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September 6, 2007
From $500 to "is the dream dead???"
I'll start with the $500 and a mini recap before I 1) launch into a terrifying "it's all over moment!" and 2) vent about lazy, non-thinking, arrogant 18-20 year-olds (which, admittedly, I will regret once they blossom into budding rhetoricians and philosophers with powerful pens and vibrant words!).
First, the $500. For a fleeting moment, I wanted to quit everything in life and become a certified "road whore." "Road whore" is a term several local Chicago runners use to describe other local runners who essentially chase prize money at small races all over the midwest. I will never be good enough to run on a professional level, but banking $500 for 63 minutes of work is heavenly!
I ran the Park Forest Scenic 10 on Labor Day. I didn't know at the time that the race director dished out extra prize money to the top 5 Americans. I got beat by 4 Kenyans and 3 Americans and I still managed to rob the bank! Very cool :) I finished 10 miles in 1:03:04. Reflecting back on it now, I want to kick myself for not sneaking in under 1:03, but then I immediately remember that H.'s goal for me was to run 1:03:15. H. decided that I should use the race as a good marathon prep. workout - he didn't want me to race it full out because he was afraid that I might be disappointed with the result, and the last thing he wants is for me to crawl into a marathon race with little to no confidence. Needless to say, H. is smart.
I definitely had enough left in the tank to run faster, and I am semi confident that I could have rolled a few more 6:18s before completely bonking. I never felt great during the race, but I'm not supposed to feel particularly good or energetic right now . . . I am supposed to feel tired (whenever I slow down during tempos, H. looks at me and says, "How do you think mile 24 is going to feel?" That question always encourages me to gut it out because - as most of us know all too well - mile 24 doesn't feel all that great).
Speaking of tired, I am beyond tired these days. I ran a difficult 12 mile tempo run sandwiched between a 4 mile warm up and cool down on Saturday and returned on Sunday to clock an easy 20 in 2:25. I took yesterday off, and I hit the lakefront for 13 miles this morning - 7.25 were hard. H. and I started at 7:00 minute pace and worked our way down to 6:14. In spite of the fact that my legs are virtually DEAD at this point, the effort felt good. To be honest, I was relieved when H. called out the last 3 splits and they were all around 6:15 - I honestly thought we were running 6:25s. The 50 degree/no humidity morning certainly helped!
If all goes well, this week will be my highest mileage week ever . . . which sounds dreamy to me now, especially since I woke up last Tuesday after the race and I couldn't put any weight on my left foot. My mind started racing and I considered the best and worst case scenarios. Best: I wore new shoes on Monday and they irritated my tendons. Worst: Oh SH*T, I have a navicular stress fracture! I didn't blink an eye when I immediately decided to take the day off - and the next day off. I iced obsessively and by Thursday morning, I was back in my usual trainers and ready to fire up the engine. Writing this now (in one simple paragraph), I realize that I am minimizing the situation - it was a GIANT scare. Fortunately, I am never afraid to take extra rest days when I need them . . . sometimes all it takes is a simple 2-3 days off and everything magically repairs itself. That was the case with my foot. It is still slightly irritated, but nothing compared to what it felt like last week. With the marathon less than 4 weeks away, the last thing I can afford to be right now is stupid.
So it goes :)
AND . . . .
My final gripe? What is up with 18-20 year-olds these days? I know I am a young one at the age of (almost) 28, but I feel like an 80 year-old when I am around my students. I have close to 90 of them - most of them are 18-20 (with the exception of two outliers who are 22 and 16 . . . the two most mature students that I have!). I think part of the problem is that I am - without question - more tired than I used to be. Standing on my feet for 5-6 hours/day used to be a simple task . . . not so anymore. These final 4 weeks are presenting quite a challenge: how do I manage to have the race of my life and subsist on 4 hours of sleep/night?
I am trying to juggle it all right now, but I am finding it impossible. Teaching is hard business - classes may end at 3:00, but then I go home and I have 90 papers to read . . . and 4 lessons to plan. NOT FUN. AND, I am having a difficult time teaching the students that I have. I refuse to treat them like 5th graders . . . when students walk into my classroom, they are required to THINK, question, write, connect . . . what's discouraging is that several of them would much prefer it if I stood in front of the room and spoon fed them for 50 minutes as opposed to asking them to THINK. GRRRRRRR. What is wrong with our education system???
But, as usual, I digress.
I have my final 20 miler on Sunday . . .
Posted by bridget at September 6, 2007 10:08 PM
Comments
I'm so glad it was just a scare. Not to ask stupid questions, but do you have to stand while you teach? I personally thinking standing is quite exhausting! Now if only there were a way to find you 4-5 more hours of sleep each night...
Posted by: Alison at September 11, 2007 12:07 PM
hey alison! not a stupid question at all :) i always walk into the room with the intention of sitting, but it usually backfires because 1) i need to use the chalkboard since the University of Illinois-Chicago doesn't know what technology is and 2) it lures students to sleep - they figure they can coast by because they don't have to take notes, etc.
all of that said, i am still going to try to figure out a way to SIT down and retain the students' attention AND force them to take notes! i like challenges.
sleep would be the nicest of all . . .
Posted by: bridget at September 11, 2007 3:36 PM
I would suggest a chaise longue or taking turns reclining on either side of your body. It would be engaging.
I would also incorporate 5 - 7 minutes of stretching routine at the start and end of class with the following motivation:
"Boys and girls, this professor, meaning me, of amongst other things, writing, rhetoric, philosophy, english and literature, also happens to be a devoted marathon runner. One day I wil tell you exactly how running in general and in particular preparing for and competing in a marathon can affect, as studies have shown, your mind, your thinking, your awareness, your very being, as it has happended to me. For this reason of sharing albeit limited by our academic curriculum, please allow me to introduce a minimal yet pleasant part of the routines of this devotion in the time we spend together exploring our mind and our language. After inevitable giggles and some bravado which i expect from you -any volunteers? - i am sure we will both start and finish our sessions with a healthy few minutes to reflect on what it is we have come to here together to do. Thank-you. Now take a deep breath and lets start with our neck and upper body..."
Also tell, on my behalf, these jealous chicago runners you beat because either you were in front of them or 2) because you won money and they didn't, that the expression "road whore" is most inappropriate and somewhat rude, but mostly inaccurate, and an obvious symptom of their green-eyed (from the dollar'$ reflecting in your hands) envy.
Next time they address you that way, politely tell them, "I am a road WORKER" and I work hard for my money. You on the other hand are a road TOURIST. Enjoy the run and slow down if you can't handle the speed."
Sounds like H. deserves a "good work" for not losing his/her mind keeping track of you.
Suggestion, albeit impopular: consider getting your foot (scan, x-ray) checked anyway. I know, who wants to risk bad news before a race wanted so badly? I know, but this is what i think.
You are doing very well, aren't you? And I am insane am i not? Take care.
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at September 12, 2007 3:41 AM
I have to say, it's very refreshing to "see" how passionate and excited you are about teaching. My husband is a high school teacher and tells me all the time about teachers who could really care less. How sad! Those kids are so, so very lucky to have you and I'm sure they don't even know it! Good for you for finding something you love and pursuing it each and every day with energy!
As for running - I have been following along with your Chicago preparations and I am very excited for you! I think you are going to have an amazing race - you have certainly put in the work to do so. All that is left is to go enjoy yourself on race day for 2 hours and 40 minutes. :) Best of luck with the final few weeks!
Posted by: Beth at September 13, 2007 12:39 PM