I was in a surly mood yesterday afternoon. I stayed late at work to plan some lessons, but didn’t get nearly as much accomplished as I wanted to. That meant I had to bring much more work home than I desired.
My class has two grades in it, and I am responsible for each grade learning the appropriate content. This essentially amounts to double work planning lessons. I’ve been grappling since the beginning of the school year about how to make this work. Even my poor mother caught my wrath over it today. As I said, I was in a foul mood.
Following the long weekend, I had been looking forward to a post-work run with one of my colleagues. However, at the last minute, her plans changed and our run was scratched. Bummer. Then I remembered on the way home that I needed to go food shopping. I got home late and got to work right away. Bummer again. What a life.
While planning tomorrow’s math, I was practically banging my head against the wall in angst and frustration over teaching two grades of math simultaneously when a text message arrived from the aforementioned colleague: “I wasn’t going to run but I’m completely addicted!! Off I go!!” (I did not add the extra exclamation points, but I did correct her typo. 
)
That text was pretty much all I needed to get my rear in gear. Less than 15 minutes later, I was wearing the running clothes I laid out the night before and I headed out the door.
I walked down to the general vicinity of where I will be running my first 5K on October 28. The air was crisp as the sun set, but an inspirational view greeted me, and upon seeing it, I fired up my music and hit the road.
Not a bad view to run toward.
One thing I learned within the first five minutes is this: in terms of slow music to run to, one Alicia Keys song is just right. Two is one too many.
I didn’t sweat nearly as much as usual, given the chilly air. I tried to pace myself on the 5K route. It’s a bit of a drag where I started – it’s flat and long for about .7 miles each way. The 5K proceeds up a hill into a park, which itself was hilly and challenging.
While my 3.06 miles in 30:48 minutes was not my best, I was glad to get out there and bust some stress. I definitely felt better once I powered through the final stretch of the course. Importantly, this was the first time running (most of) the 5K I seek to compete in next month – my first race. It’s important that I run it several times to learn how to best pace myself and tailor an appropriate playlist to push me through it.
On the walk back, I texted my colleague to let her know she was the inspiration for this blog, which I was writing in my head, and I called my mom to let her know I was in a better mood.
It’s true, running is addicting. It is a total mood alterer. What a fabulous way to take the edge off a surly feeling afternoon.
