Flat Footed Goodies

Back in the day where being flat footed got you out of the army...

Yesterday I hit 20 Kilometers. Molly and I ran it in 2 hours, 15 minutes, so that's close to an average of 10/11 minutes per miles. We were going very slowly at the start though, I don't think we were planning on trying to get a good time. For me, I wasn't really concerned about how fast I was going, I just wanted to be able to finish it. Actually, to tell the truth, toward the end, I was very aware that I was running faster, just because I wanted to be done with running faster. ^o^

It was my first run to almost a half a marathon (20K is 12.5 miles), for Molly, it was her 4th or 5th time doing a half a marathon.

Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I thought I'd have to walk a bit, or at least be dead by the time I finished. I'm not in that great of shape, but we ran the entire time, and there wasn't a point where I was certain I would have to stop. Molly was awesome, she brought apple slices that she shared with me while we ran. I think it helped a lot.

I need new shoes. I have flat feet, and that throws off the alignment of my ankles, my knees and my stride.
I mean, look at those feet!!! No arches AT ALL! They're basically blobs. When I do the wet test, I don't see a foot, I see a blob. It's a very sad thing. I have this (and probably unrealistic) idea that if I just get a really good pair of shoes that help correct flat-footed runners, that all my problems would go away and that my feet will magically be happy, happy feet.

But right now, as it is, I'm probably going to lose two of my toenails. Both on my right foot, the middle one and the baby toe, which is horribly disfigured already. Very gimpy toes.I thought I was doing well and wouldn't lose any toenails, but on this last long run, my feet took a beating. They don't hurt now or when I'm running, they just look ugly.

On March 21st, Jackie is running the National Marathon...she's amazing. Liz and Vickie both ran the Salt Lake Marathon in 2005 (?) and 2008 in very respectable times. Crazy girls. I'm just hoping to finish before the 8 hour cutoff... ^_^

Rocks, Lava Lamps, and Sponge Bobs

Hai mien bao bao... My name was put on the board three times on Friday because I kept saying it to make my kids smile. They're not supposed to speak Chinese, but I thought Sponge Bob's Chinese's name was so cute I had to say it. Three times. ^_^ (Tom and Jeff in the picture above)
Some of the kids were resistant to making Sponge Bob for an art project, but eventually, they caved in to peer pressure. The majority of the kids think Hai mien bao bao is HILARIOUS. (Eve and Betty working on their Sponge Bobses)
Betty and her Sponge Bob.
Carol and her Sponge Bob.The finished project!

This is a video I made of my Fourth Grade class and the projects we did for the science theme. ^_^