Wrapping Up Another Month

 Bring on the month of GRATITUDE!    I have so much to be thankful for.

This past weekend is just a small dose of all the good things I have in my life:  family, friends, health.

On Labor Day 2014 I ran a sub 2 half marathon.  Since then I have run 28 more and always chasing a sub 2 hour finish.  Saturday morning it happened!  Let me rewind a bit...  In August, Michelle joined me in Dubuque for the Alzheimer's Half Marathon.  I hadn't been following a training plan and the  night before I decided I would try 1 mile/ 1 minute intervals.  I finished in a 2:09.  I was shocked at that and felt really proud of the under 10 minute per mile average pace.  At the end of September I ran the Quad Cities Half marathon in 2:03:+   

With the Galena River Fall Half Marathon just one month from the QC Half, I was curious to find out if I could break 2 hours again.  While I haven't been following a training plan, I have been getting in the miles and feeling really good while running.  My average paces have been just under 10 per mile.  It left me wondering, could I average 9:05 for 13.1 miles?  

In case you didn't know, it Halloween week (hahaha) and that can be crazy at any school.  Friday was a pretty crazy day with a cross country send off parade, a fire drill, and the Halloween party.  By the end of the school day, I was really wiped out.  After a 2 mile shakeout run and a solid dinner, I was feeling ready. My "race plan" was to run 2 miles/ walk 1 minute.  It seemed like a good way to step it up from what I had done in September.  

I thought for sure I would sleep well Friday night so that Saturday would be a well rested run.  NOPE.  I couldn't find the clothes I wanted to wear for the race.  I didn't fall asleep easily Friday night.  I was awake at 4 am on Saturday.  OY!   

As I was getting ready on Saturday morning, I got a notification on my watch that my poor sleep had increased my recovery time and that I needed to take it easy on Saturday.  That wasn't what I wanted to do.  I wanted to go for a sub 2 hour half marathon finish time.  We pulled out of the driveway pretty close to on time but as we drove up Alona Lane, I realized that I didn't have my phone.  Luckily we were still close to home and I was able to find my phone quickly.  

Arrival at the race and packet pick up was smooth and simple.  I used the porta potties quickly and headed back to the car to stay warm.  All the nerves hit.   I was in my head big time.  As I was lining up at the start, Michelle gave me a hug and I began to fall apart.   I cannot tell you how much it meant that Donna and Michelle were here with me this weekend.  They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself.  A thank you will never be enough to let them know how much I needed them in that moment.  It can seem easier to give up on goals at these moments but they didn't let me forget that I had it within me to hit the goal time.  

Michelle noticed something behind me and pointed for me to turn and right there was Roger and Kate.  They believed that the race would be a good one for me, too.  

With the strength of other believing in my, I was able to believe in myself.  I was strong and ran a great race.  When I came through the 11 mile mark, I passed my cheer squad and I wondered if I could hit my goal.  My watch wasn't reading overall pace and the GPS had gone a little wacky so I had no idea what my time was.  Michelle hollered, "1:39."    That meant I had 21 minutes to make the final 2 miles.  

At about 12.9, Donna and Michelle were standing and cheering for me.  I felt like I could do it.

When I saw the finish line, the clock was reading, "0:00:00."   That didn't help me...  I ran through the finish and stopped my watch:  1:56:40!!!!   I did it!  

Confidence does not come easily for me, but I am starting to see my potential again.

As November begins tomorrow, I am beyond grateful for all the connections that help to build me up. 

I met my step goall every day this month!!!  Hoping to do it again in November.

 

Another 4th Grade Ghost Story

At The Campgrounds

By Aven

One Friday after school Aven and Auriella rode the bus to their grandparents campgrounds.  Once the bus dropped them off at the campgrounds.  Auriella said to Aven, ‘’ Now let’s run to the camper!’’

Aven said, ‘’Ok. But can we race?’’

“That is totally fine with me,’’ said Auriella.

“READY SET GO!”

 As Aven and Auriella were running they heard somebody following them. The thing following them was saying Brynn B-R-Y-N-N AND Aarica A-A-R-I-C-A.  As children the 2 girls did not want to look back so they just kept running.

Aven said, ‘’I love you Auriella, if you die!’’

Then Auriella said the same thing.  They finally got to the camper and Brynn said, ‘’Are you ok girls?’’ Then suddenly somebody grabbed Auriella.  Brynn, Aven ,and Aarica said,’’What just happened?’’ Aarica did not wait to find out what got Auriella. They heard Auriella crying. Now you will have to wait and see what else I write next time.

         THE END

4th Grade Ghost Stories

More will be coming but until then....ENJOY!

The Ghost of Lancaster   

by: Ryan

The town of Lancaster was almost the same as other towns. There was a mayor, a fire chief, and a police chief, but Lancaster had something no other town had. Lancaster had a ghost!

  Everyone in town knew about Otto. Some people saw him. Others had heard him. Others had evidence he was there. You see, Otto liked to play mean tricks on the people of Lancaster.

  Otto showed up in unexpected places. For example,the fourth graders in Mr.Castro’s class said he was at their picnic at Lancaster Park!

Before lunch Mr.castro said, “Let’s take a walk,then we’ll have our lunch.” When they returned,all of their lunches were gone! Someone (or something) ate all their lunches and left a huge mess. “It must have been Otto,”  said Davin.  They all agreed.

Then there was the story of Ms. Parker’s garden. One day it was filled with pretty flowers,the next it was hideous weeds. Otto has been in my garden she whispered to herself. But no one believed what otto did that one fateful day in June.  But how else were they to believe that Otto had hurt an old lady and killed her family. Their bodies were found burning,and they started a wild fire!  Every time the firefighters put it out otto would start it again.

One day Otto’s family came and talked to him. They apologized to the towns folk, too.

No one has heard or seen Otto ever since.

I wonder if we will ever know where he went, but I hope he is happy?

A Memory Forever

By Ella

One night in Lancaster at about 2:00 am there was a funeral for my grandma. The time for this gathering may seem strange to you but it was my grandma’s favorite time.  After all the speeches, we went to the grave yard and buried my grandma. When we started digging we heard thunder. Then we saw lightning. There was a storm. It was just like my grandma’s favorite weather.  She loved stormy nights.  We got done digging and burying her. When everyone left I was the only one there. So I said a couple prayers and then people started coming out of their graves. I was scared for a little bit then I saw that my grandma came up. So we talked and had a good time. Then we made homeade brownies right there in the graveyeard.   At about 4:30 am,  I said goodbye. She went back to her grave and I went home, we both ended up great

                                                                 The End

It's HALLOWEEN!!!

We had one Spooktacular Day!

Team TMNT - Go 4th Grade!

Thanks for stopping in, Junie B.

AMAZING SNACKS!!!

 Who is under there???  We will never tell.

How to Create a Monster That Gets Noticed

We kicked off Halloween week in Grand Fashion!  We heard the story "The Ghost with Red Hair." Then we began creating our own monsters.  We talked about what would make a monster scary.  What kind of eyes are scary?  What about the lips and mouth?  Should we make fangs or vampire teeth?

So many great thoughts went into the planning and creating of our monsters.  

We will be doing things with ghost stories and monsters all week and I am super excited to share Washington Irving's class tale with the 4th graders.  Do you know the story of The Headless Horseman?  It just wouldn't seem like Halloween if I didn't read the story of Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones to my students.

We were also celebrating our 20 golden tickets with lunch and a movie (a Halloween movie--of course) in the classroom.

The day seemed to FLY like a bat at night.  Can't wait for WKCE testing tomorrow.  Any book orders, Bingo Night Slips, and Little Arrows forms can be returned, too!  Check in later in the week to see more of how our monsters are getting noticed!