3/26 - 3/30 End of Spring Break

So we're reaching the tail end of Spring Break week.  But I am already getting excited for summer...and excited for spring too.  Last April I hit a point where I was very overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout.  I didn't see it coming at all, but putting the pieces together--it makes sense.  So this spring we aren't doing any swim lessons or swim team and I had to end my running club I started two years ago.  This was a hard decision.  I honestly feel like I have to cut things out my schedule I love to make room for things I don't love as much.  However Hailey make practice with the track team and I asked if I could observe/volunteer/help on Wednesdays so I am hoping this is possible.  I will still run and bike with Derek when I can.  The kids are so incredibly active on their own--skating, biking, running, playing outside, hiking.  They don't need a lot of organized activities right now.  But when I look at April I feel like I have more breathing room and the days don't feel quite so overwhelming.

Spring Break has been a tremendous blessing.  The downtime and rest has been amazing and I feel incredibly refreshed and bonded with the family.  The kids have done so well and their conflict is minimal.  I am happy to be at home versus wanting to get out of here.

For exercise on Tuesday I went to Ride at 9:30 am just after my parents left.  The best "ride" I have been to in awhile.  I really pushed myself.  I love exercising mid morning and I might have opportunities to this more on Fridays in the summer when I'm not working.  On Wednesday Erica and I swam around 7:30 am.  We did a shorter workout.  She is due this weekend so she couldn't push it.  I felt more tired than normal, but still great to be in the pool.  At 5 PM I went to Power and she worked us so hard.  My triceps and biceps are very sore.  Yesterday I ran 9 miles in the evening--my first sunset run of the season.  It was amazing--I was going to fast and could push myself.  I don't think I stopped at all except at lights.  I love it when you feel like you can run forever.

Now it is Monday and Spring Break is officially over, but it was a very good one.  On Friday I ran 6 miles at the track in the late morning and it was sunny and beautiful.  On Saturday I ran 13 miles and I mixed up a route of various locations including the Battle Creek neighborhood for some variety.  Yesterday I had no plans on working out but Derek & I biked an hour at Minto Brown which I thoroughly enjoyed.   Now I'm feeling more motivated to get my bike out.

Last night I was dealing with PMS related symptoms which always affects my sleep. Waking up with cramping, head ache, and not sleeping well--I did not get up and run.  I should be able to (hopefully) run this evening.

In my ongoing struggles with anxiety my brain reverts to a flight/fight mode in situations that should not constitute this type of reaction.  Sometimes I have a physical reaction which for me is usually shaky arms, queasy stomach, faster breathing etc.  I am tracking this the next few days and seeing what causes me to overreact.  I think if I saw my counselor again he would recommend doing the same thing so it's not worth making an appointment quite yet.  It happens almost all the time at home and most of the time with my own kids and rarely if ever friends, child care kids, child care parents etc.  I think I know how to function in "a work mode" very well.  Which explains sometimes on days off or weekends or school breaks I tend to struggle more with my moods and emotions.  You think I'd be more relaxed but often I'm more on edge.

Shoes:  479 miles left on the Newtons.

Eating and sleeping has been good aside from sleep the last two nights.  I am almost certain it is related to PMS.  Tracking all this on my ipad has helped me put a finger on that.  I am going to keep track of what I eat again now that Spring Break is over, but weight loss isn't really the goal...just maintenance.

3/16 - 3/23--Good running and Spring Break

So last week was pretty good.  On Monday I went to morning Group Ride.  It had been a very long time since I have been to Ride on a Monday morning.  On Tuesday Tracy could only do a short run.  So I ran about four miles with her through the neighborhood we have been running in and then I did two miles on my own afterwards.  On Tuesday I went to Group Power.  It also been a very long time since I went to the 6:30 PM Power and on a Tuesday night.  I had a great talk with the instructor afterwards who shared Power will help me with tremendously with running even if I can only go once a week which is in the current plan.  On Wednesday we met up again for swimming and we did a long cycle of 100's and 200's.  We finished a bit earlier than normal.  On Thursday I was going to run in the morning before we left for Portland but I was so tired and I opted for sleep.  On Friday we were in Portland all day and I didn't want to run on the hotel treadmill and didn't have the opportunity to run outside.  We got home Saturday afternoon and I ran 6 miles almost immediately after coming home.  That run went great.  On Sunday afternoon I ran my 13 miles and it took me about two hours and ten minutes even with lights and stopping a little bit on hills.  I had to stop so much less on the hills--I surprised myself how much endurance I had.  My quads did not hurt at all.  It was the best run I have had in quite awhile.  It rained a bit at the beginning and near the end, but it didn't really bother me.  It was kind of refreshing.  It was warm enough that I didn't feel super cold...even afterwards.  The hot tub at my parent's motel felt really nice.  Today is Monday and I opted to take it off again because we had a full day.  My parents leave tomorrow and Rob and I are both off all week.  The kids are off too. We have a few things planned, but we do have enough down time that I have no excuse not to work out.

My eating hasn't been great mostly due to vacation.  I haven't really been tracking calories but I will get back into it after Spring Break again.

I have been sleeping really well too.  The first night in the motel I was really restless.  Second night was better.  I have been sleeping well at home.  With the go, go, go schedule I tire out.  I took a nap on the couch today and slept really hard even though I slept in until 8:00 AM this morning.  I think once I stop working and have down time my body just craves rest.  I am more than willing to give in to it.  We've also had wet, gray, drizzly weather and that makes everyone tired.  We're not supposed to get sun until Thursday.

I am also tracking the life on my new shoes.  I got a pair of Newtons and I am trying to break them in.  My hopes is to wear them on the marathon.  So far my small toes feel tingly and almost numb when I run in them so I am not sure what that's about.  I am told I get about 500 miles of life in them.  So far I have burned 12 so I am down to 488 miles.

3/14 & 3/15: Tired

Yesterday the weather was terrible.  Lots of blowing rain all day long.  I guess no one around here can complain as we have had much sun and warm weather all winter long...an unusual amount.  I rode the stationary bike for 42 minutes again and it was a good workout.  This morning I had planned on running in the morning.  I laid all my running stuff out the night before and woke up to the alarm.  I just couldn't do it.  I had zero motivation whatsoever.  It was the darkness (I really don't like daylights saving time in the spring at all) and the windy and blowing rain.  I had thought of running in the afternoon, but I really didn't have time.  I had no motivation again.  I have hardly missed any runs since I started this marathon training so I am not going to be too hard on myself.  My muscles are still pretty tight and could probably use another rest day.  I really just feel like starting up again tomorrow.

Rob was either sick or in meetings all weekend long with the exception of last night.  The kids were fine and we had a good weekend--I just felt very drained at times.  I did so much cleaning and that really is emotionally exhausting for me.  I don't feel overly anxious today like I sometimes do on Sundays or even depressed or down.  I just feel so tired.  I slept from 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM this morning and slept fairly well.  I feel like I could sleep again this afternoon and I am so fatigued.  I am not sick.  My appetite is normal...I am even a little more hungrier than normal.  I am eating fairly decent and not craving junk.  I had salads for lunch.  I have no cold or allergies.  I am just drained.  I am looking forward to staying home tonight and resting.  Thankfully I only have to work three days this week and then I get a long week and a half break.

3/9 - 3/13: 18 miles!!

On Monday I took a much needed rest.  I was going to go to Group Ride if Rob came home from Portland on time.  I knew that would be unlikely but there was a slight chance.  He was not home in time.  I did a half hour of yoga using my Daily Yoga app.  My leg muscles are so incredibly tight!  I felt like I loosened them up a bit.  On Tuesday Tracy texted me last minute and was not running early morning but going at 8:30 am.  I couldn't run then because of kids.  I ran 5 miles on my own and did my old 5 mile route.  It was nice to do something regular and routined that I didn't have to think much about.  I ran pretty well.  On Wednesday Tracy & I swam with this other guy who has been joining us.  We did lots of speed swims and it was a decent workout.  I did yoga again Wednesday night.  On Thursday I decided to rest again. The kids had no school and I had no child care.  It was too hard to get up.  I wasn't very motivated.  Plus our plan was to declutter the house especially the bedrooms.  For some reason this stresses me out so much--it is emotionally exhausting.  I was dreading it.  We got it all done.  I cleaned literally from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm with only short little breaks.  We did all the bedrooms, the laundry room, caught up laundry, and the kitchen.  I still have to do some closets and the attic and get the garage sale pile organized--I can probably do it on Saturday. \

 Then today (Friday) I did 18 miles!  I am so glad I did it today.  The weather is supposed to be 100% rain and terrible Saturday & Sunday.  The kids did not have school and I had no child care until 9:30 am.  I started at 5:45 am and finished just before 9:15 am.  I stopped at home after 15 miles to get more water and ended up talking to Rob at least 5-7 minutes who was not feeling well.  I had a few long lights.  I got off course around Candalaria and I am pretty sure I went closer to 18.5 miles.  The best part was I did not choke on the hills.  I ran in a whole new area I had ever run in before...around Candalaria, Fairmount Park, and High Street.  It is very very hilly.  I did walk a little but I didn't walk nearly as much as I did Saturday.  My quads were not very tight and I felt like I had more range of motion.  I think the yoga helped more than I realized.  It was a beautiful morning and I felt so much better than last week.

Eating wise I am doing pretty well.  It's always a little tricky when we get down to the end of our groceries, but I am not craving junk nearly as much.

I am sleeping really well again and hardly waking up at all.  I am super tired at night after these long runs and typically the following night.  I did take a nap Wednesday morning but only for about a half hour.

3/5 - 3/8: 17 miles!!

On Thursday I had planned on running at the track, but I woke up in the morning and I just couldn't do it.  I was way too tired and decided to the day off from exercise.  On Friday I biked the stationary bike for 42 minutes.  I opted to sleep the extra hour and bike on my own on the stationary bike versus going to early morning Group Ride.  I still got a good workout and I felt like I needed that extra hour of sleep.  On Saturday I got my 17 pre=birthday run in!  I started at 5:25 AM and finished at 8:20 AM.  I stopped at Safeway to use the bathroom, but I didn't hit many lights so I am guessing I did about 10 minute miles.  I choked on quite a few hills and couldn't make it up without walking.  The last two miles I did 30 second - 1 minute walk breaks.  I felt like I was walking a ton until I realized I was right on schedule time wise.  I think I am generally faster than I used to be but I cannot maintain that speed when going up hills.  I did not plan on walking nearly as much as I did. In the end I think my walk breaks were really short--though at the time they felt long.  On Sunday (yesterday) I ran 8 miles at the track doing another downward ladder workout.  I ran great and didn't feel like I had to walk at any point.  Even with all the running I am not all that sore today.

For running this week I have to 5, 9 and 18 and then I get two kick back weeks in a row.  I have to figure out when to do the 9.  Because I don't like doing the medium and long run back to back like I did this weekend.  I would rather avoid that.  I am running into scheduling issues with Rob being in meetings all weekend long.  I am not busy but he is.

Eating I have been doing a decent job sticking within the calories.  I have not weighed myself in a couple of days.  We have pretty healthy meals planned this week.

I had a couple good nights of sleep but last night I slept restless again.  I woke up a couple of times.  I could not get comfortable.  I was having bizarre dreams.  I had a Mike's Hard lemonade at 8:00 PM and that might have affected it.  No caffeine though except at lunch.

I think we're getting rain this week==we've been so spoiled with good running weather.

3/4--Swimming and weight loss

Today I swam with Erica.  It was just the two of us.  Because she is 38 week pregnant and I am overly impressed she still shows up--I stayed in the pool a bit longer.  I was able to keep up with her or just 50 yards behind most of the workout.  It was great workout.  The pool felt so much warmer than normal.  The mornings I swim and go to Moms Next--I am fatigued in the afternoons.  I didn't have child care kids so I took a nap while Kara watched TV.

I have had at least three people ask me in the last couple days if I have lost weight.  Honestly looking at myself in the mirror or the way my clothes fit--I cannot tell.  I don't see very much of a change if any.  But when I stepped on the scale this morning I was down a whole pound since the last time I weighed myself about a week ago.  The only thing I have been doing differently is not eating dessert in the evenings.  Rob makes wonderful desserts and we always have good ice cream in the house.  He has been so swamped finishing his dissertation and been gone a lot of evenings.  I never eat dessert when he isn't here.  The dessert he made this weekend I didn't care for so I haven't eaten any of it.  I really don't crave it like I used to.  I know with my birthday this weekend we will be eating dessert and meals out so I won't be surprised if I go back.  Honestly I won't lose any sleep over it.  My breakfasts and lunches have been the same.  I think our dinners have been a little healthier this week compared to normal but I think we have pizza the next two nights.

Sleep has been fine.  I have been waking up before the alarm the last couple of mornings.  Not looking forward to daylight savings when we lose our 6:30 am sunrise.

3/2 - 3/3: Back to Power and hills

Yesterday I decided to sleep until 7 AM.  I thought about going to the gym since my membership now allows me to go on Mondays.  I am so used to Monday being my day off I was not motivated at all.  Rob decided to stay home Monday night versus going out with the guys group from church.  So I went to Group Power.  I have not been to Power since before Christmas and my quads are killing me.  I feel tight in my legs  and a little in my chest muscles from all those push ups.  It was really good to be back though although I kept my weight super low.  I did not want to push it, but I will gradually increase again.

Today I ran with Tracy and she dragged me up the Lone Oak hill.  It was extremely challenging.  I had to walk about 15 seconds.  She ran the whole way but I was ahead of her a good part of the time.  I am glad we tackled it.  It is much much easier to do hill workouts with someone else.  It is very motivating to try to keep up with someone.  We have such good talks while we run too.  I appreciate getting to know her better.  After school I ran one mile with Derek.  We are training for a race in April.  Again I had such a good little talk with my boy.  He really is a good runner and never complains.  I am hoping the running will help with his bottled up energy and possibly anxiety he deals with.

I have eaten really well the last two days.  I think I am going to have pizza back to back for youth group tomorrow and then Derek's basketball party.  I am going to try to eat healthy lunches and breakfasts.

My sleep has been good again.  I am not nearly as congested at night anymore and that helps.  I haven't had morning anxiety the past couple of mornings.  I think some of that was attributed to hormone levels because it tracks where I was in my cycle.  I hate anxiety.  I know I will never be cured from it this side of heaven and it will always be my crutch.  At least I've found healthy ways to deal with it and it hasn't impaired my life.

2/25 - 3/1: Good running

On Tuesday night I felt dead tired and congested.  I went to bed early and allowed myself to sleep until 7:00 am.  I did not exercise at all.  I felt significantly better as the day went on.  On Thursday I went to swimming and felt fine.  We had a really good workout and we had a fourth person join our crew who might be coming back.  We are switching back to Wednesdays since some of us miss going to Power on Thursdays.  I haven't been to Power since around Christmas.  On Friday I rode the stationary bike around 5 PM.  I just couldn't make it again in the morning.  Friday was a much better day compared to the other Fridays I have had the past couple weeks.  On Saturday I ran 6 miles around 5 PM and I was amazed how fast I could run and get up the hills without stopping.  I think running with Tracy and the track workouts have made a significant difference in my running.  I feel so much stronger.  Today I did a track workout before church.  I'm glad I squeezed it in this morning because I had time this afternoon to play a game with the kids and roller skate with them in the parking lot.  They need this time with me and I am trying to be intentional about giving it to them.

Eating the last 2-3 days has not been great.  Some of it has been my cold and Saturday I woke up with a pounding head ache.  I had a Sam Adams at Applebees Friday night and was probably dehydrated.  It took two Advils and some peppermint oil to ease it.  It took away my appetite.

I didn't sleep great all week due to congestion.  I slept really restless and woke up a lot.  Last night was the first night I slept better.