Running and Working

It is amazing the difference a full time job makes.  I can barely get home in the evenings before I have to be in bed.  Running is hard to fit in, especially with 95 degree weather.  Last week I ran only Sunday before and after I was hired.  Saturday was a 12 mile run and actually I think my legs enjoyed the rest.  I ran another 9 miles in a race on Monday.  My average pace was 9.33 ALMOST my 9.30 I have to run to qualify for Boston.  

But Chicago is less than 40 days away and right now I'm working 12 hour days.  I get up at 5 a.m. and am in bed by 10.  How have all my friends been doing this for years? Tonight my husband cooked dinner for me and I suddenly understand why he rarely offered to do the dishes after he had worked all day and I had not.

My perspective is so different. I have such admiration for people who work full time and do anything else.  I also have admiration for me 13 years ago when I started a new profession - full time, moved and had two children in elementary school.  How did I do it?  

All I know is that I'm too tired to even finish this post.

Catching some ZZZZZZZZ's
TVW

Running in the Dark

Today I really noticed how tough it is to run in the dark.  Usually I run with several people, and we have lights on our caps to light the way.  As the sun creeps up, we can see better, and even the moon lights our path.  

But today, I forgot my water bottle.  When I headed back to get it, a friend offered one of hers.  What a blessing.  It saved me 4 miles.  But by the time I got the water bottle, my pace group was way ahead.  I ran through the park by myself.  Where the trees covered the path, I could only see by my headlight.  If I looked out too far, there was not enough light to see.  I had to keep my head down and eyes focused j on the path a step or two in  front of my feet.

 I knew the path because I had run it many times, but I had not memorized it.  I didn't remember when it veered left or right, went up or down.  I had to keep my eyes right on the path. The light showed me where to take my next step.  

Since I was running alone, I had much time to reflect on this thought.  It is similar to my work situation right now.  I have 35 weeks of 4th grade ahead of me to learn about  and turn around and teach.  My students are tested in 3 area - reading, math and writing, all of which I must teach them.  As of now, I don't have a plan and it is  overwhelming.  But, if I will just look at what I need to do this week, I can plan that.  If each day I just prepare for that day, I can do that.  It is when I look too far in the future that the task looks enormous.  One week plan and one day preparation are doable.  I have to quit looking out to the path ahead, and just look for the next step.

I was reminded of a Bible verse, Psalm 119:105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  The Message version puts it this way: "By your words I can see where I'm going .  They throw a beam of light on my dark path."  My path looks dark far out, but I made it through this week one step at a time.  I will do the same next week, and the next.

 All along the way, God has guided me and sent help.  Today I  ran my 12 miles with no training runs during this week.  A kind friend gave me a water bottle, and another waited  and ran  6 miles with me.  It all worked together to make  a successful week. Chicago is 40 days away - which is overwhelming.  I have so much to do between now and then.  I haven't gotten the days off work yet, and then there is planning for a substitute.  But right now I'll just plan next week, run my miles, and not look too far ahead.   

Keeping my eyes on the light,
TVW   

Running Conflicts

I started my full time job on Monday.  It is not your ordinary 8 hour a day job.  It takes me at 2 hours to prepare for 5 hours of teaching.  Every night after work I head to Target, WalMart, Teacher's Tool, and Mardels.  Tonight I just went to the grocery store.  Wth all this, I have not run since my18 miles on Sunday.  

I am hoping that I can run Chicago.  I have to ask off, and I have to keep up my running.  Things are getting complicated.  But this weekend I hope to catch up.  I have a race on Monday.  Things were easier when running was my full time job.

Running on Empty ,
TVW

Team Weaver

Team Weaver was out in full force today.  Starting at 5:30 a.m. we left the house - I on my feet and my husband JIm  on his bike. We rode/ ran 2 miles until a water break - Jim carrying the water.  We continued for another 4 miles back and forth on a wide, well lit parkway.  I then headed out on another 3 mile out/ 3 mile back trek of the  planned run when I suddenly realized I need gatorade.  For some reason my nutritionists wanted me to just drink water.  But with 82 degree weather headed to 92 degrees, I need electrolytes.  Jim headed back to QT for gatorade and had it and ice cold water for me at mile 12. 

With 6 miles to go, I was dying, but I'm pretty sure this is where the mental toughness practice comes in.  I headed back down the parkway, Jim give me a thumbs up  each time he passed on his bike.  Finally I was at the park trails for my last 4 miles.  It was tough, and I was spent.  When I crossed the 4 mile mark on the trail, I still had .3 to go.  JIm was there with cold water and gatorade trying to figure out what I was doing.  When the watch finally read 18 MILES - I stopped.  Best thing to have cold water and gatorade hand delivered.  He also had the car with a towel to transport my tired 54 year old body back home.

After a quick shower, it was off to Snooty Pig for The Breakfast of Perseverance- me for running 18 miles and Jim for supporting me for 4 hours on Sunday morning.

Hurting all over, but a full heart,
TVW

Training and Working

For the past 8 years, I have either not worked, or worked part time.  If my job comes through, I will for the first time be working full time and training for a marathon.  This is going to be a shock for me- both the working 8 + hours a day,  and fitting in my run.

I'm a teacher, and for my marathon training time I have been working as a substitute.  I never worked more than 4 days a week, and I could work my running around my teaching.

But if all works out for my new job, I will be working full time while continuing to train for the Chicago marathon which is 50 days away.  I already have a conflict with my 18 mile run scheduled for today.  I have a 7:30 a.m. meeting so I had to switch my Saturday and Sunday running schedules.  This morning I have to run at 6 a.m. , in the dark, to get my run in while it is still cooler than 90 degrees.

Tomorrow I have to run 18 miles by myself.  Monday, I will have to run early again, and Tuesday (hopefully my first day) I'm not sure how I will do it.  I'm going to have to either run early in the dark, run late in the heat, or run bored to death on the treadmill.  I guess I am going to have to get tough and join the real world. I've had it easy for the past year training, but now I'm not going to have the luxury of a convenient run.  It will get easier when the temperatures drop. Afternoon and evening running will be an option. But for now, it is squeeze the runs in before work.  I'm impressed with all the people who have been doing this all along. 

Running by the moonlight,
TVW

Night Running

Thursday I found myself too nervous to run. I woke up at 5 a.m. without the help of an alarm. I had a job interview scheduled at 1:15 p.m.  But I kept putting off my run.  I didn't want to use my energy running -  I had an interview to worry about. So at 8: 30 p.m.,  6 hours after the interview I finally went for my run.  Summer weather has returned to Texas and even with the sun down, it was still in the high 90's.

My husband rode his bike on the same road while I ran - the idea was that he was near by for my protection.  Fifty minutes seemed like 2 hours.  It was hot, and it was humid, and it was after 8:30.  Finally with the help of 17 good songs, I finished.  As for my husband, he beat me home.  When he couldn't find me on the road,  he headed home.  So much for protection.

This Saturday I'm scheduled for an 18 mile run.  But, because of my job possibility, I have a meeting Saturday morning.  My husband has redeemed himself because he has agreed to be my support team on Sunday, when I  will run 18 miles by myself starting at 5:30 a.m. 

Motivation Returns with Cooler Weather

Running had become a drag.  Everyday for two weeks I've had to mentally drag myself out of bed and out the door.  At first I blamed it on my year and half pursuit of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. I was just burned out.  Then I decided it was because I had not run a race since April. My motivation needed a competitive boost.  But on Thursday, the temperature  unexpectedly dropped.  90 degree mornings are typical for Texas in August. Thursday morning's temperature was in the 70's. Ah - it was the hot humid conditions that had zapped my running zeal.  With the cooler temperatures, suddenly my mood changed. The fun was back - the joy, the excitement, running miles unaware- it all came back. Cooler temperatures reminded me why I like to run.  It was a preview of fall running  only weeks away.  I could relax, my hope renewed for a 4:10 Chicago Marathon - the time needed to qualify for Boston. 

Saturday was even better.  At our 5:00 am start, the temperature was in the 60's- is this really Texas?  Add to that two conversational running buddies and the first half of my run flew by.  They were running 18 miles, and I only 10, so I turned back  at mile 5 to run the last half solo.  It was still cool.  No hills on the schedule. Eve, my nutritionists was the guest speaker after the run.  I even heard a short clinic on the best socks to buy. Wonderful Saturday!

Chicago Marathon, I'm back on schedule,
TVW