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the track coach

I always knew I would be a perfect fit for the job of track coach.  My love of running was developed only through a dedicated coach who took me aside and saw some potential.  This potential was not easy to spot.  My running form as a jr. high kid and freshamn was more akin to a giraffe on roller skates than a track star.  After discipline and practice and success I quickly adapted as a runner.  It was just so natural to me.  I loved the thrill and excitement of racing and wearing spikes and setting records.  It just worked for me.

I took this love with me to college. I ran in college competitively.  My homesickness always seemed to win the battle with dedicating time and talents to what I love though.  After a ridiculous ankle injury, I moved on from competitive running.  I was done with it for awhile.  Running like a track star stayed in my back pocket for the last 2 years of college.  The only time it came out was for the occasional exercise routine.  I was more concerned with dating, college, and socializing for once in my life. 

As I took my first teaching job I started to rekindle that love again.  It became my personal sanctuary for stress relief.  I realized that I could do bigger and better things.  That bigger and better thing, was of course, a marathon. 

I set a goal to run a marathon before the end of the first year I was married.  Running that marathon set me on fire.  There was no stopping after that.  I was back.

Day in and day out since then I have seeked out racing opportunities and pushed myself to new heights.  A natural fit for me was coaching track. There was no question. 

I was asked to coach track for high school and jr. high.  This was a tough decision.  I ended up choosing jr. high because I felt like I owed it to my students to help them.  I also liked the idea of still having time for my own personal running goals.

Here I am.  It is now the final 2 weeks of track and I find myself feeling so lucky to have undertaken this endeavor.  I loved sharing my passion for running with my students.  I believe that it has enriched my teaching experience and my connection with the students at my school.  Coaching is a special thing.  I always knew that.  I grew up in a coaching family.

Life is good. 

Cheers

bike riding

Today I rode my bike to work.  It made my day.  Saving on gas, toning the legs, enjoying some tunes, burning some calories, saving my knees, and wearing a nerdy helmet all while on my way to my awesome job.  It is days like this that remind me that I have an incredibly large amount of things to be thankful for.  My life is blessed.  


and I love my helmet. 

WOW

Dude. I ate way too much chocolate over Easter.  I think it was the novelty of being home for the first time in a long time and just loving chocolate way too much for my own good.  I still feel off from all that chocolate.  definitely thinking of running extra and drinking tons of water this week to try and rid myself of this stuff.  it's okay to be human.  I was human this weekend.  I didn't feel guilty or obsessed--like I usually do.  Just enjoyed it.   life is good.
here's to another hard week in hopes for a successful pat's run on the 21st.

check in

I love my life.
Seriously.

I have been in this happy place with my running, lifting, and training for a very long time now.  Actually, years to be perfectly honest.  It just makes my day every time every workout.  

My body image/self esteem has been a 10 on a 10 point scale for a very long time. As much as I'd like to say I don't do it for how it look, I have to be honest that I do reap the benefits of looking in the mirror and thinking that I look great.  Not prideful--just grateful for being able to discipline myself and accomplish great things.

Coaching track has been absolutely a wonderful thing in my life right now.  I have never been in this position, and I love it.  I get my own lifting and running before school and after school I run with my kids.  It is great.  

Summer months are coming which means I can challenge myself to some more grueling workouts during my precious summer weeks.  

I am starting my Masters in a little over a month.  It will be work but I'll do it.  I'll do it all, because that's what I do.  

Lastly, I am incredibly blessed to have a husband who lets me do all these things.  I spread myself in many directions and he supports me through it all.  I am lucky. 

Cheers

a nice one

today was perfect.  I got 8 hours of sleep and woke up perfectly rested.  By 5:52am I was running (32 degree temperature) with my sister.  I wanted to push the pace today because I know I can handle it.  I was also under a time constraint. 
I totally rocked it.  I felt so fast.  The truth is I could have gone even faster.  I didn't only because I wanted to stay within eye sight of my sister.  I don't have a clocked pace but based on past efforts at this distance and my sister's pace...I estimate that I ran 4.7 miles at just over 8min mile pace.  Jackpot. 


Ahhh I love life.  


I am about to go to track practice and run some crazy intervals.  I love this.  

weird

I feel like I am in no man's land right now.  
I am in this weird in-between stage of something big huge about to be happening and at a definite quiet and calm place with everything.
I am just a little stir crazy and need something to spice it up. 


A little more discipline in the kitchen.  A little more lifting.  A little more sunny weather.  All contributing factors to success in my workout world. 


I am enjoying these months as a track coach.  It is so ridiculously rewarding.  I love running with the kids.  I think it brings a whole new element to the role of educator/teacher/leader/mentor.


Cheers