Summer Running and a Shoe Update!

Summer running:
You know what's fun about summer running? That moment when you realize, halfway into the hottest month of the year, that you're finally acclimating! (Can you ever say, "I've acclimated" or is it an ongoing process with no definitive end?)

This weekend, I woke up Sunday at 6am and checked the weather: 79 degrees with 75% humidity. I contemplated skipping the run - 79F that early just seemed SO painful. But when I stepped outside, I was like, "Oh, this isn't so bad at all!"

Feeling strong and sweaty post-run!

And then I commenced to run at a fairly speedy pace without feeling like I was putting in too much effort or really huffing and puffing. I hardly felt I was sweating or working hard at all!

Sunday's splits.

Of course, after the run I realized I was completely soaked, but I felt totally great. I guess maybe I'm finally acclimated in a way I never have been before, because I've never experienced this level of comfort on outdoor runs in the height of summer.

Shoes:

I finally found them!

Soooo preeeeetty! They're a new color scheme for me, and I'm loving it!

Friday and Sunday's runs were both in my new shoes, and they are absolutely the ones I'm keeping. Some shoes I tried were automatic no's - like the Saucony Hurricane (which I wanted to love but knew the moment I put it on that it wasn't for me) - and some I vacillated between yes and no. But these Brooks Ravenna? Within minutes of my first run, I could tell a difference in the feel and feedback of the shoe, and yet it felt like they weren't even there.

They just felt like I didn't need to think about them at all. I could put them on and forget about them, which is exactly what I've been looking for.

Now, after months of stress and searching for new shoes, I'm almost glad for the changes in the Kayano because the Ravenna are so much more what I've been looking for - springier, less bulky, and lighter-feeling. (Although they're not light, they're 1.2oz lighter than the Kayano.) I may never have tried them out if not for the awful updates on the Kayano!

Remember this post? Oh, the drama!

I think going with the "energize" option (as opposed to "cushion") was also exactly right for where my running is these days. I ended up ordering both the Transcend and the Ravenna, but the Transcend felt clunky when I tried them; I never even took them on a run before returning them!

"Training":
My runs this week also gave me a little confidence boost! I've been worried about my speed work not paying off in longer distances (and by "longer" these days I mean the 10k), but the easy effort of my distance runs this week, paired with the paces of my repeats, have given me confidence for my 10k goal race in October.

Last week's runs via DailyMile.

I plan to add tempo runs more consistently into my training toward the end of the August, and I also plan to add a fourth weekly run into my schedule soon.

To be honest, I'm enjoying my working schedule, but I miss running, and I'd like to see higher weekly mileage, so I feel it's time to run more! Is it weird to miss something I'm doing consistently multiple times a week? I'm sure you guys know what I mean!

This post has been brought to you by the TOTR linkup!

Have you been acclimating well to the summer heat?
How many days a week do you like to run?
When you're not following a training plan, how do you make sure to get the most out of your speed work?

ABK

Confession: I'm Scared

This is not at all running related; I needed to get my thoughts out there so I can come to terms and shake this off. What a better way to do that than on TOL Thursday?

Note: I wrote this post before my first two training days, but now that I've gone I feel a bit better. Training has helped me remember that no one expects me to be perfect immediately (or ever) and that I have an entire team of people who can offer support when I need it. But, some of my fears still exist...so I'm still publishing this post.

I began training for my new job this week. From Tuesday to Friday, I'm learning about what's on my plate for this upcoming school year. Beginning July 25, I'll be officially training new teachers. And right now, I'm scared.

I'm scared my students won't have a socially conscious teacher who will openly discuss politics with them. I don't force my views on students; we discuss, question, analyze, and wonder. We come to mutual understandings. They have learned in my class that privilege exists, that racism and sexism exist, that to embrace other's differences is an obligation we all have, and that we must not give up fighting for equality.

Especially in the current political climate, I worry.

I'm scared my students won't get all they deserve out of the Holocaust unit this year, because I won't be there to answer the hard questions and give them knowledge that goes beyond our classroom materials.

I'm scared my students won't ever learn to LOVE writing in any capacity. That they'll brush off poetry; that they'll feel censored when they write fiction. That the new teacher will follow the curriculum map TOO faithfully and miss out on some of the organic moments where true, meaningful learning and growing happens.

I'm scared my students won't have a teacher they can trust. Someone they can truly be open with about fears and stress. Someone who takes them seriously as young adults, not just children.

I told Matt, after I'd been offered this new job, that I know I'm an awesome teacher; I'm great at my job, and I fear I may be doing a disservice to this upcoming class of 8th graders because they'll have someone else. Our other teachers are fantastic but it's hard to give up control, you know?

I'm also scared I'll struggle with my new job. That my anxiety will cripple me or that teachers won't bother to take my advice seriously. That I'll come off as a know-it-all. That I'll lose paperwork or give people the wrong answers. That I'll waste the precious time of my mentors and superiors as they try to help me acclimate.

And I know that I'll be able to take it one day at a time and figure things out and acclimate quickly - I'm truly a fast learner - but I can't seem to stop myself from worrying. I just really want to do my best and be as helpful and useful as possible.

So wish me luck, guys...because this week is the start of my next big adventure and the first time I'll be doing something new in the seven years I've been at my school.

Any words of wisdom or advice?
How do you overcome fear?

ABK

Musings

This week has been one of those. There's nothing necessarily bad going on, but for some reason I'm super stressed and can't seem to get my feet under me. It seemed like a good week to just kind of...brain dump.

It's probably because this time of year is ridiculously busy; I haven't even seen my homeroom/first block of students all week because they've been taking their algebra EOC, so I feel even more swamped and anxious to finish everything before the school year ends.

And honestly, this isn't even half of it.

To start in with good news, Matt's Kickstarter was successful! He reached his goal of $6500 and will begin buying his equipment and making pieces in a couple weeks. I'm so thrilled!

Matt in his studio!

I was really moved because quite a few donations came in from runners I only know virtually (or have only met a couple times) through the Sub-30 Club. Runners are the best.

I've been on a major salad kick lately. Maybe it's the hotter weather or something. Salads can be really boring, so I'm playing around with making mine as flavorful and nutritious as possible.

I'm living for Bolthouse's Cilantro Avocado dressing and tomatoes right now.

I was going through old photos and cards the other day and found the birthday and Valentine's Day cards Matt wrote me the year I began running. In my memoir I talk about how he really helped me stick to running when I was new at it. Seeing those old cards was a great reminder of what a supportive partner he's always been.

Matt bought me my first iPod with a Nike+ adapter and my first pair of dedicated running shoes.

I was pretty bummed Monday because I ate pizza and chips for dinner, and I've been really good about eating healthy. It wasn't the pizza that bummed me out - it was why I ate it. I was in a piss-poor mood and wanted comfort food. I'm trying to break the habit of comfort eating; realistically I know that one day of junk isn't going to derail my progress, and once I ate it the craving for junk went away, but I wasn't happy that I gave in to my stress that way.

Finally, I went to a Derby party on Saturday. I've never been before and I was so tickled by my giant hat that I had to take a mirror selfie, which I never do. Matt and I tried to get a selfie and I was dying - my hat kept getting in his way! It was a fun excuse to get dressed up, even if my horse lost.

Shameless selfie-ing

 This post was brought to you by my random thoughts and Amanda's Thinking Out Loud linkup!

Have you ever been to a Derby party?
Do you wish hats would come back in style? YES!
What's your favorite salad topping or dressing?

ABK

On My Mind

There's no rhyme or reason to this post; there are a few things swirling around in my head right now, so today HtGR is going to take on a diary-esque feel. Sometimes I just need to let a brain-dump happen!

1. I have no shame about being completely and totally devastated by both David Bowie and Alan Rickman's deaths. When I first heard about Bowie, I immediately went into denial mode, and since Sunday I've been listening to his music nonstop. Growing up, my siblings and I watched Labyrinth literally hundreds of times - anytime my parents had a date-night, that was the movie we put on. Of course my parents were big fans of his music (our first dog was named Bowie, in fact) so he was a big part of my childhood. His willingness to try new things and test boundaries was always something I admired, and his artistry is unmatched in the musical world.

(Bowie released his final album as a parting gift to the world, and this song is just haunting. Below is a favorite from Labyrinth. Fun fact: the album from Labyrinth was my first CD.)

Likewise, Alan Rickman has always been a favorite of mine. I was in the middle of teaching when I received my sister's text that he had died, and I literally stopped mid-sentence (this is the one con of wearing an Apple watch - I got the text and saw it immediately, rather than waiting to check messages at lunch like usual) and had to check for confirmation.

The nuance in his acting in everything I have ever seen him in was just brilliant; I'd forget I was watching an actor, even though I loved the actor, and that's really the highest compliment I can pay. Of course, he also brought one of my favorite book characters to life as Severus Snape - that's one complex and complicated character, and he portrayed Snape convincingly, honestly, and compassionately. I love watching Rickman play conflicted characters - his role as Harry in Love, Actually is simply gorgeous. He brought a lot of depth to a movie that is, at its heart, just a rom-com.

My biggest gripe about the HP movies is their casting - the older characters (from Harry's parents' years at Hogwarts) should have been in their 30s. But I could forgive the mistake with Rickman, because he was literally the perfect Snape, even if he was twenty years too old.

More importantly, Rickman was an outspoken feminist and activist. As wonderful an actor as he was, I appreciated his character - not those he played - the most.

2. We've been having July weather in January this year, and for us, that means hurricanes (or hurricane-like weather). Florida isn't known for tornadoes, but we've had those, too. Our district announced that Friday would be an excused absence for any students who missed school because the weather looked bad, and sure enough, school was interrupted twice for tornado watches. I guess those drills we practice paid off; our kids were well-prepared and the teachers kept our cool.

One of our most popular half marathons was canceled due to the storms...this is the race course right now; it's completely submerged.

One tornado hit thirty minutes from us, and Sunday morning four hit my parents' city. They're okay, and so are Matt's parents, but there were casualties and our most famous beach was hit pretty hard.

We don't get these kinds of storms in winter. It's disconcerting, to say the least.

3. After the storms cleared, it was still crazy windy all day. No more 60 mph gusts, but doing my long run in 21 mph winds was...challenging. Still, I got it done. My right leg felt like rocks this weekend, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to treat it! (It feels like when you've done a million crunches and your muscles are just super fatigued and you have lactic-acid buildup, but it's been feeling that way within the first mile, and it didn't go away until mile 6 of my long-run Sunday.)

Midway through my run, I tried to figure out where my mind is on A1A. I know I don't have to decide yet, but next weekend is my 20-miler, so I need to at least decide if I'm interested enough in possibly running the full to do 20. If my leg feels like it did today, I don't think I will; it was not good. But if I can rest and recover nicely this week and nail my 20, then the full is still a possiblity.

Why do hats make me look so weird?! Anyway, Elizabeth conquered her longest run ever: 9.1 miles! It was weird to start this run at 3pm. I'm definitely not a fan of evening long runs.

4. I've been binge-watching The West Wing this weekend. I was going to watch Labyrinth but Matt wanted me to wait until he can watch, too, so instead I chose another old favorite. TWW reminds me of my dad; watching it with him was what introduced me to politics, and I always liked that it was something we shared.

I love that, despite being 10 years old, this show was so on-point! It covers abortion rights, Islamophobia, war in the Middle East, gay rights, mandatory minimums, assisted suicide...you name it...and it's funny! I guess it just goes to show that politics is always the same old argument rehashed over and over again.

Another timeless, perfect moment.

5. It's been cold. Finally! I hope it lasts!

What's on your mind this week?
Any tips for my leg situation?
Are you a Bowie fan?

ABK

My Favorite Photo (Trigger Warning)

Let me be up front about this...I don't really know if I want to be writing this post. It's been swimming around in my head for ages and I know it's a topic that could create hope or change or empowerment for some people, so I should post it.

But it's also really private. Not to those who have known me a long time, not really; but it's not something I talk about much even with them. And while I do share a lot of my life here on the blog, there are some parts that I try not to delve into.

Still, I feel like sometimes being brave means putting things out there, and I've been wanting to put this out there for months. So here it is.

This is my favorite running photo.

It was taken after the Space Coast Marathon as I sat, recovering and crying a little, covered in glory and friends and flowers, sporting my brand new medal. Victorious.

The words on my arms are words from my sister, who wrote me a heart-wrenching good luck card, and Matt, whose usual blunt encouragement leaves no room for disagreement.

And those words, scrawled on my arms before I set off to do something totally life-affirming, something that epitomizes strength and determination, are written over dozens of self-inflicted scars.

You can barely tell in the photo. Most people don't really notice them in person, or if they notice, they have the tact not to ask about them.

But I see them. When I look at this photo, my eyes zero in on this strange meeting of my greatest time of weakness and my greatest moment of strength.

When I look at this photo, I see what my life was and what it has become. I am so grateful; I am humbled; I am in awe. I created those scars during a time in my life when I never imagined I could ever have the strength to turn my pain into something worthwhile. And here they are, obscured by words that prove the simple truth that, yes, I was able to do just that.

I don't know where my running will continue to take me, but I do know that it has already impacted my life in so many ways, and this picture is just one example of how completely I have changed...in part thanks to this sport and all it has given me. This March was my 10th anniversary of being..."clean", I guess you'd say. Some days are harder than others, and on those days, I run.

I know running has changed many of my runner-friends' lives for the better. Do you have a story to share?

ABK

Friday Five

I don't usually do these "themed" posts, but May is just one of those months. My brain is completely overwhelmed with a million things; a random Friday post is just what I need!

1. Lately I've been kind of addicted to true-crime novels about serial killers. I just find them intriguing! Of course, the downside of this latest reading binge is that I've been a little wary about running alone at night. My head is filled with terrifying, true-life murders!

Killer Clown was surprisingly good despite the corny title. I'm really enjoying Harold Schechter's writing, too.

2. I needed a pick-me-up the other day and decided a new shade of lipstick would do the trick. I rarely wear anything brighter than a berry color, but lately I've been loving this red! I've gotten a few comments on it; the funniest thing is that I haven't changed the rest of my makeup routine at all, but suddenly people are like, "Oh, you're wearing makeup!" I guess a red lip is pretty noticeable.

I'm especially loving that this color stays on through a whole day of teaching!

3. Our gardenia plant is in full bloom right now. Matt has been picking the flowers and putting them around the house. They smell amazing and are just so pretty and delicate. I hope they last all summer!

Who needs to buy flowers when these grow in your backyard?!

4. One of my oldest childhood friends is getting married May 24 and I wanted to buy a new dress for the occasion. After ordering four dresses, I've finally found a winner. The only problem I'm facing now is deciding on my hair! It's time for a trim, and I can't decide how much shorter to go. I'm probably over-thinking this, but if I leave it how it is I could wear it up; if I cut it shorter I could wear it down, but it won't look very formal if I wear it down at its current length. I foresee a haircut in my future.

This is actually a super unflattering photo, but you get the idea. I don't usually wear light blue, but I think I like it! Also, I spy an Archie-bird.

5. The end of the year is looming! My students have been presenting their research this week and their final papers are due today. Their finals for ELA are early next week, we're on the fast-track to finish 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by next Thursday, and the following week we'll be in DC for the 8th grade trip! I need to have all the projects and finals graded before then. I love this time of year but it's understandably stressful and overwhelming. Emails like this from old students really help me remember why it's all worth it.

This student created a surprise for a teacher she loves this year, which is what she's writing about at first, but the bit about the research project is what really made my day!

We 8th grade teachers spend so much time trying to convince our students that high school is a whole different playing field and that we're trying to empower them to be successful in the future; every year current students don't believe us and previous students come back and tell us how right we were. I guess hindsight is 20/20 haha.

So that's it! I'm looking forward to a restful weekend. May is never a big running month for me, and I'm trying to stay active, but I'm also not stressing about missing runs. I'm not in training right now and I'm truly in survival mode; getting rest when I can is my top priority!

What five things are on your mind?

ABK

On My Mind

On my mind lately, and in no particular order...

Does everybody's hunger feel the same? How do people seem to assuage hunger with something as small as yogurt?!

I've been enjoying using Matt's Indo Board lately. I fell off once and skinned my elbow, but it's a nice little full-body workout if you do it right!

This is harder than it looks, I swear!

I could seriously watch Forensic Files and Dr. G: Medical Examiner for hours straight. Thanks, HLN.

At what point do TV shows cross the line from adorably/ironically corny to totally lame?

I'm looking at you, Bones. (I like that David Boreanaz is totally like, what us?, in this pic.)

I've signed up for paperless billing and statements; why do I still get so much mail from my credit card and insurance companies?!

How the heck did we have a cold front on May 1st?! No, no...don't look a gift horse in the mouth here. 

I hope this lasts until tomorrow morning and I can enjoy my first "long run" in cool weather!

I wonder if those teens from last weekend got found out...I wonder what their blog post about the incident would look like?

Is it better to count down to summer including or excluding weekends?

There are this many days left. That's all I know.

Why does my internet work for every device in the house except my laptop? (I am constantly using my hot spot to get online!)

I do not "meal plan" but this week I did a great job making extra food so we could have leftovers all week. Go me!

Salmon, shrimp, peas, and yellow rice. Yum! I also made a week's worth of chicken on Sunday night.

I know that changing your mindset is the first step in getting healthier, but how do I get my taste-buds on board with that theory?

Oh this is dangerous...I can buy things off Amazon using accumulated credit card points?! That makes it FREE!

Running is clearly the fountain of youth!

Have you tried this robot yet? It guesses your age...I've gotten everything from 27 to 37! I apparently looked really rough after my marathon and while we were camping.

I'm trying to figure out how to download Instagram videos to my computer so I can make a playlist of fun at-home workouts.

Full Body Blast! 💪 double tap & tag your partner 👫 perform 10 reps each exercise for a total of 4 sets! @alexajeanbrown

A video posted by Alexa Jean Brown (@alexajeanfitness) on Apr 16, 2015 at 6:01pm PDT

Finally, I don't realize how much I'm not myself leading up to my TPE/follow-up meeting, and then when it's over, I feel totally weightless! I suddenly feel so happy in my classroom again!
Aaah, that brain dump felt good!

What's on your mind lately?

ABK