It's beginning to look a lot like...ouch! ouch! ouch!

Finally! It's Christmas break! Just what I've been waiting for!

I kicked off my break with a massage. Ahhhh....Just what I needed. I was beginning to carry all of my stress in my shoulders and could barely lift my arms past shoulder-height by 2:00 some days. This massage was a must before I could do any kind of relaxing this break.

However, 2 hours after the massage was over, all the tightness came back. Just shrugging my shoulders hurts. Fail.

This morning I kicked off my day with Yoga. I thought that the stretching and relaxing would help me release more stress and get rid of shoulder tension. I definitely felt relaxed after, but not stretched out. The instructor (who was great!) even tried to help me with a few poses and commented on how tight things seemed. What really caught her attention was my quick recoil out of standing splits when my hip cramped up :(

After reading Katye's post about tight hips, I've noticed some tightness in mine. Ok...not some...ALOT! It seems like they will cramp at the slightest odd movement or over-held squat. Yoga has been painful at times because of it. I have always noticed a tightness, but I guess the concentrating on it has made it worse.

I will now include a picture list of things I cause extreme cramping in my hips...

A v-sit and any ab exercises based on this pose are impossible. Plus if I am required to extend my legs out straight from this position, something pops in my right hip. I would "click" at tumbling practice when we did v-sit-ups. It didn't hurt too much, but it was really annoying.

Impossible to hold for longer than 10 seconds! Anytime I suspend my leg out to the side the hip locks up almost instantly.

This one I can do, but I couldn't find a picture of the exercise you do after that looks like you're peeing on the hydrant. That one is killer :(

This one is the reason why I hate toning classes and pilates classes.

So there you have it. Pain city here. This has always been the case, but I've never paid much attention before. Today, the yoga instructor told me that she is a therapist (the specifics I can't remember) that practices myofacial release and gave me her number. I'm debating about calling her. Loosening my hips an releasing the tension in my shoulders would be awesome....since massage doesn't last and is too expensive to do consistently.

Any thoughts or advice?

Snowflakes and shoes laces

Well....believe it or not I have actually gotten in a few runs lately. Emphasis on few.

Last Saturday, just after our first snow storm of the year, Bentley and I went for our first "winter" run. This only happened because the road out leading away from my neighborhood was blocked by a tow truck pulling two cars out of the ditch and I couldn't get to yoga at the gym. The run wasn't too bad. It was only 1.25 miles and super slow because I kept slipping.

I also managed to get in a run tonight after school. The temps were still in the 20's and I knew those wouldn't last forever (Monday's high is only 6!!!!). Bentley and I went out and got back before it got too dark.

My endurance is really suffering with this inconsistent training. I had hoped to build up a good base before I started my Half training in February. Sadly, that hasn't happened. Maybe over Christmas break.....

Random fantasies

So I was fantasizing today....

I would like to show up to school and have the Trolls that live in my desk Not eat my copies for once!!!!! Seriously! I lost half my stuff!!! And it was in the "Wednesday" tray when I left last night! Grrr....

I want to be able to stop time during the day so I can fit in a run during lunch time. 40 minutes just isn't long enough.

I want to be able to catch all my "forgetful" kids before they leave my room and remind them to bring home their spirals.

I want to be a Victoria's Secret model. Seriously. They're looking for a petite angel, right?

I wish dishes would wash themselves.

There are a few other fantasies floating around in my mind right now....but I'm being distracted by my school stress and Celebrity Chefs of Beverly Hills.

Off the map

Ok....so....I've been one bad blogger :(

Sorry :(

After that race in FL I let myself take one of those "two-day breaks" that turns into a "two-week break." I managed to go for a 2.4 mile run the day before Thanksgiving with my sister. She's awesome! We passed on the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day because we just had too much to get ready that morning. Oh well.

I have rediscovered the gym though! When I joined, I was all about the Saturday morning Yoga class. The instructor was fantastic! However, when they redid the schedule for the fall, that instructor was no longer scheduled for Saturday morning! Bummer! I finally brought myself to try her class last weekend. Love her! I even managed to squeeze in her class last night after school. I just have to remember to keep putting her class on my calendar :)

School is a whole other story right now. The stress level is through the roof! Yesterday, by 2:00, my shoulders were so tense that I couldn't lift my arms past my shoulders. I was trying to point up toward a map and explain something about the location of a Native American tribe, and I just couldn't do it! I made a student bring me a yard-stick. Ugh! I also heard a rumor that the superintendent had made her choice for our replacement principal. Hopefully we'll find that out tomorrow.

Christmas break is coming and I'm looking forward to some sleep and a massage....or two. Only 13 more days of school....

Better than expected

Well.....that was amazing!

Unofficial time........29:55!

Ha! Can you believe it?!?!?

I'll give the "official" report when I get home and post photos.

5k tomorrow

The race begins in 8 hours.....the party was beautiful, but boy am I tired. Tomorrow will most likely just be for fun. What a great way to close out my first year of running!!!

Paceful dreams :)

Milestone

So...Tuesday is my 1 year Blogiversary. Can you believe it? I'm rather impressed with myself. Never have I kept a diary for more than 6 sporadic months.

Some of my milestones since November 9th of last year (courtesy of Dailymile.com)

Miles run: 262.78 miles run.
Races run: 5
Longest distance: 13.1 miles (half-marathon folks!)
Fastest 5K time: 29:09
Blog entries: 151


Here are some interesting things I have done or have learned in my year of running:

- I can run outside in single-digit weather. Never though I could before.

- I received some gift certificates for magazine subscriptions for school in the spring. I used the majority of the money for Zoobooks, Boy's Life, Nat. Geo for Kids, etc. And then I used the rest for Runner's World! After I read them, I put them in a box on one of the bookshelves. My students are really interested in them.

- Every time I go to Target now, I cruise the sale racks for running clothes.

- I know I can do anything I set my mind to.

- I've lost weight! (probably the best part of this whole thing)

- I'm currently watching the NYC Marathon on TV. I never would have paid any attention before.

- I am part of a huge support network of bloggers who inspire others to run.

- I now know the locations of restrooms or "possible restrooms" on most of my running routes. Darn Brown Monster! Ugh!

- I own a Garmin! (well.....I'm borrowing it....but Husband has only used it twice since he got it. He's a spring and summer runner. I'm more hardcore than he is ;) )

- When we book vacations, I check websites to find out if there are races being run while we are there. The local Road Runners Club in Where-My-Aunt-Lives, Florida is bookmarked on my favorites list.

- My husband's extended family is contemplating running a 5K together next summer. (my idea by the way)

- I convinced my parents to sign up for the Mini-Marathon (2.62 miles) family race for the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon weekend. We'll walk it together the day before the half Ryan and I are running. But....I'm working on my dad. He just might run it if I have my way!

- I love this sport!


This weekend I'm going to add 3.1 more miles to my total and 1 more race for the year. We're traveling to Florida for my Aunt and Uncle's 40th anniversary. That's right 40 years! Can you believe it?! Congrats to them :) And they're pretty much the coolest people I know.

I am looking forward to another year of miles on my shoes. Here are some things you can look forward to:

- My second Half Marathon....Cellcom Green Bay in May.

- More runs with Husband and Bentley.

- More 5K's! Don't expect another one until March or April. Racing shuts down around here at this point in the year because of the cold.

- Running while preggo!.......I'm not pregnant, but I planning on be pregnant by September if goes according to plan....I will need advice on this one!


Stay with me on this amazing journey! I appreciate all your support! :)