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The last time I tested my limits for running was back on November 11. I ran for just over 92 minutes. I've only just discovered that I've yet to surpass that, having only run 90 minutes today and last Sunday. This is not to say that my limits have not increased, though. When I pulled that stunt in November, I paid for it in a lot of back and knee pain for a good week afterwards. Now, though, I can run 90 minutes without much grief from any of my body parts (knees ache slightly, but that's it). I'm damn certain I ran a lot further in the run I did today (6.95 miles) than I did on November 11. I'm also certain I could run a lot longer, too. However, I'm not going to push it, not yet. I've become a lot more guarded about my physical conditioning and I really don't want to wind up compromising my training more than it already has been. Still, it's good to know that I will have no difficulty completing the 10k in May; I just want the shiny medal at the end of the run as official evidence that I've left couch potato-dom well and truly behind me.
The change in my physical condition has been noted by both staff and pupils at the school and I've been complimented on my weight loss. Some of the pupils have actually seen me out running and a group of the older boys had, for a short while, taken to humming the Rocky theme song in my presence (tres cool!).
Further along the physical fitness front, I've started training in a new martial art, Bushin Kenpo, at a local club. Normally, I would've sought out some Aikido, Tai Chi, or Wing Chun, but no clubs exist within reasonable transport range for me. In fact, the Bushin Kenpo club is the only one around here. This has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The art is actually a highly pragmatized combination of Aikido, Ju Jitsu, Wing Chun and a variety of other arts. The club has a relaxed attitude and the head instructor is not only really competent, but also a lot of fun! I'm really enjoying it so far and learning a lot. This is a good thing!
In other news, it has been confirmed that I will be teaching a full English timetable next year. Whilst I'm not entirely pleased by the resultant mark load, or that I'll be teaching only lower ability pupils, it is reassuring to know that I'm valued and, more importantly, retained for a further year of work. *grin* I've also just found out that I'll be the form tutor for a group of year 8s next. I was told this by the head of KS3, who, at the same time, explained that when she was given choice of who to pick for tutors, she was glad to be able to choose me as I had shown a lot of good rapport with the younger year groups during summer school last year. Needless to say, I was chuffed. *big grin*
There is some issue of what room I'll be teaching in, as my current one will be given to the trainee teacher who will enter her first year of teaching next fall. I was despairing of being stuck in a much smaller room, but likely class sizes (let alone my form size) have ruled that room out and it's quite likely I'll be getting the room that I was doing support teaching in. There are some disadvantages to it, as it is away from the English block and has poor temperature control, but it is a large and airy room with the best view in the school and I'd be pleased to take that one, even over my current room (let alone the dinky one they were originally going to give me).
And that's pretty much the substantial bits of news for me as of late.
The change in my physical condition has been noted by both staff and pupils at the school and I've been complimented on my weight loss. Some of the pupils have actually seen me out running and a group of the older boys had, for a short while, taken to humming the Rocky theme song in my presence (tres cool!).
Further along the physical fitness front, I've started training in a new martial art, Bushin Kenpo, at a local club. Normally, I would've sought out some Aikido, Tai Chi, or Wing Chun, but no clubs exist within reasonable transport range for me. In fact, the Bushin Kenpo club is the only one around here. This has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The art is actually a highly pragmatized combination of Aikido, Ju Jitsu, Wing Chun and a variety of other arts. The club has a relaxed attitude and the head instructor is not only really competent, but also a lot of fun! I'm really enjoying it so far and learning a lot. This is a good thing!
In other news, it has been confirmed that I will be teaching a full English timetable next year. Whilst I'm not entirely pleased by the resultant mark load, or that I'll be teaching only lower ability pupils, it is reassuring to know that I'm valued and, more importantly, retained for a further year of work. *grin* I've also just found out that I'll be the form tutor for a group of year 8s next. I was told this by the head of KS3, who, at the same time, explained that when she was given choice of who to pick for tutors, she was glad to be able to choose me as I had shown a lot of good rapport with the younger year groups during summer school last year. Needless to say, I was chuffed. *big grin*
There is some issue of what room I'll be teaching in, as my current one will be given to the trainee teacher who will enter her first year of teaching next fall. I was despairing of being stuck in a much smaller room, but likely class sizes (let alone my form size) have ruled that room out and it's quite likely I'll be getting the room that I was doing support teaching in. There are some disadvantages to it, as it is away from the English block and has poor temperature control, but it is a large and airy room with the best view in the school and I'd be pleased to take that one, even over my current room (let alone the dinky one they were originally going to give me).
And that's pretty much the substantial bits of news for me as of late.
