Forcing the Habit

I think that often the hardest part of starting a new plan is forcing it into a habit. That said, this first week has been challenging. Because I coach track and often work with students after school and before practice, my schedule is tight. 

To save time, I use the gym at school, which usually works, but when other students need to use it or when I'm working out with a buddy, one working treadmill doesn't cut it. So to accommodate, I ran laps in the hallways this week. The only downside is that my shins have started to become sore. In fear of shin splints, I took to the streets tonight despite the freezing temperature and ran an easy two miles to give my legs a break from the treadmill. 

Wednesday, 2/27

• Ten minute warm-up (laps around the hallways)
• One mile faster than race pace (8:30 min on the treadmill) 
• Five minute cool-down (laps around the hallways)
• Leg Workout: 5x12 reps of squats using the bar (without weight added)

Tip: Eat oatmeal as a late-in-the-day snack for these evening workouts. I recommend Quaker's travel size containers with added nuts and berries (it's called "Real Medleys")!

I Love Jennifer Lawrence

I loved her in Hunger Games. Silver Linings Playbook was my favorite movie of the year. And this article just made me realize why I love her even more, especially her reaction to her Oscar fall. 

Training Update

To hold myself accountable and watch my progress, I'm going to try to post regular updates about my workouts: 

Sunday, 3/24 

• 3 easy miles (29 min)
• Long stretch

Monday, 3/25

• 1 mile warm-up (9:40 min)
• 4x400m 
• 1st: 8:05 min pace
• 2nd: 7:50 min pace
• 3rd: 7:35 min pace
• 4th: 7:20 min pace
• Core Circuit (30 sec each 3 times)
• V Sit-Ups
• Spiderman Push-Ups
• Crunches (stayed at an angle, keeping my back and legs raised)
• Plank
• 1 mile cool-down (10 min)

Blues and Beers

Rather than falling asleep early and spending Saturday with another episode of Downton Abbey, I took an amazing two-hour nap before venturing out to B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, an awesome bar with live music seven days a week. My boyfriend and I found some corner stools around 8:30pm, and cozied up to our neighbors as the crowd grew over the next hour. 

At 9:30pm, the music started. We were fortunate to come on a night to catch the local Carlos Johnson & the Serious Blues Band, a group that has been playing together for forty years. They dedicated the show to Magic Slim, a Mississippi blues singer and guitarist who recently passed. I was mesmerized by their passion for the music; I've never witnessed a musician truly possessed by the strings of his guitar. 

I didn't realize why Johnson looked slightly off until I looked him up today: he was playing a right-handed instrument upside-down because he is left-handed. His funny anecdotes and jokes made the show even more enjoyable and close-knit. It almost felt like we were listening to the band play in their living room. Not having much experience with blues music myself, I left B.L.U.E.S not only excited to return soon, but ready to change up my Pandora stations and give Sara Bareilles and John Legend a well-deserved break.

The Training Plan

I've signed myself up for some races that can help me mark my progress toward my marathon: an 8k in April, and a half-marathon both in May and June. Today marked that first day of training with a 3 mile run. I've posted the rest of my training schedule on here to the 8k to hold me accountable. Every Thursday, I'm aiming to make it to the gym for one of the listed classes. I'll post my progress and changes that I make throughout - hopefully only positive ones!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
2/24 Run & Stretch: 3 mi.	2/25 Rest	2/26 1 mi. warm-up & 1 mi. cool-down 4x400 Strength: Core	2/27 Mile Repeat: 1 (faster than race pace) Strength: Legs	2/28 Cycle: 7pm Power Yoga: 7:15pm Nike Training: 7:15pm	3/1 Rest	3/2 Long Run: 3 mi.
3/3 Run & Stretch: 3 mi.	3/4 Rest	3/5 1 mi. warm-up & 1 mi. cool-down 6x400 Strength: Core	3/6 Mile Repeats: 2 (faster than race pace) Strength: Legs	3/7 Cycle: 7pm Power Yoga: 7:15pm Nike Training: 7:15pm	3/8 Rest	3/9 Long Run: 4 mi.
3/10 Run & Stretch: 3 mi.	3/11 Rest	3/12 1 mi. warm-up & 1 mi. cool-down 4x800 Strength: Core	3/13 Mile Repeats: 2 ((faster than race pace) Strength: Legs	3/14 Cycle: 7pm Power Yoga: 7:15pm Nike Training: 7:15pm	3/15 Rest	3/16 Long Run: 5 mi.
3/17 Run & Stretch: 3 mi.	3/18 Rest	3/19 1 mi. warm-up & 1 mi. cool-down 6x800 Strength: Core	3/20 Mile Repeats: 3 (faster than race pace) Strength: Legs	3/21 Cycle: 7pm Power Yoga: 7:15pm Nike Training: 7:15pm	3/22 Rest	3/23 Long Run: 6 mi.
3/24 Run & Stretch: 3 mi.	3/25 Rest	3/26 1 mi. warm-up & 1 mi. cool-down 6x800 Strength: Core	3/27 Mile Repeats: 4 (faster than race pace) Strength: Legs	3/28 Cycle: 7pm Power Yoga: 7:15pm Nike Training: 7:15pm	3/29 Rest	3/30 Long Run: 7 mi.
3/31 Run & Stretch: 3 mi.	4/1 Rest	4/2 1 mi. warm-up & 1 mi. cool-down 4x400 Strength: Core	4/3 Mile Repeats: 2 (faster than race pace) Strength: Legs	4/4 Cycle: 7pm Power Yoga: 7:15pm Nike Training: 7:15pm	4/5 Rest	4/6 Long Run: 2 mi.
4/7 8k Race Day

Missing D. Rose

Last Thursday, my boyfriend and I watched the Heat dance around the Bulls. Looking for a Valentine's Day gift for him, I snatched up the only tickets that fit my budget for a game against the Heat: the absolute last row in the stadium before standing only. Still, being so high up didn't stop me from watching Lebron send a ball twenty feet in the air intending to dunk it or catch him faking a limp. And to be honest, my favorite part was during a time out when senior citizens did the Turbo or get down to Big Sean's "Dance". It was a good night, but I'm still trying to wait patiently for D. Rose to make his come back!

My One & ONLY Fundraiser Post

While my initial goal has been to simply finish my first marathon, I have set another goal thanks to some awesome teacher-athletes. I teach AP Literature and Composition at Muchin College Prep in downtown Chicago, and a group of teachers have formed a team to raise money for scholarships. As a senior teacher, I am excited to give a gift to next year's seniors for their hard work (and persistence in a rigorous course). I intend to creatively fundraise, rather than dip my hands into friends and family members' pockets, but I thought I'd share one more motivation to get me across that finish line.

The Story (taken from our team's website)

Muchin College Prep is an open enrollment charter school and part of the largest and most successful charter school network in the city of Chicago. The students of our campus come from over 27 zip codes in the city and majority are on free-and-reduced lunch.

Many of our graduating seniors will be the first in their families to attend a four-year college and it is our goal to help them not only get into, but through college by helping those who need it with the financial aid to pay for books and supplies that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

26.2 at 26 in Chicago

Today I registered for my first marathon. This year, I’ll be turning 26 years old, and I’ve decided that to celebrate this turn into the second quarter of my life, I would run one mile for every year I’ve already been given, and one mile to remind myself to stay focused on the present, even when I’m exhausted. Here’s to that journey from signing up to crossing the finish line, and everything in between.