A Quarter of 2019

It is a perfect coincidence that it's the end of the 3rd quarter of the school year and the end of the 1st quarter of 2019!   Time to reflect and refocus on goals!

What's been happening since January 1?  If you know me a bit then you know that I have 2 pieces to my running goal.
    1- to run a half marathon PR this year (which means 1:51 or faster....the PR is pretty old but I know I have it in me.
    2- run the year (2019 miles).

I've done some great things to work towards these goals so let's talk about the good things that are moving me forward first.    I've been working with Coach Heidi from Ironworx Multisport.  She is creating a challenging plan for me to complete each week.  Nutrition coaching was also something I won from Suppz Gym so each week I am focusing on protein, water, and calorie intake.  I took Mel Charbonneau's Breakthrough and Begin class and that helped with my mindset.

Things that have challenged me have included the weather.  Winter is not letting go.  The weather especially impacted the half I was supposed to run yesterday (Carmel, IN).   Due to the crazy torrential downpour I dropped to the 5k.  It was a wimp move but in the end I think it will be okay.  The drop in distance allowed me to enjoy more time with my cousin Kathy and fellow flower friend Amber. Busy schedules have caused some challenges, too.  With Kate and Will relying on me as their taxi, I have had to plan around their activities for my workouts.  For the most part this hasn't been too bad.  I have worked in the 5 am runs when necessary.

So where do I stand:
     1 half is done so far this year (Washington, DC - 2:04:24)  9 left for the year.
   

       March mileage was the highest of the year with 190.  If I can keep up this pace, I can hit the goal of 2019.

Great things are happening.  W

Spring Break Reflections

Spring Break 2019 was spent in our nation's capitol.  It was a wonderful and full 9 days!  

It wrapped up with a 13.1 run through Washington, DC!

If you asked Kate what her favorite thing was it wouldn't surprise me if she said it was the Starbuck's on every corner.  Many mornings started with a carmel frappacino. 

We loved our Moonlight and Memorials Tour but wish it had been a little warmer.  My feel were so cold that I din't know if they would every warm up!  It felt like I was walking on ice blocks.

Wednesday we did Ford's Theater and the Holocaust Museum.  I had been looking forward to the Holocaust Museum and it did not disappoint.  While it is a somber topic, I cannot imagine it having been done any better.

Here's a recap of what we saw while we were there:

Sunday

National Cathedral

National Geographic Museum (Egypt)

Black Finn

Monday

National Archives

Capitol

National Mall/ Smithsonians (air and space, natural history)

Ted's Bulletin

Tuesday

Arlington National Cemetery

The Pentagon

911 Memorial

Wednesday

Ford's Theater

Holocaust Museum

Moonlight and Memorials Tour

Georgia Brown's

Thursday

Race Expo

Black Finn with the Davies Family

Friday

American History and African American Museums

Bozzelli's Deli

Saturday

RACE Day!

I hope to add some more trip reflection and thoughts to this post but wanted to get a few things out there before I forget!

Newsletter Post

This week was still a bit off with the snow day right in the middle....We are getting a little closer to normal and hoping for a full 5 day week next week. 

Check out our newsletter for the week by clicking HERE!

Are you Looking for Something More?

This year (and maybe even some of 2018) I have been trying to do all things with my mantra, "Head up, heart out."  As I try to own my story and really dig into it, I want to share with you a program that I am embarking on soon.  I share it with you with the hopes that you may decide that you'd like to be a part of it!

When Will won his Super Bowl Surprise, it was because of a short essay he wrote about my dad.  Once upon a time I was writing regularly.  Since switching to teach in Wisconsin, I find myself hiding my story and not writing it out.  I don't need others to read my story but I know that there is value in just owning my story.  The program I am beginning with Mel Charbonneau is sure to help me find my voice again. 

Want to know more?
Click HERE!

If you do decide to join in, please let Mel know that I (Margaret Bussan) sent you.

Book Review: Mystery of the Golden Temple

I remember reading The Babysitter's Club books and Swiss Valley Twins books when I was in 3rd and 4th grade.  What I loved about those books were two things that I loved about this book:  they were part of a series so I could read more and the friendships that the characters had were what I thought was typical.

In this wonderful chapter book Jess and her family travel to Thailand.  The problems begin as soon as the family lands and tries to get a taxi ride to their home away from home in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  The things that Jess notices about Thailand are wonderful details that any reader will enjoy.  It creates a high interest story that is filled with facts for those that have a thirst for knowledge about the world.  Facts about Thailand are throughout the book along with a few details about Jess' hometown of Boston, MA. 

Written in short chapters with a plot centered around the mystery of the bad luck and missing amulet, this is a fantastic book for 2nd through 5th grade readers.

This was a sweet and bright book that includes a mysterious plot and a tale of friendship that should be shared with all young readers.

I had been locked out somehow...

Sorry for not posting for awhile.  Somehow my blog thought there were more than one administrators and so I did not have access to the page...   I think I have things fixed so stay tuned for more regular updates again.  I will try and update the newslsetters, too.

We loved having Ms. Grenoble with us for the past 2 weeks.  It was hard to say goodbye on Friday but she is going to do great things!

The funniest connections were found, too.  

Newsletter

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YbdJ00_eqxq6FF5HS8PvknWw3lUFK2dK/view?usp=sharing