So Spring Break is officially over and we are back at school/work. We're hitting the last quarter of the school year where there are so few breaks and time off. It is going to be a mental push to get to June.
Last week Wednesday I went hiking at Silver Falls. Derek and I did about three miles. It is a nice little hike and very scenic. We both LOVE hiking. We both crave the outdoors. It won't be our last hike...that's for sure. I did not do any kind of workout. After coming home we did family stuff the rest of the afternoon into the evening. On Thursday afternoon I went to Group Ride. Even though I like the morning instructors significantly more, it was better than the last time I went. I got in a very good workout. On Friday I had to work (which I was probably too grouchy about) and I could have easily gone to the gym or at least gone running because I did not have to work until 9:30 AM. I slept until 8:45 PM. I had not gone to bed very late the night before. I slept too much and felt overtired and lethargic all day. It kind of stunk. The weather was not the greatest either. Everyone was crabby. Normally I love Holy Week and the Good Friday service, but I felt so overly distracted, frustrated, tired. Rob made the point that maybe that is the way we need to approach the cross and that Jesus brings us strength. Easter doesn't always have to be this big hoopla celebration. Saturday was a little better. I had to get up at 6 AM and do an interview for the Banner and I went swimming afterwards. I took the kids to Easter egg hunts and we went shopping. The evening was kind of rough and behavior issues somewhat spoiled it.
I had a great 4 mile run Easter morning and I listened to my favorite Christian songs/hymns while I ran. The rain held off. It was great to be outside. The behavior issues we had with some of the kids Saturday night carried over into Sunday morning. I spent a good part of Sunday morning before church anxious, upset, and frustrated. Normally I don't mind doing nursery at church (and I really don't do it very often) but it was so chaotic with all the extra kids. It just added to the exhaustion. I felt drained the whole rest of the day.
Yesterday I had hoped to go the gym. The kids did not have school but I had to work all day starting at 7 AM. I just couldn't get up and allowed myself to sleep until 6:30 AM. It was a full busy day, but better than Friday. The nice weather helped. My own kids did significantly better. We had one small incident in the morning but it got better from there. I did get to run in the afternoon and did about three and a half miles. The pace was better and more evened out--did not start out too fast.
This morning I went to Power and it was a normal Group Power workout. I am doing the Beaver Freezer on Saturday so I am not trying to push myself significantly. I am still looking at another triathlon later in the morning but not set on one yet.
I have been a little more anxious than normal lately and irritable. I really hate being this way and I think some of it is due to hormones. For some reason my anxiety is always higher in the spring. Even though it's a great time of year--for some reason my brain overreacts to everything. I have had to be intentional about not overreacting or complaining the last few days and it takes a lot of energy.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Spring Break
Not going anywhere over Spring Break and doing local activities was one of the best decisions we have made in a long time. It has been a very good so far. We're reconnected as a family, we are rested, and we have some general "downtime" which we have been craving.
Last week was a great week exercise wise. I did get to Power on Tuesday. I did 1,550 yards of swimming on Wednesday again. Thursday I did have to work, but it was amazingly beautiful out. After work, I rode my bike from the South River Road Courthouse to the Independence bridge and back--approximately 16 1/2 miles. It was nice to be outside. I was a little tired with the strong winds, but pretty confident on the bike. On Friday I did have to work again, but I ran six miles after work. It was warm and beautiful out. I did a big loop around the Sumpter neighborhood and hit some hills. I am still starting out too fast at a 8 1/2 minute mile pace and I can't carry it. My pace always goes down from there. I feel like I am starting slow, but I am not. Saturday I took the day off as we were downtown a good part of the day and then out in Keizer at a party. Sunday started out cold, wet, and rainy. It cleared up around 3 PM. So I biked again outside at Minto Brown doing just under 12 miles. Then I ran 2 1/2 miles afterwards. Because of all the rain, some of the paths are closed and are under water. It is really muddy in some places as well. The river is really high right now. It made the bike ride a lot of stop and start. The clipping and clipping out was very good practice for me. I am way more better at it than I was last spring. I am more confident and feel safer on the bike. Those long bike rides at the end of the summer helped.
I am looking into some group rides through the Salem Bicycle Club. I wish I had some people to ride with. My triathlon friends are almost all single or don't have young families so they have more availability than I do. I am locked into certain time periods I can actually go riding.
This week so far I ran a little over 6 miles Monday late morning. Weather was a little wet but not a downpour. I started out too fast again, but I can carry about a 9 minute mile pace. Then today I went to the mid morning Group Power which was nice. It is a nice change of pace to not have to go to early morning workouts.
Last week was a great week exercise wise. I did get to Power on Tuesday. I did 1,550 yards of swimming on Wednesday again. Thursday I did have to work, but it was amazingly beautiful out. After work, I rode my bike from the South River Road Courthouse to the Independence bridge and back--approximately 16 1/2 miles. It was nice to be outside. I was a little tired with the strong winds, but pretty confident on the bike. On Friday I did have to work again, but I ran six miles after work. It was warm and beautiful out. I did a big loop around the Sumpter neighborhood and hit some hills. I am still starting out too fast at a 8 1/2 minute mile pace and I can't carry it. My pace always goes down from there. I feel like I am starting slow, but I am not. Saturday I took the day off as we were downtown a good part of the day and then out in Keizer at a party. Sunday started out cold, wet, and rainy. It cleared up around 3 PM. So I biked again outside at Minto Brown doing just under 12 miles. Then I ran 2 1/2 miles afterwards. Because of all the rain, some of the paths are closed and are under water. It is really muddy in some places as well. The river is really high right now. It made the bike ride a lot of stop and start. The clipping and clipping out was very good practice for me. I am way more better at it than I was last spring. I am more confident and feel safer on the bike. Those long bike rides at the end of the summer helped.
I am looking into some group rides through the Salem Bicycle Club. I wish I had some people to ride with. My triathlon friends are almost all single or don't have young families so they have more availability than I do. I am locked into certain time periods I can actually go riding.
This week so far I ran a little over 6 miles Monday late morning. Weather was a little wet but not a downpour. I started out too fast again, but I can carry about a 9 minute mile pace. Then today I went to the mid morning Group Power which was nice. It is a nice change of pace to not have to go to early morning workouts.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Things are better
Life itself has been a bit more manageable and not nearly as overwhelming since March 1st...actually more like February 29th. The kids adjusted to Sarah not being here, got back into the normal school day to day routine. The first week of March I tried getting up between 5 and 5:30 every single morning and it really worked well. The same wake up/same go to bed time really helped me function. I did Ride on Monday of that week, Power on Tuesday, swim on Wednesday, ran on Thursday, Ride again on Friday, Saturday was a day off, and Sunday I ran a short run before church. That Saturday was a busy run around Saturday with Battle of the Books with a lunch party afterwards, cleaning & getting ready for the week & we went out with J & S at night. I didn't feel exhausted and moody like I often do on Saturdays. That Sunday I hoped to run more (I think I did barely 4 miles) but a run before church was much needed.
Last week was a little more challenging as I was in Tacoma Thursday morning until Friday night. Then Rob was in Portland all day Saturday. I only missed Wednesday because A & G's baby had a rough night and almost did not make it on Tuesday around 11 pm. Rob went down to the hospital and I was so jumpy I could not sleep. We only slept a couple hours and were tired all day. I was glad the baby was OK and I felt totally legitimate in skipping swim. I did run with Tracy on Monday and Map My Run was updating so all my data was lost. I think I did around 4 miles. On Tuesday I did Power. Wednesday I skipped. Thursday I left for Tacoma but I managed to get about a four mile run in before we left. Again MMR was not working properly so I could not keep track of my mileage. On Friday morning I rode this bike in the somewhat junky hotel we all stayed at. It was the type at the gym where you are low to the ground and the seat is like a normal chair. I only wanted to leave the girls for a half hour or so it was not a long workout. At least it counted for something. On Saturday I was able to swim when Rob got back. Again only a half hour but I timed myself swimming a 1/4 mile and I'm at around 11 minutes. Yesterday I wanted to run, but with daylight savings making us so tired. And the fact we had blowing rain and wind storms all day--it was not very nice out. I also went to go see A in the afternoon with friends and I didn't get home until after 3. I had to go to evening church because one of our interns was preaching.
So here we are in the second full week of March though it feels like the third week. Beaver Freezer is two weeks from Saturday and I feel like I have had zero time on my bike to prepare. Thank you rainier than normal winter. I have been at Ride pretty regularly and I may get some outside rides in over Spring Break. It is only a 15 mile ride which is not very long...so if I have to wing it--I will do so. Today I ran by myself. Tracy texted me during the night saying she could not run and was getting zero sleep. So I went by myself and did 4.61 miles. It was cold, dark morning--I greatly dislike daylights savings. But I got a good run in so grateful for that. It's the week before Spring Break and my child care schedule is not regular. I am so looking forward to Friday afternoon when my Spring Break officially starts--and I have some time off.
Rob's pastoral schedule has not slowed down--in many ways it's more intense. My schedule has slowed and I don't feel nearly as overwhelmed. The kids are doing better too. So that makes things a little more manageable and we can be better there for him. So thankful he gets next Sunday off.
Last week was a little more challenging as I was in Tacoma Thursday morning until Friday night. Then Rob was in Portland all day Saturday. I only missed Wednesday because A & G's baby had a rough night and almost did not make it on Tuesday around 11 pm. Rob went down to the hospital and I was so jumpy I could not sleep. We only slept a couple hours and were tired all day. I was glad the baby was OK and I felt totally legitimate in skipping swim. I did run with Tracy on Monday and Map My Run was updating so all my data was lost. I think I did around 4 miles. On Tuesday I did Power. Wednesday I skipped. Thursday I left for Tacoma but I managed to get about a four mile run in before we left. Again MMR was not working properly so I could not keep track of my mileage. On Friday morning I rode this bike in the somewhat junky hotel we all stayed at. It was the type at the gym where you are low to the ground and the seat is like a normal chair. I only wanted to leave the girls for a half hour or so it was not a long workout. At least it counted for something. On Saturday I was able to swim when Rob got back. Again only a half hour but I timed myself swimming a 1/4 mile and I'm at around 11 minutes. Yesterday I wanted to run, but with daylight savings making us so tired. And the fact we had blowing rain and wind storms all day--it was not very nice out. I also went to go see A in the afternoon with friends and I didn't get home until after 3. I had to go to evening church because one of our interns was preaching.
So here we are in the second full week of March though it feels like the third week. Beaver Freezer is two weeks from Saturday and I feel like I have had zero time on my bike to prepare. Thank you rainier than normal winter. I have been at Ride pretty regularly and I may get some outside rides in over Spring Break. It is only a 15 mile ride which is not very long...so if I have to wing it--I will do so. Today I ran by myself. Tracy texted me during the night saying she could not run and was getting zero sleep. So I went by myself and did 4.61 miles. It was cold, dark morning--I greatly dislike daylights savings. But I got a good run in so grateful for that. It's the week before Spring Break and my child care schedule is not regular. I am so looking forward to Friday afternoon when my Spring Break officially starts--and I have some time off.
Rob's pastoral schedule has not slowed down--in many ways it's more intense. My schedule has slowed and I don't feel nearly as overwhelmed. The kids are doing better too. So that makes things a little more manageable and we can be better there for him. So thankful he gets next Sunday off.
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