Cleveland Rocks: AMTA Conference Report

Warning: this blog will have absolutely nothing to do with running. However, it has everything to do with my other passion: music therapy. I have just returned home from the American Music Therapy Association conference in Cleveland, Ohio. Most of you know that I am a music therapist and AMTA is my professional organization. You might not realize that this conference celebrated 60 years of music therapy as an official, organized profession. We have this conference every year in November and it is a wonderfully busy time of renewal, service, networking, learning, energizing, etc, etc, etc. I am so exhausted as I write this, but I wanted to capture my thoughts before I became wrapped up in Thanksgiving preparations.

I felt like this conference brought me full circle, my first conference as a MT-BC (Board Certified Music Therapist) was in 1998 in Cleveland, we were even in the same hotel. I know that everyone says it and it sounds cliche, but I cannot believe that 12 years of my professional career have already passed. It really just seems like I was at the same conference trying to figure out how to make it in the world as a young MT-BC. I cannot think of a more rewarding and vibrant field in which to belong. Seriously, my colleagues blow me away every time we get together in a big group like this. Did I mention that 1400 music therapists came together in Cleveland for this conference? There is no other energy like it!


Conference Roomies and Dear Friends
Carolyn and Stephanie

I started my conference with my committee meeting. I serve on the Student Affairs Advisory Board (SAAB). Sounds pretty fancy, right? I will spare you the long explanation...the SAAB is made up of a student and professional from each region of our association. I have served on this committee for about five years now and I LOVE it. I always tell the students to find their "niche" and serve it the best that they can. This is totally my "niche". If you want energy, go to a music therapy student meeting. These kids are so smart and so tech savvy and I am thrilled to know that they are the future of our profession. Just check out the AMTAS website. It has also been an honor and a privilege to serve with this committee's chair, Dr. Petra Kern. Petra is stepping down after four years of dedicated leadership. I will miss working closely with her, but am thankful for the opportunity.

And conference just kept getting better. We had an amazing presentation on Friday morning as we were treated to a concert of sorts by Ken Medema. To say that Mr. Medema is a performer and music therapist is a tragic understatement. He is amazing in that he is the improvisation king, he can listen to a story and then sing a beautiful song with complex piano accompaniment. Since it is our 60th anniversary, a different music therapist told a story from each decade. Mr. Medema listened to the story and then performed a song based on their story. I find myself unable to do it justice in this description. These songs were so good that we were crying, laughing, dancing, clapping, and the list goes on and on. My friend Janice was chosen to tell a very inspiring story that happened to her in the 2000-10 decade. We were all in tears as her story was performed in song by Mr. Medema. Moments like this make me feel so blessed and lucky to find myself amongst this group.

Conference moved along at a blinding pace. I attended sessions on Universal Design, using your public library, social skills development, and Imagine (the early childhood online magazine) to name a few. I also attended and participated in meetings of our regional and national organization. And I must not forget another favorite element-the internship fair. It is just fascinating to meet students from around the country who are looking for that perfect internship.


Mary and Intern Paula at the Internship Fair

I must not forget to mention the Exhibit Hall--a place for music therapists to gather and try out all of the latest instruments and gadgets. I spent an afternoon there and walked away with a ukulele. They are so affordable, fun, and easy to play, I'm looking forward to adding it into my current music therapy practice. The Exhibit Hall is also a wonderful place to network and I had some fascinating conversations with music therapists that I hope to collaborate with in the future. I ran across an interesting fellow named Tim, through the course of our conversation I learned of his unique journey and passion in life. Be sure to check out his website and blog. I believe that everyone has a story and I heard some good ones within the Exhibit Hall.


Introducing....Uke Ellington

Lastly, the best part of conference might be simply spending time with my friends. We have our usual conference group of Stephanie, Carolyn, and Mary along with Jennifer (Little Bit), and various others. We have so much fun together just being silly--I can honestly say that I laughed until my face hurt and my sides were sore. I treasure this time with my friends because we are currently spread from coast to coast. It is like having Girl's Night Out four nights in a row.


Me with Mary and Stephanie

Conference always flies by way too quickly, but I come home energized (despite the exhaustion) and ready to approach my practice with fresh eyes. I am astounded by the amount of talent that surrounds me in my field. I am blessed beyond belief to have found such a vibrant group of people to stand amongst. Yes, we "rocked" Cleveland in a grand manner. Watch out ATL....we are coming your way in 2011!

Dorothy's Dash 5K: The Debut of Team Starfish

Saturday was the Dorothy's Dash 5K and a big day for Team Starfish. Team Starfish is the walk/run group based out of our Special Education Office. Our building's Collaborative Leadership Team formed several "special interest" groups and asked me to head up the walk/run group. We named the group Team Starfish after our district's special ed motto (from the old story about the man who was throwing the starfish-one at a time-back into the ocean...the "I made a difference to THAT one" story). So far the group has participated in National Run At Work Day and several members were following a Couch to 5K plan in preparation for our goal race--Dorothy's Dash. I am happy to report that we had ten members signed up on our team. I am especially proud of Melissa R. and Shirley W. who ran their first 5K, I am seriously want them to get hooked so that we can do it again! I hope that by guiding this team I can give back to the running world that has given so much to me.


Music Therapists and Runners!

This was only my second 5K race in 2010 and I really wanted to score a person record (PR)and break 25 minutes. My 5K PR came at the Liberty By The Lake 5K. It was so hot and humid that day and I felt like I could take some time off of that one simply because the weather conditions were near perfect. The start line was quite hectic. Don't get me wrong, I love a small town, family oriented 5K but the start line can be a little unnerving! As soon as the race started I ran into people who started at the front and who were walking. This always makes me nervous and frustrated because I worry about tripping over someone. My mind is also telling me that I have to get the heck outta there because the race is so short. It took me a half mile or so to maneuver around all of the slower people and then I settled into a pace. Perhaps I shouldn't say settled....I think that 5Ks are so HARD! It is full throttle for 3.1 miles. I was trying to hit the miles in a consistent pace and I managed to accomplish that. It sure felt like I was getting slower at the end--probably because I was tired of running like my hair was on fire! My intern, Patina, passed me after mile 1 and I just tried to keep her in my sights. Darn her and her 23 year old legs! I crossed the line and checked the time--24:33....goal MET! I was thrilled as this was the fastest that I have run any significant distance. I was also fortunate to take 3rd place in my age group, I don't win bling very often so it is always a thrill. And I was so proud of Mary, Shirley, and Melissa R. as they ran across the finish line.


Patina and I show off some new bling!

For now I must take a few extra rest days...that wonky hip of mine has been talking to me again. I have spent some quality time with my chiropractor and massage therapist and hope to be back to normal soon. Rest is an important part of training, but it doesn't mean that I have to like it. The timing is good as I am headed to Cleveland for the American Music Therapy Association conference. I hope to explore Cleveland on foot with some other music therapy/running friends, but am also glad that I won't be tempted by my usual training routines.

The DRC Half: A Perfect 10

Sometimes things just fall into place perfectly. If you asked me to describe my perfect weather for running, I could not have come up with much better than the weather on Sunday morning. Conditions at race time were clear, fifty degrees, low humidity, and no wind...perfection. Saturday night was also the night to "fall back" so we were able to cash in on an extra hour of sleep....more perfection. We left our house early, as usual for a race morning, but due to the time shift it was already starting to get light out.

We arrived at Norbuck Park in plenty of time to mill about, chat with friends, and shiver a bit in the cool morning air. I was satisfied with my clothing choice for the day--shorts and a short sleeve shirt, but I was wishing that I had some gloves because my fingers were cold! This is a big race and it is remarkably well organized for a race its size. There were lots of things to see and do in the park while we waited for the start.

I love the starting line of a big race, you just can't find that kind of energy anywhere else. I have several running friends on Daily Mile and had the pleasure of meeting one of them in person near the start. Erik and I lined up between the 1:50 and 2:00 pace groups and soon we were off. I got off to a great start and settled into a comfortable pace. It was such a beautiful morning and I felt as if my lungs went on forever--so easy to draw a deep, deep breath. I dreamed of these days in August when the heat and humidity were so oppressive.

I ran with Erik for the first three or four miles and then he slipped away into the crowd. He was looking strong and I felt sure that he was going to have a great race. I have run this race two times before today and knew that the middle miles would hold the biggest challenge as they are fairly hilly (not Tyler or Austin hilly, but challenging none the less). I took the hills one at a time and didn't feel too challenged by them, being familiar with the course sure helps with game day strategy. I celebrated every mile marker because I could see that I was hitting each of them in less than 9 minutes. I hit mile 7 in 1 hour exactly and was THRILLED--I hit mile 7 in an hour during my PR race back in May. This just confirmed to me that I was on the right track for a great race. There is something magical about a PR (or near PR) race--it seems easy and hard all at the same time. It is hard to explain, but it is a feeling that keeps me coming back for more.


Thanks for the pic, Libby!


I was happy to see White Rock Lake and knew that I was in the last five miles of the race at that point. It was so nice to see Libby cheering and taking pictures just before mile 9. I was not surprised when she shouted out that Erik was looking strong. Seeing a familiar face always gives me a boost and that was just what I needed at that point. Miles 10 went by fairly quickly, but miles 11 and 12 were tough (as always). Sometime during mile 11 I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me. My legs suddenly felt like lead and I wanted to take a break more than anything, but I fought the battle inside my head and carried on. I knew that a PR was still within reach and that the end was getting near. Fortunately that feeling quickly passed and I was focused on a good finish. As I reached the home stretch, I saw that a PR would be just out of reach but I was working hard to get as close as I could. This race has a great finish with a big crowd cheering along both sides of the road. When I rounded the final corner I dug deep and sprinted in the last few yards.

I could not wait to hear how Erik did and was amazed when he told me that he finished in 1:49:04. The Kennemer Household Half Marathon Record of 1:51:35 had been SHATTERED! Erik brought it and has set the bar high for us this time! We enjoyed the rest of the morning milling about in the park talking with friends, celebrating, and taking pictures.


Running Friends--Kylee, Toni, Ben, and Liza

My official race time was 1:52:50...a new course record! A little off of my half marathon PR of 1:51:35, but I am quite proud of the effort. My PR came on a very flat course and I had the help of a wonderful pace leader to guide me through those tough final miles. This race was on a challenging and hilly course and I did it all by myself. I ran my first half marathon on this course in 2008 in 2:25:21 and I ran this course last year in 2:00:26--not bad progress! This completes my goal of ten half marathons in 2010...thus the Perfect 10. I have one more half marathon on the calendar, the White Rock Half will be here in early December. White Rock is a favorite of mine and I have had lots of success there in the past. Maybe it is time for me to take a shot at the Kennemer Household Half Marathon Record.

You Heard It Here First....Exploring the "M" Word.

"You should run your first marathon for the right reasons, because you will never be the same person again. You must want to do it, not do it because your boss did it or your spouse did it."

This quote came to me several months ago in a daily "kick in the butt" email that I get from Runner's World. It really spoke to me and I stuck it in my pocket, waiting for the right moment to examine it again. It seems as if that "right" moment might finally be upon us. I have been running for about two and a half years now and I have never had any interest in running a marathon. My big goal was to run half marathons and then it was to run them in less than two hours. I have watched Erik train for and complete two marathons and never felt the urge to join him on any of those twenty mile training runs. But lately I have thought a little about running longer distances during training runs and then I got a big push from my boot camp instructor/trainer Jen.

We were talking after boot camp this week and I mentioned that I would be running a half marathon on Sunday and that it would be number 10 in 2010--one of my goals for the year. I casually mentioned that I would need a new, bigger goal for 2011 and Jen told me that she was setting the goal for me....that's right....marathon. What you don't know about Jen is that she holds a master's degree in sports psychology. She knew me before I started running and even before I was so serious about being fit. When she tells me that I can do something, I fully believe her...no questions asked, not matter how big the task. Her words: Do it. You are ready.

So now I am turning this goal over and over in my mind. I can think of so many reasons to do it and so many reasons not to. I have had so many adventures with running and I know that a marathon would be the ultimate adventure. After this weekend, I will have run seventeen half marathons in the span of two years--I am capable of more. You know how I feel about that comfort zone (see quote in top right column), is it possible that I have become "comfortable" with half marathons? Perhaps it is time to take another big step out of that comfort zone. I have said it before, I am a huge believer in good training. Train smart, invest in the plan, and anything is possible. It is also quite possible that I would be a "one and done" marathoner, and that would be okay too. But then I wonder if I really want to commit to the training. I wonder if training for a marathon would just beat me down to the point of despising running. I have been so fortunate to not have injuries, would a marathon ruin that good fortune? Yes, those are my fears talking to me loud and clear.

Then there is the question of "when" in 2011. I think that a late winter/early spring marathon might be too soon, but then I don't want to wait until next fall/winter (almost a year away). That brings in the option to travel for a marathon--there are some wonderful opportunities this summer in places far from Texas. If I decide to do a marathon, Erik wants to run it with me--sure would make for a great summer vacation!

My thoughts on this idea change frequently--sometimes I'm fired up and sometimes I'm just not sure. As you can see, I have alot to think about. And as the quote above says, I have to make sure that I want to do this for the right reasons. I will not officially set my running goals for 2011 until the new year, so I have time to ponder this over the next two months. However, the Rangers slogan for their recent World Series season keeps entering my thoughts....It's Time.

The First of Sixteen....

On Sunday I will run the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon (DRC Half or simply The Half), this one is sentimental to me because it was my 1st ever half marathon in 2008. Ironically, I had volunteered at this race about four years earlier--I worked at a water station around mile 10 and I thought those runners were just so cool. I just couldn't imagine running 10 miles! I always wondered if I could do a half marathon, but wasn't all that interested in finding out for sure.

I have learned so much about running and racing in the two years since this first half marathon. It is fun to take a moment to look back at all of the events of that day. I remember that day so well--it was warm for November (I think that the high was around 80) and I was so wide-eyed and nervous! I had just been running since early summer 2008, and had only run four races heading into that day--the longest race being a 10K. This race is a big one too, the biggest that I had run at that point. There are some real running super stars that come out for this half and I was amazed at all of the different kinds of people I saw. I had no doubts that I could run the distance and run it in a decent time. I fully believe that quality training always pays off and if you train well you will run well.

Soon enough we were off and the energy of the race and the crowd carried me for the first couple of miles. I made my first rookie mistake--making a pit stop early in the race. I have since learned that the lines are longest for the porta potties in the early miles. I lost several minutes waiting in line and now make a point to go a couple of times before the starting gun (TMI maybe?). I didn't really have any time goals for this half marathon, but when I caught up with the 2:30 pace group I made the decision to stay ahead of them.

This race was in early November 2008, mere days before the presidential election and it was so cool to see signs for Obama and signs for McCain side-by-side in neighboring yards. Just one of those odd things that I will always remember, each race seems to have them.


Post Race and My First Medal!!

Miles ten, eleven, and twelve were the hardest for me because I was reaching the upper ends of my training. These miles were around White Rock Lake, the site of my weekly long run, so it was nice to have that "home field" advantage mentally. I made another pit stop and took full advantage of the water stops.

I felt so proud and happy when I crossed the finish line. My time was decent for a rookie--2:25:21 and I immediately set a goal to break the two hour mark sometime in 2009 (mission accomplished in December 2009!). I was on such a high for the whole next week and carried my medal to work to show all of my friends. I thought that it was funny that my friend Sylvia wanted to take so many pictures of me and my medal, but she had her own plan in mind. They surprised me with my very own Wheaties box! This is still one of my favorite running souvenirs and I display it proudly on a shelf in my office at work.



No doubt that I was hooked and the half marathon became my favorite distance. It is hard to believe that I have run sixteen of them and will go for number seventeen this weekend! Another chapter in this amazing journey is soon to be written....stay tuned!