Well…it happened.  I finished college.  How crazy is that?

And I have a full time job.  Not in the classroom but perfect for me at this point in my life.  It was offered to me in January and after lots of soul searching (and discussions with parents of course) I accepted and start full time June 1st.  I love life right now.

I’m still super busy but with a more set schedule rolling around I’m starting to slowly be able to get back into the swing of fitness.  My current fitness level is…well…not great.  My back has become a big issue and sometimes I make it about 6 miles without it hurting, or then sometimes, like this past weekend, it starts seizing up before mile 3.  Its a lower back thing and pretty much always in the same spot.  And in the past week’s my schedule was just too crazy and I couldn’t get into the PT so its my fault for slacking in that department.  When I was going regularly I was seeing significant improvements so yes…back to PT for me. 

Honestly though, I just haven’t felt like “training” lately.  School and work were leaving me drained and I was choosing to spend my extra time having dinner with family, “trying” to get to bed earlier, or catch up on lesson plans.  And yeah…I put on a little weight and dropped some endurance.  So time to do something about it! 

I started Insanity again this week…yep…still insane.  And I still stand by my initial review.  Still a very high impact but time efficient intense workout.  The only complaint I can add is sometimes you switch from a super high intensity, heart rate skyrocketing move to something on the ground.  If you are prone to dizziness, be careful with these! 

I also dropped my old gym which was insanely expensive or a smaller substantially less expensive one.  The one I used to belong to was very nice, don’t get me wrong, but I was paying for classes and a pool that I never used.  I went through a phase where I really loved going to classes but recently I really haven’t been able to make it to the classes that I liked so it wasn’t worth it.  The new gym, Retro Fitness, is about 1/5 the price of the other (not kidding), has nice equipment, in clean, not over crowded, and has this pretty cool feature I need to check out soon…

photo source

There’s a special room with a weekly rotation of movies that you can go in, plug in your head phones, and watch a movie on the big screen while doing cardio!  And the movie list has some good stuff!

Preakness 5K!

On another note, I’ve still been running with Athletes Serving Athletes and this past weekend we ran the Preakness 5K with one of our athletes, Ray.  And Ray crossed his first finish line!

Team No Excuses turned out in big numbers! No, not everyone ran but it was so awesome to have such a great support!

We did this race last year and it was a lot of fun but…HARD!  First of all the bibs are all designed to look like jockey silks and all have randomly created “horse names” on them.

Last year I was “Electric Ameera”

Obviously, the Preakness is the second big race in the Triple Crown.  Well they set up the start gate as the starting line and drop the gates to get the race going.  So fun!  Then you head onto the track for a good 1.25 miles stretch.  In sand.  At least this year they packed it some.  Last year they didn’t pack it and it was raining…a big mess!  So you’re heading around the track thinking you MUST be clocking some speedy times with the effort you’re exerting then…no…you’re not…you’re just running through sand.  But still it is so cool to run around and look up into the grand stands!  They also had the big screens and cameras on this year so you could watch yourself on the infield as you ran by. 

Me and Dad at the start. No…I did not put the green and the pink/orange combo together. I was wearing a different shirt but HappiLee brought me an extra No Excuses shirt. So I’m looking good rocking these crazy colors and men’s LG shirt!

The jogger doesn’t move so well over the stands so we did our lap around the track then my dad picked up Ray on the way out.  Once the team was back together (on the road…oh thank goodness) we ran it to the finish (the 5K finishes with a party on the infield).  It was SO awesome and I think our team finished in about 30 minutes!  Not too bad for Ray’s first 5K!

Well it was really fun…till the right side of my lower back seized up.  Its such a strange thing…its like a charley horse in my back?  It locks like that causing this pulsing, back arching cramp.  SO FREAKING ANNOYING.  If I could find a way to run with my thumb pressed into that exact spot the whole way I think I’d be golden.  But oh well…Ray’s parents were waiting for us at the finish and we collected our finisher’s swag, a customized glass beer mug. 

Done!

So there ya have it…a quick update of my current life.  I promise to start posting more regularly!  Yay for having set work schedules!

Remember this thing?

Well yesterday I had my final portfolio review with my two mentor teachers, my Professional Development School Coordinator (from my college), and an outside evaluator.  After lamenting about the Beast that was my portfolio (they all had to read and review the whole thing), they said some things that truly touched me and settled the fact that I have made the right decisions in the past 5 years.  I went through 2 colleges, 4 majors, and 5 years to reach this point (or as my dad says…I had a “study abroad” year in PA).  I managed to make it to the very end of my review to start sobbing (hey, my coordinator and mentor started it!).  My mentor told me I was one of the best student teachers she has worked with in the past 10 years and that she felt we were able to bond as people rather than just teachers and my coordinator said that I bring a joy to those around me (she of course also commented on my bright color choices and the fact that I “never seem to be in a bad mood”…apparently I mask my exhaustion well at school!).  I did not expect to hear those kind of things but these people have taught me SO much and I truly admire them so to have them say those things about me brought tears to my eyes.

my fellow interns and our INCREDIBLE coordinator. We made it through some CRAZY times together. PS…don’t make the tall awkward girl sit. or else her legs end up looking insane. they wouldn’t listen. And by the way…yes that is my beautiful school campus.  All the other groups were cracking up because we were the only group of interns who were all color coordinated for the picture.

They know about the reasoning behind my decision to transfer after my freshman year and I was able to express the fact that transferring back to Loyola University (well it was Loyola College when I started) was one of the single best decisions I ever made for myself.  The teacher education program there is unmatched.  They teach you not only to educate children, but to truly make a difference in their lives.  One of my mentors noted that I seem to have a passion for every single child I interact with and that the mutual love between me and my students is very evident.  That’s when I started crying.  Because its so true.  There are students that you just want to…er…shake.  But you love them all because you get to know their back stories.  You get to know them as an individual with their own personal struggles and strengths.  You see their personal lives, and many times you feel helpless because you can’t change the challenges they face at home.  But you can make sure that they feel safe, loved, and important in your classroom and that is something I will never ever forget the importance of. 

My incredible coordinator Mrs. A. The amount of work she does is UNREAL. And she is such a nurturing loving women…and an expert teacher. I adore her.

I still have 4 days of teaching left, but ladies and gentleman, according to the state of MD, I can legally teach children.  I have passed the course load, I have passed all the state testing, and most importantly, I proved my abilities in the classroom.  Wow.  It’s been an insane 5 years.  I have GROWN SO MUCH.  When I look back to the scared, insecure, push over of a girl I was when I first entered college, I can’t believe where I am now.  My family, true friends, running family, and of course my mentors, teachers, and coordinator have pulled me through and always believed in me…even when I felt like I was at the breaking point.  Somehow they always knew I’d pull through.  And thank all of YOU who have been there for me virtually.  The support and love has been so strongly felt!  Even as I’ve been MIA from the blogging world these past months.  You ALL are rockstars. 

In the words of EMZ, I’ve. FREAKING. GOT. THIS!.

Loyola University School of Education Class of 2012!

Yesterday a team of fearless athletes set out on an adventure.  Our goal was simply to get our athletes, T and J, across the finish line with smiles on their faces and as a team.  It was such a ROCKIN’ journey and we all had a complete and total blast that is best told in pictures. 

great way to attract people to your tent prerace on a chilly morning...have coffee and donuts

The race organizers were so awesome.  We were given a one minute head start and as we were off they announced both T and J’s names over the load speakers and wish them luck.  They LOVED the attention and it gave us a chance to get ourselves up to the sides and out of the way of the speedy runners.

waiting for go time

Both teams together prerace

We rocked our Pink “Wing Woman” shirts!

our official photog for the day, Bob! This was a women only race but Bob and Dave were the best team support!

The course was hilly and getting up the hills was a challenge for the quads but we joked with T that on the way down, we would just all jump on the chair and ride it down.  So many of the other runners and spectators cheered and high fived our athletes and they felt like the total stars of the show, as they should!

For the first minute…we were the only ones on the course.  It was so awesome!  And then the speedy ladies ran past us and Joan Benoit Samuelson, an Iron Girl Ambassador, effortlessly glided past us and wished the girls good luck.  So yes…for about 45 seconds, we were running in front of the PIONEER and ICON of women’s distance running.  Not only did she win gold in the FIRST ever women’s Olympic Marathon, but she is still and incredible athletes placing 6th overall.  Insane.  Incredible.

We chatted the entire time, passing the chairs between us, cheering on our Iron Girls, and taking in the crowd.  We do our very best to stay out of the runners way (water stops are tricky.  We never stop at them but navigating them without interfering with any of the other runners is an art in itself), but all the other women on the course were incredible.  They all cheered on T and J and told them how awesome and inspiring they were.  And the girls LOVED the extra love and attention.

pulling into the finish

newly medaled Iron Girls!

couldn't be prouder of this lady!

so incredibly proud of the team!

Way to go Ms. T! She was so excited to take her medal to school!

This race was such an awesome girl power experience!  Iron Girl does a GREAT job making every lady feel the love and in addition to a medal, every half marathon and relay finisher received an awesome finisher’s gift.  A really awesome silver bracelet and sterling silver bead!  Mine is now happily sitting on my Pandora bracelet! 

I have to send a huge thank you out to Iron Girl, TriColumbia, and all the race organizers.  This was an inaugural event and they took a chance on us.  As you can imagine, it can seem risky for a race organization to allow our teams and athletes to compete and they not only allowed us to run but took care of us so well.  GREAT group!  Great event.  Thank you for treating out ladies like the princesses they are!

Sorry I haven’t yet written a post about last week’s Red Shoe Shuffle with Team ASA!  We ended up running with some incredible ladies (ones 2.5 one 25, both incredible) and I want to secure permission from both of them (well the little one’s mom) before posting their pictures (and I have some GREAT ones!).  So I will get that up ASAP as it was an incredible day!

Speaking of Team ASA fun, this morning we had a bit of a pep rally at 6AM.  And just happened to invite the news crew along ; ) We secured a spot on the morning news (our local CBS channel) and couldn’t have been excited about this awesome FREE publicity for the kids.  So this morning I woke up at 4:45…forced myself out of bed by 4:55AM and dad and I headed out to pick up donuts and coffee for the crew.  That turned into a 20 minute process (seriously…why would Dunkin’ Donuts have 1 person working in the morning?)

But we managed to make it to the meeting place on time.  We met at Goucher College, a local school where I do my track workouts and where we are hosting the ASA race in June).  I mean who doesn’t want to run at a school named Goucher ; ) We were met not only by the lovely kids and teammates, but the Chik-fil-A cow, the Towson University Tiger, and the Goucher Gopher (local college mascots).  Wow…I was amazing how in character these guys were before 6AM!  Although the Gopher was a tad creepy…

Ron Matz, one of the local newscasters was there and couldn’t have been nicer.  He was interacting with the kids and making sure he had all the important details ready to go.  After filming two quick “teasers” we got ourselves ready for the live shot.  Honestly, we had no idea what they were going to ask or how long we had but we were just so happy to have the publicity!  The kids were very excited as well…especially for having to be up so early!  My buddy James told me he had to do his morning workout and was doing push ups in his chair (trying to make us all look bad).

From left to right, Hope in the yellow long sleeve, James, with the cheezin smile, and Terrance fist pumping

Hope the left chattin up the Tiger, James cheezin again (kid loves a camera), and poor Terrance wasn't too fond of the mascots

Eventually it was time to get into our final spots.  Of course right as they started the live shoot James decided to tell us his hands were cold (had been asking him all morning if he was cold and he insisted he wasn’t).  So I was trying to warm up his hands between mine…then he grabbed mine and wouldn’t let go.  So I gave up and did an awkward hunch over thing next to his chair while Bob (super tall guy right behind him) kept reassuring Terrance that the mascots would keep their distance.  I didn’t blame him…I told you that Gopher was creepy.

The kids LOVED it.  They were cheering and smiling and waving for the cameras.  We had no idea when the camera was or wasn’t on us so we just kept smiling while Ron was interviewing Dave and Sarah.  Check out this clip of the broadcast! 

Click HERE and view the second video entitled “Ron Matz had “People Are Talking” about Hope’s Heroes Race.”

You can see me and James being goofy and waving to the camera around 2:25

And here’s the play by play in super grainy screen shots…

So yes…it was such a great morning and so good to see the kids so excited!  Of course we had to stick around to take a few pictures and eat a few munchkins.  Shane was pretty bitter that he still had to go to school so getting him to smile for a picture was a challenge.

Team No Excuses with Shane and Hope

Me and Hope. She was such a light on the chilly dark morning!

James wanted to get up and do his squats. Seriously. Makes us all look lazy

Bob and James with WJZ newscaster Ron Matz

Totally awesome way to start my Friday?  I think yes.

If you are local and interested in running Hopes Heroes (named for Hope seen above!) it will be at Goucher College on June 9th.  You can walk, run, or EVEN get together a wingman team to help push an athlete through the race!  Check out the website HERE or of course contact me with any questions!  It is going to be an incredible day!  And yes you heard that right…there will be a mascot race including a herd of Chik-fil-A cows!

Today was the Boston Marathon.  Duh.  And I know we have all heard about the crazy heat today.  First, if you ran today, regardless of how you feel about your performance, you are a warrior!  I hope you had an incredible experience and are on your way to a speedy recovery!

Last year, my recovery wasn’t so speedy.  I ended up on crutches.  But I finished and wouldn’t take it back for a single second.  I didn’t have the crazy heat to deal with, I had the fact that I wasn’t prepared for the repercussions of a mostly downhill start which led to major cramping.  It was the first time I had ever carried a phone during a race and its a good thing I did (I was able to let my dad and boyfriend at the finish know I would be much slower than expected), and I also ended up calling my mom, at a med station, in tears.  Yep.  I called my mommy crying during the Boston Marathon.   You can read all about that fun time HERE if you so please.  I will get back out on that course and redeem myself…someday. 

But this just proves why family is awesome.  I was teaching today so unable to keep up with the race (bummer).  So my dad had texted me some updates that I checked during planning and lunch.  Around 1 I got a message that said,

“Mutai cramped and dropped out before Heartbreak Hill.  Even champions go down sometimes”.  Definitely made me laugh out loud a bit.  But so very true.  Even the best of the best have off days.  Of course what is on the line is quite different for them but regardless of your sport or distance of choice, sucky days happen.  People get sick.  Weather doesn’t cooperate.  Injuries occur.  Accidents happen.  Apparently life and nature don’t always care for our training and race plans.  Sometimes we need to throw in the towel.  Sometimes we need to push through.  But as long as you are smart about it (aka not running through something that could cause SERIOUS consequences on one’s health or wellbeing), there will be another race, another day, another goal.  I know, I know…way to state the obvious Katye…but I think we all need a reminder every once in a while to cut ourselves some slack.  Even champions.  One of the reasons I adore Kara Goucher so much is because of how honest she is about her self doubt and how she has truly had to learn to let go of self disappointment.

So my dad, his two buddies, and myself have an ongoing e-mail chain.  Usually involves joking around, sarcasm, and something running related.  Today HappiLee Running sent out and e-mail that read, “The heat was so oppressive, it took the winner an entire 2 hours and 12 minutes to finish.  He must have been horrified when he saw the time….“

To which my father replied, “I told Katye that last year’s record setting winner Mutai cramped up before Heartbreak Hill and had to be pulled off the course. She now officially runs like a Kenyon champion.”

To which, again, HappiLee Running replied, “As I recall, she finished her race.  The Kenyans are overrated.“

So yeah…family is pretty awesome.  And by the way…no, we don’t actually think the Kenyans are overrated.  Taking all SIX podium spots…yeah.  That’s some serious stuff. 

Okay guys…so one of the things I’ve been up to over the past few months is working with an incredible group, Athletes Serving Athletes.  It is a local organization, inspired by the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt founded by a good family friend.  It started small and slowly it is gaining notoriety.  Basically, ASA matches disable child and adolescent athletes with a “wingman” to bike, swim, and/or run them through their race of choice.  The best part about all of this is the child is truly the athlete.  All the focus, attention, and congratulations and focused solely on them.  Some of them are nonverbal but their smiles at the finish truly say EVERYTHING!  And these kids are racing everything from 5K’s to Ironman distance races.  Truly incredible stuff.

Last summer, Jamie and I raced the Irongirl Tri relay to support ASA.  And had one hell of a time doing it.  It was brutally hott, it poured causing a delayed started and serious humidity.  She destroyed the insanely hilly bike.  I didn’t do so bad myself on the crazy hilly run.  And we were supporting something awesome.

I knew I wanted to get even more involved.  My heart has been in special education for a long time and this kids are so amazing.  Founder Dave often brought our buddy James along for training run by the store I work at.  James will totally LIGHT up your day!

he's pretty darn stylin too

James and Dave sprinting to the finish of the Shamrock 5K

I had posted this clip before when talking about ASA, but this clip gets me through anything.  Last year James had some major surgery to his legs and went through a great deal or hard and painful therapy.  Here he is pushing through as always…

Over the past few months I have been working a bit closer with ASA.  My dad is now helping with their board to put together their big race of the year, Hope’s Heroes (locals, check this out…you WILL NOT regret this one!) and I have been working to put together a corporate training program for any organization, company, or group who wants to fundraise and train for the race.  But I’m not just on the coaching end this time.  I’m now getting behind the chair.

Tomorrow, as a part of Team No Excuses (a team including dad and two of his buddies that has been in the workings for quite some time), I will be running the Red Shoe Shuffle 5K for Ronald McDonald House.  But I’m not just running…I’m pushing.  I don’t know my athlete yet, but tomorrow we will be matched up with a very special child, a cancer patient, who wants to race!  And we will be there to make it happen.  No matter how long it takes us, I know for sure this will be one of the most powerful 5ks to date.  Tomorrow is not about me or Team No Excuses for that matter.  It is about all the special kids who are coming out to participate as ATHLETES!  So very proud of all of them and I haven’t even met them! 

I also have a serious fear of Ronald McDonald.  And I’m truly hoping he doesn’t make an appearance, but I will suck it up for this rockstar kids!  I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

But in a mere few weeks, me and a team of 4 other AWESOME ladies (3 of whom I may have suckered into this) will be the wingman team for our rockstar, Ms. T

She is a 14 year old full of smiles and this will be her first half!  First half marathon at 14…that’s pretty impressive!  Together we will all be running the IronGirl Half on April 29th!  I am so incredible nervous and excited and cannot wait to watch Ms. T accomplish this awesome goal!

So that is just a little something I have going on at the moment.  A pretty rockin job (volunteer job of course) with an incredible group!  I will let y’all know how tomorrow goes!

And if you feel so inclined, feel free to donate to Team Ms. T!  We are hoping to raise $1,000 for ASA by this summer!

Check out the fundraising site HERE!

Alright friends, 557 pages later and this beast is conquered.

Which means I am slowly getting bits and pieces of my life back!  I have some many incredible things happening in my life right now and so very excited to share them all!  Hopefully I will get a REAL post up tomorrow!  Thanks for hanging around!

One of Bug’s current favorite songs is the Toby Keith Red Solo Cup Song.  No idea why.  Well today he went into the pantry, got out said red solo cups…and this happened

and yet so far.  I have not gone to sleep before 2:30AM at all this week but tonight I am insisting on going to bed by 12:30AM.  I’m getting much much closer with my portfolio but my current view of life it a little something like this:

I’m a list maker so I have lists coming out my ears.  To tell the truth, sometimes I throw something on the list that I know I am practically done just for the satisfaction of crossing it off.  I miss blogging!  I will be back very soon!  And I have some cool little things in the works so don’t forget about me ; ) 

Forgive me bloggers for I have sinned.  It has been a week(ish?) since my last blog post.

Wow.  My professional portfolio is due in 2 weeks.  As in 400+ pages of writing, lessons, and student work detailing everything I’ve been doing in school for the past 5 years.  This goes to a committee who has never met me…or will meet me…to decide if I graduate.  Basically like that last chance to plead your case…without actually getting to talk to the people deciding.  I’m stressed.  I’m writing all the time…just not the kind of writing I want to be doing.

There is a younger teacher at the school I’m interning at who graduated from the same program as me.  She let me borrow her portfolio to use as a model (of bless her…having all the pieces is one thing…figuring out where they all go is another!), and she said…now joke…

“Don’t worry about it too much.  Yes, when we were finishing them up there were plenty of panic attacks.  But only one ended up needing to be hospitalized”.  And she wasn’t being funny.  Or sarcastic.  Awesome.  I already have an anxiety disorder…

I’ll be back soon!  Just got to get this monster slayed…