I can run, but I can’t hide

Last year I met my goal of running 572 miles and my late additional goal of biking the same distance plus various other machine, free weight and core exercises that were not consistent. This year, I will up the goals to 624 each, adding one more mile per week.  I run mostly on a treadmill at before work.  This seems to be the best time for me to get up early before everyone else does.  My best 5 mile run was 39 minutes; my best 4 mile run was 29:39.  My best time going 15 miles on the bike was 39:12.  In working at different locations, I find some treadmills to be easier than others.  I plan to use this to my advantage.

Exercise Goals: 2009

At the beginning of the year, I set a goal of running and biking 572 miles each (11 miles each per week) not counting all of the other weight training. I am doing well at around 520 so far for each. Since I do my workouts at the gym before work, this crunch time part of the year becomes more difficult because I am taking off so much; not to mention that I just don’t feel like doing it.  I have not doubt that I will make it.  For some encouragement for you and I both, here is a link to tips for meeting your goals.  I need to start working on what goals will be for next year.

Flu Season & Dumb Rules

We pulled the Gamer out of school recently after many kids (including the one who sat right behind him) came down with the flu.  We had a medical plan in place ahead of time that states that he will be provided with homebound services from the school should this occur.  However, we were not informed of the crazy rules that they have in place for homebound students.  They state that should he be out in public (soccer practice, church, etc.) homebound services will be terminated.  The rationale: if he is too much at risk to be at school, he is too much at risk anywhere.  By trying to eliminate one major risk factor, they wanted him to live in a bubble (even though there is also risk at home!) Based on a doctor’s note about the benefits of exercise and Cystic Fibrosis, we have got them to let him finish the soccer season and receive homebound services, even though I wanted to pull him out totally and be done with this madness.

My Food Diary Experiment

I started a food diary a couple of weeks ago because I have heard several times that it is good for you.  This became too tedious of a project and I soon quit doing it.  I was impeccable with keeping track.  The problem was it did not make me eat any less or any differently.  I like to eat.  And the truth is if I maintain my present weight, I am ok with that.  It would be nice to drop a few pounds, but I’m not losing any sleep over it.  I run my butt off to keep from gaining weight, but I am just not ready for a major change in diet right now.

Back to Homeschool

My wife and I decided to pull the kids out of public school and teach them at home. We have done this temporarily in the past, but this time they are not going back. We came to this conclusion for several important reasons.

First, I believe it our duty as parents to teach our children, a job we had been delegating to the public school.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Second, for medical reasons, the doctors wanted us to pull Trey out for three months of the flu season. Every year he gets sick around Nov/Dec. Last year he was in the hospital for two months. Rather than subjecting them to the germ breeding ground that is school, we want the opportunity to control the environment.

Third, we are concerned with some of the content being presented. Without going into evolution, sex education, or sexual orientation, the district voted to use the curriculum from Everyday Mathematics. This is a curriculum that every parent should protest and run away from.

It all comes down to the fact that I know my children better than anyone and it’s my responsibility to raise them. So, now my quest is to give them the best education that I can, so expect the focus of this blog (as if it had one) to shift in that direction. All tips, hints, suggestions welcome.