goals

I finished my half marathon a week ago and have been looking through some running blogs ever since. All of them mention the need for goals after the race you've been training for so you don't totally stop running. One blog I started reading mentions the need for multiple goals so you don't get lost. Here are my new goals:

1. I will run at least 4 races before summer is over.
1. I'm doing the Run for the Sun in May with the Casis group: 90 mile relay
2. Schlotzky's Bun Run with Emily: 5k
3. possibly the Cap 10k
4. ?
2. I will consistently run 3 miles without walking.
3. Speed up my mile time.
4. Run 10 miles a week.

No, I don't think I can handle a full marathon, but I definitely think I will be running another half marathon in the fall or winter when the weather is cooler. I'm already looking around for my next half! (Amy is hoping I'll do the one in Dallas in December with her...I just might!)

my superbowl

Today is a very exciting day in the Ewing household, its Oscar Sunday! I could care less about professional sports, and I never really watch the Superbowl unless forced into it. But Oscar Sunday, that's a big day. Ever since middle school my family and I have bet on the Oscars. It started out as a quarter per category, but now that more people have joined the pool we bet $5 to the winner. Every year my mom would make a themed multi course dinner based around the Best Picture category. Now that my sister and I live away we have to make our own dinners, and we call each other during the commercials to discuss how we're doing. 

My parents are in Chicago right now visiting her and Miles and they will all be together for the Oscars tonight. When I was helping my mom come up with her menu, I didn't realize they would all be together without me. Had I known I wouldn't have given her such awesome ideas since I won't get to enjoy the meal. It's also sad because they're all together for the first time in years and I'm missing it. Oh well, I'll enjoy my crock pot spaghetti and peach and blackberry crumble with coconut ice cream all by myself. 

Cross your fingers that I win! (I went a little crazy shopping this past week and could use the extra cash.)

my job is weird

Teaching is a weird profession. Having to deal with kids saying someone said a bad word (jerk, stupid, Betty Buttcheeks...what does that even mean?), random dance parties when I'm in a bad mood (today we danced to Lady GaGa's Just Dance), and kids pointing out anything they think is different about you (one kid asked me what was wrong with me because my voice sounded weird). I mean, what other job will someone come up to you and say they don't feel well, and your response is, "Go try to poop and let me know how you're feeling afterwards."?

13.1 done!

raYesterday was the day! Abby came in to run it with me and told me what I was doing all weekend, from eating, to sleeping, to making sure I was hydrated. She has done several marathons and half marathons so I did whatever she told me to do since I've never done one before. On Saturday we went to the expo to get our bibs and all the free stuff they were giving out. While we were there we even got to see what our finisher medals would look like and it made me even more excited about finishing!!

When Sunday morning came along I was fully expecting to be even more anxious than I had been the day before and be having crazy stomach issues, but luckily I was feeling pretty good! When Abby and I made it to the gear check area I started getting really excited and a little anxious. Waiting around for 7:00 to come sucked. When we finally started moving it felt so surreal that it was actually happening. Even when I finished it still didn't seem real. Abby and I ran the first mile together, and then she took off since she's a lot faster than me. It is crazy for me to say this, but the first 8 miles were so easy! We went up Congress which has some hills and is also a steady incline, and then down First which is all downhill (my favorite part of the course haha), and I was feeling pretty good. Mom and dad were waiting at mile 2 and 9 and by the second time I saw them the sun had come out and it was really hot. I felt a little lightheaded before I saw them, but I had already told myself even if I throw up or pass out I won't stop. 

After leaving mom and dad the hills really came out in full force. I practiced on hills, but after running 9 miles, in the heat, I felt as if this was my first time on a hill. Around mile 10.5 was a huge group of my students and their parents. They had posters, noise makers, pom poms, and huge smiles for me. We were all so excited to see each other, and one of my moms was so sweet offering me water, gatorade, or doughnuts. After I left them a few of the boys ran with me for a little bit yelling "Go Ms. Ewing! You can do it!" Not much further along I saw some of my students from 2 years ago with their families and posters for me. I didn't even know they knew I was running! 

Next was Enfield. Whoever made this course is cruel. from mile 11-13 are some of the nastiest hills. The worst being up to Lamar where it looks like you will never reach the top. After a few of the big ones (but not THE big one) I saw some of my teacher friends and their kids. Amy ran out onto the course with a beer for me and everyone else was holding posters and signs they made for me. At this point I wasn't feeling great so I passed (sadly) on the beer and gave everyone a big hug. Amy yelled out words of encouragement and I was off for the last mile and a half. I saw Eric for a second time, and then Emily, Matt and Penny. When I got to THE hill I had to walk it. I mean there was no way. At least I wasn't alone in the walking. There were probably only about 20 people that I saw actually running up the hill. 

At that point I was almost at the end. It was crazy how the atmosphere just changed the second you got to the top. The crowds started getting bigger and bigger, everyone around me started speeding up, it was amazing. Right before one of the last turns I saw Jillian, Karam and Chris with signs yelling for me. I started crying when I saw them and I started getting excited thinking about how I was almost finished. Right before the last turn I started crying again because I was so happy. The crowds were huge and so loud! I turned my iPod off so I could just listen to everything and be present in my finish. When I crossed the finish line I immediately threw my hands up in excitement. After a year I reached my goal. Something I thought I would never, hell something I thought I could never do I did. Starting from scratch, and a year of training I finished my first half marathon in 2:43:54! Below are a bunch of pictures from Saturday and Sunday.

My bib with all the free stuff!

Abby and I drank all of these bottles of water on Saturday to make sure we were hydrated. Needless to say we were in and out of the bathroom all day because of all of that water.

Eating before the race.

Waiting around for 7:00 to come.

Mom and dad were at mile 2 and 9 to catch me. Mom didn't see me until I was standing in front of them so I had to pretend to run for this picture.

Seeing my kids really helped push me further along!!

Finished!!!!

Heather, Claire, Ben, and Amy made me signs and they taped them to my door after the race. Thanks for coming out!

Finisher shirt and medal!!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support me Sunday! Thanks to everyone who helped support me, coach me, and encourage me this past year, I couldn't have done it without you! Love you guys!

half marathon this sunday

I can't believe the half marathon is finally here! From facebook on January 24, 2010: "so its time to challenge myself, and do something new. and by putting it on facebook, i will have to do it! by next february i will run a half marathon. if you want to join me for some 5k or 10ks along the way let me know! i am not, and have never been a runner, so we'll see how it goes!"

I am still freaking out, but I know I will be able to finish it. (Not something I could have said last year.) If you want to come cheer me on, I'd love to have you there! I love that Abby is going to be running it with me! Or at least, we will be starting together and then meet at the finish line since she's a lot faster than I am. I'm super excited because my parents, and Jillian and possibly Karam are driving all the way from Houston just to cheer me on, and I hear Chris and Bianca (after a night of partying for her birthday) will be there as well. You can check out the course route if you want to come out, and if not, you can still track me and see how I do! (There's also a link for your iPhone on the main page if that's easier for you.) My bib number is 18387. I'll make sure to let everyone know how it went! (Probably not until Monday though. I have a feeling Sunday will be a day full of sleeping, drinking water, heating pads, and massages.)

Pray that it cools off in less than a day. Pray that I don't get crazy blisters. And pray that I finish since I'm an idiot and signed up for the hillier of the 2 half marathons here in Austin. (Of course I found out about the flat, mostly downhill half marathon way too late. Whatever.)

36 hours to go! EEK!!

welcome baby miles

I'm officially an aunt! Miles was born today at 2:04 am. He was 8 lb 3 oz and 19 inches long. I would say it's time to start spoiling this kid rotten...but I already started that the second I found out Rebecca was preggers. I could be a little biased, but I think he is pretty stinking cute! When I called Rebecca earlier today I even got to hear him make a little squeaking, crying noise. It was the cutest noise I think I've heard. 

My kids knew she was getting induced yesterday so the first thing they asked me today was if she had her baby, and if it was a boy or girl. I showed them the first picture I had and they all started cheering. A few of my students called me Aunt Courtney or Aunt Ewing all day. Another kid leaned over to Nichole (another second grade teacher) during library and asked with a huge smile if she had seen pictures of Miles yet. At the end of the day Rebecca sent another picture and I squealed a little and the entire class ran towards me wanting to see the new picture, and yes, they all sighed when they saw him because he is just so cute!

Welcome to the world Miles Bailey Krautner! I can't wait to hug and kiss you. (And continue to spoil you rotten.)

crying and pennies

So today kicked off my class' study of Black History Month. I always start it by playing the In/Out Game for the first half of the day, and then having a long discussion at the end of the day. In the In/Out Game, for half of the morning half of the kids are In's and treated awesomely. They basically have the run of the classroom, and I treat them like kings and queens. The Outs however have to go next door to get water, if an In needs to get water or go to the bathroom, or in line for something, they have to let the In go first. I don't ever call on the Out's, I tell them they aren't working hard enough, scowl at them every time I get, you get the idea. At recess the game stops, and we start back up afterwards, and then finally stop it right before lunch. When I told Rebecca about it the first year I did it she told me I was getting fired and I should start looking for a job.

At the end of the day we talked about how it felt to be and In and an Out, and how I treated them both times. Then we talk about why we did this experiment, and I always apologize for being so mean. The absolute worst is when the sweetest kids cry the entire time they're an Out. My first group of Out's I had 4 criers. One cried the entire time, and the other 3 were off and on. (By far the most I've ever had.) When one of the In's was asking me a question he leaned over and said, "No offense Ms. Ewing, but it's not very nice of you to not call on the Out's. I'm just saying." He then gave me a look like I hope I don't get in trouble for saying that. One sweet kid was trying to get an Out to tell them the answer so they could say it for them. Luckily all my kids got what we were doing, and hopefully none of them will go home and tell their parents I hate them.

We are also doing a service project where we collect pennies for an organization called Pennies for Peace. One of my kids said their mom wanted me to email her to tell her a little more about it, so I decided to email all of my parents. I wrote this great email telling them all about the book and how inspired we all were. It was a pretty awesome email if I do say so myself. So I get a reply email back from a mom pretty quickly saying "This made my day. Look at your subject line, I'm sure it was a mistake, but it's hilarious!" Of course I hadn't written "Pennies for Peace" like I had planned and had thought. Nope. I wrote "Penis for Peace." When I realized what I had written I could not stop laughing! I was on the verge of tears I was laughing so hard that I had emailed all of my parents this email. I was going to email all my parents the mistake, but I'm curious to see who else actually reads my emails I send them.

So that was my day. Crying and "Penis for Peace" emails.

valentine's day

One thing I always have my students do for Valentine's Day is write what they think love is. I tell them they can use their 5 senses, think about what love means to them, or explain love any way they want. I always get interesting things back...here are some of the best.

Love sounds like a riddle.

Love is a hand to destiny.

Love smells like shampoo.

Love tastes like steak and spaghetti in 2 courses.

Love smells like sword (I thought it said sour) fish and chocolate on 2 different days.

Love is a hug from you.

Love is flames.

Love is exploded cool.

I even had a frame made for me!

I totally made out on loot from the kids. I got 2 bouquets of flowers from students, about 15 pieces of candy, 6 cupcakes, and some chocolates that aren't in the picture. (I put it in the lounge so other people would eat it.)

I even got flowers from my valentine.

All in all it was a super fun Valentine's Day!

i can admit when i'm wrong

I will be the first to tell you Snuggies are stupid. Is it really that annoying to wear a blanket and have a cold arm for a few seconds to change the channel? If you're going to a sports event, why aren't you wearing a jacket if it's that cold outside? And if you really hate your arms being cold that badly, why can't you just wear your robe backwards?

So for my birthday the Heleniak's got me a Texas Snuggie. I opened it and started laughing so hard and then we all proceeded to make fun of it and how ridiculous they are. Obviously I put it on at their house and wore it while we watched American Idol. As I was leaving Claire asked if this was the best birthday present I got. Well I wore it the day after while I was doing some work, and I finally realized that Snuggies are pretty awesome. Now I would never have bought one for myself, let's be clear about that. But I am enjoying the one the Heleniak's bought for me. 

hellbound twins

Not long ago I explained why my friend Chris and I were Hellbound. Well, I was going through my old scrapbooks yesterday and I found the picture that doomed us.

wicked and weird

Wicked: an inch of snow giving AISD a snow day!

Weird: Girl Scout cookies left unopened underneath a car at Kerbey Lane. I almost took them for my pregnant sister, but they weren't the kind she likes.

This post title was inspired by a redonk song I learned about from Rebecca and Michael. Enjoy!

worst. day. ever.

OK, I get that saying today is the worst day ever is a little over dramatic, but after the day I had, I don't care. Today with the wind chill it was 7 when I woke up. I drove to school like normal and noticed as I got closer it was a lot darker outside than normal. Everything came together for me when I drove up to school and realized there was no power. So I walk into the school and there are already a few teachers standing in the dark (with a few emergency lights) talking about what the hell is going on. Turns out we have no power, and yet school will continue as normal. Portable people will have class in the cafeteria because their (our) portables are so freaking cold because the walls are paper thin. Awesome. I get to try to teach 20 bonkers kids in the cafeteria with at least 8 other classes going all the way to 4th grade.

When the announcements come on we decide to go to the classroom and pack up our backpacks with stuff and walk back to the cafeteria for warm up. We edit our sheets, check it, and power comes on. Great! We can go back to our classroom (even though our heater sucks and the room won't be warm for at least 2 hours). We get back there, and within 5 minutes the power is out again. So I'm annoyed and make my kids stay in there, and I tell them to bundle up because we aren't leaving. An hour and a half later we are all shivering so we go into the library this time with 2 other second grade classes. (Did I forget to mention they have to take a flashlight to go to the bathroom? Did I also forget to tell you I was wearing tights, jeans, heavy socks, Uggs, a long sleeved shirt, sweater, jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves and I was still cold all day? And yet school still wansn't cancelled? Just checking.)

The power continues to go off and on all day, and every time it's off longer than it's on. Because of this the heater isn't on long enough to warm the school up. Of course every time the lights go on or off my kids decide it's necessary to yell. Thanks. That's helping my headache and frustration level. At one point when this happened one of my kids, while writing and not to anyone in particular said, "UGH! This is the worst day ever!" My sentiments exactly kid.

Apparently Texas can't handle the extreme usage of power going on because of this arctic blast, and so they have enabled a state-wide rolling blackout. Of course, we were lucky enough at my school to have an entirely different power problem that no one was able to figure out. Who knows if we will even have power tomorrow. 

Now I can already see Rebecca and other Northerners rolling their eyes at this post thinking, Chicago had their first snow day in 12 years, get over it! I am also assuming Rebecca is thinking that she is pregnant, ready to pop, and is screwed if it happens (I hope they choose the sled route.) so I should stop complaining about my day. Well, this is Texas, and this is our typical winter. I just hope school is cancelled tomorrow. I don't this any of us want to see each other so soon.