Pre-Marathon Training Week #1

One year ago I was running my second marathon! Now a year later I am starting pre-marathon training for my third. I picked a tough week to start pre-training. I have something EVERY SINGLE night this week. This is probably my busiest week of the holiday season. Looking forward to next week when I have next to nothing.

Monday - 3 mile run and 10 minutes of strength training

I ran my 3 mile route to the Sumpter neighborhood. I did not feel as good today at all. I pushed my way through it and felt like I was going at turtle pace. I did 10 minutes of arm on the 10 Minute Solutions Target Toning. I know I should be abs too, but I have 100 things to get done this week. I am just happy I got a workout in!!

Tuesday - 3 miles

The running has been SO good for me because the pre-winter anxiety is starting to kick in. Handling it better this year! But had a few bad nights last week. Even though this week is insanely busy, I am getting good sleep. Running seems to help with that. Felt kind of weak and tired again today, but better than yesterday. I felt at my best around second half of the second mile. I ran around Sumpter Park and I like the quiet and peacefulness of that neighborhood and the small rolling hills that are easier to deal with when you start up running again. It's really cold outside, but I find the outside air refreshing. It's only in the 40's so compared to most places in the country in December--it's not that cold. Hailey went off to school today without wearing her coat. We had to make a detour to ILS on our way to Bible Study.

Wednesday - Tempo Run - about 30 minutes

I ran at a slow pace for about a mile, then sped up for another mile, walked probably 1/4 of a mile, and ran the rest of the way. I did the Ewald route. I forgot how the big the hills are. The last half of the run was the hardest. It still is really cold, but it has been clear all week. So I can't complain.

Thursday - Rest Day

Friday - Ran 3 miles

I ran at 4 PM and ran to Woodmansee Park. I ran through the park and through the woods. I love the short trail run. I was surprised how many people were in the woods walking dogs and playing frisbee golf. There were even people playing tennis and a few kids on the playground. And it's cold. I guess if there is no rain in Oregon, people still venture outside and stay out there. It was probably my best run all week. I felt really good. So glad I stuck with it. This has been a very, very busy weekend. Something every single night and morning.

Saturday - Rest

Super busy day!! Was hardly home.

Sunday - Rest

I had way too much to do and I NEEDED a nap. We were out late Saturday night and Kara decided to rise and shine at 5:45 AM. She stayed semi quiet in her room until around 6:15 AM. For some reason the other two were up at 6:30 which is highly unusual for a Sunday. I had to do some work on Christmas stuff to do before evening church.

November 27 - December 3

Monday - Ran 2 miles

So here we are and it's the end of November. I needed a break from running. For a variety of reasons. I felt like I was starting to get an unhealthy mind set. Like if I did not run or keep up with my original exercise plans, I was taking it way too hard. And I did not have much motivation. I was starting to feel drained and worn out.

I have felt better again. And energized.

I know I feel better mentally because I ran 2 miles straight today. I felt stronger and more energized than I did three weeks ago. I feel like I am moving into "training" mode where I am so motivated to get out and run versus dreading it, putting it off, not doing it, and then feeling extremely guilty and frustrated.

I really want to do the Newport Marathon. I am going to start pre-training next week that will put me around 6-8 miles and then begin official marathon training in February. Training in the winter in Oregon is going to be a challenge. Today was beautiful and even a little warm. Yesterday was pouring, blowing, cold rain. It rains here a lot but it doesn't rain everyday. Sometimes we get these warm ups in January and February. Our spring really begins around late February. So I think it is doable.

I'm really proud of my friend Alyssa who is losing so much weight and did her first 5K on Thanksgiving. It has motivated to get myself out the door and starting getting my miles up back. I need this. I can do it!

Tuesday - Crunch Boot Camp 30 minutes

Not motivated to do videos. Would much rather run outside even in the rain. But I needed the strength training and stretching. Even though I do get bored with it...I push pause and see how much time if left...I know I need to do it. I actually felt energized and good after I was done. It's better than laying around the couch and watching TV while the kids nap...or pretend to nap. I need to look through Netflix one of these mornings and find a few more videos to give myself variety. I have been doing the same one and really only this one since the summer.

The only thing with exercising is my appetite is so huge. Like it's 8PM right now and I feel like I could eat another meal.

Wednesday - Ran 3 miles

It hurt at times and my muscles feel so incredibly tight. But I pushed through it and completed it. It helps that is so sunny out today and even a little warm--very unusual for this time of year. I love running in the Sumpter neighborhood again. I missed it. I think I crave running more in the fall and winter months. I struggle to keep it up in the spring and summer. My crazy children are not napping again so I needed this extra dose of energy to get through the long afternoon.

Thursday - Crunch Abs 30 minutes

Did a quick Netflix Instant search and found all I get on Instant Netflix are the 10 minute workouts or the Crunch Gym. Jillian Michaels in only available by mail. So I tried Crunch Abs. Although the first 20 minutes were fast and dancey, I think I can get used to it. I liked the last 10 minutes better. I know I worked my abs because they are sore. I am still not very motivated to do it in the afternoon, but it worked out OK today.

Friday - Rest Day

Saturday - Ran 2 miles

It has been a sunny week, but cold. I didn't mind the cold air so much though. It felt refreshing. I ran my regular 2 miler down Loan Oak to Browning and back up Liberty. I ran around 4. Wanted to get it in earlier, but still enjoyed running in the late afternoon. Running has gone well this week--significantly better than a few weeks ago. I think I need more miles. The 1 to 1 1/2 mile runs were not challenging enough and not motivating. I thought it would be the opposite. I would look forward to running a shorter distance, but it made me enjoy it so much less.

Sunday - Rest Day

October 31 - November 6

Monday - Crunch: Burn and Firm Pilates - 48 minutes

I wanted to try a different video. I have never done any kind of pilates before except the little bit in Centergy class back when I used to go to it. I did around 10 AM with the kids watching TV and then playing all around me. I didn't think it would work, but it actually did. I was only interrupted once to clean up some spilled milk. Derek played contently at the table with his cars and city boxes. Kara played with her baby dolls. Sometimes they do this and other days it is like pulling teeth to get them to do anything all they do is fight. Anyway the length was too long. I can't workout that long in the morning unless I am up before the kids. But the stretching was great. I really needed it. I liked the overall workout. I think I like Crunch Boot Camp slightly better. I do miss the days I used to do more with yoga and pilates. It's just hard to squeeze that in with running.

Tuesday - Ran 1.75 miles

Did my two mile route, but walked the last .25 miles. Good workout.

Wednesday & the rest of the week

Wednesday was super busy so I decided to make it my rest day. I had to bring Derek to Christina's, run a bunch of errands for ETM while Derek was there and set up for ETM. I did not finish by 11:15 AM. I realized 1) I don't need to make this ETM program so complex...I spent way more time on things than I needed to...especially since it was just a few kids this time around. 2) I have to be realistic on how much I can really accomplish during the two hours Derek is in preschool. So because I did all this all morning, nothing got cleaned and laundry was at a halt again. But whenever I make my midweek my rest day I never run the rest of the week. Which is exactly what happened. Thursday I was exhausted and mentally drained. Rob told me to leave the house at 5:15 PM and not come back until after the kids were in bed. :) I went to French Press & the library. I SO needed it. I worked on my Bible Study and read 40 pages of a book and enjoyed a wonderful crepe. Yesterday we had to leave to go Harris' around 3:30 and we had to do haircuts in the morning. With baths, laundry, and cleaning that was enough. Rob and I also worked on Christmas budgets, gift planning, meal planning and birthday planning--it took almost two hours by the time we were done with it. It was fun and we love working on it together, but it took up most of the morning. I could have gone out and run, but there was so much more I had to. Today I just lost all motivation so I am sitting here. :) I'll try again next week.

Week of October 24-30

I took another break. My sister and her family were here. Then I got this really bad cough after they left. Earlier last week I felt so overwhelmed. I don't know if it was the fact I missed my sister (I'm always a little "emotionally off" for a couple days after I see family), or the fact I had a lot going last week (ETM & MOPS), or the fact I was coughing and had a head cold--but it was triggering a lot anxiety. Like I almost felt like I was in a panic when I was in Costco on Tuesday. I felt so overwhelmed, but I handled it a lot better than a year ago when I had this. I decided to put exercise off until I get myself together. Rob gave me a lot of time to myself this weekend. I've had very little time to myself lately. I stayed home from church yesterday because Kara was still sick. I actually took too much Nyquil and Dayquil and I was in a loopy fog all day. All I wanted to do was sleep. Yet I felt like my body would not fully let me. Thankfully the kids were really really good yesterday. Derek and Kara have been playing better.

Monday - Crunch Boot Camp - 30 minutes

I still feel weak from the cold and the fact I've not been exercising. But I was able to get through the workout. I drank A LOT of water and pushed myself through it. I still feel a little dizzy and weak in the arms and legs--but nothing like the last few days. Feels good to get moving again. Hope it's a productive week in terms of exercise.

Tuesday - Ran 1.5 miles

It is officially cold here. It was only 45 when I went running at lunch. Not cold for October, but it was in the 60's over the weekend. I ran to Walgreens. It felt really good to run. I thought I would be lagging and feel dizzy, but I felt great. I have had no anxiety since yesterday morning and that helps. Derek and Kara were not great today, but I handled it better. I seriously think it was all the breaks Rob gave me this weekend--I was getting really drained with all the household and kids stuff. Nice to be back in an exercise routine again.

Wednesday - Ran 1.5 miles

So good to be running again. Felt great! I just ran up Liberty to Ewald and then to Cunningham. I had to stop at Roths and buy stuff to make muffins. I feel so good having worked out this week. Derek is sick today, but not too bad. I think he should be fine by tomorrow--if not for sure by Friday. Very relaxing day. Got a lot done around the house and Kara was good.

Thursday - Crunch Boot Camp 30 minutes

A little bummed Hailey is sick today and we had to miss the pumpkin patch field trip. And the weather is absolutely perfect too. It's been so sunny this week and nice out. Too bad we have had sick kids. I am hoping she is better by tomorrow. Derek is back to normal. Very glad he is napping this afternoon. I did the work out at 2:30 this afternoon and it was tough. I did not feel as strong today. I also kept thinking about everything I still have to do today. Which is why I would much rather work out in the morning and get it done and over with. The afternoon is nice when it is a less intense time...reading, writing, etc. But glad I got it done and been able to exercise this week.

Friday - Ran 1.5 miles

Had a great run! Ran at 8 AM and it was super nice to get it done in the morning. Perfect morning out. I just ran my two mile course, but walked the last half mile. Feeling strong and ready to start adding the miles. It's been a great week. Stayed on top of the cleaning, laundry, and exercise. It has made me so calm and less anxious. It also barely rained. We saw the sun all week. I wish every week could be like this. I'm really enjoying just being at home. I don't feel as overwhelmed. I did not think dropping out of vet. school would make a huge difference, but it's made all the difference. I am pleasantly surprised. I don't miss it nearly as much anymore.

Saturday - Rest Day

Really busy day. I helped the VS family set up for Fall Harvest Carnival most of the morning. Then I took a nap in the afternoon and Harvest Carnival stuff all evening. Fun night.

Sunday - 40 minute walk

Had such a good week and weekend, but in a crummy mood today. I slept funny and strained some muscle in my neck and it hurts all the way up to my right ear. It goes in and out. Plus I just feel mentally and emotionally drained. And tired!! I went on a forty minute walk around the neighborhood and that was probably the highlight of my whole day. Honestly I felt so at peace. I am just starting to feel overwhelmed again and not sure what is causing it. It's always a guessing game whether it is hormones, life situations, or just randomness. I honestly think one of the biggest reasons is the lack of alone time. Last weekend I felt SO rested and relaxed...and calm. I had a lot of time to myself. This weekend I had next to nothing. Just the way it worked out. I don't want to be antisocial, but I just can't do all this running around anymore. I have kids in my space ALL DAY long. I love them and enjoy being with them, but it can be very very draining. By 8 PM I have nothing left. I am hoping for an OK week though. I'm glad the only major thing I have going is ETM which is pretty manageable.

October 3-9

I am here! I really needed a 10-14 day period to get my fall routine "re-established." I am happy to say I have been getting up EVERY morning at 6:40 AM to read my Bible and pray. I have been super consistent and have benefited richly in every single area of my life. I feel like "the spiritual desert" I was describing is in my past and I have pressed forward relying on God's leading. The Tim Keller books I read last winter and this summer also helped. So my goal this week to get my exercise routine in order. I am not pushing myself to exercise in the mornings anymore. It just doesn't work. I cannot get up at 5:45 or 6 AM. With us not sitting down to dinner until 6:15 two to three nights of the week because of soccer, the kids not getting to bed until 8--I cannot go to bed around 10. Usually I am in bed by 10, but I often read for a half hour to forty-five minutes. I might try mornings again later in the year. Right now it is way too dark in the morning anyway and the rain hit this week. There is constant rain in the forecast. It looks like it is going to be a very wet October.

Monday - Boot Camp - 30 minutes

Love this DVD and going to stick with it a couple more weeks. I am just getting the hang of it and really like it. I managed to do it at 9:30 while both kids were finishing up watching Dora, playing and having snack. I had to stop once to change a diaper, but otherwise it worked out just fine.

Tuesday - Ran 1.5 miles

Ran to Hailey's school and back during Rob's lunch. Good run. It went fine. Awesome weather (I ran in between rain storms).

Wednesday - Boot Camp - 30 minutes

Kara and Derek watched about 10 minutes of Sesame Street and were done. I guess I can't complain my kids are not that interested in TV! Some people have the opposite problem with their kids. Derek watched the utility truck outside for like 15 minutes and Kara ate her snack. So I could do most of the workout interrupted except for like a five minute pause to check on Derek and get Kara her snack. It was a really good workout. When I did this DVD a couple weeks ago, it was so hard in some places. I dreaded parts of it. Now I am slowly getting the routine down.

I looked ahead at Newport Marathon. I would have to officially start training end of February. So I am going to stick with the short runs for about 8 weeks. Then get my mileage up to around 8-10 miles for 12 more weeks. After that, I should be ready to train.

September 19 - 25

Monday: 20 minutes boot camp

I got at 6:40 and read my Bible and prayed. I got a lot of cleaning done before 9 AM so my plan was to exercise while Derek and Kara watched their morning DVD. It was all going great. I am living Boot Camp and it's the right amount of challenge. Unfortunately my workout got cut short about 10 minutes as Derek and Kara ran to my room covered in fish water. The fish tank was moved to the family room a few days ago to make room for the new mixer. Kara pulled down, cracked it, basically destroyed it and poor Sarena the goldfish was laying on the floor. I rescued Sarena and spent a good 45 minutes cleaning everything up. I was pretty ticked off. Rob bought a new fish tank. Sarena held on. By 3 PM she bit the bullet and died. :( She was one year old. I was more upset than Hailey. I think we are going to go out and buy a beta. I meant to finish my workout later, but I never got there. Today was an awful day and the only cure is going to bed and getting up tomorrow and starting over.

Tuesday: Ran 1.75 miles

I got up at 6:15 and managed to get devotions done plus run 1.75 miles and be back by 7. I ran Liberty to Boone to Lone Oak back to Hrubetz and I felt amazing. Great run!

September 12 - 18

I have been exercising off and on...just not blogging about it.

I am actually beginning pre-pre marathon training. What the heck is that!? Basically I am beginning a new fall routine where I wake up 6 AM and read my Bible and exercise all before the kids get up. So far I am happy to say I have been quite successful. Labor Day Weekend threw me off a little, but I'm back on. Because getting up early is very, very difficult for me and I am not a morning person at all, I am doing very short runs right now. I could do 3-4 miles. But I feel like I have to establish this routine first. This means I am only doing 1.5 - 2 mile runs and getting up to 3-4 miles in a couple weeks.

Once I begin pre-marathon training which will mean getting up to 8 or so miles, I hope to do most of my running still in the morning...and possibly my long run on the weekends. I figure I can try 5:45 AM and 5:30 if needed. I really hate being more tired at night. I accomplish very little after 9 PM anyway...sometimes earlier.

Dropping out at vet. tech. school as hard as it was has freed up my schedule significantly. I am amazed how much time it has given me. I STILL miss it a lot to the point I have a hard driving by vet. clinics. I had to drop something off at the humane society and that was really hard. I took Hailey and her friend with me so that helped. But I am pressing on. I am realizing as time passes, I made the right decision. I am more excited about what my future holds in terms of going back to work someday versus stressed and worried. There IS something about doing youth ministry and NOT being paid. It's a whole other world being a regular volunteer and yet not having to deal with some of the hassles of being on staff at a church. In some ways I feel like I already am on staff as the PW.

Anyway I am recording my weekly workouts and I am following a loose training plan until I can up my mileage and do hills, long runs, and tempo runs again...

Monday: 10 minutes of thighs, 10 minutes of arms

I did the 10 minute solutions. I know it is very basic and not challenging enough. I am focusing more on getting the routine down and exercising in the mornings. Then I will switch back to Boot Camp workouts or something similar.

Tuesday: Ran 1.5 miles

I ran to Hailey's school and back. I am not at my best. I could do it and run the whole way, but I just don't feel strong right now. I am hoping the structured morning routine will help get my mileage back up.

Wednesday: Boot Camp - 30 minutes

I did not get up at 6 AM. It is getting harder. I realized since I'm home all day and do not have much in the morning I could work out during Derek and Kara's nap. The problem is I felt gross being in workout clothes all morning plus I don't get as much done in the afternoon. I remembered this is why I like exercising in the mornings. I still was up by 6:40 AM to read my Bible, but exercise was postponed to around 1:30 PM. I like the Boot Camp DVD better than the 10 minute solutions--more challenging. I think I will stick with it for awhile and then switch to something else.

Thursday: Ran 1.5 miles

I knew getting up early was going to be hard for me. Yesterday afternoon and evening were really busy. I was pretty exhausted. I again did not get up the 6 AM wake-up--got up at 6:40 to do devotions. I was going to run at Rob's lunch, but realized he's not taking lunch at home today. I ran at 7:15 while the kids were eating breakfast and Rob was getting ready. We were a little ahead of schedule this morning so it worked out fine. Hailey was actually ready for school ten minutes early. I just ran to Hailey's school and back again. I felt so good--like I could have run for miles. I really think the Boot Camp yesterday helped stretch some of my muscles and the push ups (as much as I hate them) have helped too.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Ran 1.5 miles. Picked a new route running to Lori and around to Fir Dell. The run went fine and the weather was perfect.

Sunday: 30 minute walk. Not sure how long and far I walked because I was not keeping track. My walk ended at Walgreens to pick of Oro Gel. I have three canker sores all over my mouth and it kills! The Oro Gel only numbs it for a little bit. I think this was a result of eating a lot of tomatoes. What a pain!