Running

Lewis and Clark

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I did it!  I completed my first half-marathon.  I don’t know my official time yet–right around 3:00, I think. (Edit:  Chip time was 2:57:33.)

It was an early start.  I arrived at the site by 6:00 am, and it was very cold out, about 40 degrees.  I met up with my (former) trainer Joe, his wife Michelle, and a couple of other clients of his.  We lined up together, and the race officially started at 7:15 am.  I don’t exactly remember, but I think it took 10 to 15 minutes before we were really moving.

I ran/walked the first 7 1/2 miles with Michelle.  The course was nice and flat for the most part, and once we were moving the weather felt great.  There were just a couple hills, one in particular which took us up to Highway 364 and across the Missouri River.  I left Michelle behind then and it was downhill or flat the rest of the way.  After the tenth mile I started to get excited–I had never run so far before, but I was still feeling good and I knew I would make it.  I pushed ahead and even managed to sprint for the finish line.  I didn’t get my official time when I finished–I think several other people were finishing at the same time and things were really hectic.  The results should be posted online in a day or two.

Proud to be done!

I’m incredibly sore right now, but I am feeling great that I made it through the race.  I was really doubting my ability the past few weeks but I did it!

Running

Lewis and Clark Half-Marathon

I am so nervous!  Tomorrow is my first race ever, and I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and underprepared.  I feel a bit like a fraud as I will probably not be running more than half of it (walking the rest, not driving or something 😉 ) but I need to focus on the positive:  it’s still a long walk, great exercise, and will be a big accomplishment.

It’s been a crazy week leading up to this.  My personal trainer got a new job as a car salesman, so I will be switching trainers.  I am so sad to lose him as I have accomplished so much with his help (including this race, which was entirely Joe’s idea.)  I have an appointment with a new trainer on Tuesday–if I don’t like him there are many other options at the gym.  I have about four months left on the contract, so that’s plenty of time to work with another person.  I am eager to be challenged in a new and different way.

So, before the race you pick up what is called a “race packet.”  For this race, it is a drawstring plastic bag that was filled with fliers, burt’s bees samples, a long sleeve “tech” t-shirt (which Joe decided to decorate for me…a parting gift I suppose!  Picture will come later, after the race as I am told  it is bad form to wear the shirt beforehand), and my race number.  My number is 5001.  I guess that means at least 5000 people are in the race!

I am supposed to arrive by 6:00 am tomorrow…that’s VERY early for me.  I will need to leave the house by 5:30 to do that, so I’m not only stressed about the actual race, I’m totally stressed about getting up early!  Also, it’s supposed to be in the 30’s at that time, in the low 40’s by the race start, so I think I need to add a jacket over my outfit.  I hope that doesn’t get too annoying–I am able to double tie the sleeves around my waist, so I think that should work…

My time won’t be anything impressive.  My goal is to keep ahead of 15 minutes for each mile, so 13.1 x 15 minutes is 3 hours and approximately 16 minutes.  My longest training run/walk was 10 miles, and I finished in just under 2:30, so it’s just a bit longer then.

Wish me luck!  I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow 🙂

Random thoughts

Parents are teachers

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I just wanted to vent for a bit.  We’ve all been hearing a lot recently on the news about how our schools are failing our children and how the teachers are to blame.  Where do the parents fall in the blame?

My parents taught me most everything I know, encouraged me every step of the way through school, helped with homework and projects, took me to lessons, made me practice, made me go to bed early, woke me up in the morning, made me eat a good breakfast, took me to the library for books, took me on educational family trips, taught me how to read at a young age, and more.  They did this for my siblings as well.  We were all expected to work hard and to hold ourselves to very high standards on our schoolwork, music lessons, and other activities.

Today in class I asked my students to repeat a piece and to try to get better intonation (fingers on tapes).  One student raised her hand and said that they always have that problem.  She said it in a tone that implied that since this was their weakness, I should just let it slide, that it would never be better.  I was shocked!  I told the class that even if they might never accomplish perfect intonation, we would always be striving for it.  We should always have high standards for ourselves!  The second time through WAS a bit better.

My point is this:  not all children are so lucky to have great parents.  We as a nation are quick to judge the teachers.  What about the other adults who see our nation’s children even more?

Teaching

Another Monday finished

Well, today wasn’t as bad as I thought!  Last night I was really feeling pretty down.  I’m better now.

What happened today?  Well, most important, and unfortunately, Chris didn’t advance in his audition.  That’s okay.  He worked hard, and there are always more auditions.  I’m also glad he doesn’t seem too upset!  The longer I am in this world, the angrier I get at auditions.  But that’s another story for another day 🙂

Teaching was better than expected!  My large class this morning begged for a game, so we ended up playing “Simon Says” for a bit and that went really well.  We also worked on a fair amount of songs and did pretty well with posture.

The next school was hit and miss.  Some of the students hadn’t practiced all well.  I did a pretty good lecture about that at the end of my class.  Some of the students were GREAT!  My three most advanced students there (all girls) were just fantastic today.  I assigned them various three part Christmas carols to start learning (rotating the melody/harmony parts) and asked them to go in a different room and get started while I worked with the less advanced students.  After about 20 minutes they came back and I asked them to play through a little of what they had done.  They didn’t think they were doing very well but I was pleased!  I reminded them they were just getting started and by December would be great.  One of the girls had been concerned she would just be bored in orchestra all year but by the end of that she was GLOWING.  I’ll have to keep challenging those three this year as I think they can really do well.  The other kids need a bit more guidance, and a couple of them were being very negative (i.e. “I’m bored!  I’m tired!”) today and I did end up giving a bit of a lecture on attitude and practice that I hope will make some impression.

Tomorrow is another day 🙂

Practicing, Running, Teaching

Sunday night blues

Okay, I’m ready for Monday morning now.  I was moping around a few hours ago feeling that “end of weekend” blues, but now I’ve packed my lunch, prepared the coffee maker, reviewed my lesson plans, and decided (mostly) what to wear tomorrow.  I’m ready to face the children!

A few weeks ago I was SO excited to start my new jobs, now I’m working hard to get energized for tomorrow.  I have a list of activities I want to do, and I’m hoping to get through at least some of them…there is one student in particular who tries to derail the class, and I am having difficulty figuring out how to deal with him.

I suppose I’m actually pretty stressed due to my upcoming half marathon (will be walking half or so!)–it’s one week from today.  I’ve never run in a race before, so I’m a bit nervous about all the actual race details in addition to the actual running of the race.  I hope I do okay and make it through!

I’m also stressed because Chris is taking an audition tomorrow.  He’s been working hard for it, but auditions are always such a crapshoot (trying to be in an orchestra is the most difficult thing to do).  I hate that I am really busy all day tomorrow and won’t have a chance to talk to him until evening.  Not that it would be better to sit around stressing and having nothing to do, but I would feel more supportive somehow!  I know I’m being ridiculous.

Usually writing my blog entry makes me feel better and organizes my head, but not tonight.  I guess my brain is just a jumble due to the stress–this is actually my third try tonight.   They say third time’s the charm?

Readers:  I always welcome more ideas on how to encourage/make students practice.  I need to communicate with the parents (these are my class students, not my private) more about the importance of home practice.  I made the mistake of assuming that the returning students had a practice routine, and that was a big mistake on my part.  When will I learn?

Performing, Weddings

Spassfest

Today I played a wedding in a delightful town called Germantown, Illinois.  Now that I am far away from the small town I grew up in (no offense, Mom and Dad) I am better able to appreciate the charms of visiting a small town (rather than living in one for 18 years…it’s not quite like Sarah Palin makes it out to be on tv).  Anyway, the church I played at was really beautiful inside–I wish I had been able to take a photo, but I thought I would have needed a flash and only had my phone.

On my way there I drove by several of these banners and had to stop to take a picture.  I want to go to this festival!  When I got home I looked it up online.  Here’s the link to the one in August…next year perhaps.

Spassfest!

I was thinking about all the little towns and churches at which I have played weddings (I had three hours of driving today, lots of thinking time).  I wonder if it would be interesting to try to keep track of all the ones I play, take pictures, learn something about each community?  Maybe that will be my blog focus for 2011…wedding season is almost over for this year, but next year is wide open!  Unless I am running late I generally enjoy my drives–east of St. Louis the landscape is gorgeous.  West of St. Louis is farmland which is nice in itself (calming at least!).

I am listening to the SLSO concert tonight online–it’s streaming from the St. Louis Public Radio website, and will be every Saturday at 8 pm (CST).  I was running around all day and wanted to relax tonight rather than attend, so here I am.

thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.