"Running is a mental sport.....and we are ALL insane" :-)

Haha! I saw that quote on a T-shirt at the race expo on Saturday. I should've bought it when I was there. Next time......

Anyway - a race re-cap - with pictures!!!

Firstly, it was - by far - the TOUGHEST race for me to get through. Not because it was a difficult course or because I wasn't prepared for it, I just kind of hit a wall around mile 8 - at which point I walked a few times. I did, however, still PR - 1:53.17 - which surprised me - made me think how fast I would've gone had I not walked - but oh well, that's what the next one is for! :-) May 22! But anywho - on to this race....

At the start, it was about 40 degrees at start time - so we came prepared in sweats that we could leave there to donate to shelters and organizations that help people. But before the start we took some pics :-) Of course...none during the race....I never bring a camera but thankfully Bethany brings hers otherwise I wouldn't have anything to show y'all!

I started out really well - felt good but honestly after mile 5 I needed to get into a rhythm and I just never did. I think that's why I sort of bonked at mile 8. At mile 7, the PW XCer's were handing out water and gatorade. I saw one of my lifeguards, Kyra, which gave me a boost of energy but I realized I took gatorade at this station instead of water which ended up giving me cramps in my side. Yuck. That was the first obstacle. Of course - me being the stubborn person I am - I just sucked it up and ran through them. Eventually they went away and at the next station I made the mental note to GRAB WATER instead of Gatorade.

Shortly after mile 7 - the hills started. At this point in the run we were in University City and I don't know why I didn't remember this hill - probably becauce I blocked it out - and for good reason. It's one of those gradual hills that laugh at you with every step you take up it. I didn't walk yet because I knew there was a downhill portion coming and the Zoo was up next so I was determined to keep going...but it was just after the Zoo and entering Fairmount Park where I walked. Around mile 9 I was like - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! HOW RUDE! Now, I definitely remembered THIS hill. In fact, I told Bethany about it when we signed up for it. This hill is killer because it's about a half a mile and it's all UP. UGH. I started going up it - aaaaaaaaaaaaand then I walked.....and then I tried to run again....but I knew it wasn't worth it - I walked for about 2 minutes (what felt like 10) and then picked it back up for the last water/gatorade station on the course. The rest of the run was relatively flat and/or downhill (with the exception of the last little bit infront of the art museum.....but it was at this point where I was literally saying out loud "I don't even care if I go over 2 hours, just finish this." I was seriously ready to collapse at this point and the whole last two miles I thought I was going to throw up. My legs felt like lead. No lie.

Eventually I finished - thank the lord - and even PRed - who knew? Bethany finished up a few minutes behind me. It was a tough one but glad I pushed through.

And now - the Pièce de résistance :-) The pictures:

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”~Oliver Wendell Holmes

I've kind of been a recluse this week. Honestly - I've had a lot of things going on. Swim season starts TOMORROW! Yeah baby! And I have some major projects to accomplish. One of them being my Unit Plan for my Education class. The list is as follows:

1. Unit Plan for ENG/COM 489 - I started this awhile ago but stopped because the teacher kind of changed around the project - so I started to revamp it Monday - got "so" far, and then stopped - today is my day to try and tackle as much as I can. It's due on the 29th but with Thanksgiving next week and a birthday (YEAH JACKS!) in there - I want to not have to worry about it.

2. Meetings - meetings - meetings! Eeek. There have been a lot of these lately - and that's mainly because of swimming. Last week I had five meetings (alone) for swimming. This week I met with the Harriton coach to look at what equipment we needed (Monday), met with Don and Paul (yesterday) about Friday and the things for the season (ie. morning and weekend practices), I have a meeting tonight at 7 to learn meet manager for the season (should be a blast - not), and tomorrow is the start of swim season!

3. A change to my Cabrini schedule - I believe they're going to allow me to do this BUT it's not official yet. Hopefully I'll know by today. Since swim practices are in the afternoon - it makes it difficult for me to get to Cabrini on time and even at all - so I've asked to do my grad asst. stuff during the day, three times a week (like 11-2, tuesday, wed, and thurs). So far, everyone seems to be cool with it...as am I because then I won't have to worry about leaving the girls early from practice.

4. Reviewing Gary's Thesis paper - he's asked me to take a look at his upcoming PhD paper and make any changes on it. I'm very honored that he values my opinion so highly. I just hope the additions and/or changes I make don't send him for a loop. It's a great topic so I think it'll be easy for him to see why I made some additions or changes.

5. Baldwin coaching - yup - I'm still doing this. And additionally, I'm giving private lessons (yes, extra money!) so it's keeping me busy on the weekends too. I think with the addition of this and weekend practices, I'll be booked out the wazoo(sp) on my weekends - I guess I'll have no life for a few months - hahah, who are we kidding, I don't have a life now! :-)

6. Last week I house/babysat for gus and will again. It was nice to make a little bit of extra cash - which went directly to buying a brand new battery for my computer because the old one was dead (RIP). It's amazing though, it was the original battery that came with the computer four or so years ago. But I digress.....I'll be house/babysitting for them again on the 29th/30th because their mom is having some kind of surgery so I'll be hangin with them at the house.

7. Speaking of house sitting - I'll be watching my aunt and uncle's dog while they're in Conn. over thanksgiving from Thursday night til Saturday Morning. A nice little bit of extra money there too. And I'll be hangin with Zack for a week in January (again, more moolah). It actually works out really well because they live (literally) down the road from Baldwin and SO MUCH CLOSER to LM so that'll save me some gas that week.

8. Speaking of gas - I realized last week how great it would've been to have a hybrid. I used SO much gas because I did SO much driving. Crazy.

9. I have to figure out what/how I'm going to handle my swim team this year. Right now I have something like 35 girls signed up....I have three lanes....yeah. That's a terrible number. I've asked all of the girls (even the ones who swim for aquatic clubs) to come to my practices for the time being). I don't know how we're going to do this...but...hopefully a lot of them decide not to come back after the first few practices (I'm planning on making them pretty tough). We'll see.

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Obviously, trying to relate to the subject quote - I'm moving forward....in every area of my life.

I mentioned in my first paragraph that I've been kind of a recluse.....I've been trying to keep busy. Not necessarily to keep my mind from wandering but I feel the most productive this way.

To be honest - it's been a fantastic week! I've had a few guys ask me out - no deets on that yet because I said no since I'm so busy. I've also had fantastic weeks in class and at work (I got an A on my research paper and lots of good things coming from school for swimming - minus some crazy parents). Just lots of good things happening this week. It's great!

Just keep moving forward. While looking back and nostalgia can be nice (some times) - that's what it is...looking back. I don't want to do that. I have so many awesome things waiting for me! Speaking of which - I'm stuck on ideas for my 30 in 30.....anyone have any suggestions?

"Yesterday's lazy, cures today's crazy" ~Cam, Modern Family

Ok, I love that show. If you aren't watching it - do it. You will thank me later. Just trust me on this one.

Also, I love this: (Trust me, you will love this too!)


When I lived in Orlando with Trish, Maya (her dog) ALWAYS did this as a puppy. I saw this commercial last night as I was watching TBL (the biggest loser) and just nearly died laughing. So cute!

Lots to update y'all on and a few side thoughts for me to think about:
"If you want to learn to swim jump into the water. On dry land no frame of mind is ever going to help you." ~Bruce Lee
I GOT THE JOB! I am officially the Head Swim Coach for the Girls Team at Lower Merion High School! GO ACES! Woot! But shhhhh, don't tell me cousins, they're Harriton Alum...I don't think they'd be pleased :-) But I'm SUPER PSYCHED! I met a few of the girls this afternoon but I set up a meeting for them (and hopefully more) for tomorrow. I'm stoked to take this on. I think they're pumped for it too. Obviously I'll be updating on the season's progress as it goes along. Lots of upcoming meetings - lots of things to look forward to. YAY!

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.”~Tom Bodett
School is going alright. I think I've figured everything out, as far as when and how much longer I'll be doing it. I have three more classes before my certification and just two more, beyond those three, for the Masters. I'm just bored. I really can't wait to teach! I'm so much more of a do-er than a reader/listener. I learn much better when I have to make mistakes and actually DO the teaching instead of just talking about it. I have a research paper and a presentation due for class on Monday and just a Unit Plan due at the end of the month but I'd like to get that taken care of asap.

Elsewhere - I got my official GRE scores back. Um...yeah. I don't think I'd be accepted to ANY graduate schools. I guess I need to take them again if I ever want to be a PhD candidate. Ha. For now though, I'm going to focus on the teaching thing. It's really what I want to do anyway. But boy do I love research....sigh.

"Who needs a social life with friends like these?"
Haha! Obviously that's ironic since I have THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD! I got to see Drew twice while he was home from Hawaii for a few weeks. It was REALLY great to catch up with him and a few other friends from high school. I honestly didn't think I'd enjoy it but I had a great time both times. So interesting how much we all change in 10+ years.

This weekend I'm going to the Dave Matthews Concert on Saturday night. With Brian. Yep. But he bought the tickets before I told him I was just more comfortable with us being friends.

Sunday is a Cancer Walk down in the City. My neighbor, Timmy, started having seizures about a year ago and his doctors found a tumor in his brain. You can read his blog at Me and My Brain Tumor. It's really amazing to see how much has changed in his life. It's really inspiring. But I digress.....I'll be walking with most of my neighborhood and some of his mom's church friends. We're known as "Tim's Noodle Team". It's just a mile walk but I'm wanting to more and more things like this to raise money for important things.

The 2nd Annual Rachel and Troy Beef and Beer went well. We didn't have as many people as last year and didn't raise as much money but we came out on top and had a good evening. I think we're going to maybe do something a little different next year. I'd like to start a Run/Walk. I'd like to head up that task. I think it might be easier to get people involved to do it. Either way, we won't have another meeting until January (when we start working on the golf outing again).

I have an all league coaches meeting next Wednesday with all the Central League coaches. I'm pumped! I hear some of the guy coaches are young and single too :-) hehe. Who knows, maybe I'll meet my future husband?! HAHA.

"Real athletes run others just play games"
I'm still running. The plan was to start P90X after the Distance Run but alas, I'm running one more Half Marathon before the year is through. The Philly Half this month. THEN! I will start P90X. I really want to do it for a few reasons but mainly to see if I can do it and to see if I can actually get a six pack. Of course with the Holiday Season approaching, we'll see if I can ward off the food, drinks, and festivities. Ha. Good luck!