Cross-Country Running
'Tis the season, so today we took our Gr. 4 to 8 runners out for their first cross-country running practice.
I've been a supervisor for the school cross-country team for a few years now and it's something I really enjoy. First of all, I am sadly non-athletic, but cross-country running is an activity where I can help organize, supervise and motivate without having to seriously coach a sport (there are other teachers who also work with the team who can do that). Secondly, I've always liked the fact that every student who comes out for cross-country will make the team, if they stay dedicated and determined during the four weeks of training. Essentially, any student who shows they can run the needed distance and who steadily shows up for practice will be able to go to the cross-country meet in late October.
Sadly, though I vowed to myself last year that by the beginning of this season I'd be able to run with the students, I haven't managed to start a running program, so I'm letting more qualified teachers run with the kids while I manage the groups, set them off on the course and guide them across the road on their way back. It's a good way to bond with the students outside a classroom setting and getting outside for a half-hour at lunch time in such glorious fall weather is good for the spirits, too. I save my own power walking through Middle-earth for after school.
Starting to take baby steps in my weights program at home, too. I've always had this image that the only way to do weights was to do these 30+ minute blitz sessions, so I always manage to put it off. Deb suggested recently it was better to do a bit of weights than none and suggested I do two ten minute sessions daily in-front of the TV as a good starter program. So, as I watched the Emmys last night I did that and I'm going to go do it again while watching Larry King or whatever is on at 9.
Exercise Log: 10 minutes of weights. Three miles of walking taking me to 11 miles from the border of Lothlorien.
I've been a supervisor for the school cross-country team for a few years now and it's something I really enjoy. First of all, I am sadly non-athletic, but cross-country running is an activity where I can help organize, supervise and motivate without having to seriously coach a sport (there are other teachers who also work with the team who can do that). Secondly, I've always liked the fact that every student who comes out for cross-country will make the team, if they stay dedicated and determined during the four weeks of training. Essentially, any student who shows they can run the needed distance and who steadily shows up for practice will be able to go to the cross-country meet in late October.
Sadly, though I vowed to myself last year that by the beginning of this season I'd be able to run with the students, I haven't managed to start a running program, so I'm letting more qualified teachers run with the kids while I manage the groups, set them off on the course and guide them across the road on their way back. It's a good way to bond with the students outside a classroom setting and getting outside for a half-hour at lunch time in such glorious fall weather is good for the spirits, too. I save my own power walking through Middle-earth for after school.
Starting to take baby steps in my weights program at home, too. I've always had this image that the only way to do weights was to do these 30+ minute blitz sessions, so I always manage to put it off. Deb suggested recently it was better to do a bit of weights than none and suggested I do two ten minute sessions daily in-front of the TV as a good starter program. So, as I watched the Emmys last night I did that and I'm going to go do it again while watching Larry King or whatever is on at 9.
Exercise Log: 10 minutes of weights. Three miles of walking taking me to 11 miles from the border of Lothlorien.