Self-Care

What follows was originally sent to my staff via email. It's important stuff. And it isn't just important leading up to the holidays and over extended breaks. This is something that we need to make a priority all-the-time.

It’s the week leading up to winter break. We’re on the final stretch of a three-week sprint between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You’re almost there. Hang-on.

I know that everyone has a lot going on right now, both at school and away from school. It can certainly be a joyful time of year, but it can also most definitely be a stressful time of year. How do you balance it all and still manage to enjoy it all?

Last week, towards the conclusion of our professional learning, we engaged in conversation through two circles. While I thought that the conversation re. our content from the afternoon’s learning was great, I walked away thinking about our first prompt from within the circles.

In the midst of the season, what are you doing to take care of yourself?

Based off of what was shared, I’ve come to the conclusion that we either a) don’t do a good job of making time to care for ourselves or b) we’re ashamed to talk about the things that we do to care for ourselves (I know that I kind of put my head down and was looking at the ground while I shared what I do). It’s probably somewhere in-between. We probably need to do a better job of BOTH taking care of ourselves AND talking about how we take care of ourselves.

Self care isn’t selfish. As educators, our job is to take care of others. We can’t care for others, if we haven’t first cared for our self. We can’t pour from an empty cup.

So, this week, there are three things planned for us to help us prioritize our own self-care.

1) Self-Care Bingo
I shared this image (via @teacher2teacher) in this week’s newsletter (it is also attached to the bottom of this email). If you can complete a bingo before we leave on Friday, let me know what you’ve done. Those who submit a bingo will be eligible for a $50 Amazon credit to be used for classroom/instructional supplies.

2) Biofeedback
I’ve communicated about this as a part of our 12 Days of Giving. Willow Pogue will be at Van Allen and available to us on Wednesday. There is a sign-up via Google Doc (linked) that I’ve shared, previously. All staff are eligible to participate; if time is an obstacle, please let me know and I will see what we can do so that you can find a time that works.

3) Mindfulness PD
In between dismissal and 3pm that is time that I am giving you. Do what you need to do and get your things in-order so that you’re able to get a head start on preparing for the return from break. We will begin at 3pm in the Team 4 pod with some mindfulness activities, led by Erica Miller, for our professional development.

Self care comes in all shapes and sizes. It is different for everyone. The things that I do for my self care, aren’t going to be the same things that each of you would do for your self care and that is okay. It's like my daughter, Olivia, once said, “If you like it, you do it.” Find the fit that works for you and all of your responsibilities.

Take care of yourself. Let me know if I can help.

Have a great week. Enjoy it!

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 29

This is my twenty-ninth and final post re. my preparation for/running of The Chicago Marathon. And with this final post, I just want to share some of my reflections from the actual race.

When the race started, I felt great. Actually, I felt really great. I just started running, and all of the adrenaline from the other runners and all of the spectators really pushed my pace. My mile splits were under 8:30 for the first nine miles; I ran 7:35 and 7:47 splits during miles three and four. Going into the race, my plan was to run around nine minute miles. Nine minute miles would easily allow me to achieve my goal of running a sub four hour marathon.

But I just kept running, and I continued to feel pretty good. In fact, I started thinking that maybe my goal of running a sub four hour marathon wasn't nearly ambitious enough. I'd been reading and listening to a lot of content from David Goggins throughout my marathon training, and all of a sudden, I began to wonder if I'd only been tapping into my 40% of my potential as a runner up to this point. How fast might I be able to run this marathon? Those thoughts were soon fleeting. After seeing my family between miles 13 and 14, which propelled me to my fastest mile of the race (7:31.9), I started to fade. And by mile 19, I'd hit a wall; it was a brick wall, and I hit it hard.

Miles 19 through 22 crept above a nine minute pace; then at mile 23, and the three miles after, I was running ten minute miles. I was struggling. I'd run a 20-mile training run, leading up to the race, and that run had gone really well. That was not my reality after 18 miles during this race. And furthermore, I still had eight plus miles to run. This was the point where the mental stamina/training became way more important than any physical aspect of the race.

With about a mile to go, up ahead of me, I spotted a 4:00:00 pacer. I was behind a four hour pacer. My goal was to finish the marathon in less than four hours. Where earlier in the race I'd been thinking about how fast I might be able to run, now I was in jeopardy of failing to meet my goal. The thought of falling short of my goal when it was close within reach was unbearable. How much did I have left in the tank?

Despite the pain endured, finishing the marathon was bittersweet. I'd finished the race, an accomplishment in and of itself, and I'd met my goal of running it in under four hours. My official time was 3:55:37, good for 14,818th place (top third).

Nonetheless, I felt absolutely awful. Upon crossing the finish line, it was like I had the flu (and Scottie Pippen wasn't around for me to lean-on). All I wanted was to lay down, any open space on the concrete would have worked. But I couldn't. I knew that if I laid down, or even sat down, I would have a heck of a time getting back up. Plus, I needed to connect with my family; I had to keep moving beyond the 26.2 miles that I'd just run.

I hated the way that I felt after the race. Throughout my preparation for the marathon, I imagined the finish being glorious; I imagined celebrating my accomplishment with my family. I wasn't prepared to be feeling nauseous and too tired to stand (let alone move). But that was my reality, and unfortunately, I missed out on the joyful aftermath of the race that I had hoped to experience.

It didn't take long before I realized that I would (eventually) want another crack at a marathon. I would want to run a more disciplined marathon, and I'd want to finish it in better shape than what I was feeling post-Chicago Marathon. I was already thinking about what was next...the goal isn't the product, it's the process.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 28

"The goal is not to run a marathon, the goal is to become a runner." 

- James Clear, Atomic Habits

That caused me to reflect. For over five months, I'd been super committed to running the Chicago Marathon and I did that. Then, two weekends later, I ran a local 10K. And I set a PR. That caused me to do some reflecting...

The race that you are preparing to run should not be the ultimate goal. The race that you are preparing to run is an outcome/results oriented goal. Setting outcome/results oriented goals can be problematic; they don't take into account all of the things that have to happen in-order for the goal to be accomplished. I am a steadfast believer that goals should be set with a focus on the process. Do the little things (the process) extremely well, and the big things (the results) have a way of working themselves out.

The goal should be centered around the training that you're doing.  Most of us are probably familiar with the Trust the Process cliche. Although less common, a frequently shared sentiment in running communities is to Trust your Training. Ideally, the race becomes an opportunity to show-off all of the hard work that you've done through your training.

I love running. And there are many reasons why I love running. The fitness and health benefits are obvious and they are certainly a factor for why I love running. But I also love the real life example it provides for how committing to the process enhances the results. When you commit to the process, there is no end; everything becomes preparation for what's next because there is always something that's coming next.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 27

Last month, I ran the Chicago Marathon. Below are some photos from that weekend. And linked (via Wakelet) are all of the posts that I've written to document my journey of preparing for and running the Chicago Marathon. THANKS for following along; I am thankful for everyone's support.

Packet pick-up with Ryne.
The thought of running 26.2 miles when I was his age was incomprehensible.

Being fearless is a myth; being able to confront your fears is admirable.

Found a little time for Olivia to enjoy lunch at American Girl.

On the way to the starting line.

My Why.

My support crew.
Thankful that they were able to spot me (and I was able to spot them) around mile 13!

The other half of my support crew. 

I met my goal. Sub 4:00:00 marathon!

After the race; don't let the smile fool you. I'm struggling.

I didn't win. But I came in 14,818th place.
That's good for a finish in the top third of the field!

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 26

Tomorrow, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. Specifically, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. I've been reflecting and writing about my process for deciding to run a marathon, training for a marathon, etc. Linked is the Wakelet where all of my blogs are curated.

THANKS for following my journey; I am thankful for everyone's support.

I just wanted to use this platform to state my thanks to some specific people and groups of people for preparing me to complete this accomplishment of running 26.2 miles.

Thanks, Amy; I couldn't have done this without you. So I wrote an entire post, #MyChicagoMarathon No. 11, dedicated to my thanks for you.

Thanks, Ryne and Olivia; your my biggest inspiration for doing this.

Thanks, Mom and Dad; explicitly or in-explicitly, the way that each of you raised me has resulted in the character and the values that I exhibit as an adult and allowed me to take-on this challenge.

Thanks, West Branch Football; you, too, helped shape my character and my values...see #MyChicagoMarathon No. 15

Thanks, Mike Humpal; Humpal Chiropractic helped keep my back and my entire body feeling good and ready to go.

Thanks, Van Allen Elementary; the love that I felt from students, staff, and parents throughout this week was unimaginable. It was an amazing feeling to hear all of the words, see all of the signage around our school (see below), and the tunnel...it was great, too! I am thankful to be your leader.

Thanks, Garrett; you invited me to join you for the 'Thorsday' group runs around Lake Macbride. I felt like those runs have been a turning point in re. to my mindset for not just running the marathon, but how I want to run (and finish) the marathon.

Thanks, to my entire Personal Learning Network (PLN); through Voxer, and Twitter, and text, and an occasional face-to-face meeting, you inspire me do and be more. You inspire me to be a better leader, and a better person. You help me to be okay with taking care of myself, first, so that I can take care of others. #FitLeaders, #RunLAP, #BalanceLAP, #JoyfulLeaders, all of you!

Thanks, Action for Healthy Kids; you allowed me to gain entry into the Chicago Marathon, and I got to raise money for an amazing organization.

Thanks, everyone who donated to my cause; it was an amazing feeling to get an email notifying me that various people had made a donation. Knowing that you made an effort to help me is overwhelming in the best possible way. I'm blessed for all of the support that I received. Thank you.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 25

Revised, November '19

Originally, I wrote this post in the final days (or maybe it was weeks) leading up to the marathon. I shared it a couple of days before the race, but I knew it wasn't finished at that time. I knew that I was going to have to have run the marathon before this post was complete.

I'm kind of a little sad. My marathon training is coming to an end. In the next couple of days, I will have run the marathon. What's going to be next? What can I do to duplicate the feelings that I've had leading up to this. It's been hard work, yes, but it's been amazing to do something that not everyone can and/or is willing to do.

A quick Google search, last week, for "I just ran my first marathon," confirmed that I'm not alone with these feelings and thoughts. In fact, I saw at least one post go as far as to compare the process of running a marathon to that of pregnancy and childbirth! I'm not ready to go that far with a comparison of my feelings, but there are definitely some similarities between the two feats.

Anyways, before I ran the Chicago Marathon, here's what I was considering for what to do next:

• I could run another marathon...I might...I probably will, actually...but there's just something about the first time that makes it special.
  
• I could do an ultra race...never say never...remember, thirteen miles seemed like a long distance until I did it.
  
• I could return to my goal of running a half-marathon in half of the United States...feels kind of underwhelming, though, now.

Fast forward one month after running the Chicago Martahon, here's where I'm at and here's what I'm thinking comes next:

• At approximately mile 18 of the Chicago Marathon, the thought of running another marathon was incomprehensible. However, no more than a couple of hours after crossing the finish line, it became clear that I have a desire to run another marathon. I don't know when it will happen, again, but I feel confident saying that I will run another marathon.
  
• A half-marathon in half of the United States. So far I'm at 7 states, which means I have 18 to go. This is a long-term goal that I feel is within reach. Now that I've run 26.2 miles, 13.1 miles isn't as overwhelming. It's the element of travel that is going to make accomplishing this challenging.
  
• An ultra race. What is an ultra race? Anything longer than 26.2 miles. That's it. That's my new BIG goal. I want to run a 50K (approximately 31 miles) on or around my 40th birthday (in 3.5 years). Better make it a destination 50K; I'm open to suggestions!

Last month, I ran the Chicago Marathon. I've been reflecting and writing about my marathon journey and I've linked all of my posts to this Wakelet where they are curated. THANKS for following my journey; I am thankful for everyone's support.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 24

This week, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. Specifically, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. I've been reflecting and writing about my process for deciding to run a marathon, training for a marathon, etc. Linked is the Wakelet where all of my blogs are curated.

THANKS for following my journey; I am thankful for everyone's support.

There are a lot of benefits from running a marathon. For me, what is the one benefit that I'm seeking more than any other? I want to be able to show (not just tell) my kids that they can do anything. I want to be able to show them that they can do anything regardless of how challenging and overwhelming it may seem. I want to be able to show them that through commitment and perseverance they can do hard things. It's possible, any of it, all of it.

So I'm super thankful that they're old enough to comprehend that I wake-up before the sun five days a week to run, regardless of the weather. I'm super thankful that they comprehend that once a week I've been gone for quite a long time, recently, on my long runs. And I'm thankful that they'll be in Chicago to see how big of a deal this marathon is. They'll see me struggling, but then they'll also see me finishing.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 23

This week, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. Specifically, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. I've been reflecting and writing about my process for deciding to run a marathon, training for a marathon, etc. Linked is the Wakelet where all of my blogs are curated.

THANKS for following my journey; I am thankful for everyone's support.

In exactly one week, I'll be in the corrals ready to run the Chicago Marathon. This post, these posts are my commitment. I plan on running all 26.2 miles of the run. And if/when self-doubt starts to creep into my head, I'll refer back to these words that I've written and shared publicly. I'm using this for accountability purposes. I'm using this for my own mental fuel because I know that I'll need to have a counter the moment that anything negative begins to creep into my head-space.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 22

This month, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. Specifically, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. I've been reflecting and writing about my process for deciding to run a marathon, training for a marathon, etc. Linked is the Wakelet where all of my blogs are curated.

THANKS for following my journey; I am thankful for everyone's support.

Training for this marathon has been much more than just an exercise for my physical fitness. It has been an amazing learning journey that I've engaged-in with myself. And my biggest revelation is that training for (and running) a marathon is more mental than it is physical. Yes, there are some physical prerequisites in-order to prepare for and run a marathon. But I believe that the mental barrier is the bigger challenge. Being able to turn-down your inner-voice that wants to tell your body to quit and go do something less challenging and less stressful is a real beast to tame. Being able to tune-out this message when it's just you, your thoughts, and the road for multiple hours is the real challenge of the marathon.

This is a mantra that I've used during my marathon training that has helped me push farther than I previously thought possible.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 21

This month, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. Specifically, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. I've been reflecting and writing about my process for deciding to run a marathon, training for a marathon, etc. Linked is the Wakelet where all of my blogs are curated.

THANKS for following my journey; I am thankful for everyone's support.

Prior to training for the Chicago Marathon. 13.1 miles was the furthest that I've ever ran. I'd train up to 12 miles and then run the 13.1 miles (maybe a dozen different times) as part of a race day event. In my mind (and my legs), 13 miles used to be a pretty big hurdle to go out and run.

But while preparing for my marathon, my training plan had me doing long runs of 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20 miles! All of a sudden I was interpreting a 13 mile run a little bit differently than I had in the past. You see, everything is overwhelming until you do it. Then once you do it, all of a sudden, it becomes a little bit less overwhelming. And then you do it again and again and again, until it becomes routine.

Last weekend, during the tapering stage of my marathon preparation, my long run dropped back to 13 miles. Funny thing, though, it no longer seemed quite so long.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 20

This is the 20th #MyChicagoMarathon post that I've written.
(Linked is the Wakelet where I've housed all of the previous posts)

This morning, I ran 20 miles.

Three weeks from today, is the 2019 Chicago Marathon.

I've been practicing, "officially," for the marathon since the end of May. There have been days when it's been hot and humid, and days when it's rained. I've had to work around vacation and travel schedules, which hasn't always been ideal, in-order to get in all of my miles. Some days and runs were hard; nonetheless, I've done them all.

And now for the next three weeks I'll taper my training in preparation for the race. What's left is the equivalent to practices in shells and a couple of walkthroughs. The hard part is over. In a previous post, I quoted Alex Hutchinson from his book, Endure, "Training is the cake. Believing is the icing." That may be true, but I think that "Training is the cake. Racing is the icing," might be a better fit for the idiom.

I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. Specifically, I'm running the Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. I encourage you to visit my fundraising page (linked), and if you are able/willing donate (I'm so close, I'm under $100 from my goal!); THANKS for considering, and THANKS to ALL who have already donated!).

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 19

Next month, I'll be running my first ever marathon, the Chicago Marathon. I've used this space, my blog, to document my journey and my preparation leading up to the race (this is my 19th post!). I want to thank you for following me on this journey; I hope that you are enjoying my story.

I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. My charity is Action for Healthy Kids. I encourage you to visit my fundraising page (linked), and if you are able/willing donate (I'm so close! I'm just over $100 shy of my goal); THANKS for considering, and THANKS to ALL who have already donated!).

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 18

Next month, I am running the Chicago Marathon. For the past nine months, I've been using this space (my blog, this is post number eighteen!) to document my journey leading up to the race.

During this time I've been intentional about filling my mind with books and podcasts for motivation. One of the books that I read (over the summer), The Road to Sparta, by Dean Karnazes, stands out as worth sharing. The story follows Karnazes, an ultra running legend, as he explores the roots of the first marathon while he runs the historic 153 miles from Athens to Sparta. If you like books about history, I recommend it. If you like books about running and/or physical fitness and/or testing your limits, I recommend it. It was both fascinating and inspirational.

The following are my ten (yes, there are ten) favorite passages from the book, along with my two cents regarding them.

(p.12)

In a previous post, #MyChicagoMarathon No. 13, I specifically wrote about this and how my marathon preparation is a personal learning experience. Classrooms (and schools) are simply places where a lot of education takes place. But education is not in a vacuum; education is everything that we do, and everywhere that we are.

"Running these long distances was liberating. Others might have found it daunting and intimidating...These endeavors would temporarily ruin my body but cleanse my soul. My spirit would be awakened, and I would be left in a state of higher being, the dismantled fragments of my essence  eventually reconstituting a better version of myself." (p.35)

Running long distances is hard. But the feeling produced from those post run endorphins is far greater than any temporary pain experienced during the run.

"Balance doesn't lead to happiness - impassioned dedication to one's life purpose does." (p.36)

I might add that attempting to find balance may lead to unhappiness. It's hard. Life is pretty full, and attempting to find balance may only cause more pressure. Instead, seek to find the right fit, live in the present, and love what you do.

"The Greek ideal was that sport should be preparation for life. Athenians viewed intellectual education and physical education as inseparable equals." (p.45)

Agreed! It's what is great about sports. Sports teach character in a way that nothing else can. My opinion. Period.

"Yet, having a strong body is only part of the equation. Having a strong mind is equally, if not more, important. There is a saying at the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run: "The first 50 miles are run with the legs, the next 50 with the mind." (p. 138-139)

If there is one thing that I've learned throughout this training, it is 1) training your mind is as (if not more) important as training your body (and 1b) it is possible to train your mind).

(p.185)

Resiliency. One of the most important things that we can develop in our kids (and in ourselves). Life is hard, and challenges are inevitable. Intentionally, put yourself in these situations so that you can practice your resiliency.

"Sure there were other competitors in the race and the clock was ticking, but inevitably an ultra-marathon is not a race against others or against a stopwatch; it is a match against oneself." (p.225)

That's one of my favorite things about running. The internal competition. I've often thought that when you can't go faster, go farther (and vice versa).

"If you want to run, run a mile...

(p.227)

This (the 2019 Chicago Marathon) will be my first marathon. I don't think it will be my last. The mental and physical preparation that it is requiring, I'm enjoying it, too much.

"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in life is not triumph, but the struggle." (p.263-264)

It's a process. All of it. And when you're fixed on the outcome, you're very likely to be disappointed. If you can enjoy the journey, do the little things along the way extremely well,  and trust that the results will take care of themselves, you're much more likely to find contentment.

"There is nothing easy about finishing a marathon. No matter if you are an elite front-runner or an anxious first-timer, the undertaking is fearsome. And that is because the marathon is not about running; it is about salvation.The ingredients required to tackle this formidable challenge are straightforward: commitment, sacrifice, grit, and raw determination." (p. 265)

This comes from the conclusion of the book and it excites me! It's going to be hard work to run 26.2 miles. Preparation has been hard work, running 40(ish, +/-) miles, each week. But that's why I'm doing it. That's what I like about it; being able to accomplish something that is difficult, something that takes an intentional commitment, something that with the right preparation and mindset can be done.

Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able/willing) donate (I'm so close! I'm only (roughly) $200 short of my goal; thanks for considering, and THANKS to ALL who have already donated!).

I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 17

I'm going to run 26.2 miles during the Chicago Marathon, this fall. That's something that I've never done. My last post, #MyChicagoMarathon No. 16, closed with the following quote from Thomas Jefferson.

I've been a runner for a while now. I have running training plans that I follow. And up until now, that alone has worked for me. It's allowed me to stay in (relative) good shape, and run a dozen half-marathons and countless other road races.

Three things that I've neglected (to an extent) that I'm going to need to do a better job of leading up to my race in October.

Diet - I eat healthy. I've always ate pretty healthy. But I think I need to do more than eat pretty healthy leading up to my marathon.

Sleep - This is the one thing that I neglect the most in regards to my personal development and wellness. I need to get more sleep than what I do. The week leading up to the race, I'm committing to getting seven hours of sleep each night.

Stretching - I never did this, regularly. I'd do it here and there, but never consistently. It took up too much time. But then I hurt my back. And I was desperate to never again experience that kind of pain the restrictions to my activity that the pain caused. So, since March of 2018, I've made stretching a regular part of my daily routine.

My goal is to finish my marathon in four hours (or less). That's a nine minute, nine second per mile clip. I am certainly capable of running at that rate. However, the question is, will I be able to run at that rate for the duration of 26.2 miles? If so, it will be the result of more than just the miles that I logged while training.

This October, I am running the Chicago Marathon. Leading up to the race, I'm using this space (my blog, this is post number sixteen!) to document my journey. Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able/willing) donate (I'm only (roughly) $250 short of my goal; THANKS to ALL who have donated!).

I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 16

Earlier this spring, I listened to the audio version of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson while running.

It was a really good book, and a timely read as I was preparing to start (and then starting) my marathon training. I've shared a couple of the quotes that really resonated with me, below.

"You have to teach athletes that they can do more than they think they can."

"The brain rules the body. You're capable of much more than you think."

"The marathon punishes over confidence with old testament severity."

"Training is the cake. Believing is the icing."

In the context of training for running a marathon there seemed to be an emphasis on the mental component. How do you mentally prepare for such a physical test? One tip that I'll take away is every so often change WHEN I'm doing my training. I'm a morning runner, always have been. Every now and again, I need to run after work or after the kids have been put to bed just to change it up and see how my mind is going to respond in a context/setting that isn't as familiar.

"If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done."

More on this quote from Thomas Jefferson in my next post, #MyChicagoMarathon No. 17...

This October, I am running the Chicago Marathon. Leading up to the race, I'm using this space (my blog, this is post number sixteen!) to document my journey. Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able/willing) donate (I'm only (roughly) $250 short of my goal; THANKS to ALL who have donated!).

I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 15

Previously, I wrote about how we all deal with pain. We choose to either live with the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Choosing the pain of discipline has an easier aftermath.

One of my all-time favorite quotes is "Discipline yourself so no one else has to." - John Wooden

For years, I've worn the words 'DISCIPLINE YOURSELF ' on my RoadID as a constant reminder.

I want to give credit to my parents for setting me on a path that would instill discipline in myself at a pretty young age.

Let's rewind to the early 1990s...

West Branch was (and still is) a powerhouse football program among small schools in the state of Iowa. As a result, West Branch Football was my first true love. It’s all I wanted to do. In fact, my goal setting, and planning, and thinking didn't really go beyond the fall sports season of my senior year of high school. I would have plenty of time to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, after I’d finished playing football at West Branch. I know that it probably sounds silly to read this (coming from an elementary school principal in his mid-30s), but all I ever wanted to be was a really good football player for West Branch and win a state championship like my heroes did when I was in grade school.

Image via @wbbearsfootball Twitter page

As an upper elementary school age child, my Dad started to take me into the high school weight room in West Branch. At the time, being around my football heroes who were stars in my eyes was the best. But in the long run, what I probably wasn't aware of at the time, it was this practice that set me on a path for a lifelong commitment towards my fitness and my health. Going to the weight room, and trying to emulate the work of my heroes, became a routine. I wasn't power-lifting (nowhere close), but I was developing a habit. And, ever since, this habit of exercise has remained a constant in my life.

My football career ended-up okay. I don't know that I was ever a star, but I was a two-year starter on offense and a two-way starter my senior year. We didn't win a state championship, but we did go 9-0 in the regular season my senior year and win a district championship. Furthermore, my success in high school even afforded me the opportunity to play football at the collegiate level (a small division three school, nonetheless). None of this was a credit to my natural athletic ability; I owe all of what I accomplished (athletically) to the passion and commitment that I possessed.

As an adult, I think of myself as being very driven and highly disciplined. I trace those traits back to my early love for West Branch Football AND my parents (both my Dad and my Mom) for putting me into situations that were supportive of that love. Thank you, both. It is that drive and that discipline that allows me, now, to commit to a 20-week training plan, running five days a week in-order to prepare to run a distance (26.2 miles) that I once never thought imaginable.

This October, I am running the Chicago Marathon. Leading up to the race, I'm using this space (my blog, this is post number fifteen!) to document my journey. Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able/willing) donate (I'm only (roughly) $300 short of my goal; THANKS to ALL who have donated!).

I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 14

A couple of weeks (maybe a month) ago, I wrote the following after completing a run:

Just because I run (regularly), doesn’t mean it’s easy (for me)
The agony endured while running is just less than the agony that lives inside my head if/when I don’t (run and/or workout)
It’s psychological warfare within myself (within all of us, constantly)

This past week, while running, I was listening to my friend Danny Bauer's Better Leaders Better School podcast - Episode 204 How Elite Performers Show Up - when his guest, Chanie Wilschanski shared the following quote from Jim Rohn.

"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weights tons."

I immediately fell in love with that quote. And listening to content like this (that has me so fired up and excited) does something inside of my head where I forget that I'm running (while my pace increases and my fatigue lessens). It's amazing; it's one of the best feelings in the world, actually.

I (think I/try to) choose the pain of discipline. Fortunately, that pain is mitigated knowing that I am avoiding the pain of regret. But that doesn't mean that it's easy. In regards to running, I still grind my way through most of my runs. And that's one of the things that I love about running; doing something that isn't easy, but doing it anyways. That's discipline, and I'm excited about a couple of the ideas that I have for future posts to write to relate back to this idea of discipline and how it relates to me, as a runner.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 13

Why Might YOU Care?

Recently, I was in the midst of a “long” run, which had me thinking about what to write for my next #MyChicagoMarathon post. I was thinking about my audience, primarily my Twitter followers (the platform where I share), a group of mainly educators.

Why do they care about me running the Chicago Marathon? What does that have to do with education?

That got me thinking. What is education? I think that, too often, we think about education in a vacuum. Education and school are NOT synonyms. School is just a noun; it's a place. Educate is a verb; it's something we do, it's synonymous with learn. Everything that we do, throughout our lives, has the potential to contribute to our education.

I've been listening to Range, the audio book, while running. Coincidentally, this morning, the author was talking about the importance of educating ourselves over the education of stuff. Agreed. And my commitment to and training for running a marathon is an education. I'm learning about persistence and preparation - two vital skills in life, across any discipline. I hope that this blog, my story can inspire at least one person, at least a little, to commit to and/or prepare for something. As educators, that's our job; to inspire.

As I've alluded, this October, I am running the Chicago Marathon. Leading up to the race, I'm using this space (my blog, this is post number thirteen!) to document my journey. Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able/willing) donate. I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 12

How much boredom can you tolerate?

I ask because I have started my training for the Chicago Marathon. I am in the second week of a 20-week training plan for a marathon that isn't happening until October. Five days a week, I'm running the (relatively) same routes. And, for now, I'm running distances that have become routine. It's a little monotonous; actually, it's kind of boring.

The process is boring. When viewed as isolated events they can surely seem insignificant. However, when looking at the big picture it is evident that the sum results from all of the parts. That's a potential hot take in our instant access, quick fix society.

Trust the process. Chop wood, carry water. Break the rock. I love what these cliches represent so bear with me if there is redundancy in my writing about them. I'm all in for the process (In fact, recently, I had the good fortune of writing a guest piece for Principal magazine - Reflective Principal: The Process Takes Time with an educator's lens regarding the process.).

Doing the simple things, the little things, the boring things - that's how you get better. Over time, consistency produces results. So can you tolerate boredom?

I can. And I will. I'll stick to my training plan. I'll trust that the process will prepare me to run the 26.2 miles necessary miles to finish the Chicago Marathon on October 13th.

As I've alluded, this October, I am running the Chicago Marathon. Leading up to the race, I'm using this space (my blog, this is post number twelve!) to document my journey. Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able/willing) donate. I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

Donate to My Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids (linked)

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 11

Last weekend was Mother's Day. I shared a post (pictured, below) to celebrate my wife, the mother of our children, but it didn't do her justice. She's more amazing than this post reveals.

Since January, I've been using this platform to share my journey leading up to #MyChicagoMarathon (October 2019). This post is my thanks to my wife, Amy, for her contributions along this journey.

Recently, Amy was out-of-town for five days on a work related trip. Ugh. I was a single parent for four nights. Hardest. Job. Ever.

Parenting requires sacrifice, but that sacrifice doesn't begin to compare with the amount needed when you're a single parent. Parenting requires organization, the organization that you need is on a whole different level when you're doing it solo. Parenting is exhausting; you don't even have time to be exhausted as a single parent.

Salute to all of the single parents

A minor sacrifice that I had to make with Amy gone was altering my running routine. I couldn't just go, whenever it was convenient for me. As a result, the time that I spent running was reduced.

Amy, for close to a decade, you've allowed me to run. Thank you. It's an activity that became a routine and has turned into a passion for me. It has required commitment from me, which also, at times, is accompanied with a sense of guilt when I go on my longer runs. As a result, it has required sacrifice from you (Amy).

• Thank you for allowing me the physical benefits that running provides me 
• Thank you for allowing me the mental benefits (which are even greater than the physical benefits) that running provides me
• Thank you for allowing me to pursue my personal goals

I just finished an eight-week training plan to get ready for my 20-week marathon training plan. This will be the most extensive training that I've ever done as I prepare to run my first ever marathon. I couldn't do this without you. When I cross the finish line in October, it will be our shared accomplishment.

You've never gotten in the way of my pursuit for my personal goals, Amy. Instead, you've been nothing but supportive along the way. And I can't thank you enough for that. You're an amazing person; you are the best, and I love you.

This October, I am running the Chicago Marathon. Leading up to the race, I'm using this space (my blog, this is post number eleven!) to document my journey. Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able/willing) donate. I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

Donate to My Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids (linked) 

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 10

Recently, while running, I've been listening to the audio version of Alex Hutchinson's book, Endure. It's a fascinating book about, as the cover (and title) states, Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance. The quote from the book that I'm sharing (below) stands-out to me for a variety of reasons, none more than my curiosity (and interest) in sports psychology.

“If I could go back in time to alter the course of my own running career, after a decade of writing about the latest research in endurance training, the single biggest piece of advice I would give to my doubt-filled younger self would be to pursue motivational self-talk training—with diligence and no snickering.”  

I'm preparing to run my first ever marathon. Currently, I'm in the middle of an eight-week training plan to build-up my endurance from three to six miles in preparation for beginning a 20-week training plan leading up to the marathon. I've followed many training plans, previously; I'm confident that my legs and my lungs will be ready for the 26.2 miles. 

But what about my mind? What am I doing to train my mind? I don't have the means to hire a sports psychologist. Nonetheless, this isn't something that can be neglected. I can't leave it up to chance; I have to be intentional to ensure that my mind will be able to endure all 26.2 miles on race day. So what am I doing?

• I think that the transparency of me blogging and sharing my marathon journey through these posts will no doubt hold me accountable. Because of this accountability, I will be willing to sacrifice more. 
• I am aware of the benefits that come with smiling. Wearing a smile: elevates our mood, relieves stress, and helps us stay positive. What do you think I'm trying to remember to do while I run? Actually, while I do anything...
• Personal development is a priority. I love learning about things that will make me a better person. As a result of being a better person, I am a better father, husband, principal, etc. So I read books, I listen to podcasts, I follow other people. I feed my mind with things that I believe will make me more positive, more optimistic, more resilient, more patient, etc.
• More than anything, though, is knowing that I want my kids - Ryne and Olivia - to witness it all. I want them to see me committed to preparing for something that is months away from happening. I want them to see me struggle and keep going. I want them to see me exhausted and satisfied at the same exact time. I want them to see me accomplish something that I've never done before. Thinking about this is helpful when it would becomes tempting to rest and/or stop.

Now I want to know what you are doing? We talk a lot about mental strength, but what are we doing to develop mental strength? Please share your ideas!

This October, I am running the Chicago Marathon. Leading up to the race, I'm using this space (my blog, this is post number ten!) to document my journey. Until next time, I'll close with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able) donate. I hope that you'll follow me on this journey, and I hope you enjoy my story.

Donate to My Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids (linked)