Running Injuries and Interviews

For those who don't know, I'm a certified music teacher. I love teaching the elementary age - they are SUCH fun! Last school year, I was a long term sub for more than half the year in a local district. I loved EVERY minute of it. I learned a lot and gained a lot of experience. In the state of OH, schools are funded based on tax levies that pass/fail. It's a crazy situation. The district I was in at the time put a levy on the ballot, and it failed. What did this mean for me? Well, they cut ALL elementary specials (Gym, Music, Art, and Library), they are going to state minimum school days of 5.5 hours, state minimum busing (no Jr. or Sr. high busing and if you live within 2 miles of your elementary school, then you don't get busing either), the buildings will be locked 30 minutes after school is dismissed, which means, no after school programs/activities, and sports/extracurricular are pay-to-pay at $495 per child per activity. The teacher I was the long term sub for had up and moved to another state, which is how I got my position. I had hoped that it would turn into something permanent, but nope. That's not how it worked. I graduated from college in December 2009 with a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Music Education. I have been able to get forebearance on my student loans, but I'm tired of that. I want a job that is permanent - one that is mine. If it were easy, I'd be a famous opera singer instead right now, but that market is tougher than trying to be a music teacher in the area that we live in. I've sent out so many resumes and cover letters (and I HATE writing cover letters) and applied for the very few positions that have opened up. With so many schools in OH cutting the arts, it's really tough to even score an interview. Because of not having a job, I/we don't have a ton of money laying around. My wonderful husband, a reservist, happens to work from home for his civilian job. With it being summer, we get on each others' nerves a bit. So, I've taken up running again.

I am prepping to run the Army Ten Miler in October. I'm following the Focus-N-Fly training plan.....at least I have been until about a week ago. I'd known for a bit that it was time for new running shoes - I hadn't bought new ones in about a year. Running shoes for my extremely flat feet are never inexpensive. They're typically $100. I figure it's better to pay $100 once a year for shoes than to be paying the $40 co-pay we have for each doctor and/or physical therapy visit. It's craziness. I know that because when I was enlisted in the Reserves, I had tons of ankle and foot issues and got to know my orthopedic doctor VERY well, as well as my physical therapist.

When I first enlisted, they had us do the water test to find out what kind of shoes we needed for our feet. Well, they told me I needed shoes for a normal arch. I just went a long with it. I never really took notice that I had flat feet. I thought my feet were normal (I guess because my entire family had feet like mine, except my mom). I remember my mom talking about how I would walk on the insides of my feet when I was a kid. Now, as an adult, I realize that's a sign of having flat feet. After several years in the army and numerous injuries, I went to my doctor who recommended orthotics in my shoes and more physical therapy. After the last MRI on my ankle, she said that the ligaments and tendons in my ankles are so stretched, worn, and weak from being injured so many times that the only thing she could do was prescribe physical therapy and that I needed to invest in good shoes.

I went to the local running store that we have and was, for the first time, properly fitted for running shoes. I just wasn't prepared for the cost. Not only did I end up spending $100 on shoes, but an additional $45 for inserts to help. Has it been worth it? You betcha! I can honestly say that I haven't been to the ortho doc since the fall of 2008/winter of 2009. This year, I just put off getting my new shoes a little too long. Now, I'm sitting here with a strained calf muscle - which has slowed down my running. GRRRRRR! To add to that, I'm having a hard time wearing shoes that aren't my running shoes - and I had an interview today.

I had a little crisis in my head this morning as I was getting ready for my interview. I had my skirt and blouse picked out, but what shoes would I wear. Hmmm... I knew flip flops were a NO GO from the start, not that they were really comfy or matched my outfit anyway. Running shoes weren't on my list because, well, they didn't match my outfit either. I endured just a little bit of pain and wore heels for the hour and a half of driving time and my interview (which was an hour itself).

I'm hopeful about this job. I have the experience necessary. The interview took an hour, including a tour of the school. Please keep your fingers crossed that when they call in the next few days, that I'll have a job. Let's also hope that I get over this running injury before too long as well.