Mirror, Mirror: Perspective

As I settle in to Week #4 after accepting an invitation from my baby sister to join her in the Space Coast Half Marathon in November, an inaugural Half Mary for her and only my second to date, I find myself with time to reflect on the past few weeks and to squeeze in a little extra road time in the beautiful Florida sunshine.  Spring Break is definitely a perk in my profession! 

It fascinates me how perspective plays such an important role in how we view our circumstances,  yet we (I) often move so fast through our days that we forget to focus on what's happening around us.  Or... we fleetingly acknowledge something, with good intentions to come back and give it more thought.  Some days, we do.  Other days, not-so-much, right??

In recent weeks, as I've reintroduced my feet to my running shoes, I've (re)gained insights that are so darn obvious that I'm embarrassed to mention, but want to put them in writing, if only as reminders to myself if I ever get off-course again. Whether you run, or taking on that daunting task of finding your way back to a healthier version of you, I think you'll find an a-ha in this list. 

Here goes....

1.    Water is important essential.  No brainer there. Okay - we know this, but how often do we stick to the plan and actually drink enough to be adequately hydrated? 

When I returned to the classroom full-time in late September, I made a conscious decision to significantly reduce my water intake. Why??  I no longer had the luxury of running to the restroom whenever the need arose.  At 45, the need is frequent and persistent! I over-corrected and paid the price for it: no energy, dull skin, and frequent 'lady issues' that could all have been avoided.

When I returned to running, I made a conscious decision to significantly increase my water intake - by 3x what I had been allowing myself:  going from a mere 20 oz during the day to more than 64 ounces.  I immediately noticed a difference. 

Even my students laughed as they noticed my increased energy.  "What's in YOUR water?" one asked with a snicker in her voice.  I explained to my kiddos it's like watering a plant and watching the stems and leaves plump up before your eyes.  Same concept.

Aaaahhhh......

Are you getting enough water???

2.  Calories in. Calories out. Simple math.

Well, maybe when you factor in your BMI, activity levels, age, and gender, the math gets a bit more complicated, but it does come down to food as fuel or food in excess, or as frequently said, Eat to live OR Live to eat.  Seems there was some debating in 2011 (which I missed, but found while writing this post), in which a writer called the calories in, calories out concept a 'myth.'  Interesting.  Google 'calories in/calories out' and you'll find lots of links to the discussion.  I admit - I still subscribe to the sage advice. Count your calories. Eat too many, you'll pay the price. 

That said, I began to keep a food log again a few weeks ago. In a word:  Wow!  Ever find yourself saying, "I can't seem to lose any weight. I don't understand why."  Well, track your calories for a few days and I'll bet you'll see the culprit. I sure did!  Now to do this, you have to actually measure what you eat and earnestly log everything.  In about three days' time, I figured out that I was eating around 2500 kcals a day, while needing far fewer to maintain my no-exercise lifestyle.  Yes, I'm busy with the kids in the classroom but not enough to justify the amount (a LOT) and the quality (poor) of calories I was consuming. 

Old school food log.  I like it better than digital versions.
Noted: home this week, so AM coffee is larger than usual - a little extra cream!

As the day progresses, I can make adjustments if I'm over or under (which does happen!), and if I get off-course a day or two, I acknowledge it and get back on track.  Perspective.

How are your calories looking these days??

    

3.  The Running Community is Embracing.

For those reading this who've experienced a running community, either locally or digitally, or both, then you get this.  If you're new to running, don't be shy. Reach out to other runners.  When I transitioned from walking to running in 2009 and began the Turtles blog around the same time [first post here], I quickly learned that runners are warm, embracing, willing to share tips and struggles, and always there to celebrate your successes.  I missed this aspect of running a lot over the past year+.  I didn't realize just how much until I returned a few weeks ago.  Immediately, fellow runners from around the country sent messages on FB and Twitter, left comments here on the blog, and even sent e-mails to say, "Woo Hoo!  You go, girl! So glad to see you back!"  and "Maybe we can take this journey together... again."  

Can I tell you - this made me cry and smile at the same time.  I get choked up thinking about it now.

A recent comment from my brother-in-law, a former high school track/field runner-turned distance runner in recent years:   Hows the training been going Sis?  

I'm so proud to be a member of such an amazing community of people - fast or slow, short or tall, competitive or recreational, skinny or not-so-skinny.... we all get it. We've had bad training runs. We've had disappointing race days. We've had 'equipment malfunctions' with our shoes, bras, water bottles, socks, music, etc.... We've barfed at the finish line. We've run through pain.  We've been chased by dogs, nearly(?) hit by cars, side-swiped by bicyclists, heckled by kids, honked at by motorists, and questioned by our coworkers:  You do what for pleasure??   Some of us have lost our way, but found our way back. Others may still be looking. We've run through 'lady' days, pregnancies, and loss.  We get it. 

What would you say to someone trying to find his/her way back? 

 What would you want someone to say to you??

4.  Chart your progress.

Keep a log or journal.  Mark up your calendar.... but keep track of your progress!  Watching those miles increase weekly -- whether walking, running, or 'ellipticalling' (yep - it IS a word, so says this public journaler) sure feels good!  As of today, I've already run more miles in the past four weeks (26.64) than I ran in all of 2011 (25).  Wow!  I share my mileage on the Turtles blog to share my progress.  Maybe no one cares one way or another, but if one person is inspired, then I've done my part.  :-)   

Mirror, mirror on the wall.... 

Have you found your perspective??

WE can do it!

Happy.Running.

Karma Calling: We CAN Find our Way Back!

Wow!


Has it REALLY been a year since I last wrote?? Where does the time go? 

And even more interesting... why does this week, out of 52, keep popping up on my radar? 

Two years ago this week, I was running my first-ever half marathon (March 7th).

One year ago this week, I was sharing my candid confession about my lack of street time, in favor of seat time: writing, cubicle hell, and starting a business. 

Then this week, a strange thing happened. Sunday night, out of the blue, during a text conversation, my sister casually asks:

Would you consider 'walking' the Space Coast 1/2 Marathon with me in Nov?

Me:   Definitely. Totally. Maybe a little running thrown in for good measure?? I'm in. :)  I'd love to do that event!

Her:  Really? Oh man that would be SO great!!!!

Frankly, after a few stops and starts since last summer, I was ready to have a goal again. I attempted to set one last summer, to run Miami ING in Jan 2012, but it wasn't in the cards.

Instead, my life was to take another turn that would keep running at bay for a while more.....

I returned (unexpectedly, gratefully, and hurriedly) to teaching, in late September, a full six weeks after the school year began.  Though I hadn't left education, I had taken on other roles in the past six years, located in the district office, working with fellow teachers and their students. I missed having my own students and own classroom to try out new instructional 'stuff' (my technical term) that I researched and shared with other teachers. I also taught classes at the local community college, which I liked a lot, but it wasn't the same either.

Returning to the classroom full-time turned out to be harder

than I expected.  Running would have to wait.  

Physically, I was struggling to adjust to the hours and to being on my feet 10+ hours a day. In cubicle life, I had flexibility.  In the classroom, it's contstant. In cubicle life, I could run down the hall to the restroom whenever I needed to.  In the classroom, I wait 94 minutes and race to the RR in between classes. I severely limited my water intake to adjust to this new schedule, drinking less than 8 oz before school and only (1) 20 oz bottle during a 7-hour school day.  Dehydration became my friend and my enemy. 


Emotionally, I was distraught.  High school kids in a classroom (think: pack animal mentality) can be brutal, ruthless, hateful, hurtful, disrespectful, and lacking boundaries. My new students were all of these things and more. I was called 'bitch' daily and was told more than once to 'check my attitude,' 'back off,' and 'shut the hell up.'  It was painful. I was struggling. I regretted my decision to return to the classroom. I was depressed, exhausted, shocked, and scared.

If this wasn't going to work out, what was I going to do? I wanted to be in the classroom, but I wanted a productive, inviting, respectful environment.... where we could all be learners together... the way things were in my previous middle and high school classrooms.

I was in a good school in a fantastic community. But the odds were against me in the beginning:  Kids were transferred from teachers/classes they liked, to a new teacher whom they had never seen/met, and the 'new teacher' (though it's my 18th year in education) had little in her toolbox.  We were starting from scratch together. It was ugly.

I am a practitioner by nature. I love teaching. What was I going to do? Students had changed in six years. Running was not on my radar. I gained weight. I contined to be dehydrated (though I would't realize just how much until this week). 

I had tough lessons to learn and bridges to build... about teaching in this age of digital natives and about how to take care of myself. 

Somehow, during Christmas vacation, things changed. When students and I returned to classes in January, we all seemed to accept each other, the schedule, and what we needed to do.  Life began to return to normal, which I wrote about [here].

But I still wasn't running....

Then, the serendipitous text conversation happened that led to the rest of my week, which included
Wednesday night, when I began preparing for my first (purposeful) early AM run in nearly 18 months.

Digging through my running gear drawer (kept close by with intent and wishful thinking), I looked for something comfortably familiar.  My hand landed on my WDW Princess Half Marathon race top.

A great choice for re-entry into training for my next half marathon, I thought. 

Little did I know what I'd see next....

As I laid the top across the bed, I noticed the date:  March 7, 2010.  Exactly two years ago to the day.  Definitely, a sign!!

Karma. Calling.

Can we find our way back?

Absolutely!