sol14: Running Unplugged.

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I'm 37 years old, and a married, working mom of two boys.  I'm finally working on my Master's degree in Teacher Leadership.  (Another story for another day--why did it take me so long?!?!)  I tell you that, so you understand, I'm not aiming to run with the elites.  Just a mama who runs and the journey she went on this summer.  

I love running.  The ideas and thoughts I have when I run are unlike anything I have during the day.  

The early morning run is like stealing time from the day.  It's my favorite.   Here, when you get up, the dark envelopes you as soon as you get outside.  Even with BRFs  (Best Running Friends), it can feel spooky and lonely at best.  The worst is when you encounter nocturnal animals.  (Think raccoons and opossums scurrying about.)  Insert a giant shiver here.  (Did you know a raccoon can run 15 miles an hour?!?!?!  I can't.)

I run enough miles that I have all "the gear."  A pack, two water bottles, snacks, the shoes, apps that can locate you, time you, and play music for you all at once.  

I used to define my runs as good or bad by my splits from the app.  Anything under 9:00? Good.  Anything over 9:30?  Bad.  That was it.  It was either good or bad.  And I pushed to stay under that 9:00 all the time.  You might and probably are way faster than me, but these were the numbers that defined my running.  

Now, I do believe that in the beginning, having that information pushed me to a higher level of fitness quicker.  There were definite benefits.  (Read, if you love apps in running, I don't think that's bad...my journey went in a different way.)

Fast forward through about 6 years, and 9+ races with my gear.  Some races were good.  Some were not.  And it all came back to the splits.  

This summer, a few things popped up as I ramped up my miles.  (Nothing huge, think 37 years old.)  As I fiddled with my iron count, my diet, etc. the running apps informed me my running wasn't good.  What was I supposed to do?  Stop running?  

Absolutely not.  

As I healed and reset myself this summer, I learned to run unplugged.  First, I just ran with a simple stopwatch. So I could sneak in a mile split if I needed to.  (Naturally).  And one day, I was able to text a picture to my husband of that watch with a split that made me feel like I could win the upcoming NYC Marathon.  

Then, I left the watch at home, and just ran with the music.  Something awesome happened.  I forgot about those apps, and I started noticing my community.  The people, sites, animals, cars I encountered on my runs began to define my running.  Think of it like this:  "You guys!  My run was awesome today!  A bat swooped at my head!"  Or "I just saw a raccoon on the trail, and I had to shout at it to get out of the way!  It was awesome!"  

Then, this fall, it got better.  Even the music stayed quiet, and my thoughts and ideas grew louder.  Running unplugged can do that.  

Running unplugged also led to a girl who didn't race a half marathon this fall.  It was relaxing, it was a little sad, it was empowering.  Oh, the LHF XC race?  It's on.  I'm in it to win the turkey.  ;)  

Running unplugged also led to a girl who is firm in her running.  Running is a part of who I am.  Like breathing or eating.  There's something empowering about getting up just for the run.  

I'm learning to live by this quote from Jen Rhines, a distance runner, "Life (and running) is not all about time, but our experiences along the way."  

Joy!
Kendra

Celebrate! A top 10.

I'm linking with Ruth Ayres, and her weekly link up.  Read More about that here.  And then join in!


Top 10 things I'm celebrating today.   (In no order...)  :)

• A beautiful fall run this morning. 
• The opportunity to help a friend at the last minute. 
• Not being ready to leave my house until 11 AM. 
• Lingering in the "piano room" with my husband.  (Think coffee, blogs, discussion)
• I can see a flickering of light at the end of the tunnel in regards to some graduate work I'm doing.  (Just a flickering...but it's there!)
• Time to write today.  I haven't written a Celebrate! post for over a month I think... (Note to self-write more...)
• Hospitality
• Panera on Sundays 
• Royals baseball (#takethecrown!  #notjinxingthembycelebratingthisseason)
• Grocery stores where food is readily available for us.  

What are you celebrating today?  

Joy! 

Kendra

#sol14 My Mission: That part in the middle...and staying true to the Mission

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In August, I wrote this mission after some 7 Habits training:

Lean in.  Reach out.  Help.  Thrive.  Be Strong.  Love all.  Commit.  Spread Joy.  Stay Rooted and Growing in Faith.  I'm Enough.  Pet Dogs.  Take care of Family.  Create.  Innovate.  When it's time, say no.  Have a soundtrack.  Dance in the kitchen.  Cook good food, then share it.  It's okay to take care of yourself.  Run far, even when it's slow.  Write. Share.  

Then Fall Started.  (Notice...not School...Fall.)

And I think I'm losing sight of somethings.  As I reread, it's important stuff.  Everything in there is me.  

What do you do to take care of yourself?  How do you stay true to what you really want to accomplish?  

Do you offend if it's necessary?  (I don't like the sound of that--what is it I'm really asking?)  

Do you have a mission?  Want to share it?  

And as I type, is this a better mission?  I'm Enough.  You Are Too.  Let's Dance.  (That just came out...tell me what you think!) 

Joy!

Kendra

#sol14 I Love Firsties. For Real.

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Oh My Slicing Friends, I love the quote on the Two Writing Teachers post today.  I am missing writing as a writer as I pursue some graduate school goals.  So I fought back today, and I Am Writing; because while I try not to give away my entire classroom story, these are good ones that need to be shared.

2 Reasons Why I Love My Firsties More Than Ever:

1.  Today, as we are greeting each other in the Morning Meeting, the following exchange takes place before I could prompt or intervene:

Student B:  "Buenos Dias Student A.  Happy Tuesday"  (Extends hand for a hand shake.)

Student A:  (Silent for a minute.  Student A is looking for the words to produce, because that is a goal; producing language.  You could see the panic in the face.)

Student B:  (Leans in close to Student A and smiles).  "It's okay, just say 'Good morning' to me."

Student A:  "Good Morning Student B.  I like you."  

And Friends, not a giggle or a whisper took place as we waited for the language.  Just a matter of fact-we are here to help-vibe and off we went to start our day.  These Firsties take care of each other.   That makes my heart sing!   

2.  See picture below:

While it looks like a clump of Firsties; what you can't see is the one in the middle reading to everyone while we finish cleaning up the classroom.  

Of course, we have goals and things to get done.  But I Love These Firsties.  For Real.  

#sol14 On Hospitality...

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Sunday night.  Shorts.  A t-shirt.  Do we clean?  A little.  We prep the boys. ("Use your manners!") Li'l T sees the family pull up.  He runs to the door, and holds it open with a huge smile on his face.  High fives and handshakes all around.  We don't know each other well.  We take to the backyard, where we promptly run out of gas for the grill.  Whoops.  Everyone giggles and Mr. takes off for the gas station to refill the tank.  The kids run, we bond over soccer teams and the mundane tasks of parenting.  We eat Midwestern fare: steak from the farm, cheesy potatoes, green leafy salad.  The kids picnic on the floor.  We hear stories from afar.  We challenge, ask questions, decide this was awesome!  

Fast forward two days, I'm back in my kitchen.  With a long lost friend.  Cokes, waters, snacks.  Let the questions fly.  I'm here to help.  Feet up. (Yep, in the kitchen.) Stretchy pants on.  The family senses (Or gets a direction from me) to get out of the way.  We talk.  We question.  We make a plan.  Dinner is late for me, but who cares?  

Hospitality is defined as "the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers".  Sunday?  Practically a stranger, left a friend.  Tuesday?  Friends, even though life in general gets in the way most of the time. 
Both friends (not connected in anyway) brought up this concept of hospitality.  How it brings community together, how it doesn't have to be perfect, how it doesn't seem to "be a thing" in the wise words of my friend anymore.  It left me thinking, more people should be at my table more often.  
Do you practice hospitality?  Is it a skill?  Is it purposeful?  Does it just happen?  

Joy!
Kendra

#sol14 Late Night Slicing

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It's late, I'm usually doing other things by now.  I'm basically unclogging my brain because I need to because I haven't been writing like I keep telling myself I would.  

So, I bring you, a post of random thoughts and wonders floating around in my head tonight.  

1.  Shortly before my Grandmother passed, we had an awesome moment together.  It involved me playing hymns at the piano, and no one else around.  (I nearly majored in piano for undergrad--a fun fact).  She told me I was "getting rusty" and "don't let those boys keep you from your music."  :)  Since we've returned from her funeral, I've played everyday for at least 20 minutes.  Man, I miss her. 

2.  Do you like to cook?  I mean Really like to cook?  2 hours prep time and the whole she-bang.  What do you cook for new friends coming over that you don't know well?  

3.  My firsties are the best.  Fish and all, I adore them this year.  

4.  I'm taking a tech class for grad school.  I wish the days had unlimited hours so we could do all the things!  I'm learning how to prioritize and keep it authentic.  

5.  Running.  To run the half or not run the half?  I have no idea how fast I am, but have been running all the miles without tracking my splits.  Simply glorious.  But am I now a runner who just runs but doesn't race?  Why am I struggling so much with that?

6.  I'm reading a couple of great books.  The Big Disconnect: Proteching Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age by Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD.  Also, Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews.  Loving the tech read, highly recommend.  Savannah Breeze?  Completely an escape.  

7.  Today, I heard a child announce that Jesus was from Minnesota.  No joke.  Except I couldn't stop laughing.  

8.  I love this season where baseball meets football.  It should have it's own name.  

9.  I'm still considering the idea of choice in the math workshop.  What does that really look like?  Not rotations, stations, lamination.  I mean a true choice experience.  Are my kids ready for this?

10.  I think I'm ready to get in bed and read!  

*Feel free to chime in if you have thoughts on any of these topics.  :) They were all ideas for various blog posts.  

Joy!
Kendra

So This Happened Today...

You Guys...  It was one of those days where a couple of things happened that I just had to share with you.

So grab your favorite snack. Here we go:

First-a "Hooray" moment of the day!  So I'm teaching a mini lesson (that I can't take credit for, if you originated this idea let me know, I'll give you a shout out because I can't find the original lesson at this time) about reading everyday.  We are connecting it to riding a bike.  We discuss the following:

If you ride uphill all the time, that's like reading books that are too hard.  You aren't really falling in love with reading if you are working this hard everyday.  

If you fly downhill all the time, that makes me think you might be reading books you aren't interested in and you'll miss stuff.  You might end up crashing, and then you aren't falling in love with reading either.  

If you find the perfect trail, that's where the fun happens.  It's like finding the perfect book.  You might keep going for hours!  (And you might stop and get ice cream!)  

And then Blogging/Twitter Friends, this happens:  Li'l Girl pops up and says, "Hey!  When you are on a great bike ride with ice cream, it's totally like reading the perfect book and reading everyday.  You are on a journey, and sometimes it's hard, but you love it so you keep going."  

I mean--I swear to you the skies opened and Angels sang for the next 45 minutes. Friends--we don't celebrate these awesome moments enough.  I hope you had one today.  Mine lasted 30 seconds.  But it felt like a lifetime.  

And then, as we are ready to journey into our reading time; a new friend arrived in 1C:

Yep!  Today, arrived unexpectedly this beta fish.  If you know me, I love my students so much, so of course I will move Heaven and Earth to keep this Nameless Friend alive. They are over the moon for this new friend. You also know that I'm terrified of having a living creature in my classroom--because you know--fish die.  Fairly easily.  My flowers from June are still alive, so I'm taking this as a good sign.  I'm also still carrying baggage from a gerbil that I had when I was 85.6 months pregnant with my first son.  :)  Breathe deeply for me. They are so excited.  

So-How was your day?  

Joy!
Kendra