And so we start

I have been a little behind the eight ball lately, so many things going on in the last month.  As many of you know school started.  I has some mixed feelings about going back. Like many teachers, I always want a longer summer.  It didn't help that about 3 weeks before school started I got a really bad case of Shingles.  I was miserable and had to take time off from training, I was barely leaving my bed. When I finally did feel better, I would go workout, then come straight home and go back to bed for at least three hours.  To make matters even more crazy, when I did start working out again, I felt terrible on my runs.  What was this all about.  Turns out I needed new orthotics for my shoes and my sciatica nerve was bothering me a ton.  I decided I was not going to compete at the Dells in the Olympic Distance triathlon. I figured I would give myself an extra week not only to recover from being sick, but also to heal from my injury.  Turned out to be a good plan.

I went back to work for institutes and planning on August 13th.  This year was going to be different. For the last three years I have been co-teaching in a classroom and we would sit down to plan once a week. Now I would have three of my own classes and only two co-taught classes.  I have two periods of US History, oh my goodness, I have not taught that since like my first of second year teaching. Lucky for me, one of the co-taught classes I am teaching is in US History and get to work with a  great group.  Phew that was helpful.  I also have an Algebra 1, part 2 that is my own.  I wasn't sure what to expect when the kids came back to school on the 16th.  I will say that after having them for 12 days, I really enjoy my US History classes.  We have some awesome discussions and they ask a lot of good questions when we are taking notes. That is not to take away from my Algebra 1, part 2 class, just a difference in the two subjects and probably the time of the day I have the students.

So during the first weekend of school I decided that I was going to compete in the Pigman Olympic Distance triathlon.  I was suppose to do Age Group Nationals, but between cost and the fact that I would have likely had to take the second day of school off so I could travel to them, I decided not to go. We had a group going out to compete there, I was the only one doing the Olympic Distance, everyone else was doing the half Ironman.  I didn't know what to expect when we got there race day.  This was the first year they had an Olympic Distance. We went off first with a time trial start (1 person every few seconds). Well, in the water they told oh you go to the buoy with the bag on it and turn right.  Nice idea, except none of us can see when the sun in our faces.  I had to make a slight detour, but then I got back on course.  The guys went before the women, so it is always kind of nice to pass them in the water, some of course get me right back on the bike or  the run, but still, I had fun.  I came out of the water feeling pretty good, could kind of feel my rear end starting to hurt, but not enough that I was going to stop. I got on my bike and off I went.  There was a small stretch that was a little bumpy and had railroad track, but overall, I really liked this bike course, the streets were newly paved and you could fly on there.  For the most part I was in no man's land on the bike. The nice part was that it was an out and back (although I do suck at 180 turnarounds), so I could see all my buddies that were in the half Ironman beginning their journey on the bike.  The only bad part about the bike was  there was one hill on the way back that I just felt like I was going no where, the wind was in my face and I was relieved when I was finally up it and got to turn back into the park.  As I was coming off my bike, the announcer says, this is Lisa Simon from Romeoville, she is a special education teacher and she also wants to teach yoga.  I was like how they hell did he know that, oh yeah, I put that in the box when I registered. As I was in the transition area going from the bike to the run, I saw my friend, Dawn. She was there to cheer all of us on, which was so awesome of it. She told me that I was in 4th place overall female. I was like really, that is so cool. I for sure was not expecting that.  Okay, now comes the part that I normally am not nervous about, but totally was that day, the run.  I only had to run a 10K.  So I decided I was just going to take it one mile at a time.  Off I went, okay, not feeling anything here.The run was a course with a few rolling hills, but no shade.  Okay fine, it was so beautiful out.  This was also an out and back course, which was great because it gave me a chance to see where anyone that was female and might be in my age group was. I saw the first 3 females on my way out, they were flying. During the run I got passed by a few guys and a few girls.  I passed mile 5 and I was like okay, 1.2 to go, lets see what I have left.  I knew this was not going to be a day where I was going to run 7:30-7:45.  I knew I had a good swim and good bike under my belt.  I came in and there was Dawn telling me that I was the 6th place overall female.  The announcer again announced that it was Lisa Simon from Romeoville, IL who is a special education and would like to teach yoga. Then he told me to do a sun salutation.  Okay, if you say so.  I am sure the photographer got a great picture of that.  I ended up winning my age group, which was awesome too. Then I enjoyed the rest of the day cheering on my cool Tri Smart friends in their awesome adventure.

Monday I am planning to run the Oakbrook Half Marathon. It will be a fun day.  As the beginning of the training season I would have told you that I wanted to break 1:40 in the half marathon.  I am just going to go out and see what I can do, enjoy the day.  Next up, do I dare say Ironman Louisville?