7 Miles: Check!

Thanks for the encouragement and accountability! I literally would not have done it without you.

I got a late start, so I was only able to get in 4 miles outside. The last one was definitely in the dark, but I really wanted to get more than half my run finished before I submitted to the dreadmill.

When I came in, I only had 3 miles left, but that was daunting enough on the treadmill. I HATE the treadmill. I haven't used it in months and today was kind of ugly (there was walking involved), but I finished it!

(By the way, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" turns out not to be such a great treadmill movie. It's been on my list of "movies everyone in the world has seen but me because I didn't grow up with a TV and it's causing me to miss pop culture references" for a while now, but it just moved up the Netflix Queue. I had run half a mile before the opening credits were even finished. I'm pretty sure I missed half the jokes because I couldn't hear them over the rickety mess that is our treadmill. I think I'll pick it up another time though.)

Rained In

A few weeks ago, we were working on data analysis in my class. My third and four graders made circle graphs to show how they would use 24 hours in an ideal day. Many of their first drafts looked kind of like this:After some work on fractional pieces, time, daily needs (i.e. sleep, food, etc.), and keys, they were much improved, but many of them still had some pretty quirky days planned. One of my darling students scheduled 4 hours for "washing my hair", and 2 hours for "eating pie."

That was funny and all, until today, which put me in mind of that graph. Except I haven't washed my hair.

I had a very long list of things I wanted to accomplish on my Wednesday off today, but as per usual, I've only crossed off a few. It has been raining non-stop all day and I just decided I would be not going out into it. So I've stayed in and looking back it would make a pretty sad circle graph. I would need wedges for:

• watching multiple documentaries on NetFlix on demand
• cooking
  
• grading papers
• eating pie
• eating other food of approximately the same nutritional value of pie
• laundry

...and that's pretty much it. I've opened the door to let the cat in and out, but otherwise have not been into the world.

Maybe I should dust off the treadmill...

So, here are the rules.

If you've been following along this little journey of mine, you might have noticed that I made this great proclamation that I was (again) running every day starting September 1st and I was determined and unstoppable! A few days later then (yes, only 4 to be precise) you might have noticed a gap on my mileage where a run was nary to be found. Which is pretty pathetic, but something came up and no matter how big a fit I threw about it, the run was not happening.

I was still upset about the run-that-wasn't the next day as my mom and I set out to run 15 miles together. Ridiculously upset about it. Beating myself up about it. I was having a good run though and at about mile 11, I had a thought, Why on earth am I stressing myself out about something that is optional?

Running is not my job (thanks B.O.B for reminding me of this), the world does not fall to pieces when I miss a run, and this is just my silly plan anyway. So I decided to write myself a loophole: if I miss a run one day, I just have to make it up. Which means some days I'll have a two-fer. Which isn't a bad thing, either. It still adds up to 365, right?

I think this loophole was inspired by an event in my classroom last week. Each night, I have my students read for 20 minutes and record their books in a reading log. I check their logs each day to make sure they've read. Last week, I had a studious, obedient little girl practically in tears because she hadn't read the night before. She was so embarrassed and stammering, "I'm so sorry! I really like this book and I meant to read, but I had dance class and church and we were at my Grandma's and then my mom made me go to bed."

Even when you're in fourth grade, life's like that sometimes. You just can't fit it all in (even when it's just a 10 minute run or 20 minutes reading) and you have a parent (or a husband) that insists upon a bedtime (especially when the treadmill in is the bedroom). So, without hesitation, I told this student, "Honey, it's okay. Read an extra day this weekend. You'll catch up. It's not a big deal."

And I've decided to tell myself the same thing (except, you know, about the running). So, if see a gaping 0 on my mileage, look for an extra run the next day, or on the weekend. It'll be there. That slightly painful extra mile later in the day after the 15-miler is proof. As will be my extra run this weekend for Tuesday. Just keep me accountable!

This about sums it up...

An irony on my to-do list cracked me up the other day. Notice "Run," (even with the little star of importance next to it) is untouched. For about five days in a row. I did manage to pick up those Reese's Puffs though. Obviously, my priorities are a little jumbled right now.

Later today, I'm going to run at least 12 miles. Not optional. It might be ugly, but I'll let you know. I've been at school almost every day until dark and working on grad work at night. Running has fallen the way side. That's why running-every-day-no-matter-what works so well for me; if I can say, "Oh, I'll run tomorrow..." it never happens.

It will today though! There's a marathon looming in the near future.

No, I Haven't Run Off the Side of the Earth

Or much of anywhere for that matter. I've been the beach for the past few days with my husband while he's been at a conference. I've been fanastizing for weeks about how much running and reading I would get done on that trip.

I did read a lot.

We laid out on the beach for a few hours Monday afternoon (after liberally applying 30 SPF) and I was disappointed that I did not appear to be getting any sun at all.

Well, I got sun.

I considered posting pictures of my red, scalded back and legs, but it's the kind of thing that makes you cringe. Tuesday (the day I had planned to go on a long run), I spent completely indoors, out of the sun, and ran one pitiful, painful mile on the hotel treadmill.

Though still pink, the sting is gone, and I'm going to try and squeeze in a quality run today(between cleaning this poor neglected house and baking three cakes)!

Oh, if you like cake (and obviously, you do), look at the beautiful creations made by my friend, Taylor.

Discombobulated...

That is the only appropriate word to describe how I feel right now.

My clock battery must have gave out and I spent my afternoon about 45 minutes behind schedule and my kids missed recess.

I missed choir practice because I forgot it was switched to Wednesday this week.

I misordered my chicken cordon bleu sandwich and ended up eating grilled cheese.

I missed a text message and missed my social event of the evening.

I misplaced my motivation and am about a week behind in grad school work.

At least I'm getting my mile in. Maybe I will feel less discombobulated after my run.

A More Appropriate Title Would Be...

Lately, this has just turned into the daily 1 mile treadmill challenge. It's been a rough, busy week though. My mind is just racing with all the things I'm completely behind on and stressed about. 11.5 school days until summer...

Mile 1, Square 1, Day 1, Whatever

So, I'm not usually a fan of lame excuses, but here's mine. Friday, I fell asleep on the couch at the hotel where we were staying. I woke up minutes before midnight...and could not muster the willpower to put on my shoes and find the hotel treadmill. Which is pretty pathetic. It overjoyed my husband. He is completely not a fan of this endeavor.

However, this is something I really, really, despite its ridiculousness, want to do. So after giving in for the weekend (and the past two days...), I'm back on the wagon. Which means the clock starts over today. I think it much more symbolic and neat to start and finish on my birthday, but whatever.

I was so excited about the first run of my new year though because I have a brand spanking new iPod! So excited (and distracted by playing with it on my arm), that I fell down the stairs from the porch. It turns out that shaking the iPod (or falling off the porch) shuffles the songs! What a fancy feature.

Anyway, I'm running and very excited about the next 364 days of doing the same!

It's a pretty pathetic start.

It was a beautiful hot day. So hot, in fact, that I decided to wait until this evening to run. It would be really rude to run off though when you have visitors (who you really enjoy visiting with because we don't get many visitors anyway) to come by and sit on the porch on such a beautiful evening. We had such a lovely time with our guests that it became dark before I ever located my running shoes.



So, as early as Day Two, I met the treadmill. I just really, truly, honestly hate running on the treadmill. (This fact should motivate me to actually get my lazy self out and run before 8 in the evening.) I really shouldn't complain though; last year, in Siler City, I had no treadmill and very often did not get home from school until dark. Which means I spent many a workout literally running around (sometimes the exterior, sometimes the interior) of my duplex...which, I'm pretty sure, makes me a huge dork.



Anyway, I realize two days of only one mile is pretty pathetic. I'm looking forward to a real (non-treadmill!) run tomorrow!