Isn't this how most people feel?

Let's discuss the great outdoors. We all know people who LOVE the great outdoors. They're into camping, boating, kayaking, wake boarding, surfing, biking, yard work, hiking, animals, bugs, skiing, snowboarding, stuff that's housed in the garage, and all other things related to outdoorsy stuff. 

I realize I will take some criticism for this post (much like my "Dogs aren't really my thing" post), but here it is anyway. I'm not very outdoorsy. I enjoy going for walks. I enjoy hiking, when the opportunity arises. Running, is in fact, one of the only activities I prefer to do outdoors. 

I was your normal child. We were outdoors a LOT as kids. In Pittsburgh, all of the kids were always outside, playing in the cul-de-sac, and on the giant rocks in the middle of the island of land between all of our houses. I remember being practically dragged in for dinner in the evenings, only to go right back out afterward to play with my parents and brother in the backyard. But now, something has shifted. Being outdoors is just not entirely enjoyable to me. 

For one, I don't like to get sweaty for no reason. If I'm working out? SURE! If I'm sitting still? Not so much. Why am I sweating for no apparent reason?! I could be sitting somewhere cool. 

For two, I don't like laying out. I don't find it relaxing. I get bored. I get grumpy. I'm not really concerned if I'm tan or pale. It just doesn't matter to me. 

For three and four, I don't like yard work and I don't like bugs. There are people who find yard work totally relaxing. I get it. I appreciate these people. I'm not one of them. Planting flowers, pulling weeds, even mowing the grass doesn't relax me. Assuming the yard looks semi-decent, I'm okay with it. (This, by the way, is a vast improvement over last year when I wanted my grass to die so I didn't have to take care of it). 

And then, there are bugs. I despise bugs. Case in point, this morning, I was doing a lot of weeding. Why was I doing a lot of weeding? Because I'd neglected it for about 6 weeks and I have 25 women coming to my house on Sunday for a bridal shower. So, anyway, back to the weeding. First, in the planter nearest my house, every time I pulled out a few weeds, approximately 8 million ants would come pouring out of the ground, run around on my gloves and feet, and look all sorts of confused. Whatever, they're ants. But THEN, as I weeded around my mailbox, a bee FLEW INTO MY EAR. Ick. This also caused a minor awkward dance around the street as I tried to free the bee and get over the ick factor. 

So, no, I may never experience the true joy of sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor of a tent, and no, I may never really fully enjoy extra time in the wilderness. I may just be an indoor girl. But, I'm okay with that. 

There's a fungus among us

Okay, so, I don't really want to write this blog. But, I want to be honest about the running process and this is definitely an unflattering side of it. 


Since the second half marathon, I've been having toenail issues. Three of my toenails developed really terrible blisters underneath them. Then they filled with blood. Then they dried up and raised... one of them quite significantly. I waited until school was out to deal with them, mostly because it's difficult to take time off at the end of the school year. So, yesterday was the day. 


I went to the podiatrist, and within a second, the nurse told me I had toenail fungus caused by a trauma to the nail bed. Ick. Before she sanded down my three nails (literally with a drill), she went over the options: 1. A topical that I would have to put on twice daily for a year with only a 15% success rate after the year was up, 2. An oral medication taken for 90 days, 3. Permanent toenail removal, 4. Doing nothing and hoping it didn't spread. Those didn't really seem like options to me, but what do I know. 


Then the doctor came in, and this is when I learned new stuff. 


First, she told me that the reason I probably have trauma on these specific toes (the middle toes, and the fourth toe on one foot) is because my calves/hamstrings are tight and I pull my toes up as I run. This is probably totally true of me (ask Janet! I have super tight legs!). 


She also told me that when those under the toenail blisters develop, you've got about 8 hours to pop them and get the gunk out before problems start. On the contrary, I'd always been told NOT to mess with blisters... that they would typically just fix themselves. Not. So. 


THEN she told me what I wish to impart on every female -- toenail polish, unless clear or opal/opaque is BAD for the toes! Fungus, when it grows, likes dark places... so by constantly having polish on our toes, we're setting ourselves up for a host of problems. Who knew!? 


So, yes, it's gross. And 8% of me feels like I did something wrong. And the other 92% of me is not thrilled about taking a pill for 90 days, using topical cream, and waiting for results. But, there's not so much I can do now. 


You've been warned, people. 

Perfect summer days

I know many of you are anxiously awaiting the heat so you can get out to the beach/lay by a pool/sweat more than you've ever sweat before, but to me, yesterday and today are perfect summer days. I love waking up to a little chill in the air through open bedroom windows, sipping coffee on the deck in my pajamas, and opening up the whole house to let the winter ick air out of it. I love when the sun is out and the birds are chirping and the temperature only warms to mid-70s. I love that I can wear jeans and a tank top and be comfortable in the sun, shade, indoors, outdoors, and anywhere in between. These are perfect summer days. 


This morning, I ran 8 miles. It was the most I've run since the Indy mini, but I felt like I needed to do it to challenge myself. Even though I don't have any big races on the calendar, I also don't want to lose my mileage. Plus, since my college roommate and best friend, Teresa, has started her marathon training, I have to keep reminding myself that if she will be running 26 miles IN A ROW, I should be able to go out and put in 8 (especially since I'll be running the last 6 miles of the Chicago Marathon with her!). 


Running is so odd, and as I've often pointed out in posts, a giant metaphor for life. One minute, I can be cruising along, feeling unstoppable. The next minute, it's a struggle to put one foot in front of the other to make it up a hill or past a particularly treacherous part of the road (read: when there's a dead animal I don't want to make eye contact with). I don't know if running ever really gets "easy" because I feel like once it does, runners strive to run faster, put in more miles, or take on a new challenge, making it difficult yet again. That's the nature of the beast, I suppose... once you achieve a goal, you have to come up with a new one to pursue. 


What I do know is with a schedule that has become much clearer, and days like today, this summer is off to a wonderful, perfect start. 

Graduation day

Yesterday was the class of 2012 graduation at LaPorte High School. It is so incredibly awesome to watch kids graduate each year, knowing they're on to the next step in their lives. And, yes, I managed to get teary-eyed at least three times during the ceremony. I may be a sap, but these kids have a lot to be proud of! 


My favorite part of yesterday, though, was being able to talk to the grads after commencement and at graduation parties. It's nice to see them relax and have fun and be excited about what's coming next in their lives. 


Dan pointed out to me yesterday how many students I talked to and how I seem to really care about my students. I was thinking about this today on my run. I think I'm a teacher because I seem to have an insane amount of love to give others and truly and genuinely care about them. I've always been this way. I just tend to find other people fascinating and really want to see the best for each of them. And I hope I've been able to pass some of those lessons that don't revolve around English on to my students too... take care of one another, do the things that make you happy, live and love every moment, and pursue goals (even if you're not sure you can achieve them). 


For me, I feel like summer is off to a great start. I'm checking things off the bucket list, got to see my childhood best friend get married, and have already been able to spend time with family and friends. So ready for more of what summer has to offer! 

Sunburst and summer

It's the first day of summer vacation! I don't know where this school year went... but I'm glad we're here. 


Tomorrow is Sunburst in South Bend. I've run the 5K the past two years, but will be missing this year's due to a wedding in Wisconsin. Luckily, the weather looks WAY better than last year (90 degrees and a black flagged marathon). Good luck, friends who are running! Make sure to run a little faster through the tunnel for me!


So, back to summer. (!!!!!) I started working on the summer bucket list today. This afternoon, I started #47 -- Write my Maid of Honor speech for Shannon's wedding. It's hard trying to write a short speech when you've known someone for 15 years (and known her fiancee for 12!). I still plan to rock it, though. :) 


I'm hoping to get in a run tomorrow morning before Dan and I leave for Madison, but we'll see. Starting Monday, I plan to get really on track with my runs (at least 15 miles a week). Bring on the best summer yet! 

100 reasons not to come... but I'm here

Do you ever have those moments where someone might say something to you in passing... and it totally impacts you? I'm having one of those today! 


This morning at Jazzercise, a new student was in the back of class. She looked nervous and unsure of the moves, but she kept moving (which is all that matters!). After class, I went to talk to her, and she said something that struck a chord... "I had 100 reasons not to come today... but I'm here." She went on to say she was glad she came and that she'd be back, but it really struck a chord. 


We all have 100 reasons not to get a work out in. There are jobs and families and chores and errands and a million other things waiting to get done every day. There are places to go and people to see. 


I've come up with a thousand excuses lately for skipping runs or eating junk. It's the end of the school year. I've been traveling a lot. I'm stressed out. I'm tired. Wah. 


But getting in an hour workout or an hour run is literally 4% of my day. That's nothing! It makes me think of that Ellen quote about how she doesn't have time to work out, but she has time to go out to dinner and watch TV and figure out what her phone number spells in words. I have time to do all of that! I have time to work out. 


And the eating... eek. It's wedding season! And graduation party season! All that glorious cake... maybe I'll just get an extra work out! 

Bike the Bend

Yesterday, it was 90 degrees in South Bend. It was also the third annual Bike the Bend... a biking event where South Bend shuts down about 30 miles of road to cars and allow cyclists to ride on the roads. It's pretty great! 


Let me set the scene. Saturday night was the prom at LPHS. I set off to chaperone with some of my favorite coworkers. It's always such a fun night to see the kids all dressed up and looking so classy. Dan was off to a coworkers' wedding. By the time I got home and went to bed, it was close to one. By the time Dan got home and went to bed, it was 2:30. We were meeting my parents at my house at 7:15 the following morning to bike. Sleepiness ensues, even now. 


We started our journey around Darden Road, went down Riverside Drive, through downtown South Bend, and eventually went to the Studebaker Museum. The museum was open to riders and so cool to walk through (even if we looked dorky wearing our bike helmets). After we stopped there, it was back on the bikes and off to Potawatomi Park (Note: Totally thought you could go in the zoo! You could not. Sad face.). Once there, we turned around and headed back. 


According to the map, we went about 20 miles, but I think it felt more like 30, so I'm not sure. :) Regardless, it was REALLY fun to be on the bikes, out and about, spending time with some of the people I love the most on a warm Sunday morning. 


It was also REALLY nice to change up my weekend running routine. I ran a little over four miles on Saturday and felt like I got a nice workout in on Sunday without feeling guilty for not running. That's a win in my book! 


Side note: My stomach was really upset on Saturday during our run. I was having a hard time keeping up with Dan and had to walk a lot. At one point, he was in front of me, and I saw him veer into the tall grass of a corn field to our left. I thought he'd found an injured animal or something. What did he really find? See below. And also, why do I never find things like these while running? :) 

Dan is a Guitar Hero!