Every school year I start out running in a dead sprint. The details must be perfect. I commit to being fully present when meeting my students and families for the first time. The first two days are like the Daytona 500, action packed and fast!
The first days are fun and exhausting; and not just because I let the kids chase me at recess in my astronaut costume. There’s so much to cover and all the while I also teach. It’s such a special time. The kids are ready and so am I. We have 180 school days together!
The first days of training for a race are fun too! There’s so much optimism! My body is always fresh and ready for the newest challenge. Training comes with a consistent routine that feels oh-so good. This year I bought new trainers and tomorrow I hope to buy the shoes I’ll be running my marathon in. In a marathon, I have 18 weeks to train for 26.2 miles!
For the first time in nine school years, I’m teaching third grade. And for the first time ever in my 25 years of running I’m wearing Asics running shoes. At first, I was hesitant. Changing grade levels and brands made me unsure. Trying a new plan and teaching something curriculum is scary.
Despite it all, I’m off to a fast start. I taught curriculum on the first day while still mixing in fun activities. Meanwhile in my running, my training plan has me hitting the track for the first time in a decade and running paces close to my college times.
In my classroom I’ve used more math manipulatives the first 15 days of school than I have in my entire career. As for my running, I’m intentionally running paces on easy days I haven’t ran since middle school. Both strategies are ones I’ve skipped but have known they’re best practices. If only I had started years ago.
When I look around my classroom I see space; literally and physically. Everything is spaced themed and less cluttered. Since moving to 3rd grade, I donated many items that were meant 4th grade. The result, my classroom feels bigger because it isn’t stacked to the brim with boxes and supplies that I never used anyway.
In my running, by seeking advice from running experts, trying a different shoe brand, and sticking to a training plan has been super helpful. By relearning why certain types of runs are important my heart and lung concerns have dropped dramatically. Having my foot analyzed, I learned I’ve been running in a shoe size ½ inch or a foot too big for me.
The surprising and most important thing I’ve noticed in both my teaching and running is my happiness. It’s been years since I’ve been this happy in my classroom. My newest classroom is my all-time favorite one! I love working in it. It’s easy to find anything myself and students need.
Until I started running slower weeks ago, I couldn’t remember when I’ve been so overwhelmed with joy for an entire run. Last week, I ran past animal statues and felt inclined to take a selfie, so I turned back around and did! That’s normally not me during runs. But it did it!
It’s safe to say, I’m off to a fast start. This time I’m optimistic I’m going to hold the pace!
