10th Annual Bryan Station Defender Classic 5K Run/Walk

 The boys ran the 5K at Bryan Station this morning.  It was a cold and rainy day.  Here they are when they finished the race.  Samuel's face cracks me up!!

Harrison was the 1st place winner in his age group.

Samuel was the 2nd place winner in his age group.

 

It was a good day for the O Bro's. 

Happy tonight...dreading tomorrow

Happy - Harrison just ran a personal record at his track meet tonight.  He ran the 2 mile in 12 minutes 28 seconds.  He took 43 seconds off his time!!  That is awesome.  The coach was so happy with him.

Dreading  - The 5K is here and I am not ready. NOT READY!!!  Every time I ran my shin really hurt so I haven't done any running this week at all!  I am going to walk it tomorrow.  I'll start over with my app to build back up and not hurt my shin again.

Even though I am bummed about not running the 5K, I still have big dreams of becoming a runner.  I hate that Harrison says I can't do it.  Of course, I just want to wake up and be able to do it too.  This training and building up endurance it not too fun. Actually, it kind of sucks big time.  I am the "I want it and I want it NOW" kind of person.  Isn't there some sort of botox for running?  You know, give me a shot and I can run.  Wouldn't that be awesome?!?!

I always loved a good challenge!!!

So, here I am, 41 years old and trying to become a runner.  Have I ever run a day in my life?  NOPE!  Well, maybe when I see a spider or a snake and that is just running out of the room.  Even then, I am out of breath.  But my oldest son, who IS a runner said one little thing that changed my mind about trying to become a runner.  He ran up with the high school cross country team and has been on the track team for the past 2 years.  He is really a good runner if I do say so myself.  And that's not just my "mother's perspective" talking either.  He really is a good runner.  Anyway, One day I made some backhanded comment one day that maybe I would run a 5K one day.  He laughed at me and just said "Oh mom, you could never run a 5K".  Well, I do like a challenge and I DO NOT like to be told I can't do something.  So, here I am.  Trying to get my flabby, lazy, never run a day in my life self out there and run a 5K.

I downloaded the Ease Into 5K app on my iPhone.  I started off great the first week.  It wasn't too bad at all.  So the second week I thought, "shoot, I don't need this stinking app.  I can just go run".  And that is what I did.  The actual run wasn't too bad.  I ran/walked 2.2 miles.  Now, seriously, it was a lot of walking but I got in some good stretches of running.  I was so proud of myself.  At least, until my shins hurt like hell afterwards.  Yep, I gave myself shin splints.  So today is the first day I tried running again.  I had to stop just shy of a mile.  I was doing the app and backed back to the beginning.  My right shin still hurts but it isn't the bone.  It is the muscle to the left of the bone.  Maybe I pulled it.  I don't know.  I can walk fast but I just can't run on it or it burns like fire and really starts hurting....bad.

So, the 5K is in a week and I will probably be walking it.  I am going to walk everyday this week to get ready.  I am disappointed that I took on too much too soon but I am still motivated to eventually run a 5K.  I know I can do it.  I'm just going to keep on walking. 

I asked for it

Funny Samuel story.

Samuel and I were in the car when he started acting up. Here is our conversation.

Samuel: being a smart mouth...

Me: You need to change your behavior.

Samuel: I did change my behavior.

Me: How?

Samuel: I changed it from good to bad.

Me:

He was so serious. Like, super serious. He wasn't being smart when he said it. It was just matter of fact with those big, cute eyes opened up really wide.

I have to give it to him, he was telling the truth. But he straightened right up after this.

My Samuel is so funny.

The Excitement is BACK!!

I've talked a lot on here about leaving my position as the preschool teacher and moving to a position teaching children with vision impairments. I wanted to do this for so long but when we actually started working and when the first syllabus came in from Western Michigan, the doubt started creeping back in.

What if I'm too old to learn anything else?

What if my brain is already FULL?

What if my fingers are too rittled with arthritis to learn braille (not sure where that particular hysterical rant came from since I do not currently have arthritis, but I still thought of it)?

What if I can't figure out all of the technology of having online classes? I did go to school during the time of actually GOING to class with a real live professor standing up front teaching.

But, after I had my little breakdown, I drank some whiskey and I'm so much better. Seriously!! I really think I can do this (as long as I lay off the whiskey....braille and whiskey probably don't mix).

So, now I'm really excited about this job and going back to school. My kids are so great and the teachers have been really nice to work with (well, not one but I'm TRYING to be positive here people).

Healthy Harrison

Harrison had his 12 year check up today. He is as healthy as a horse, according to the doc. Also, he has a clean bill of health to do sports this fall at school. The doc asked about his heart murmur and if he had been cleared by a cardiologist. He got a clean bill of health at around age 8 or 9 from the cardio. She said the hole was closed but the docs may hear an echo. Dr. Lewis listened for a long time and never heard anything, thank goodness.

In addition to his regular physical, he got the sports physical paperwork signed so he can play sports at school. He is going to do Cross Country this fall. Practices start July 15. He is supposed to be running every day but only gets to run a few times each week due to swim team and playing with his friends. He has to be able to run at least 3 miles without stopping by July 15th. He can already do that so I am not worried about him. I do need to get him a couple of more pairs of running shoes. He wears them out FAST with all the running.

In the winter, he will hopefully, play Basketball and in the spring he will do Track. He will be super busy but that is best for Harrison. He does better at school if he is busy and has less down time.

One funny thing happened today on the way back from the doctor's office. We were listening to the radio and there was a commercial about "Red, White and Boom". When he heard it, he whipped his head around and asked, "did they just say Red, White and BOOB???" HAHA, the mind of a middle schooler.

Back to School

No, I'm not talking about all the school supply sales. I'm not talking about next school year either. I AM talking about me going back to school to add on another teaching certification. I have wanted to add on the visual impairment certification for quite a few years but the timing was just never right. Every year I keep thinking that I should just bite the bullet and do it but never have. Well, I'm biting that bullet.

In Kentucky, there is only one university that has the certification program for Teacher of the Visually Impaired. I was so excited to get registered at University of Louisville. I only needed 6 more classes according to their website. I was totally blown out of the water when I received an email stating I could not register for the program because the state of KY had suspended their program to anyone not already enrolled due to lack of funding. They have to offer the classes to people currently taking classes but won't let anyone else register. I was so disappointed. I was very mad. I was an email writing maniac. I tried EVERYTHING short of bribery and threats to get in their program for the classes. I mean, seriously, it's only 6 classes. They are going to offer them anyway. Why can't they let me take them?

The professor at U of L was great about emailing me different schools across the United States who offered the program. The bad thing about taking classes from another state is that I live in Ky and can't be traveling every weekend to some other state. He finally emailed me a booklet listing all of the universities across the USA that offered the certification. My name is all over the place. I emailed no less that 10 universities trying to find a program that fits my situation.

Well, I did it. I found a great program that is very well known for being a great program. I will be attending Western Michigan University from the comfort of my own home. I will be doing most of the classes online (which I have never done before). I say "most" because next summer I will be moving to Michigan for the hands on classes. I am so excited about this. The program is a Master's program. I never thought about getting another Master's degree. I already have one so I didn't really think I needed another one. But, this opportunity is too good to pass up. There is a grant that helps with tuition so that really helps a LOT!!

This whole process has made me think that MAYBE I could go and get my PhD. I have some friends who are going through the "doc" program at UK in special education. I could do it too. I don't really want to teach at the college level but I would love the degree just for me.