Random Acts of Kindness

This morning on my desk at school, was a card and inside it was a beautiful message along with a bag that contained Bath and Body Works lotion and shower gel. I almost began to cry.

Yesterday, at school was difficult. I wanted to run away and never come back. I wondered if I was any good, important, valuable, etc. I came home, put on my running clothes and went out for a run. Unfortunately, my shin began to hurt on mile 2, so I walked the other 2.  I could have keep going but my shin was too sore to go on any further. I thought that if I walked, the pain would all go away, but it didn't. When I returned home, I cried like I have never cried before - my eyes were swollen, my voice was hoarse, my whole body ached. My husband had to work late so I did not have a hug or kiss last night. He came home when I had already went to bed. It was a lonely night.

I cannot express how much this small gift meant to me today. I thought, how did the sender know that I needed such a thing? I may never know and that's ok. I am just grateful to know that people do care when it seems that no one does or understands.

Have you had an experience like this before? I hope so. I encourage you to not let a day pass by without saying "hello" or "thank you" or even giving a small gift to someone - you never know who you will touch.

Schedule

I have been meaning to put together a schedule of my workouts and running. I know that they motivate and keep me accountable for what I do. So, here is my schedule for the week:

Week of Feb. 27
Sunday: off
Monday: 100 push up challenge; 3 mi run (walked 4)

Tuesday: pilates (walked 4)

Wednesday: 100 push up challenge; 3 mi run (walked 4)

Thursday: pilates (walked 6)

Friday: 100 push up challenge; walk

Saturday: 4 mi run (ran a 5K)

Note: Because of my shin, I actually walked instead of ran this week, but still ran a 5K on Sat.

Saturday Field Trip

My husband rarely gets a Saturday off, so when he told me that he didn't have to work, I knew we needed to take a field trip - just to get out. We contacted our families to see if they would like to come and join us. My family had other plans, but Joe's family was available. We decided to go to the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH. It was neat to see the airplanes and their advances throughout time. The base was huge - I did not realize that until we were there. I am grateful for the many men and women who have served our country and those serving now.

We even watched an IMAX movie entitled Hubble 3D. You can see a review of it here:  IMAX: Hubble 3D
It was incredible. I was so impressed by the beauty and grandeur of the pictures taken of our universe. We have so much to be grateful for to be here upon this Earth.

Do you take any Saturday field trips - just to get out?  If so, please share where you have been.

Blown Away and Broken Down

I want to say that this week has been great, but that would be a lie. It has gone by so quickly but hectic - another snow storm leaving school cancelled for a day, projects due despite the snow, meetings before and after school, relying on one vehicle between my husband and I, and worse -a sharp pain from my left shin shot up through my leg after running three miles. In fact, while at school teaching, just pacing from one end of the classroom and back was unbearable. Therefore, I have not ran this week. But, unfortunately, it has left me miserable and wondering what went wrong.

However, while at Kroger's today, looking through the magazine section, I noticed the Runner's World magazine and decided take a look. As I flipped through the pages of the March issue, I came across an article how to avoid common running injuries: The Big 7 Body Breakdowns. I was so elated - just what I needed! I read about shinsplints, thinking maybe that is what I am experiencing. I admit, I was confused while I read because I have been running for awhile and it mentioned that shinsplints occur when runners take time off and come back to it too quickly. They can also occur when wearing the wrong shoes or a pair of shoes with too many miles. In Sept. 2010, I got another pair of running shoes (Mizuno Wave Alchemy 9) from the Columbus Running Company. Do they have too many miles on them? Are they not effective anymore? Are my high arches making this worse?

Well, I will not ask too many questions, but will take the advice suggested in hopes to recover and avoid this particular injury again:

• Wear an appropriate shoe.
• Tape the shin with Kinesio Tex tape to alleviate pain and speed healing.
• Wear an air cast ankle brace.
• Instead of running, bike, pool run, or swim.
• Increase mileage slowly.

If you find yourself with any problems, be sure to check the article out. It was helpful for me.

A Week devoted to YOU!

I am writing to inform you that this week is National Eating Disorder's Awareness Week. Embedded below is a video that I found to be so true yet gut wrenching. It is an older video but its meaning and reality still applies today.



I encourage you to spend each day this week doing something special for yourself because you are worth it!
Here a few suggestions:

• Give yourself a hug
• Write a letter to yourself expressing all of your great qualities and attributes
• Write messages about yourself on a Post-It note and post to a bathroom mirror, wall, fridge, etc. such as I love my eyes, I am strong, or I am beautiful
• Go shopping for a new blouse or accessories (or a little black dress!)
• Get a manicure or pedicure
• Go for a run or walk with a loved one
• Treat yourself to dinner or a hot bubble bath
• Buy yourself flowers (even one will do)
• Read a good book or watch your favorite movie
• Just simply RELAX!

How did the video above impact you? What special things do you do for yourself?

Grateful Suggestions

This evening, I reflected upon a suggestion that my husband made concerning my blog. He stated that I have been writing a lot of ramblings but not much about my running. I decided to look for myself at older posts and realized that he was right. The idea of using my blog name as Ramble n' Run is because I love to do both. He reminded me that I need to focus on my running too - my schedule, training, upcoming races and recaps, goals, workouts, advice and etc.

So, beginning next week, I will write about my running experiences and share with you my love for it!

The Horror of Food and It's Processing!

I am an organic, all natural food eater. I enjoy shopping at local farmer's markets in the summer and getting our Thanksgiving turkey at a local turkey farm. I love reading about organic gardening (in hopes to plant our own this spring on our tiny lot) and being informed about ways to keep the environment healthy and clean. Recently, I finished reading Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World by Gary Hirshberg (Stonyfield Founder) and The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. I loved reading their books!

Well, last night, my husband and I rented the movie Food, Inc. (We were curious about it.) The movie quoted from The Omnivore's Dilemma and Fast Food Nation (which I have not read yet). The movie showed the horror that is invovled in the meat industry today and the control that a few business have over farmers in planting their crops. It was very informative, despite what I already knew, but it made me think.

My challenge today, for everyone, is to become more informed and help save our planet!