"Just another brick in the wall," he says?
YEAH, RIGHT!
Someone ought to tell him I'm taking those bricks out of the wall.
Remember the post not too far back where I mentioned all the brick walls I was running into with my training and how I wasn't certain I could make it through to the marathon but I was going to try my hardest and push through those walls to show how badly I wanted this? Well, I'm pushing, and I do believe some bricks are coming out of the walls. Little by little the walls are crumbling and I'm feeling more confident that I can and will finish that half-marathon in January.
Last Tuesday I did five miles on the track but struggled with a bit of foot pain while doing them. My schedule didn't allow me time to get back to the track again until today, where I upped the laps to 6 miles. I alternated jogging with walking and accomplished the mission in 1 hour, 17 minutes.
And miraculously my feet didn't hurt one bit while on the track! Now that I'm home I can feel them starting to ache a bit but I'll ice them and stretch them well to keep them from screaming at me.
I need to leave in a little bit to teach my aqua class and then this evening I have a step class to teach. Of all days, one would think I must be insane to plan my biggest walk of the week on the same day I double up on my class teachings, but this was the only day I could fit the training in.
But I'm feeling pretty proud that what I'm aiming for is within sight and my body isn't rebelling like it had a while back.
So take that Pink Floyd!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
School is going to be the death of me
I know there are parents out there who relish sending their kids back to school because it frees up their day and gives them more time to themselves. Truthfully, I'd like to meet 'these parents' and find out if they're full of hogwash or not. My life has never simplified when school is back in session.
Never.
It's as if I'm back in school in a way. One challenge comes from helping my first-grader, who has never had homework before, get used to doing daily homework. This is so new to Bethany that she's been quite the little pain in the rear about doing it. She whines about it, or just gets irritated that she's having to do it, or gets lazy and would rather squirm or try to defy me. I'm doing my best to set the tone that schoolwork is non-negotiable and whining will not be tolerated. She has already lost certain priveledges over the homework battle so I'm hoping that the worst is over. But it ain't no picnic for either of us even on the best of days.
Then we have Morgan, my dear Morgan. I spend an enormous amount of time every day asking her questions about what homework she has, whether the books are being brought home, reading through her agenda to know what teachers assigned what, trying to keep her focused during the acutal homework, and then reviewing her schoolwork for accuracy. Middle school is a hellacious change from elementary school and poor Morgan and I are still trying to adjust.
From the time they get home from school we are so busy with after-school snacks and talking about the day, and then getting the homework done, that dinnertime rolls around so quickly and following that is bath and bedtime in order to start the whole process tomorrow. My goodness, I hardly get to just be with my children anymore.
Cuddling on the couch, laughing at a joke, reading a great book together, smiling in secrecy, just being with the girls...I think I actually learn more in those moments that I ever did in school.
Never.
It's as if I'm back in school in a way. One challenge comes from helping my first-grader, who has never had homework before, get used to doing daily homework. This is so new to Bethany that she's been quite the little pain in the rear about doing it. She whines about it, or just gets irritated that she's having to do it, or gets lazy and would rather squirm or try to defy me. I'm doing my best to set the tone that schoolwork is non-negotiable and whining will not be tolerated. She has already lost certain priveledges over the homework battle so I'm hoping that the worst is over. But it ain't no picnic for either of us even on the best of days.
Then we have Morgan, my dear Morgan. I spend an enormous amount of time every day asking her questions about what homework she has, whether the books are being brought home, reading through her agenda to know what teachers assigned what, trying to keep her focused during the acutal homework, and then reviewing her schoolwork for accuracy. Middle school is a hellacious change from elementary school and poor Morgan and I are still trying to adjust.
From the time they get home from school we are so busy with after-school snacks and talking about the day, and then getting the homework done, that dinnertime rolls around so quickly and following that is bath and bedtime in order to start the whole process tomorrow. My goodness, I hardly get to just be with my children anymore.
Cuddling on the couch, laughing at a joke, reading a great book together, smiling in secrecy, just being with the girls...I think I actually learn more in those moments that I ever did in school.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Loopy, lazy, listening, or livin' la vida loco?
All of these adjectives ran through my brain today as I attempted to label what I was feeling in regards to my days' workout.
As I woke this morning I was a bit unsure of what all I would do for exercise today. I really wanted to get 4 miles of training in and I knew I had an hour aqua class to teach at noon. Other possibilities included walking with Bethany at morning PE before school and attending a spin class. All these workout plans must mean I'm a little loopy, eh?
With a drizzle coming down the morning PE was out. No big deal as that's just a mile of light walking anyway. Due to the drizzle, though, I crossed off the 4 miles of training since that would be at the one mile track and I wasn't interested in doing that in the rain.
So I came home. Hence the laziness.
Then I told myself that I really, truly was still groggy from not sleeping well last night so I aimed to take a little nap. That's where the listening part comes in. I reasoned with myself that I was listening to my body and trying to give it what it really needed which was a little break rather than a day full of exhaustion. After lying in bed for about half an hour and not being able to sleep I gave up on the nap notion and formulated a new plan.
The time was now about 10am, with spin class scheduled to start at 10:30. I could grab a quick snack and get out the door in time to spin, but more than spinning I really wanted to log 4 miles today. The rain had stopped so my outdoor mileage was now back on the agenda.
I made it to the track, stretched, and began walking at 10:40. I had one hour until I needed to get inside to prepare for my aqua class. After 3 miles of walking it was now 11:25. I didn't have quite enough time to walk another mile, finish more stretching, and get to class on time. But I really, really wanted that fourth mile. So I made my mind up to jog/walk that last mile. I haven't really jogged in months due to the previously mentioned foot/knee/hip problems, but I gave it a shot today and finished the mile in 11 minutes. A few minutes to stretch, my laps were complete, and I was off to aqua.
Such is my crazy life. Gotta keep flexible, right? We're all livin' la vida loco. Better enjoy the ride.
As I woke this morning I was a bit unsure of what all I would do for exercise today. I really wanted to get 4 miles of training in and I knew I had an hour aqua class to teach at noon. Other possibilities included walking with Bethany at morning PE before school and attending a spin class. All these workout plans must mean I'm a little loopy, eh?
With a drizzle coming down the morning PE was out. No big deal as that's just a mile of light walking anyway. Due to the drizzle, though, I crossed off the 4 miles of training since that would be at the one mile track and I wasn't interested in doing that in the rain.
So I came home. Hence the laziness.
Then I told myself that I really, truly was still groggy from not sleeping well last night so I aimed to take a little nap. That's where the listening part comes in. I reasoned with myself that I was listening to my body and trying to give it what it really needed which was a little break rather than a day full of exhaustion. After lying in bed for about half an hour and not being able to sleep I gave up on the nap notion and formulated a new plan.
The time was now about 10am, with spin class scheduled to start at 10:30. I could grab a quick snack and get out the door in time to spin, but more than spinning I really wanted to log 4 miles today. The rain had stopped so my outdoor mileage was now back on the agenda.
I made it to the track, stretched, and began walking at 10:40. I had one hour until I needed to get inside to prepare for my aqua class. After 3 miles of walking it was now 11:25. I didn't have quite enough time to walk another mile, finish more stretching, and get to class on time. But I really, really wanted that fourth mile. So I made my mind up to jog/walk that last mile. I haven't really jogged in months due to the previously mentioned foot/knee/hip problems, but I gave it a shot today and finished the mile in 11 minutes. A few minutes to stretch, my laps were complete, and I was off to aqua.
Such is my crazy life. Gotta keep flexible, right? We're all livin' la vida loco. Better enjoy the ride.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Left foot, right foot, feet, feet, feet
Taking a quick hiatus from the cruise reporting, I thought I'd share something non-vacation related.
As I was walking this morning I had this particular Dr. Suess book title running through my head. People who know me well know that I am no Dr. Suess fan. Not in the least. I've never cared for the nonsensical rhyming type books. They just make no sense to me. I understand they are great for teaching children because of the rhyming and lilting tone of voice used to read them, and the repetition is good to help little ones start to read. But I don't like 'em.
Because of my aversion to Dr. Suess books it is beyond understanding how we ended up buying the Left foot, Right foot book before Morgan was born. I'm sure it was not my idea so it must've been James who put it in our shopping cart, probably despite my protests. I do recall we used to read the book to my expanding belly while waiting on Morgan to arrive. And no matter how I try, the crazy rhymes just won't escape my head.
Which is what was going through my brain today as I plodded along on a 2 mile walk at the track this morning. I had just finished up an hour and a half of teaching aerobics this morning and wanted to hit the track for some marathon training. I've been away from the training for the past two weeks as I'd started experiencing hip pain and didn't want to exaserbate the injury by pushing through the pain. But today things were feeling well enough to begin with that I decided to give it another go.
And when the pain started to come back in a less sharp/more nagging type of way, I heard Dr. Suess inside my head, chanting "Left foot, right foot, feet, feet, feet." I tried to hush him up but he kept chanting despite my mp3 trying to drown him out with some great 80's tunes. So I just went with the Suess non-sense and told myself that that was exactly how I was going to accumulate the mileage I need to complete this half-marathon I've registered for.
Despite all the roadblocks I've had along the way (and there have been many!) I'm still trying to follow through with the promise I made to myself back on January 1st of this year. And I remind myself of some powerful words that never fail to inspire me~~The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are there to keep "the others" out. The brick walls are there to test how badly we want something.
I have run into so many brick walls over the last few months with my feet issues (plantar fascitis), a knee problem, and then the most recent hip problem. I've considered that these are all signs from God that I'm not meant to be in this marathon. And then I reconsider that maybe these are all brick walls God is placing before me to see how badly I want to keep the promise I made to myself, how badly I want to prove to myself that I can accomplish this, how badly I want to drown out the high-school teasing that still echoes in my head.
I pushed through the brick walls today and want to keep pushing ahead, one foot at a time. The left foot, and then the right foot. Feet, feet, feet.
As I was walking this morning I had this particular Dr. Suess book title running through my head. People who know me well know that I am no Dr. Suess fan. Not in the least. I've never cared for the nonsensical rhyming type books. They just make no sense to me. I understand they are great for teaching children because of the rhyming and lilting tone of voice used to read them, and the repetition is good to help little ones start to read. But I don't like 'em.
Because of my aversion to Dr. Suess books it is beyond understanding how we ended up buying the Left foot, Right foot book before Morgan was born. I'm sure it was not my idea so it must've been James who put it in our shopping cart, probably despite my protests. I do recall we used to read the book to my expanding belly while waiting on Morgan to arrive. And no matter how I try, the crazy rhymes just won't escape my head.
Which is what was going through my brain today as I plodded along on a 2 mile walk at the track this morning. I had just finished up an hour and a half of teaching aerobics this morning and wanted to hit the track for some marathon training. I've been away from the training for the past two weeks as I'd started experiencing hip pain and didn't want to exaserbate the injury by pushing through the pain. But today things were feeling well enough to begin with that I decided to give it another go.
And when the pain started to come back in a less sharp/more nagging type of way, I heard Dr. Suess inside my head, chanting "Left foot, right foot, feet, feet, feet." I tried to hush him up but he kept chanting despite my mp3 trying to drown him out with some great 80's tunes. So I just went with the Suess non-sense and told myself that that was exactly how I was going to accumulate the mileage I need to complete this half-marathon I've registered for.
Despite all the roadblocks I've had along the way (and there have been many!) I'm still trying to follow through with the promise I made to myself back on January 1st of this year. And I remind myself of some powerful words that never fail to inspire me~~The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are there to keep "the others" out. The brick walls are there to test how badly we want something.
I have run into so many brick walls over the last few months with my feet issues (plantar fascitis), a knee problem, and then the most recent hip problem. I've considered that these are all signs from God that I'm not meant to be in this marathon. And then I reconsider that maybe these are all brick walls God is placing before me to see how badly I want to keep the promise I made to myself, how badly I want to prove to myself that I can accomplish this, how badly I want to drown out the high-school teasing that still echoes in my head.
I pushed through the brick walls today and want to keep pushing ahead, one foot at a time. The left foot, and then the right foot. Feet, feet, feet.
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