Dobrý den Praha!

With our amazing hosts!

And we're off! Last week, we left for our 2+ week European adventure/belated honeymoon. To start off our trip, we stayed with my dear friend from college, Amy, and her boyfriend, Pete, who both relocated to Prague for work back in January. It's been several years since I've been to Europe, and over 10 since traveling to a country that doesn't natively speak English. I don't think I realized until recently how different visiting Italy now would be from doing so when I was in high school. Living in the US, everything feels, and really is, much newer and modern, in terms of the landscape of a city. Ten years ago, I felt a disconnect to things that were so unfamiliar. Now, I'm finally at a point where I can appreciate it. 

Walking through Prague, it's impossible to not acknowledge, and admire, the drastic differences between what's before me and what I see in my everyday life - the cobblestone, the randomness of narrow and windy streets, the newness of something unfamiliar. Traveling is exciting, but, as a co-worker recently pointed out, for her, and me as well, it can push you to the point of almost uncomfortable at times. Even for the most organized person, exploring a new place brings about a level of uncertainty. Especially for those of us who like to be in control, it can be stressful, to the point where it's possible to even lose sight of the reason people visit new cities in the first place. 

The Dancing Man &
The Dancing House

Recently, both in traveling and in my everyday life, I have found that acknowledging that potential for mild chaos and confusion can be enough to restore my sense of comfort. As Jillian Michaels encourages in a yoga DVD of hers (and thus, perhaps in real life as well), "Get comfortable being uncomfortable." Life throws us curveballs, and oftentimes, we throw them at ourselves. Whether we see it coming or not, these things - traveling, changes, relationships - challenge and push us in different ways.

I feel fortunate to have been able to see where our friends in Prague are living, a window into this new life they've created for themselves. From the other side of the ocean, I can easily forget what a shift this has been, and continues to be, for them. Living alongside them for a few days, I can better appreciate, and admire, the courage it has taken to stray from the known to the unknown. I'm honestly not sure I could ever do what they've done, uprooting their lives and moving to an unfamiliar place, to the extent to which they have.

Glowing in front of the Vltava River

In an effort to maintain some kind of base for the half-marathon, we set out on Sunday morning to get in a few miles. Running, particularly on vacation, has become a priority beyond how it makes me feel. I've written about it before, but, even if only briefly, I enjoy seeing a new place that way. Running along the Vltava River, I couldn't help but feel a bit bothered that I wasn't able to bang out four quick miles with ease. Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of a bigger picture- despite four jam-packed days of exploring the city, stuffing our faces, and catching up with Amy and Pete, we still fit it in, and that's something I have to be proud of.

And I guess that's what's most important. It's easy, and even natural, to size ourselves up against others, or even another version of our own self, overlooking what we are doing because our focus is on we think we should be doing. I have a lot of friends traveling this summer, and I often listen enviously as they rattle off the list of all the places they're going. Instinctively, I question if we should have planned to do more, packed more in to our time abroad. It's easy to get swept up in others' dreams and plans, but ultimately, I have to be true to myself and more than anything or anyone else, I need to know myself. We are doing a ton in our two weeks in Europe, but that's not even what matters. What's most important is that it's a trip that matches us, that fits us and what we want out of it. And it really is.

There will always be people who do more than me, and likewise, people who do less. I write a lot about reflecting on changes I've made and comparing me to myself, and I guess I started this post, nearly two weeks ago now, thinking that's what I was doing here yet again. I don't want to compare myself to others, but I'm realizing that when I notice these differences, whether it's with regard to traveling, running, or otherwise, they can push me towards feelings of appreciation, instead of inadequacy. What's "uncomfortable" for me is different than what it is for anyone else, but the commonality is that we're each striving, I hope, to be our best, happiest, fullest versions of ourselves. Our starting lines are not the same, so how can our finish lines be? 

Summer!

Happy Summer! 

I'm the definition of "creature of habit," so while I thoroughly enjoy being given the gift of time for myself over the summer, it's something I have to think a lot about and plan for (which for some, I know seems a little backwards). For me, it's a balance between enjoying more time than you're used to, and feeling like you're wasting it all. So with that in mind, weeks before school let out, I started really thinking about how I could make the most of this summer, without doing the most. I came up with a list of a few actually productive things I wanted to accomplish this summer that were more like tasks, and then thought a lot about what I wanted to do for enjoyment. It's easy to spend days on the couch, but I know many of those aren't enjoyable to me. They're easy, but not enjoyable. So I came up with a list of how I want to spend this summer....and blogging more is on there. Sometimes it can feel like a task, but I know it's something I enjoy doing once I make it a priority. And it is a priority for me. I appreciate having a running record of the past few years, because while the focus of most of these posts is something running-related, it has been a bit of a map of where I've been, where I am, and where I'm going.  

I certainly have plenty to write about - the end of the school year, the Silver Gallup Relay, committing to my fifth half marathon to raise money for Girls on the Run - and I'm looking forward to adding all of that and more here, so this can continue to be a road map of sorts of my life. 

Looking Ahead to 2014: Goals and Resolutions

I always appreciate the start of a new year, a chance to etch out time for myself to reflect on where I've been and where I'm going. In the midst of our day-to-day lives, it can be easy to lose sight of our ability to asses and, oftentimes, make simple adjustments  that can possibly yield drastic results to improve aspects of life. I think about my desire, this year specifically, to really improve on particular aspects of my teaching. At the beginning of the year, I was able to create a realistic and practical plan for improving one specific aspect of teaching - questioning and discussion. I identified a book and a few articles that I thought would be beneficial and I read them quickly - it felt good to know my plan wasn't just a plan! Of course, reading about improving the quality of my questioning isn't going to do anything unless I can effectively put it into practice...and sometimes, that's where the breakdown is. In the daily grind, it can be easy to forget about the specifics of what I'm trying to improve. It oftentimes comes down to writing myself a note on my lesson plans or adding a reflection of some sort to the to-do list that sits on my desk. Even with the best of intentions, the train falls off the track when the conductor's retired to the dining car (not sure if that analogy was prepared to be taken THAT far, but you get the point). Setting a goal and having a plan is half the battle, but it sure an't the whole thing. 

My go-to role model/mentor/sensei for everything life, happiness, and life improvement, Gretchen Rubin, wrote about the idea of resolutions vs. goals in her first book, The Happiness Project. While we (people, including myself) enjoy the opportunity for change that comes along with the start of a new year, there's a distinction to be made between a resolution and a goal.  Rubin writes, "You hit a goal, you achieve a goal. You keep a resolution. I think that some objectives are better characterized as resolutions, others, as goals. 'Run in a marathon' or 'Become fluent in Spanish' is a good goal. It’s specific. It’s easy to tell when it has been achieved. Once you’ve done it, you’ve done it! 'Eat more vegetables' or 'Stop gossiping,' or 'Exercise' is better cast as a resolution. You won’t wake up one morning and find that you’ve achieved it. It’s something that you have to resolve to do, every day, forever. You’ll never be done with it." 

My instinct is to poo-poo goals opposed to resolutions, but I've come to realize the point isn't for one to be "better" than the other as much as it is to simply recognize there is a distinction between the two. While being more active is a resolution I will always be working on, setting the goal of running my first half-marathon was what helped me jump start it. While they are finite, I do well with goals, with the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a visible achievement. When I think about the upcoming year, I see a place, and even a need, for both goals and resolutions. Regardless of what you call it, these goals/resolutions require a lot of the same things - commitment, persistence, resiliance, and a dose of reality. 

And thus begins the real work - actually naming my goals and resolutions for 2014. 

Oh yeah...Half Marathon Training

I appreciate the fact that I feel entitled to write about whatever I want here as long as I connect it to running...which I think I genuinely do. Nevertheless, I realized that my related-to-running rants have caused me to neglect actually writing about my running. This isn't to say I haven't been. On the contrary, I realized today that despite my lack of posting, I am in full-out half-marathon training (full-out is still relative, of course). 

A hectic few weeks of traveling proved to make increasing mileage very challenging. While I was excited to be able to keep up a basic routine, a lack of routine made getting over the 6-mile hump incredibly challenging. A wacky sleep schedule, lots of driving, and not upholding past pre-long run routines gave me 3 weeks of 6-milers. While the first one rocked (bff run in Chi-town!), the next two messed with my head and got under my skin. It was frustrating, but at the same time, an important reminder. The things I do differently on long runs - eating a pb&j sandwich, body gliding, drinking water the night before - have an impact, as they should. They say if it an't broke, don't fix it. It's taken too long this time around to remember that it's important to stick with what works. 

Since returning to Michigan, I've felt a lot better about long runs...and with good reason! Last week and this morning, Ryan and I ran 7 and 8 miles respectively, and both runs went GREAT! Ryan has officially ran his longest distance ever (re: ROCKSTAR!) and aside from a  tight knee, we both felt great on both runs. For me, the biggest part of this is that I feel like I'm in a good place mentally for the next few weeks. When I ran my last half in April, I was dreading it because I knew I hadn't prepared the way I needed to. Leading up to race day, I was filled with regret, instead of excitement. Being part of big races can be motivating, exhilarating, and a lot of fun, but not when you're busy thinking about all the things you should've or could've done differently. This time around, I feel great about how things are going, knowing I'm doing all I can to enjoy the run when it gets here. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't have small goals, but with the craziness of the summer and the craziness of the back-to-school season, I want to be realistic about what I can do, instead of ruining race day with feelings of regret. 

Indian Runner Prepares to Mark 101st Birthday with London Marathon

Sindy shared this article with me a few weeks back and I had been meaning to post it for safe keepers.

Indian Runner Prepares to Mark 101st Birthday with London Marathon

Centenarian Fauja Singh, center, takes part in a running event in Amritsar, India, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012.

(21 Mar)

The world's oldest marathoner plans to celebrate his 101st birthday in an unusual way. He wants to break his own record.

Indian-born runner Fauja Singh, who became the oldest person to complete a marathon when he crossed the finish line at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon last year, plans to compete in the London Marathon on April 22. If he finishes, it will be his 11th, 42-kilometer race.

Singh, who was a bit of a late bloomer, started running when he was 81 as a way to fight depression after his son and daughter-in-law were killed in a car crash.

”His mental attitude was what inspires me to this day,” said Harmander Singh, who coaches the runner. ”He was so mentally focused. If I said, ‘We’re going to do 10 kilometers today,’ he would say, ‘Why not 20?’”

Despite the determination, the turbaned athlete still needed a little guidance.

”He turned up the very first day not knowing what running was all about. He was a savvy dresser. He came in a three-piece suit and a pair of trainers,” said Harmander Singh, who is not related to the centenarian.  ”I suggested he needed to invest in a pair of running kicks. And I provided him with a first set but he soon brought his own.”

Fauja Singh was inspired after seeing the New York City Marathon on television and decided he wanted to be a part of it. He finished his first marathon at the age of 89. Since then, he has broken eight world records for his age group.

In India, Singh was a farmer for most of his life. He is illiterate and speaks only Punjabi. But that hasn’t limited his international exposure, or prevented him from being an inspiration to others.

On a recent trip back to India, Singh told the Times of India he wants to inspire young people and motivate them to ”leap big in life.” But he said time is running out. ”I am ready to go to any length to help youths before I die,” he told the newspaper.

Singh’s coach said as long as his trainee, a vegetarian, is moving, he’ll stay healthy.

”You can’t stop the guy running.  Because the day he stops running will be the day his body will start deteriorating,” said Harmander Singh. ”He said he would like to die running.”

Fauja Singh, with his long white beard, has become, in a sense, a man of steel. His trainer said recent blood tests showed the runner is as fit as a 40-year-old. And when London University tested his bone density, they found his left leg had the density of a 35-year-old, while his right leg had the bone density of a 25-year-old.

Singh’s trainer said youth and health are a state of mind.

”All people who reach a certain age, you will find what they have in common is they have a positive attitude in life,” he said. ”They do not believe they are old. We do, but they don’t.”

(Additional reporting by Kate Woodsome)

The Scoop

The weather has been BEAUTIFUL the past few weeks, and while that should be a huge plus for my running, it's been a big challenge. With no "ease in," I've struggled on extremely warm days (oh hi 80 degrees in March), failing to remember the things I have done differently in the summer...since it's pretty much felt like summer. Also, my natural change in motivation has been a big frustration. Just one month ago, I was at the peek of my running...and with good reason. I had been training for months, knowing I was going to run the toughest miles of my life for the kids...anything I could do, any pain I could take away, so they could just be kids, so their fight wouldn't be so hard. All that being said, I've struggled to find purpose in my runs now, and while I have a sprinkling of good reasons, they're light and fluffy, and leave me questioning myself.

With the Lansing Half in four weeks from today, I'm trying to just adjust my mindset and expectations...or rather, have them meet somewhere in the middle. I'm not where I was a month ago, so I can't be disappointed when my results accurately reflect where I am now. And that's not a bad thing. Completing 13.1 miles is still a huge deal to me, and I just don't want to overshadow that with feelings of could've/should've.

Double Time

Last week, I ran into a Hope Express/Extreme Team alum who suggested I start running twice a day, at least once a week, to prepare for my three 6-mile legs coming up next month (!!). I wish I could say I had thought of this on my own, but I didn't...so lucky for me our paths happened to cross (thanks Pat!).

Today I ventured out for two 4-mile runs and overall, they went great! I've found that clocking mileage at home is tricky for some reason. My parents live right off of a main road, and I've also noticed I typically incorporate a lot of littles into my runs - small parks, downtown area, parts of campus, etc. I didn't realize I did it, until I found it challenging to plan routes without them. Nevertheless, I planned two different routes for today - one new and one I've done a few times this trip home. I'm certainly sore now and will be tomorrow, but that's all the more reason to be glad I've added them into my training now.

Also worth noting, it was high teens/low 20's for the runs. Ek! It really wasn't bad though, which just confirms what I remember about last winter. The hardest part about cold weather running for me is maintaining consistency throughout the majority of the run, despite temperature outside/inside all my layers. On my second run, I went without my (new!) jacket, which was a good move, minus the fact that my stomach was so cold towards the end that I couldn't tell if I was having stomach issues or it was just frozen...odd. Even the new jacket seemed a bit warm for today's frigid temperatures, but instead of getting sad that it wasn't a good purchase, I reminded myself that I now live in Michigan. I an't seen nothing yet.

Extreme Blog Makeover

If revamping my blog was my resolution for the new year, then I can pretty much sit back and relax for the next 362 days. Apparently much has changed since I started, but it was a lot less overwhelming to tweak and edit things than I remember, which is GREAT! I feel like this make-over is exactly what I need to start off the new year, and taking time to add labels/tags after the fact gave me the chance to quickly look back on my journey over the past two years (I decided to go back and add them, thinking it'd be neat to have the whole blog included, opposed to just starting from now). It's a good feeling to lay out goals for the upcoming month/year, while not losing sight of the fact that I've come a long way from where I started.

Speaking of resolutions and goals, I have decided to set running goals for the month, instead of the year, so I can celebrate the small victories (/avoid overloading my list with a moment of excitement!). Scary that they're now in print. Here we goooo:

1. In preparation for Hope Express, choose one day a week to run before AND after work. Woof.

2. Mountains and Hills and Slopes, oh my! Also in preparation for next month, adding straight up repeats into my regime. I'm proud to admit that I have stopped sobbing at the sight of incline/gladly welcome hills into my runs, but certainly adding more intentional repeats into my runs in the upcoming weeks will be crucial.

3. More cow bell. I mean, cross training. Signed up for a class at the gym to help with this one and I'm eager to get more out of my gym membership.

Bucket List

Not without trying, I have yet to be able to create a list of "must-run races." I've thought about it, but when it comes down to it, I thought that any destination race I choose would be just that..selected for the location, rather than the race, and really, I'm not quite ready to plan my few vacations a year around careful rest and eating, as well as excessive exercise..let's be honest. So all that being said, it was just as surprising to me as it will be to you that when I received the email announcing the registration details for the 2011 Nike Women's Marathon (which is coupled with a half, of course), I felt my heart skip a beat. (For those who don't know, it should be clearly stated that rather than being given a medal when you finish, a specially designed Tiffany's necklace is your take away!). It's shocking to me that maybe I DO, after all, have a race to go onto my list and receiving this email solidified that! It should go to say that I think the idea of a women's running event is really super awesome and while we're at it, let's add a few more of them to my must-run list!

detox

No, I haven't forgotten about you bloggy boo. I think this time apart is important. At times, I'm worried that we're over, despite the progress we've made in our relationship, but today, as I was finally working on my thank you notes to all the amazing people who supported me during my training (I hate that my appreciation is so delayed...no reflection of how fortunate I know I am!), I realized how amazing not only race day was, but training overall. Just because we're taking time apart doesn't mean I won't come crawling (or running...but more likely crawling) back. I recently received two really awesome quotes, one just before the half-marathon and one just after...

"The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself - the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us - that's where it's at." - Jesse Owens

"Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals." - Henry Ford

Even now, it's hard to remember, to believe I reached what was once just a goal of mine, and that sums it up perfectly. I think we all too easily get overwhelmed with the idea, scared of failing. It's important to keep our eyes on the goal, even if the goal is simply making time to just run at all, and not get distracted or overwhelmed by all the other things.

hip hip hip hooray!

Why so many hips, you may ask?

Hip #1 - Today I received the "You Have a Donation" email FIVE TIMES!!! What an incredible feeling! Wow! And thank you to those people...and to all the people who have donated to this amazing cause so far!

Hip #2 - This weekend is my final long run before I start to taper in preparation for the quickly upcoming BIG DAY. I checked the weather mid-week/mid-heat wave and somehow, the temperature is decreasing for Saturday (it was only Saturday...I decided to move my run to Sunday and what do you know - now it's going to be mid-70's both of those days). You may call it random. They may call it Earl. I am going to just go with fabulous.

Hip #3 - My long run will put me just over the 2o0 MILE MARK!!! It's crazy. It's unreal. It's a glitch in the system. I don't get it, but wow!

Both my fundraising and running goals are now closer than ever. It's scary, but super exciting! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for continued good luck!

Happy Labor Day!

*UPDATED* Training by the Numbers!

30 running outings.

184.63 miles ran

9.01 miles = longest distance ran!

31 hours and 28 minutes I have spent running.

2 feet I use to run aforementioned runs.

8'43'' minutes to complete my quickest mile.

10'14'' minutes to complete my average mile.

$2,500 the average cost to send a child to camp/the goal set at the start of my training.

22!!!! amazing donations made to support the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps.

$1,563 donated so far!!!! THANK YOU!

$937 left to reach my goal!

1 click is what it takes for you make a donation!

Training by the Numbers

30 running outings.

87.07 miles ran (just 1.71m short of the distance it would take me to run from my front door to...Hershey Park! yummy!).

14.5+ hours I have spent running.

2 feet I use to run aforementioned runs.

8'43'' minutes to complete my quickest mile.

10'07'' minutes to complete my average mile.

$2,500 the average cost to send a child to camp/the goal set at the start of my training.

9 amazing donations made to support the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps.

$830 donated so far!!!! THANK YOU!

$1,670 left to reach my goal!

1 click is what it takes for you make a donation!

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog that will follow me over the next months as I prepare to run the ING Rock & Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon.

That's right. Digest it. Take it in. I am prying myself away from the couch and slipping into my sneaks for repetitive extended periods of time. The thought is a lot for me to swallow too.

My run will be to raise money for the Hole in the Wall camps. My goals? 13.1 miles and $2,500. Since mentally committing a few days ago, the idea of this has slowly began to move from completely terrifying to slightly exciting (just slightly....give it some time). I'm nervous, but I've already begun rehearsing my finish line face (it's a near cousin of the "I just won big on the slots!" face, one I have practiced many times) and I am ecstatic about helping to give another child the chance to experience the Hole in the Wall camp experience!

Here goes nothing....