Is it Friday yet?

Today was a quite the day at work. Despite how I felt like a chicken running around with my head chopped off, I was able to accomplish a lot and the day flew by fast. I spent most of my time after school making photo copies, preparing spelling packets, running off paperwork, scheduling a meeting, etc. It's a never ending cycle, but I do feel as if a lot was done.

Today I while working with one of my written language groups, I decided to use the last 15 minutes of our time working on their assignment I was going to send home with them. All they had to do was write sentences for their 10 spelling words. Simple enough. Not really. It's amazing how many times you can remind them to use correct puncuation, capitalization and make sure their sentences makes sense .... all for them to disregard it all. But, I had to chuckle at a few of their sentences. I didn't realized how much kids think about the opposite sex in the 4th grade... and use their thoughts and feelings to write their sentences. Kids are too funny.

I don't know if it was my 10 hour workday or what, but I have opted to use my rest day today. I wasn't able to get up this morning to run, and when I left work shortly before 6 tonight I was extremely hungry and on the verge of getting a nasty headache. It wasn't too hard to talk myself into using my rest day today rather than friday. I just wanted to come home, eat and chill.

Speaking of chill. It's cold here today. This morning it was only 37 degrees. The wind was what made it so cold. The kids came rolling in with rosy cheeks; complaining of the "freezing" weather. It made me chuckle. I wanted to remind them of what it will be like a couple months from now!

The Towel

Tonights spin session focussed on heart rate. Building our heart rate and keeping it high for an extended period of time, and then dropping it to a level that still results in a good workout. Up, down, up, down. This is the way we burn more calories and more fat.

All was great until she pulled out the dang gym towel. Those of us who knew what this meant sighed, and we were the first to get punished. The newbies were in for a real treat and had looks of confusion across their faces. Ha! Little did they know. What-do-ya-know... Stacy get's the towel. Why me? What does she do? She had us sprinting and then bam, she rubs the towel against our wheel to increase resistance.... and it seems as if she was never going to let it go! This would have been different if it weren't the end of our class. But she had to do it when we were close to exhaustion. But I must admit, it can be very motivating at times!

Tomorrow, if all goes as plans, I hope to get to the gym in the AM, that way I can work until late. Thursday I have a stupid training to go to in the morning which requires more work for me to prepare for a sub. I hate being gone.

Today's workout:
19.05 miles spin

Monday, Monday

Today was a good day at work. The kids were good and they worked hard. I was very happy with them all. It was after work that totally drained me. In short, we had a huge meeting to discuss issues with our educator's association rep to take care of some serious business. It will be interesting to see how things pan out.

I left that meeting after 5 and couldn't wait to get to the gym. I was ready to change gears and relax for the evening. My run went really well. It was cut short because we are only alotted 30 minutes on the machines (especially when it is super busy), and the chick on there before me went over her time she "signed up" for. Damn her.

After my run yesterday, I worked my legs over with the weights. I was definitely feeling it in my groin area today. When working my hip abductors yesterday, I noticed that my outer muscles were a whole lot stronger then the inner muscles (as I could lift twice as much)... hence the reason why my groin area hurts today.

Tomorrow is a spin day.

Today's workout:
2.15 mile run

Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body

Yesterday was a day full of shopping with a friend. I was very excited to find some work clothes. My new favorite store is New York and Company! I also spent a good hour at scheel's looking at bikes and bike stuff, you know... shoes, clothes, etc. I have a lot to learn! On a fluke, we ended up going to a local running store. When I was there, I discussed with the two employees the situation with my knee. They asked if I would be willing to do a couple things in order for them to determine what kind of shoes I should be running in. Heck ya! After these activities, they gave me a few shoes to try on. The Brooks Trance7, New Balance, and the Mizuno Nirvana3. I liked them all. I really liked the Nirvana's but maybe that was due to the colors! Ironically, when I was at scheel's, I was carrying around a pair of Brooks trance6 that were on sale but ended up putting them back on the shelf before leaving. After leaving this running store, we ran to scheel's again and I picked up those shoes. They were a steal! I just couldn't pass them up.

This morning I tested out the new shoes. I know what you are thinking.... didn't she just buy new shoes less than a month ago? And yes, yes I did. And I don't know what I will be doing with them. A part of me wants to return them, but I will hold onto then for a while longer. But, the shoes were wonderful and my run went well! Can't complain here.

I was thinking I would head into school today for a couple hours but after my workout I told myself I wasn't going to do it. I couldn't. I couldn't think of anything that needed to be done for tomorrow, or tuesday for that matter. It wasn't necissary to go in this weekend. A decision guilt free.

I will spend the rest of the day flipping back and forth between football and baseball.. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a wet and gloomy Sunday.

Yesterday's workout:
19.43 mi Spin
(shopping all day)

Today's workout:
2.5 mile run
strength training (legs) & abs


Week 1 Octapolluza results:

• 6 days of workouts with 1 optional rest day on friday
• 2 spin sessions, 4 runs
• No soda for over a week.
• 2 strength training days.
• 1 arms, 1 legs
  

Cheers to a great week ahead of y'all!

Day 4

There's not much to report today. After school, I went with a bunch of other sped teachers to grab a margarita and tacos. It was nice to be able to sit and chat and have some down time after school. But I knew that I still needed to get to the gym so I only had one and drank a big glass of water as well. I had a couple errands to run and I finally got to the gym shortly before 7ish. My goal was to get home in time to watch Grey's Anatomy after run and strength workout. Check.

Quick question.... which is better... the tiger tail or the marathon stick?

I know the weekend will be here and gone in the blink of an eye. With that thought, I have been soda-free for a week now! And no withdrawals. Well, their minimal. Since tomorrow is payday, a few of us are going to continue with our tradition of aps-and-taps-on-payday right after school. Thus, I am going to use my one optional rest day for the week, tomorrow. Saturday will consist of a good spin session and possibly more strength training. I am planning to meet some people at a sports bar to watch the Purdue/Ohio State game saturday night. On Sunday I will either run or swim. Oh, and I forgot to mention... I will probably be sneaking into work on saturday for a few hours. But just a few. No worries. I have to start graphing my progress charts and it should only take a short while.

Have a great weekend y'all! And good luck to those running Chicago this weekend!

Day 4 Octapolluza:
2.25 mile run
strength training and abs

oak autumn leaf

The Great

This past weekend when I was in GF, we were at the mall doing some shopping. Me being the person that can't handle hours of shopping in a big group, and my god-daughter and her sister not being able to handle it either, we decided to head for the pet store. Not such a good idea. They had two great danes there and I fell in love. Seeing the harlequin made me miss my puppy, Duke. Duke was a harlequin/merle. Danes are the most calm, loving, dogs I have met. And great cuddlers. When I get my own home, I hope to purchase a puppy.... it's the first thing on my to-do-list. Being able to get another Dane would be even better!

Last night's spin session left me really sore. Really sore in the arms. I forget how much work we do on our arms on the bike. I usually keep my handle bars pretty low, for a more intense workout and when we do our pushups, which we seemed to have done hundreds of last night, it's a pretty tough ride. But, I must admit, the jiggly of the under arms are at a minimal due to this!

Tonight I was going to go the gym at 745 to do some swimming, since that was when lap swimming began. I couldn't wait. I didn't want to wait until then to go workout. So, a friend called and we met at the gym to run a couple miles. I walked the first half mile just in case, and ran the rest. My knee was fine. Maybe MPA and Jess are right. I might need some sort of knee band thingy to keep my knee in proper place... I think it has to do with the knee cap or something rubbing wrong. I would hate to do more damage. But, when paying attention to where I was landing on my foot and the placement of my knee, my run was successful!

To answer IronGambit's question, the reason why I have ??? next to the Danskin race is because they haven't posted the 2008 schedule yet.

Day 3 Octapolluza:
2.4 mile run

Stronger

That that don't kill me ... can only make me stronger....


That was our theme song for the night at spin. The class kicked my ass, but all is good. I think.

This song may have to be a theme song of mine for the month of October. I hope I can hold up my own expectations for the month. I forgot to mention that in my run last night, my knee became a little clickity... kind of like what it did after my 7 miler in july. Made me a little nervous. Just when I feel as if I am ready to go further, some damn thing wants to get in my way.

Think positive. .... think positive...

that that that that don't kill me... can only make me stronger....

Day 2 Octapolluza:
19.27 mile Spin

Welcome, October!

To start off the month and Octapolluza, I was hoping to get up this morning and hit the gym for a couple miles. I guess getting up and getting it done this morning was a little too ambitious. Instead, I put in a good 9 hours at work and headed home for a nice run before dinner. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Sunny, 71 degrees, a cool fall breeze no matter which direction I was heading in, and the sound of leaves crunching under my feet!

Today's Workout:
2.48 mile run