Motivated to Succeed

1:00 PM - Worked Saturday and Sunday at the bookstore in New York. Kind of weird right now working in two states at once! Had a quiet night in last night after work with Emmy for Valentine's Day. We got Chinese take out. I tried the General Tso's Tofu. I am still trying to eliminate meat from my diet. It's been about a week. I am planning on still having fish. Guess this makes me a pescatarian?

Hopped on the treadmill and watched as Charlotte Kalla took the first gold medal for Sweden in nordic skiing since 1968! I loved watching it! And as I'm part Swedish and have a Swedish middle name (mom's maiden), I feel as though I could identify with Kalla as she skiied to gold. Did 4.25 miles in 40:30 on the treadmill in my Brooks, then hopped off and switched t-shirts because it looked as though I'd jumped in a lake, and put on my Vibrams to do the last 2.1 miles Felt really good.

Total Time: 1:00:00 Total Distance: 6.35 Average Pace:  9:27

6:30 PM - My mom, Jonn and Harry all came up last night to see Emmy and me and my new room! Drove them up to Adams today to see BArT (I start tomorrow!). Then we went to House of India for the lunch buffet. Watched a little bit of the Olympics, including the women's biathlon. Then all five of us went out on the hill and went sledding. This was fun because I cannot remember the last time I went sledding and believe it or not it was the first time I've ever gone sledding with Emmy (in nearly five years!!). Came in for yummy tea and then my brothers and mom had to go because Jonny and my sister Su had a soccer game in Clifton Park tonight.

While we were out sledding, I had the bright idea to both get extra runs down the hill behind Emmy's and also get an impromptu workout in. Ran up the hill with my sled between runs for 5 runs. Probably about .15-.2 mile hill. Was winded needless to say. 

Hopped on the treadmill and I think I tasted Indian food every four or five steps. Oii. Pushed through it though! Felt good. Stretched afterwards. A good tired.

Total Time: 41:00 Total Distance: 4.32 miles Average Pace:  9:29

6:00 PM - Today was my first official day at BArT. I got there at 9am and did all the paperwork, got a tour and got to meet Sue Moore, the lady who I am am subbing for. I settled in to the room (Four other teachers share the same planning room I guess.) and got to work. Ben, the principal, suggested I get about two weeks worth of plans in order before Monday. Oii. I am teaching two different history classes, two sections of American History I (Columbus to 1877), and two sections of American History II (1877 to now). I stayed and worked until a little after four. Everyone else in the building was already gone. 

Drove back to Emmy's house and made sure to check on Ruby Gato. Emma is in Boston for doctor's appointments and to see her sister until tomorrow night. HA, as I'm writing this the cat is massaging my stomach. She needs it like a baker making dough. So funny!

Went running on the treadmill before dinner. Needed to relax a bit. Ran 3.30 miles in my Brooks and then switched to my Vibrams for the last 19 or 20 minutes. Legs feel pretty good.

Total Time: 51:12 Total Distance: 5.55 miles Average Pace:  9:13

6:20 PM - Had a long day at work. Wide awake at 5am and then did some chores, fed the cat and went into work. Got there right before 8am. I stayed until about 3:40 PM. Spent all day doing lesson plans. Oii. I'm exhausted. It was nice though because some of the students were in prepping for a Mock Trial debate tomorrow. Met one of the teachers I share a prep room with, April. She was really nice. There are 8 teachers with desks in a single room. Talk about harnessing brain power, eh?

Afterwards I met Emmy and we went to Walmart so I could pick up some school supplies I needed and then we went to the food store. Finally got home around 5pm, had a snack and then went on the treadmill. Ran 3.5 miles in my normal Brooks's and then switched to the Vibrams for the last 2.1 miles. 200 crunches before the run.

Total Time: 50:16 Total Distance: 5.6 miles Average Pace: 8:59

7:00 PM - Had a really long week. Still trying to plan for Monday. Kind of hard to do because I still am not sure what is expected of me when the kids come in. We shall see. I am feeling this next week will really be a doozy. I had to wake up at 630 this morning and I drove to New York to work at the bookstore. Kind of sucks working in two states at once. It's about 1h30m drive to the bookstore. I got out and drove back to Emmy's (might of sped a little but what are you going to do!). As soon as I got in I gave her a hug and kiss and then got changed and we had an exercise date. Little did I know... that I'd be 

 RUNNING IN DANTE'S INFERNO!!!

I ran on the treadmill and Emmy ran on the elliptical. I did about two miles before picking up the pace, and when I got to 28:00 in I decided to do a bit of a workout. I alternated 1min "on" at about 6.7-6.9mph and 5% grade to 1 min "off" at same speed but only 2% grade. Did 4 x this and ten eased into the end. Could have gone farther but I have to do some homework before bed tonight. Blargh! Cool Factoid: At the end of the run, I asked Emmy as I was stretching if the treadmill looked weird. I had moved it backwards on the floor almost 3 feet during my run tonight! Legs of Steel?!

Total Time: 41:15 Total Distance: 4.6 miles Average Pace: 8:58