Wordless Wednesday!

I can't be completely wordless because I can't contain my excitement! My Fisher House t-shirt arrived today! It kind of hit home that I'm really going to be running this thing in a little over a month.

I Love Running!

I'm back baby! 23 miles this week, including two very intense hill workouts on Tuesday and Friday! (Note: you may have to scroll back to see my workouts from last week as I didn't realize this updated. I must find a way to get this on my blog permanently!

Endorphin Highs Rock!

So this marked the official start of my training plan for the Army Ten Miler. The past couple weeks have mostly just been about getting back into a routine and used to running distances longer than a mile. Most of my runs average 2 1/2 miles until this week and I was using the Jeff Galloway method of running for 8 minutes or so and walking for 1 to get through it. They were easy slow runs and it was more just about getting me back into a routine then anything else. Since I have gotten back to Virginia I have upped my mileage and eliminated walk breaks and I am feeling great!!

I'm also an unofficial assistant coach on the high school cross country team so I have been running with the girls on the team on the trails and that has been awesome. The high school has some great trails behind it that will be a nice change from running on the road. I think tomorrow we will probably be doing some track work, which will be a nice change. Today I knocked out 3 1/2 very hilly miles. I did not have a watch on me so I wasn't able to clock it, but I was running without music for the third straight day and I love it. I used to rely so much on music to get me up a hill or through the next mile. I love being able to get through that on my own. Today's run was by no means easy. The town I live in is called "the Hill City" or "the City of 7 Hills" after all so I guess I shouldn't have expected it to be flat. Some of the hills were pretty intense and though I know I wasn't moving very fast at times, I definitely did not stop once. I powered through the hill at the end and felt VERY strong finishing, which is how I always like to finish.

I was on such an endorphin high when I got back! I forgot how much I absolutely LOVE to run! Seriously, if running were a drug...it would be illegal. I'm definitely back and feeling better than ever. Looking forward to a Happy Hour tomorrow with my teacher pals to celebrate the end of the work week and the start of the school year. Yes, that's right, I said celebrate the start of the school year. That's what running does to me!!

Good News, Bad News

I got good news and bad news today. I guess I will start with the bad news since that is what is weighing on my mind most. I found out from my mom that my 62 year old father is in the hospital. My first thought - and I found out my sister's as well - was "heart attack". My dad works on Wall Street and is probably the most stressed out, negative person I know (which is probably where I get it from). He should have retired 2 years ago, but obviously that is not the case, and he has just been miserable and constantly worried about his job these past several years.

I'm glad to report that he did not have a heart attack, but what he did suffer was a a cat bite. Yes, you read that right, a cat bite. A cat that my family took in three years ago escaped the other day and ran under the deck. My dad tried to pull him out and he bit him on the hand and gave him a nasty puncture wound that has gotten infected pretty badly. Apparently, cat bites are reallydangerous because they can be so deep. So word to the wise, beware of cat bites! What makes the story so strange is that this cat was the most docile, gentle thing ever. Elvis was an enormous cat, but he seriously wouldn't ever hurt a fly. My 8 1/2 pound ginger kitty chased him all around the house and he never once lifted a paw at him. I'm not sure what my family is going to do with Elvis. My mom has already said she's looked into a few no-kill shelters where she can surrender him. I'm not sure what my dad wants. He used to love Elvis, but I can't imagine he's too happy with him now after 4 days in the hospital. I called him this morning and he sounds pretty miserable. Apparently they don't get ESPN2 or the financial network on TV, which he is irate about. I hope the stronger antibiotics work and he is out of there soon! I hate thinking of my dad lying in the hospital.

The much happier news, which I was happy to share with my dad since he sounded so down, is that I finally got a bib/registration for the Ten Miler! I'm getting it from a milspouse down at Fort Hood, whose husband was MEDEVACed to the military hospital in San Antonio back in 2008. So when she found out that I wanted to run for Fisher House she jumped right on it. (Her husband is fine now, just set to deploy soon thus the selling of the registration). I'm SUPER excited to have this become official and cannot wait to officially join Team Fisher House, start raising money and increasing my mileage at the end of the month. Today is a strength training day so I think I'm going to bust out my EA Active and attempt to work with the resistance band a little. The boy has free weights, but they are a bit much for me as I'm just getting back into things. I'm thinking I might walk to the beach later since the sun is starting to come out. Really anything to avoid packing and facing the fact that I leave California in 5 days...

My Running Story

So I thought after yesterday's post that today I would share my background as a runner. I'm going to go back, waaaaaay back, to how I first came into running in the first place. The reason I started running, way back when I joined the cross-country team as a scrawny middle schooler, was 'cos my brother did. Unlike my brother, I joined the track team too. I ran competitively all throughout high school, 3 seasons a year (cross-country, indoor and outdoor track). I was never all-state or anything, but I loved running and was able to go from the "B Team" to captain of the team. I am an incredibly competitive person so running is the perfect sport for me 'cos I get to be competitive with myself! I was asked to run in college, but didn't and even though I ran with my friends all through college I somehow lost that love of competition and ran mostly to stay in shape and keep off a beer gut.

I took a year long running hiatus after college, but started up again while living out at the Ranch where I took my running to a whole new level. I was just doing daily 3-5 mile runs with a friend of mine, nothing huge. Then one day this guest arrived at the Ranch and asked if any of the wranglers liked to run. We said yes so he came on a couple of our little 5 mile jaunts. Turns out he runs ULTRA marathons, which are insanely longer than marathons and usually cover a distance between 30-62 miles. He asked us if we'd like to go on a run in Grand Teton National Park with him on our day off, but we were obviously a little hesitant once we learned of the ultra-marathoning. First he suggested we run this 6 mile loop around the lake, then all of a sudden he was proposing this 13 mile run up a canyon. My friend and I both told him "no way, Jose!" but he kept insisting that we had no idea what we were capable of. And you know what? With a couple well-timed walk breaks, my friend and I ran 13.3 miles while climbing 1800 feet. It was the most amazing feeling in the world and one that I would love to duplicate. Here we are stopping for a quick photo at mile 6 after running up a HUGE hill!


Unfortunately, between grad school and student teaching, my running has all but fallen off the radar. I coach track and help with the cross-country team so I will run with my kids all the time in season, but I haven't done a great job keeping up with it on a regular basis. And I miss it! I miss the competition and I miss setting my sights on a goal and trying to achieve it. I miss trying to beat my own times and get better every race. I didn't realize I missed it so much until I came across the ad for the Ten Miler and I started thinking about running, what it means to me and why I didn't keep up with it. I didn't love running when I ran to lose weigh or stay in shape. I wasn't committed to it, I wasn't excited about it like I used to be. I did it just to do it. I don't mean to knock anyone who runs to lose weight or stay in shape! It just doesn't motivate me personally or inspire me to get better or improve my times or mileage.

Anyway, I'm sharing all this because I was hoping there were some other girls on here who call themselves runners and would like to share their stories about when, how, and why you became "a runner"!

Guess What I'm Training For?

OK, well technically registration is closed and spots in the race are sold out. However, I have it on good authority from a friend who is a road race warrior that it is fairly easy to transfer registration for a big race like this. I am so excited!!! My running this summer has not panned out like I planned and I think part of the reason for that is that I am a competitive person who likes to have something specific to train for. I need more than just "I want to get back in shape" or "I want to start running again". I like having a time and a purpose and a very specific goal. I'm currently trying to get a spot on Team Fisher House, which is a charity that assists families of wounded soldiers. This is something very near and dear to me, as a very dear friend of mine was recently wounded in Afghanistan after stepping on an IED back in June. His mother has been by his side the entire time and I would love nothing more than to run in honor of all our military families. He will be up and around by the day of the race so hopefully he and his mother can attend!

I am SO excited to train for this and hope I am able to obtain a bib. I have found several 10 week training programs, which would be just perfect. I know I can make a million excuses for why I can't run and won't have time, but if my college pal can train for the Boston Marathon while in her 2nd year of law school, I know I can do this. This will be the perfect goal and the perfect event to get my running back on track. I have completed half-marathons before and am so excited to start training and be a part of this race. I'm not really looking forward to the fall in any way, shape, or form so this will certainly give me something to look forward to!

Any blogging friends in the VA/DC area who would like to train with me and try to obtain a spot in this year's Army Ten Miler as well, let me know!

Getting in the Groove...

No teacher likes being observed. Unfortunately, it is a reality of the profession - and especially of a first year teacher - that administrators and other higher ups will randomly appear in your classroom from time to time to watch you teach and take notes on everything you say and do or don't do. I used to dread getting observed when I was student teaching, and while I don't exactly look forward to it, I do enjoy the post-op where I get feedback on my lessons. I am always my own worst critic and it is great to learn what an outsider thinks of the lessons. I got observed for the 4th and last time this past week. I didn't think it was a great lesson by any means, but the woman who observed me couldn't stop raving about it. Seriously, all I did was use PowerPoints, but she said my use of primary sources in there (photos and political cartoons) was outstanding. Apparently, that's not something she sees a lot in the county (she is the social studies coordinator for the whole county). I was critical of the lesson 'cos I would consider it more of a lecture. It was mostly me talking, showing images and talking about them, but I did give lots of opportunities to ask questions and engage the kids. She just LOVED it. She said it wasn't lecture at all, it wasn't me just talking and the kids taking notes. She complimented me on how awesome the PowerPoint was and said she recognized how much effort probably went into making it. It was a very positive way to end the week.

I haven't talked to JC a ton this week 'cos we've both been pretty busy. His German classes just swung into full gear and it's pretty exhausting. He described it as being like Pathfinder School, which he completed back in January, except it's 'a marathon not a sprint'. He used the ol' baseball metaphor (we do love our sports metaphors) that he used with me at the start of the school year when I was struggling. It's just about "getting out of that first inning. Then you find your groove." I told him the same thing he told me when I'd stress out about figuring out how to manage my time and get everything right, which is "that he shouldn't worry too much about giving up a few homeruns 'cos he has Albert Pujols warming up in the on-deck circle for him." Looking back, it's crazy to think about what a big role he played in my life this fall from halfway across the world in Afghanistan. He was a sounding board for me when things got rough and I needed advice on how to deal with behavior issues. The emails I would read during my planning periods were bright spots in the middle of days where all I looked forward to was the last bell. And of course he sent me the most amazing flag to hang in my classroom. I'll have to get a better picture of it, but here is the best I could do for now. It's the flag in the frame underneath the flag.
(side note: don't I have the worst teacher handwriting ever?)

The certificate under the flag basically says, "this flag was flown on a combat mission over Afghanistan for Abigail on this day...." It is so amazing. My kids really loved it and it helped me make a connection with many who came up after class to tell me their brother was in the navy or the cousin was in Afghanistan. This flag came to me back in September when I was really struggling. JC told me he was sending me something, but when I walked up the stairs to my apartment and saw this huge waist-high box I had no idea what to think. My first thought upon looking at the state of the box was honestly, "what the heck is this? it looks like it's been through a war zone." Turns out it had! I basically melted when I saw it was from him and read the note inside. I can honestly say I think that moment, when I just sat on the floor looking at the flag and reading and rereading the unbelievably supportive note, is when I started to realize I had some serious feelings for this guy over in Afghanistan. He's heard that story about a million times (and if you're reading this, JC, a million and one), but without him I don't know that I would have been able to get through my first year of teaching - at least not with my sanity intact.

Our countdown is at T-28 days and a wake-up until I fly out to see him in California for spring break. I know the time will actually fly 'cos we will both be so busy. To put it in teaching terms, I'm at the Hitler's invasion of Poland and the miracle at Dunkirk right now (yes, I'm teaching Dunkirk) with my history kids. I need to be at the Fall of the Berlin Wall by the time I go see him. I told my kids today to buckle up 'cos we're about to start racing through this content, as much as that kills me. According to the state of Virginia, all I have to teach them about the actual events of the war are the fall of France, Battle of Britain, D-Day, Pearl Harbor and the bomb. Pacing guide or no pacing guide that is just not going to happen. I will not fly through this content. I love this stuff. My kids love this stuff. It's the whole reason I became a history teacher. I will not be forced to "cover" (I hate that word) WWII in a week! SOLs and pacing guide be damned! I'll race through the Cold War if I have to and the African and Indian independence movements, but not the Second World War!

I actually have to say that, whether it's due to JC or not, I have really been enjoying my job much more since Christmas break. I always heard that after Christmas is when it gets better and you start to 'hit your groove', but it really is true. Maybe part of the factor is that I really know and love this content more thaan the earlier stuff, but even government is getting easier (and I'm learning all about appellate jurisdiction on my feet!). I don't stay up EVERY night planning lessons late into the night anymore. I have time to work out, cook actual meals, talk to my boyfriend, do fun things on the weekend. Even better, I am learning what works in the classroom and how to make the kids 'get it' and they are doing much better. I'm learning that, as much as some of them infuriate me, I really do love these kids and I will miss each and every one of them. Yes, sometimes I want to drop kick them out of the room, but even my apathetic seniors have their moments.

I am really looking forward to start coaching Monday also. I've never formally coached anything before and I'm sure it will be a 'learn as you go'/on your feet type of thing, but I really think I will like it. I watched the best documentary EVER on cross-country this weekend called "The Long Green Line".

You don't find many movies about cross-country, save from a couple Hollywood films on Steve Prefontaine, so I was excited to hear about this movie from a college pal. It is an amazing documentary that really hits on what makes running so great. Anyone can be a runner. And if you have it in your heart to be great, you can be. This school has won 24 straight cross-country championships. Somehow I don't think it's because of the water in York, Illinois. They have a great coach and they work hard. That's all there is to it. Here's to hoping I can tap some enthusiasm in the younger grades and get some girls to appreciate that aspect of running.

Okay, I've written way more than I planned. Something about blogging...I just keep going and going and going....

I didn't even get to write about the midterm break that JC found he gets in June! OR my amazing interaction after school with one of my 10th graders! OR the hysterical conversation that took place with my senior government class on Wednesday.

Alas, another time. I must make breakfast, do some grading and get ready to head to Charlottesville to reunite with the grad school game for the UVA-Maryland game. Wahoowa!!

Let's Get Moovin'!!

Getting inspiration from Casey over at Ever-Changing Life and making a commitment to working out and really eating right.

Her challenge was:
1. Put the above button on your blog or in your posts.
2. Commit to cutting out fast food for the month.
3. Commit to exercising in some form 3+ days a week.
4. Post your progress each Monday and link up on my blog.

I start coaching track next week and am committed to not being that coach that tells the kids to run something she can't run herself. One of my favorite things about my high school track and cross-country coach in high school was that if we had to run a 5 mile loop that day he would run it with us. He would sometimes even run our speed workouts on the track with us. The track season starts a week from today so my plan is just to get 3 or 4 runs in this week to at least get my muscles used to doing something other than sitting on the couch planning lessons, standing in front of a classroom or playing Wii. I only ran about 30 minutes today, which is not a lot considering 3 years ago I was running half marathons, but it's a start. On the urging of my wonderful boyfriend, I have been stretching every day since deciding to start running again. I have always been a huge advocate of stretching before and after workouts and that is something I intend to pass onto my kids. I actually always use a jumprope to stretch, which I highly urge everyone else to do. Okay, onto my workout plan for the week.

Monday - 30 minute run(already accomplished)
Tuesday - long stretch and some EA Active on the Wii
Wednesday - 30 minute run
Thursday - long stretch and some EA Active on the Wii
Friday - 30 minute run
Saturday - 30-45 minute run
Sunday - REST

That will give me one day to rest before practice starts up. In terms of my meal planning, I have never been a huge fast food eater. However, I am guilty of consuming "fast food" if you are referring to frozen food I can prepare fast. The last three weeks I have been committed to cooking more and eating more balanced meals. Every Sunday I have been trying a new recipe and this past Sunday it was turkey burgers, which I have never attempted to make before. I also made some wild rice and a spinach salad. Today after my run, stretch and shower I heated up both and put together another spinach salad. No points for creativity, but I didn't mind because (if I do say so myself) my turkey burgers are delicious!

I did very well food shopping this week and definitely stuck to my list when I went to Kroger with my only real impulse purchase being some stuffed portabello mushrooms that looked amazing. Breakfast for me is pretty much always either a bowl of Special K or Activia yogurt and granola. I go through phases where I get tired of one and switch to the others. I used to prepare salads for the week for lunch, but that has definitely fallen by the wayside in favor of grabbing whatever Lean Cuisine meal is on sale that week. That is the kind of fast food I have been trying to eliminate from my life, so instead my lunch has been a very minimal Cliff bar and fruit cup. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's actually pretty satisfying. I have been awesome at drinking more water throughout the day (something I used to be GREAT at doing), especially since I bought a big case of Propel water at Sam's the other week.

All in all, I am very satisfied (albeit a little sleepy) with my progress and plan so far. I just need to buckle down on my lesson planning for tomorrow. Thankfully, I knocked out all my grading (woohoo!!) until this weekend when my sophomores turn in their dictator projects. Then I will have a mountain to grade, but based on what I have seen so far I am really looking forward to seeing them. My kids LOVE learning about Hitler and their brains exploded today when they learned about Stalin and his gulags. They couldn't believe they hadn't learned about it before.

Anyway, I have a lot to do tonight and may or may not need to consume a 5 Hour Energy to stay awake and not crash on the couch at 9PM. I know they're not the best, but hey at least they're zero calories!

Here goes...

I always dreaded the first day of school - whether it was 2nd grade, 10th grade or graduate school - because I always hated the awkward icebreaker introductions the teachers and professors inevitably always made you do. The ones where you stand up and share things like a) why you're in the class b) your favorite dessert c) what you did during the summer...you know the drill. I sort of feel like this introductory blogpost is just like those icebreakers. It's slightly awkward. I don't think anybody really cares and you're really just waiting for class to start, which is the whole reason you're there in the first place. I'll try to make this succinct. Here goes...


* I'm Abigail.
* I'm 26.
* I grew up in New York and currently live in south-central Virginia.
* I'm a (struggling) first year high school teacher.
* I still have to check the single box, but am very much in love with one of the finest officers in the United States Army.
* I am the 'mom' to 2 crazy cats, who I adopted from the local Humane Society back in August.
* I used to be a pretty serious long-distance runner and am trying to get back into it.
* I have never been much of a cook and desperately want to work on my cooking skills.
* I thought I was an organized person, but teaching has seriously challenged that notion.

I moved to a sleepy little Virginia town (that likes to call itself a city) back in August. I didn't know the area. I didn't know a soul in the area. I was completely unprepared - despite a Master's degree - to start teaching high school. It was one of the scariest/most exciting things I have ever done.

I like to write and what I want this blog to be is a sounding board, of sorts. I want to catalog any and all progress towards accomplishing my goals. I want this to be a log of what I eat and what I cook throughout the week. I want this to be a running journal that catalogs my mileage and training routine. I want to share my journey as a first year teacher, including my uphill battle to get apathetic seniors to care about their government and to get my tenth graders to pass their state administered World History test. I want to discuss life as an Army girlfriend and all that that entails. I want to share tips for nurturing a healthy and successful long-distance relationship, which is no piece of cake. I want to share the highs and lows of life on my own. I want to meet new people sharing any of the same experiences I am. I want this blog to be many things, but for now...I just want to say hi and thanks for reading this far!