As I enter the final week of my project, I start to reflect on the overall growth that I have had as a learner, runner and teacher.
This goal, as I mentioned before, really aligned with goal setting that I just finished completing and assessing with my students. At the beginning of the unit I teach about the importance of connecting mind, body, spirit and emotion through some medicine wheel teachings. Quite often, students find when they work on one of the four quadrants of the medicine wheel that there is growth in other areas as well. So, I thought that I would make a visual to represent the growth that I have seen in the four quadrants myself.
It is not “new news” that running helps, but sometimes I just need that little push. At the end of the exhausting day, I can use a run to help regulate my emotions rather than being a grumpy pants all night. When I feel as though my mind is racing, I can use a run to help clear my mind.
I have a plan to print off this visual and hang it on my fridge or somewhere visible. Then I can be sure that I am seeing the importance of running.
Looking forward, I have to make a plan for how I am going to make this sustainable for the long term. This is not about just getting a good mark in EC&I (but that wouldn’t hurt me).
Here are some great tools that I found to make and keep running a sustainable activity for my overall well being:
This link gave me some support in how I can fit in smaller runs throughout the week. Sometimes 30 minutes is a lot, so some smaller runs just a few times a week could help me maintain the health and development of my running.
One of my biggest obstacles here in Saskatchewan is trying to figure out how maintain running in the winter. There sure aren’t many resources out there that support running in the cold, deep snow winter that we have. This Tik Tok had some relatable snow depths, but I am not sure about how cold this person really is as they run.
Finally, I found an inspiration Instagram running coach that can hopefully pop up on my feed in a regular fashion for motivation. @trackclubbabe has regular motivation and real life posts that can keep me motivated through the good, the bad and the ugly!
To finish, I am going to share a beautiful photo that I took during one of my runs these past five weeks. It was a reminder to stop and smell the flowers, or canola, or whatever else is out there to give me allergies!
Hey there, awesome ECI 831 readers! Welcome to my final blog post, where I will be sharing my journey of my 5k running project. In just six weeks, I went from a beginner to a determined runner…..just jokes, I am still at the beginner stages, and my “running” is more of a jog, but I am ok with that. My journey was filled with growth and excitement. Let me dive into the highlights, lessons, and triumphs that made this learning project MY learning project.
Getting started: it all began with me wanting to sew a quilt, but then I realized it would cost me $200 in material…..beep that! NO thank you! I had to switch gears completely……
So, it actually all began with a simple goal of completing a 5k run within six weeks. As someone new to running, this was a big challenge that required discipline, commitment, and a positive mindset. To kick off the project, I researched some training plans and settled with From Couch to 5k! The plan looked easy enough, however reflecting back I feel I probably needed more time to work my way up to the running times. Realistically, I should have trained a few months for this run.
Weeks 1-2 was about building the basics and focusing on a strong foundation for my running journey. I was reading articles if running was good for you? Still not sure I agree with this hahaha. I worked on my running form, gradually increased my endurance, and added some stretching into my routine. It wasn’t always easy, but I learned that staying patient and keep going were the keys to successfully completing my learning project.
At this point, I was regretting not spending the $200 on material!
Weeks 3-4 I was working on better nutrition and planning some meals, based on the reading Your Guide to a Runner’s Diet. I came to the conclusion I do not like meal planning, prepping, or cooking. Why can’t I win the lottery and have my own personal chef? During the running process I entered a more intense phase of training. I was increasing my time to eight and ten minutes and I was achieving milestones that were giving me a great sense of pride and motivated me to keep going.
Week 5-6 I tried my creative hand at creating the iMovies for my learning project. I have never worked with iMovie and so I watched full tutorial on YouTube. It was a smooth process and I found it easy to work with. I feel like iMovie is tool I will be using again for future projects. A few things to note when you watch my videos, yes I did cut my hair half way through the class, this made it difficult for re-takes! Also, why do I look down at my feet so much? Well, there is a funny story behind that. I tried running once before, back in 2008, and I tripped over my feet and broke my finger. True story! So, this running project was a big feat (feet LOL) for me!
Race day! Finally, the big day arrived, and I found myself feeling defeated before I even began. I read some running tips on how to prepare yourself for a long run. I wasn’t sure how I would ever run for a full 5k without stopping….As I put on Vanderpump Rules, started the treadmill, I embraced the challenge. I don’t know if it was the culmination of all my hard work or the fact that I knew I would never have to run again, but I pushed myself throughout the entire run. When my fitbit alerted me that I had reached 5k, I was left with joy that it was over, a little bummed that my episode of Vanderpump was over, I mean, it was getting juicy! I think in my video, you can tell I am watching tv as I was looking up at my screen (and not my feet this time!).
Important Lessons Learned:
Consistency is key: Regular training, even when I didn’t feel like it, helped me improve and build my endurance.
Patience pays off: Progress takes time, so I learned to be patient and enjoy the journey instead of rushing results.
Mind of matter: Running is not just physical. It is also about mental strength. Staying positive and believing in myself helped me pushed through…..or maybe it was the fact I was able to be away from my kids and watch Vanderpump Rules instead of Sonic Boom or Dance Monsters! Either way, I pushed through mentally and was able to overcome the struggles.
Reflection: I’ve come to realize the power of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. Training for my 5k run not only improved my fitness (a little, but I will take it) but also boosted my confidence, and determination to want to continue on my fitness journey….maybe not with running.
This was my first time blogging and using Twitter and all this techy stuff. As I read other blogs throughout the semester, I could see I needed to step up my game, as I felt behind everyone else. Looking back at my overall learning project, there are some things that I would do differently. I would have incorporated more running apps, and maybe included my Fitbit more into the process. To be honest, I only started wearing it again because of my learning project. I didn’t do a lot of flashy posts as I didn’t have the skill set, but I kept learning and trying to do my best and I think that that is what is important for me. I learned some new things this semester and I am proud of my growth and learning.
As I say goodbye to this project, I eagerly look forward to new adventures and challenges.
Thank you all for reading my posts and the comments. This has been a great class. Have a great summer!
After a whole two weeks of running at the same pace, I am finally starting to feel some progress being made. I had a serious head cold last week — yay for my physical health taking a toll on me try to work on my mental health! YAY!
I am back on Tik Tok again this week to try and learn some tricks. The best thing about learning on Tik Tok is actually listening to people talk. That lead me to my second source this week — Pinterest! Her are some of the resources that I found and how they helped me!
This link taught me about eating and supporting yourself through runs. Since doing some research about how to eat to support my body before and after running, this has been super helpful in the recovery but also the stamina that I have built. A co-worker actually did something called a “bun run” this week and I could not believe that someone could eat a dense cinnamon bun while running!
Although I have never considered running a super long run, this link https://www.tiktok.com/@hannah_miller0/video/7205237002999057710?_r=1&_t=8d7YicaCE6v gave me the ideas of how to prepare in the hours leading up to a run. I find I am still balancing how much water to drink because it can cause some problems for me when I hear that swooshing around in my stomach. Again, it is all a learning curve.
This post that I found on Pinterest https://bestplaygear.com/how-to-get-back-into-running-after-gaining-weight/ allowed me to give myself the mental support that I need. It really did break down the ideas of not letting the mental block I create for myself reaching success. I am mentioned in my previous post that I play numbers games, and I quite regularly think when I weighed 15, 10, 5 pounds lighter. I am working to revere that so that I can be comfortable in my own body.
I am starting to really get back into it, and I have now realized I need to give myself grace as I am working really hard and that is what matters. When I look at my students in my class and watch them crush out their 6 day action plans over the last week or so, I realize that they have also inspired me to strive for and reach my goals that I have set for myself. This has been a humbling experience for me.
Well, it seems like the semester has come to an end. For the last three years – give or take – I have wanted to get out of my house and out into my yard. But I never could find the motivation to do it. I am so glad that through this experience I have been able to make my yard a little oasis while also learning the power of blogging – a tool I hope to use in my classroom soon.
So, I guess one question remains – where to next? Everything in my yard is flourishing and in the coming months I will need to harvest all the vegetables and herbs and by the end of September, I will need to start preparing everything for winter.
Creeping Junipers
Update: My creeping junipers are definitely the least interesting plant I planted this year. Overall, and quite anti-climatic, I have nothing to report here. My junipers are thriving and that’s about it. According to Google, it can take a few years to see any sort of growth from this plant so set a reminder in your phone and check back in 2027!
What’s Next: Again, there isn’t much left to do with my creeping junipers. According to The Spruce, junipers don’t require regular pruning, but they can be cut back if they get too big. As for fall/winter care, there doesn’t seem to be much:
Water junipers more often in the fall to ensure they are well hydrated before your first frost.
Place 2 or 3 inches of mulch around the tree to conserve moisture and help to maintain a more even soil temperature. Be sure to leave 2 or 3 inches of space between the mulch and the trunk.
Hydrangea
Update: My hydrangea bush is doing very well. This week we started to see our first flower blooms!
“All that’s typically needed is a hard haircut in winter. Cutting the plant down to the ground – with just a few inches of stem remaining – encourages vigorous new growth when the plant wakes up from dormancy.
If you prefer to encourage upward growth you can elect to cut the plant back to one to three feet up from the soil level, but generally, the harder the haircut, the happier the plant.
Come early spring, apply a slow release fertilizer with a balanced NPK ratio (10-10-10) to support strong root systems and healthy new growth.”
Hostas
Update: Again, as with mostly everything in this post, my hostas are doing wonderful. We had a minor issue when we received some hail, but since hail doesn’t damage the roots it was all good! Overall, the hostas seem to be growing every day and it looks like we will be seeing some flowers soon!
“To begin winterizing hostas, if necessary, keep supplying them with an inch (2.5 cm.) or so of water per week throughout the fall. If you have been fertilizing the plants, stop feeding them in late summer or they will continue to produce leaves. These tender new leaves can make the entire plant, including the crown and roots, susceptible to frost damage. As nighttime temperatures drop, hosta foliage will begin to dry out and fall over. Wait until the leaves have fallen over before continuing with any hosta winter preparation. Why is this important? The leaves are needed post-bloom to produce food for the next year’s growth. Further Hosta Winter Care While there isn’t much that needs to be done for hostas in winter, the foliage should be trimmed back. Once the leaves have fallen naturally, it is safe to cut them. Use sterilized shears (sterilize with a half/half mix of rubbing alcohol and water) to prevent fungal infection or rot.”
Roma Tomatoes
Update: Of all the things I planted, I feel like my tomato plant is doing the best! We did have an issue with some wilting leaves, but it turns out it just needed a TON of water (apparently daily watering wasn’t enough). As of right now, I bet we have at least 40 tomatoes growing. It has now become a community affair with my neighbours routinely asking about my tomatoes.
Roma Tomatoes
What’s Next: As of right now, the tomatoes just need some more time to grow. According to The Spruce:
“Roma tomatoes are ripe and ready to be harvested when they are evenly colored red. They should still be firm so don’t let them turn overripe on the vine.
If cold fall weather hits and you still have green Roma tomatoes on the plants, pick them all and ripen them indoors in a paper bag or wrapped in newspaper. They won’t all ripen the same way as outdoors but at least you can save a few.”
In the winter, the plant will have to go to plant heaven as roma tomato plants are annuals so that’s a bit disappointing.
Chives, Parsley, Dill, and Basil
Update: At this point with my herbs, I am a bit worried that I may have overdone it. I don’t know what world I will be able to consume the amount of herbs that I have but I will certainly try!
Chives, Parsley, and DillBasil
What’s Next:
Chives: According to MasterClass, “Harvesting chives is easy and straightforward. They can be harvested any time after the leaves have grown to about six inches tall. If harvesting the leaves, starting with the outer leaves first, cutting leaves about two inches from the base of the plant until you have the amount you need.
Parsley, Basil, and Dill: I have started using my parsley, basil, and dill! If you are interested, please check out my blog post on making a lasagna with my homegrown parsley and basil or my blog post where I make a homemade dill pickle pasta salad using my garden-grown dill!
Romaine Lettuce
Update: I feel like a bit of a broken record here, but the lettuce is doing SO well. And there is SO much that we might be drowning in lettuce soon.
Romaine Lettuce
What’s Next: First will come harvesting the lettuce which will be soon:
“Lettuce regrows once its leaves have been cut or picked off the main stem. As long as the root is intact in the ground and there are at least 1-2 inches of stem and leaves at the base, lettuce will shoot new growth in as little as a week. The cut-and-come-again harvesting method is the most popular.”
So that is an added bonus! But much like my tomatoes, we will have to part ways come fall as romaine lettuce is considered to be an annual.
All in all, this project has been immensely rewarding. I found myself in my yard more and more in the last few weeks, but I also found a deeper appreciation for the little things. Watching everything grow has given me the weirdest level of happiness and I have this project to thank!
But this project extends beyond my personal space. I was very hesitant at the start of this project to blog. And to be fully transparent, setting up the blog almost made me drop the class. But after a few phone calls to my sister, I made it through and I am so happy that I did (and yes I am a slightly dramatic human it wasn’t that bad). Posting and interacting with my fellow classmates has proven to be as equally as rewarding as watching my little tomatoes grow. Over the course of the term, I have been thinking of ways that I could incorporate blogging into my space, and it is one of the reasons I decided to apply to be a Connected Educator with the division I work for (fingers crossed) so I can have access to one-on-one technology in the coming school year. The value of blogging is immeasurable, but using it as a tool to help students engage with digital citizenship and technological literacy cannot be understated – something that I wouldn’t have believed six weeks ago.
I guess that is all for now folks! Maybe I will check back in next year since I already have big plans – clematis and ferns included!
As I mentioned in my last post, my garden is growing like crazy! My dill, specifically, is growing like a weed.
I had to do a little research to find out when dill is ready to be harvested, but based on the size of the plant I figured it had to be soon.
Harvesting Dill: As dill grows rather quickly, the leaves are ready for use in 6 to 8 weeks after planting. Always water your dill plant a day before harvesting dill. Doing so will make sure that the plants are well hydrated and recover quickly. Then take older leaves first unless you have a lot of dill. Use a pair of shart and sterile scissors for snipping the leaves
So I got my trusty scissors out and got to work.
Harvested Dill
Next, much like the lasgna I made ealier this week, was the easy part. This isn’t my first time making a dill pickle pasta salad, but it is certainly my first time using fresh dill. And it turned out fantastic. I am so excited to have fresh dill all summer long.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Later this summer I hope to teach myself a second new skill – making homemade dill pickles with my garden dill!
This week I prepared to run my 5k for the full amount. This took a lot of mental preparation. I found I was second guessing myself and wasn’t sure I even wanted to attempt it. I was reading some articles about how to prepare the day before a big run. As 5k really is not that far, for me, being 43, overweight, and out of shape, 5k seemed like a daunting task. Most of the articles were preparing for outdoor running, with distances greater than 10k. But that was ok. I was able to use some of the valuable information from 10 most effective long run tips, and apply it to my 5k journey.
In the article I used for this week, I was able to read about effective running tips, looking at the positive and negative aspects to consider. The positive tips included gradual progression, emphasizing the importance of gradually increasing the distance of your runs. This is to help build endurance and prevent injuries…..something I definitely need more time at building! Making sure that you get the proper nutrition and fueling the night before a big run, while staying hydrated were essential for maintaining energy levels and preventing fatigue. I ate a big plate of spaghetti for supper, the night before, knowing that I would get extra fuel from the pasta, plus I could eat the leftovers for lunch for another round of re-fueling.
Of course, it is really important that you watch your pacing and try to maintain a steady and sustainable pace. Since I was running on the treadmill, I was able to set my speed to 4 mph and didn’t need to adjust it. I was able to keep that slow jog pace, which was enough of a run pace for me!
Mental preparation was the most important part of preparing for my run. The reading suggested using techniques of self-talk and visualization to help stay focused and motivated. I actually watched an episode of trash tv, AKA Vanderpump Rules….I found that was all the focus I needed.
I was able to finish my 5k in just under 52 minutes, which is slower than I had aimed for, but I am still proud of myself for finishing….I do have a video of my final run posted, so enjoy watching my last running attempt. Can you see the agony on my face? I will not be running anytime soon! I love my treadmill, but for walking only. I find that walking at an incline gives me just as good of a workout and I don’t feel like my body hates me afterwards. I found the running a real struggle, not only mentally, but physically.
I read another article, Incline walking vs running, and it explains that the benefits of walking on an incline is just as beneficial as running, so if I enjoy the walking, and it’s just as good for me, shouldn’t I keep doing what I enjoy?
Everything in my yard is growing spectacularly! So I figured it is time to put some of it to good use. I decided to start with a lasagna as the basil and parsley were getting unreasonably big and according to my Google research, they should be ready to be harvested:
Parsley: It takes between 70 and 90 days of growth before the plants are ready for parsley harvesting. The plants should have ample foliage. In some regions, seeds can be planted in the fall for early spring parsley harvesting and again in late winter for early summer harvest.
Basil: The best time to harvest basil is when the plant has lots of leaves, but hasn’t started to flower yet.
If this journey has taught me anything it is that YouTube has all the answer so off I went to find some videos on how to harvest herbs as I am more of a visual learner:
Seemed easy enough so I got out my trusty garden sisccors and got to snipping. After I had collected enough of each it was time to get inside to get cooking.
Fresh Parsley and Basil
The cooking part was easy enough as this isn’t my first rodeo with a lasagna. I make a variation of this recipe: World’s Best Lasagna Recipe. On a normal day when I don’t have fresh garden herbs, I have always just used dried basil and parsley without any issues. But as we were soon to find out, fresh herbs do make a difference.
As I got to chopping, I realized that I don’t really know how to cut up herbs. So back to the internet I went and this time I used WikiHow because sometimes YouTube is just too quick:
With the chopping out of the way, the lasagna was nearly there. And before I knew it, a homemade lasagna with garden grown herbs was sitting on my counter waiting to be eaten!
This past week I compiled all my running and put it in an iMovie. This was my first time doing anything like this, and I found it a very smooth process. Here is the link for my Overall Running Progress for the duration of the class.
Next week, I plan on completing the actual 5K run and will create another movie of the full run! Eeeeekkkkkkk, I am very nervous about this. I am not too sure I am ready for this.
I previously posted about this video, a beginners guide to iMovie. I found it very helpful as a beginner. Let me share my experience as a newcomer to iMovie and the features that stood out to me.
As a first-time user of iMovie, I must say that I am impressed with how user-friendly it was. iMovie has allowed me to dive into the world of filmmaking without the complexity that often accompanies professional video editing tools.
Upon launching iMovie, the layout was well-organized, making it easy to navigate and find the tools I needed. The drag-and-drop functionality simplified the process of importing my video clips, audio files, and images, allowing me to start editing my footage right away.
The timeline editor in iMovie was another aspect that won me over. Its simplicity and visual representation of my video clips made it easy to trim, split, and rearrange footage with precision.
I was able to overlay music tracks, add voiceovers, and fine-tune the audio levels to ensure a polished final product.
When it came to sharing and exporting my video, iMovie offered a variety of options. I was able to share directly to social media platforms, export to my iPhone or iPad, and save the video to my computer.
While iMovie delivers an exceptional experience overall, there were a few minor drawbacks. I found that working with large video files could sometimes slow down the performance, and exporting lengthy videos took a bit longer than expected. Since I had videos of myself running for a long duration, I ended up having to edit the videos prior to uploading because it was taking too long.
In conclusion, iMovie is an excellent choice for first-time video editors and enthusiasts looking to unleash their creativity. With its user-friendly editing features, and customizable templates, iMovie offers a pleasant introduction to the world of video editing. While it may have some limitations, it more than makes up for them with its accessibility and impressive results. I’m excited to continue exploring iMovie and honing in on my inner filmmaking skills.
Just a quick check-in on the progress of my little gardening project with only positive things to say! My plants have been grown like little weeds! It’s hard to keep up and I suspect that I am going to have an overabundance of produce, but I feel like there are more significant issues in life.
Table BasilRomaine LettuceSage, Parsley, and DillRoma Tomatoes
I am hoping that my other, non-edible plants, bloom soon so I can post an update on those too! This week I plan to learn how to harvest the herbs to make a homemade lasagna!
This week was hard to fit in some runs! But I did it! I was able to fit in two and complete (I mean I did it, I don’t know if complete is the word) my goal of running for 6, walking for 1 minute. I am not sure if this is sustainable as the temperature and humidity continue to increase as my energy levels and oomf continue to decrease. Next week, I think I will try to maintain my 6 minute running, 1 minute walking. I also want to make sure that I set myself up for success, otherwise defeat might get the best of me.
This week, for support and learning tips, I took to Instagram. I would say, my regular motivation for fitness is @allygriffeth. She is a Beachbody coach, but has taken a strong stand point on running. She has transformed into someone who hated running to someone who does it almost every day. She is a rockstar and gives off so many positive and motivating vibes.
I took myself to the Instagram explore this week. I found this video outlining a very simple version of what I am doing by increasing my running each week while decreasing my walking. I know I mentioned in my previous blog posts that I really am not new to running. So I cleared my search from “running tips” to “running motivation”. That is really what I need, motivation. I know right now, in the middle of two masters courses and June rearing it head, I NEED to run. I found this visual, which really creates an image of what happens to my mind, body and spirit before, during and after a run!
Sometimes I get really caught up in the numbers game of running. The kilometres, the pace, the minutes, time spent walking, time spent running, what time I need to leave, what time I need to be home, how fast I used to run, how slow I am now, remember when I used to run ___ kilometres in __ minutes. Sometimes I think if I run without my watch, then it doesn’t count. I am going to share the image with you that left me with something I can tell myself when I am in the dumps about starting over in my running journey.
