The second day that the kids were all at school, I had two hours completely alone. It was quiet, but strange, unfamilliar and to be completely honest, a bit lonely. I was in limbo. I was tapering from running, so I couldn't get very much exercise. I was about to start a course in a few days and I knew that I would be volunteering at the kids school, but that wouldn't beginning for a few weeks. So, I started to look for more to do to fill the time. Now, I might have just a little too much on my plate.
I offered to get more involved with the local basketball association, a volunteer position that will likely take an hour of work every day. I would like to volunteer at the school at least once a week in the classroom. I have offered to help with the parents council with the food program as well as fundraising. I need to maintain a certain level of fitness so that I can complete the half marathon that I am signed up to do in October. Lastly, I am taking an on-line course that I have been told requires at least 10 hours of work weekly. So, my lovely/lonely two hours to myself will not likely be for personal maintenance. I don't need to get my hair done that often anyways, medical or dental appointments. I took the kids to these before, no reason why they can't come now. Or grocery shopping. I loath doing this with the kids, but I I can manage to get it done with just two little people in the afternoons, when we aren't at swimming lessons or doing errands...
The thing is, I would rather be actively engaged in something, or a few things, than sitting idle. So, yes I will be busy and I will have a lot on my plate for a couple of months, but at least I will feel like I am accomplishing something. Finally, I will be able to do something other than just take care of the boys. I look forward to getting rid of my babybrain and forcing myself to think, read, reflect, and contribute outside of my own home. I look forward to being more a balanced mommy; physically active, mentally stimulated, involved in the community, happy.
If I keep this up, I may not want to return to teaching after all.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
September and School
Ethan started Grade 3 on Tuesday and Toby started SK on Friday. Simon is anxious to get in the classroom and will begin on Wednesday. Here are some back to school photos from the week.
Toby turns 5
Five years ago we moved to BC with a little stow-away. Over the past year, Toby has mentioned his birthday every single day. We arrived in Metis the day before so that he wouldn't spend his birthday in the car. He loved the LEGO, book and clothes he got as presents. He spent the day on the beach playing with his friends that he hadn't seen in a year. Rather than having a formal party and giving out goodie bags, we gave all of Toby's friends kites. Even the littest ones could watch their kite fly on the beach.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
It's been a While...
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| There must be a way to flip this right side up... Any advice? |
The morning of the race, we were up early. I think Scott was still knackered from adjusting to early Ontario mornings, but he was out of bed by 6am. Sophie came over and we got a few pre-race pictures. We headed out and found a great parking spot close to the start line. That was a fairly significant concern for me. I didn't want to have to walk any more than necessary before or after the run. We hit to most disgusting porto-potties ever. This was when we confirmed that runners are gross! Whew!
We walked around and found Sophie H with her purple Leukemia and Lymphoma shirted team. We watched the kids race and then lined up in the corals with the 9 thousand other runners. There were so many people that Scott wasn't able to start in the appropriate coral, he was just behind me. Once we got going, Scott went by me right in front of the Parliament buildings. I was happy to see that he was able to get through the crowd without too much of a problem. Go Scott!
There were people cheering for almost the entire race. The atmosphere was amazing. I listened to every positive comment and fed off of the energy. I read the signs as I went along and tried to take it all in. The city was alive and beautiful!
I was moving along at a decent pace. I felt pretty good for most of the race. Ian, Holly and the kids were at the 17th km mark and I knew that if I stopped it would be really challenging to keep going. I gave them high-fives and kept going. I managed to swallow the lump in my throat. My the 19th km, we merged with the marathoners. I started to notice people around me were starting to deteriorate. There were runners who looked strong and then others who were literally collapsing. It was disturbing. I stopped to walk for a little while to gather myself together. That was when I heard people in the crown cheering for me using my name. They were reading my race bib. They were saying things like" don't stop now, Rebecca" "Come-on, Rebecca, you're almost there"! So I gathered myself together and pushed my way to the end. The last 450 metres were the longest of the entire race!
I crossed the finish line and felt very strange. Almost as though I was out of my body. My legs moved when I didn't tell them to. I felt nauseous and knew that I needed to take some nutrition and water. I got myself a water and my metal and sat on the grass in my silver blanket to stretch and recover. I took a few minutes and then lined up for some fruit and snacks, then found Scott. What a relief to find a friendly face in the crowd! We headed back to the finish line and managed to see Sophie H cross the finish line! I had enough energy to cheer and jump around for her. She had the biggest smile when she saw me. I was feeling good again. We didn't see Sophie S. cross the finish line, but she met us at the meeting spot and we all reflected on the run.
Overall, I was thrilled with my time, 1:57:??. Scott beat his personal best time. Woohoo! Sophie H and Sophie S were happy with their times and experiences. Woo hoo! I felt like a rock star with the crowd cheering me on for almost the entire race. And I was thankful to have completed my first half with my friends.
It was an emotional experience for me. The 21.1 km was something I had always wanted to challenge myself to do, and I didn't know if I could do it until I tried.
I spent the rest of the day recovering. I lay around for most of the afternoon. Ate a great dinner cooked by my wonderful husband Ian, and went to bed with my heart full of joy. Even a month later, I can re-live those emotions.
The following day, Scott and I managed to take our stiff, complaining legs out to the driveway to play a little hockey with the boys.
The Ottawa Race weekend was such a positive experience that Sophie S and I have signed up for two more half-marathons. We are going to do the Army Run in September as well as the Toronto Half four weeks later in October. I have a lot of time on the paths still to come before the races. My goal is to stay injury free and not necessarily run more, but to run smarter this time. I have learned a lot from that race and I know that the mental aspect is just as important as the physical aspect of running. I know I can complete 21.1kms. The question is, can I do it faster?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Bushtukah Canada Day road race
Happy birthday Canada!
Today I completed my frist 10km race since I was pregnant with Simon and the boys all completed their first running races. The start was a small sea of red thanks to Bushtukah's red tech shirts. The race felt long and grueling. I didn't feel overly energetic when I woke-up, so I knew I would have to work mentally to get my legs moving. With that being said, I finished in 50:13. Correction! My chip time was 49:55.9! (13/66 age/gender group, 50th female) This makes me feel much better! I have a lot of room for improvement in the fall.
The real highlight of my day was watching Toby and Simon in the Tot trot and Ethan in the kids 1km kids run! Toby came first and Simon came in third. Ethan worked his little legs off and finished his run in 6:19. In the middle of the run, he saw me at the sidelines and said "Mommy, I don't like this". He kept on plugging away. I think I should tell him that no one likes the pain you feel during the race, it's finishing it and the sense of accomplishment that you get from that achievement alone that makes it worth while.
After the races, we came home for a while and then went to Kanata for the Canada Day celebrations. We spoke to a number of firefighters and the kids went into a trailor that simulated a real fire at home. The kids crawled out of the trailor and went to the meeting place as they were told. An hour later there was huge black smoke billowing into the air just a few km's away. We could tell there had to be a huge fire in Stittsville. We went home to see that only one street over, on the other side of the school, there were two homes completely engulfed in flames and the siding was gone from a third home. The damages are estimated to be at the 1 million dollar mark. It made our talk with the firefighters hit home with the kids.
All in all, it was quite a day.
Today I completed my frist 10km race since I was pregnant with Simon and the boys all completed their first running races. The start was a small sea of red thanks to Bushtukah's red tech shirts. The race felt long and grueling. I didn't feel overly energetic when I woke-up, so I knew I would have to work mentally to get my legs moving. With that being said, I finished in 50:13. Correction! My chip time was 49:55.9! (13/66 age/gender group, 50th female) This makes me feel much better! I have a lot of room for improvement in the fall.
The real highlight of my day was watching Toby and Simon in the Tot trot and Ethan in the kids 1km kids run! Toby came first and Simon came in third. Ethan worked his little legs off and finished his run in 6:19. In the middle of the run, he saw me at the sidelines and said "Mommy, I don't like this". He kept on plugging away. I think I should tell him that no one likes the pain you feel during the race, it's finishing it and the sense of accomplishment that you get from that achievement alone that makes it worth while.
After the races, we came home for a while and then went to Kanata for the Canada Day celebrations. We spoke to a number of firefighters and the kids went into a trailor that simulated a real fire at home. The kids crawled out of the trailor and went to the meeting place as they were told. An hour later there was huge black smoke billowing into the air just a few km's away. We could tell there had to be a huge fire in Stittsville. We went home to see that only one street over, on the other side of the school, there were two homes completely engulfed in flames and the siding was gone from a third home. The damages are estimated to be at the 1 million dollar mark. It made our talk with the firefighters hit home with the kids.
All in all, it was quite a day.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Three Sleeps Away
I am just hoping that I will get three good nights of sleep before I run for the Ottawa Race Weekend. I finished my last 6km training run last night and to be honest, I felt sluggish. We have had a heat wave for the past week and yesterday was in the 30's. Everyone involved with this run is hoping the weather will cool off a bit. Sunday is expected to have a high of 28. So keeping hydrated will be key.
To prepare for the race, I am going to try a low fiber diet for the next three days. I am hoping that the reduced whole wheat may slow down the system a bit. I'm also going to lay off dairy. I plan to load up on carbs and not too much protein the days before the run. I'll see how it goes. I also plan to remember to drink plenty of fluids the day before the race and use salt a little more freely. I hope it works. My goal is to have no more than one quick pit stop along the course.
As far as times go, I would love to be in the 2 hour range, but if I'm 2:15, I won't be upset, especially if it's very hot. I am keeping relaxed and I think I will be able to enjoy the experience of the race. I am so thankful that my cousin, Sophie gave me the excuse to do this, my brother-in-law Scott is coming from Kalowna to run in the race with me, my good friend Sophie kept me motivated by training with me, and that I will be doing this event with the support of my kids and Ian. I have met some really nice supportive people at the Running Room. I plan to take their words of encouragement with me to the start line.
I have always wanted to run a half marathon. Here is my chance. Wish me luck!
To prepare for the race, I am going to try a low fiber diet for the next three days. I am hoping that the reduced whole wheat may slow down the system a bit. I'm also going to lay off dairy. I plan to load up on carbs and not too much protein the days before the run. I'll see how it goes. I also plan to remember to drink plenty of fluids the day before the race and use salt a little more freely. I hope it works. My goal is to have no more than one quick pit stop along the course.
As far as times go, I would love to be in the 2 hour range, but if I'm 2:15, I won't be upset, especially if it's very hot. I am keeping relaxed and I think I will be able to enjoy the experience of the race. I am so thankful that my cousin, Sophie gave me the excuse to do this, my brother-in-law Scott is coming from Kalowna to run in the race with me, my good friend Sophie kept me motivated by training with me, and that I will be doing this event with the support of my kids and Ian. I have met some really nice supportive people at the Running Room. I plan to take their words of encouragement with me to the start line.
I have always wanted to run a half marathon. Here is my chance. Wish me luck!
Tough Training
I have decided that training for a half marathon is very time consuming. It would be more time consuming if I were able to take it seriously. As much as I absolutely love having something that selfishly is just for ME, these days it is more of a compromise with the kids and Ian for Mommy to get some time to run. Most weeks I am able to get the shorter runs in during the day with Simon in the stroller, but Ian has been travelling with work and it has made things a little bit more complicated.
Some training strategies I have tried:
Running hills in the morning with the dog and Simon - didn't go quite as planned. During the warm-up, the dog's leash got stuck in the stroller's wheel. Simon did not enjoy the repeated hills and complained so much after the 6th hill, I let him sit in the car and watch the last three.
Intervals at the soccer field - Plunked the kids in the middle of the field with tennis balls, a soccer ball, baseball gloves and water. I managed to keep an eye on them while I circled trying to do 2 min intervals of fast and slow jog. With three boys, I guess you can't expect them to just play nicely. It turned into more of a yelling and wrestling match for the boys than a nice supportive run for mom. I only lasted about 40 min before I had to stop for fear that one of the boys was going to get hurt.
Biking to do errands - Just so I am not on my feet all the time, I am trying to bike to do errands rather than drive. You should have seen the face on the lady at the dry cleaners when I picked up my nice clean dress and folded it into the bike trailer with the kids.
Post tapered 12 km run on Sunday I chose to join the kids in a game of ball hockey - I felt good. It was a nice relatively short run, so I thought I could get rid of my extra energy with some fun. I managed to tweak my knee when I tried to stop too quickly. Ouch! Now I am being forced to rest and feeling grouchy about it!
I think that if I ever train for another half marathon, I will do it at a time when I can get most of the training done on my own time and I don't have to drag one, two, or three kids some place so that I can run.
Next year perhaps....
Some training strategies I have tried:
Running hills in the morning with the dog and Simon - didn't go quite as planned. During the warm-up, the dog's leash got stuck in the stroller's wheel. Simon did not enjoy the repeated hills and complained so much after the 6th hill, I let him sit in the car and watch the last three.
Intervals at the soccer field - Plunked the kids in the middle of the field with tennis balls, a soccer ball, baseball gloves and water. I managed to keep an eye on them while I circled trying to do 2 min intervals of fast and slow jog. With three boys, I guess you can't expect them to just play nicely. It turned into more of a yelling and wrestling match for the boys than a nice supportive run for mom. I only lasted about 40 min before I had to stop for fear that one of the boys was going to get hurt.
Biking to do errands - Just so I am not on my feet all the time, I am trying to bike to do errands rather than drive. You should have seen the face on the lady at the dry cleaners when I picked up my nice clean dress and folded it into the bike trailer with the kids.
Post tapered 12 km run on Sunday I chose to join the kids in a game of ball hockey - I felt good. It was a nice relatively short run, so I thought I could get rid of my extra energy with some fun. I managed to tweak my knee when I tried to stop too quickly. Ouch! Now I am being forced to rest and feeling grouchy about it!
I think that if I ever train for another half marathon, I will do it at a time when I can get most of the training done on my own time and I don't have to drag one, two, or three kids some place so that I can run.
Next year perhaps....
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Recap of the week
Tuesday - 5.5km tempo completed with Baloo and Simon
Wednesday - 8 short Hills at Kanata tobogganing hill, completed with Toby and Simon, finished off a short lap around the park with Toby on his bike and Simon in the stroller, sore shins after this one
Thursday- 6km steady run completed with Baloo and Simon, in Amberwoods
Wednesday - 8 short Hills at Kanata tobogganing hill, completed with Toby and Simon, finished off a short lap around the park with Toby on his bike and Simon in the stroller, sore shins after this one
Thursday- 6km steady run completed with Baloo and Simon, in Amberwoods
12.5km on the Trail
I planned to run this morning on my own. I really enjoy running with the group, but today I was feeling a bit sluggish and I had a feeling I was going to need to run close to home. So, I set out at 8am having mapped my route the night before. I found a good steady pace and skipped my first walk. After roughly 20min I did my minute of walking and got back on pace. Feeling good despite the incline I focussed on my breathing and reducing my stride to save energy.
There were a lot of people out running, walking and biking on the trail this morning, so there were a lot of good distractions. When I met Kerry-Ann on the path, we decided to complete the remainder of the run together. Running with a friend definately makes the time pass. I continued with Karry-Ann until we parted ways at about 11km. Then a little further on, I had some stomach issues. I stopped, turned around and made a bee line for home. Luckily, it wasn't far.
Here is a helpful article I found on this issue. Thank goodness I am not alone.
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/injury_archives/trots.html
I finished the run adding another km with Baloo. I think Baloo dragged me for the last 2km until we managed to find our way home. Whew! Another long run done. Check!
There were a lot of people out running, walking and biking on the trail this morning, so there were a lot of good distractions. When I met Kerry-Ann on the path, we decided to complete the remainder of the run together. Running with a friend definately makes the time pass. I continued with Karry-Ann until we parted ways at about 11km. Then a little further on, I had some stomach issues. I stopped, turned around and made a bee line for home. Luckily, it wasn't far.
Here is a helpful article I found on this issue. Thank goodness I am not alone.
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/injury_archives/trots.html
I finished the run adding another km with Baloo. I think Baloo dragged me for the last 2km until we managed to find our way home. Whew! Another long run done. Check!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Howe Lucky Maple Syrup
This week was March break for the kids and Ian was off from work. Apart from Ethan getting stitches in his chin, we had a great family holiday. We decided to go to Howe Island to help my dad with the second batch of maple syrup. It was the best he has produced to date. The weather was warm and sunny and we spent the majority of our days outside. The boys loved riding their bikes and collecting sap. Ian loved cooking on the BBQ, building a fort, and getting out on his bike for a few good rides.
Here are some pictures of the boys for those who don't get to see them every day.
Here are some pictures of the boys for those who don't get to see them every day.
The recap from the week:
Tuesday - 5km tempo, felt good
Wednesday - no hills on Howe Island, so eliptical 30min 3.8 miles
Thursday - 7km steady, really good run
Sunday - 10km, lonely, not well paced, but finished in about 53 or 54 min
Reflections:
I think the run on Thursday was easy because the elliptical is not so hard on my body. It was a bit of a break from the jarring I would have had on the hills. Although, later in the day I did find some hills on the island.
Sundays run started out really strong. I was passed by some guy that may or may not have been with our group. He would have been running at about a 35min/10km pace. He was flying. It was humbling. Good for me. There was no way I could keep up to that guy. The three faster woman that I have run with in the past were not there today, so I was very very alone. No music, just listening to the birds and trying to focus on steady breathing.
Tip:
I tend to run like a chicken. My arm muscles feel like they need to be stretched after a good run because they are folded into my armpits for so long. I made an effort to use my arms more. It made me work harder, but it took some of the momentum from my legs and was especially good when going up hill.
I also need to find proper running tights that are long enough. We went to a few stores to look to day. No luck. Any ideas anyone?
Tuesday - 5km tempo, felt good
Wednesday - no hills on Howe Island, so eliptical 30min 3.8 miles
Thursday - 7km steady, really good run
Sunday - 10km, lonely, not well paced, but finished in about 53 or 54 min
Reflections:
I think the run on Thursday was easy because the elliptical is not so hard on my body. It was a bit of a break from the jarring I would have had on the hills. Although, later in the day I did find some hills on the island.
Sundays run started out really strong. I was passed by some guy that may or may not have been with our group. He would have been running at about a 35min/10km pace. He was flying. It was humbling. Good for me. There was no way I could keep up to that guy. The three faster woman that I have run with in the past were not there today, so I was very very alone. No music, just listening to the birds and trying to focus on steady breathing.
Tip:
I tend to run like a chicken. My arm muscles feel like they need to be stretched after a good run because they are folded into my armpits for so long. I made an effort to use my arms more. It made me work harder, but it took some of the momentum from my legs and was especially good when going up hill.
I also need to find proper running tights that are long enough. We went to a few stores to look to day. No luck. Any ideas anyone?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Chilly 10
Forecast: +2, -4 with the wind chill, rain, very windy
Not the best weather for running!
This morning the clocks changed. We had to wake up an hour earlier than usual. I could hear the wind pushing the rain onto the bedroom window. The snow is melting, but if it gets any colder, we are in for more. It was enough to make me consider rolling over and snuggling back into my warm bed. I considered this for a while, but really I just needed to get this run done and over with. I am a fair weather runner. I don't like running in the cold. I prefer sunny days! So, reluctantly, I got out of bed, got dressed and tried to psych myself up for the group run.
I definitely felt sluggish. I took in a little oatmeal with raisins, half a cup of coffee and headed out the door.
It was a tough run! Cathy and I went out together, but she was much stronger than I was today. I really struggled with the wind, a caugh, runny nose, and sore ears. She had to wait for me a number of times before she finally decided to go on ahead. To be fair, we were not going at a bad pace. She is just faster. Finally it was over. I was soaked head to toe. I just wanted to go home and take a nice hot bath.
We finished in 55 minutes. I'm just fine with that!
Advice for the day:
- Wear more layers in the rain and dress for the cold.
- Once home, put newspaper in the shoes. It will help absorb the moisture and keep their shape.
- Give yourself a pat on the back when it is all over. Smile.
Not the best weather for running!
This morning the clocks changed. We had to wake up an hour earlier than usual. I could hear the wind pushing the rain onto the bedroom window. The snow is melting, but if it gets any colder, we are in for more. It was enough to make me consider rolling over and snuggling back into my warm bed. I considered this for a while, but really I just needed to get this run done and over with. I am a fair weather runner. I don't like running in the cold. I prefer sunny days! So, reluctantly, I got out of bed, got dressed and tried to psych myself up for the group run.
I definitely felt sluggish. I took in a little oatmeal with raisins, half a cup of coffee and headed out the door.
It was a tough run! Cathy and I went out together, but she was much stronger than I was today. I really struggled with the wind, a caugh, runny nose, and sore ears. She had to wait for me a number of times before she finally decided to go on ahead. To be fair, we were not going at a bad pace. She is just faster. Finally it was over. I was soaked head to toe. I just wanted to go home and take a nice hot bath.
We finished in 55 minutes. I'm just fine with that!
Advice for the day:
- Wear more layers in the rain and dress for the cold.
- Once home, put newspaper in the shoes. It will help absorb the moisture and keep their shape.
- Give yourself a pat on the back when it is all over. Smile.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Olympic Fever
Watching the gold medal mens hockey game.
With the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, we couldn't help being the spirit of the games. I have always been a huge fan of the Olympics. This year was memorable because the boys began to love the olympics as well. Ethan had to report on a Canadian athlete every day at school. The boys loved that they got to stay up late to watch various sports on TV and I often found them re-enacting the sports around the house. There were many memorable moments from the games. The opening day, a guy I used to babysit, Keith Martin was carrying the flag. His mom was interviewed on CTV and it brought tears to my eyes. Keith has Muscular Distrophy and has been through so much in his young life. Then there were the number of Canadian gold medals.
What I hope lasts from the games is the sense of pride that seemed to warm all Canadians. It filled us up and made us shine. Well done Canada!
Half marathon training
I decided to join my cousins to run the Ottawa half Marathon on May 30th. As it turn out, my friend Sophie, brother-in-laws Scott and Mark will also be running with me!
The training has not been as difficult as I had expected. The Running Room group that I have joined in Kanata is not very fast. I think there are a number of people training for their first half. It's been a bit of a confidence builder.
At the same time, I have questioned a few of the Running Room methods for training. For example, I still can't figure out why practice runs are completed at a minute slower pace than you intend to complete the race. In other words, if you plan to run the race in a 5:55min/km pace, why train at a 6:55? The women I an running with don't really understand it either. None of us have completed the half marathon program through the Running Room, but the two other women have run a number of marathons and half-marathons. They seem to know what they are doing. They claim that if you want to run a half in 2 hours, then you need to train for that pace. Makes sense to me. All I am trying to do, is just keep up with these women each week. They are aiming for completing the half in under 2 hours. I don't think I can do that, but I would like to finish in 2:10.
Another question, why were some of the tempo runs at 4km and then on Wednesday we ran a 3km tempo? Is that all part of building speed and strength? I think the Running Room in Langley seemed to do things differently. Weren't we running further by this point in the schedule? Didn't we do hills by now?
My goal so far, is to enjoy the race and do my best in training. I am trying to watch what I eat before runs so that I don't have tummy problems half way through and I am very aware of how I am keeping myself hydrated.
My biggest frustration is trying to do my practice runs with Simon in the stroller and Baloo. Tonight, once Ian gets home from work, I plan to take a run by myself.
I have been checking out a number of blogs from other runners and I realize that I will never be a serious about any sport as most other people. I will continue to run because I enjoy it, but I don't think I will ever find myself being competetive with anyone else other than me.
The training has not been as difficult as I had expected. The Running Room group that I have joined in Kanata is not very fast. I think there are a number of people training for their first half. It's been a bit of a confidence builder.
At the same time, I have questioned a few of the Running Room methods for training. For example, I still can't figure out why practice runs are completed at a minute slower pace than you intend to complete the race. In other words, if you plan to run the race in a 5:55min/km pace, why train at a 6:55? The women I an running with don't really understand it either. None of us have completed the half marathon program through the Running Room, but the two other women have run a number of marathons and half-marathons. They seem to know what they are doing. They claim that if you want to run a half in 2 hours, then you need to train for that pace. Makes sense to me. All I am trying to do, is just keep up with these women each week. They are aiming for completing the half in under 2 hours. I don't think I can do that, but I would like to finish in 2:10.
Another question, why were some of the tempo runs at 4km and then on Wednesday we ran a 3km tempo? Is that all part of building speed and strength? I think the Running Room in Langley seemed to do things differently. Weren't we running further by this point in the schedule? Didn't we do hills by now?
My goal so far, is to enjoy the race and do my best in training. I am trying to watch what I eat before runs so that I don't have tummy problems half way through and I am very aware of how I am keeping myself hydrated.
My biggest frustration is trying to do my practice runs with Simon in the stroller and Baloo. Tonight, once Ian gets home from work, I plan to take a run by myself.
I have been checking out a number of blogs from other runners and I realize that I will never be a serious about any sport as most other people. I will continue to run because I enjoy it, but I don't think I will ever find myself being competetive with anyone else other than me.
September???????
It's been a while since I've written. It isn't because I haven't had anything to say. In fact, it is quite the opposite. However, I have been wavering on what I want to do next year.
I have a few things on the go. I have decided to train for a half marathon. I also ordered materials so that I could potentially begin a small tutoring/reading program within our home. Then I began to think. With kindergarten going to full days in the next year or two, my target reading group would be in school full time. Why don't I just go back to teaching?
This week worked on my resume and put together a package. I even applied to a .5 teaching position, knowing full well that I wasn't likely to get the job, since I haven't gotten a recommendation for a principal within that school board. To get a recommendation, I need to volunteer in a classroom. To volunteer, I need to find child care for Toby and Simon. And so, I decided I had need to put the brakes on and think this through.
Simon has had a difficult time adjusting to being cared for anyone other than me. He will likely be more attached to me when he starts Jr Kindergarten in September. Is this a good time to go back to work? Not really. I think I would be rushing it.
So, what am I going to do with my 2.5 hours of freedom each day in September?
I need a plan.
To be continued....
I have a few things on the go. I have decided to train for a half marathon. I also ordered materials so that I could potentially begin a small tutoring/reading program within our home. Then I began to think. With kindergarten going to full days in the next year or two, my target reading group would be in school full time. Why don't I just go back to teaching?
This week worked on my resume and put together a package. I even applied to a .5 teaching position, knowing full well that I wasn't likely to get the job, since I haven't gotten a recommendation for a principal within that school board. To get a recommendation, I need to volunteer in a classroom. To volunteer, I need to find child care for Toby and Simon. And so, I decided I had need to put the brakes on and think this through.
Simon has had a difficult time adjusting to being cared for anyone other than me. He will likely be more attached to me when he starts Jr Kindergarten in September. Is this a good time to go back to work? Not really. I think I would be rushing it.
So, what am I going to do with my 2.5 hours of freedom each day in September?
I need a plan.
To be continued....
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Marshmallow Experiment
Ian and I have been watching TED.com. It's a series of interesting lectures on many different concepts. The other day, we watched one called "Don't Eat That Marshmallow Yet" by Joachim de Posda.
The experiment is based on the principal of delayed gratification and how it can help to predict future success. The videos of the kids were priceless.
So, we decided to do the experiment on our kids. Toby and Simon were the right age for the experiment. We said to them "Here is a marshmallow. If you don't eat it for 15 min. you can have another one. Mommy and Daddy are leaving the room now." Toby got the concept right away. We left the room and Toby looked at his marshmallow, and pretty much left it alone. He got upset when Simon went and helped himself to a second marshmallow, which he placed beside his first. Simon also smelled and touched his a lot. We heard Toby at one point say "I'm never eating my marshmallow!".
After approximately 15 minutes of marshmallow torture, Ian and I came back into the room. Simon's extra marshmellow had been put back into the Marshmallow bag. The first two remained intact. Ian and I are convinced that our two boys have demonstrated enough restraint to prove that both boys have very bright futures!
What the boys learned; sometimes it takes work to be rewarded. This time, they got two marshmallows right before bed! Big cheeky smiles were enough of a reward for Ian and I!
The experiment is based on the principal of delayed gratification and how it can help to predict future success. The videos of the kids were priceless.
So, we decided to do the experiment on our kids. Toby and Simon were the right age for the experiment. We said to them "Here is a marshmallow. If you don't eat it for 15 min. you can have another one. Mommy and Daddy are leaving the room now." Toby got the concept right away. We left the room and Toby looked at his marshmallow, and pretty much left it alone. He got upset when Simon went and helped himself to a second marshmallow, which he placed beside his first. Simon also smelled and touched his a lot. We heard Toby at one point say "I'm never eating my marshmallow!".
After approximately 15 minutes of marshmallow torture, Ian and I came back into the room. Simon's extra marshmellow had been put back into the Marshmallow bag. The first two remained intact. Ian and I are convinced that our two boys have demonstrated enough restraint to prove that both boys have very bright futures!
What the boys learned; sometimes it takes work to be rewarded. This time, they got two marshmallows right before bed! Big cheeky smiles were enough of a reward for Ian and I!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy New Year!
We have so much to look forward to in 2010. Here are some pictures from over the Christmas holidays.
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