Trying to make a comeback

 I started out the year with this ambition to run/walk/hike/bike 2023 miles and gave that up rather quickly when I realized that's A LOT of miles.  I would need to bike a couple of rides a week to achieve that goal.  I decided to train for a half marathon.  Then I decided not to.  Then I decided to simply track my mileage all year and try to hit 1,000.  Then on an afternoon when I felt fatigued and didn't have a great day, I made that day even more not-so-great by falling while running. And broke my wrist in two places.  A week later I had surgery and now have a plate and three screws in my arm.

Getting back into running has been hard.  Not physically.  I tried to stay active.  I went on a few hikes, walks, and rode the bike at the gym a handful of times.  But mentally it has been challenging.  I remember falling, how much it hurt, how it seemed to come out of nowhere, and the mental stress that followed.  I had no idea that April 25th would be my last day in the classroom of the school year. 

The day after I broke my wrist I had a job interview with another agency and got the job which I start on Friday!  What a crazy spring.  Not to mention the oldest graduating and going off to basic training. Parents aging with health issues.  We think the cat is dying and I don't know she survived this whole summer.  So much going on.

I am slowly easing back into things not making any huge goal at this time.  I am happy to be doing SOMETHING again.

I love routine and yet I hate it.  I like predictability and consistency but I hate the same thing all the time.  I get easily bored with things.  I also get distracted.  I need some consistency going into the fall because it helps me achieve goals and just generally makes life more doable.  Or maybe more tolerated?

This is what I think I want to try...

Monday:  Power 30 at BC

Tuesday:  Run

Wednesday:  Power 30 at BC & Run Intervals

Thursday:  R 30 at BC

Friday: Swim

Saturday or Sunday:  Long Run

Then I would maybe run on Mondays as well.  If Kara has theatre Monday nights I would run after work and then go to the 5:30 Power 30 class.  I think it's a good plan I'd like to try.

March Recap

Two things I will remember about workouts in March...first of all I got sick the night of the GEMS Auction.  I could feel a sinus headache coming on.  It turned into this lingering cold which felt like COVID.  My legs hurt during the right and I felt achy for three days.  But I tested negative so maybe it was a virus.  I did not exercise for ten days straight.

Once I get back into it (and it the same week I worked overtime and put in long hours) I hit it hard and completed a lot of workouts including going to Power 30.  The weather was terrible for many of my runs--rain, very cold rain mixed with hail, and temps close to freezing.  Not normal for March and not thrilling to run in.  Also one of my swim workouts was in the South pool which apparently had a broken heater and I felt like a popsicle after the workout.  My ears stung and I never fully warmed up.  The hot tub almost too much of a temperature shock.  

April is going to be a full month.  Lots of track meets, coaching junior high track, Easter events, travel, youth group--everyday has something.  We're also getting closer to end of the year events.  Exercise helps me tremendously.  The one thing that always throws me off is getting sick.  Busy schedules usually don't.  But I am hoping I can stay consistent.

I had thought about training for a fall marathon but I don't want to make a decision on it yet.  I love running.  I like the feeling after the long runs.  I like drinking Ultima and snacking on gu gels.  I like the summer mornings.  I love running at Minto and Bush.  I also get very burned out, lose motivation, and I don't have a ton of people to run with anymore.  I want to go on some long hikes as well.  I have a few more weeks before I have to decide.

 March Stats:

Run =  52.01 miles

Swam = 1.5 miles

Stationary Bike = 17.36

Hike = 0 miles (no hiking in March sadly)

Walk = 7.56

Total Miles = 78.43

Total YTD

Run = 125.61 miles

Swam = 3 miles

Stationary Bike = 29.09 miles

Hike = 15.82 miles

Kayak = 7.62 miles

Walk = 7.56 miles

Total Miles = 188.70  miles

February Stats

 February was a good month for me because I was way more consistent with exercise.  I did get sick early in the month a week after I came home from Florida.  I had a strange stomach bug that came out of nowhere.  I actually had not had a stomach bug since February of 2019. I always keep it consistent by getting sick in February.  The timing was horrible as it was days away from our Soup and Pie fundraiser.  I was grateful I prepped a lot ahead of time.  Rob and Matt were able to pick up the slack.

February stats 

Run = 37.31 miles

Swam = 1 mile

Stationary Bike = 11.73 miles

Hike = 4.75 miles

Total Miles = 54.79

Total YTD

Run = 73.6

Swam = 1.5 miles

Stationary Bike = 11.73

Hike = 15.82

Kayak = 7.62

Total Miles = 110.27

January

 January Stats:

Ran = 36.29 miles

Swam = 0.5 miles

Bike = 0 miles

Hike = 11.07 miles

Kayak = 7.62 miles

Total =  55.48 miles

I have not updated this blog much this year or recorded my workouts.  In December I did the 12 days of Christmas challenge where I ran 12 days straight adding a mile each day.  Some of those days I walked.  If I gained anything out of it, I learned to love walking with Rob even if I'm mostly walking behind him.  He has such a long stride.  I learned to appreciate the trails even within my own neighborhood.  And the challenge kept me grounded mentally because I am finding December is a hard month for me.  That has been a pattern the last few years.  I always feel better after New Years.

I had thought about doing a half marathon my birthday weekend and began to train for it.  I felt overwhelmed and a bit burned out by taking on another thing so soon.  I am thinking of doing a fall marathon around Hailey's birthday in honor of her while she finishes her AIT Training at Fort Jackson.  I'd like to do a virtual challenge or possibly a virtual half.  I like the idea of doing a virtual half on Easter morning.  But I haven't found the right one yet.  I would love to do it with a friend, but I am mostly running solo these days.  My running friend moved away and I can't run in the early mornings anymore.  It does not work with my schedule at all.  Maybe my other friend can join me once in awhile.

I will post my monthly stats.  I did hit 55.48 miles in January with mostly running, one swim workout, kayaking in Florida and a few hikes.

Fall workouts

 Monday = Ran intervals with friends for a total of 6 miles & Power 30 in the afternoon

Tuesday = Rest Day

Wednesday = Ran 4 miles at Bush Park after work.  Didn't realize there would be a big high school cross country meet going on so I tried to run away from them or not go on their course.  

Thursday = Swam 1100 yards after work at South.

Friday = 20 minutes of weights and 25 minutes of stationary bike

Saturday = Ran 6.26 miles in south Salem.  I walked 2.74 miles with Rob and Derek downtown later in the afternoon.

Sunday = Run before church.  It was really beautiful out with the sun coming up.  I did 5 miles.  I still feel like I am faster than what I am.  I am still like 10:15 pace which is so much slower than I used to do.  Trying to build and get faster.

Total miles for 2022 = 683.9 -- almost to 700!

Last week of September

 This week has been a mix of joy and major challenges.  The major challenges are work related and man I am getting stretched again in this crazy job of mine.  Sometimes it is hard to not feel like I am losing my marbles or questioning my calling.  Thank goodness for running & the gym.  And for my body finally adjusting back to early mornings.

Monday = Intervals with friends = 5 miles.  Trying to mourn the fact my running friend is moving away very soon.  I will miss her! I also went to Power 30 while Kara was in theatre practice.

Tuesday = Rest Day

Wednesday = 20 minutes of weights and 30 minutes of stationary bike.  I was going to go to Power at South but I needed to get to work earlier...plus I am liking Power 30 so much more.  I will probably start going to that BC.  Glad I got my workout in early because this was a very tough day.

Thursday = I wanted to swim with friends but I was so stressed in the morning that I could not do it.  Instead I swam after work at South River Road.

Friday = Ran 3.07 miles with Emily

Saturday = Hiked Dimple Hill for a total of 8.50 miles with Rob.

Sunday = I rested as I was very sore and my ears were hurting from my cold.  I did not feel good.

Total miles for 2022 = 659.9

September workouts

 I have not been blogging since school started.  Thankfully I have been able to keep up a somewhat regular routine and early mornings are getting easier.  My body is getting used to it though I am going to bed before the kids...sometimes all three of them!

I started on Labor Day & I will try to remember all my workouts.

9/5 = Ran 2.6 miles

9/6 = Ran 3.22

9/7 = Can't remember... rest day?

9/8 = I believe I swam with friends and the pool was crazy busy.

9/9 & 9/10 = Rest.  I came home from Friday night feeling sick and I think it from the egg roll I ate from the Safeway cafe.  Or just exhaustion adjusting back to this schedule.

9/11 = Ran 4 miles before church

9/12 = Ran 6 miles in the early morning doing intervals

9/13 = Rest day

9/14 = Ran 3.4 miles.  I was going to go to Power but I felt so overwhelmed and I couldn't get up for it.

9/15 = Swam again with friends

9/16 = Ran with Emily in Keizer and we did 3.11 miles

9/17 = Power 30 at West Salem Courthouse

9/18 = Ran 4.5 miles before church

9/19 = Rest...wanted to do intervals but woke up with head ache, hot flashes, cramping.  Not fun stuff.

9/20 = 4 mile run and saw a bunch of deer on Liberty & Madrona

9/21 = Group Power at South River Road

9/22 = Power 30 at Battlecreek

9/23 = Hiking & kayaking with Kara's class at Clear Lake

9/24 = Power 30 at West & ran 5 miles with Emily

9/25 = Ran 5 miles...it was really hot!

Total running miles from this = 40.83

Total for the year = 643.33...might not hit 1,000 but should get close to 800.