As always, I am not too stellar with posting on here. It is with a sad heart I write this next post. As many of you know, I am a Running Leader and Mentor for a group of students here in Philadelphia. This is my second year with the running team and we are training for the Philadelphia Marathon at the end of November. We started training in March and have run several longer races in preparation for the Marathon. We completed the 10 mile Broad Street Run in May and the ING Half Marathon in September. Last year we had seven students on the team. This year we have 15 students training for the marathon. It is so exciting to see their progress over the year. It gets incredibly time consuming and difficult but to see all those students cross the finish line in November makes it worth it.
About a week ago, one of our students went missing. We thought he might of run away or something to that extent. We found out this past Friday that that wasn't the case. His body was found this past Thursday. It has been very hard dealing with all this and also being there for our other students. We have a great group of running leaders and staff who support our team. Many of you already know and thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
We are still planning on running the marathon with our 14 students. We have five weeks left until the marathon and it won't be easy but we will get there together. I will keep you updated about the team and their accomplishments. They are a great group of students and I am honored to be in a small part of their lives.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
New Things
I haven't written much on here about the family I am living with right now. I don't have pictures of everyone but I can share a little about them. I live with a married couple, Joe and Debbie, and there two daughters. Hannah is 2 1/2 and Samantha is about 7 months old. Joe and Debbie are actually my age so it is interesting living with people the same age as me who are obviously in a very different place in their lives.
It has been great living here and I feel very comfortable and welcome. When I am home, Hannah gives me a hug before she goes to bed and I often get to play with her. Tonight we made brownies together. Samantha still just kind of hangs around. It is nice living with little kids but I am sure glad I don't have to take care of them 24/7. It gives me much more appreciation for moms out there (you too mom). I also enjoy it because it gives me a sense of where my own nieces might be at in their development. I hope to know them as well as I know these little girls.
Here are some pictures for you:
Hannah made a picture of her family and the world. I made the picture. I am the black people figure in top left.
Burping the baby
Debbie is nursing Samantha and apparently Hannah wanted to give it a go
Samantha..you know just hanging around
Hannah "reading" a cookbook"
It has been great living here and I feel very comfortable and welcome. When I am home, Hannah gives me a hug before she goes to bed and I often get to play with her. Tonight we made brownies together. Samantha still just kind of hangs around. It is nice living with little kids but I am sure glad I don't have to take care of them 24/7. It gives me much more appreciation for moms out there (you too mom). I also enjoy it because it gives me a sense of where my own nieces might be at in their development. I hope to know them as well as I know these little girls.
Here are some pictures for you:
Hannah made a picture of her family and the world. I made the picture. I am the black people figure in top left.
Burping the baby
Debbie is nursing Samantha and apparently Hannah wanted to give it a go
Samantha..you know just hanging around
Hannah "reading" a cookbook"
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Great Urban Race
I just wanted to let all of you know today I participated in the Great Urban Race in Philadelphia. They have competitions all over the country and the top 25 teams from each city get to go on an compete in the National Championship in New Orleans.
Well I played with my friend Mali today and we had a great time. We were optimistic that we would do well and throughout the race we thought we were on track to potentially finish in the top 25. Well little did we know how well we would do. We placed 3rd over all with over 200 teams competing. We finished in just over 2 hours 10 minutes behind the 2nd place group and 13 minutes behind the 1st place group. 1st and 2nd place earned cash money so we almost won that...oh well. We did gain free entry into the National Championship by placing in the top three so we are seriously considering going. Mali has never been before so we figure why not. I know some people down there so we can probably stay for free and so we are figuring it out.
Basically it was an awesome race. We ran for almost 6 miles to cover all the ground quickly. I was sweating like crazy but it was worth it. I will let you know about New Orleans.
Well I played with my friend Mali today and we had a great time. We were optimistic that we would do well and throughout the race we thought we were on track to potentially finish in the top 25. Well little did we know how well we would do. We placed 3rd over all with over 200 teams competing. We finished in just over 2 hours 10 minutes behind the 2nd place group and 13 minutes behind the 1st place group. 1st and 2nd place earned cash money so we almost won that...oh well. We did gain free entry into the National Championship by placing in the top three so we are seriously considering going. Mali has never been before so we figure why not. I know some people down there so we can probably stay for free and so we are figuring it out.
Basically it was an awesome race. We ran for almost 6 miles to cover all the ground quickly. I was sweating like crazy but it was worth it. I will let you know about New Orleans.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
To Consider
I haven't posted in forever...and I will update soon...I think...I just saw this today and wanted to share it.
You won’t find “takes honors classes,” “gets good grades,” or “attends only Ivy League schools” on John Taylor Gatto’s list of qualities of an educated person. Gatto taught in New York City schools for 30 years and was named New York State’s Teacher of the Year, but his experiences convinced him that what students need is less time in classrooms and more time out in the world. Building character and community, Gatto argues, is more valuable than learning from tired textbooks and rigid lesson plans.
Really educated people ...
Number 1Establish an individual set of values but recognize those of the surrounding community and of the various cultures of the world.
Number-2.Explore their own ancestry, culture, and place.
Number-3.Are comfortable being alone, yet understand dynamics between people and form healthy relationships.
Number-4.Accept mortality, knowing that every choice affects the generations to come.
Number-5.Create new things and find new experiences.
Number-6.Think for themselves; observe, analyze, and discover truth without relying on the opinions of others.
Number-7.Favor love, curiosity, reverence, and empathy rather than material wealth.
Number-8.Choose a vocation that contributes to the common good.
Number-9.Enjoy a variety of new places and experiences but identify and cherish a place to call home.
Number-10.Express their own voice with confidence.
Number-11.Add value to every encounter and every group of which they are a part.
Number-12.Always ask: “Who am I? Where are my limits? What are my possibilities?”
You won’t find “takes honors classes,” “gets good grades,” or “attends only Ivy League schools” on John Taylor Gatto’s list of qualities of an educated person. Gatto taught in New York City schools for 30 years and was named New York State’s Teacher of the Year, but his experiences convinced him that what students need is less time in classrooms and more time out in the world. Building character and community, Gatto argues, is more valuable than learning from tired textbooks and rigid lesson plans.
Really educated people ...
Number 1Establish an individual set of values but recognize those of the surrounding community and of the various cultures of the world.
Number-2.Explore their own ancestry, culture, and place.
Number-3.Are comfortable being alone, yet understand dynamics between people and form healthy relationships.
Number-4.Accept mortality, knowing that every choice affects the generations to come.
Number-5.Create new things and find new experiences.
Number-6.Think for themselves; observe, analyze, and discover truth without relying on the opinions of others.
Number-7.Favor love, curiosity, reverence, and empathy rather than material wealth.
Number-8.Choose a vocation that contributes to the common good.
Number-9.Enjoy a variety of new places and experiences but identify and cherish a place to call home.
Number-10.Express their own voice with confidence.
Number-11.Add value to every encounter and every group of which they are a part.
Number-12.Always ask: “Who am I? Where are my limits? What are my possibilities?”
Monday, June 29, 2009
Triathlon
My triathlon was yesterday. It was an Olympic Distance Tri which means it is a mile swim, 25 mile bike and a 6.2 mile run. The day was beautiful and thankfully the weather held up the week beforehand so they didn't have to cancel the swim.
Four of my friends came in to compete in the race and also many family and friends. My mom came in to cheer as well. It was a great weekend and the race was awesome.
The swim was in the Schuylkill River which most people think is really gross but I didn't really have an issue with it. The bike was a two loop course around Fairmount Park with four hills on each loop. One hill in the loop was quite a killer but I was really proud of my bike time in the race more than any other time. My run time was slow but I knew I didn't train well for the run so I wasn't disappointed.
I finished with a total time of 2:56:34 which I was extremely happy with...considering I wasn't expecting to finish under three hours. Of the five of my friend competing, I had the fastest swim time which was a bit of a surprise because one of the guys with our group is really fast.
You can look up my time at this website
http://results.virtualroster.com/results/index.cfm
Just type in my name and it will come up. I was definitely motivated to do another Olympic Distance....and are you ready....yes a half ironman. My goal was to finish the race feeling pretty decent. I had no idea what to expect because I haven't done an Olympic Distance before. I thought if I felt decent after the race I would try and stay in decent shape and work towards a half ironman. that won't be for another year probably but one can always dream.
Here are come photos of the event. When I have more, I will post them. There are pictures of all of us competing so you won't see me in every photo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mari.anzicek/PhillyTriathlon?authkey=Gv1sRgCOrLu8q_6YmTfg&feat=directlink
Four of my friends came in to compete in the race and also many family and friends. My mom came in to cheer as well. It was a great weekend and the race was awesome.
The swim was in the Schuylkill River which most people think is really gross but I didn't really have an issue with it. The bike was a two loop course around Fairmount Park with four hills on each loop. One hill in the loop was quite a killer but I was really proud of my bike time in the race more than any other time. My run time was slow but I knew I didn't train well for the run so I wasn't disappointed.
I finished with a total time of 2:56:34 which I was extremely happy with...considering I wasn't expecting to finish under three hours. Of the five of my friend competing, I had the fastest swim time which was a bit of a surprise because one of the guys with our group is really fast.
You can look up my time at this website
http://results.virtualroster.com/results/index.cfm
Just type in my name and it will come up. I was definitely motivated to do another Olympic Distance....and are you ready....yes a half ironman. My goal was to finish the race feeling pretty decent. I had no idea what to expect because I haven't done an Olympic Distance before. I thought if I felt decent after the race I would try and stay in decent shape and work towards a half ironman. that won't be for another year probably but one can always dream.
Here are come photos of the event. When I have more, I will post them. There are pictures of all of us competing so you won't see me in every photo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mari.anzicek/PhillyTriathlon?authkey=Gv1sRgCOrLu8q_6YmTfg&feat=directlink
Saturday, June 13, 2009
I'm Done
Somehow the end of my time as a volunteer passed and I didn't blog about it. Thursday, June 11th was my last day officially although I am staying in Philly to keep running with my students....that is another story I will blog about soon....that story will include where I am moving to, what job I am doing and all those good things I know you all wonder about.
Anyway, I can't believe I am done volunteering. It doesn't really feel like it yet. I think once I move out and don't go to school everyday it will start to set in. For now, know that these past two years have been incredibly challenging, rewarding, and well I don't think I could have made a better decision to volunteer.
I will blog more soon about what the future holds so get ready for that. Right now all my time is pretty much consumed by training for my Olympic distance triathlon I am doing at the end of June. Only two more weeks and I will get this beast out of the way. I will have much more time once the training for that is over.
Anyway, I can't believe I am done volunteering. It doesn't really feel like it yet. I think once I move out and don't go to school everyday it will start to set in. For now, know that these past two years have been incredibly challenging, rewarding, and well I don't think I could have made a better decision to volunteer.
I will blog more soon about what the future holds so get ready for that. Right now all my time is pretty much consumed by training for my Olympic distance triathlon I am doing at the end of June. Only two more weeks and I will get this beast out of the way. I will have much more time once the training for that is over.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Hair Donation
Yep...that's right. I just donated my hair. They cut the pony tail off at 8 inches but they took another two inches to style. It is a little short for my taste. I couldn't tell you the last time I had hair this short. I am still getting used to it and unless everyone is lying...I think everyone likes it. Let me know what you think.
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