Warner Update
Making a difference, one person at a time
Change It Up (April 28 - May 4)
I'll tell you what I was thinking. I began reflecting on the times I feel great about life and times I don't. During this reflection I found a disturbing commonality. For multiple years my low point often occurred between January and March. I don't think I have seasonal affective disorder, but stress and a lack of warm weather are typically highest in these months.
That being said, I signed up to run my second marathon last October. I chose a destination race because I thought it would spur me on and give me a brief getaway. In my mind I could still remember the pain of my first marathon, and I was determined to be smarter (wiser) in my second go at 26.2.
This was my opportunity to break the cycle. To change it up. Instead of sitting back and waiting for January to hit and then dealing with the emotional rollercoaster, I chose to push myself out of my comfort zone.
Some might say, why run a marathon? Why not go on a vacation? My aim was to keep myself occupied for months, not days.
Not many people knew that I signed up. Most of you know me well enough that I don't broadcast that stuff. I'm not hiding it, but I also try not to make it about me.
Since December I've run between 40 & 55 miles a week. I had two bad weeks. I was sick in late January and conference week was tough. Other than that I stayed consistent.
As the weeks went by I found I was feeling pretty good. My mood, patience, and overall happiness was consistently pretty good. But then in late February and March a couple things happened that infiltrated my positive mojo. The first was my annual physical. That didn't go well. The second was a pulled muscle in my back and calf. I found these things created anxiety. Instead of focusing on what I can control I just felt stress.
Finally the day arrived!
I told myself to not go out too fast and to control my tempo. My pace for the first half was almost right on 8 minutes. I felt great, I was running smart, I was taking on fluids and food. Then at 19/20 I began to feel some twinges. I started walking through the aid stations. At mile 21/22 my body got angry with me and I cramped in my calves and hamstrings. At the end of it all I finished in 4:03:26.
It's funny, at mile 24 I knew my goal was not going to happen. But I was okay with that. I was focused on finishing. But I also thought about the training and I thought about changing it up. Coming down the stretch I was happy to finish. But I'm more happy that I changed it up.
I'm grateful for the support so many of you have offered before, during, and after all of this. The messages I got when I finished meant a lot. In fact, you'll never truly know how much they meant.
I share my story as a challenge to all of you. Think of your own life, reflect and think about the times you deal with challenges. Is there a commonality? If you find it, are you willing to change it up?
I don't see any marathons in my near future. I think I'll stick to half-marathons for the time being. However, I know it's important to step out of my comfort zone when the cycle needs to be broken.
NEXT WEEK AT A GLANCE:
Monday, April 29th: 3pm Sick-Bank Meeting at Admin
Monday, April 29th: 4pm Running Club
Tuesday, April 30th: Erin Kreger Mindfulness
Tuesday, April 30th: Stockbridge Elementary Staff visit Warner to see classrooms & Mindfulness
Wednesday, May 1st: Grades 3-5 Assembly with Veterans (assembly on the significance of Memorial Day)
Wednesday, May 1st: Grades K-2 Assembly in the Gym 8:45-9:10
Wednesday, May 1st: KDG PLC at Admin 8:30am
Wednesday, May 1st: 2nd Grade PLC at Admin 12:30pm
Wednesday, May 1st: Du Boi at Warner in the afternoon to work with teachers/grade levels about technology/innovation
Wednesday, May 1st: PLC Wednesday
- Q1 - What do we want our students to know?
- Q2 - How do we know they learned it?
Focus on these main questions and discuss/create formative assessments.
Thursday, May 2nd: 3rd grade to Ella Sharp Park
Thursday, May 2nd: 4pm Running Club
Friday, May 3rd: 8am Staff Meeting in Mrs. Moffitt's Room
Friday, May 3rd: PBIS Afternoon
* Please notice that Du Boi is at Warner on Wednesday. He is here to help with tech, innovation and any ideas you may be thinking for the final 20+ days of the year.
* If you have a field trip planned please make sure you put in the digital request.