August 22 - 27

I decided I am NOT going to train for anything yet. If I do the Newport Marathon I will need to start training around February. I would like to get up to 8 miles by then and I am going to take my time doing it. I really want to concentrate about toning, ab workouts, and run/walking. I might do a 5K in the fall, but not sure when. I am only going to run 3-4 days a week and 2-3 miles for the first few weeks. No hills or interval runs for a few weeks.

I am no longer sick, but I have a sore throat (NOT strep) and mild laryngitis. The girls have it too. Last week I did no regular exercise except hiking 10 miles at Silver Falls. Rob strained his knee and I think he has bursitis. He was fine the whole hike...it started to hurt the next day. I was a little sore, but recovered fairly quickly. I LOVE hiking!!! Was awesome.

So I just am going to record my weekly workouts. I also am cutting myself down to one sweet snack a day. I am going hard core again with the fruits and veggies like I did when I was on Weights Watchers.

Monday: I ran/walked 2 miles. I ran most of it. I gave myself three very short walking breaks. I did not really need them. I could have ran the whole way. I really want to ease back into it and not overdue it. I am still fighting the after effects of this virus or whatever it was. I enjoyed the morning so much more doing it this way. I was pleased I got out there at 6:40 AM. I've not done these morning runs all summer except once or twice during VBS week. I also did 10-15 minutes of abs on my own: crunches, bicycle, side planks, regular plank. So thankful Camelia brought over fresh blueberries and tomatoes! Need fresh fruit and veggies in the house!

Tuesday: I did 20 minutes of abs and thigh workouts on the 10 Minute Solution on Instant Netflix. Good workout and got going at 7 AM. Need to stay on this morning routine. It helps the day go smoother!!

Wednesday: Did 20 minutes of arms and glutes. Really challenged myself on the push ups and am quite sore! I also did my own ab workout for about 10 minutes while I had Fox News going on the background. I was glad I got out bed before 7 again.

Thursday: I ran 2 miles and my did 2 mile timed route that goes by the park and along Liberty. Originally I was going to walk when I got to Liberty for 1-2 minutes, but felt better after 1 mile. So I just kept moving and ran the whole way. I am not at the place I was running wise in June, but I am taking my time getting there. I am enjoying running now and not feeling bad about not training for races right now. My motivation is more toning and enjoying the mornings. I got out at 6:45 AM. Four mornings a row! It's been a good week. I also did 10 minutes of abs again on my own. I would not say the morning exercise makes my day any less stressful. I had a few struggles with the kids this morning and then again in the evening. I would say my anxiety kicks in during certain circumstances. But I don't feel out of control. I now know what triggers it and I am handling it so much better than I did six months ago. I'm not yelling at the kids or zoning out on the computer (I intentionally keep the computer off from 9 AM until nap time every single day now). I'm also eating healthier. I'm also more intentional with reading my Bible, praying throughout the day, and listening to others instead of talking all the time. I think it's all a matter of balance. All those components were out of balance last December right after Christmas and I really just fell apart. Here's hoping that does not happen again this winter.

Friday - Rest Day

Saturday - 10 minutes of arms, 10 minutes of glutes, 5 minutes of abs

Managed to squeeze in it even though we had a very, very busy Saturday with meetings at church in the morning and party at the Hiemstra's at night. Good workout.

Sunday - Rest

I wanted to run before church, but my knee was hurting me. I don't know if I strained something yesterday while working out. I did trip off a wooden step at Hiemstra's and felt like something was twisted. I was a little worried about straining something so I stayed back. I was going to try and run on it in the afternoon, but it was in the high 80's and we were at Ramak's all afternoon. It was a very exhausting Sunday and I think I cried three times throughout the day. Yes, the kids are a little crazy right now and I don't know why.

Catch up

Ugh--can't seem to stay well for more than 4-5 weeks. It throws off the whole running schedule. Last week I ran in the Willamette Valley Roadrunners 5k. It was very competitive and lots of good runners. A little intimidating. But I got like 25:58 which is not bad. It's not as good as I did in April & May. I got 6th in my age group. The winner was like 22 minutes which is crazy! I had a great time though. Rob's mom was supposed to come with us, but unfortunately got held up in Seattle. Margie was able to come and watch the kids while I ran. Hailey also had a blast doing the kid's run. Thankfully Rob's mom made it by 9 and I kept Hailey up.

On Friday I had a great tempo run to Crossler Middle School and around the track a couple times. I took Saturday off because I had VBS follow up in the morning and then Rob and I went to Brownsville. On Sunday I did a brisk cross training walk. I've done NOTHING since.

Monday I packed most of the day getting ready for vacation. Both Sunday night and Monday night I felt fatigued, had sinus headaches, and my stomach was off. Hailey was sick and we postponed or vacation by a day. We left Tuesday and went to Bonneville Dam. Everything was going well and Hailey was doing better. I felt a little "off" but I would not call it "sick." Derek would not eat his supper and he complained of a stomach cramp. I knew he was probably getting it. I just hoped it was mild. He was acting normal again. Kara and Derek were so wild trying to go to sleep at night.

I forgot to turn the A/C on in the motel room that I was so warm I could hardly sleep. I did not want to climb over Derek and turn on a light. I ended up turning it on and put it on "Low Warm" on the coldest temperature because I could not see anything which basically equaled room temperature. Kara was sleeping very restless, but that is typical of Pack and Plays and motel rooms. At 3 AM she cried out, but then stopped. All the sudden we heard throwing up. Rob said, "Derek is throwing up." I was so confused and said, "Who?" Rob went to Derek's bed and realized it was not Derek, but Kara. Throw up everywhere. We tried to clean it up as best as we could. I was ready to pack the sickies in the car and drive home at 3 AM because I knew I was not going back to sleep anytime soon.

I managed to sleep until 8 - a very restless interrupted sleep. Derek woke up lethargic, sick, and just wanted to lay down. Kara was pretty much sick. I had absolutely no appetite. We really debated about staying for Hailey's sake. She took it well when we decided we had to can the vacation. Staying in a motel room all day with two sick kids (in the same room) and not feeling good myself seemed absolutely awful. I just wanted to be at home. Derek is very high strung when he is sick. He screams, cries, tantrums, and does not make a lot of sense. Kara is overly clingy and does not sleep well unless she is a room by herself in her own crib.

I was sick, but not nearly as bad as the other two. I did not throw up or anything. I just felt so lethargic (and some of it was from lack of sleep and a busy last couple weeks) and had no appetite. I had sinus pressure again, but I think it was from dehydration.

So now Derek is doing a lot better. Kara is too--just still clingy and lethargic. I am almost back to normal. Since Rob has next week off too, we're going to make up for it and plan a bunch of day trips. I am really sad...and a little pissed too (not sure who to get mad at?) since this is the second time we've all been sick of Rob's vacation. Then Rob and I got to thinking about all the times when we were little and someone threw up in a motel room or in the car...or someone had to miss out an event. I guess you cannot avoid in this phase of life. We had such a healthy winter compared to other years. Seems like we got hit hard this summer and Rob and I have seem to got the worst of it. I had strep twice and Rob had it once. Rob, Derek, and Hailey had a stomach bug in June. But when you look at it, we weren't THAT sick. No one was down for more than 1-2 days. No ER visits.

It's just been very hard to have any kind of running routine with all this. I don't think I will be ready to a 10K in a couple weeks. I think come school starting I am going to get to some kind of running routine so I can start training for another marathon this winter.

10 K training Week #3

Monday - Ran 3 miles, stretching and strength training

It is finally hot out. I planned on running in the morning and was even awake in time. Rob said his throat still hurt and he was calling the doctor. He wanted to get tested for strep. Then he said his throat hurt, but he felt fine otherwise. He said he was going to work and would be happy to watch the kids during his lunch I could run. I hate running in the heat even though it was barely 80 degrees. I had to stop and drink water twice. I also missed my turn on Welcome Way and got a little mixed up on what streets dead in to where. I think I did about three miles. I really did not want to mess with the exercise videos today. I did the plank, 50 crunches, 25 bicycles, 20 leg lifts, and some basic stretching. At this point I am not sure if I am going to the 10K, but I like this amount of running 3-5 miles 4-5 times a week (although I am averaging running more like 3-4 times a week). So I'm going to stick with the training guide for now. Even if I end up doing a 10K later in the fall or winter, at least my mileage will be up already.

Tuesday - Ran 4 miles, stretching and abs work

I ran during Rob's lunch again. A little hot out, but I took a whole bottle of Gatorade with me. Went fine. I ran to Valleywood and back. Running much stronger and getting more used to the heat. Still don't want to mess with exercise videos so I did side planks on each side, 55 crunches, 20 bicycles, leg lifts, and basic stretching.