Not-so-fast-running-blog

Workout: 

• 5.22 miles
• 2020 is finding it difficult to leave this morning. I ran in rain, snow, and then clear skies. 
• I finished my run with 10 minutes of yoga for runners.

Workout:

I did not run today. I am still waiting, waiting, waiting for my new treadmill. My 20 year old treadmill died in the spring. With the fickle weather patterns, I finally broke down and made the purchase. I don't see a gym membership in my near future.

I did a weight training workout on the treadmill app that I can currently access. It was a good workout. My heartrate was elevated and I experienced a good amount of sweat. I've been reminded over this past year that adding more variety in my workouts is an essential. As I age, I am finding that I really need balance and flexibilty to remain injury-free. 

My daughter headed back to her home in Pennsylvania following an extended stay for the Thanksgving and Christmas holdiays. She coordinates the study aboard program for Dickinson College so she has been working remotely since February 2020. This has provided us with the luxury of spending A LOT of time together over this past year. Freshman and seniors are returning to campus so our time together will once again be limited, but we are both extremely grateful for the wonderful year that we've experienced together.

I return to the classroom tomorrow following a 6 week stint of e-learning. It is extremely confusing and disheartening that our school board and superintendent have made this imptaient decision. Our community, like most, are experiencing a surge upon a surge. Our hospital is at full capacity. Our positive test results are above 95% and deaths are rising. 

I prefer my learners to be at school, but safety is currrently more important. I can teach them effectively online. I can not keep them safe at school. There is nothing safe about school plans because there is no way to socially distance learners. I can not teach while separating and constantly disinfecting six and seven year olds. 

My distraict's logic to open our doors is based upon the following rationale:

1. District - Other surrounding districts are open. Me - We are the largest district in the area. The core of our district is not rural.

2.  District - Elementary students are assymptomatic. Me - COVID individuals, with or without symptoms, still spread the virus. The week my district went to e-learning I had one known student with COVID. The school nurse contact traced 12 of my students. She wanted to contract trace 8 more, but the district said, "No." I had several more positive students during e-learning as a result.

3. District - The spread does not happen at school. Me - If the spread is in the community, it is going to move into our buildings. 

4. District - Teachers are essential workers. The vaccine is on its way. Me - No one knows the timeline. No teacher has been vaccinated yet.

Anyway this is my soap box moment. I'll do my best to keep myself and my students safe once again.

Workout:

This was a comfortable early morning run. I headed out the door a little later than I had hoped so I did not accomplish 6 miles, but that was okay. I'll need to build my stamina back up this month since I pulled back my mileage over the past few months. Half way through the day, my inner thighs were really screaming from my cardio workout yesterday. 

Following work, I completed a Tabata workout. My hamstrings should be screaming tomorrow. My treadmill is in transit so that is good news. I'll be able to restart my speed work in the near future. My running life is getting back on track although pulling back to fewer run days was most likely a really smart move on my overall wellness and life balance. 

Workout:

I am inching my way back to 6 miles! I just need to get out a little earlier in the morning so I am not so pressed for time before work. The run felt good. I was just really hot and slow. I definitely over dressed for the cold. 

I finished off my day with a body strength class. It was a lot of balance work. I liked it. I was pleasantly surprised with my balance abilities. I did not know that I had those capabilities.

Workout:

I felt as if I had a steady, quick pace throughout the entire early morning run. I should have never checked my stats when I entered the house. Steady. Yes! Quick. No!

Workout:

I did a quick 6 miler this morning. I have a play date with the grand kids today. Here are my picks for the football games today - Buffalo, Rams, and the Bucaneers. This is how I wish the wins would go - Colts, Rams, Washington (I will never be a Brady fan).

Workout:

• Run / 6.10 mi / Treadmill / I love my new treadmill! 
• Core Body Strength / 30 minutes
• Treadmill Hike / 2.17 mi

Inaguration Day:

• I have 5 girls in my classroom. The remaining 16 students are boys. As Kamala Harris was being sworn in as our new Vice President, my five girls spontaneously stood up, placed their hand on their hearts, and repeated the oath along with her. When she finished, my girls clapped and clapped for her. My eyes welled up with tears. What an incredible moment for these young, impressionable six and seven year olds to experience, understand, and embrace for all women, but most importantly, for Black women and Asian women. What a glass ceining to break! 

Workout:

• Trail Walk
• Total Body Workout
• I was feeling under the weather today so it was good to be outside for a little while. The fresh air was rejuvinating.
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Workout:

• Treadmill / 6.10 mi / This was a mind over body run. It took everything I had to finish the 6 miles.
• My learners and I watched an interview of Amanda Garner discussing her speech articulation struggles in grade school. We've been learning about the idea of empathy and how to live that word in our daily life at school, home and community. This interview was a good text to world connection to that concept. Learner's discussed how Amanda's speech concerns affected her learning, friendships, and how she chose to perservere when she answered questions and/or shared her ideas. These discussions carried throughout our day of learning as students applied the idea of empathy and perserverance with each task. I heard learners encourage others to not give up. I saw learners stick to a task longer and/or try several different strategies before coming to me for assistance. I felt in my heart that these young learners were inspired by a positive role model because they had taken the time to empathize with someone else's struggle. As we say every day, "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours. Make it count!"

Workout:

• Treadmill / 6.12 mi / Today was a much faster, less mental struggle run
• Walk / 2.20 mi
• Total Body Condition / 30 min / Hand Weights

Workout:

• Total Body Workout / 25 minutes / Back, Chest, Legs
• Treadmill Run / 6.17 mi 

Workout:

• Treadmill Hike / 2 mi
• Treadmill Jog / Live / 3.17 mi

This was the first time that I did a live class. It was interesting. I had to override the instructor because the pace was too slow. I assumed this would be the case, but I started with an easy class to gage my interest and entry point for future level classes.

Workout:

• Treadmill / 5.02 mi / Manual setting

Workout:

• Treadmill / 6.17 mi / 9:32 
• I finally managed to run a decent, steady pace. I have a lot of work in the months ahead, but its a start.

Workout:

We had a 2 hour delay due to the ice and snow so I had additional time to run. I tried a few different workouts on my tread mill.

• Trail Run / 3 mi / Rolling hill work / 9:30 pace
• Manual / 4 mi / 9:20 pace
• Jog/Walk /3 min run / 1 min walk / 3.26 mi / 8:56 & 10:00 pace

Workout:

• Recovery run / Quick and short

Workout:

• Trail Hike / 2.17 mi
• Run / 3mi / 9:30

Workout:

• Easy 5 miler in slush. It rained. Then, snowed. Then, rained again. What a mess. It was A LOT of fun! I was glad to have worn older shoes.