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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For the past 2.5 years, I have been running a Fun Run club at my school.\u00a0 Truth be told, it has sometimes been really discouraging.\u00a0 It seemed like no matter what I did, no one was interested in running next to me, behind me or in front of me.\u00a0 Running helps keep me sane and able to do my job.\u00a0 It de-stresses me and relieves anxiety that can be devastating in the teaching profession.<\/p>\n
I tried several different ideas to get people excited. Different days, different lengths, different routes, incentives……nothing seemed to work.\u00a0 I eventually got a trusty group of walkers.\u00a0 While I enjoyed spending time with them, I knew they weren’t receiving the mental benefits that running brings.<\/p>\n
Still I persisted.\u00a0 Every Friday, I ran my miles.\u00a0 I knew that someone was always watching.\u00a0 Students would see me run by at their after school program.\u00a0 Teachers eager to start their weekend would see me on their routes home. Parents would see me and honk.\u00a0 And then finally…..I started getting some real members.\u00a0 This fall, I started offering boot camp after school.\u00a0 At first, it was just a reason for me and my friend Nestor to work out together at school.\u00a0 Then someone joined us. And then more and more.<\/p>\n
One of the beauties of working out with your colleagues is that you are all under the same stresses.\u00a0 You would think that this leads to an hour long complaint session but it ends up being the opposite.\u00a0 Now, every Wednesday AND Friday, I have a steady group of 5-9 people that show up to sweat.\u00a0 Even though we finish sweaty and smelly, it’s so rarely about the calorie burn.<\/p>\n
I look forward to boot camp days all week long.\u00a0 We have administrators and teachers, all struggling with the same exercise or interval.\u00a0\u00a0 Everyone is at their own level and doing their own thing.\u00a0 It usually takes some convincing of new members that we aren’t so tough.\u00a0 But most importantly: WE LAUGH.\u00a0 I have gotten to know my colleagues in a brand new way because of this.\u00a0 Everyone leaves smiling and feeling good.<\/p>\n
I used to hope that just one person would join me on a run, that I could infect just one person……..this past Friday we held a Boot Camp 5K and 10 people ran.\u00a0 My heart was so full! I have so many proud moments as a teacher but this one is definitely going toward the top of the list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For the past 2.5 years, I have been running a Fun Run club at my school.\u00a0 Truth be told, it has sometimes been really discouraging.\u00a0 It seemed like no matter what I did, no one was interested in running next to me, behind me or in front of me.\u00a0 Running helps keep me sane and … <\/p>\n