A Bit on Running

Running. What can I say... A LOT, actually. I haven't written about running yet because I haven't had a good focused idea for a post. Honestly I could talk about it for several posts, and if I had just sat down to type a post about running, it'd be a LONG post. And no one would read it because it would ramble, and probably run on (get it? run on? anyone?). But now I have a focus! Today's post will share an inspiration of mine and then I'll follow that with a small example of a training schedule to get your pace down. This is by no means a plan for those extreme runners who want to BQ (Boston Marathon Qualify) or any other major running feats. This is more for those people who are runners but are perhaps more leisurely, who run on their own, and are maybe looking for a way to challenge themselves in a new way while running.

This sticker adorns my laptop; so much inspiration! And cheesiness.

A little background: I ran track and cross country in high school, and then just kept running. "Back in the day" I was a sprinter more than anything, and even today running more than a 5k (3.1 miles), unless I'm training for something longer, takes something special. I enjoy running because it's an easy way to burn off some steam, take some time for myself, and achieve goals. Even the smallest accomplishments feel like major feats when you're running. As a sprinter, knocking off half a second from your race pace was like being on top of the world! It was all so exciting- was I going to PR (personal record) that day? Had I trained well enough? What could I do to continue to improve? Running is a sport that is always looking forward- literally, because, DUH you look ahead while you're running, and figuratively because running allows you to continually strive to meet that next goal. Maybe it's increasing your distance, decreasing your time, feeling good while you run (not fatigued), losing weight, improving your mood, or just getting a good sweat in before dinnertime. Whatever the goal, because there are myriad goals you could set for yourself, no matter how small, you can always feel accomplished while running. I think that's part of the reason that races have become so popular recently. Anyone can feel accomplished running, and it takes minimum equipment to get yourself to your goal. It does, however, take maximum effort.

Action shot from "back in the day" when my
hair was long and I recovered from injuries
so much quicker than I do now. Sigh. 

So, my inspiration today is my mom! She is a wonderful person with more energy than I think I've ever had in my life. We started running a Warrior Dash 5k for Mother's Day 6 years ago, and we haven't missed one yet! The Warrior Dash is a fun obstacle course and mud run over 3.1 miles, and my mom always kicks my butt. Whether I'm just more out of shape than her, or just keep wiping out in the creeks because I try to hurdle a log (my track coaches in high school forbade me to go anywhere near the hurdles because they were smart coaches), she is always ahead of me in these races. After a couple of these, she started doing miniature triathlons on her own (run 3.1 miles, bike 12.4 miles, swim half a mile), which then became doing 5ks for beating her times, and then she started running 10ks, and she recently completed running a half marathon (she got the same time I did when I ran a 10 miler. Ooof.).  Her adorable dog, Jackson, is her  "trainer" and, again is very adorable. That link will take you to his website (he is a therapy dog). 

For the "training schedule," this is something I use to help me start when I have to "get back to running," typically because I've been sick, injured (have I mentioned I'm clumsy?), or wanted to get myself out of my comfortable pace zone.
********Before I start this schedule, I have typically been running 1-2 days per week and keeping a comfortable pace, to get myself back to a place where I'm ready to train. ********
Starting off with this schedule, from nothing, is NOT a good idea. You will get injured (I've done that too) or worse- you'll think it's too hard from the start and then give up. When you are in a place where you can run 2-3 miles, without stopping, at the same pace each time, and feel comfortable at that pace, THEN it is a good idea to start something like this.

Before you begin you need to decide the following. Then you can fill in the schedule with the times you're aiming for:
Starting pace: ____ (Ex: 10:30 min/mile pace)       Goal pace: _____ (Ex: 9:00 min/mile pace)
Starting distance: ____ (Ex: 3 miles)                         Goal distance: _____ (Ex: 5k at goal pace)

I'm working on formatting a table and/or being able to link the pdf in to this page directly, (#computerskillsproblems) but here is a link to the training schedule via a shared Google Doc pdf. Enjoy! 

Spring Updates!

       I've got some crazy news! 
But first, hello internet world, it's been a while. 

I wish this had been a lucky jersey because a lucky
jersey might have helped the Caps get past the
second round of the playoffs. Ughhhhh. 

      A long while, actually. I apologize for my absence! It's been a busy spring so far. However I am armed with some extra time in my schedule, some new ideas, and a whole lot to update on in a quick update post! I have spent quite a bit of time the last few months doing what I usually do every spring, panicking over the end of the hockey season and then slowly killing my nerves by watching my team in the playoffs. I am a Washington Capitals fan through and through and EVERY SEASON they just screw me over in the playoffs with their lack of playing as well as they should. Sigh. Of course the games are 3 hours plus overtime, and of course there is one every 2-3 days, so I lost both sleep and time to get things done. Laundry piles up, social obligations fall to the side, and all I wear is my giant hockey jerseys and leggings. It's a rough time. And, like they do every year, the Caps fell in the second round again this year to our biggest rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Life is so rough. So, so very rough.

      Work has been super busy- wrapping up my caseload management responsibilities, getting test-prep planned, getting through test prep, and then on top of it all supporting coworkers in all of their personal endeavors. Half marathons, babies, buying houses, babies, weddings, and mostly people having babies. I love that I work at a school where there is a huge culture of both teamwork and shared celebration. We love to support each other through all of life's journeys, not just the ones we are on in our classrooms. I've done a bit of baking for these celebrations- a bouquet of cupcakes for a "bride wars" themed bridal shower, cute little cupcakes for a baby shower, and this sprinkled beauty, which admittedly was a severely huge amount of cake, for another baby shower. We've got another one coming up in a few weeks, and for that there may be some cookie pictures on my Instagram page.

      My husband and I have traveled quite a bit, too! We visited friends in San Antonio for spring break, went to a wedding in Atlanta, and....for the big news....we went to Munich, Germany for a few days in March! Aside from our honeymoon in Jamaica, this was my first big international trip and it was quite a trip! From the long flight over to exploring a new city on my own for 2 days (hubs was doing work related things), it was both fulfilling and exhausting. The even crazier news is that we are MOVING to Munich in September! Hubs will be working there for 1.5-2 years in a post-doc position. Holy moly! He applied several months ago as it was his "long shot" scenario, and after  months of him waiting to hear back, then getting invited for a visit, then him giving a talk on our visit and then more months of waiting to hear back after our visit, we finally know for sure we are headed across the pond in a few months. This beautiful city pictured below will be our new home!

I took this picture from the top of St. Peter's church in Munich, right across from the Marienplatz (tall tower on the right)
and Frauenkirche (tall church on the left) on my first day in the city. 

      I've got so many posts I have wanted to post but haven't for professional reasons; look forward to additional posts about traveling, moving, and managing all of life's daily requirements in between the moving and traveling posts! I'll still be baking, running (if I ever recover from a sprained ankle that is nagging me), teaching, bullet journaling, and I'll definitely be back to the blogging on a more regular basis.