Half

This summer, I (along with Shawn "Minnesota Iron Mine" Dobbins, Sarah "Boss" Simmons, Erin "E-Tizzle" Teater, and Tom "Meeting Sleeper" Davies) signed up for the 2011 Houston Marathon. For the past two months, I've been slowly strengthening my legs and lungs.

Today marks the exact half-way point between when I officially started my training schedule and the morning of the marathon on January 30th. I realize that the more difficult and important half of training still awaits me, but I've been blessed with nine healthy weeks of painful, steady improvement.

Saturday morning also marked the latest in a series of "longest runs of my life" - namely the pleasant 13.1 miler that Sarah and I ran around White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX. A half marathon had always been a daunting goal for me, but I'm surprised by how quickly it became a reality with my eyes set on 26.2. So far, this training has convinced me that I can and will run half-marathons semi-regularly for as long as my body allows.

I'm also a couple quick weeks away from the half-way point of my second year of teaching. Life has certainly been more balanced and sane than last year, but at the same time the second year has come with a fresh new set of challenges, while the less glamorous parts of the job persist. I still love being in the classroom and helping my students realize their strength and brilliance, but I have certainly perfected the art of the occasional "chastisement" this year when students offer up immaturity and ignorance instead. Thanksgiving was a welcome break and I was even glad to get back to work today. I haven't seen my family for probably the longest stretch of my life, and I am very much looking forward to spending two long, luxurious weeks lounging around with them in the arctic north.

I started listening to Amy Grant's entire Christmas collection today and so should you.