2013 - Year in Review

Well, I guess I am not much of a blogger, my last post was my 2013 resolutions!!

Here is a review of those resolutions.

#1 - Get the hood and actually graduate with my Ph.D.
--- Done!  It was a wonderful graduation, especially when I got "hooded" and then got to sit in the stands with the other professors.

#2 - Find success in the Honolulu Marathon and achieve a "best time" for me in this race 
--- Sadly, this did not happen and will not happen again, probably.  I faced knee injuries throughout the year with arthritis, then I broke my toe, finally, I messed up my left knee so bad I found myself in the urgent care and a trip to get an MRI.  Basically, I have torn the cartilage below my thigh bone in my knee.  This is where all the support comes from for doing running and other "pounding" exercises.  The doctor says it is time for me to re-invent myself through other exercises.  I spent six weeks on crutches.

#3 - Find a balance in my exercise - I have started this re-invention and I am lifting weights, doing the stationary bike, and swimming.  I have to take it easy and be careful not to re-injure my knee.

#4 - Utilize my PhD to educate others - Success!  Last summer, I started teaching as an Adjunct Professor for Argosy University.  I have been teaching Education classes to Master's Degree students who are in American Samoa.  It has been a great experience so far!

#5 - Family time - I would say I have found some success with this and have tried to spend more time with my family and balance my life more.  I seem to have more time on my hands lately with no more dissertation writing and no training for marathons.  My full time job is still very time consuming and stressful, but I have found more time for my family.

Well, there you have it!  I think I would say that I have succeeded on 4 out of 5 of my resolutions!  Not bad!  It only my medical injuries hadn't held me back.  At one point, I was even considering running the marathon on crutches, but Suzy talked me out of it.

Up next, my 2014 Resolutions!

2013 New Year's Resolutions

Setting resolutions is the way we plan out our lives and succeed in our goals.  This year, make the effort and set some for yourself.

My 2013 resolutions are:

#1 - Get the hood and actually graduate with my Ph.D. - just working on the final edits to the dissertation paper having passed my defense in November, so this one should be easy to complete, I hope.

#2 - Find success in the Honolulu Marathon and achieve a "best time" for me in this race - I have run 6 marathons since 2008, but I have struggled with achieving great times in the Honolulu Marathon (my PB for all marathons is 4:01). The course is difficult due to the amount of people walking and I always seem to have problems in the last 4 miles heading in from Kahala.  I define "success" as not feeling like I am about to collapse after I finish and I want to beat my last two times that were a 4:45 and 4:41, respectively.  (I wasn't planning on ever running this race again, but couldn't resist the early bird price of $26.20.)

#3 - Find a balance in my exercise - for the last few years, I have been focusing so much on running that I have worn my knees out.  In 2012 when I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my right knee, I realized it might be time for some changes.  My goal for this resolution is to work on cross training throughout the year - less focus on running, more on the non-impact exercises like biking, swimming, walking, hiking, surfing, and weight lifting.  To quantify this resolution, I would like to do at least 3 different types of exercises each week, reducing the focus on running.

#4 - Utilize my PhD to educate others - while my dream is to be a professor and teach education classes full time to undergraduates, there are no openings right now on this island; however, that shouldn't stop me from teaching part time, so I will apply and try to start doing this in the summer.

#5 - Family time - Our family struggled in 2012 with lots of medical problems, beyond my knee diagnosis, and it has made me re-think some of my priorities.  I resolve to work harder on spending more time as a family.  So, this means at least one meal together as a family each week, but I would like to try and have at least one activity together as well, whether that be playing a game, going to a movie, or just going to the beach together.

Well, there you have it!  My five resolutions for the year!  Good luck on setting yours and finishing them.  You can do it!  You just have to believe in yourself.

2012 New Year's Resolutions in review

Posted on my blog on December 31, 2011, these were my 2012 New Year's Resolutions.

So, how did I do?

#1 - Pass my dissertation proposal defense (probably Jan/Feb) - Passed it in March 2012!

#2 - Finish my dissertation (probably by the end of the summer) - Passed my defense in November 2012, and just sent in the last (hopefully) set of edits to my dissertation paper at 191 pages!

#3 - Graduate with my PhD (probably be the end of the summer) - This was the only one I didn't complete, I will have to wait until May 2013 to graduate.

#4 - Break a two hour half marathon (my record is around 2:10) - Did in in March 2012!

#5 - Take time to contemplate my future ... - I did this, and now I am in a new role at school as Director of Educational Technology.  Still need to work on my future a little more ... 

Well, 4 out of 5 isn't too bad.  Those were some tough resolutions this year.

Do you have any regrets?

A few months ago, one of my students interviewed me for a class project.  I was surprised at the challenge of the questions, but one that struck home was this one - Do you have any regrets?  In addition, he asked me if I had a time machine, if I would go back and change anything.

I have contemplated these questions many times in my life.  As an avid science fiction reader, I have always wondered about with it would be like if I could go back in time and change things I had done before or made different choices; however, the reality is that I have reached a place in my life where I am very happy.  I have a wonderful family, a great job educating students, a great place to live in beautiful Hawai'i, and I am in the process of finishing my dissertation for my Ph.D.  What would happen if I went back and changed something?  What would be the effect on my current life?  Would I miss meeting Suzy in my math class at UNC in 1992?  Would I be living in Hawaii?  Would I have two great daughters?  Would I even be an educator?

When you reach a place in your life where you are happy, it is time to say goodbye to the bad memories in your past, of which I have many.  It is time to forgive an forget.  It is time to say that all of the decision made, whether right or wrong, have led to the moment I am in right now.  By returning to the past and thinking about regrets, you only risk losing what you have now.

So, I say, work on getting yourself to the place where you are happy and content.  I mean, certainly, I would love to make more money or have more time to spend with my family, but all in all, life is great! Once you reach that point, step back and free yourself from the pain of the past and move forward with no regrets!

What do I run?

Sometimes people ask me why I run so much.  My answers are simple:

1) I run to stay fit - I love McDonalds and Coca-Cola.  It is impossible to stay healthy with a diet that includes these items, so running balances this; well, it has so far!

2) I love to read but I don't have time - I have no time to read fiction with a full-time job, grad school and a family, so I turned to audiobooks.  I can't tell you how many I have read while running over the years, but I would estimate at least 30 books.

3) I am very competitive - It started one day when I found out a colleague's time for the 5k.  I set my sights on beating it, and have never stopped.  Then, it was the desire to have the Honolulu Marathon t-shirt, just so I could say I did it once.  Well, next week will be my fifth marathon!  Nike+ has helped a lot setting goals, seeing the times for each run, trying to beat them and better myself.  Set a goal and go for it!

4) Running is a cheap exercise - No need for fancy equipment, gym memberships, or trainers, running only requires a pair of running shoes around $100.

5) Stress Relief - I have a lot of stress in my life, I have the constant weight of helping to support my family, the stress of being a teacher, and the fear of failure.  Running burns the stress away from me.  When you are running for hours on a sidewalk with the trees casting shadows all around you, it gives you time to contemplate and work through issues and goals, fears and dreams.

So, you want to take up running?  Here are some hints from someone who has run over 2700 miles in the last four years.

1. Go to a running store so they can help you choose the right shoe.  The shoes are critical to your safety and endurance.
2. Get yourself a ready-dry shirt to run in.  It keeps the sweat away from you.
3. Pick some nice routes around your house where you can either loop back to get fluids or a route with drinking fountains spaced regularly.  Running with water bottles is just extra weight.
4. Get yourself the Nike+ app or another app so you can track your miles and set goals.
5. Look to Hal Higdon to help plan your training, especially long distance training.
6. Have fun when your running!  Listen to music or an audiobook!

Two other quotes to encourage you:

- Never give up, never give up, never give up (Heard at my sister's graduation speech in 1987).

- Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours.  - Richard Bach, Illusions   ------ You can do it, if you believe in yourself!

Good luck, and may the traffic lights always change to green as you approach!

2012 New Year's Resolution Updates

#4 - Break a two hour half marathon (my record is around 2:10).
Stretching every bit of energy I had today, I finished with a 1:59:40.  Crazy!!

 I have now completed 2 of my 5 resolutions for the year!

2012 New Year's Resolution Updates

#1 - Pass my dissertation proposal defense - done!  I am now ABD (All But Dissertation) Status.