Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Running, biking, swimming and teaching

1. I ran early both Monday and Wednesday - before work. Turns out Wednesday was National Running Day so I'm glad I got my run in.  It is certainly a holiday worth celebrating.  Running is not my favorite sport but I am so unhappy when I am unable to do it that it certainly fulfills some need I have.  Truthfully I think I run so I can race.

2. I took a bike ride on Tuesday in between rain storms.  Now biking I flat out love! Is there a National Biking Day? I didn't take my camera or phone because rain was so likely.  It turned out it did rain so that was a good call but......right next to the beaver dam I ride by was a doe - a quite attractive one who stayed there for a long time letting me observe her. I left first but I looked for her on my way back by.  She wasn't where I had left her but as I got a bit further she was crossing the river. Two good camera shots I could have gotten!

3. Swimming happened Tuesday morning and will happen again Thursday morning.  I really feel slow and tired when I swim and I am getting nervous about not having the end of the pool to turn around at and cop a rest when I do!  I have already lined up a friend to go to the lake with me when I get back from Colorado (in the two days before I leave again) so I can do an open water swim.  I feel a little better after reading a couple of tri reports when I can see that there are other  not so great swimmers out there. But when I read results from the tris I want to do it seems like all the swimmers will be way ahead of me.  It's all about finishing though, right?

4. I have half a day left of school which is good because everyone's behavior seems to have regressed and I am ready to say - goodbye, have a great summer to them!  But today after some particularly annoying behaviors (taking all the kids to get a free soft ice cream and so many whining over the size, no sprinkles etc. and only one thank you.  Really?  I got kind of very crabby when the same kid kept asking me for what they had been clearly told wasn't an option and I may have had some snappishness in my voice) but as I was saying I got home to the most wonderful post card from a student I had many years ago who thanked me for some of the things I taught her and told me what a  difference I made in her life.  I needed that and I appreciated not just that she had the thought but she took the time and effort to let me know it!

I won't be hiking up Pikes Peak this trip but please
be impressed that I did it last time!

20 comments:

Kate Geisen said...

I'm VERY impressed you did it last time!

I can't believe you're still in school. :( Almost there!! And your Colorado trip is going to be sooo much fun!

Just remember that if you do feel like you need the end of the pool, you can always roll over on your back. And wetsuits make you more buoyant, right? It's all about the experience, and you ARE going to finish. With flying colors, if I know you.

Char said...

Kids are always at there most feral when holidays are in sight aren't they? (or was that just my lovely boys?)

No wonder you NEED to run. Being a teacher is like being a parent to children that never grow up so running is essential to keep you sane.

Cinthia said...

I am impressed that you hiked Pike's Peak last year!! And just think: Summer vacation, summer vacation, summer vacation--ahhhh!

Fran said...

Almost vacation for the both of us Andrea. Enjoy and have fun!

Amy said...

You've had an active week! I'm sure the kids are just as buggy to be done with the end of the school year - that probably explains the greedy behavior...here, we have til the last day of June, but in the meantime three weeks of exams - stress, stress, stress!

Johann said...

As you know I was hoping to get into the Pikes Peak Marathon this year so I am very impressed and a bit jealous too... You will be fine with the wetsuit and as Kate said floating/resting on your back for a while. I admire you for going for the triathlon.

misszippy said...

Teachers have the patience of Job in my opinion! I'm sure it will be nice to get some down time soon.

I'm glad you get a chance to do an OWS before the tri. There are tons and tons of people in tris who are nervous about the water and you see lots flipping onto their backs, breaststroking, whatever it takes. You'll be fine!!

christa said...

Oh those kiddos!! Have a fabulous time in Colorado racing with Jameson and Emily. I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Unknown said...

Not to freak you out, but my first open water swim was a disaster. But...I wasn't the only one having issues. And I felt so proud of myself when I got to the end! You can do this!

Black Knight said...

Yes, I am impressed you did it last time. I am sure that hiking is not for me!
Teaching is a very tough, it was my second job (post-gratuated school) but I left after 2 years because I didn't like.
Enjoy your trip in Colorado.

middleagedrunner said...

wow! I'm impressed for sure...
The last days of school are a nightmare I'm sure. I just get to deal with the kids at the end of the day when they get off the bus to ride and they are C-R-A-Z-Y. I do not envy you!

Liz said...

I'm the other way round - I love running, but I can find biking a bit boring, especially uphill into the wind! I definitely hate swimming though - i really admire you for training so hard for this tri.

Jill said...

You'll do fine in the OWS, just relax and don't overthink and it will be good :).

We were done with school on Tuesday - yay! You are almost there!

I don't think I'm going to do the Garden 10-miler Sunday, but if I do, I will let you know. We're running Mt. Evans on Saturday and I'm still utterly exhausted from my trip to California...I think I just want to sleep in Sunday. But I may change my mind.

Alisa said...

You are a busy lady. Great job fitting everything in. I feel similarly about running, I don't love it but I love the way it makes me feel. I like biking but my true love is swimming =).

Kandi said...

I think you will be great in the open water swim. Just don't panic and tread water/float on your back if you ever need a break. And you know, swim with your head above water if you need to. Breast stroke and side stroke are your friends if you need them. :) I'm looking forward to your tri (which I think is on my birthday).
Yay for the end of the school year! So sweet that an old student sent you a note. I can think of a few teachers I could send a similar note to. I had the opportunity thanks fo facebook to thank my old cross country/track coach for all he taught me.

Darlene said...

Finishing=winning!!

Have fun in Colorado and good luck in your race.

Kate Geisen said...

I never saw any wild mustangs, though. :(

It was scary. The riding alone in the dark wasn't so bad until after I fell, but after getting home I read a race report from a local guy who mentioned mountain lion sightings in the area a couple years ago. I'd have been FREAKING OUT during my walk if I'd read that before I went.

Marlene said...

Yes, it is most definitely about finishing and YOU WILL FINISH! Flip on your back to catch your breath or switch to breat stroke when you need to. You can do it!

Katie said...

happy summer vacation!

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

Add me to the impressed folks! Too bad about the spoiled kids who complained about the treat, but the student who sent you the card- what a great story! Thanks for sharing both the bad and the good!