I just don't want to forget today long run. Squeamish - don't read on.
It was my first run where I have failed. My stomach was upset so I stopped at a gas station, a Mexican Baptist church and a ghetto food store, named Food Store.
We had a man run with us for 5 seconds, we ran through the ghetto in Aurora where cops were patrolling the neighborhood.
We ended up at the Aurora medical center, ran through some park and headed down peoria.
That is when it got interesting. We were running down a major road - definitely not a good park of town. We should turned left to get to ILK road but nope. Ended up on Smith road. Denverites - this is not a road to run down at dusk. Or ever.
Katie asked me - is that an airport tower up ahead? I knew we weren't near Simpleton nor DIA so we didn't know what it was.
You know the signs where they say don't pick up hitchhikers? Yup, we were running right toward the Denver correctional facility.
Now, I was not feeling so great. Katie threatened me - don't stop here Jaclyn. Just don't need to go to the bathroom right now. Oh, I wanted to sprint right past. Not only were we at the jail but it is across from a rail yard. Spooky.
Luckily we got out without seeing any hitchhikers or criminals on their yard break.
I felt so sick we ended up cutting our run short, calling a cab from a wine store. that's a first.
I wanted to run, to feel quick and powerful. I love clearing my head on long runs. Too bad I only got in 12 miles today. Next time. I need to figure out better foods to eat so I don't feel so sick.
Marathon is coming up so soon. Yahoo!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Temple of the moon
Man, I just really love this. This place was called templo de la luna - Temple of the Moon. Legend has it this is where the Incan people would study the stars and moon. No one really knows. My theory? It was so tough to get to - descending from the main temples and living area to get to the Big Rock - and then descend that one, that this was a place of solace. Or a party spot for the workers who got shafted by the big-wigs.
Whatever theory works for you, I know for me it was breath-taking and inspired me to connect to what was going on in my heart and body. Yoga helps me find balance and allows my mind to play out slowly. If you know me, you know my mind runs on two planes at once. I felt so insignificant at this spot but also so valued.
Machu Picchu.
verano 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Coffee Shops
I love Hooked on Colfax because it is the neighborhood place to go... 2 blocks from my house and I can have some of Pablo's finest coffee.
The reason I really like it (aside from the fact that I met my good friend Krista there, she's a barista there) is that it inspires me. The coffee or Bhakti chai provide the brain juice for me, the environment is comfortable and artsy and the people that frequent the place are fun, outgoing people. Us regulars start to spot each other, the baristas know me and I have made friends with a few of them!
You know how some coffee shops are quite and a bunch of students treat it like a library? Uck -that is too much. Then there are places where space hasn't been defined so there are kids everywhere, loud chit-chat groups and a few trying to work quietly. Awkward. Hooked has done a great job creating a space for everyone.
The Bluebird folks come in, chat it up; the salon clients and hairstylists are common coffee drinkers, ladies out after a morning aerobics class hang out with a cup of joe, medical students cram in large amounts of information and Teach for America folks write lesson plans and grade papers. You've got people playing crosswords at the counter, someone drinking a beer at 2 in the afternoon on a Saturday and others out for their first cup of coffee. The Bhakti Chai, made in Boulder - is out of this world. Spicy and enough kick to boost your day. So good.
Today, I didn't really get much Algebra planning done for the week. I had an awesome conversation with this guy who is trying to prepare for medical school applications. We swapped travel stories, our passion for running and even a little family background. He had this awesome running log going and I am inspired to try one but not sure if I can be as dedicated to one. Maybe I'll become invested in it once I start to see my progress.
Moral of the story - I am becoming a common thread in the Denver 'hood and loving the life of a coffee shop junkie :)
The reason I really like it (aside from the fact that I met my good friend Krista there, she's a barista there) is that it inspires me. The coffee or Bhakti chai provide the brain juice for me, the environment is comfortable and artsy and the people that frequent the place are fun, outgoing people. Us regulars start to spot each other, the baristas know me and I have made friends with a few of them!
You know how some coffee shops are quite and a bunch of students treat it like a library? Uck -that is too much. Then there are places where space hasn't been defined so there are kids everywhere, loud chit-chat groups and a few trying to work quietly. Awkward. Hooked has done a great job creating a space for everyone.
The Bluebird folks come in, chat it up; the salon clients and hairstylists are common coffee drinkers, ladies out after a morning aerobics class hang out with a cup of joe, medical students cram in large amounts of information and Teach for America folks write lesson plans and grade papers. You've got people playing crosswords at the counter, someone drinking a beer at 2 in the afternoon on a Saturday and others out for their first cup of coffee. The Bhakti Chai, made in Boulder - is out of this world. Spicy and enough kick to boost your day. So good.
Today, I didn't really get much Algebra planning done for the week. I had an awesome conversation with this guy who is trying to prepare for medical school applications. We swapped travel stories, our passion for running and even a little family background. He had this awesome running log going and I am inspired to try one but not sure if I can be as dedicated to one. Maybe I'll become invested in it once I start to see my progress.
Moral of the story - I am becoming a common thread in the Denver 'hood and loving the life of a coffee shop junkie :)
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Marathon Training and teaching kiddos math
The new teaching position started this past week. I am now teaching 9th grade math at Denver School of Science and Technology, an open-enrollment charter school in Denver. They have 100% of their first three graduating classes accepted into 4-year colleges, including Stanford and other major colleges. I'm pretty pumped to be in an environment of highly-driven, data-driven educators that develop the teacher.. who then lead students on their journeys.
Marathon training and teaching? Oh yes....
I set a goal for myself: run a marathon in 4:00 hours or less. I am training and sometimes running is the exact opposite of what I want to be doing. When I knew I had to run 4 miles today, I thought... man, I just don't feel like it. But I knew it was a small step in the bigger picture. I had a BIG goal, a 26.2 mile goal that needs to be achieved. I have high expectations for myself and I also don't want to let myself down. I am my biggest competitor. Plus, I am training with a friend and she relies on me to meet our mile per hour goal.
In my classroom... we look at our math learning goals and through some manipulation, we set a class goal. What should our average be on test? 80%? 90% 35%? If a teacher set their goal at 35% they are in the wrong place... or have tenure.
There are days when I see students trying to hide behind a teammate's back or avoid eye contact. There are days where students give off the "don't even mess with me today" look. And it is convincing. Not enough to deter me. I am relentless.
Why? Why do I allow myself a day off from a 4 mile run but don't let Maria take 20 minutes off of a 75 minute class period?
Perseverance. I suppose it is easier to set goals for someone else and hold them accountable. But I need to model what I want to see from them. Hopefully by making my marathon training goals transparent to my friends..and even those lovely, energetic and often rebellious teenage students, I can hold myself to a high standard and exceed my goals.
There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a student reaction to their amazingly successful test scores.
student, "Is that my score?" "is that what you gave me?"
teacher, "gave you?" " you EARNED that!"
student, "I have never gotten this high of a score in math. I did this?"
teacher, "you worked hard, and you practiced. that is your well-deserved score."
student, "miss, I think I get it. I know what I need to do now."
LOVE IT. I had a student share a story quite like this with me last year. She had NEVER earned passing test scores - why she was moved up grades, that is a public policy decision by our lovely and talented politicians. She experienced success in math for the first time in 9th grade. After that, she continued to work hard and persist, continuing to make improvements and rise to the expectations she set for herself. Sure, she experienced setbacks but that taste of earning high grades was fueling her ambition.
Marathon runners should be teachers. If you don't run, get out of the building. only kidding.... you can be a cyclist, or a swimmer, or a golfer (maybe)...
Setting goals. It changes lives :)
Marathon training and teaching? Oh yes....
I set a goal for myself: run a marathon in 4:00 hours or less. I am training and sometimes running is the exact opposite of what I want to be doing. When I knew I had to run 4 miles today, I thought... man, I just don't feel like it. But I knew it was a small step in the bigger picture. I had a BIG goal, a 26.2 mile goal that needs to be achieved. I have high expectations for myself and I also don't want to let myself down. I am my biggest competitor. Plus, I am training with a friend and she relies on me to meet our mile per hour goal.
In my classroom... we look at our math learning goals and through some manipulation, we set a class goal. What should our average be on test? 80%? 90% 35%? If a teacher set their goal at 35% they are in the wrong place... or have tenure.
There are days when I see students trying to hide behind a teammate's back or avoid eye contact. There are days where students give off the "don't even mess with me today" look. And it is convincing. Not enough to deter me. I am relentless.
Why? Why do I allow myself a day off from a 4 mile run but don't let Maria take 20 minutes off of a 75 minute class period?
Perseverance. I suppose it is easier to set goals for someone else and hold them accountable. But I need to model what I want to see from them. Hopefully by making my marathon training goals transparent to my friends..and even those lovely, energetic and often rebellious teenage students, I can hold myself to a high standard and exceed my goals.
There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a student reaction to their amazingly successful test scores.
student, "Is that my score?" "is that what you gave me?"
teacher, "gave you?" " you EARNED that!"
student, "I have never gotten this high of a score in math. I did this?"
teacher, "you worked hard, and you practiced. that is your well-deserved score."
student, "miss, I think I get it. I know what I need to do now."
LOVE IT. I had a student share a story quite like this with me last year. She had NEVER earned passing test scores - why she was moved up grades, that is a public policy decision by our lovely and talented politicians. She experienced success in math for the first time in 9th grade. After that, she continued to work hard and persist, continuing to make improvements and rise to the expectations she set for herself. Sure, she experienced setbacks but that taste of earning high grades was fueling her ambition.
Marathon runners should be teachers. If you don't run, get out of the building. only kidding.... you can be a cyclist, or a swimmer, or a golfer (maybe)...
Setting goals. It changes lives :)
Monday, August 2, 2010
South American adventures
My travel buddy!
Back in October or so, Liza mentioned taking a trip to Peru to visit Machu Picchu. Well, I had been waiting for the chance to return to South America ever since the day I boarded a LanChile flight back to Chicago. We chatted a few times about the trip, in passing and then came a week in January or February where the talk turned into action. We devised a plan - go to Peru, Argentina and then end in Chile. We did not really think about geography and the distance between Lima and Buenos Aires. Or the fact that southern Chile is enveloped in rain and snow during the winter months. We actually did not plan anything other than our flights and we knew we were going to take Spanish classes in Buenos Aires.
The trip turned out beautifully. We were in Cuzco during an old Incan gods festival, Inti Raymi - Festival of the Sun. The festival takes place the week of the winter solstice, when the sun is furthest from Earth. The Incans sacrificed an animal and called for blessings on their crops and animals. The festival is still huge today. We were in Machu Picchu on the largest and most important date but we were in Cuzco for the days following the winter solstice. As we were enjoying an espresso at a cafe on the Plaza de Armas a large group of people starting parading around the plaza with signs, banners and music. Within a few minutes we realized it was a Christian parade and they were celebrating Jesus! It was a beautiful thing to see. In the midst of their traditional cultural event where the Incans worshiped a sun god, the Christians spoke up about the one true God, our Savior.
To me, seeing a Christian parade in Peru was inspiring and an act of true faith. The Peruvian heritage is Incan and Spanish conquistadors. The family tree includes branches and branches of Incan blood but Jesus was revealed to them and now the Christians in Peru have a cultural history that includes the intelligent and advanced Incan civilization, lost to the world mixed with the one Truth, Jesus Christ.
Back to Liza... she is an AWESOME traveling friend! For 35 days she survived my craziness. Thanks Liza for the idea and your positive energy :)
South American adventures
El lago escondido - The hidden lake
This is one of the many marvelous views I came across on my mountain bike trip in Bariloche, Argentina
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