5 mile run today!

I did it about 2 minutes faster than last time. But more importantly I felt better! Slowly but surly I am making progress.

A great way to start my day!

Summer Give-Away!

Let's do a give-away ... shall we? This is one of the last projects I pulled out of the kiln before closing up the for the summer. I think it is so pretty and just want someone special to have it! It is about 4 1/2 inches tall

and 7 inches wide. If you would like to enter the give-away just leave a comment. I will pick a winner in one week. Will it be you? I sure hope so!

Summer Sari!

Another year, school year that is, has come to an end. I made it through my 7th year of teaching! It was an interesting year. I took on some new challenges and had some interesting experiences. My 7th year will definitely go down as one of my more challenging years in education. I seem to have been sucked into the world of committees and leadership. For example, I am on the faculty council, the department chair, mentor coordinator, and a new teacher mentor. Those are on the school level. I am the Content Specialist for the Fine Arts for the School District and last I am on the State Wide Art Partnership Board. Oh yeah, somewhere in there I am also a teacher! I had two student teachers this year to help ease the burden of me being gone all the time for the many, many, many meetings I attend. It really was a crazy year. BUT NOW .... it is behind me and I am Summer Sari! Summer break is an absolute necessity for teachers. We need to recoup and recharge for the next year. Seriously, this job sucks the life out of you! So, I have my list of summer projects that I want to get done. It took all of .... one day for me to get into my summer schedule. I LOVE summer break! I fully intend on making this a great summer!

Running ... feeling better

Race for Red

Well I am feeling a little better about the running thing this week. My race today was much better than last weeks. I did shave off a few minutes and had a much better run over all. It was a fun race (good job cardiac unit of UVRMC) and lots of fun to be doing it with a group of friends. I would still like to improve my time but am just going to accept that it is going to be a slow process. What's that word again ... patience?

Big thumbs up to Peter and Jennie who had a great run. They just keep getting faster and faster! I am very impressed.
This was a great race for a great cause. I will definitely do it again next year. So should you! Thanks to everyone who posted, emailed, or offered advice after my last post. It obviously helped!

Running ... it's a love/hate thing!

Right around the time I ran my first 5K I found myself ... well lets just say, with some unexpected "free time". (most of you know what I am talking about). Even though I am not a natural runner and don't particularly love running, I decided to keep it up. I like pushing myself and enjoy a challenge .. and that running is to me! Plus I needed something productive to fill in that free time. I have been pretty diligent in my training. But progress is slow! Unlike swimming ... for me, within a couple weeks of getting in the pool I see great progress. Not so with running. I ran my second 5K yesterday and my time was almost exactly the same as my first one. After 2 more months of running I am not showing any signs of progress. That is so frustrating (and kinda embarrassing)! I shouldn't say that I am not progressing at all ... my distance is progressing (I did run 5 miles last Saturday) I am just talking about speed. On the flip side ... I do enjoy the outlet that running is. There is something about putting on your headphones and hitting the pavement. Just you and your thoughts. Ok, and I do like that my legs are toning up. I will admit that it is more the hate part of it that is keeping me going. Oh I WILL get better at this whole running thing .. I will run a 5K faster and might even do a 10K! Take that running gods!
Any advise you runners might have, I would love to hear it. I have another 5K next Saturday and I am pretty much dreading it. Lets hope for a better time! Please!

The best line from the Bachelorette ...
"I don't know, maybe she just doesn't like AWESOME guys!"
ha, so funny!
yes I am admitting that I watched the bachelorette!

I need a new hobby ...

Look what I just got! I am so excited.
Felt Road Bike
ZW25