Lazy Girl Returns

While I have not been running (except a 5K on Labor Day) and not biking (since RAGBRAI!!) I haven't been completely lazy!
I will start with that 5K. My best friend, who NEVER thought she could run, ran her FIRST 5K!!! She did the Couch to 5K program, which I (and I'm guessing she) would recommend to everyone. I ran the whole thing with her, and I'm glad I did because we provided each other with some comedic relief as we quietly cursed the girl run/walking in a backpack, a little like Dora. I only ran twice in the months before. I saved all my training miles for the race. Why waste the miles training, right? Just use them all during the race, right? Wrong. I had joint issues in my leg for weeks afterward. But Beth KILLED the race and I was so happy for her!

And I haven't run since.
And we have another 5K next weekend.
And I need to run. Or exercise. Post-RAGBRAI Andrea sucks!
I need motivation. Someone send me some motivation, please.

Non-Lazy Adventures.....

Back to school.....
Isn't my dump truck cute? Since my 3 "roommates" are mostly all teaching reading, I made this construction display, with Joel's toolboxes, hardhats, and my "reading tools!" Our room has been deemed the "party room," since we are having so much fun working together. Off to a great start for this school year!

Geocaching.....
So much fun, if it's not super-hot, you're not being eaten alive by mosquitoes, you're not super-crabby, and your Iphone has a decent geocaching app that doesn't send you all over the place! I do want to do this again, because it was very exciting when we finally did find a cache. I just need more preferable geocaching conditions. Nerds. I know.

I had given up and walked away, when Joel finally found it after a half-hour of searching.
Look how happy!

Pie League.....
My friend Beth and I have started Thursday night Pie League, while the men are in their bowling league. It has been a fun, frustrating (for me, the worst baker ever), exciting adventure. We are in the process of starting a blog to document our trials and errors (ohhh the errors!).

Cooking....
I have been getting very adventurous in my cooking endeavors lately. I am not usually a great cook either. The kitchen is not my friend. Once, I made such horrible pancakes (yes, instant pancakes) that our dog wouldn't even eat them. And she eats everything! However, I have discovered a fantastic website with recipes using lots of fresh produce. We have never eaten so many local vegetables! And it turns out.....I CAN COOK!!! Who knew? I will be posting the pictures of all the amazing meals we have made this month, just because they're so darn pretty!

What Gets You Going?

I am NOT self-motivated. I am pretty sure I may have said I was in an interview or two. But tonight, I came to terms with this truth. I am in no way self-motivated. Other people motivate me. Does that make me people-motivated? Others-motivated?

In biking: Joel motivates me because he sucks. Sorry Joel! He can get on a bike and GO! I struggle with every physical activity I attempt, and he exceeds at every activity. Grrr. But, it IS motivation.

In school: Kids are my motivation. I certainly don't do the crazy, time-consuming, albeit fun things I do because I enjoy overworking myself. That would just be sick.

In life: Our friends motivate me.....to clean! I love throwing parties, and I always overwork myself for the parties. I clean, cook, and decorate until I am delirious the night before because there is just never enough time. I really hope I don't do that to myself FOR myself. Again, sick!

In running: Amanda was my motivation to start running and to keep running, even though I hated it. More recently, Beth was my motivation as she asked for my help as she began the Couch to 5K program. Now, I have 2 more friends who have begun the C25K, who once said I inspired them. HA! Jill is on Week 5, and Jen just started this week and seems to be loving it!
So I was thinking, if I motivated them to run, perhaps I should run! You know, since it has been weeks since I last ran.
So, since tonight we had a break in the weirdly hot 95 degree temperatures and the flash floods this afternoon, I decided to get out there. For Jill and Jen.
OUCH! Now I remember why I should not skip running for so long, and try running like I used to...it hurts.
I ran for 20 minutes with a 5 minute warmup, and hurt the WHOLE time. Not fun. And to top it off...I ran through a seemingly harmless, run-of-the-mill patch of grass. Oh wait. Nope. Not grass. Mud. That I sank into, all the way up to my ankle. RUN OVER.
So....thanks for the motivation girls, but I wish my run would have gone as smoothly as yours have been!!

Two possible lessons here:
1) The universe is saying "Never run again."
2) The universe is saying "You shouldn't take such a long time between runs. It will hurt. And I
will get mud on you. "

I hear ya, universe.

Springtime Inspirations! And Exclamation Marks!!

I have not posted in so long, but when real life calls, I guess I have to answer! Lesson planning has doubled now that I am also teaching a Gifted Writers Program in the afternoons. Up until now, I taught Reading in the mornings only. I have also had the excruciatingly heavy weight of my future weighing on me....which means resumes and cover letters galore! It's amazing how two pieces of paper can take up so much of your time, and be such a deciding factor for your future!
In the mean time, this Lazy Girl has actually been somewhat un-lazy (non-lazy??)!
Somehow, I have inspired a few of my friends to start running! I find myself thinking "what kind of messed up world are we living in, if I am an inspiration?!" I don't know if it's because of the blog, or my recent completion of an 8K. Maybe those friends could comment here...what on earth made me inspire you to run???

My St. Patrick's Day 8K was an unexpected turning point for me. It took me 57:10 to complete, but I ran the whole thing. My only goals were to run most of it and in under an hour. I nearly cried at the end, when I saw the beautiful McDonald's sign that told me I was almost done! I thought about a year ago, when I could not have run a mile, let alone 5 miles! Ever since this race, something changed. I actually kind of want to run! (Sometimes!) What is this?? Who am I??

Last week, I went out and ran 45 minutes by myself!! Over 3 miles! With no one forcing me!
My friend Beth started running with me. We are doing Couch to 5K and she has completed Week 1...now I have to get her moving onto Week 2! My friend Crystal also went running with me. It is so strange being the one people hate! I'm used to being the hater/gasper/dying girl at the end of the invisible leash. The boyfriend, Joel, and I went out for our first big bike ride in preparation for RAGBRAI and I had to walk the bike up three hills! More to come on this goal later!!! We've been taking the doggie for nightly walks, which she loves! I ran an impromptu Easter 5K this weekend with Joel's family. It consisted of some very brutal hills but I conquered them!
It's a good life! Spring makes me so happy! I'm like a big bear, coming out of hibernation! We'll see how long it lasts, before the bear just wants to crawl back in the cave!