Chicago Urbanathlon Training - Week 1 - Thurday

Today is to be a rest day. I overslept as I did not set my alarm, but still managed to get to the Y by 5:20. I worked out arms this morning doing 3 sets of 8-10 on the following excercises. Legs feeling back to normal and a 5 mile run calling my name tomorrow morning.

1. Close Grip Bench @ 145 lbs
2. Skull Crushers @ 35 lbs on each side of EZ Bar
3. Preacher Curl @ 35 lbs each side of EZ Bar
4. Hammer Curls @ 35 lb dumbbells superset with
5. Overhead Tri Extension using 65 lb dumbbell

Nice and easy, but made me feel like I did something. Rest is just as important in training as the actual workouts. Sometimes that is the hardest part because your brain tells you to get out there and do something. I struggle with this the most, but I have learned that the body needs time to repair and strengthen itself or it will never improve. No improvements mean training that does not achieve the desired goals.

In the meantime, here is a RECIPE: Spaghetti allo Scoglio


A classic seafood pasta dish loaded with lots of shellfish high in both protein and omega-3s.
 
Do you have another healthy recipe that is good? Go ahead and share. In the meantime, I am back to getting ready for a book review.....

What do you do with 8 ingredients and less than $10? Build a VOLCANO!

Being the nerd that I am, I love to build and make different things with my kids, especially when I am home alone with them to avoid and fighting and not worrying about making a mess with mom around!! Over the course of the last week we(Aiden and I) decided to take one of our science experiment books and choose an activity. We went with the volcano. Here is all you need: flour, water, cardboard, newspaper, paint, paintbrush, diet soda, and Mentos. The video below is a recap of everything we did together and even Addy jumped in and got involved(yes, the Cat make-up artist).

Why do I post this and why did I make a video? The answer is simple. I wanted to show people that it does not take much to be with your kids and do something fun. There is nothing more rewarding then spending time with your kids. The hardest part is not getting too involved and doing everything for them. I did not help in anything except cutting cardboard strips to form around the 2-liter to begin the framework for a volcano. The kids did the rest and they did an amazing job. I really cannot believe what they actually created. It just reminds me as both a parent and teacher that kids are capable of many things if we just give them a chance to shine.

This was awesome and fun and easily gave us 5 nights of things to do. Enjoy the video, please post your thoughts, and if you have a suggestion of something you would like us to try and do, then please leave a comment. Maybe it is something you have done or maybe something you want us try first and let you know how it turns out. I will tell you that we are working on two projects soon. One involves a garbage can and smoke and the other is painting with milk. Stay tuned......

Chicago Urbanathlon Training - Week 1 - Wednesday

Today we had a sprint workout. We met up on the track at the high school and performed the following workout. My legs are starting to slowly work out the soreness. Quads still are tender, but they loosened up running this morning.

.5 mile warmup run to get body loose

Tabata Sprint #1: This has you sprinting for 20 seconds followed by a 10 second jog. You repeat this process 8 times without rest so it should take 4 minutes when all is said and done. The first time we did this we covered .68 of a mile with a 6:37 mile pace with a max speed of 11.6 mph.

Tabata Sprint #2: We did another round of sprints where we once again covered .68 of a mile with a mile pace of 6:37 and a max speed of 12.1 mph.

We then ran a .5 mile cool down to keep muscles loose, but to allow body to recover before moving on to next phase.

Our next part of the training we ran .5 miles and then jumped on the stairs to prepare for Soldier Field. We did this two times.

We finished with a .25 mile sprint to finish everything up right after our last stair with no rest. I ran the .24 in 1:30 and my legs were toast by this point.

Overall, we ran and did stairs for a total of 3.4 miles. I don't think my stairs calibrated, but that is okay.

Banned Book Week: Which books have I read?

I have been spending too much time reading the posts on other blogs dealing with Banned Book Week and loving every single minute of it. There are some great things being shared and some wonderful ideas that really cause one to stop and think. I went back over the list of the top 100 challenged books in the last decade again and made a list of which ones I have read. I was suprised to find that I have only read 20 of the 100 and most of the ones I read were required reading as I went through my own schooling.

1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
2. 3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
3. 5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
4. 11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
5. 13. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
6. 14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
7. 19. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
8. 21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
9. 23. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
10. 28. Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
11. 31. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
12. 41. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
13. 44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
14. 59. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
15. 60. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
16. 69. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
17. 85. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
18. 86. Cut, by Patricia McCormick
19. 90. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
20. 96. Grendel, by John Gardner

When it is all said and done, none of these books really had any lasting impression on me in terms of banned content.Catcher in the Rye I have discussed several times on my blog is my all time favorite read and one of the elite few that I have actually read more than one time. The rest don't have any real attachment to any parts of my brain. I have read hundreds of other books and some of those have affected me more than these.

So, my question for today is which ones on the list surprised you by being on there? Why? Were there other books that you thought would have been on the list?

Chicago Urbanathlon Training - Week 1 - Monday and Tuesday

Despite my half marathon race being only 48 hours ago, I have to get my mind back to training mode for my next race challenge of the Chicago Urbanathlon. The link I just provided has the course layout and you can see for yourself that this race is no joke. It also requires a different mindset and training compared to the half marathon. My biggest concern right now is my heart rate. When you run anywhere from 2-3 miles, stop and perform an obstacle that shoots your heart rate sky high, and then proceed to run 2-3 miles again you have to really learn how to regulate your heart rate to keep it stable during the run. I really need to increase my lactic acid threshold on this one. Due to the fact that there are obstacles, I will not be able to wear my water belt or any other devices besides my watch. I must learn to run without music also.

Yesterday, I made a training guide based off the workouts provided by the website and also my schedule and times to run. Here is the plan

As you can see, this is going to be an intensive training for the next three weeks. Yesterday, I just did some basic upper body lifting as my body was tired from the race.

This morning I could barely get out of bed. My legs are very, very sore. I was able to get up and run 3.06 miles in 28:04 for a 9:10 mile pace. I just wanted to get moving again. It hurt to run, but at the same time it felt good to break up the soreness.

I have created this checklist/training plan to help keep me focused. Each day I can cross off what I accomplished.

I plan to keep posting updates on the training because for some reason it really helps to log this information as it keeps me focused. Not sure who the sprint workout will go tomorrow. Time will tell.

As always, what are your goals? Are you meeting them? Have you written down a plan of action or are you still "wanting" to do something, but not willing to actual turn that "want" into "action"? The time is now.

By the way, here some action photos from the half marathon. These are towards the end and yes I am dead.

Banned Book Week: Are There Books That Should Be Banned From Your School Library?

Are There Books That Should Be Banned From Your School Library?

Students: Tell me what you think about this issue. Are there books that should be banned from our school library? If so, who should decide? How? Of the books on this banned books list, how many have you read? How did they affect you?

Banned Book Week: Don’t Read This!

Scan this list. What do these books have in common? Are you surprised to see that they are the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books for 2000-2009?

Leave a comment about your personal experiences reading banned books and thoughts about book banning in general.

Teacher Mystery Challenge 2.0 - Week 6

Last week was small turnout in voting where we only had 12 votes. It was a crazy week so I understand not finding time to vote.  Taking in 3 of the votes was Mrs. Dierickx who was the mystery teacher so congrats on being correct two weeks in a row. Here is next staff member. Hopefully we will have more votes this week. Overall record is now 2-2

1. What was your favorite toy when you were a kid? My pony
2. If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be? Never Give up
3. Which is your wish that is not yet fulfilled? my PHD
4. What really gives you the creeps? fingernails on the blackboard
5. Why do women shave their armpits and men don't? must have something to do with that “ape” connection or the cave man mentality.
6. If you could be any male/female sports star, who would you be? Brittany Pozzi (Olympic Barrell Racer)
7. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, movies, people and foods would you take along? Chocolate, Stepmom, my Mom, Teach me to Dance in the Rain, More Chocolate
8. What do sing in the shower, if you do sing? Don’t
9. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? Bear
10. What was the last concert you saw? Def Leopard

Last item is for you to provide at least three things about yourself that others may not know or clues you want to offer about who you are. This will help us with the voting of the mystery teacher. You could throw in a photo of yourself or whatever you feel.

1.      I had ringlets of curls on my head when I was little

2.      I had knee surgery when I was 15

3.      I grew up with less than 3 channels on the TV

The Half Marathon Race Verdict is in..........

Today I woke up or I should say set my alarm for 4:30. I fell back asleep and got up at 5:00. At 5 I felt a little stressed because I was already out of routine, but I must have needed the sleep. I made my way downstairs, made some coffee, ate my usual egg muffin sandwich(Weight Watchers) and chilled for a while checking my blogs and doing some reading. Around 6:00 I got myself assembled in my gear, gathered my GU gelpacks, drank some last minute water and headed out. I planned on running with my waterbelt, but when I arrived I did not see too many people wearing one so I figured at that moment to try to run without it. I-74 was busy as my way across and by the time I parked and found my place to start the race it was 7:15. I was cold and at some brief moment before the race I realized that
1. I can do this race
2. I have prepared hard to get to this point and nothing is going to stop me

All my negative doubts that I had during the week erased from my memory and I was focused. The race too off and I felt good. Adrenaline was flowing like crazy and it took me a about 30 second to get to the starting line once the cannon went off. I ran the first mile in 8:12 and thought so far so good. The second mile I ran 8:05 pace and still felt great. I think it was this mile that I finally began to sweat. It was so cool to run over I-74, but I did not know that the bridge moved so much and I thought I was going to barf at one point. The third mile I still held a good pace running around 8:13 mile pace and then for the next few miles I really picked it up. I was running faster than I have ever ran before. I ran mile 4 7:50 pace, mile 5 at 7:58, mile 6 at 7:53, mile 7 at 7:55, mile 8 at 7:57. From this point on I quite marking my Garmin watch and just ran as I started to focus on the watch more than just enjoying the race. Additionally, my Garmin data after this point is messed up as I thought I stopped my watch when I finished, but actually did not hit the button and it kept recording my time for almost .8 of a mile as I walked around finding water and food.

When I look back to my blog post on May 30th, I entered the following goals

Goal #1: Run in one of the two half marathons in September(either the Quad City one or the Waterloo Park to Park)

To achieve this goal I have created checkpoint goals

Goal #2: Spend the last week and the next two weeks to build a base of running where I am putting in 15 miles each week to establish a foundation
** I completed 13 miles this week and feel good making 15 this week**

Goal #3: Follow a half marathon 12 week workout when the timing presents itself. So, I will need to start this training in mid July when it is nice and cool. HA!

Goal #4: To stay motivated for the training for the half marathon I will run the Bix 7 and keep me focused up until mid July

These four goals all lead to my ultimate goal

Ultimate Goal: run the entire Chicago Urbanathlon without walking.

I have a good plan(at least I think I do) to get things going. That is always the first step. I have gone back to really trying to eat healthy. I think I will need to shed about 13-15 lbs in order for my joints to hold up. I have lost a few lbs just this week so headed in the right direction. I will keep you posted.

Goal 1: Check and completed

Goal 2: Check and completed and I cannot believe that this is where I started

Goal 3: Check and completed

Goal 4: Bix 7 completed in my personal best and record time

Notice I did not have a time marked for the half marathon. I later added a time of 2 hours and just two weeks ago bumped it to 1 hour 50 minutes. Today I beat my personal best time of 13.1 run of 1 hour 53 minutes by running the QC Half Marathon in 1 hour 46 minutes. I crushed my time and ran at a pace I never thought I could possibly run. This comes out to a 8:09 pace. I finished 268th overall out of 1726 finishers. I finished 31 out of 98 in my division. Not to sound stupid, but I am so proud of myself. I am living proof that anyone can achieve their goals if they just pursue and lay out a plan to achieve the goal. 

I still have the Urbanathlon in three weeks which is going to be the ultimate challenge, but for now I am celebrating my hard work that has paid off. Thanks for everyone who follows these posts. I have received comments and emails throughout and they all go to my memory and help keeping me pushing towards my goals. As always I have to give thanks to my wife and kids who put up with me always talking about my training and acting like they care as I know it gets old to hear about it all the time. Jeff Paul gave me great advice from time to time when I had no idea what I was doing.

Last, I was not the only one who did a great job in this race. Mr. Shepherd ran the half in 1:45 finishing 245th overall and 35 out of 111 in his division.  Mrs. Noeth also had a great half marathon time of 1:57 and taking 40th place in her division. Ms. Wikoff also ran a great race today coming back strong from a long term rehab of a major leg injury.She finished in a great time of 2:40 and what a turnaround from where she was not too long ago when she was held up with a cast on the couch with all sorts of problems. Mr. Lopez and Mr. Tritt were part of the 5 person relay team that took 6th place overall running the entire marathon in 2:58. And last Mrs. Gaffney ran the entire marathon in 3:33 finishing 3rd in her division and 117th overall. What a great staff we have here at Bettendorf Middle School to not only have all these people run, but to have them run this well.

Back to the gym tomorrow and time to completely change my training to prep for my race in Chicago. I will post more details later, but now it is time to fall asleep and pray for no cramps.

Shortlist for Guggeheim Creative Video Contest

You can view the videos here.

Book Giveaway: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I have been going through and trying to sort through my books and clean my office as the clutter has once again accumluated from never being home. I am constantly forming piles of books and little things here and there. I have pile of books that are in perfect shape and need to find a new home. I am starting off with the second book in the Hunger Games series. This is a paperback version and never read.

What do you have to do to enter?
1. Become a follower
2.Provide a something unique that I could add to the blog i.e. a caption to my title of the blog, a good quote, a picture, a new button, link to another blog that is good, etc.
3. Contact info if you win.

Send me an email at aarmau@gmail.com and I will let you know I have received your entry. I will announce a winner October 11th.

Just trying to help spread word for a good cause

The Fresh Air Fund is still looking for runners and sponsors to join the Fresh Air Fund-Racers team for the NYC Marathon on on November 7th. Runners and sponsors have until September 30th to register and they really want to fill the spots.

Over the last four years they raised over $400,000 for The Fresh Air Fund.

Check out the website to learn more

This is a pretty cool fundraiser that also promotes healthy lifestyle by being supported by the NYC Marathon. I wish I could somehow someway make it to NYC, but it just does not work out. Hopefully helping to spread the word will grab someone who can.

A little song to get ready for the weekend!

The 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Panel - I AM A CYBIL JUDGE!!!!

I have been chosen to help judge this years 2010 Cybil Awards for Science Fiction and Fantasy books. I am so excited to be part of this panel of awesome people. I will be honest and tell you that is was very hard for me to not tell my readers earlier as I was asked to wait until it was posted on teh Cybil Website. This morning my name appeared. I have posted the announcement below, but you can click on the link below to see all the categories and learn more about this awesome event. All I can tell you at this point in time is that I am going to be extremely busy as I have to read 2-3 books a week, provide reviews and feedback, and chat with the other judges to narrow down the books for the Round 2 panel of judges. Start brewing the coffee and let the fun begin. I am so jacked!!!!!!!

You can help out. How?
Book nominations will run from October 1 - October 15.

You can nominate one book in each genre. Books should be published from October 16, 2009 to September 30, 2010.
Head on over the website for more details

The 2010 Science Fiction and Fantasy Panel
If you don't have any idea how many amazing sci-fi and fantasy books are published each year for children and young adults, let the number of people on our SFF panels give you a clue. It's a LOT. An abundance of riches. That's why we've got two separate sets of judges for elementary/middle grade and young adult books. Our enthusiastic bloggers will soon be on the job selecting the best of the fantastical best.

Panel Organizer: Sheila Ruth, Wands and Worlds

Panelists (Round I Judges), MG/Elementary:

Anamaria Anderson, Books Together
Gwenda Bond, Shaken & Stirred
Cindy Hannikman, Fantasy Book Critic
Aaron Maurer, Coffee for the Brain
Nicole Signoretta, Booked Up
Charlotte Taylor, Charlotte's Library
Karen Yingling, Ms. Yingling Reads

Panelists (Round I Judges), Teen/YA:

Steve Berman, Guys Lit Wire
Tanita Davis, Finding Wonderland
Leila Roy, Bookshelves of Doom
Sheila Ruth (see panel organizer)
Angie Thompson, Angieville
Hallie Tibbetts, Undusty New Books
Heather Zundel, Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

Round II Judges:

Elementary/Middle

Melissa Baldwin, One Librarian's Book Reviews
Kate Coombs, Book Aunt
Emily Mitchell, emilyreads
Nancy Tsai, Kidsmomo
Tanya Zavestoski Turek, Books 4 Your Kids

Teen/YA

Emma Carbone, Miss Print
Anne Levy, Cybils
Sam Musher, Parenthetical
Sarah Stevenson, Finding Wonderland
Steph Su, Steph Su Reads

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 - 3 Days to Race Day!

I went out for a run this morning. I did a 3 mile run in which I ran 4 speed intervals dispersed through the running. I ended up running the 3 miles in 23 minutes for a 7:52 mile pace. I planned to run faster than my race pace to build up some lactic acid threshold, foot turnover rate, and just to make myself get ready.

I have been training now for 3 months and that is a long time. I feel like I missed my peak about two weeks ago. The weekend of September 11th I felt great where I ran my 13.1 run in 1 hour 53 minutes. Since that run I have really lost my motivation and belief in myself. I am not sure what is going on. Last week I did not get run like I had planned. That was my fault, but leaving for my weekend in Chicago really through everything for a loop. I was short running about 14 miles and this week I just don't feel like I have it me.

The quote, "Motivation is what gets you started. Heart is what keeps you going." really has a lot of truth to it right now. I have been motivated to run, lose weight and stay fit. I have stayed right around the weight that I want to be at(actually would like to drop about 8 lbs more)and have proven to myself that I can run and run at a pretty solid pace. My motivation has been there. Now I just need to work on my heart. Believing in myself and believing that I can achieve a good time in this race Sunday. I have three days to figure this out and then the results will be in the pudding. I spend a large part of my day working with students and players believing in themselves and trying to teach them that the hard work does pay off. It is time for me to listen to my own advice.

I will not do any running or lifting tomorrow. I will let my body rest. Saturday I will go out and do a really light run to keep body loose. Sunday I will see what I am made of bright and early. Sunday I will run well. The positive self talk begins now.

I want these shoes!!!

http://www.converse.com/?CSID=23_kwid/#/products/collections/Dr%20Seuss

Book Review: Dark Life by Kat Falls

From School Library Journal 

Grade 6–10—In this futuristic coming-of-age tale, 15-year-old Ty has spent his whole life in a deep-sea colony on the ocean floor. His family and the other pioneers provide fish and other food for the Commonwealth citizens who live aboveground in stacked cities following earthquakes and tsunamis that destroyed much of the Earth. The pioneers chafe under the harsh rule of the Commonwealth, a situation made worse when those who live subsea are charged with capturing a gang of pirates that has been terrorizing Commonwealth ships and pioneer homesteads. Ty is swept up in the hunt for the bandits when Gemma, a "Topsider" orphan, comes to his community to search for her missing brother, who may have ties to the pirates. First-time author Falls has created a riveting adventure story that action fans and reluctant readers will enjoy for its fast pace. Teens will like the budding romance between Ty and Gemma and the marvelous, imaginative depictions of life on the ocean floor. Minor characters, such as Ty's neighbors and younger sister, are fully fleshed out in their few short scenes. Although the identity of Gemma's brother and the subplot regarding his past with the pioneers' doctor are hastily explained and not completely satisfying, this is a small point that doesn't detract from the creative setting, adventurous plot, and likable teen heroes. Readers will cheer Ty on in his pursuit of the pirates and clamor for more tales of undersea life.—Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD

My Thoughts:
Upon completing this novel, I went out onto the internet to see what others had to say about this book. The reviews were all over the place. Some loved the book and others not so much. I had a few reviews prior to reading that did not have the greatest praise for the novel. I put all that aside as I found the premise of the book to be quite interesting. A whole world built undersea just fascinated me. As our own population increases and we continue to make mess of the world this might not be so off in our future. I was captivated from the start. I found myself really engaged in the setting of the novel. The way the houses were built, how Kat Falls created this world where it really seem plausible to live undersea. The structure of the houses, the breathing mechanisms, etc. seemed so real that I was absorbed in the setting. I have this complete vision of the layout.

The storyline continued to grab me as the story unraveled. The characters are interesting characters that I think middle school students would really be able to understand and relate to. They are not overly complex by any means, but have issues that we all deal with. Ty was the first kid born undersea and Gemma is a “topsider” so reading them learn about one another is no different than trying to make friends with someone from across the tracks or different cultural background. I liked the Shade character and found him to be a pretty cool “bad guy”.

This is another good dystopia story. I have been on the dystopia kick lately, but that is due to all the books coming out in this genre. I think boys and girls would like this story. The ending is good, but I have to admit that I saw it coming from a mile away, but not everyone will be able to figure things out. This was a good enjoyable read to tie me over as I waited for my books from the library to come in. I honestly don't think students in high school would read this, but then again I have been wrong before.




Kat Falls - Author of Dark Life - Book Trailer
Uploaded by expandedbooks. - Watch feature films and entire TV shows.

Wallwisher

Over in the sidebar I have added something new.....and special. It is my very own Wallwisher. Say what? Yes, this is a website application I discovered lately that I love. I really want to explore this more in my own classroom, but in the meantime I felt this urge to incorporate it into my blog.

So what is it?

Essentially, this is a place for you to post sticky notes. I would like for the goal or purpose of your posts to be either

• Things you have learned from school or other places
• Books to check out and read
• Quotes
• Interesting Facts
• Etc.

I have it set up where I do have to approve your sticky note before it is shown. I will check daily along with all my other website routines. I think this is going to be lots of fun as my fellow followers post sticky notes. I have tried Twitter, but realized that many students don't have a Twitter account or don't know much about Twitter. I think this will be much easier and more enjoyable.

So.......go ahead and post a note. Let the fun begin!

Question To Ponder

If you were to write a story, what would the first line be? What would the last line be?

Book Review: A Complete History of Why I Hate Her

From Booklist
Seventeen-year-old Nola is working as a waitress in a Maine resort for a summer away from home. This means she has left her 13-year-old sister, a cancer patient to whom she is credibly devoted, at home while she explores her own life. When she first meets a peer named Carly, no red flags go up, but as the summer goes on, Nola becomes acutely aware of Carly’s manipulations of others in order to acquire, chameleon-like, their hairstyles, boyfriends, even, apparently, little sisters. When Nola’s little sister shows up in Maine, it appears as though she has come at Carly’s beckoning. Nola struggles to regain control of her own feelings about the teens in Maine and her physically fragile sister’s needs. Although not all of the characters here are fully developed, Nola’s sister is well constructed and offers some good insights, sometimes in haiku and sometimes in conversation, and teens anxious for friends would be wise to recognize Carly as potentially dangerous. A compelling story of self-discovery with plenty of insights into the motivations that drive relationships. Grades 7-9. --Francisca Goldsmith

My Thoughts
I liked this book. I really did. This is not my typical book(I feel I have been saying that a lot lately in my reviews which causes me to think of what I typically read?) I felt a connectedness with Nola despite the fact that I am no longer a teenager trying to find myself nor do I have a sibling with cancer nor do I question my surroundings. I know it sounds weird, but I felt like I did understand Nola and what she was going through. It was time for her to be someone besides the sister of the girl with cancer. She wanted to be free. She wanted her own identity. In the end I liked how she went about doing this without causing harm to herself or her family. The other aspect I really liked was how the cancer topic was strong in the novel, but it did not overwhelm the reader. You had to read between the lines to get that feeling of the burden of cancer on Nola and her sister. 

I could not stand Carly. She drove me nuts, but she too was essential to the story and the path of Nola finding herself. 


I think this book is perfect for middle school readers because I did not feel that there was anything too heavy for them to handle, but it still deals with heavy topics that they love like finding love, summer fun, cancer, growing up, and all the other aspects of life that come flying their way as they try to navigate the world of getting older.

Ghost Story -Short Story Writing Contest

http://www.dundurn.com/dev/ghoststory/contest_rules_and_regulations

What a cool contest that just opened up. If you plan to enter let me know and maybe we can share our works here on the blog. I have this contest on my To Do List and will look to get started in about a week. Anybody interested?

Teacher Mystery Challenge 2.0 - Week 5

The votes are in and you were once again correct. Mrs. Barnes was Teacher Mystery Week 4. Here is the next batch in the series.

1.      What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?

A Fischer Price cash register.

2.      If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be?

Expect the Unexpected

3.      Which is your wish that is not yet fulfilled?

Being rich. I am not holding my breath on this one but hey it is still a wish.

4.      What really gives you the creeps?

Well there is a long list: Snakes, the sound of a napkin tearing, bellybuttons, the idea that there are spies, and CLOWNS!!!

5.      Why do women shave their armpits and men don't?

It is just the way it is. I guess we just follow what society says we should do. Personally, I am perfectly fine with the way it is. I couldn’t stand t not shave!

6.      If you could be any male/female sports star, who would you be?

Kristi Yamaguchi- I idolized her when I was little, probably because I can hardly even stand up on ice skates but think it would be fun to be good at it.

7.      If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, movies, people and foods would you take along?

Books: some kind of a survival guide, 4 other really long books that I haven’t read yet. I want them to be long to take up more time and I want to make sure it keeps my interest so best that it be something that I haven’t read yet.

Movie: What is the point? There is probably nothing to watch it on.

People: My husband, mom, dad, sister, and someone that is really into nature and can help us survive

Food: Fruit (You can take the seeds and plant them and hopefully get more fruit), water (if that counts as a food), high carb bread, cashews, and Frosted Flakes

8.      What do sing in the shower, if you do sing?

Nope

9.      Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?

Neither!! But I guess a bear I have heard of people playing dead and then the bear leaves them alone. So, maybe I could survive that.

10.  What was the last concert you saw?

Rascal Flats

Last item is for you to provide at least three things about yourself that others may not know or clues you want to offer about who you are. This will help us with the voting of the mystery teacher. You could throw in a photo of yourself or whatever you feel.

I was Cy, Iowa State’s mascot, one day

I absolutely cannot stand the taste of anything that is peach flavored. I love peaches but hate peach flavored things!

I put ketchup in my Mac and Cheese

Nerd Factory - Season 2 - Episode 10

That short video of the week. Please don't forget to vote for Teacher Mystery Challenge and please help with one of the two challenges presented in the video.



Here is the picture. Leave caption in the comments. Voting will begin next week.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week - Friday - Future Treasures

Friday—Future Treasures
We’ve been visiting each other and getting to know each other better…now is your chance to share what you enjoyed about BBAW and also what your blogging goals are for the next year!

The one thing that I have loved about this week is opening my eyes to some really cool blogs that I have not come across for some strange reason until now. I really enjoyed reading the following blogs for the first time and am now following and will continue to support

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/
http://www.parajunkee.com/
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/
http://age30books.blogspot.com/

I really found great joy in reading the posts of the bloggers this week. I was able to find some new books to find and read and became aware of some contests and ideas that I want to join. With all the new information being thrown my way I have started to brainstorm future projects for my blog and some reading challenges of my own.

Probably the most exciting thing of the whole week was having M.G. Harris leave a comment on my blog yesterday! I was so excited to see that. I love the little surprises that come with creating a blog. She had mentioned that the American publishers don't the like neon covers of her books which strikes me as being odd as my students would love it! I am still trying to track down book three with the green cover. I have the first two books with the sleeve so I must have the third book with the sleeve as well. Anyways, I am getting off topic, but just felt super cool to have her find my blog and take the time to make a post. That would not have happened had BBAW not provided me that particular topic.

It has been a great week for my blog. I look forward to posting my book reviews again next week. I will not be making any posts this weekend as I will be out of town, but come Monday the fun will begin again. Enjoy your Friday and have a great weekend!

Nerd Factory - Season 2 - Episode 9

This video is all about camel jumpers, say what? Check it out





Smithsonian Article

Book Blogger Appreciation Week - Thursday - Forgotten Treasure

Sure we’ve all read about Freedom and Mockingjay but we likely have a book we wish would get more attention by book bloggers, whether it’s a forgotten classic or under marketed contemporary fiction.  This is your chance to tell the community why they should consider reading this book!

There are few that I cannot believe are not more popular. One of my reading interests is to find authors from outside the USA and find their books prior to being released in America if at all. One of these authors that have captured me is M.G. Harris. She is the author of the Joshua Files series and it is one of the best. Her series contains a great storyline, with tons of historical facts and/or theories woven into the mysteries. The action is top notch with characters that fit the bill perfectly. For some reason, I have not seen these books take off in America or receive the publicity that they deserve. There are reading forums created to solve clues and the websites that go along with the books are just as interesting as the books themselves.

I would also like to add the James Potter series. These books are not available for purchase, but can be downloaded for free. J.K. Rowling gave the author rights to continue the storyline which takes off from Harry Potter’s offspring growing up. Check it out here

I would love to hear what others think are buried treasures. Please leave a comment of a book that you think fits this criterion.

Nerd Factory - Season 2 - Episode 8

The video for today is loaded with random facts and a link to a very cool website. Check them out and enjoy!



Here is the link to the cool video

Book Blogger Appreciation Week - Wednesday-Unexpected Treasure

Wednesday—Unexpected Treasure
We invite you to share with us a book or genre you tried due to the influence of another blogger.  What made you cave in to try something new and what was the experience like?

I have checked out pretty much everything recommended from the Guys Lit Wire blog. The reviews really entice me and I find myself liking the same books and agreeing with the reviewers upon novel completion. I am also finding myself really finding the reviews of Presenting Lenore as well. I cannot forget my good blogger friend Haley Mathiot who has a cool blog named The Life and Lies of Inanimate Flying Objects. Some of my recent books that I have read based on suggestions are

·        Spaceheadz

·        Complete History of Why I Hate Her

·        Zombiekins

Sometimes you need to get out of your shell and try something new. I follow so many blogs it is quite ridiculous. From time to time I will check out a book that I remembered being loved on one of the many blogs. From there I will give it a try and sometimes I will discover a great read that I never would have even considered had it not been for someone suggesting the book and making it aware to me. That is why blogging is so important. We may never know who we impact, but if at least someone is giving a book a try, then our job has been accomplished.

Here is a link to my interview answers from yesterday as well conducted by A Novel Idea

Nerd Factory - Season 2 - Episode 7

Short Video #3 of the week. Check it out and let me know what you think. Leave comments. I love comments.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week - Tuesday—New Treasure—Interview Swap

Tuesday—New Treasure—Interview Swap
Post the interview you did with your BBAW Interview Partner. 

Here are my interview questions that I sent to Mary Elizabeth McLain

1. I love the layout of your blog. Do you create your blog templates? If so, how to you make them or where do you get them if you don’t make them and you don’t mind me asking?

• Thank you! I actually purchased the layout and font from "Smitten Blog Designs" - I really, really like their work.  As far as the blog background, I like to change it with the seasons quite a bit! :) I got my current background from "My Style" free blog backgrounds.

 
2.  Checking out all the items you have in your sidebars, I noticed that you are part or have been part of several events. Which ones are your favorites and why?

• My favorite was the "Got Books?" event which was this past July.  I really enjoyed it, because it put me in touch with so many new book blogs I otherwise might not have found.  It also grew my followers exponentially!

3.  What inspired you to start a blog? How has the blogging experience turned out for you? What do you like and what do you dislike?

• My children inspired me to begin blogging on my other blog, "Ten Thousand Hugs."  That made me want to begin a blog where I wrote a little bit of my novel each day, which became my children's literature blog, "A Novel Idea."  Even though I am no longer writing my novel online, I kept the name for posterity!

4.  Who is your primary audience? Who is it that you create your blog for? Kids, adults, both, etc.

• My primary audience is fellow mothers and book bloggers - in other words, people just like me! I write my blog for both children and adults, but I don't think many kids read it.  The goal of my blog is to bring children and literature together, so as long as that is happening, I'm happy!
•  
• 5.  Most of you book reviews are children books/picture books. What else do you enjoy reading when you have a chance? I noticed on the information BBAW provided me that Angela’s Ashes is your favorite book and I was just curious to know why you chose that book.
• My favorite type of literature is middle grade lit - probably from when I taught fifth grade a few years ago.  I had an absolute blast teaching and reading that level! Angela's Ashes, in my opinion, is simply one of the best books ever written.  Frank McCourt's narrative of his childhood in Ireland was written in the most amazing style I have ever read.  As I read that book, I became part of the story...it gives me chills just thinking about it.

6.  Who are some other bloggers that you have followed and/or met since starting to blog? If you have to recommend other blogs to check out who would be three of them?

• I have met so many amazing friends in the blogging world! It has truly been an awesome experience! Here are the three blogs I must recommend:
• "There's A Book" - http://www.theresabook.com/
• "Teach Mentor Texts" - http://www.teachmentortexts.com/
• "100 Scope Notes" - http://100scopenotes.com/ 

1. What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?

• My Cabbage Patch Doll

2.  If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be?

• "Life is Beautiful"

3.  Which is your wish that is not yet fulfilled?

• My only wish is to die before my children do. 

4.  What really gives you the creeps?

• Drowning - my worst fear.

5.  Why do women shave their armpits and men don't?

• Excellent question.  I have no idea.

6.  If you could be any male/female sports star, who would you be?

• Michele Kwan

7.  If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, movies, people and foods would you take along?

• My husband and my four children.

8.  What do sing in the shower, if you do sing?

• I'm not a morning person, so I am barely awake in the shower! Sorry, no singing.

9.  Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?

• Neither.

10. What was the last concert you saw?

• Def Leppard in the summer of 2005.

 
Last item is for you to provide at least three things about yourself that others may not know or clues you want to offer about who you are. This will help us with the voting of the mystery teacher. You could throw in a photo of yourself or whatever you feel.

Warmest regards,

 

Mary Elizabeth McLain

 

Please take a moment to check out my blogs!

 

• Ten Thousand Hugs (my blog about kindness):  http://tenthousandhugs.blogspot.com/
• A Novel Idea (my blog about children's literature):  http://a-novel-idea-by-maryelizabeth.blogspot.com/

Nerd Factory - Season 2 - Episode 6

For those that don't check the blog over the weekend, I am mixing things up this week. I will be posting a short video under 2 minutes each day of the week instead of one long one. I just want to try something different. Please let me know what you think. Teacher Mystery Challenge #4 is up and the answer from last week was posted in the first short video on Sunday. Enjoy this video and have a great week.




The first cheesy song on my ipod while running Sunday


The second cheesy song


Yes, they have been removed...or have they?

Last here is the link to check out all the blogs registered for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Check them out and post your favorites.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week - Monday Question and Post

Here is blog post topic for today provided by BBAW

Monday—First Treasure
We invite you to share with us about a great new book blog you’ve discovered since BBAW last year!  If you are new to BBAW or book blogging, share with us the very first book blog you discovered.  Tell us why this blog rocks your socks off and why you keep going back for more.

I just recently joined BBAW and completely missed out on having my blog part of the voting for any awards. I probably would not have any votes anyways, but it would have been fun to be mentioned among all the amazing bloggers. I just registered and this blog was one that really struck my eye - http://jaja-cas.blogspot.com/

I really liked this blogger for several reasons. He seems to be on my off the wall level of thinking. He also reads books similar to what I read and it was just a lot of fun to sift through all the older posts and read on everything I have been missing from not being aware of this blog. I think it is important to have an outlet for just boys. I know girls will also check out this blog and read the books that are suggested as well. However, in our society we must continue to support and showcase that reading is not stupid to boys. So many have that idea engraved in their mind. There was an article in the latest School Library Journal(September 2010) that has ideas to bring boys to libraries and teaching the people who work in libraries and boys are not bad. This blogger has done a nice job showcasing authors who are popular among boys and providing links and visuals to entice them to read the blog.

Other blogs that I love and check daily are Guys Lit Wire, Bookshelves of Doom, and Presenting Lenore.

As I continue to find my blog personality and discover what works and what doesn’t I find myself realizing that the blogs I go to over and over are ones that have their own personality and stand out from the rest of the crowd. I would like to get to that point one day where my blog is one that be from all over would be aware of so my book reviews can help more than just my students.

Teacher Mystery Challenge 2.0 - Week 4

Here is the latest and greatest mystery teacher. Do you still need to know the answer from last week? Go ahead and watch the video posted on Sunday for the answer. Don't forget to vote for this week. We need over a 100 votes again. Your new record is 1-2. Can you get to .500 winning percentage this week?

1. What was your favorite toy when you were a kid? A baby doll I called “Born-Baby” since she looked realistic
2. If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be? No movie—a comedy series on tv called Life is funny
3. Which is your wish that is not yet fulfilled? Tour Europe
4. What really gives you the creeps? Scary movies and “True Blood”--Gross
5. Why do women shave their armpits and men don't? Men like to be smelly
6. If you could be any male/female sports star, who would you be?  Sports?  Who follows sports?
7. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, movies, people and foods would you take along?
8. What do sing in the shower, if you do sing? I sing in the shower, in the halls, in the classroom—anything and anywhere
9. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? I hate camping so it isn’t a problem
10. What was the last concert you saw? Eagles—they put on a good show even though they are old

Last item is for you to provide at least three things about yourself that others may not know or clues you want to offer about who you are. This will help us with the voting of the mystery teacher. You could throw in a photo of yourself or whatever you feel.

Thanks again for joining in the Teacher Mystery Challenge 2.0

1)      I was locked inside my frozen car and couldn’t get out

2)      I didn’t have a cell phone until I was 30

3)      I met Muhammad Ali while working at an ice cream store

Nerd Factory - Season 2 - Episode 5

A very short video in which all I provide is the answer to the Teacher Mystery Challenge 2.0 Week 3. Enjoy

New Blog Design

What do you think? Yes, you like? Or not so much? Let me know, please. I was thinking this might be more effective in keeping you up with all my posts since I post so much, but if this is more of a pain, then I will change.

Additionally, with BBAW(Book Blogger Appreciation Week) starting this week I will be posting on the topics presented on the website.

I will also be posting short, quick video clips this week. Instead of a long video one time I thought I would post a short one each day. Let me know what you think so I can find out what works best. Always trying new things to make this blog better. However, if an idea sucks, then I must stop doing it so your feedback is important.

Adios

Coffeechug

AWESOME SITE! Digital Post in Notes

Check out the link to learn more about Evernote and why you should give it a try - http://b2l.me/2ngrb

Book Review: Boom by Mark Haddon

I would like to start off with a video of the author talking about some of his favorites and his book



Here is his website which is quite cool and will leave you entertained for quite a while. I did not realize everything this man does. Check it out here

From School Library Journal
Grade 5–8—When James, aka Jimbo, and his friend Charlie overhear two of their teachers talking in a strange language, their curiosity is piqued. They investigate the home of one of them, an elderly woman, and discover a note written in the mysterious language and a collection of brass bracelets. Then Charlie goes missing, and Jimbo and his sister embark on a trip to Scotland's Isle of Skye, where they discover that aliens are kidnapping science-fiction fans to repopulate their dying planet. Haddon explains in the foreword that this novel is a revision of his Gridzbi Spudvetch! (Walker, 1994, o.p.). Though this book targets a younger audience than the author's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Doubleday, 2003), the narrative is much more British, which adds a slight comprehension barrier to an otherwise accessible story. Readers of the "My Teacher Is an Alien" series (S & S) will appreciate Bruce Coville's influences. Adventure and quirky humor keep the pages turning, and readers will connect to Jimbo with little difficulty. If they can overcome some of the cultural differences, they will appreciate the simple and engaging tale.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.

My Thoughts

I rather enjoyed this novel. I will tell you that the fact that it is geared for that middle school grade level is perfect. It is hard to find a book that caters to this level without being too far below them or too far above them where they need to be in high school. I found the book interesting as the plot line was way out there beyond the solar system. I felt compelled to keep reading to see where the author was going to send the reader next. I found certain parts quite humorous where one of my favorite lines is when one of the characters informs the humans that the word "moon" is used by them to refer to "passing wind out of the bottoms". That wording just cracks me up. There were several one liners that had me chuckling. The weird language that some characters speak threw me off. I realize that they are not human so I understand the point of this, but I found it to be nuisance at times.  This was a fast read for me. It is light on content, high on imagination and humor, and perfect for middle school. I think students who read this will quite enjoy it. I think I am to the point now in my reading that I need to get back into some heavy content again so I will sort through the 30 plus books that just came in for me at the library and read something gritty. In the meantime, check this book out. I am sure this will be a high prized book at our library.

Make me dance and other reminders

http://theuglydance.com/?v=eegdyurcvq

Go this link and make me dance. Better yet, create one of yourself and post the link in the comments. Party on!!

Don't forget to place votes in the sidebar for Teacher Mystery Challenge #3 - We need more votes!
Don't forget to place votes for favorite book read this year in the sidebar. I will be closing this soon!!!
Don't forget to watch my two YouTube videos I posted this week(scroll down to find them).
Don't forget to provide me with any shout outs for the next video.
Don't forget to have fun and enjoy life.

Half Marathon Training – Week 10

Last night I was able to get in my 3 mile run. Legs felt good even after lifting legs earlier in the morning. In the morning we performed
Squats 5 x5
DB Split Squat 2 x 10
TRX Trainer Suspended Pistol Squat 2 x max
Hanging Knee Raise 2 x max

I ran 3 miles in 26 minutes at a 8:21 pace.

This morning I ran 7 miles. The first 4 miles I ran at an 8:21 pace. I then ended up at the high school where I ran .25 mile of stairs followed by a .5 mile run on the track and ending with .25 mile of stairs. I may have ran a few more tenths of a mile on the stairs as I did not realize until the end that my watch had a hard time recording distance when I ran down the stairs. I then continued to run 2 more miles at around 9:00 mile pace. I decided to throw in the stairs to begin to prepare for the Chicago Urbanathlon. I realized this morning that I need more practice on stairs and other obstacles. My legs were burning as I took off trying to run after the stairs. I have a little over a month to prepare so I have plenty of time(I hope).

Book Review: Spaceheadz by Jon Scieszka

Product Description

The perfect combination of the age old experience of holding and pouring over a physical book with newest media technology that kids love!


Michael K. just started fifth grade at a new school. As if that wasn't hard enough, the kids he seems to have made friends with apparently aren't kids at all. They are aliens. Real aliens who have invaded our planet in the form of school children and a hamster. They have a mission to complete: to convince 3,140,001 kids to BE SPHDZ. But with a hamster as their leader, "kids" who talk like walking advertisements, and Michael K as their first convert, will the SPHDZ be able to keep their cover and pull off their assignment?


My Thoughts

This book is for sure geared towards that age group of 7-10. It was just weird. Very fast paced, many things going on, little character development, storyline moves along very quickly, and lots and lots of fun. I state all of the previous things, but not in a bad way. My brain just does not operate that way anymore. This was a major departure in reading considering I just finished Catching Fire and moved to this the same day as the due date was soon approaching at the library. I found the book to be quite entertaining and funny. The websites that are referenced in the book actually work and are very cool to check out. I loved the craziness of the pages where some are black and others white. The leader is a hamster named Major Fluffy and the aliens who are disguised as 5th graders constantly recite lines from ads all the time like "Ajax is stronger than dirt." I read this book in a little over an hour. So if you have a child in this age group of 7-10, they will probably love this book if they like humor, aliens, and lots of craziness. I would also recomend this for some reluctant readers in 6th grade as well. This is book 1 so I know more are in works in this series. I will probably have to check them out. Yes, I did become an official Spaceheadz by joining on the website. Happy reading!

Goals and Setbacks

I am writing this piece for several reasons. One reason is to visually provide myself a snapshot of where I am right now in my life. Second, hopefully if I share this with my readers, then I can connect with at least one person to let them know that life is full of ups and downs and help them persevere through hard times. Third, to get this off my chest, quit being grumpy about things and move on.

This weekend I had made a personal best in my running. I have been training very hard the last two and a half months and this Sunday proved my hard work when I ran 13.1 miles in 1 hour and 53 minutes. I have not been that proud of an achievement in a looooooooooooong time. Things were feeling good. I had a good run, I had a great time with my family at the circus the night before, and then everything fell apart.

Sunday I woke up to work on my blog and videos when my computer froze. I don’t mean just a little problem; I have put at least 15 hours into this computer and still nothing. This is the computer I call Big Boi as it runs everything in my house. I have accepted the fact that it might not be repairable. I tried cleaning the parts, going back to previous back up points, even rebooting my hard drive from scratch and that does not even work. So, I am off to rebuild my computer with a new hard drive and operating system. Time to learn something new amongst everything going on. So, I cannot get work done at home and that is where I am able to get the most work done when I am sitting in the nerd cave. I have been through every emotion (mostly anger) and have finally accepted it…until my video card also decided to give out. My computer is falling apart quickly and what better way to spend money than on something to bring you back to where you were……

Monday, as I was taking the kids with me to the store to finish up a kitchen project I have stalled on (no pun intended. see next part) my car died. It locked up. I was already in need of a new air compressor as my air condition went out, but the car locked. My starter died. I had to have Amanda come pick me and kids up at Lowes so I could go home, research how to find the starter (I know nothing about cars) and get it going. I already had an apt. for my car to be fixed on Tuesday. After some tinkering and further frustrations, my car started, sounding terrible, and I was able to get it to the shop. Now, we have one car to navigate everywhere. What a pain.

Whew! I honestly say that I feel better writing all of this. Thanks for listening to my rant. I needed to get it off my chest and it worked. Do you have things on your mind? Get it out of you head and post your frustrations in the comment section. This will be our little venting area. I am now ready to tackle my problems and be at ease. Amazing how something so simple is so effective.

UPDATE: I just got my computer up and running tonight way past my bedtime. I lost all my blog files and about 20 pages of documents that I was compiling for future blogs and videos. I also lost all my bookmarks to my favorite websites and some photos of my kids. Not sure what else is lost, but time will tell. At least my computer is back up and running after about 20 hours of service.

Half Marathon Training – Week 9 Recap and Week 10 Intro

Last week was another good week of training. Let’s take a look back at what the week had in store for me.

Monday: No running, but I did do some lifting. Completed the following program

Workout 1

1a Incline Bench 5 x 5 (70%,75%,80%,85%, 70%)
1b. Seated Cable Row 5 x 5 (70%,75%,80%,85%, 70%)

2a. DB Bench 2 x 10
2b. One Arm Row 2 x 10 each side
 
The following lifts are done using a TRX Suspension Trainer
3a. Suspended Push-Up - max out
3b. Inverted Row - max out

Tuesday: A nice slow run to work out the extreme soreness I had in my legs from running the 13 miles and golfing 18 holes afterwards. 3 miles in 30 minutes at a 9:51 pace.

Wednesday: No running. I was to run 3 miles, but my legs were tired from the leg workout from the morning. We completed the following routine:

Workout 2

1.       Squat 5 x 5 70%, 75%, 80%, 75 %, 85%

2.       DB Split Squat 2 x 10

3.        

a.      Suspended Pistol Squat  2 x max(TRX)

b.      Hanging Knee Raise 2 x max

This week has been crazy busy with meetings between my wife and I both having Open House, content meeting, Lego Robotic Parent meetings, etc.

Thursday: A tough workout. These 4 x 1 mile runs always tear me up. I modified a little bit as I started to get rained on, but still completed necessary running.

1 mile: warmup at around 9:50 pace

2 mile: ran this mile at a 7:08 pace. Probably the fastest mile I have ran since being a kid. Felt good to move at this pace.

2.5 mile: half mile cool down at around 8:55 pace

4 mile: Ran a 1.5 mile run in fear of getting poured on instead of running just the 1 mile. Ran the 1.5 mile in 7:20 mile pace. Felt good, but legs starting to get tired and breathing heavy.

4.5 mile: Another half mile cool down at 8:58 pace

6.13 mile: Another 1.5 mile to get off the track. Ran this at 7:21 mile pace.

The projected workout goal was to run the miles at 8:15 pace. I was about a minute ahead of my target which is good for me. It felt good to get after it this morning.

Friday: I ran 2 miles to the Y to complete the following workout

I then ran 2 miles back home. I was to run only 3 miles, but figured the way the miles are split and running at a slower pace I will be fine for my long run Sunday. I have a 11 mile run scheduled for Sunday. I would really like to push myself on this run if body is up for it to see what I am made out of. Will keep you posted.

Workout 3

1a. Shoulder Press 5 x 5

1b. Pull Up 5 x 5

2a. DB Shoulder Press 2 x 10

2b. Assisted Chinup 2 x 10

3a. Dive Bomber Pushup 1 x max

3b. Suspended Chinup 1 x max (TRX)

We also performed Atomic Pushups using two TRX trainers and Low Rows. Holy Cow! The atomic pushup is a killer.

Saturday – rested up for my final big push of a run on Sunday. Sore from lifting yesterday.

Sunday – I felt really good Sunday. Not sure why, but I wanted to take off at a good pace and get used to the idea of running at a 9:09 pace for my race. Well, I ran even better than that and finished the 13.1 mile run in 1 hour and 53 minutes. I was only to run 11 miles, but I felt so good I decided to push myself for a personal best time. This really crushed my previous runs not only in total distance, but in my mile pace. I was not even that sore the rest of the day and barely sore at all the next day which is good because the last few long run I have been incredibly sore.

I ended up running an 8:41 mile pace for the duration of the run. This is a 50 second improvement from last week when I really did not think I could run much faster at the time. That is a huge improvement. I am still dumbfounded by my increase in speed. I need to get back to eating healthy and staying focused. With all the recent stress I have fallen behind a little. Anyways, I burned 2316 calories with my mile splits being 9:22/9:04/9:00/8:41/8:55/8:44/8:32/8:40/8:42/8:30/8:17/8:16/8:11

Monday – Labor Day – I was a slob all day felt gross about myself. I know it is good to have a day to be that way, but I felt nauseous from the way I ate. That is a sign that my eating habits have improved as the day I went away from eating healthy my body felt sick and I just did not feel right. It was nice to be back in school and establish my routine of healthy eating.

Tuesday – performed my lifting for the workout scheduled on Monday.

Workout 1

1a Incline Bench 5 x 5 (70%,75%,80%,85%, 70%)
1b. Seated Cable Row 5 x 5 (70%,75%,80%,85%, 70%)

2a. DB Bench 2 x 10
2b. One Arm Row 2 x 10 each side
 
The following lifts are done using a TRX Suspension Trainer
3a. Suspended Push-Up - max out
3b. Inverted Row - max out

We added in TRX T lifts, bicep curls, and triceps to finish things off.

I was supposed to run tonight, but after getting my car that broke down in Lowes parking lot yesterday and fixing my computer that crashed(I lost many files and time in the process) I just did not have time. Will run tomorrow and get back on track.