Motivated to Succeed

6:30 PM - Ran 3.1 miles in my Vibrams before Emmy got home, then unpacked the P90X dvds. We ended up doing 30 mins of chest & back but it was all pushups! I can't do more than about 40 total in a day and I was required to do 2x that in about 10 mins! We decided to turn it off and found the correct dvd for p90 "lean" and did that one. 80 mins total of p90! Going to be mega sore for a few days I suspect.

Total Time: 26:28 Total Distance: 3.1 miles Average Pace:  8:32/ mile

12:00 PM - Raining, pouring, great time for puddle stomping! Went to Taconic High School for my long run. Haven't done a long run in about 3 weeks. I didn't know what to expect. Was hoping for at least a half marathon. Cruised around the .55 mile loop listening to Car Talk. Took off my glasses because they fogged up. At just under 2 hours, 1:49:45 to be exact, two pitbulls came bounding over a snowbank and made a b-line for me. I have not liked dogs since the incident in 2009 when the neighbor's dog bit me in the hand while I was running. I wish people would just keep them on leashes! Especially pitbulls! I got cornered by them, and they were between me and the car. I didn't know what to do. The lot was empty. No one else was around. I kept my eyes on them, squinting though because I didn't have my glasses and can't see more than a foot or so clearly. I kept sweet talking them and telling them to go home to Mommy and Daddy. Probably looked a dumb fool, but these dogs were scary. Made it to my car, and just jumped into the back seat to be safe! Came home and then went on the treadmill in my Vibrams for 3.25 miles.

Total Time:  2:18:45 Total Distance: 14 miles Average Pace: 9:54/ mile

5:20 PM - Got home from work and put on my Vibrams. Went running on the treadmill before doing some work and such tonight. I really need to make the effort to run 4-6 miles 4x a week and a long run. It is too hard right now with my crazy schedule! Did a few pick ups after mile 4 or so.

Total Time: 52:23 Total Distance: 6 miles Average Pace:  8:44/ mile

12:00 PM - Went to Taconic High School with Emmy for a run this a.m. Decided to put on my Vibrams since it was about 36 and partly sunny. Felt good to get a run in. This week was tough mileage wise. Emm ran the first 2 or 2.5 miles with me, but then had to go home because she hadn't eaten anything and was feeling a bit woozy. She got some food and came back though. I went ahead and played a game until she got back. I tried to decrease  my pace for each mile until she got back. By the end I was flying! No dogs this time, but I didn't like the fact that a couple high schoolers were cat calling me while they were waiting for a bus.  I should've yelled "nice wheels" when I saw them get on the bus, but didn't. Jogged the last 2.75 with Emmy. Going to see the Lion King tonight with Emmy and our friends Missy and Kara! Exciting! Splits were: 

• Mile 1: 9:48
• Mile 2: 9:23
• Mile 3: 9:09
• Mile 4: 8:58
• Mile 5: 8:47
• Mile 6: 8:41
• Mile 7: 8:16
• Mile 8: 7:20
• Mile 9: 9:03
• Mile 10: 9:00 

4:00 PM - Running inside on the treadmill for the first 3.5 or so in 32:00, followed by a really fast mile+ outside. Ran down to the turnaround in 4:28, and back in 4:11. Coming back was tough, uphill. Felt good. Did another lap inside again to round out at an even 5 miles. Legs were really sore the first two miles though from yesterday's Vibram run. Eclipsed my longest run in the Vibrams by close to 4 miles yesterday. 

Total Time: 44:00 Total Distance: 5 miles Average Pace:  8:48/ mile

6:00 PM - Home sick today. Was up all last night with fever and chills. Pushing myself too hard, but as always, my MO is to try to run when I'm sick. I think it helps get the sickness out. Ran 5.05 miles on the treadmill in 46:00. Felt good afterwards, but really hurt during. Calf muscles pretty sore from long run last week.

Total Time: 46:00 Total Distance: 5.05 miles Average Pace: 9:06/ mile

6:15 PM - Today was a sucky day. If there is one thing I would suggest for next year it is to not schedule "hell days" for teachers. My Tuesdays and Thursdays since Thanksgiving have been 11:00-3:35, 3x 7th grade blocks (2 x 90 and a 1 x 60), followed by 1 hour of after school hell (I mean helP). Not to mention earlier in the day I have an advisory and a senior seminar. I'm friggin exhausted on Tuesday/Thursdays. If there is one thing that a charter school can do it's burn out first year teachers. I understand why turnover's so high. Doesn't help that my classes keep changing every trimester either. I feel like I finally start to know the kids and then I'm back to teaching something else. Oh well. Such is life. Goal is to not try as hard. I have no free time right now. We got rid of cable because all we do is work, come home, eat, work more, fall asleep for a couple hours and repeat. No time for married life either right now. Sucks major.

Ran at the track tonight. First time at Taconic since the snow melted. Gorgeous. Temperature was 53 degrees at start, 48 at the finish. Did a couple miles warming up, hit a nice hard mile (fastest since I think last June!), and then coasted in a couple more miles. Did a .50 mile cool down afterwards (4:00). Splits were: 

• Mile 1: 8:48
• Mile 2: 8:16
• Mile 3: 6:22!
• Mile 4: 8:13
• Mile 5: 7:29

10:00 AM - Chilly and brisk, about 34 degrees at the start. Wind advisory in effect, but not nearly as bad as yesterday! Emmy and I went to Taconic High School and brought all the fixings for a good run. Clif Bars, Luna Bars, plenty of water, towels, change of clothes, apples, bananas, etc. Emm hasn't really run in a month or so because of work and she has never run more than 9 miles. I set out to help her beat this and to make sure she felt good while doing it! We ran most of the way together, minus the couple bathroom breaks she took. Wind picked up during hours 3 and 4. I had originally planned an ambitious 6 hour jaunt, but it didn't happen. Splits were: 

• Mile 1: 12:21
• Mile 2: 12:33
• Mile 3: 14:53
• Mile 4: 12:43
• Mile 5: 15:24 (water stop and changed shirts)
• Mile 6: 12:11
• Mile 7: 13:41
• Mile 8: 11:36
• Mile 9: 11:43
• Mile 10: 12:35
• Mile 11: 11:11
• Mile 12: 13:28
• Mile 13: 11:06
• Mile 14: 11:51
• Mile 15: 11:51
• Mile 16: 12:30
• Mile 17: 10:21
• Mile 18: 14:49
• Mile 19: 12:38

Emm ended up walking with me towards the end. I felt good. A bit tired, but not really screaming in pain. My calves were sore from the vibram runs earlier in the week. Emm ended up not only becoming a half marathoner today for the first time, but also ran about 16 miles! I am so proud of her!

Total Time: 3:59:42 Total Distance: 19.05 miles Average Pace: 12:35 

4:00 PM - Spent all day 8:30-3 at work getting stuff ready for tomorrow when I get 6th grade back. When I got home I went with Emmy to Taconic High School's track. It's always amazing to me that so many people decide to walk on tracks, but I hardly ever see another runner there, much less anyone doing a workout. Ended up running pretty well. No real soreness from yesterday, just my calves from last week's Vibram run. Splits were:

• Mile 1: 9:24
• Mile 2: 8:26
• Mile 3: 7:37
• Mile 4: 7:09
• Mile 5: 7:56
• Mile 6: 8:09
• cooldown .25 (3:00ish)

7:00 PM - Got home after an exhausting day. Let down because I feel like I let my bud down JH was taking MCAS and I was his scribe and he wasn't able to make it to the last open response and last 3 m/c questions. Blah. We worked so hard 830-330 together on it. Needed to get a run in. Did 3.2 miles on the treadmill in 27:00 then went to the track and did another 2.1ish in 15:30. Felt great. Had my fastest .5 miles in a long while too. Ran in Vibrams and ran a 2:50!! I want to train and get back to like a 2:30 pace. That'd be hot.

Total Time: 42:30 Total Distance: 5.25 miles Average Pace:  8:06

8:00 AM - Brrr! 20 degrees at the start of my run this morning. Would warm up to 28 at the end, but the wind picked up to a steady 12mph with gusts of about 20-25. Not really ideal for a long run! I ended up going to Taconic High School track and ran 60 laps! Most I've ever run on a track by close to 5 miles. I was really stoked about this. Even though I didn't hit my goal distance of 20 miles, this was good because it proved my mental toughness is increasing. Still worried about how I will be able to run for 12 hours though in May! We shall see. Ended up running 15.05 miles before stretching and booking on home for a warm bath. I thought it was spring? Guess not, Mother Nature, huh?! Splits were:

• Mile 1: 10:11
• Mile 2: 10:19
• Mile 3: 11:56
• Mile 4: 10:17
• Mile 5: 10:11
• Mile 6: 11:33
• Mile 7: 9:54
• Mile 8: 10:07
• Mile 9: 11:33
• Mile 10: 9:40
• Mile 11: 9:49
• Mile 12: 11:06
• Mile 13: 9:08
• Mile 14: 9:25
• Mile 15: 10:39 

Total Time: 2:36:12 Total Distance: 15.05 miles Average Pace: 10:23/ mile 

2:00 PM - Blustery cold. Temperature about 27 or 28 before wind chill. Went with Emm to Lamour Ct to run the .3 mile loop. Was feeling really weird and light headed. Also feeling down in the dumps and unmotivated to get all the junk that needs doing done for work. Lately I have been doubting my effectiveness at everything at work and thinking about what needs to change. I just don't feel happy any more. There is too much pressure on me, I get too little sleep, I am constantly stressed, not able to run but 3 times a week, and never get to see my wife. Something has to change. Even if it means I have to be a poor pauper, I don't care. I just want to be able to relax once in a while!

Total Time: 36:35 Total Distance: 4 miles Average Pace: 9:08/ mile 

Got knocked down by a killer stomach bug on Monday halfway through the day. Stayed home today. At the end of the day I was feeling good enough to hobble through a 5k in 26:00.

Total Time: 26:00 Total Distance: 3.10 miles Average Pace:  8:23