"This is an exercise"

I recently got to do something amazingly fun and exciting; and yet a little terrifying as well. Every year the various public safety offices host different emergency preparedness exercises to make sure everyone is on top of their game. This year it was held on the college campus where I work and you better believe I volunteered as a victim!!!

The big scenario was basically an active shooter on campus (something that unfortunately is a much to real scenario). There were many different forms of public safety from officers to EMS taking part with plenty of people like myself volunteering to play the frantic and injured that need saving. I played the part of Tammy- a secretary with 2 beautiful children (Jenifer and Jonathan) who was excited to go to the beach this summer with my husband's family who just started really accepting me into the family a few months ago after Jonathan had been born thanks to cementing the continuation of the family name (my father-in-law is a bit of a male chauvinist) . Ok-so really none of that was actually told to me. I completely made up the entire back story. All I was given was a card that said I had a gunshot wound to the leg and listed my vitals post injury. But doesn't the story of Tammy sound like a pretty good one?!? (I'd like to add that I wasn't the only person creating back stories!) And the makeup we all got done to portray our injuries was pretty awesome!

The exercise was really realistic. I had to call 911 a few times for the first time in my life and I will say those people are great at staying calm! Maybe it had to do with the fact they knew this was taking place and I had to start and end each of my calls with "This is an exercise", but great questions and calmness in their voices! Then I basically got to hide while the cops found the shooter. That was probably the scariest part. Hearing footsteps running around, people yelling, an officer finding me (the only time of the day a gun was actually pointed at me-not loaded of course), and just waiting not really knowing what was going on. I can imagine how terrifying it would be in a real situation. My favorite part was my rescue. Thanks to my gunshot wound, I couldn't walk and thus got carried out over the shoulder of a rather fit police officer (I'm one of those girls who loves a guy in uniform!) I got transported to safety, triaged, taken to the hospital in an ambulance (another first), and went through some fake tests and surgery there. It was a crazy few hours of my life.

It was fun being part of it and seeing a bit more of what they would do and understanding how a response to that situation goes. I think it was great practice for everyone from the initial call to the hospital dealing with so many injuries coming in at once. Granted I hope I am NEVER in a real situation like that. Instead let's just keep it as an exercise shall we?

the joys of running

Yesterday evening I went to a spin class at the gym with a friend. Less than 12 hours later I was back at the gym running on the treadmill. Some may call this insane, I call it my norm.  I am one of those people who actually enjoys going to the gym and working out. I don't ever want to be one of the creepy body builder women, but I do really enjoy staying physically active.

I find that I tend to have much more energy when I'm doing something active every day. And while I still hesitate to call myself a "runner", running is probably the most common activity for me. Within the last week I've participated in two 5k races, and potentially signing up for another in less than a month. When I realized I was doing two 5k races within literally 3 days of each other, even I started to think I was crazy! But then I realized that a 5k really isn't that long to run. A simple 3.1 miles. And I'm perfectly content sticking to 5ks. I have no desire in any fiber of my being to run long races like a marathon. I don't consider that fun. And to me, that's what working out is-fun.

I tend to also do 5ks that are associated with some form of cause. Of course a chunk of the money is going toward the logistics of the race, or toward the 'free' t-shirt you get for signing up (and I'm a sucker for a 'free' t-shirt!!). But I like the fact that it feels more involved than just signing a check to support a charity or cause. Like I actually did something for them.

Is it bad my favorite part of racing may be the t-shirts you get???

The first 5k I participated in this week was for Project Reach. It was at a conference I attended and was something new they added to raise money for school supplies at a high school. Admittedly, this was not my best showing at a 5k. For whatever reason (I have plenty of excuses-the 85 degree heat, the lack of sleep, the excess amount of alcohol I had been drinking every night) I ended up getting a stitch in my side and walking almost half of it! Still, I was active and did something healthier than a few friends of mine who came out to support us and hung out on the sidelines with a drink of their own.

After that disappointing showing, I was nervous about how the next 5k would go. I was still excited however as I had participated in this race a few times before- the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I'm a proud member of team Rack Pack in my area. (and running on a team meant TWO t-shirts!) I'm proud to say that I did much better and actually ran the entire thing! It lifted my spirits and gave me some motivation to keep going and pushing myself even when I don't have a literal finish line in front of me.

Rack Pack Pride!!! (and the one time of year I'm more than happy to wear plenty of pink)

I may not be a distance runner, but I do enjoy running. Not to mention walking, hiking, biking, etc. I love the feeling at the end when you know you did something good for yourself. It doesn't matter the distance, just so long as I can be active-whether it means going 1 mile, 3 miles, or 26 miles (but again-don't count of me to do 26 anytime soon ever.