My long run

This morning I ran for 2 hours!!! My legs feel like jello, but I did it!!! :-)
The plan was to walk for 10 mins to warm up, then jog for 1 min and 45 secs, then walk for 1 min, then repeat for 2 hours. I stuck to the plan pretty well for the whole time. The last 12 mins I walked to cool down. I felt good throughout the whole run and the best part was the temperature was only in the low 60's. aaaahhhhhhh! Much better than the humid and rainy mid 80's we've been having for the past 3 weeks!
While running, listened to Casey Casem's top forty - rerun from 1980. What a blast from the past...hahaha! I still remember skating to Xanado.... or is it Zanado? :-) Anyway, fun times listening and trying to remember what I was doing in September 1980. I believe I was in England with my parents meeting Nigel for the first time. :-))))

This week is homecoming at school. The kids get to dress up each day, culminating in spirit day on Friday, where everyone wears red, white and blue (our school colors). The best part for the kids is they get to wear jeans on Friday!!! woohoo!!! The highlight of any private school kid who wears a uniform the rest of the year! :-)

Volleyball is winding down. We have our biggest game of the season on Tuesday - against Briarcrest - then our last freshmen tournament on Saturday. The girls have been playing very well, despite the fact that some of our team is out with the flu. A couple get sick, then they come back, then a couple more get sick, etc... Hopefully by Saturday we will have a whole team!!!

Swimming starts up on Oct 12th.... Can't wait!!! :-)

Catholic Mass?????

A Presbyterian view of a Catholic Mass....
In my mind I see tradition, incense, candles, very stark and staunch priests.... well, that is not exactly what I experienced yesterday!
Father Dennis Schenkel, son of my co-worker Jack Schenkel, was the "priest of the day" at our first all-school Mass. His message was awesome - "Can I get an Amen?" That statement is not in my narrow vision of what a priest would say! His message was very "come to Jesus" - "You need to have a personal relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit". Father Dennis says, "We've got spirit yes we do, we've got spirit, and God does too!" hahaha!!! I thought that was great! He also said, "Jesus loves you, Karl, and you, Anna, and you Josh, and you Ben" - as he pointed to kids and called them by their names. Wow. Pretty awesome!!!
My view of Catholic priests are ever changing...... :-)

Happy to be in the gym!

After 3 long weeks in the classroom teaching Health, I am finally in the gym for 3 weeks. I know these weeks will fly by... :-0. I have enjoyed the experience in the classroom: using a board, watching videos, having the girls come up with some skits, etc... But my heart lies in the gym - I guess it always will. :-)
We have started out with conditioning and will move into playing flag football by the end of the week. The girls were very excited about this and wanted to know when they get to start tackling!!! Hahaha! I very gently reminded them it is FLAG football and you can only "tackle" by pulling a flag. It will be a blast just being outside everyday! Hopefully, the weather will cooperate....
My running ocntinues to go well. I ran in a 5k race yesterday with Kirsten! We ran 1:45, then walked 1:00. I felt really good, but I'm not sure Kirsten felt the same. :-) However, it was really nice to have her with me!!!! I wonder if she is sore this morning???
I have been invited by my coach, Mark, to join the "marathon" group that trains on Saturday mornings. I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet.... hmmmm. He says if I'm able to run/walk for at least 1hour and 45 mins, then I would be "good to go" with this group. I just don't want to "bite off more than I can chew!" I think I will give it 2 more weeks running on my own, or with my buddy, Cheryl, then decide. I would like to get to where I can run 2 mins/ walk 1 min. I think I would feel like I was actually getting somewhere. Mark is a great believer in taking things very slowly and building up my fitness level. Less stress on the body, less injuries, staying more motivated to contiue. I kind of like this philosophy - it seems to fit where I am in my life right now. :-)