Out of the darkness comes light like a flash

Patience

As I took off in a slow jog this morning, I started thinking about the last time I had gone running. I remember it was glorious. I felt good. The weather was nice. My dog was even with me and she didn’t slow me down.

And then I realized it had been an entire month ago. A couple of minutes later, the burning in my lungs confirmed it.

So I walked for a bit. Then ran longer. Then walked for a bit. Then ran longer.

While I pondered where the heck January went, because it seemed like the longest month until it was over, I realized that whatever my feelings are about running are my choice.

If I was frustrated with myself, and told myself what a fatty slacker I am, it was my choice.

If I decided that wherever I am is fine and that running takes time and sometimes I’ll have to walk and it’s OK, it was my choice.

A slow realization I’ve come to in the past couple of years is that most of the time, our attitudes are choices. I can choose to be frustrated with running, or I can have patience with myself.

I can choose to be stressed and overwhelmed with teaching, or I can have patience with myself.

As a student teacher, I learned that if I don’t have patience with myself, I will burn out and possibly lose my mind. I adopted the mantra: “I can only do the best I can do right now.”

Same goes for running. Same goes with everything, really. 

As long as I’m trying. As long as I know I’m doing the best that I can do at the moment, why would I choose to talk down to myself? 

I hate cliches and overused quotes and proverbs, but sometimes they’re so apt.

Patience is indeed a virtue.

Silicon Valley Turkey Trot complete - bring on Thanksgiving!

Turkey Trot successes:

• I ran the whole thing. For the first time!
• Personal best time, but I don’t know what it was exactly because I was so happy to finish I forgot to check my timer. Times will be posted soon.
• The race organizers raised $1.2 million dollars for three local charities that provide food, healthcare, and other services to underprivileged families.
• I learned while waiting that our county has the most insured children than any other California county because we vote for family health initiatives. GO BAY AREA!
• I ran behind a person dressed like a big chicken. :)

While spending almost as much time stretching as I did running today, I had a thought.

Someone should remake John Mayer’s “Daughters” and change the lyrics to “Runners be good to your bodies.”

Someone make that happen.

I ran (with a bit of walking) 3 miles in 39 minutes today, which is a personal best. I am so ready for the Turkey Trot on Thursday.

I am also so ready for some tomato soup for lunch.

Best pre-run snack = apple slices and peanut butter!

I am running a 5k on Thanksgiving. I’m determined to run the whole thing.

The problem is … I’m just at 2 miles. Today, I’m going to try 3 and see how it goes. SHOULD BE AWESOME!

The positive: I have been timing my runs to end a few minutes before a yin yoga class, which is calm, mellow stretching for 90 minutes. It’s one of the best ideas I’ve ever had, and I haven’t been sore after a run since I started this.

Also, totally not stressed because it’s a three-day weekend. :)

‘Kayso, my stew did not look as beautiful as this photo. BUT it sure is delicious! It’s a chicken and potato stew with an Indian flair. No curry flavor, but other yummy seasonings that remind me of fall. Pair with a tasty Oktoberfest beer, and you’ll be in fall heaven.

Best parts:

• Sweet potatoes. Say no more.
• LEFTOVERS
• Chop everything up, put in crock pot, and it magically cooks.
• It’s somewhat healthy! No butter, oil, or other fatty stuff added. Just potatoes, chicken, carrots, and tomatoes. :)

Great for teacher lunches!

If someone told me 10 years ago that one day I’d choose to eat broccoli, cauliflower, and a veggie burger for dinner, I would have laughed in their face.

But here I am. Go, fit teacher, go! :)

School starts tomorrow and I AM READY! Thanks largely to amazing coworkers and one particularly lovely student who popped in and offered to help today. She spent two hours in my room helping me hang posters, photos, and labels for trays and other things. She is awesome.

Things I’ve decided to not stress about:

• Several things were shoved into cupboards because I still hadn’t finished putting everything away.
• My SmartBoard projector isn’t properly aligned so I can’t use it yet.
• Some walls are still very empty.
• The journalism computer lab isn’t close to ready, but we can meet in my classroom for a few days.

During a break at our all-staff meeting yesterday I overheard my principal saying, “I’m not ready, but it really doesn’t matter if I’m ready or not: the kids are still coming.” I realized she’s right, and there’s no reason for me to stress too much. I’m not totally ready, but as long as I’m ready to hit the ground running Monday, I’ll be happy. 

Tonight is for rest and relaxation. The hubby’s band is coming over to do an acoustic rehearsal, and fortunately for me I adore their music. 

Tomorrow will be awesome. This year will be awesome.

Yoga Meltdown workout complete

I guess it’s time to stop procrastinating and get ready to go to the school. My classroom is a disorganized mess, but I’ll feel better when everything is put away. 

Last night, I ended up not going to yoga. I played with my dog and played Dr. Mario. Then we got yummy Indian food for dinner because sometimes you just need a hug from the inside. A hug in the form of naan, butter chicken, and beer.

It took longer than normal for the anxious tummy feeling to go away. I have two weeks until my next psychology appointment, so we’ll see how that goes.

After consuming way too much junk food and alcohol this weekend, I declare today the beginning of detox. Lots of water. Healthy food. Exercise. I need to start running again so I can run in our school’s fun run next month. But yoga is so much more enjoyable than running.

OK now I’m just rambling and procrastinating more. Off to the shower!

Yoga instructors touch you in class for two reasons:

1. To correct your posture or pose.

2. To challenge you a little.

Today was the second time an instructor came over to challenge me, and the FIRST time I was actually able to do what she was pushing me to do. The first time an instructor tried to push me, it was a miserable failure and I was kind of annoyed she pushed. This time, this instructor knew me a bit better and it was good.

Later when we were sitting down stretching our hamstrings, she encouraged me to bend over my leg. I am not very flexible. When I sit down with my legs stretched out in front of me, I can’t fully straighten my legs. I’ve never been able to touch my toes. I never have been flexible, even when I was in dance and gymnastics classes, and I’m OK with that. I just looked up and kind of smiled and said, “I can’t.” I regretted saying it that way right after I said it, because there are few things instructors (teachers) hate to hear more than that.

She said, “Sure you can!” and handed me a strap to help with the stretch. I still wasn’t able to bend forward, but the encouragement was nice. I know I’ll improve, but I also know my response didn’t show that I knew that.

She then told a story to the class while we were stretching about a yoga class she took several years ago that was challenging for her. She said the same thing, “I can’t do these poses!” Her friend said, “Just add a ‘yet’ at the end of that sentence. ‘I can’t do these poses yet.’”

I appreciated that and it’s something I’ll take with me. I can’t run a 5k, yet. I can’t stretch that way, yet.

I saw this post yesterday by the lovely Wincherella, and I empathized immediately. I don’t have a scale at my house, but I’m at my parents’ house and they do. I was here a few weeks ago, weighed myself, was depressed. I have since changed my diet drastically and am working out almost every day, alternating cardio (running) and muscle tone (yoga). I weighed myself yesterday and my weight was up four pounds. Then I went to Tumblr and saw Wincherella’s post. I didn’t have a ton of time to respond, but I have been thinking about it.

Before the Color Run today, I mentioned it to my friends who are all super healthy and fit and they said that it’s normal. That was somewhat comforting. So today I did some quick Internet research and found this link which has a few different reasons people gain weight after they start working out. Most commonly, people gain muscle first, which is dense and therefore heavier. Others eat too much to compensate for working out. Others eat to little. 

Anyway, it’s interesting how many different reasons may be the cause of the weight gain. But, dear Wincherella, it’s not our fault. So we are going to keep on truckin’ because we are Hulks in the making. ;)

I forgot to tell Fit Teacher that I was running the Color Run today.

It was so fun! I didn’t run the whole thing, probably about half, but it was so fun. :)