Called Out, and I'm *THAT* Human

Okay, I'm sorry.  

Explanation, post-reflection, post-realizing that I needed reflection, post-being called out (I mean this in the nicest way possible!) for needing to update here:  The last half of my school year was too stressful for me.  I focused really hard on being the best, most involved P.E. and Health Teacher I could be.  AND I WAS.  I'm still working on my Masters (I'm graduating in December!), and my fitness motivation has been BLURRRRGH for a long while (like, just before being diagnosed with a plantar fascial tear about two years ago).

All of these things lead me to believe that I had nothing to say on here.  To be honest, I most likely didn't.  What it boils down to is too much processing without a ton of output or closure.  When I have a ton of thoughts going through my brain, it's hard to put a pin in anything, let alone explain or analyze a plan of attack.

*LLLLLLLLLE SHRUG*

So here I am, refreshed over a break, focused on work, training, and life in equal parts (lololol let's see how long that lasts!), and kinda itching to say something on the bloggarooney here.

Some new things (!!!!):

Windy started taking swimming lessons over the summer.  She hasn't been running with me much this summer (she's like me -- loathes running in the heat and humidity [though I would take hear early in the morning, often just after dawn]), and this has been a great way for her to move.  She wasn't very fond of the idea of swimming at first, but I think she's starting to really enjoy it.

She's really good at it and her instructors say that she has really good form.  I have a lot to learn from her.:)

 I've gone back to Garmin -- the 935, to be exact.  I don't know why I left in the first place. 

That is totally a drop of sweat under my nose.

I'm teaching at a new school this year!  While I'm pretty stoked about the whole thing, I will definitely miss my colleagues, my administration, and most especially, my students.  There are quite a bit of changes that I'm going to face, and change is pretty tough.  Fingers crossed for me, please!

As excited as I am for the new spot, I'm even more excited to buy new stuff for my equipment closet.  Sophs is always happy to assist with purchasing of new, fun items.  Pool noodles are A MUST.

I started riding on Zwift -- if you ride on your trainer at home or run on a treadmill (I guess with bluetooth capability), then this is a fun way to connect with other riders and runners, and to get a great course workout.

I've been pretty good about going to Bootcamp Conditioning or a Body Pump class once twice a week for the past month or so.  Baby steps.

I'm now *that* human, and made an Instagram for their dog.  Here's Windy's Insta!

I just thought I'd catch you up a bit.  I'm off to get updates on all of you now (that sounds way more awkward than it should).  Have an awesome Monday!

Any CPS Teachers, students or parents out there?  Good luck with your new school year! <3

Some random faves, Marathon advice from my Spirit Animal, and NAILED IT.

Siri is such an enabler.

So when it's that cold, I gotta give my Jeep a decent amount of time to warm up.

FAVE -- Sitting in the Jeep!

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutnotreally.

Yesterday was one of those days where I needed to work on things other than running and spinning.  I needed some body weight conditioning, k?  There aren't any group exercise classes scheduled during convenient times for me, which kind of stinks; I really like group exercise!  My next step was finding an app.  Boot Camp Challenge seemed to fit all of my needs.

I finished my assessment last week (push-ups, sit-ups, and squats ------- it was SAD!), and I finally moved on to this workout.  Because I wasn't very creative yesterday morning (must have been from all that sitting in my Jeep...), I didn't take any pictures of myself doing these exercises.  I have an idea on how to do that in the future, so watch out.;)

What I really loved was the music matching!  I didn't prepare a playlist (but you totally can) so I used a running playlist.  The beat sync picks up the BPM for the exercise you're performing, which kind of rocks.  I liked hearing "Eye of the Tiger" hyped up a bit (not annoyingly).

What I also liked was the stretching segment.  Thank you, fave new app, for identifying the cooldown and stretching needs of your clients.

I was B-E-A-T by the MIDDLE of this sesh, though.  I know that it's going to get harder, and I'm really excited about keeping it as part of my training regiment.

I plan on keeping this app and the Yoga Studio (NEW FAVORITE, AS WELL!) app in my weekly training.  I feel like they're both going to make me a stronger runner.  And that will keep me smiling.

RANDOM FAVE -- when I get to work, work husband has already put on a pot of coffee.  He's the bomb.com (do people still say that?).  Cliche at its best = It's the little things...

Another random FAVE -- Ummmmmmmmmmmmm, I was stalking Jillian Michaels (I'm not even ashamed of that not-so-normal tendency ) and came across this picture on her Twitter profile.  I thought for a moment "daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammit, she rocks that pose!"  The next thought in my brain?  "I can do that."



And I NAILED IT.

Yeah, okay, fine.  I was falling.  But I had it for .00023 seconds.

They recently built a Wendy's next to my school.  While I'm not the biggest fan of fast food, I'm thankful that there's a spot nearby with some yummy things that I can sporadically and sparingly enjoy.  

Also, I don't drink coke ("coke" = Texan for "all things soda-like"), but these things rock my world.  My Principal had asked for a Cherry Coke, so I got to go through the process of making her one.  FUNSIES.

THIS DRESSING from Trader Joe's!  F-----A------V-------E!  I left it in our P.E. office fridge (WH and I got one before the school year started; best idea ever) and threw it on my salad instead of the dressing Wendy's gave me.



And I DID NOT CARE that it was 15*F when I went to get lunch.  I got a FROSTY.:)

Harry had gone to class by the time I got home, so I cuddled up and watched one of my favorite flicks.  In my pajamas.  At 5:00pm.  #killinit


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So some of y'all know that Andrea Duke is one of my buds from San Antonio (because I will brag until my dying day that I know this BAMF).  She is also my fave for the Olympic Trials in L.A. tomorrow..  I've had the honor of working with her, chatting up races, talking about our fave sports teams (GO SPURS GO!), and getting the best "CONGRATS!" hug after my inaugural half marathon victory.

She has A LOT to look forward to tomorrow, and broke down some of the advice she has for anyone getting out there to rock the 26.2.  THIS IS WHY SHE IS MY SPIRIT ANIMAL.

Dr. Dre (her Twitter handle cracks me up) dishes out her marathon tips, and guess what -- They're not all "This many miles per week...", "this type of workout then...", "Run at this pace for the long run...".  They're words of wisdom.  She writes true, heartfelt words that I can honestly say hits the nail on the head. These are additional goals to look forward to while marathon training, and on race day, rather than finishing a goal time.

I want to say that it's her humble, enduring, compassionate spirit that's the culprit for the affinity I have for her.

I can't wait to watch her tomorrow morning!  GOOD LUCK, D-R-E!  
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What are some of your random faves?


Do you eat fast food?  Maybe in an emergency situation?


 Will you be tuning in to the Olympic Trials? 

That First Mile (and some news!)

Oh, let me take you back to Monday evening.  Harry had to work late, and got home after I had eaten dinner.  He munched on some leftover pizza (which we always seem to have), and then had a BRIGHT IDEA ------------->  We haven't been to Josi's in FOREVER!

For the first time, I bet'cha can't tell which one was mine.

Up early after those sweet dreams for a shorty 3-miler.  Fueled by...you guessed it.

AND THEN, I made the hilarious mistake of doing an assessment for the Boot Camp app I got the other day.  I totally do a review for it soon.:)

I didn't realize that three miles would've taken so much out of me, enough to exhaust me for two minutes of as many push-ups, sit-ups and squats I could do.  It's absolutely ridiculous how out of shape I am.

Off to school, and the weather got so very gloomy.  It was a perfect day for this.

Don't I appear to be so very balanced?  I'll probably have the same meal today, to be honest.  My throat's a little scratchtastic.

I got home a little late; I always seem to stick around when the girls have a basketball game, even though I'm not coaching them.  Instead, I took on the responsibility of coordinating all of the games for my Network for this season for a change...that's been a wild ride!

When I got home, I had the biggest craving for SALT --------- girlpartsdoingtheirthing.  SORRY, FELLAS.  The bad part is that I kind of finished off the bag of Harry's fave chips.  Er.  And it's always awkward when you accidentally took a picture with the flash on; I hardly ever use it.

Taco Tuesday ended up being takeout tacos.  They weren't pretty, so I didn't take a picture of them.:)
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So here's the thing.  No matter if you're running a race, an event, a training run, a pace mile, or even (or especially) the first mile of the run after T2 in a tri, that first mile is sometimes rude, or even a liar liar, pants on fire.

Was it not already tough enough (some days WAY TOUGHER than others) for you to get up, get ready, lace up your shoes and start running?

(Yeah.  It was.  For real, pat yourself on the back.)

And now, the running gods have offered you this crummy mile.  You find yourself cursing yourself...cursing the weather...the apparel you put on...something...anything.  Before you know it, you're finally done with your first mile.  From this point, you have either gotten over how tough the first mile was, or you're still brooding in it.

Now I'm not going to sit here and tell you that the only way to enjoy your run is to HAVE A BETTER ATTITUDE/OUTLOOK.  No.  I know that I've been super cheery, and then head out for a run that ruined my world (not really, but I'll exaggerate if I want!), so I know for sure that "fake it 'til you make it" doesn't always work.  Not alone, anyway.

What WILL work is to embrace that first mile.  Embrace = hold on to it dearly = spend more time with it = GO SLOWER (physical advice here).  No matter how much of a big, fat fibber it is, that's where your intentions should lie with it.  Accept the fact that your run will go on past it, and the rest of your run will be nothing like it (mental advice).  Be willing to move on from that; don't let it wreck the rest of your beauty and peace; that's what you went out for, right?

Next time you're heading out, let that first mile be the first mile --- a big 'ole fibber that will NOT dictate the rest of your run.  Take it slow, let it be a jerk turkey, and then fall into the joy you went out for.

As far as BIG, AWESOME NEWS ------ I got a terrific e-mail yesterday, letting me know that I was chosen to be part of the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon #RockNBlog Team for 2016!  I am SO STOKED to be part of a fantastic crew!

I MEAN.

I got a welcome video!

And along with some REALLY FANTASTIC Twitter followers, THIS ONE was pretty cool!:)

Oh yeah, follow me here, if you like.

LOVE THE SUPPORT ALREADY!;)  Have an AMAZING, ROCKNROLL Wednesday, friends!
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What's your favorite meal on super cloudy, yucky days?


Do you embrace your first mile for what it is? 


Do you have advice for new runners regarding that first mile?