Rest, Run, Restore

It has been one of those weeks. In preparation for 1400 high school students returning (now just three days away) we have worked literally from sun up till the late, late night hours. Tired and exhausted, my running and sanity have gone out the window. After a week of mostly 12-15 hour days, I wonder if it is all worth it. I know it is better for the students when they return and things are right, but I really have missed running, not to mention my eating habits have been off. I have eaten whatever I could scrounge up during those late nights  and crazy days and most of what I was eating was not healthy. I feel like a slug.


(As you can see, my counselors and crew needed and deserved a small treat, Hot Fudge Sundaes. I had one too:)

Lethargy and swelling set in thanks to all the sitting and working on a computer (eating ice cream too) just made me feel yuck. It reminded me again of why consistent exercise and healthy eating are critical for a fit mind and a fit body. I am not sure why or even how people have jobs that don't allow them to get up and move, but it also explains why so many people are in the condition they are physically and mentally. I could not sit behind a desk all day. My job keeps me moving and on the go all of the time. I easily get 10,000 steps most days before I run or exercise (love my fitbit) and after my run or exercise I am usually hitting 20,000 steps most days of the week. When I don't eat right and run, the impact on how I look and feel is detrimental.

Weeks like this happen. I have missed two of my scheduled running days because I couldn't get out of the bed early enough to conquer the running before work or I was too far gone in the evening to even attempt a run. So I have nine miles to make up in my running schedule to hit my weekly mileage. I probably won't get those nine made up, but I will get some extra in and guess what I can live with it if I don't get them all. I don't want to get injured so I will add in what I can or feel like I can on Saturday, but only if I feel good. My training plan got off, but it's okay. I had to prioritize... kids first always! Now I do what I can, get back on track and move on. Water under the bridge.

I am actually looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow (Saturday morning) past 4:30 am and then getting up to go for a nice long, slow run and let all the stuff in me drain out... the toxins, the exhaustion, the brain clutter, the tension, the stress, the yuck!

 The rest and the run will restore me.

Just some more photos of my school buddies...

Principal Pals...  My best friend Laura, Principal of a middle school in the gray shirt and  me in the white shirt. We take a photo every year at the beginning of the school year. We started together as teachers in the same year, 19 years ago:) She texted me at about 9:00 pm one night this week and all the text said was..."Go Home!" I ask her the next day how she knew I was still at work? She just laughed and said "I know you!"

This is my friend and one of my four Assistant Principals. She has been with me for three years,. She is my "Partner in Crime." We are starting to complete each others sentences, dress alike and know what the other is thinking without saying a word. She works hard everyday for all kids and she makes me look good as a Principal. I love all my Assistant Principals, but we are known as "C&C"  thanks to my BFF for naming us this, which is a whole different story within itself.:) Notice I have bags under my eyes and she is beautiful. I am old and she is young... long hours don't affect her like they do me! That's all I have to say about that!

A crazy week, but I am forever grateful for a great group of people that do what needs to be done for kids. It is still a joy to go to work everyday. I love what I do and I love the people I work with  each day.

Work Hard Play Hard

With the completion of the Crossfit Games for 2015, I am still hooked on Crossfit! I started Crossfit five years ago and  I am still doing it. Even when there have been moments that I backed off for whatever reason, time, life, kids, work, it was never  for very long. There is no fitness program around like Crossfit... Never a dull moment, always a new twist on something familiar and the completely unexpected are all the things that make Crossfit intriguing. I guess the other appeal for folks is that once people try it they realize that Crossfit really is for everyone regardless of age, capabilities, injuries or limitations. They only thing stopping people from doing Crossfit is their mind. Believing that they can't do it (fixed mindset) when the reality is they can with help from a coach (growth mindset).

There is always negative talk about injuries from Crossfit, but the people that get hurt 99% of the time are the over zealous, pumped up folks who don't listen to their coach. I am a level 1 trainer for Crossfit and one of the most difficult things for many is to take it slow in the beginning, let it be a progression in improving. Let your coach move you up gradually. Listen. It's hard not to get overly enthusiastic when you give it a whirl because it is contagious. It gets on you and you can't shake it. It's everything about Crossfit... the program, the results, the culture, the competitiveness, the inspiration, the motivation.... it's just different.

Watching the games this year was even better than before for several reasons: the athletes are getting better, stronger and they added the teenage group. I work with high school kids all day and I loved watching these kids excel at the sport of Crossfit.  I was inspired. It was awesome. Then of course watching the Masters division is always one of my favorites as I am a "Master" now. It happens to us all eventually:)

I am reminded once again of what aging can be based on my choices. I am not saying Crossfit is for anybody, but some sort of daily exercise should be for everyone. People don't have to be old at the age of 50 or even 60. Age is a mindset and no matter your age you should work hard and play hard that is the "Fountain of Youth" that makes the difference in the quality of life we lead as time marches forward.

Not all of us are Crossfit game worthy and using common sense is critical in Crossfit. Many of the athletes that make it to the Games have been some type of competitive athlete most of their lives.  I am not. I am just a middle aged gal trying to keep it real... so I do what I can to push myself to be better than I was, to enjoy the spirit of the sport and  engage with the people and culture in it. Crossfit can be for everyone! It is the only sport that spans the generations... you don't see a 60 year old playing football or baseball or soccer. But, Crossfit is different and I believe it is here to stay. I want to encourage other people to do something for themselves and try Crossfit... you won't regret it.
You may not compete at the Games, but I bet you end up better off than you were before you tried it and end up hooked too.

You never know what works until you try.

I am training for my third marathon. When I actually stop to think about it, I am surprised. My first marathon was a bucket list kind of thing. I signed up for the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington DC mainly because it was the "people's marathon," as identified by Runner's World Magazine. I figured, "Hey I am only doing this once so make it a great memory!"  I did. It was awesome. A friend and I did it together a few years back when the hurricane hit Washington DC. We ran the marathon, then ran back to the hotel and then ran to the airport to try and get out before the hurricane hit. Probably got in 35 miles that day. Everybody else did the same thing too! Got stuck in DC, but that's another story for another time just suffice it to know we made it back.

Fast forward a year and my best friend says to me, "I think I wanna do a marathon," Really? Well all right so we trained on the Jeff Galloway Plan, the run/walk method for newbies. Five minute run, one minute walk... it worked. I stuck with her knowing that she would struggle with the mind thing starting around mile 15. I was right she did, but she crossed the finish line, got the medal, drank a beer and swore she would kill me if I ever let her do something that insane again. I walked away thinking well, I never have to do that again. But still there was something there saying maybe though, but I mostly ignored it.

Fast forward six months. I need something to train for I am bored. How about another marathon? Really? It wasn't that hard to talk myself into it, but I didn't want to do the same plan again. Both times prior had been Galloway.. great plan, great guy... I met him years back when I first started running. So I started to look at the various plans and analyze how they were different. Galloway and many others do several mini runs, three maybe four during the week, and long runs on the weekend. Basically distance remains the same during week with several days off, but long runs progressively get longer over three weeks time then it drops back and gives you a rest. Then you're back on long runs progressing back up for three weeks gradually getting you up to 22-24 miles on a long run weekend... preparing you for the dreaded "wall." Depending on the plan and your level some incorporate speed, tempo, interval running and maybe hills.

I continued to look . I came across the Hanson Method. Actually, a co-worker mentioned it and I looked it up. Now here is a whole different approach. The idea behind this method is that you increase your total weekly miles throughout the training, not just on weekends, so that you fatigue the muscles and have to learn to run on tired legs... like you do in a marathon.  The longest run being 16 miles. The Hanson Method incorporates speed, strength, tempo, long and easy runs building miles from 21 miles in the first weeks up to 57 miles a few weeks out from the marathon. So I went for it. Not sure how this will work, but you never know till you try it so here I am in week 6 of training. The marathon is the end of October.

My long run yesterday and today was 8 miles each day giving me a total of 31 miles running this week. Today was the day where my legs felt really tired, but I pushed through and I was only 3 minutes and 30 seconds off my "normal" time. Not too bad considering my legs  felt so tired running, Everything else was good. I worry about the "wall" because I know it's real and I will still have 10 miles to go after mile 16... make that 10.2 miles. Well, I am trusting the plan and I guess I will find out how it works and let you know, but right now I am excited, on track with training and ready to go! Registered and ready:)

I run...again... to discover me

Back to sharing what is happening in the world of Lindy the runner. A lot has happened while I have been away. My youngest son graduated high school (some empty nest stuff). Now he is being educated at the University of Alabama... Roll Tide. I became principal of a high school (love it, but busy). Tragedy hit the family, cancer and death, and all of sudden life was tough. Time was short. Pressure was mounting. The answers were missing.

Pushing through became something I had learned to do in the past years and running taught me how to do it well. Through it all, I ran. Sometimes less than I had before, sometimes slower than before and sometimes shorter distances, but still I ran.There were even days when all I could muster up was a walk. The strain was almost more than I could bear. Though I am not sure if it was physical or mental. Even when I thought I would just drop the running, something drew me back to it. When you love something, it is hard to let it go... near impossible to let it go... right? I know now that I not only love running, I need running.

I read a book during this time called Running and Being by Dr. George Sheehan... picked it up because it was "the book that made the world start running in the 80's." Reading this book, I started to discover and understand why I too needed running like so many others. My passion for running ignited again because I realized it didn't matter if anyone else could understand me or why I loved running as long as I understood me, it was all that mattered. Dr Sheehan wrote, "My fitness program was never a fitness program. It was a campaign, a revolution, a conversion. I  was determined to find myself. And, in the process found my body and the soul that went with it."

 No longer is my running a fitness program, but rather a place that helps me discover me. The good , the bad and the ugly.


And while discovering me is not over, and never will be for that matter, it is a process that has evolved, layer upon layer taking me to new levels... showing me potential that I didn't know existed. I am driven and competitive by nature, results are what I do, in work and in play. But now that is different in many ways. The results still matter, but not in the same way. Now I enjoy and appreciate what running does for my soul, my mind, my heart. It gives me peace and clarity. It takes my stress, pulls it off my back and chunks it. It reminds me that my mind is capable and that the body is eager. It is my therapy. Running helps me find the best that is within me. It shows me the stuff I am made of and reveals portions of me that I am not always prepared to deal with. It gives me.....me... raw, desperate and longing. It teaches me that God has given me all I need to overcome and persevere... to endure. It shows me the magnificence of what he has created within me. It teaches me self discipline, but reminds me that I can't do it alone.  It brings an awareness that I can only discover somewhere running down a long, lonely road when it is just me and the sound of my foot steps, the pounding of my heart and the rhythmical wisps of my breath that takes me to another place deep within the recesses of my mind and soul and that is where I am found. And so I run again ...



Good Memories...
My mom and I at my last half marathon and her first half marathon in 20 years. She ran it with Colon Cancer  in 2:40 and didn't even know it!