Realistic Goals

I think this nearly six-month hiatus is the longest break I’ve taken from this little blog of mine. And while I am tempted to blame it on the fact that I just “didn’t have time,” the truth of the matter is, I was so ashamed that I had neglected fitnessandfroyo for months upon months upon months, that I couldn’t even bring myself to log onto blogger. I just couldn’t. I received emails now and again asking me to do a product review, and I wondered how my website could even possibly be getting any traffic. Just the other night I found myself shrugging and telling myself, “I guess it was just a phase, not something that was going to last forever.” I felt like I was so far gone that I was past the point of return. And my old goal of ten posts a month? Not going to happen. Funny enough, I think I was feeling the way some of my students feel on a regular basis. I get so frustrated when they sit there and won’t even try to do the work that I’m giving them. And when I talk to them about it, it’s because “I’m already failing so badly anyway that doing this won’t even help.” Okay, maybe that’s kind of true. But how about looking at it this way instead?

Doing it is a step in the right direction. It won’t erase all the assignments they didn’t do previously, and it won’t erase the months of nonexistent blogging, but doing it helps build a habit. And good habits are the stepping stones to success. And that’s how I’m going to approach this blog from here on out. That, and I ran into my principal in the hallway earlier today, and he said to me, “I saw that you have a blog.” To which I probably gave an embarrassed, “Yes … and I haven’t written anything … in months.” But I could feel my face light up while talking about my blog, and just that one 30-second conversation inspired me to set a new, more realistic goal for myself. Ten posts a month is a lot. But what about one post a week? Whether it’s my favorite Survey Sunday, a new recipe or workout, or just anything that comes to mind, one post a week is more than manageable. Lord knows I spend more time Instagram stalking the brother of a friend’s cousin’s sister’s boyfriend than I care to admit, and that time could easily be spent doing something a bit more productive.

So, what have I been up to while I haven’t been blogging? To start, I finished (!!!) my very first marathon. 26.2 miles through the city in which I was raised. I grew up hearing about the Houston Marathon, and I felt like a million bucks walking through downtown wearing a medal almost the size of my face around my neck. I met my goal of finishing in under four hours (just barely!), and I can honestly say that I loved every single minute of the race. The weather was perfect, the signs were laugh-inducing, the spectators were encouraging every step of the way, the beer at mile 21 was clutch, and while I spent most of the next day curled up watching Family Feud in bed, and much of the next month nursing a tender knee, I wouldn’t change one thing about that day. Though I did limit myself to the half marathon in 2017.

One of my students held this sign up for me at the race

I reentered the world of club volleyball – thanks, BPal, for luring me out of retirement – and though I frequently questioned my decision to tackle the whirlwind of club volleyball in the midst of an always stressful STAAR season while dealing with a new puppy, I can say without a doubt that it was more than worth it. Not just because of the extra travel money deposited into my bank account each month, but because I realized just how passionate I am about the game, as well as the opportunity to be a positive influence in teenagers' lives.

Beach practice

Ran into a few of my sweet Bellaire girls

It’s a big time commitment, though. I missed out on more than a few outings with my friends in favor of spending my Saturday inside a gym. And it made me so grateful for all the coaches I had growing up, who gave up time with their families and friends – and probably even some time spent on the couch watching Netflix, if we’re being honest – to help mold me into the person that I am today. Am I getting sappy enough for you guys yet?

I may be a Cardinal now, but Spartans forever

I survived my second year of teaching, and man oh man, was it ten million times better than the first year. Not that the first year was bad. But it was my first year. As you all know, I had my own classroom, I grew more comfortable with the curriculum, and I felt so much more confident this time around.

I wouldn’t say that I totally know what I’m doing, but I’m learning more and more every single day. And I love it. And I can’t imagine doing anything else. I sometimes feel guilty when I tell people that I have a job where I don’t dread Mondays, and I actually mean that. I’m challenged in so many ways, and I learn so much every single day from not only my colleagues, but also from my students. And let’s be real, when you’re around high schoolers all day, you’re never lacking in laughter. I heard you kind of start to figure things out in year three, so I’ll be sure and keep you guys posted on that front.

Thanks for putting up with me as I counted down to my birthday for three weeks

I moved to the cutest one bedroom apartment, and I L O V E living by myself. Okay, not totally by myself, because Mack has the energy of about three additional humans. But I actually think this move has caused me to make more of an effort to see my friends on a regular basis, because I know that it’s all too easy to stay home with a book and a blanket and shut out the rest of the world. So this has been great for my introverted tendencies.

If you don’t follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and we’re not friends on Facebook, I spent three weeks traveling solo around Argentina. And let me guess, you’re saying to yourself, “Wow! She went to Argentina all by herself?” I can’t tell you how many times I got that reaction. But I really did it! And it was awesome. I wish I had a better adjective to describe my time in such an incredible country, but awesome is all I can come up with right now. I’m hoping I’ll be inspired to write a couple of posts about my time there, because while I posted plenty of pictures, I would love to be able to put into words some of the incredible sights that I saw, the food that I ate, and the things that I did. I’ll leave you with a couple of sneak peeks, though if you follow me on any form of social media you have likely already seen them. But if you’re anything like me, you never tire of looking at them.

Houston --> Buenos Aires

Teatro Colon

Recoleta Cemetery 

Tango lessons

Biking the park

Fruit stands on every corner

The mountains are calling

Hook 'em from the top!

Cerro Campanario

Cerro Campanario

Biking Circuito Chico

El Caminito

Hotel Llao Llao Spa Day

Iguazu Falls

Empanada class

And I’ll also leave you with this now-laughable moment (that was only shared with my mom long after the fact): Thanks to an allergic reaction to lotion used during a massage (and they tell you to treat yourself), I was treated to a cortisone shot in the butt just minutes before boarding a flight back to Buenos Aires from Bariloche. Every trip has to have something, right? But in all seriousness, I fell in love with the culture and history and country of Argentina, and it will always hold such a special place in my heart. My first – and it won’t be my last – solo adventure abroad, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to travel and experience what else this world has to offer.

I have watched some of my friends move to new cities, I have welcomed other friends home to Houston, I have walked my sweet pup to the point of exhaustion, I have tried new restaurants – and revisited my favs, I have completed over half of my 2016 25-book goal (goodreads link), celebrated my 24^th trip around the sun, relived my soccer days – Clutch City FC third place chumps, served my first jury duty summons, been in two accidents (yes, in a brand new car), experienced the goodness and strength of a community in the face of an unimaginable tragedy, reconnected with old friends, shared endless laughs with my favorite people, learned, grew, failed, and have learned how to be intentional with and present in each day.

Houston Rodeo

Blading into 24

Beer and baseball in the bullpen with the bro (and we won!)

Let the good times roll(erblade)

Golden

Suite 1 forever

My best bud

Hopdoddy does Houston

And I look forward to all of the future posts to come. It’s a little bit nuts when you realize that it takes only one conversation to get that mojo back, but it makes you realize how much impact a single conversation can have on another person. And now I’ll have something else to think about as I run myself ragged in and around Hermann Park and the Rice jogging trail. 

Change of Plans

Hump Day! How it's already Wednesday is beyond me, but I'll roll with it. I spent much of today sitting down with my pull-out map of New York City and mapping out all of the sights, places, and restaurants I have on my New York City To-Do List. Okay, I spent about 30 minutes on it before heading to the pool to tan. But I'm really not familiar with the city at all, and while I am not going to plan out every minute, rather, I am going to see where the city takes me, I want to have some of my bearings about me. It's all about maximizing the time I've got. Besides, I'm well aware that I will be a tourist, but I don't want to scream tourist. I can be a New Yorker. Though the non-New York accent might give me away.

Breakfast

This week, we're back to the old tried and true breakfast of scrambled egg whites and spinach. A grocery store trip has been on my list for a couple of days now, but I just don't have it in me to sit down, make a list, and then execute said list. I've gone with some old favorites this week instead of being adventurous and trying something new. Next week is my week. I promise.

Workout

I was beginning to think we were never going to have a full day of sun around here, but when I woke up and checked the weather on my phone, I was pumped to see sunshine nearly ALL DAY LONG! I knew a long swim would be in the books for today, and then I plopped myself down on a lawn chair and pulled out my most recent read - Jon Krakauer's Missoula. It's quite an intense read, and really unlike anything I've read before, but I saw it on display at Barnes & Noble when buying a Father's Day present for my dad, and since my Kindle officially tapped out on me while I was in Cozumel, I plucked this one off the shelves. Krakeuer's Into the Wild is on my summer reading list, but if I don't get to that one, I figure another book by the same author fits the bill just fine. My list, my rules.

Lunch

After slicing through the pool, and then sweating my way through my book, I was more than ready for lunch. Not wanting to whip up anything too complicated, because I was pretty hungry right then, I settled on an old favorite - my dairy-free vegetable-filled pizza. I've actually shared this recipe on the blog before, what feels like many moons ago, but I'll be sure and share an updated recipe for those who might want to recreate this deliciousness. Full of veggies, and I would have added dairy-free cheese had I been in possession of it, this pizza is really whatever you want it to be. It absolutely hit the spot, and I have a feeling this will be making a regular appearance in my diet this summer. It makes for a most perfect lunch, and though I haven't yet been, I think I give the custom pizzas at Mod Pizza a run for their money.

Chevron Houston Marathon

Remember this post from a couple of months ago? That announced I was planning to run my very first marathon in 2016? Well, I am still planning on running a marathon in 2016, but I'm moving my run date up about six weeks. Instead of running the Aramco Houston Half Marathon for the second year in a row, I am going to be running in the Chevron Houston Marathon. That's right - 26.2 miles through my beloved city. This was actually the dream all along, but I worried that between the start of school and volleyball season, I wouldn't have time to adequately train. Because if I'm going to run a marathon, I'm going to do it right. Or at least to the best of my ability. And that means not stepping up to the starting line feeling as though I could have prepared better.

When I first announced my decision to run a marathon, I received more than a few comments encouraging me to either get a running buddy or to join a running group. I went with the latter, because while I love running for the alone time I get, I know that I'm going to need the camaraderie and motivation that comes from running with a group. You are a special person if you can get out there and run 20+ miles all on your own. Because nine miles is about all you will be able to squeeze out of me. And that's why I am now an official member of Houston Fit. Their winter season begins on July 11th, and it lasts 26 weeks until, you guessed it, the Chevron Houston Marathon. I was going to join a running group regardless of the race I ran, but because this one culminates with the Houston race, I figure, what the heck. This race is preferable for a number of reasons - the time of year being my number one concern. The Woodlands Marathon takes place in March, which is a risky time in Texas. Really, any time of year in Texas is risky, but at least there's a greater chance of having cooler weather in January. I may be absolutely freezing at the start of a race, but it takes me all of .25 seconds to start sweating once I've started running. So a January run is right up my alley.

After running - and loving - the Aramco Houston Half, I could not be more excited to be doubling that distance as a participant in the Chevron Houston Full. Am I nervous? Of course! Whenever I cross the finish line of a half marathon, I am always thankful that I don't have to run yet another 13 miles. Well, it looks like I'm going to be one of those crazy people this time, because 26.2 miles seem to be calling my name. And what better place to do it than the city in which I grew up? I've grown up knowing and watching and dreaming of this marathon, so to finally be one of those runners is a dream come true. Remind me of these happy feelings when I hit a wall at mile 20.

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And though I can't officially change my entry until August 1st, I'm counting on the fact that I'll be able to easily make the switch. I spoke with a marathon representative just yesterday, and he assured me that it's as simple as filling out a form, and paying a fee, of course. And once I get going with Houston Fit, I'll be sure to give you guys a full recap. I've only ever heard good things, and I'm not surprised. A whole group of people who love running? Yeah, I can get in on that.

Things I'm Loving XXXIV

And it's already time for another round of Things I'm Loving. But before I get started, I have to take a moment to be a little bit sentimental. One year ago this very weekend, I graduated from the best university in the world. And I grew a little more nostalgic with each "last day of school" post I saw on Instagram, because it's surreal to me that that was me just one year ago. I was getting ready to cross the stage - sad about turning the page on such a sweet chapter, but so excited for (and okay, a little unsure of) the chapter ahead of me. Here's to my real world freshman year, because it has certainly been a great one.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get back to our regularly scheduled events.

Dear Graduates
Going with our sentimental theme, here's A Message from Kid President. I love this kid. In fact, I showed one of my classes a video of his just the other day. And while I am still partial to the message delivered by Admiral McRaven, I think this one is a close second. Graduation is both exciting and bittersweet, and Kid President reminds us that life is like a really good sandwich. It's all how you make it. So fill your life with the good stuff, people. And go be awesome.

Our Spare Change
Talk about a cool business. Our Spare Change was started by two sisters, as they turned their excess coins into handmade jewelry. Of course, these pieces crafted from coins, they say the joy in their business comes through in storytelling. Every coin has a story, because when you think about it, coins have been all over the world and back again. And it's cool to think about the journey it has been on, and how it arrived at each place. The same way every person has a story, and it's cool to think about how we arrived at each place in our lives, so to speak. I ordered a custom long necklace, engraved with my very favorite bible verse - 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - "Be joyful always," - because I want it to serve as a constant reminder to me. While I don't think it's telling me that I have to always be happy, because quite frankly, that just isn't possible. But I think it's a sweet reminder that there is joy to be found in every circumstance, no matter how bad things may seem.

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19 Secrets Teachers Won't Tell You
With the exception of number ten, this list is absolutely one hundred percent true. I do have favorites (and least favorites). My heart still pounds a little bit when I get called to my principal's office. Naturally, I snap pictures of some of the funniest responses I get on written assignments. I hear far more than my students realize, but I simply choose to remain oblivious. Sometimes, I take great pleasure in calling on the kid who I know isn't paying attention (though they don't seem to be too phased by it). And this semester especially, I've made it a priority to separate my school life from my personal life.

PRO Compression Socks
My shin splints are no secret, and while KT tape has been working like a dream in terms of my pain level, it's no match for the Houston humidity. But not much is. So when I received an email from Active Advantage, with the subject line 40% Off Marathon Socks, I didn't delete it right away. If you're at all into running, you have probably seen people wearing bright-colored socks up to their knees. It brings me back to my middle school volleyball days, really, but that's a story for a different post. Anyway, I did a quick Google search, and while there's no real proven evidence, many people reported having success with Compression Socks. And with 40% off, why the heck not? So, I ordered myself a pair, went for a run the day they came in the mail, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. I had absolutely no shin pain, and while I don't know if I can attribute that fully to the socks, or to the fact that I'm taking a little bit better care of my body, but I'm officially a fan.

NOTE: Take 40% off your total order with the code RACE

Audio Device Connector
I have the curse of a 2005 car. And while I love my car - dented roof and all - it's missing two important elements. It is just past the cassette tape days, but not quite to the auxiliary cord era. Meaning, there is no easy way for me to hook my iPhone up to my car, so that I can play the tunes that I want, when I want. First World Problem if I've ever heard one. But when you're flipping between seven stations and all you hear are commercials and talk shows, an audio connector is much appreciated. So, I was at Walgreens just the other day when I came across this audio connector. And I've tried many of these devices, and all of them have failed me in some way. This time, though, I've found one that seems to work. And when I left school the other day feeling like I wanted to cry - or at the very least, find a new job - I was more than happy to plug in my favorite songs and rock out the whole way home.

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Blue Bell Strong
I am sure you are all aware by now that Blue Bell has recently hit a Rocky Road. And I'm not turning my back on them. Because I will always remain loyal to Blue Bell. In fact, I think they are handling this situation with grace, class, and humility. Blue Bell does a lot for its community, and it's something people miss when they leave the country. In fact, one of the dorm moms at SRD said she packed an entire suitcase full of Blue Bell when she went to live in Romania. So, I can't help but smile when I'm running, biking, or walking through my neighborhood and I see signs in people's yards that on one side read, "God Bless Blue Bell," and "Come and Take It" on the other. You don't mess with these ice cream lovers. 

Post Blue Bell Fun Run

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Have a fabulous Friday. My penultimate Friday (with students). Wahoo!

*Sorry this post didn't come as early as it usually does - blogger wasn't working for me at school this morning!

Boston Dreaming

Remember when I thought things would slow down after the STAAR test? I'm not sure what I was on, but it seems as though things have picked up the pace. But that could be because finals are right around the corner, and I'm realizing just how much I have to do between now and then so that my students are adequately prepared to take it. Anyway, I am actually not going to talk about school in this post. What I meant by bringing that up is that I have been off my blogging game lately. It's getting harder and harder for me to squeeze in a weekday post, which is why I have yet to get back to you guys on the exciting fitnessandfroyo news I promised you in this post. So, let's first talk weather. The weather in Texas has been absolutely wonderful this week. I'm in full-on sandal mode these days, but when I walked out the door to go to school this week, the words "Oh, it's chilly out here!" surprisingly escaped my mouth. I mean, come on, it's May in Texas. And while I truly don't mind the heat, I'll take temperatures in the high 60's any day of the week.

Which leads me to the next item on the agenda - running. Before I get into the good stuff, I ran a race this morning! As a faithful Texas Ex, whenever I received an email about the 2015 Lone Star Stampede happening at the Houston Co-op, I immediately signed up. I always love a good 10K - it's easily my favorite distance - and the money raised goes towards scholarships for students attending UT. I can get on board with that. So, I woke up later than I do on a school day and hopped on I-10, which led me to 610, which led me to Uptown Park. I easily found the (free!) parking, and met my friend Cheyney in front of the Co-op before the race began.

As I mentioned above, the weather has been an absolute delight all week. This morning was not a disappointment, and I'd venture to say that the 55 degree temperatures at the start of the race were just about perfect. I started off fast - really fast - as my first mile came in at 7:22. Actually, the first four miles were under 8:00, and the last two came in at just over 8:00/mile. Certainly one of my fastest 10K races.

And as for the race itself, I had an absolute blast out there. I loved being among a sea of fellow Longhorns, many of them sporting burnt orange, and I saw quite a few familiar faces along the way. A perfect morning for a run through a beautiful Houston neighborhood.

And while we're on the subject of running, let's talk marathons. Some of you probably saw my Instagram post earlier this week, which talked of my recent marathon registration, and you knew what the exciting news was that I had to talk about. If you didn't see it - surprise! I registered to run a marathon. Yep. When I was much, much younger, and we still had a desktop computer, I remember sitting down and creating a Bucket List - things I want to do before I kick the bucket. Fingers crossed that I have a while before that one happens! And while some of the items on this list were somewhat silly - getting my driver's license and attending my high school prom, for example - some of them were a bit loftier. Travel to all 50 states. Skydive. Run a marathon. I haven't yet finished the first, I have crossed off the second, and earlier this week, I made the first move in crossing off the third. I signed up for my first full marathon. 

I know, I know. I'm crazy. That thought most definitely crossed my mind as I was reaching for my debit card to pay the entrance fee to this race. Which, by the way, was far cheaper than the entrance fee to running the Houston HALF Marathon. It pays to run a smaller race. So, let's move on toward the logistics, shall we?

The Race: The Woodlands Marathon

• When I first decided that I really and truly wanted to start training for a marathon, my first thought was to change my Houston half registration into a full. And then I realized that had me training throughout the entire volleyball season, and let's be real, there's no way I will be running more than even 6 miles during volleyball season, and the training plans I have looked at call for a couple of 10 mile weekday runs. Sorry, but that's just not going to happen. Volleyball is the extracurricular priority in the fall. But, I did know that I wanted to run my race before it got too hot outside. Which brings me to my next point.

Race Date: Saturday, March 5th, 2016

• The weather in Texas is very fickle, to use one of last week's vocabulary words, so there's really no telling what the weather will be like on race day. I've got my fingers crossed for temperatures no higher than 60 degrees, but realistically I've got to be prepared for anything. I really didn't want to travel for my first marathon, as I have read horror stories about the change in routine throwing people off their running game, so I knew I was going to stay in the state. Houston happens too early in the year, and Austin has too many hills, but a flat Woodlands course in the beginning of March seemed just right.

Training Plan: Hal Higdon's Marathon Novice Training Plan

• I haven't solidified this one yet. Which I think is acceptable, seeing as I still have about ten months before race day. I have, however, looked into some different race plans. The one that seems to be the most popular is Hal Higdon's Novice Training Plan. I can't decide whether I'm going to go with Novice 1 or Novice 2, but I think his is the winner. It's 18 weeks long, and typically the midweek distances are equivalent to the weekend long run. I shudder to think of the day I venture out and run 20 miles, but I'm leaning towards finding a running group to join. I know Houston is full of them, and not only will it make those long runs easier (or so I hear), but I'm sure to meet some top notch people along the way.

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But this training plan is where it's going to get tricky for me. I know I've talked on the blog before about how hard it is for me to truly take a rest day. Even on the days I intend to be rest days, I often end up doing something. However, I've read enough and I've heard enough to know that I have to take these rest days seriously. I can't only run, and what's even more important is that I make sure I am adequately fueling my body. I learned firsthand what it's like to run a long distance without enough food and water in my body, and it was not a fun experience. While I can't eat whatever I want - I've read that one over and over again, too - I also can't deprive myself of what my body needs and craves. Overall, I think this will be really good for me - both physically and mentally. I know that I have to rest in order to be successful, so unless I want to crash and burn the way my English classes did when I had them attempt to act out Shakespeare, I had better take those days seriously.

I have mentioned to a couple of teachers at school that I signed up for a marathon. Almost all of their first responses went something like this, "Oh, that requires a lot of discipline!" But then they followed it up with something encouraging, ie, telling me that I seem to be a very disciplined person. And I am. The reason I was so successful in the classroom is not because I'm naturally smart. It's because I knew the amount work that I would have to put in to it to get the results I wanted. It was the same thing with volleyball. Sure, some of it was athleticism. But it was repetition after repetition that allowed me to play at the level I played. So I'm not too worried about the discipline aspect of this. I know there will be times that I have to say no. I know this is going to be a lifestyle. But a girl can only run so many half marathons before she starts to crave a new challenge. And what better time to do it than when I'm young, right?

And I have a lofty goal for this first marathon of mine. I desperately want to run Boston one day, and I would love to knock it out with this first marathon. I know it's not a good idea for first-time marathon runners to have a goal time in mind, as the biggest goal should be to finish. And mine is, I promise. But I'm too competitive a person to not give myself something to aim for. I've got a lot of work to do, but that's never stopped me in the past. Obviously, Boston is the high goal for so many runners. And it's one that not everyone meets. In fact, for the age group I'm in, only 7.9 percent of marathoners - male or female - qualify to run Boston. So, while odds aren't necessarily in my favor, when have I ever let that discourage me? Getting a job at Bellaire my first year out of college was a longshot, but here I am, surviving each day (barely, some days). And I remember very vividly what happened on Marathon Monday in 2013. It shook me to my core and affected me more than I ever would have thought it would, because running means something different and special and personal to each individual runner, and to qualify for Boston the highest honor, and I couldn't believe that someone would try and take the joy and accomplishment away from so many. Ever since that day I knew I wanted to run Boston one day. Because I can run, and there are so many out there who can't. Because I'm not one to back down from a challenge, and I've learned that no dream is too big. Because I'll have to rely on strength that is not my own to get through this one, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

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