my AM class, I will be learning how to sauter (spelling?) in order to make a switch....as an assistive device. Interesting. Very interesting. I don't remember signing up for an Industrial Technology class. Let's just say our instructor will be grading on completion of these two devices....NOT whether or not they will work for sure.

Next week I start a new session of classes. Three classes. Those will be spread across a six week period though. Thank goodness. I think I could handle that better. I hope I can handle that.

I was feeling lazy tonight, after a long day of school and didn't think I wanted to work out. So, I came home, made some dinner...and realized it was only 6:30. I knew I had some homework to do, but it wasn't going to take all night. I knew that there was going to be a basketball game on, but not until 8pm. What was I going to do for an hour and a half?!?! I was starting to feel guilty for not doing anything physical today...besides walking up a couple flights of stairs and across campus.

So....I got on my shorts and tank...put on my Polar Heart Rate Monitor...slapped on my handy dandy nano sleeve and headed for my garage. I grabbed the bike...hopped on, only to realize that the tires were quite low.

I expected this.

It has been a long while since I was on it last. I do live in the Midwest ya know!

So, I rode slowly a block and half to the nearest gas station. Fill me up. Only took me a couple minutes to realize why the air pump machine was sucking the air out of my tire and not putting it into them..... You've got to press the ON button dork!

Wow! Luckily not too many people saw me! .... And we're off! What a beautiful night for a ride! Little wind out of the North which made the East to West and back East ride quite a work out...more than I expected! But well worth it! I even broke a good sweat!

Now, I got home just in time to watch the pre-game! I LOVE BASKETBALL! Absolutely love it! I even love listening to the men discuss it during the pre-game! So...tonights game is game 4 of the Suns vs. the Mavs..... So I was watching the pre-game. They weren't so much talking about tonights game as for talking about last night's game.... Detroit vs. Miami. I watched that one...Miami smashed Detroit! YEAH!

Here's a little humor I found from Mr. Barkley: Total BS....It's Total BS... (in regards to Detroits playing last night). The Pistons (players) are using Phlip Saunders as a scapegoat!

No kiddin'!!!..... Don't blame it on the new guy! Just becuase he has some better players than when he was with the T-wolves, doesn't mean it is his fault they lost! He can only do so much!

I just had to laugh at CBarkley becuase he can go and go and go...and to hear him use the term BS on tv made me giggle.

That's enough out of me today! I best be getting my HOMEWORK done like a good student! Oh, the Twins one again last night...and they are up two tonight already! Keep it up Twins!

I am SO a beginning runner...

I just want to be a good runner. I want to increase my endurance and strength so I can run further, for a longer amount of time. Today I ran 4 miles. That is long for me people! I really look up to those who can run further. A lot further. I was able to put in 4 miles today, with a little walking in some parts. But, overall I did it in 48 minutes. It felt good. I wasn't sore, I wasn't too tired. Maybe I just need to push myself a little harder. I am working on doing other things during the week to keep myself from getting injured. Any words of wisdom from fellow runners out there? Any pointers? I could use any advice or motivation!

Don't Do It!

What ever you do, don't do it! Believe me! It is not fun to run the day after you eat authentic mexican food for dinner. Wow! Yesterday was my sister's birthday and we went out for dinner at this "new" mexican restaurant in town. Let me just say I wasn't feeling too hot this morning and was only able to get in 2 miles. And I only had a couple drinks. Yuck. Stomach gurgling. Yuck. nauseous feeling. Yuck. NOT...A...GOOD...IDEA... I am really hurting today, and unfortunately it is not do to a really good run. Darnit!

Training: WEEK 4

Monday: run 3 miles/volleyball

Tuesday: Eliptical - 30 minutes

Wednesday: run 3 miles/weights

Thursday: volleyball

Friday: OFF

Saturday: rollerblade 45 min.

Sunday: run 2 miles


WEEK 4 TOTALS:

• __8__ miles (run)
• __0__ miles (walk)
• __0__ miles (bike)
• __0__ miles (swim)
• __0__ min. (spin)
• __30__ min. (eliptical)
• __45__ min. (rollerblade)
  

No Child Left Behind Analogy

I received the following in an email from a fellow teacher. I thought it was
interesting and worth sharing. Enjoy.

No Dentist Left Behind

My dentist is great! He sends me reminders so I don't forget checkups.
He uses the latest techniques based on research. He never hurts me, and
I've got all my teeth.

When I ran into him the other day, I was eager to see if he'd heard
about the new state program. I knew he'd think it was great.

"Did you hear about the new state program to measure effectiveness of
dentists with their young patients?" I said.

" No," he said. He didn't seem too thrilled. "How will they do that?"

"It's q uite simple," I said. "They will just count the number of cavities
each patient has at age 10, 14, and 18 and average that to determine a
dentist's rating. Dentists will be rated as excellent, good, average, below
average, and unsatisfactory. That way parents will know which are the
best dentists. The plan will also encourage the less effective dentists to
get better," I said. "Poor dentists who don't improve could lose their
licenses to practice."

"That's terrible," he said.

"What? That's not a good attitude," I said. "Don't you think we should try
to improve children's dental health in this state?"

"Sure I do," he said, "but that's not a fair way to determine who is practicing
good dentistry."

Why not?" I said. "It makes perfect sense to me."

"Well, it's so obvious," he said. "Don't you see that dentists don't all work
with the same clientele, and that much depends on things we can't
control? For example, I work in a rural area with a high percentage of
patients from deprived homes, while some of my colleagues work in
upper middle-class neighborhoods. Many of the parents I work with don't
bring their children to see me until there is some kind of problem, and I
don't get to do much preventive work. Also many of the parents I serve
let their kids eat way too much candy from an early age, unlike more
educated parents who understand the relationship between sugar and decay.
To top it all off, so many of my clients have well water, which is untreated
and has no fluoride in it. Do you have any idea how much difference early
use of fluoride can make?"

"It sounds like you're making excuses," I said. "I can't believe that you,
my dentist, would be so defensive. After all, you do a great job, and you
needn't fear a little accountability."

"I am not being defensive!" he said. "My best patients are as good as anyone's,
my work is as good as anyone's, but my average cavity count is going to be
higher than a lot of other dentists because I chose to work where I am
needed most." 

"Don't' get touchy," I said.

"Touchy?" he said. His face had turned red, and from the way he was clenching
and unclenching his jaws, I was afraid he was going to damage his teeth.
"Try furious! In a system like this, I will end up being rated average, below
average, or worse. The few educated patients I have who see these ratings
may believe this so-called rating is an actual measure of my ability and
proficiency as a dentist. They may leave me, and I'll be left  with only the
most needy patients. And my cavity average score will get even worse. On
top of that, how will I attract good dental hygienists and other excellent
dentists to my practice if it is labeled below average?"

"I think you are overreacting," I said. "'Complaining, excuse-making and
stonewalling won't improve dental health'...I am quoting from a leading
member of the DOC," I noted.

"What's the DOC?" he asked.

"It's the Dental Oversight Committee," I said, "a group made up of mostly
persons to make sure dentistry in this state gets improved."

"Spare me," he said, "I can't believe this. Reasonable people won't buy it,"
he said hopefully.

The program sounded reasonable to me, so I asked, "How else would you
measure good dentistry?"

"Come watch me work," he said. "Observe my processes."

"That's too complicated, expensive and time-consuming," I said. "Cavities
are the bottom line, and you can't argue with the bottom line. It's an
absolute measure."

"That's what I'm afraid my parents and prospective patients will think.
This can't be happening," he said despairingly.

"Now, now," I said, "don't despair. The state will help you some." 

"How?" he asked.

"If you receive a poor rating, they'll send a dentist who is rated excellent
to help straighten you out," I said brightly. 

"You mean," he said, "they'll send a dentist with a wealthy clientele to
show me how to work on severe juvenile dental problems with which
I have probably had much more experience? BIG HELP!" 

"There you go again," I said. "You aren't acting professionally at all."

"You don't get it," he said. "Doing this would be like grading schools and
teachers on an average score made on a test of children's progress with no
regard to influences outside the school, the home, the community served
and stuff like that. Why would they do something so unfair to dentists?
No one would ever think of doing that to schools."

I just shook my head sadly, but he had brightened. "I' m going to write my
representatives and senators," he said. "I'll use the school analogy. Surely
they will see the point."

He walked off with that look of hope mixed with fear and suppressed anger
that I, a teacher, see in the mirror so often lately.

If you don't understand why educators resent the recent federal NO CHILD
LEFT BEHIND ACT, this may help. 

Do good things come in threes?

I have heard that bad things come in threes, but do good things come in threes as well? I would like to believe so. This is why....

1. Last night the Miami heat was able to beat the Detroit Pistons! Even though I did not watch most of the game due to other things on tv, I did get a glimse of a few parts of the game! I was so excited. I really don't care for the Pistons...nothing personally, they just aren't my favorite.
2. My second good thing was staying up to watch the Twins beat the Indians in the 10th inning. Wonderful! But, I was disappointed when I got home from running errands today and found that they lost today 11-0. That is rediculous!
3. Third thing. I went to my hair salon and found out that my hair was long enough to donate! I was nervous. Especially when she showed me where she would have to cut my hair! Oh My Goodness! She had to put it into 4 ponytails! That's a lot of hair! I knew it was going to be short! I don't think I have ever had my hair this short before...ever! It is to my jaw line! Wow!
   

On a training note, my 3 mile run today was pathetic. It took me FOREVER! I don't know what my deal was. I think that I just wasn't there mentally. I don't think I was motivated for it either! I might be taking the day off tomorrow. Maybe I will just do a little weights. I have volleyball tomorrow night so I need to be ready for that! Have a couple beers and hopefully share a pizza with my team...if we win!

My Running Playlist

I know I am always looking for good running music, so I thought I would post a handful of songs that I like to listen to! Beware though, there is quite a variety of music. Please don't judge me on what I listen to, it usually consists of a good beat for my pace! Enjoy! The top three are my favorite right now!

Something Corporate - Konstantine
Something Corporate - Hurricane
Tantric - Breakdown
Tantric - Astounded
Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
The All-American Rejects - Swing, Sing
Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get it Started
Black Eyed Peas - My humps
Black Horse & The Cherry Trees - You're not the one for me (My new theme song)
Blues Brothers - Everybody Needs Somebody to love
blues brothers - gimme some lovin
Busta rhymes - make it clap (remix)
David Bowie & Queen - Under Pressure
Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet
Elvis Presley vs. JXL - A little less conversation (remix)
Eminem - Square Dance
Gwen Stefani - Holla Back Girl
Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGhee
Journey - Seperate ways
Madonna - Confessions on a Dancefloor
Maxine Nightingale - Right Back
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Something Corporate - I kissed a drunk girl
Two Worlds - Bring it back
Two Worlds - The Fields of Love
50 cent - In the club
ABBA - Take a chance on me
Adrenaline - Shut the F*** up and dance
Alicia Bridges - I love the nightlife
Amy Stewart - Knock on wood
The Beatles - lady madonna
Blues brothers - boom, boom, boom
Cake - I will survive
Darude - Feel the beat
Dusty Springfield - Son of a preacher man
George Harrison - I've got my mind set on you
Greed Day - Boulevard of broken dreams
James Dean - I feel good
Journey - Cold as Ice
Journey - Eye of the tiger
Mary J. Blige - Dance for me (remix)
Metallica - enter sandman
Missy Elliott - Lose Control
Neil McCoy - Billy's got his beer goggles on
Pink feat. Redman - Get this party started (remix)
ray Charles - mess around
Rick james - Superfreak
Skee Lo - I wish
Sublime - Santeria
Ferris Buellers Day Off - theme
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed girl

To Donate...or Not to Donate...

Okay. So I have an issue. As some of you may have noticed, I am in the process of trying to grow my hair out to donate to Locks of Love. But, I also noted that I may not be patient enough. Well, I think I have reached the end of my patience. I am afraid that I may have too many short layers in my hair. And I am pretty sure even my longest layers aren't long enough(10 inches). While getting ready this morning for my workout, I realized that I am sick of this big mop. For those of you who know me personally, you know that it is not just the length that is driving me crazy....it is the thickness. They could make multiple wigs from my head of hair. It is at the length where I am afraid it won't grow much longer before I shave my head...it is just too HEAVY! DANGIT! With this warm weather, I sometimes feel as if I have a plastic bag over my head! I want to blame my headaches from this big mop. What do I do? I want to be able to donate, but I don't think I can wait much longer. I want to be able to just throw it up in a ponytail and barely notice it is even there. I don't want to be able to feel my hair pulling the ponytail out as I am reaching the end of my runs.....

New Shoes...and other stuff..!!!

I got new shoes!

I am so excited! It feels like I am running on clouds! I had a really hard time deciding on whether to get them or not, but I did! And I don't regret it at all! When I ran with them yesterday, I couldn't believe the difference. My old shoes really were worn and just not right for me! I never thought I would be this excited over shoes. But, when I got off the treadmill yesterday, I felt that I could have ran for miles and miles.

On another note...today was so HOT here. I couldn't beleive it. Yesterday we barely reached 70 degrees, and today it was 89! 89! 89! I am glad I did my workout this morning in the gym, (with my new shoes)! But, it has been a bit windy. Ha! If anyone knows the weather here, it is hard to describe it without the word windy! The Windy City doesn't know wind until they've been here! Oh....if I could get rid of the wind here, it would be such a happier place for all!

I went and bought most of my books today for summer school! That was kind of exciting. A little expensive, but kind of exciting. When coming home, it kind of hit me. Wow, I am going back to school! This feels weird. I haven't taken classes in two years! But, still, I am excited!

Well, that's about it for today. Kind of a worthless post, but I felt it has been a while! Have a great tuesday, folks!

Training: WEEK 3

Well, this week wasn't exactly successful. But, I like to think I took some great restful days to fully recoup from shin splints. I think. With school being done this week, I hope that I will be able to be get back into my routine this coming week, before graduate school starts. Hopefully.


WEEK 3 TOTALS:

• __5__ miles (run)
• __3__ miles (walk)
  
• __0__ XT
• __0__ SPIN
  

Last Day of School....sniff..sniff..

Today was the last day of school. It was sad and exciting. I was sad to see my few sixth graders go through their graduation ceremony this morning. I was sad when I had to give some of my younger students a hug this afternoon. But, it was really sad when we all got together after school to celebrate a "partial" retirement party for our librarian and found out that they were also using it as a time to get me "best wishes" gifts and celebrate. This was completely unecissary, but I should have expected it from the group of teachers I work with. The picture to the left is of gerber daisies that I received from my para. One of the many beautiful gifts I received. I am really going to miss the school I am at. I couldn't have asked for a better group of teachers, support staff, paras, and principal to work with. I have been truely blessed. This year has been a difficult year, being thrown into a job with little experience and little to none guidance. Trying to figure out my students and what they struggle with, along with their strengths. Trying to become comfortable with the idea of someone working under me and having to tell them what to do. There has been a lot of ups and downs this year as well. I have lost a few students due to them moving. I found out in March that my position was being filled by another teacher in a small town, but since I was thinking of going back to school anyway, my director told me to apply for the resident program. This giving me the opportunity to obtain my masters in Special Education while teaching. So, next year, I will be working in a different school, with both elementary and high school students. I will miss my students from this year, but I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead of me!

101 Things about ME

1. I am a beginning runner...very beginning
2. never ran in High School..nor college...
3. I have my BA in Science with a degree in Elementary Education
4. Currently going back to school to receive my Masters in Special Education
5. My title will be Special Education Strategist...I think it has a nice ring..
6. The harder the challege at work, the more I like my job
7. as long as it is student related
8. I dislike working with lazy teachers
9. some people call me a work-aholic
10. since college, I have always had more than one job
11. sometimes 3
12. My past jobs include college student, office clerk for campus traffic division (or my family would call me the traffic nazi), sales associate/sales lead for a beauty product store, server in a bar, paraeducator, and teacher of special needs.
13. two of those jobs I shared with one of my sisters, whom I live with currently, whom I have the same phone as (with the number being only one-digit different).
14. We're alike...but we're also different..
15. I have TWO younger sisters
16. we're all alike, but very different from each other as well
    
17. I get more done when I have more TO GET DONE
    
18. My down fall is potato chips and coca-cola
19. ...and peanut m&m's
20. If I am hungry...you will know it..I tend to get crabby...or edgy
21. The only coffee I drink is frozen coffee drinks
22. like my Grande Mocha Frappicino Light
23. I usually only drink coffee when with friends or family...it's not an addiction
    
24. I like Spinning about as much if not more than running (right now)
25. I don't always like the stairstepper...but I like th jello-y feeling in my legs afterwards
26. I have come to the realization that I can't run (successfully) without my nano or my water bottle.
    
27. Unless I am running with someone
    
28. One of my favorite shows is American Idol
29. I am still upset for those who voted off Chris Daughtry, but...I will get over it
30. I also love all the crime investigating shows, especially Law and Order SVU
    
31. I would rather listen to music then watch tv
32. any kind of music
33. especially jazz, blues, oldies for relaxation
34. I love my hip hop, trance, disco music for running
    
35. I love curling up with a good book
36. a good love story, memior, or biography
    
37. especially on rainy, snowy, gloomy days
38. I don't get how some people don't enjoy reading as a pass time or hobby
    
39. I get along better with guys
40. Girls cause too much drama
41. and they tend to hold grudges
    
42. don't get me wrong...I still love my close girlfriends
43. I would choose hanging out with friends at a house (grillin', drinkin', laughin') over hanging out at the bar
44. I do like the bars scene every once and a while
45. I have the tendency to take guys' caps...after having a few drinks..
46. I love to watch College Basketball...NBA comes in a close second
47. Go Tarheels!
    
48. watching golf on tv can make me fall asleep
    
49. I love to watch movies, but I tend to fall asleep during them...any of them...
50. Just don't make me watch one after 8pm
51. I am also ready for bed by 9pm...with my book
52. I am a morning person
53. I would rather work out at 5am than 5pm
54. Some ask me if my hair is naturally curly...I tell them yes becuase it has been since 6th grade...after my first perm.
    
55. sometimes I wish I had straight hair...sometimes I would like to just shave my head
56. I am trying to grow my hair out for Locks of Love
57. I don't think I will have the patience to wait
58. I don't have as much patience as I should
    
59. Some wonder how I can work with kids...let alone kids with learning disabilities
60. I hate being late for anything
61. The only time I was late for school in my entire education career was in 9th grade summer school.
62. I had the alarm set for PM not AM...and parents we're home to wake me.
63. I enjoy being shorter...than the average female...
64. I don't care for wearing make-up
65. I do...but don't like it.
66. I look forward to sundays, since I usually don't work then...
67. then I go without make-up
68. I would rather wear shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops or tennies than dressy clothes
69. so much more comfortable...isn't that what life is about?
    
70. I want to do some hiking
71. and back packing
72. and camping
73. not alone though
74. I have only lived in one State
75. North Dakota
76. The beautiful, endless prairie .... The Badlands sweeping across the west, the hills and valleys, and the ferocious wind on the east.
77. I love see the change in seasons ...summer, fall, winter, winter, winter, spring...
78. I could definitely see myself moving to another state....
79. atleast for a while
80. But I still really do love ND...
81. I can't go anywhere without my cell phone....
82. even though I don't get many calls
83. If someone would do the grocery shopping..
84. I would cook a decent meal every night of the week
85. If someone would clean my bathroom
86. I would do their laundry AND vaccuum
87. I have to have a glass of water by my bed every night.
88. It can't be from the night before
89. It must be fresh, cold water
90. Even though I probably only take one sip and fall asleep
91. I sleep in the middle of my bed and have to fall asleep with the tv on...unless I am really tired
92. I would rather have any kind of doctor appointment than go the dentist
93. I have never broken a bone or had stitches...knock on wood
94. I want a dog of my own
95. Probably a big one .... but I do love the little ones too
    
96. I want to travel Europe someday
97. hopefully the summer of 2007
98. Maybe I will travel by myself on a Contiki Tour
    
99. Especially Germay, I heard it's gorgeous there
100. I hope to have atleast one great travel experience a year
101. When I retire, I hope to travel the rest of the world that I haven't seen by then.
     

End of the School Year...

Yesterday we decided to celebrate the ending of the school year in my room. It was a day that I knew I would be able to get all my students down at one time and take some great photos. So, I brought the cake. My favorite. The Cookie Cake! I used to have these at my birthday parties. Until the Cookie Company closed down. But, now they have it in our mall, and I just had to get it! The kids loved it! My para brought juice and ice cream, and the kids really enjoyed it! I am going to be sad that the year is almost over, but I am looking forward to starting graduate school and being done a year from now!

What a run...

My first run of the week and it wasn't my greatest. I didn't have my Nano with me. That stunk. So I attempted to watch/read Fox News ... at an angle. I was conjested in my head from this weird thing going on in my head. Plus, I probably didn't have the greatest attitude. But, after 2.5 miles and realizing it was already 6am, I scrambled for my belongings and headed out the door. Only to find one gorgeous North Dakota Morning.



No wind. No breeze. Sun shining. blue skies. 50 degrees.




Smell of green grass and wonderful lilac trees.




It changed my whole attitude for the day. Now I wanted to run .... outside. But, I don't have time. Maybe I will take a nice long bike ride this afternoon if it is still nice out.

Who has the answers?

So, I realized yesterday that I was possibly coming down with something. Why now? Why me? I haven't been sick with a full-blown cold or flu in ages. Or atleast a couple years. Why is it now, that my body is having a hard time fighting this off. Do I spend more time resting? Do I keep on with my exercising? What is the happy medium? Am I missing out on something in my diet? Who has the answers?

I have already come to the realization that I am not going to get my 12 miles this week. I haven't run yet, since my week begins on mondays and I took monday off due to a long run sunday, and today I didn't have time due to a dinner date with some friends from work. This coming weekend I plan to be out of town, so I am hoping to do my long run friday afternoon.

I am starting to get nervous with the thought of summer school starting in a week and a half. Over a nine week period, I plan to get 17 credits out of the way. With the stress of graduate school, juggling time between class and studying, I am wondering how I will fit in a running schedule.... But I guess I will just have to burn that bridge when I get there.

Any suggestions out there?

Training: WEEK 2

Monday: After spending the last 36 hours with some sort of a headache, I still decided to go for a run today since I missed my long run yesterday for week 1. What a way to start. I jogged 3.5 miles and felt great!

Tuesday: Not sore today. Actually, I feel really good. I got a good nights sleep and am rested. Won't get a chance to run/workout today, since I didn't want to get up at 5am and I have a dinner to go to tonight at 6pm.

Wednesday: Had to workout at 5am. Well, had to get up at 5am, but got to the gym by 5:20. But, it had to be done, otherwise I would have had 2 days off, and that just wasn't going to cut it for me! I ran 2.5 miles this morning in 27 minutes(10.8 min. mile). It was a hard and faster run. That is all I had time for. Shins were bothering me a little bit. I think I will take thursday off from running and do some Cross Training(XT) in the AM.

Thursday: XT in the AM. 20min. on the Stairstepper and then 10 minutes of weights.

Friday: This was supposed to be my LONG run day. Didn't happen. walked 2 miles. Shin Splints...I believe.

Saturday: OFF....this was hard.

Sunday: LONG run today. 4 miles in 46 minutes. Went well. Took my time and it felt good. One of those runs where I felt I could have gone longer, but I didn't want to push it.

WEEK 2 TOTALS:

• 12 miles
• 30 min. XT

Now, I have another long week ahead.

These are bothering me

This morning at 5:20, I was going to attempt my long run. Not so successful. If anything, it made me want to cry. I ran a mile, then had to walk. I made myself walk for another 15 minutes, since I was already at the gym. So much for 4 miles. I think I am pushing myself too hard, too fast. I guess I am just going to have to wait a couple days. I have come to the realization that I might have shin splints, with my right leg being worse. DARNIT! This makes me angry. In my case, I think a lot of things had caused this; doing too much too quick, improper or not enough stretching, not enough rest, maybe improper footwear, and weak/imbalanced calf muscles. I am not too happy with this. This is definitely going to affect my training schedule. But, I would rather be safe than sorry and injure myself to the point of not being able to run at all.

ENDURANCE

Endurance is something that I need to work on. I feel as if there are things that are not insync when I run. It is usually my lungs that want to cry first. My legs can go longer. I have battled on and off with side stitches every once and a while. This may be coming from pushing myself too hard. I don't know. Maybe I need to work on my breathing. Sometimes I think I focus too much on my breathing that I can't enjoy my run, and that is when I usually get those darn side stitches.

I looked up the definition of endurance (even though I knew what it meant), this is what I found:

the power to withstand hardship or stress; "the marathon tests the runner's endurance"; tolerance, long-sufferance, long-suffering, stamina, toughness, continuing existence, duration, etc.

Well, if that doesn't sum it up, I don't know what will. Stress. Duration. Existence. Tolerance. That all says it. I know I need to kick into gear my Cross Training to increase my endurance, and I hope to begin Spinning again soon. Any recommendations?

Running Shoes

Yes. These are my running shoes. They are the only pair I have. I have not yet reached the point where I have more than one pair of shoes. Maybe I have reached that point, but just haven't got the money. Yeah. That sounds right. If I had more money, I would probably have a few pairs. These shoes have had their fair share of miles. Does anyone else have a hard time finding "the right" shoes? I still don't think I have found "my perfect shoe" but I am getting closer. I think next time I am going to have to stray away from the New Balance. My last pair of New Balances, even though they were so cute, gave me the worst cuts on my ankles. Some sort of plastic broke through the fabric in no time. So, needless to say, I was weary of buying another pair, but these are a different number. These are 536 ABZORB . And, I have enjoyed these; with a little touch of pink in them. But, they have done a little rubbing on my pinky toes. Not always, but they did. Maybe it was just my stride. Maybe I have improved my stride, because the last couple of weeks have been fine. If anyone wants to share their favorite shoe, I would love to hear.

Training: WEEK 1

Okay. So last week was not a good week to start training for a half marathon. I don't know if I will ever be ready for it! I only ran twice and had a nice long walk on Saturday for the Great Strides (Cystic Fibrosis), but I did put on about 10.5 miles! I must say it was pretty good for not working out the two weeks before! I spaced my workouts quite well, giving me the appropriate time to recover. I was a little sore on thursday due to a nice hard workout on wednesday night. This week is going to be another challenge for me, with so much going on at work, cousin's graduation on saturday, and trying to get things ready for summer school and next year. But, if all goes the way I plan, I should be able to get in 12.5 miles this week. We'll see. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger...Right?

Running for Me

I haven't always liked to run. As a matter of fact, growing up, I would struggle through the mile run in physical education class. It wasn't fun for me. I wasn't good at it, and I had no motivation what-so-ever to "practice" in order to do well on the mile once a year. Forget it. With that note, one may conclude that I didn't participate in sports either. But I did. In elementary school only though. Basketball and volleyball. But, that didn't require much running, and I lost interest in playing it through the public school system when I entered middle school. There were too many girls, icky try-outs, and I guess I just didn't have the drive. When I started college I realized that being physically active is something that I needed to do for me. Myself. My body and mind. So I started hitting the gym. By myself. I was embarrassed as to how little I could run or for how short of a time I could workout. But, I WAS doing it. Better than not doing it at all. It wasn't until about 2 year ago this summer that I decided I needed to start running/jogging. I was working out, but not enough to get a good cardio. So I did. I ran outside. Probably a mile a day. That's it. That was all I could motivate myself to do. I never thought I would be able to do more than that. Especially with my knees. But, I realized that the more I have exercised, the stronger my knees have become. With the added help of bags of frozen peas or carrots afterwards, of course. Then last spring, I really got on the band wagon with working out. I found myself working out 5 days a week. Not always running, but Spinning, and a little bit of Cross Training(XT). Spinning is great for marathon runners; it does wonders for your endurance! Then came summer. Worked two jobs; one being at the wee hours in the morning and the other taking up most of the day. That left little energy and motivation for working out. So needless to say, my workouts pretty much went down the tube for those three months. But, I got back into it. I was bound and determined to stick with it. I trained so I could complete my first 5K (3.1 miles) Thanksgiving Day, 2005. What a wonderful feeling. And now, I am still running and am trying to train for my first half marathon. You're right. I am crazy. I as well think that maybe I should do some more 5k's and even 10k's (6.2 miles) before I do my first half marathon (13.1 miles). But, some people say that I can do it, and I am going to try. I have 18 weeks. Most 1st-time half-marathoner's can train in 12. So I am giving myself an extra 6 weeks! I am not training to complete in a set time. I will train to finish. That is my goal for my first 1/2 marathon. Maybe my second one will be training to beat my first time. We'll see. So this blog will consist of my journey, my thoughts, my pain (hopefully no injuries), my accomplishments, and most of all my love for running. Running for Me.