Pass the Praxis..... like a boss!!

I passed!!!  I passed!!  I don't know how but I really don't care!  I took the Praxis test for teacher certification for visual impairments early as a practice just to see what is on it so I would know what to study.  I don't have to worry about what to study because I PASSED the first time. 

I feel smart!!  :)

4.0 Baby!!!

I just completed 2 more classes towards my Master's in Teacher of the Visually Impaired.  Only 10 more to go to be completely finished.  I was nervous checking  my grades because I didn't participate in the chats/discussions like I should have.  I figured that I would get counted off in participation which would knock me down to a B in that class.  I was ready for a B.  I was expecting a B.  I was OK with a B.  Finally, I saw that our grades were posted.  I was not prepared for what I saw when I opened my grades.  TWO A'S!!!!  I am so excited.  So I keep my 4.0 GPA for now.  I'm just hoping that I can keep it after the summer classes I am taking.

Getting Ready to Shred

Ok.  I'm going to do it.  I have read many, many blogs about doing the 30 Day Shred and seeing good results so I'm going to give it a try.  Tomorrow morning will be day 1.  I have done day 1 before..... numerous times.  I kind of get stuck there.  But I have my calendar all ready.  I'm going to do it this time.  Plus, it doesn't hurt that I have some buddies who will help me keep track of things.  I'm hoping they keep asking me every time they see me if I have been doing it.  I mean, seriously, it's just 30 minutes a day for 30 days.  Who can't fit that in?  I have taken before pictures and before measurements.  I WILL NOT be posting them here.  That would be just too gross for everyone to see BUT it is good motivation for me. 

Off to bed.  Going to Shred bright and early in the morning. 

10th Annual Bryan Station Defender Classic 5K Run/Walk

 The boys ran the 5K at Bryan Station this morning.  It was a cold and rainy day.  Here they are when they finished the race.  Samuel's face cracks me up!!

Harrison was the 1st place winner in his age group.

Samuel was the 2nd place winner in his age group.

 

It was a good day for the O Bro's. 

Happy tonight...dreading tomorrow

Happy - Harrison just ran a personal record at his track meet tonight.  He ran the 2 mile in 12 minutes 28 seconds.  He took 43 seconds off his time!!  That is awesome.  The coach was so happy with him.

Dreading  - The 5K is here and I am not ready. NOT READY!!!  Every time I ran my shin really hurt so I haven't done any running this week at all!  I am going to walk it tomorrow.  I'll start over with my app to build back up and not hurt my shin again.

Even though I am bummed about not running the 5K, I still have big dreams of becoming a runner.  I hate that Harrison says I can't do it.  Of course, I just want to wake up and be able to do it too.  This training and building up endurance it not too fun. Actually, it kind of sucks big time.  I am the "I want it and I want it NOW" kind of person.  Isn't there some sort of botox for running?  You know, give me a shot and I can run.  Wouldn't that be awesome?!?!

I always loved a good challenge!!!

So, here I am, 41 years old and trying to become a runner.  Have I ever run a day in my life?  NOPE!  Well, maybe when I see a spider or a snake and that is just running out of the room.  Even then, I am out of breath.  But my oldest son, who IS a runner said one little thing that changed my mind about trying to become a runner.  He ran up with the high school cross country team and has been on the track team for the past 2 years.  He is really a good runner if I do say so myself.  And that's not just my "mother's perspective" talking either.  He really is a good runner.  Anyway, One day I made some backhanded comment one day that maybe I would run a 5K one day.  He laughed at me and just said "Oh mom, you could never run a 5K".  Well, I do like a challenge and I DO NOT like to be told I can't do something.  So, here I am.  Trying to get my flabby, lazy, never run a day in my life self out there and run a 5K.

I downloaded the Ease Into 5K app on my iPhone.  I started off great the first week.  It wasn't too bad at all.  So the second week I thought, "shoot, I don't need this stinking app.  I can just go run".  And that is what I did.  The actual run wasn't too bad.  I ran/walked 2.2 miles.  Now, seriously, it was a lot of walking but I got in some good stretches of running.  I was so proud of myself.  At least, until my shins hurt like hell afterwards.  Yep, I gave myself shin splints.  So today is the first day I tried running again.  I had to stop just shy of a mile.  I was doing the app and backed back to the beginning.  My right shin still hurts but it isn't the bone.  It is the muscle to the left of the bone.  Maybe I pulled it.  I don't know.  I can walk fast but I just can't run on it or it burns like fire and really starts hurting....bad.

So, the 5K is in a week and I will probably be walking it.  I am going to walk everyday this week to get ready.  I am disappointed that I took on too much too soon but I am still motivated to eventually run a 5K.  I know I can do it.  I'm just going to keep on walking. 

I asked for it

Funny Samuel story.

Samuel and I were in the car when he started acting up. Here is our conversation.

Samuel: being a smart mouth...

Me: You need to change your behavior.

Samuel: I did change my behavior.

Me: How?

Samuel: I changed it from good to bad.

Me:

He was so serious. Like, super serious. He wasn't being smart when he said it. It was just matter of fact with those big, cute eyes opened up really wide.

I have to give it to him, he was telling the truth. But he straightened right up after this.

My Samuel is so funny.