Running into 2013

I'm jumping back on the 500 Mile train for 2013. I did pretty well in 2012 but I didn't quite reach goal. No worries there's always plenty of time this year and thankfully its starting off pretty well. I'm already about 20 miles in and its only the 21st of January. I have a race this coming up weekend (10k) and then 2 in March (a 5k &) which includes my very first Half Marathon. So there's another 22 miles right there, plus all the training I'll be doing leading up to those races. Yesterday was our long run day, we only planned on running about 6 miles and ended up finishing it off at 9.52 (yes the .02 count). It's so hard to get a long run in during the week just because it gets dark so early. I don't mind going on the weekends though, because I am fully committed, refreshed from the work week and ready to go. If you want you can read my 500 Miles in 2012 post HERE. I also have links to my first two races there and what jumped started my journey on running. Over the last year I've become more and more committed and in love with running. Its by far the best stress reliever ever and I feel so good about myself after I finish a run no matter how long or short it is. I'm by no means a great all-star runner, I don't have a super fast mile minute pace like my husband but I believe for me and myself alone I'm doing great. I've come a long way from when I first started back when we lived in Hawaii. I never in my life would have though I would enjoy it as much as I do. If you would have asked me about 2 years ago if I'd be were I am today I'd probably laugh at you. One step at a time, one run at a time & I'm getting better than the day before. I've found that having a running partner has helped tremendously, it helps keep me accountable and the other person as well. I've ran with a few different people on random occasions here in the South & I never felt that connection or drive to keep pushing myself until I started running with Kelly. It's like a whole new world opened up and I've been going strong ever since. I do have those days were I don't wanna go, I just wanna go home from work and call it a day. However I know she's waiting on me, and I don't want to let her down so I suck it up and go. Afterwards I feel so much better and I'm always so glad I went. I'm focusing 100% on my running this year and building my miles. I'm building a better lifestyle for myself, getting my body in the BEST SHAPE ever (on my 30 b4 30 list) and loosing weight in the process. I have hopes / dreams / plans......HECK I'm going to do it....of running a Marathon before I'm 30. It's also on my 30 b4 30 list. (If you haven't checked it out just go HERE) I am not going to put the pressure on myself of trying to do it in 2013, but 2014 you better believe it. Baby steps, one thing at a time. I love running with my Nike+ watch that the hubbs got me the year before last for Christmas. It helps me track my pace, miles, calories & time. I try not to look at it while I'm running but when I get home and plug it in to my computer I'm able to see how I did. I can compare my runs, see were I need to improve and what I might need to do differently next time. I recently went and was fitted for proper running shoes for my feet and two weeks later I can already tell a big difference. Even with the change in the type of socks I was wearing. You really can't skimp on running and getting your body fit. Every little detail makes the biggest difference now and in the long run. I'm still learning as I go and making adjustments as needed. Since I've started running with Kelly I've learned that I need to walk it off after I finish running. My heart rate is up so high that I can't just stop moving. I need to slowly let it drop back down to a normal pace. Before I would never do this now I know better & really it makes so much more sense. It's one of those things you don't know or think about until someone tells you and explains why. Also stretching I'm horrible about it but I've gotten better, I don't want to fall behind or slack off because of my lack to stretch my body out before and after I run. It takes 10-15 minutes & it makes the world of a difference. I've got a long way to go but at the same time I've come a long way!!! I couldn't be more happier with myself right now.

2013 = a new year and a new me!!!!

500 miles in 2013 I will make it!!!! 

Check back in the months to come for a Mile count up!!!

January -

February-   

March- 

April-

May- 

June-

July-

August-

September-

October-

November-

December-

Any tips, suggestions from my fellow runners out there ?!?!?!? 

You can track my progress and Milage HERE the link is on my tool bar at the top of my blog as well!!!!! 

Sweet Southern Seniors

This evening one of my co-workers had a gathering at her house to celebrate the ending of the school year. See next Friday is the last day of school then we start our summer semester.A lot of teachers are taking the summer off and coming back in the fall. (I however am not one of those, but that's perfectly fine in my book) I made a Jell-O cake to take, complements of the lovely Crystal. She introduced me to this lovely dessert dish when we were in Hawaii and I absolutely love it. There was about 10 of us there, we sat outside on the patio chatting about how much our children have grown over the past 10 months. And simply getting to know one another more. The school is split in to two halls, a older hall and a younger hall (most the ladies that came work on the older hall). I work on the younger hall with two (3 ladies ~ two in the morning & a third in the afternoons) of the sweetest ladies ever. They are both in their early 60's and will not be working this summer (one will not becoming back in the fall). It makes me so sad to see them go. We've made such a wonderful team, I've learned a lot from them. I enjoy talking with them and hearing stories about their past. We always joke about them being so much older and not being as quick on their feet as me. Or not being able to open jars or cups because of arthritis in their hands. Not to mention the forgetfulness that I teas them with all the time. It's so much fun to laugh and joke around with them, especially because they give it right back to me. Ms. E is like another Grandma to me, she is always watching out for me, giving me advice and checking in to make sure things are going well at home. Ms. G has found love again and is so giddy about her man, we love talking about their weekly (nightly) date nights and wedding talk. I know I will manage and do great things in the classroom as lead teacher (another post on that to come) but I still can't help but worry that I will mess up. I'm still some what of a newbie and learning the ropes of the school. (June 1st will make 7 months that I've been there but only 5 months fulltime.) Wish me luck for a wonderful & successful summer, there's a lot at stake here being the lead teacher.

~DAY 217~

Its Snowing!!!!!

DAY 82

Let It Snow Let It Snow!!!!!!

(I found a sweet little poem on line & added it to their art work, posted below ~ everyone seems to really like the board, its awesome to get so many complements on it)

"Every child is like a snowflake, Unique in beauty and design. Each Sparkles in a different way, Some playful, some refined. Unlike fragile snowflakes, That fade when the sun appears, Children Grow yet more beautiful with every passing year."

Today was my first official full day at work on my new schedule, back to the grind of things after 2 1/2 weeks off. I absolutely love that the school I work for follows the public school schedule as well, so when they are closed so are we. I've subbed full days a good couple of times since I've started there but I haven't worked 8 hours 5 days a week since I left Hawaii. I was prepared to be completely exhausted through out the day but thankfully I wasn't.

Since it's a new month that only mint one thing, a NEW bulletin board outside out room. I offered to put together this months board since they rotate between the teachers in the room. (there's 3 of us) I'm still kinda new, I'm really trying to show them everything I can bring to the table and offer. I had a blast working with the kids helping them paint their clouds. April will be the next month for me to do the board and I'm already thinking of ideas on what I want to do.

New Opportunities

DAY 46

Taking a different road

A different road that frankly didn't end up lasting long at all. I started my new job at Well's Fargo this morning and was really excited about it. The hours were great the pay was nice, the down fall to it was that I'd have to work Sundays and have split days off Tuesdays & Saturdays. I had gotten over that and figured I'd give it a chance. I worked at CitiCards about 4-5 years ago in their credit card customer service department so I was familiar with the job. I had just been out of the loop for a bit. Offering full time hours which I wouldn't beat 5:30am-2:30pm perfect!!!

I had spoken with the director at the Day School were I was working about a week & half prior and explained that I would be leaving and it might be that I wouldn't come back after Thanksgiving break. I was able to get into the early class and so I sent a emailed on Thursday to explain what was going on and then once again on Monday during our first break I called to make sure my email was received. Lets just say I don't think it was read yet from the response I got back. A long story short I was given the option to come on full time come the first of the new year. That was great but the pay difference was still a issue, so I asked about that as well. There was no way I could leave WF even with it being full time. Later that afternoon I received a email with the details on the new position & the pay that would be included. I talked with Gabe about it when we both got home & I told him after the first day of training at the bank I was just not into it and didn't want to go back down that road. I wasn't in love and overly excited about it any more. He told me that I could do what I wanted and he would support me either way I chose he just wanted me to be happy. (w/ a full time job that I enjoyed as well vs. part time) He said he didn't care about the pay that wasn't what mattered, I swear he always knows just what to say. Following my heart doing what I love I decided to stay at the school and accept the position offered.

I've been putting a lot of though into going back to school to be a teacher, maybe start out as a teachers aide or a sub and then go up from there. Only time will tell I mean I don't have anything to loose and it's not like there is anything stopping me.

I am happy with my decision and truly believe it was the right one. (plus its about 10 minutes from the house vs. 20 minutes like the bank was.)

Not a typical day,

DAY 33

but one I loved.

Today I subbed at work for the Kindergarten Aide. teacher from 8-1 and it was a first for me since I've started at EDS. I was kind of nervous going into it mainly because I didn't know the teacher I was going to be working with. Plus I was not looking forward to working from 8-1 in the Kinder. class and then from 1-530 in my class with NO break. That's right if you sub and your shift starts at the time when you sub shift ends you don't get a break nor a lunch. There isn't even a 15 minute break in there at all. It completely sucks and makes no sense at all, it makes for a VERY LONG day. I stopped last night on my way home and grabbed a few things to put together a small lunch to have so I could at least eat with the kiddos and not be starving all day.

I arrived right on time and was warmly greeted by Miss. M and a classroom full of 5 year olds asking me a million and one questions about who I was and what I was doing in there classroom. They were so cute, funny and full of personality it just made me smile. Before class got started Miss. M filled me in on what she was going to have me do through out the day while I was in her class. I was so excited with the different tasks she gave me, I was going to be able to interact with the children as well and do some other things around the classroom and getting there folders cleaned out from the day before and refilled with paper work that needed to go home. One thing she mentioned to me that I would be doing made me a wee bit skeptical. I had to be ZERO the HERO......."what".....I asked myself in the name is that and what am I going to have to be doing. She told me she would explain more later in the morning. The kids were talking through the morning about how it was Zero the Hero day and they seemed really excited about it but I was still out of the loop. Time went by and soon after Miss. M pulled me in to the hall way and told me to go down to the classroom on the end and put on the cape and get Zero the Hero and told me to come "flying" in to the classroom and around the children saying Zero the Hero is here. Oh gosh my heart was racing like crazy but I said ok and went down the hall. The teacher in the room were I got ready offered to do it for me, I guess she could see the nervousness on my face. I told her that was ok I would manage to do it, I couldn't let Miss. M down nor the children. I braved it up and probably made a complete fool of myself BUT the children were cheering at the top of their lungs and laughing and were so excited. I was thrilled with myself that I went through with it and made their day.

You see Zero the Hero comes to first on every school day that ends in a Zero and today happened to be the 70th day of school, so the next time he will come and visit will be on the 80th day of school. I think I am going to go for a visit when that day comes to see the kiddos again.

They made my day and I was so happy that I said yes to sub for the teacher aide. It has really got me thinking that working with older children is something that I would really enjoy doing. I am looking into what I need to do to first become a teacher aide here in the local school district and then I will go from there on seeing what I need to do to become a teacher. I know I only spent one day in the Kindergarten class but I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!

~~~~~Zero The Hero 70 day Poem~~~~~~

I'm Zero the Hero and I'm here to say,

"Hooray, Hooray on your 70th day!"

Congratulations on your 7th zero.

That's the favorite number of Zero the Hero.

You have 7 zero bands and 7 bundles of straws.

And now we need lots of applause.

The 10's cup has 7 bundles - WOW!

Let's count by 10s to 70 - right now!

I'm Zero the Hero - Let's cheer today

Hooray, hooray for our 70th day!

Good-by for now, here's a treat from me.

It's round like a zero, what can it be?