Training Tuesday! Race Recap: Triple Threat Half Marathon

What better way to celebrate the half-way point of marathon training than by running 13.1 miles??  Saturday morning I completed my sixth half marathon, The Triple Threat Half in Cape Ann, Massachusetts!

 This race fit in perfectly with my marathon training AND gave me a great excuse for a vacation in Boston, MA to visit both my awesome cousin and my awesome marathon runner friend, Michelle.  Michelle was actually one of the people who first inspired me to start running and racing!  The last time I visited her, in 2010, I was working through the Couch to 5K training program--hard to believe we are now running half-marathons together!

I was so. pumped. about the course for this race.  I have always wanted to run a race near the ocean, but of course those are hard to come by in the midwest!  Even though the half didn't start until 10:15am (!!), we still had to get up bright and early to drive from Boston to the beautiful town of Rockport, Massachusetts in time for packet pickup.  Don't worry, there was a car nap and some reading time involved post pickup!  

Pre-Race!

The weather was so perfect at the start of the race--cool and cloudy, which was more than I could have hoped for for a mid-morning race!  This course was hands down the most beautiful I've ever raced on.  There were times I'd look to the left or right and just not be able to believe what I was seeing!  We ran by the most beautiful New England homes, big trees, wildflowers, and of course the gorgeous ocean complete with rocky cliffs, tiny islands, and lighthouses.  Yes, lighthouses.  I was constantly wishing I'd stuck my phone in my SPI belt to take some pictures!

Although it was the most beautiful course I've raced on, it was probably also the toughest!  Let's check out that elevation profile again:

Check out that climb to the finish!!

Ouch.  I've said before, being a Chicago runner, I don't really even know what hills are...or at least I didn't until Saturday!  We took it easy at this race, having planned on doing that going in.  We definitely walked up most of the hills, but there were one or two that were so steep that even walking was tough!  I swear they got bigger and steeper as the race went on...or maybe that's just the miles-induced delusion...

Michelle was having a tough running day, so we walked together a lot in the last couple miles.  Not every race is about a PR; some are just about finishing and sticking with your friend that you know would stick with you if you were struggling!  By the end, the sun had come out in full force making it extra tough--thank goodness for sea breezes and beautiful views!

I may be smiling, but I'm really thinking, "You mean I have to run DOUBLE this distance soon??"

Michelle and I managed to pull it together for the last .1 miles, and we crossed the finish line holding hands and smiling.  Our Team Sparkle skirts were a big hit--we got tons of compliments on the during the whole race!  And I was happy to report it was not uncomfortable in the least--it didn't slide around one bit!  My only complaint is that it blew between my legs a little bit which was slightly annoying, but no big deal!

Overall, this was a wonderful race--it was the smallest half I've ever done, but well-organized, great volunteers, and good swag!  There were even free samples of Yasso Greek Frozen Yogurt bars, which were probably one of the best post-race snacks EVER.  Perfection.

Michelle and I promptly collapsed in the grass after running, but we eventually dragged ourselves to the car in search of food.  During the race we passed a little restaurant called Olivia's--my sweet niece's name!  I knew we had to find it again for lunch.  YUM!  By the time we were done running, it was almost 1pm, so late to be finishing a half!  I was starving!

After a quick nap, we pulled it together enough to go out to a yummy dinner of ((veggie)) burgers, fries, and good beer, all enjoyed beside a beautiful harbor of sailboats.  God I love New England!

Besides the wonderful company and million dollar views, one of the best parts about this race was how GOOD my legs felt after!  Maybe it's the higher mileage weeks I've been putting in, but I definitely felt the best I have after a half--no sore hips, no tight IT bands.  The arch of my left foot was bothering me for the second half of the race--seems like I have a little Plantar Faciitis happening :-/ ...hopefully I can work that out with a golf ball in the next few weeks before it gets worse!  Anyways, great race, great vacation!

What is the toughest race course you've ever run?

What is the most beautiful race course you've ever run?

Management Monday Linky: Acknowledgements + a Vlog! :)

Don't forget to link your Management Monday posts at the bottom!

I've mentioned a few times that I teach using Quantum Learning, a philosophy similar to Whole Brain but with a few more components.  One of the tenants of Quantum is "Acknowledge Every Effort."  This is one of those little things that makes a huge difference in the classroom.  We all know that it's important to acknowledge good behavior, correct answers, and student sharers.  However, one of the things it's easy to forget is that really every student needs acknowledgement throughout the day.  I try to make a point to make acknowledgements a part of my classroom culture.  Many of these ideas I borrowed from my Quantum Learning training or other teachers I've observed using Quantum.

Here are some examples:

• Quick Acknowledgments: When students raise their hands to share answers ANYTIME during the day, I try to have the class acknowledge super quickly.  We usually do three snaps, but snaps get repetitive so some alternatives are three claps, two claps one snap, two stomps one clap, etc.  Basically any variation of snaps, claps, and stomps does the trick!  I know, you are probably thinking, "Seriously, you do that after EVERY time a student shares?"  Honestly, I try to, and I think it's worth it.  It only takes a second, and I can truly feel the difference in my classroom environment when we do the acknowledgments versus when we don't.  They become so embedded in the classroom culture that kids will start giving "snaps" without prompting.
• Partner Acknowledgments: After working with a partner or doing a Turn and Talk, I try to have the students thank their partner with a quick acknowledgment.  Often this will just be a high 10 or a fist pound, but another favorite is to turn and give a "YES!"--basically holding their fist in front of their face, pulling it down, and saying "Yes!"  
• Full Class Acknowledgements: During my transitions, I try to pair a classroom community acknowledgment with a quick stretch break at times.  For example, if we are sitting at the carpet and getting ready to move to desks, I might say, "Get in 5 high-5s on your way to your seat!"
• Special Acknowledgments: These are my favorites and are borrowed STRAIGHT from my Quantum training.  When a student needs an extra special acknowledgment, we use one of our "Whooshes."  Yes, "Whooshes." :)  These are silly gesture acknowledgments that are written on the popsicle sticks seen above.  I realized I'd probably never be able to describe exactly what these are, so I decided to add a little vlog into this post!  Check out the video below to see some of my favorite Whooshes!

Gosh, I am so lame.  Please don't unfollow me because of that... ;)

(I should also add that I have started "wooshing" people outside of school who have no idea what I'm doing...it gets strange...)

Anyways, that's a wrap for Management Monday!  Please share your ideas for acknowledgments in the comments or link up with your own Management Monday post!

Three Things Thursday

ONE
I think my brain is *starting* to get back into school mode...at least I was up half the night the other day thinking about classroom layouts, it that's any indication...yikes!  I spent Monday at a Common Core math planning day with my new teammate.

It was a successful day!  Our district is still using Everyday Math, but a committee revamped and restructured it completely to fit with the new CC standards.  We spent the day digging through the lessons for the first unit, creating a pacing calendar for the year, and planning out the first week in detail.  Woo!  We were super productive and worked really well together--always a great thing when working with someone new!

I also finally made it into my classroom!  Much to my dismay, when I showed up Tuesday the previous teacher's million boxes and pieces of furniture were still taking up the whole room!  GAH!  Thankfully, one of my WONDERFUL teammates offered to help me, and we singlehandedly moved every single item out into the hall.  Fire hazard much?  Oh well, at least I got the room clear!  I made a huge dent in unpacking and setting up in just a day and a half of work!  My new room is way more spacious than the old one, but was a bit of a puzzle to set up.  Sneak peak:

If only I didn't need to bring in those pesky student desks and could have the room wide open like this... ;)

TWO
I had a BEAUTIFUL 6 mile run last night in one of my favorite forest preserves.  I brought along music for the first time in over a week and was amazed at how much I enjoyed it.  A couple months back I was so sick of the exact same playlist that I was ready to throw my ipod against the wall.  Amazing how taking a break makes it feel fresh and new again!  I am 99% sure I even set a PR for that particular distance!  Can't remember the last time I ran 6 miles so fast.  After my run, I realized I didn't have any cold chocolate milk boxes (I keep them on the shelf and stick one or two in the fridge at a time) or any frozen fruit for a smoothie.  I threw a handful of ice, one regular banana, a scoop of PB, and 3/4 of a chocolate milk box in the blender to see what would happen.

What happened was one of the most DELICIOUS things I have ever consumed.  Healthy?  Maybe not, but definitely some awesome refueling deliciousness.

THREE
I'm jetting off to BOSTON tomorrow!  I *may* have over-packed for my 5 day trip...

Happens to the best of us, right??  I'll see you guys back next week with Management Monday and a Race Recap for the Triple Threat Half Marathon I'll be running Saturday!

Favorite smoothie recipe?

Have you started working in your classroom?  Having school nightmares/sleepless nights yet?? (tell me I'm not the only one...)

What I'm Reading Wednesday: More YA Dystopia, Children's Lit, + a Linky!

I decided to go out on a limb and make this series into a link up too!  I don't know if anyone else would be interested in joining in the What I'm Reading Wednesday fun, but I thought I would give it a shot!  I know I would love to check out what others are reading, so if you feel like writing a quick post about your reads of the week, I hope you will consider linking up!

Last week, I posted about a decent YA dystopia book I'd finished, The Adoration of Jenna Fox.  In my review, I complained about the lame ending, the book's biggest downfall.  I did continue the trilogy, only because my friend urged me to, and I'm so glad I kept with it.  I thought each book got better as it went along!  I'm not going to share summaries or specific reviews of books #2 & #3, don't want any spoilers, especially for anyone who hasn't read book 1!

 

I will say, though, that these books are both more of companion novels than sequels, at least when compared with book 1.  They have a different narrator and take the story that begins in Jenna Fox, including its ethical questions, in a new direction.  They also introduce some other issues into the mix, issues like classism, poverty, and prejudice that, no matter how many centuries have passed, continue to plague society.  Book 3, Fox Forever, was definitely my favorite. The story was fast paced, and I loved the characters.  Definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a good teen dystopian read!

4/5 stars for both The Fox Inheritance and Fox Forever

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages
Summary:  It is 1943, and 11-year-old Dewey Kerrigan is traveling west on a train to live with her scientist father—but no one, not her father nor the military guardians who accompany her, will tell her exactly where he is. When she reaches Los Alamos, New Mexico, she learns why: he's working on a top secret government program. Over the next few years, Dewey gets to know eminent scientists, starts tinkering with her own mechanical projects, becomes friends with a budding artist who is as much of a misfit as she is—and, all the while, has no idea how the Manhattan Project is about to change the world. This book's fresh prose and fascinating subject are like nothing you've read before.

My thoughts:  This book was wonderful.  As usual, it was recommended to me by a friend and I jumped in without reading the back, so I had no idea what it was about when I started.  Almost immediately when they started talking about physicists and chemists working on a "secret project," I thought, "Omg, they're working on the bomb!"  Yes, had I read the description, I'd have already known that. :)  Anywyas, that immediately hooked me.  Dewey and Suze were such wonderful, special, real characters.  This book made me laugh out loud and gasp in surprise.  Mostly, it was just a beautiful read.  

What I liked most about Green Glass Sea was this: In undergrad, I was an English Lit minor.  For one of my big projects in a class on Literary Theory, I wrote about children's literature and how the best children's books are those that force children to ask questions; those that describe controversial topics in a way that doesn't slam the author's opinions onto the child, but that encourage the child to form their own opinions.  This is one of those books.  Ellen Klages does an amazing job of telling the story from the perspective of children living on an army base who have no idea what's going on, but are trying to make sense of things the best they can.  At the end of the book, one adult character begins questioning whether building "the gadget" as it's referred to was the right choice--"at what cost?" she remarks.  As a read aloud or class novel, this would be a perfect opportnuity to open the conversation about the ethics of The Manhattan Project and war in general.  I would recommend this book to any kids 4th grade and up, but it would be a fabulous class read for any grade learning about World War II.

4.5/5 stars

Schooled by Gordon Korman
Summary: Capricorn Anderson had never watched a television show before. He'd never tasted a pizza. He had never even heard of a wedgie. And he had never, in his wildest dreams, thought of living anywhere but Garland Farm commune with his hippie caretaker, Rain.

Capricorn (Cap for short) had lived every day of his life on Garland Farm growing fruits and vegetables. He was homeschooled by Rain, the only person he knew in the world. Life was simple for Cap. But when Rain falls out of a tree while picking plums and is hospital-ridden, he has to attend the local middle school and live with his new guidance counselor and her irritable daughter. While Cap knew a lot about Zen Buddhism, no amount formal education could ready him for the trials and tribulations of public middle school.

Cap doesn't exactly fit in at Claverage Middle School (dubbed C Average by the kids). He has long, ungroomed hair, wears hemp clothes, and practices Tai Chi out on the lawn. His weirdness basically makes him biggest nerd in school. This is great news for Zach Powers, big man on campus. He can't wait to instate the age-old tradition in C-Average School: The biggest nerd is nominated for class president—and wins. So when Cap becomes president, he is more puzzled than ever. But as Cap begins to take on his duties, the joke starts to turn on Zach.

Will Cap turn out to be the greatest President in the history of C-Average School? Or the biggest punchline?

My Thoughts: As a vegetarian, peace-lovin', tree-huggin', flower-child-wanna-be, I think I knew I would love this book as soon as I saw its cover.  I actually started it  LONG time ago, but got distracted, set it in a stack of books, and forgot about it.  I'm SO GLAD I came across it again over the weekend!  I absolutely love the premise of this book--a sheltered hippie pre-teen being plunged into middle school for the first time?!  What's not to love.  Cap is a seriously awesome character.  He is the definition of 100, % pure innocence, from never having touched money to not understanding basic laws muchless ANY of the teasing he encounters at school.  I was intially kind of reminded of Stargirl, actually--Cap is jutst as odd as her.  Whereas Stargirl was serious and heart-wrenching at times, Schooled is saturated in humor--I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occassions while reading!  Overall, this book was a blast to read and was chock full of awesome themes like acceptance, friendship, and change.  Totally recommend!

4.5/5 stars

Cover art and italicized summaries are courtesy of goodreads.com

Training Tuesday: 12 Miles = One hungry runner!

7 weeks of marathon training down, $2,203 raised for Autism Speaks, and many miles run!  Woo!  This week I actually managed to get all my weekday runs in!  I have always run three days a week in the past, but this training plan calls for four days a week.  I was initially nervous my lame ass legs wouldn't be able to handle the extra day, but it's been going great!  You know you're training for a marathon when you're in bed, in running clothes, with taped up IT bands at 9:30pm Friday night...

Yep, I sleep in my running clothes.  And I tape those ITBs the night before--it helps the tape stick waaaay better.  Oh, and you know you're a TEACHER marathoner when you're in bed at 9:30 reading a children's book!  

My little pace group joked about how we think we should get a medal for every distance we run from now on because, honestly, come on, we've earned it. And who doesn't love a good medal? :)  This week we made it through a long run of 12 miles together.  I woke up Saturday morning pre-run to sub-60 degree weather--WHAT?!?  Shut the front door, crazy Chicago weather!  I even busted out my arm warmers and word them for the first few chilly miles!  This run went really well, although I am having some issues with the arch on my left foot--tight tight tight!  I think it is just that I have been running in a new pair of shoes--same make and model as my old ones, but I think they really feel best after they have at least 50 miles on them.  Today I tried out a new pair of running shorts: 

These are Nike Pro shorts that I bought to wear under my Team Sparkle skirt at next week's half marathon.  I am a loyal Nike Tempo shorts girl, so I was a little reluctant to try these guys--I was worried the elastic waist would give me some muffin top action and that the legs would ride up.  However, I was pleasantly surprised!  The waistband was SUPER comfy and the shorts didn't move around at all.  I still think the Tempo shorts are more comfortable--love the free and liberating feeling :).  But, I will definitely run in these guys from time to time. 

After the long run, I hit up, you guessed it, Jimmy Johns.  Cannot get enough veggie subs and salt and vinegar chips these days!  The great thing about running longer on Saturdays is that I no longer have to wait for Jimmy Johns to open after I finish running--it's already after 10 by the time I'm home!  Woohoo! 

(Oh, and don't worry, I also proceeded to eat an entire box of macaroni and cheese later that day all by my hungry self...glad I am able to cancel out every calorie burned during training with food. consumed post-run.. :)

How is your summer training going?

Management Monday: The Clip Chart! (+ my first linky!)

After writing Management Monday posts the past couple of weeks, Carrie at Being Ladylike suggested I make the series into a weekly linky party.  I am new to the link up game, but I figured I'll give it a shot!  If you are interested in sharing your management ideas, I hope you will link your posts below!

First, I have to say that I in NO WAY take credit for the clip chart.  It was not my idea, and I got my start with it thanks to many other teacher bloggers, especially Raye at The Caffeinated Teacher who assured me it was a great system for big kiddos as well as little kiddos.  Many of the ideas you will read about in this post are based on the ideas of Rick Morris, whose description of the clip chart and whose ebook describing its implementation totally got me on board with the whole system.   I've written about it in the past here and here, but with school ready to start up in a few weeks, I figured it was worth describing again!  Like I said, while most of these ideas are not my own--I'm sharing them here because they have worked so well in my classroom, and I want to spread the word! 

First Day Introduction
On the first day of school, I introduce the clip chart with a super positive spin.  I describe to students how every day when we enter the classroom, we are "Ready to Learn."  Each day is a fresh start; we are all beginning in the same place.  I tell them that it's completely up to them where they end the day.  We all make choices during every day that determine what kind of day we will have.  We also all make mistakes.  I ask the kids if they've ever made a mistake that they wish they hadn't.  I ask them if they think their whole day should be ruined because of one mistake.  They always say "No!"--that's the beauty of the clip chart.  I tell them that their day is NEVER ruined!  Even if they make a mistake, they can make a different choice and move on with their day!  I "challenge" the students to set a goal for where they would like to see their clip at the end of the day.  I have them visualize moving it up to their goal color.  Then, I have them think or talk to a neighbor about what choices they will make to move their clip there.  It's super positive and gets the kids excited about the clip chart.  I also have the kids come up and place their clip on green to give them ownership over it.

Day to Day Management

During the school day, I tell students "Clip Up" or "Clip Down" based on their behavior.  I often use a hand gesture that I read about in the clip chart ebook linked to above--a scissors motion with my index and midle finger, followed by a thumb up or down indicating the direction the kiddo needs to move his or her clip.  I try to make sure I am clipping up A LOT, especially at the beginning of the year.  Like any management system, the kids need to buy into it, and feeling successful is a huge part of it.  

I also let kids continue "clipping up" even after they make it to pink (the top level)--they can move to the very top of the chart, followed by moving "off the chart."  This is a personal favorite of mine; the kids bring their clip to me and I clip it onto my shirt.  They love it!

What Makes it Special

At the end of the day, we celebrate studetns who have made it to "Outstanding," aka the top of the chart.  These studetns get a PBIS ticket, a "Super Star" award, and a sticker on their clip.  When clips have 5 stickers on them, they get swapped out for a special colored clip starting with red, the bottom color on the chart and moving all the way up through all the colors, then silver, gold, and "jeweled." :)

Why I Will Never Use Another System
One of the initial reasons I was reluctant to use the Clip Chart was because I wasn't sure I wanted behavior management to be something so visible to the whole class.  I always thought I preferred checks on a clip board to something public like a Clip Chart, and I used that system my first two years teaching.  Here's the thing about that--it didn't work for me.  Here's why I use the clip chart now and will never go back:

• I would hesitate to give strikes and end up giving a lot of second chances--strikes were something that my kids couldn't earn away, so if a kid was one who tended to shut down, I wouldn't want to give one!  With the Clip Chart, I don't hesitate to say, "Clip Down," because nothing is "permanent"!  The kids can clip right back up!  No day is ever ruined in the kids' eyes.
• The Clip Chart focuses on the positive.  I love how I can have the kids "Clip Up" all day long--there is always another level to move to!
• Everyone starts on green.  I love that kids have somewhere to move UP, not just DOWN each day.  
• I REMEMBER TO USE IT.  No, "Where's my clip board?" or, "Did I already give you a warning?"  I don't do "warnings" with the clip chart--the first clip down is the "warning."  Makes it easier for the kids to remember where they stand, and for me as well!
• I worried about the "public" aspect of the clip chart, but in my experience it is motivating for the kids!  They love being able to get up in front of the class and move their clip up!
• It is virtually "prizeless."  That is, I don't need to worry about a treasure box!  I do an *occasional* raffle with our PBIS tickets or our Boggle word slips, but I spend waaaaay less money on prizes now with the clip chart than I have with past systems (sticker charts, classroom economy, etc).  Besides saving me money, more importantly, no treasure box means the kids are striving for improvement because THEY WANT TO!  Internal motivation, BAM!  Love it!

Okay, I think that sums it up!  Tell me about your behavior management system or share your classroom management ideas by linking up below!

Rainy Day, Lazy Day

When your plans for a pool day are ruined by waking up to this...

What's a girl to do but embrace the yucky weather with a little of this...

And this...

Here's to a lazy day!

Three Things Thursday

ONE
This time next week I will be heading off to Boston, one of my absolute favorite cities, to visit my wonderful friend and fellow runner Michelle:

Us after the 2012 Kentucky Derby Half Marathon

Among other things, we will be running the Triple Threat Half Marathon in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. This course is going to be beautiful!  I have always wanted to race near the ocean!

I am super excited about this race, but after looking at the elevation...

((That might not seem like much to some of you, but I'm a Prairie State girl, born and raised!  

Hills are not my friend...))

...And realizing that the race starts at 10:15am, meaning we'll be finishing right at the hottest part of the day, we quickly realized this will NOT be a PR or a speedy race for either of us.  Instead, we decided to have a little fun with it.  When Michelle sent me the link to the Team Sparkle website, I didn't hesitate before jumping on board the sparkle skirt bandwagon!  These skirts were EVERYWHERE at the Disney Princess Half this year, and I was obsessed with them.  My awesome skirt arrived yesterday!

It is so cute and so light; I can't wait to run in it!

TWO
I did it.  Visited the teacher's store, that is!  Back to school shopping has officially begun.  I am sticking with the same turquoise, black, and polka dot decor as last year, so I shouldn't have to buy too much (hopefully!), but of course I needed a few new things!  Between a stop there and a trip to Target, I have some of the basics covered.  Last year I spent a ton of money on new things for the classroom, so this year I am trying to restrain myself!

THREE
Remember the heat wave I talked about last week?  Well, I was SO pumped to wake up yesterday to some nice and cool weather!  In fact, I was able to have a super lazy morning and head out for my run after 11 thanks to the cooler temps!

67 degrees at 11:05???  AMAZING!

I drove a little ways to a gorgeous trail that I discovered during half-marathon training in May.  I hadn't run there since then because my midweek runs I usually just run in my neighborhood and since I've been running my long runs with my training group.  Today called for 5-6 miles though, and this trail has a beautiful 5.5 mi unpaved loop, so I figured it was perect.

Beautiful!!!  And wonderful to finish a run in the middle of the day and not be so hot I thought I would pass out!  LOVE!

Do you run close to home or do you ever drive to running spots? 

Have you bought anything awesome for your classroom yet?

What I'm Reading Wednesday: YA Dystopia!

First off, gigantic thanks to my awesome older brother for designing a new header for my blog!  I love it!  He also bought my domain name as a surprise for me, so you can now reach me at juiceboxesandcrayolas.com.  (.blogspot.com still works, so no need to resubscribe!)  I feel so official now. ;)

Anyways, onto the reading!  Ahhh!  I am slacking on reading this week!  I have only ONE book to share with you!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Goodreads Summary: Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.

My Thoughts:  Jenna Fox falls *loosely* into my beloved genre of YA dystopia.  There is no crazy government or uprising, but the book is set in the future, and the world is certainly different   Tons of medical advances have been made that can keep people alive and functioning when they would otherwise have been dead.  But overuse of antibiotics over the years have caused viruses to mutate into crazy deadly strands that left many dead and others disables.  I'd say Pearson was definitely trying to stir up some conversation about medical ethics, and I'd say she was mildly successful.  There were some thing that bothered me about the writing--lots of "telling" and not enough "showing" as I would tell my students--but overall I liked the book and was captivated by the story.  I was planning on giving this one 4 stars...until the end.  The ending of this one kind of killed it for me, and I thought the story totally fell flat.  It's the first book in a trilogy though (of course it is), and my friend assured me that I just have to keep reading; that book 2 is better.  I will definitely be reading the others this week, so I will keep you posted!

3/5 Stars

What have you been reading this week?

Cover art and summary are borrowed from goodreads.com, my favorite site ever. :)

Training Tuesday: The Other Side of the Water Table

The Day
I have completed 31 races since I started running (yes, I just counted!), but Sunday I got the chance to see what a race is like from a different point of view--a volunteer.  When Autism Speaks sent out an email asking for volunteers to help man a water station at the Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon, I signed up right away--and convinced my cousin to sign up with me!

31 races later...

We had to be downtown at our site at 5am, resulting in a 3:40am wake up call in order to give us time to both drive into the city and hit up a 24-hour Starbucks--who knew those even existed??  Even though the sun wasn't out yet, it was already humid!  We did manual labor for awhile setting up tables, had a mild freak out when some misinformed city traffic workers told us we had set up the wrong side of Michigan Avenue (separated by a hefty grassy median) and that we'd have to move everything, realized they were totally wrong, and then started in on the big job: the water cups.

Check out our awesome table of cups. At the time, three layers of cups (on many, many tables) seemed like enough.  Famous last words.

Before we knew it, the leading runners were passing through at lightning speeds.  After shoving a cup into their hands (who knew that super fast runners don't slow down and/or walk through water stops like me?), I very quickly realized I was going to get SOAKED during this job!  I loooved it, though.  I think I am a natural water station volunteer.  Maybe I can put that on my resume under "Additional Skills," hmm?

We stood in the streets of Chicago for hours, saying, "Water!  Water!" on repeat, cheering for runners, and handing out cup after cup.  It was totally and completely awesome...until it became totally and completely frantic.  When one table ran out of water, we moved down to help man a table that still had plenty...but at a certain point, almost every single table was out of water.  We desperately tried to keep up with the huge stream of thirsty and dehydrated runners that kept coming by filling pitchers at our water jugs and pouring into cups the waters had grabbed, their water bottles, anything.  I was standing in the street for a long time with a pitcher, just trying to get it IN the cups the runners were holding out to me, not all over them and their ipods.  I was only mildly successful!

That worked well for awhile...until we completely ran out of water near the end and had to tell the poor runners who were clearly struggling and in such bad need of a drink that we couldn't help them.  I felt awful!  Most of them were super understanding though.  I have to say, I don't understand how this can happen at a race.  The Rock and Roll Half has been going on in Chicago for years, always on a hot day.  I know runners take more water than usual when it's like this outside, but you'd think that after a year or two race organizers would be able to do a better job getting the right amount of water.  I can't imagine what that must be like for the runners--I hope it never happens to me at a race!

Thoughts on being a volunteer
I loved volunteering--what an awesome way to see a race from a different point of view.  I think runners probably make the best volunteers because we know what WE want to see at a water station, and we know what words we want to hear to motivate us!  I had to resist the urge to tell another volunteer that no, at mile 9 they are not "almost done."  No one wants to hear that until at least mile 12!!

I also have a completely new sense of gratitude for the sheer amount of effort it takes to put on a race from the volunteer standpoint.  I was on my feet for over 5 hours this morning and literally never paused.  Between set up, running around like a crazy person to get cups into runners' hands, and picking up crushed cups and oozing Gu packets off the street for an hour, after I got home I was ready to collapse back into my bed.  I felt like I'd run the race! (You better believe I took a 4 hour nap...)

The runners overall were so grateful.  Even when they had to stop and wait for a cup to be filled towards the end, they were so thankful.  Most were even understanding when we had run out of water, or understood that it wasn't our fault at least!  There were several runners who were a little rude or annoyed when the cup didn't get RIGHT into their hand or splashed on them, which kind of annoyed me, but almost everyone was the total opposite.  I always try to thank the volunteers at a race, but now I know that no matter how tired I am, I will thank every single person who hands me water on the course of every race I do from now on!

I am already looking for another half marathon or marathon to volunteer at this fall.  I may have a new hobby!  (And yay it's cheaper than actually running every race I can find!!)

Have you ever volunteered at a race?

Have you ever been in a race that ran out of water?