Night Running

During my summer reading, I read that many of the long distance runners had to resort to running at night. This is something that I not particularly interested in doing. Sometimes it's spooky. But when your goal for the day is to run 7 miles and it is dusk when you begin, there is great chance that you will be running in the dark. Well, last night was the first time that I had to run in the absolute darkness. I had run at night before. I used to drive to Fredricksburg where there are street lights. I moved a ways away from Fredricksburg so that is no longer an option.

I ended up running in my subdivision. I live in lakeside area. There are a lot of trees that block out the light of the stars. So there were moments of complete and utter darkness. It was not only difficult to see but also it was also kind of dangerous. I could not see my footfalls. Now is not the time for an injury so I will have to do something like get a headlamp. So today, begins my search for a headlamp.

Gotta run.

My Inspiration

I have always been a runner. I didn't know it until I was 36. I was thinking about who got me running and first and foremost it was my father. As a child, he wanted to get into shape and we would go to the local track as a child. He would run his 2 miles and I would would run around a couple of times and then spend my time splashing in the puddles of the pole vault pit and bounce on the rubberized mats for the pole vault landing zone. As I got older, I would run a couple of laps while he did and as I got into high school we would run together.

There are a couple of points that stand out in my memory about running with my father. One thing he said to me was that he could not run really fast. That sat well with me as well because I have never been fast. But, he said that he could run forever. I could always run far. Thus far in my training I am just figuring out how far I can go.

The second thing that I received from him regarding running is the patience to coach students. Right now with the running club at our school, I encourage all the children to do more than they think they are able to. I am really pushing the students in our club to be able run the 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. I really believe that they will be able to complete it, which for some of my students will be a real accomplishment. However, it was through his patience that I was able to develop my own and see running for what it is, a way to make a person better than they already are. I believe that these and any children can attain a goal that they don't yet know they are able to.

Thanks Dad.

Running Sick

Last week, in an effort to continue my training even though I have been sick, I went on a disasterous run. Right now generally on a daily basis I am capable of running 7 miles at the drop of a hat. My training schedule has me running about that every day. My life schedule does not. Being a teacher and having just started school again, I have a lot of responsibilities. Not to mention the exposure of germs from my children. So working hard, running lots and not resting all caught up with me. I went out for a 5 mile run. I barely made it. All I wanted to do was throw up and lay down. I got through but I am not sure that I made the right choice. because since then for the past 7 days, I have been unable to run. I have to run with my kids during Running Club and will continue to see how well it goes.

School Startup and Training

This was a rough start up to the school year for me as a runner. I had so much to do. Nothing more than everyone else but I had trouble training and working. During the summer vacation, I had plenty of time for work and training. I am at the stage of training for the marathon that I need at least an hour a day, for training. After working 11 hours, it is sometimes difficult to fit it in. I fought through the first few weeks. Not getting as much in as I had wanted but enough to keep me going.

Getting acclimated to the school year. I did too much. Not training but work. I ended up getting sick and have since not run in a week. I am beginning to worry myself about my training. Knowing full well that I will be able to run the marathon. Not getting to train makes me a little nervous. I hope I can get back on the horse.

During the startup of the school year, there is a lot of things that need to be done to get my room in order for my little ones. Many of the tasks that need to be completed are not necessarily hard but really time consuming. For example, I had to come in to set up my classroom the Saturday before the school started and worked for 7 hours and you could not even tell that I had been there. So that day's plan of running 7 miles didn't work.

Gotta Run...

Running Club 2009 - 2010

Tomorrow after school, we will have our first Running Club meeting for our school. I got the permission slips out a little late. So far I only have a few people signed up but this year is a little better. I am also encouraging other staff to participate as well as parents. Running is good.

I have more adults helping out. This will make my job easier. My job, in my opinion, is to make sure that all the kids run. I like to run with them until they are all done. I want the kids to feel like they are not last. Myself, as a child, I was always the last one and I don't want the children to be the last one done. Let's go Running Club.