May was an extremely busy month and it just flew by! I accepted a new position at work, so I will be moving from teaching 2nd grade in an elementary school to working as a High School Guidance Counselor. I've been in my current position for 7 years. Therefore, I wrapped up the school year with mixed emotions. It is difficult to leave a school where I have become so close with my coworkers, students, and families. On the other hand, I am so excited to return to a counseling position. After working hard to complete my second Master's degree and entering a counseling position, returning to the classroom felt a bit like a step backward when we relocated. Now I feel like I am finally where I am supposed to be....though for many reasons, I know where I was for the last 7 years was the right place for me during those 7 years. I trust all things happen when they should, and now is the time for me to move onto High School again. I will be working with my husband and where my son will be attending next year, too. My daughter will be there in just a couple of years, too.
Through the craziness of getting a job change and finishing out another school year, I have continued on my training. I completed the Paducah Iron Mom Half Marathon on Mother's Day weekend with a new PR! 2:04:16. This is about 7 minutes off my previous best. When I finished a got a water and a cookie, I then went backward on the course until I found my mom. I ran with her a bit, then went around to the finish to cheer her on. She also had a new PR of 2:28, taking about 30 minutes off her previous time! My dad and my son each completed their first half marathon, as well. My dad finished in 2:45 and my son in 2:44. We all celebrated with a big lunch out, a nice nap, a little shopping, and then a light dinner, and then relaxing in the evening at the hotel.
I felt quite tired on my runs the whole next week. I think it was due to pushing the pace more than I had before in a half. Packing up my classroom was quite time consuming, too, so I missed a couple of runs over the three weeks between the two half marathons. Then on June 1, I ran in the Hospital Hill Run Half Marathon in Kansas City. I was nervous, having heard that the course was quite difficult. The friends I went with were both running in the 10K. We enjoyed the expo, a late lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, shopping on the plaza, and then dessert at the Cheesecake Factory. Not my usual prerace preparation, but I was really just there to have fun with friends. I was able to complete the race in 2:10:37. Just about 6 minutes slower than my PR, but still my 2nd fastest half marathon. I was pleased with the results. I amazingly had no pains after and was able to enjoy the rest of the day. I've only had one easy run of 3 miles so far since the run, but it felt fine.
Now I must prepare for my 3rd half marathon of the spring. This will be 3 half marathons in 5 weeks (and my 8th half marathon overall) The first one was chosen to try to PR (and to get a medal from KY). The second was chosen to meet up with friends, and to also see how I could do on a hilly course (and because it came with a cute jacket and nice medal). The third is to see if I can run at elevation (and to get a medal from Colorado). Maybe I will try to work on completing a run in all 50 states. Not sure if I'll make it to Hawaii or Alaska, but maybe some day.
I'm a bit nervous about completing a half marathon at a much higher elevation. I'm hoping that since I've done well in the past with hiking and skiing at elevation, that I will be able to complete this run without too much difficulty. Wish me luck!
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| Before the Pacudah Iron Mom Half Marathon |
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| After the Paducah Iron Mom Half Marathon; PR for my mom and me; First Half for Dad and Erik! |
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| Enjoying the Expo for the Hospital Hill Run |
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| Preparing for the Hospital Hill Run; 10K for Jackie, Half Marathon for me |
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| Preparing for the Hospital Hill Run; 10K for Amy, Half Marathon for me |
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Showing off our well earned medals after the Hospital Hill Run.
We went out to eat at Jack's Stack Barbeque on the Plaza in Kansas City. |
