Just a quick little update on the little guy in my belly. Niblet is quite the active fellow but I love feeling him kick and move and squirm about. He especially likes it when I have a good meal or a nice sugary drink. In fact, yesterday, I indulged in a burger (must get iron from beef...) and he was very energetic into the wee hours of the night.
Braxton Hicks contractions are coming on full force these days. They aren't painful but they literally make my stomach hard as a rock for about 60 seconds, then they subside. Also, I am quite breathless when I go up a flight of stairs.. In my head I'm thinking, "Man, I'm outta shape!" But then I realize that my lung capacity is but a mere 50% of what is used to be..
So all is good. Niblet is done all his development and now he is just gaining some fat. If he were to be born today, he would be A-OK. But for now, I'll just let him cook for about 5 more weeks. Well-done please.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
32 years
No silly, I'm not referring to my age but it does coincide funnily with my bday. 32 years represents the number of consecutive years that my school's x-country team has won the regional championship which took place yesterday. 32 years!!! That's pretty phenomenal if you stop and think about it.
For the past 6 weeks, students have been training almost on a daily basis, arriving at 7am to do lap after lap and stair after stair. I am in awe of my students' dedication and commitment to this team. While watching them race yesterday, I always get a bit emotional when I see that special kid running like the wind, intensity in his eyes, gutting it out for the finish. Everybody knows that running is not "fun", in fact, it can be quite painful. But my kids have so much heart that it is simply the best feeling in the world to watch them run.
I am also honoured to coach this team. You see, back in the day when I was a kid, I also was a part of the legendary "Sea of Blue". And now in my adult years, I can give back to the school as their coach.
My kids truly inspire me. They are what make my job so wonderful that I wouldn't trade it for any job in the world. Here is an excerpt that I wrote for the school newsletter that kind of explains why I love coaching running..
Sea of BLUE Victorious at Cross-Country Meet!
On Tuesday, May 6th, 130 Hillcrest students participated in the south Peel regional cross-country meet at Erindale park. The race was approximately 3km and consisted of 6 divisions. As a team, Hillcrest dominated the day to capture 1st place in 4 divisions and resulted in winning the overall championship, for the 32nd consecutive year!
Every year, colleagues, parents, and teacher-coaches from other schools ask us, “How does Hillcrest do it? How do you manage to win year after year?” It’s kind of funny, because sometimes it’s difficult to explain what seems like such an unbelievable phenomenon. I believe that the championship legacy of the “Sea of Blue”, long established by Ms. Walter, remains the reason because it encourages students to participate and belong to that tradition; the desire to become a part of something very special that they will never forget. I believe that excellence encourages excellence but please understand that cross-country running at Hillcrest is not an enigma. In fact, all it takes is hard work, dedication, and stamina. The mental toughness is just as hard to develop as the physical toughness. It is so amazing to see students bare their hearts and souls on race day and in my opinion, nothing is more satisfying and wonderful to experience as a coach.
What is even more amazing is to witness this passion for running continue through the years. Just a couple weekends ago at the Mississauga Marathon, I cheered on countless ex-Hillcrest students race in their first 5K, 10K, and even half-marathon race!
One day, I predict that Hillcrest may even, (gasp!) come 2nd at the regional meet. But I am ok with that. Winning is a mere result, but I truly believe that it’s the journey getting there that is more important.
For the past 6 weeks, students have been training almost on a daily basis, arriving at 7am to do lap after lap and stair after stair. I am in awe of my students' dedication and commitment to this team. While watching them race yesterday, I always get a bit emotional when I see that special kid running like the wind, intensity in his eyes, gutting it out for the finish. Everybody knows that running is not "fun", in fact, it can be quite painful. But my kids have so much heart that it is simply the best feeling in the world to watch them run.
I am also honoured to coach this team. You see, back in the day when I was a kid, I also was a part of the legendary "Sea of Blue". And now in my adult years, I can give back to the school as their coach.
My kids truly inspire me. They are what make my job so wonderful that I wouldn't trade it for any job in the world. Here is an excerpt that I wrote for the school newsletter that kind of explains why I love coaching running..
Sea of BLUE Victorious at Cross-Country Meet!
On Tuesday, May 6th, 130 Hillcrest students participated in the south Peel regional cross-country meet at Erindale park. The race was approximately 3km and consisted of 6 divisions. As a team, Hillcrest dominated the day to capture 1st place in 4 divisions and resulted in winning the overall championship, for the 32nd consecutive year!
Every year, colleagues, parents, and teacher-coaches from other schools ask us, “How does Hillcrest do it? How do you manage to win year after year?” It’s kind of funny, because sometimes it’s difficult to explain what seems like such an unbelievable phenomenon. I believe that the championship legacy of the “Sea of Blue”, long established by Ms. Walter, remains the reason because it encourages students to participate and belong to that tradition; the desire to become a part of something very special that they will never forget. I believe that excellence encourages excellence but please understand that cross-country running at Hillcrest is not an enigma. In fact, all it takes is hard work, dedication, and stamina. The mental toughness is just as hard to develop as the physical toughness. It is so amazing to see students bare their hearts and souls on race day and in my opinion, nothing is more satisfying and wonderful to experience as a coach.
What is even more amazing is to witness this passion for running continue through the years. Just a couple weekends ago at the Mississauga Marathon, I cheered on countless ex-Hillcrest students race in their first 5K, 10K, and even half-marathon race!
One day, I predict that Hillcrest may even, (gasp!) come 2nd at the regional meet. But I am ok with that. Winning is a mere result, but I truly believe that it’s the journey getting there that is more important.
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