Patience through Trials

Since March I have been applying to work at different schools that are within a 45 minute radius around me. I thought for sure that there would be at least a few different areas that I have applied at. Let's see, I believe that I applied to at least 10 different schools. I have interviewed at many different schools, however most of the positions are for 5th grade positions. Many people do not want to teach upper grades because they have to worry about the TAKS test and whether the kids pass it or not. Especially being a first year teacher this is hard.
As I was driving to my brothers house the other day I was praying and just thinking, God I will go where you want me to go, but can you at least swing the door wide open so I will know for sure. I did not apply at places that were farther then about 30 minutes away mainly because of the drive, but I thought you know what, there are a bunch of private schools in that area I might try one of those schools. When I got to my brothers house I told my sister-in-law about everything and started crying because I was just a little bit stressed out over everything going on. I told her about applying at some of the private schools, or at least calling to see if there is any openings. She hands me a phone book and I go to the computer. The first private school that I see is the one that my brothers kids go to. I called them thinking, there is no way they have an opening....well....They had a 3rd grade opening. I told them who I was and what I was certified in and they told me to come pick up an application. I thought this is to good to be true.
I went there and met the secretary, Headmaster and the Assistant Headmaster and talked to them for a little while. They were so sweet and nice to me. It was awesome! I filled out the application and brought it back to them in two days.
Before I handed the application in, I talked to somebody who was going to put in a good word for me because their kids go to school there. She told me many different things about the school that I did not know. As I handed in the application I also handed them my portfolio hoping this would help some. Now I am hoping and praying for a call this next week.


I say all this to say that a friend of mine told me to pray for patience. As I started thinking about this I realized that I shouldn't really pray for that much patience because God puts these trials and hard times infront of you for a reason. He puts those in front of you so that you will have patience to get through them. You can not just earn patience by waiting for it to come to you. You go through the hard times to gain the patience on the other side. Patience is a virtue is what I have been told my whole life. I am learning patience more and more everyday this summer.

Check out this "Girls Sweat and that is Sweet" book giveaway

Jazz Half Marathon???? Yes or No??????

So I am debating about doing the New Orleans Jazz Half Marathon. It is on October 30, 2010 and it would be my very first half marathon!

If I was to do this, I would not set a goal for myself except to finish the race running.Now whether that meant running the whole thing, or walking some inbetween, I would at least run the last mile as hard as I could. It is in New Orleans and it is a fairly flat course. I would love to be able to run there, and since it is in October, maybe by God's Grace there would be a bit of cool air coming through. It is only $50.00 right now to run it and then it goes up to $60 after September. I am pretty sure that I could swing that right now.

I am still planning on running the Rock and Roll Dallas Half Marathon in March 2011, but I am very very tempted to run the Jazz Half. I would be able to get a training schedule in July or August and follow that to the T to train for the half.
I would not be alone on this race (hopefully). I would (hopefully) be running with my sister-in-law who I consider very experienced in half marathon's. She has ran two and is about to run another one in October. It would help to run with somebody instead of running alone. They always say that a running buddy is better than anything.

I am still debating, but I think I may just do it. I just have to talk to the husband and see what he says.

P90X- Starting Today

This program has gotten many reviews about it and my husband also completed this program while in the Academy. I saw how Brian became very muscular and I did not want that since I have worked hard to slim down my body. Well I found out with this program, that I can do that. I can tone my body verses bulking it.

I have decided to do this since it is so hot outside and it is hard to always run. I need to do something this summer to keep myself in shape since I will be training for a half in the fall/spring. I will try to post every 10 days or so about my progress and what it is like. I have heard it is not easy, but I know I can do it!!!!!

Wish me luck!!

Race Recaps and a new Running Skirt!!!!!!

It has been a while since I have updated here. Things have been crazy with the end of the school year, beginning of the summer and last races. In May I ran 2 last races. The first one was called the Athlete's Corner 3 Miler. 

I ran this one with my sister-in-law! This race was only 3 miles, so it was not a true 5K, but they were having sales after the race on running shoes inside the store. This race was very very very hot. I was having flashbacks from the 4th of July 4 miler. I had to stop once because of how hot it was and because I did not want to run myself ragged.

After the race Karen and I went underneath the shade to cool ourselves off. I was scared to walk inside right after the race because of how cold it was in there. I did not want my body to go into shock. It was a good race, but it was very humid and hot!

You can tell by my face how hot it was. My face was burning after the race! It was a great race to run with Karen! I love whenever we get to run together!
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Astro's Race for the Pennant 5K

We ran this race in Houston and it was a great race! We were not sure what to expect about this one. We knew that we were getting to run for Karen's favorite baseball team and a team that I like. We also got free tickets to an Astro's game and a great weekend full of fun family times!

We got to take a picture with Junction Jack. He had his friends there with him too! We got lined up for the race and we decided to stay together for this race because we both had not ran that much. As we were coming up on the .5 mile mark we noticed this huge hill. We not only was there that one hill but there were 3 MORE HUGE HILLS! Turns out we will running up and down overpasses. If you looked over the side you saw all the Houston traffic. Those hills were not fun. Infront of us, it looked like little ants with how many people were running the race.
We had to weave in and out a whole bunch, but it was not to bad.

We got to run into the tunnel into the stadium. It was a very steep ramp, but it was cool to run onto the field. Well....not exactly on the field. We were not allowed on the grass, but they had tons of water along the race route and it was very very organized! We found Brian and Jason in the stands. Thank goodness they found us too!

We decided to take some fun pictures after the race. Can you guess who is real and who is fake in this picture? We had Cheesecake factory, this race, Galleria, Disney store and fun times with families. It can never get better than that!
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I GOT A NEW RUNNING SKIRT!!!!!!!!!!!

My junior high teacher got this for me for my highschool/college graduation. I just graduated from college in 2009, but I graduated college in 2005. She said that since she missed my high school graduation as well as college that she would buy this skirt for me as a gift! I was so amazed, because I did not think I was going to be able to get one. I got it in today and tried it on! It fit so great and I loved it!
I can not wait to run in it! Hopefully sometime this week when it is not blistering hot outside.

Check out this giveaway for Wooha Gear . These shirts and other merchandise are great are great!

Road ID Giveaway

There is this giveaway going on that is really neat. These bracelets, anklets, dog tags and much more provide identification for athletes who enjoy getting outside and running, biking, hiking, whatever suits your fancy. They are kind of pricey, but are worth it if you are going to be doing any of the above things by yourself. The Road ID allows you to put any contact information that you want to on it. 

" Road ID creates rugged identification gear for outdoor athletes so they can be identified in case of emergency or accident. The company’s line of customized IDs is an integral part of any active person’s gear and can be worn on the wrist, shoe, ankle or around the neck."

Check out this giveaway on this blog. It is really neat and safe. 

Road ID Giveaway

The Gusher 5K

I have been a little behind on my race recaps, so I am going to try and catch up today on that. Between finishing up the end of the school year, traveling, and the many baby showers that I am going too, it has been a little crazy. 

The first weekend in May was the Gusher Full/Half Marathon and 5K. It was the first time they were holding this event in the Beaumont area. I wanted to run it, because I thought it might have been a pretty good race. Boy.....was I a little bit wrong about that. Karen decided to run it too. She was debating about running the half, but I think in the end she was glad that she did not run it. 

We had to pick up our race packets the night before at a hotel in Beaumont. 

It was not very organized within the hotel. They had people yelling at other people to let them know which line they should be in. Next year, hopefully they will find a different way to do that...such as signs.

We got our packets and t-shirts. They were DRI-FIT!!!! We were so excited. All the other shirts from all the 5K's we had ran were cotton. I was very excited to see a dri-fit shirt and they were pretty nice too.

This was all of our goodies that we had in our bag. On the race bib there was a shoe tag. That is how they know when you finish and at what time/place. I am actually very proud of these people who put this on, because Beaumont is a pretty big town, but there are not that many races that happen there verses other places. They are really trying to promote running and good health in the area and are coming up with more 5K's each year.

RACE MORNING
So race morning, I knew we needed to get up and get going because I was not sure were how exactly to get to the race. Our plan was to leave around 6:30 to get there in plenty of enough time. Well I guess my amazing husband did not get the memo. He decided to cook a huge breakfast for him and Jason and we did not end up leaving until 7. Now, I know what you are thinking, that's only 30 minutes later. Well it takes around 30 minutes to get to Beaumont and by the time we got to Beaumont, we find out there are road closures and that the way that I know how to go is all blocked off.
Then to top that off, we ask a cop how to get to the race/Montagne Center and he sends us in a different direction. After driving through quite a few different neighborhoods and me jumping out of the car to ask some people handing out water, we finally made it! It was 7:50 and the race started at 8!!!!!

Karen and I were so nervous about being late that we took off running when we got out of the car and just told the boys to follow us. We were still not sure where to go, but we just took off.
After asking a few people and seeing the starting line, we knew were in the right area and almost there.

We even had enough time to take a few pictures before the race started.

Us with our Running of the Ears shirt on. I also got those super cute headbands for Karen and I. They are glittery and so cute. They were selling them at school.

The race starts and it is hot and humid and so nasty. I had to go to the potty so bad, but I could not find one anywhere, so I had to start the race needing to go to the bathroom but could not. (very frustrating). When we started some of the people running the half had not gotten through yet, so we were weaving in and out a whole whole lot. Karen said it was worse for this race then when she ran the Disney half. As a person running the half, I would have been more than frustrated at them for starting the 5K before everybody had gotten through.
I get to the first water station and everything is going okay. I get to the next one and the water is so hot. I could barely take a sip without spitting it out, but I knew I needed it. Then on the last water station there was not even ANY WATER LEFT!!!!! They only had gatorade left. I was not going to drink that, but seriously how do you run out of water in a 5K!!!!

Here I come. I was so nasty and ready to be finished from this race. I get to the finish line and guess what.....I PR'd!!!! haha j/k Well I kind of did. My time was 27 minutes and some seconds. But then I looked at my garmin and the distance for the race was only 2.7 miles. I was not very happy. They did not measure it out correctly. Turns out the cop that told us where to turn completely missed a turn that we were supposed to take.

I finally got to go to the bathroom after the race. There was only ONE port a potty. I thought they were crazy for not having more for how many runners were there.

We decide to relax for a while and then head home, but not before...I got to get my free sample smoothie from Smoothie King.

We both PR'd!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!! haha

We went to my brothers after that and we took showers and then Karen and Jason left, but I stayed for my nieces birthday party. I loved being able to spend time with all my family today.
When Brian and I got home I posted some tips on the Gusher forum and they liked what I had told them, but the next day, I got a message from a reporter in Beaumont wanting me to talk about what I thought about the race and the tips that I gave.
I decided not to call because I did not want my name and information in the paper. I just hope that they take my tips seriously.
It was a pretty good race, but they can improve on a lot of things (mainly the DISTANCE of the race route).
I think I may run it next year, just to see how it has changed.

Up Next: Contraband Days 5 Miler!!!!

Village Creek Catfish Festival Recap

2 weekends ago was the Village Creek Catfish Festival. I have not had time to recap about the race since then, so I am doing that now. It was the first time that they did this 5K and it was very well organized for it being the first time. Way better then I thought it would be. I had not been feeling good that night before and that day, so I probably should not have ran, but I did anyways. My highschool athlete came out in me, where anytime I got sick I would just suck it up and play the game or run anyways, so that is just what I did.

Before the race. I only saw one other person wearing a running skirt and she was not very nice whenever I complimented her on hers. Oh well. I am sporting my running of the ears shirt where it all started with a skirt! hehe

And we are off. They were not very good about letting us know when to start, everybody just kind of started running. I was just a little bit surprised about that. Brian told me they were about to start and so that is whenever I started running.

My dad was in this group whenever he was training for his marathon. I would love to join this running group, but they are a little farther away to drive every Saturday morning.

I felt horrible, as you can tell there was no smile and my sleeves were rolled up completely. I was so hot and nasty and did not feel good at all, but I did finish!

Mrs. Jennifer and her son were also there to run the race! It was his first race and he did so awesome! I was so proud of him!

Brian was there to support me as he always is! I love him so much for always being there for me!

I will be running this one next year if they have it. I know it will be even better next year since this was their first year! Up next....The Gusher 5K and then the Contraband 5 Miler!