A Great Champion

I just found this at Mark's blog. Thanks for the inspiration and realization that tomorrow should not be completely focused on a single number on my stop watch.

A Great Champion
A great champion is he who wins all the races.
A great champion is he who participates in all the races.
A great champion is he who does not care for the results of the races - whether he is first or last or in between. He races just to get joy and give joy to the observers.
A great champion is he who transcends his own previous records.
A great champion is he who maintains his standard.
A great champion is he who remains happy even when he cannot maintain his standard.
A great champion is he who has established his inseparable oneness with the winner and the loser alike.
A great champion is he who, owing to the advancement of years, retires from racing or terminates his career happily and cheerfully.

Counting Sheep

1 sheep, 2 sheep, 100 sheep---still NOT asleep!

It is past midnight and I have been lying in bed for the past two hours, trying to fall asleep. I am so excited and nervous about the race in the morning. Normally, my only goal is just to finish a race, but this will be my sixth time running the 10K course and I really want to beat my best time. I have been training harder than last year, but I am worried I am going to either go out fast and crash at the end or go out slow and not be able to "catch up" at the end. (The first five miles are mostly flat or downhill, but the last mile is ALL uphill.) I'm off to the kitchen for a snack, let's hope I can get to sleep before the sun rises! :)

Good Luck to any other racers (Go Susan!) and Happy Memorial Day!

No More Rain

It has been a good week of running, despite the dismal weather. I think it has rained every day this past week. I heard the weather report today and it looks better for Monday (race day) which is a relief. Two years ago I ran the 10K Memorial Day Race while it was pouring from start to finish. It was an experience I will not forget!

After reading Sarah's recent post, I stopped by the salon this afternoon to talk to my hair dresser. I told her I needed advice. I am trying to grow out my hair long enough so I can put it in a pony tail, to make it easier for running, but my hair is driving me crazy. I feel like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. She told me I had to decide to either cut it real short or have patience. I can’t decide. My sister will be heading to Connecticut this weekend for a visit, so I am sure she will offer some good advice–that’s what sisters are for, right? :)

The pictures below are from the Twilight Trail Race (last Friday). Thank you Bill!

The Running Chicks 

Bluff Point State Park 

Dianna, Bill, April-Anne 

Twilight Run Race Report

This past Friday I headed to Bluff Point State Park for the Twilight Trail Run (7.4 miles). I expected to be 35 minutes early, but with my navigation skills--or lack there of, I arrived 15 minutes before the start of the race. I had just enough time to get my race number, pick up the race t-shirt, and find Dianna and Bill before the race started.

It was the most unusual race start. Immediately after the pre-race instructions, the race director causally said, "go" and we were off. There was no gun sound or normal warning. In fact, there was no official staring line either.

My goal was to run with Dianna for the first mile and then slow down to a 9-ish mpm pace, but without mile markers I had no idea when to slow down and after awhile it felt good cruising along at Dianna's pace. I stayed with her until mile six-ish, as I slowly fell behind and she raced forward. (I was thinking "Go Dianna!" but didn't have the energy to yell it out loud.) I felt good for most of the race. Granted I was completely out of breath and felt like I was going to die--but I didn't have any pains, problems or cramps, even after my pizza lunch and afternoon cake and brownie snack (the 4th graders had thrown me a party). I couldn't find the official race results online, but I think my time was a little over an hour.

The course was beautiful. Bill did a wonderful job summarizing the course in his pre-race post, so I'll let you read about it from this blog. (He also has race day pics.)

Of course, the best part was having race day friends. Dianna was there and we were able to meet Bill. We had a great time chatting after the race and we were all happy with our times. I hope Dianna, Bill and I can make this race an annual tradition and maybe more RBF members will join us next year!

Race Day Magic

I love getting out on the roads after a long day at work, when in the birds are singing and the sun is shining and life is peacefully. I love the feeling I get after completing a long run. But, honestly, for me running is more than "finding peace with myself"--it's about the challenge of a race! :) I love racing! Even though I am not very fast, I always have a blast. There is something about the excitement of a race that energies me.

I love this list by Dianna!
Love:
Race day magic
Race day butterflies
Race day FRIENDS
Race day food
Race day doggie-friends
Not to mention the wonderful sense of community that pervades on race day. LOVE that.

What do you love about race day?

Here is my racing schedule for the year.
May 20 - 7.4 miles - Bluff Point Trail Race (My first trail race!)
May 30 - 10K - Woodstock Memorial Day Race
August - 5K - Brooklyn Fair Race
August 13 - 5 miles - Deary Memorial Road Race
September 5 - 20K - New Haven Road Race
October - 4 miles - Coventry Fall Classic Road Race
October 8 - ? (1/2 or full) ?- Hartford
November 6 - 5K - Willimantic Veterans Memorial Greenway

What was I thinking?

Today I facilitated the after school running club with another teacher. A few sixth graders showed up, who were very energetic and sweet. The running club started last Wednesday, so the group is inexperienced, but they seem to be committed. Even though we only ran 1.5 slow miles, it was a great way to end the school day.

After the students were picked up, I drove to the track and ran two miles. While I was there, I saw my old high school cross country coach and we started chatting. I told him that I was planning on running the Hartford Marathon this fall. What was I thinking??? I still can't figure out why I said that. Maybe I was excited about talking "running talk" with someone who really understands or maybe I was verbalizing positive thinking or maybe I just wanted him to be proud of me for still running. Who knows!!

What would your book shelf say?

I am still here. I haven't blogged in forever because life has been crazy--and honestly my running has been very sporadic, so I was a little embarrassed to even post. But now I am back on track and more focused. I had a great run today and I am looking forward to more sunny days.

Question of the week ~ What does your book shelf reveal about yourself? I think you can really learn a lot about a person just by looking at what they read. I noticed that almost all of my books can be put into one of four categories, three of which I am passionate about.
Here is a quick sample.

1. Running/Fitness
A. It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong (also read and recommend by Mark)
B. I Run therefore I Am Nuts by Bob Schwartz (a hilarious book Dianna gave me for my birthday)
C. Chi Running by Danny dryer

2. Faith
A. NIV Student Study Bible
B. A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy leigh DeMoss
C. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (I highly recommend this one.)

3. Education (future teacher)
A. Rethinking Phonics by Dahl, Scharer, Lawson, Grogan (I hated this book during the middle of the semester, but looking back I think it provided valid points which I will be able to use in the future.)
B. Children's Literature in the Elementary School by C. Huck
C. The Essential 55 by Ron Clark

4. And of course...the various miscellaneous books
A. Cooking With Friends by A. Wilson and J. Bishop (I hate to cook, so needless to say I think I have only opened this book twice.) :)
B. The Berlitz Self-Teacher, Spanish (After a trip to Mexico, I came back the States and attempted to teach myself Spanish--although I think I only remember 10 Spanish words!) :)
C. A "Homemade" Book made by my 4th grade class--priceless!