Motivated to Succeed

2:30 PM - Went running while I watched the last 3 x 5k loops in the Men's 50k Classic XC ski race today. Was wearing my SWEDEN t-shirt with pride. I do like rooting on my Swedes! This has been a great Olympics for us. Was great to see Peter Nortug of Norway finally break into stride. His closing speed is amazing! Swedes got in there for Bronze though! My favorite race to watch this entire Olympiad!

So, anyone want to hear about my crappy day yesterday?

Woke up with 8" of fresh snow and I had to shovel out at 6am to drive 1.5 hours to Saratoga Springs, NY for work.  On the way there, snow still falling. I had to pass a plow truck on the 3 lane highway. I moved out into the 3rd lane and slowed to about 45mph and the plow was in lane 1. Well a truck decided to blow past us in the middle lane and it shot up rock salt and BAM BAM BAM! 4 new divits in my windshield. Oii. Got to work and worked til 1pm. Saw my mom and sister. Went to the bank and wanted to deposit checks in the ATM room since the bank was closed. But I found that I was LOCKED IN! I waited about ten minutes and was thinking about calling 9-1-1 but then a guy showed up and let me out! Went over to Jiffy Lube and spent $200 bucks! I was originally just getting an oil change and tire rotation but then they said I had a dead battery! (100 bucks to replace) My mom told me later on that that was probably a gimmick. The car has been starting alright the last couple weeks so it probably would have been okay. Then I had to drive to get pants and shirts for work, but they didn't have my size so had to drive to Albany to get some. Then on the way home, right about where I got pulled over for the headlight out (and only 2 hrs after the JiffyLube experience mind you) I heard a clink-clank-clunk and saw cars behind me changing lanes. I pulled over and found that my exhaust system was dragging on the road! Called my mom and Emma. And they couldn't believe the day I was having! Haha. I pulled over and listened to some NPR and waited about 1.5 hrs for mom to get there and she helped tie it up and we switched cars so I have a car to get to work. Maybe this is a sign I need to quit my job in NY at the bookstore? Finally got home 14 hrs after leaving, just before 8pm. Oi.

On a plus, today's run was fun and besides sweating a bunch the only pain I had was inside of my left knee, a bruise that looks like it's from kneeling on the road yesterday. 

Total Time: 1:05:00 Total Distance: 7.27 miles Average Pace: 8:56

7:00 PM - Long day at school. Went last night to see Emmy's grandpa in the hospital. Was the first time I had met him even though I've known Emma for like 5 years. He is recovering from a heart attack and surgery. Good news is Emmy said she went today to see him again with her dad and he is doing better.

Even though I had "free" periods, I did a ton of planning, grading, and meeting. There is something new to learn every day and today was filled with learning opportunities. I left the school about 5:30pm tonight and got home around 6:00 pm. When my bed time is about 9pm at the latest, doesn't leave much time for anything. Still managed to get in a run.

Running is good for the mind. It cleans the conscience and relieves the stress.

Total Time: 50:34 Total Distance: 5.555 miles Average Pace: 9:06

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

5:15 PM - I really love this first full week at BArT. Times for smiling. Times for frowning. Times to learn from for the future. I really like the atmosphere of the school. It is all about the kids. It is centered around being the best we can to bring out the best in them. I am so glad to be a part of it.

Today at 1:30 was the recognition for the science fair projects. It was so great to see all of my 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders come together in the atrium. The high school is significantly smaller than the middle school, as after 9th grade you can't apply to get into the school. You have to be promoted. Well after the awards, we had about 10 minutes to kill and Ben Klompus (the principal) decided to have a community meeting where the students are given the opportunity to give "shout outs" to others that have helped them this year. It was great to hear the students thanking one another for being there for them through the good times and the bad. Students genuinely thanked their teachers for helping them progress from where they were at the start of the year to where they are today.

Well I was completely taken aback when TWO different students said that they wanted to give a shout out to Mr. Griffin. One said that he believed I deserved a shout out for, "coming in here so far into the year and actually teaching us history!" And another gentleman gave a shout out for Mr. Griffin having 'the best beard in the school!'. Haha. It made me laugh :D.

I drove home a little early. It was pay day! And even though I only worked 4 days last week I had a paycheck that equaled the biggest paycheck I've gotten at the bookstore (which was when I had 10 days of 8 full hours of work!). Granted a lot more goes into teaching and there is a lot of outside prepping, etc. that the bookstore doesn't have.

Emmy and I went jogging on Cadwell Road, running from the Causeway (Dan ___ Memorial Drive) at Onota Lake. This was the first real run outside I think that I've done this year since my injury). Phew. My quads are shot! I can't wait for the tired feeling tomorrow morning. Mm. Ran down to the end of the road and back. I ran the first 3 miles with Emmy, and then I sped up and ran 2 miles of tempo. Then I circled back to get her, but found she was only .10 miles behind! She is a trooper! She was really hammering the downhills too! We finished up together to the car and ran a loop of the causeway to get her to 6 miles. Felt good! I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE RUNS IN THOSE SHOES.. She runs in a pair of just lounge around Pumas (Pumma Pumas!). Splits were:

• Mile 1: 9:44
• Mile 2: 9:22
• Mile 3: 9:07
• Mile 4: 8:06
• Mile 5: 7:38
• Mile 6: 9:13