What a Whirlwind

B and I moved into a brand new house that we've spent the past 5-months witnessing its construction. Its been stressful, its been fun and its thrilling to call it ours.

All the anticipation of moving into a beautiful new home has come and gone. We're starting to settle in and get back into a normal routine. During the great packing expedition I sort of lost my routine and felt off track for most of the last 2 months. I was keeping up on my treatments but my exercising was more sporadic than routine. Plus all the moving is down right physically exhausting, at least for me!

This week, though, I feel I'm gaining ground on rebuilding my routine. We're living in a new town which creates new opportunities for exploring new running routes. Since the home is new we still have a few finishing touches, like building a fence for our backyard. Until that is accomplished I have to walk the dogs a couple of times a day, which is as good for me as it is them.

This weekend is the MTJME 5K. I'm excited to run around my new little town for such a great cause. Then I'm only 4 weeks away from running my first Half-Marathon. I'm nervous that this move has greatly impacted my training but I'm still gonna make the attempt and if walking is what takes me over the finish line, then I'll take it.

I'm eager to leave the whirlwind behind and settle into life in the new place.

~Doodlin'

Like Clock Work?!

Its Fall. Its fairly easy to tell when Summer slips away letting Fall sneak in here in the PacNW. The days become ever-so-slightly shorter, the leaves on the trees begin turing a beautiful burnt orangish/red color,  the temperatures are cooler and the early morning hours have a crispiness to the air with just enough fog to give the hours just prior to sunrise a mysterious feeling. There becomes more rainy days then sunny days leaving you wanting to snuggle with a blanket and book in front of the fire. This is Fall.

My body knows Fall. I am coming to the conclusion that with Fall comes illness; for me. It's like clock work around here. September or October and I'm out of commission. I haven't the faintest idea as to why or how.

Maybe, I get caught up in the Summer time fun, thus draining myself of the reserves necessary for when the weather changes and/or the cold/flu season hits?

Maybe, there's something in the air as Fall approaches that my body doesn't like?

Maybe, my CF is on a cycle, wherein everything works great, treatments do their job and then the bugs find a loop hole, causing an exacerbation?

Whatever it may be I can tell you its Fall.

Just like we can expect Summer to turn to Fall, I, too have change from healthy to sick. My leaves (mucus) have changed colors, my days are shorter (naps) and I feel cold and foggy wanting to snuggle with a blanket and book by the fire.

At last, its just a season. With its own beauty, lessons and renewal.

~Doodlin'

Exhaustion Is Setting In

All this training and working out is exhausting. Not just the act of working my body but the planning my days to incorporate the workouts. When I thought about preparing for a 10k I thought it would be great to do so during the summer. I figured it would force me to get outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. I am doing just that; enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, but I'm over the heat. The air is fabulous on my lungs, my spirit and makes me feel refreshed. The sunshine is giving me that sun-kissed glow and it brings out my freckles. But the heat. It's too much. I've adjusted my training schedule and life to allow me to get up and run between 5:30am- 6am. I'm an early riser but to be up, awake and ready to run is a different story. It makes for an extremely long day. I forgo my morning neb treatments until after I get back from my run just to save time and beat the sun. The entire thing is exhausting. I'm rethink attempting such a task during summer. Winter is looking mighty appealing.

We recently bought a portable A/C unit but with all my medical stuff and the dog kennels we can't fit it into our bedroom. It does work greatly in the guest room, so we've sort set up shop in there on the nights when it doesn't cool down enough to sleep comfortably. Flopping between two different beds is probably a contributing factor to my exhaustion.

While I'm exhausted I'm oddly simultaneously on cloud nine. I'm setting goals, achieving them and that feels great. Better than great; amazing. It makes heading to bed a 7:30pm and crawling out at 5am worth it. The sacrifice is so worth it. My overall health is better for it.

The behemoth task of incorporating a workout routine or training schedule feels overwhelmingly impossible and too consuming. Not gonna lie, there are days when it just feels like too much or that I'm pushing my body too hard, but pushing thru those feelings is what makes me feel like I'm actually making a difference in my health and progressing in my training. I've mentioned in my workout updates that I went into this knowing that I would be making adjustments along the way and that just because the schedule "says" I'm gonna run x-miles I might actually do something less than what's planned. I'm okay with that. As long as I do  something I know I'm not taking steps backwards.

My 10K is this Saturday and I'm taking Thursday and Friday off. No running. I will be stretching and walking the dogs. I'm eager to check this goal off and move on to the next. I keep joking that after the run Saturday I'm gonna sleep the rest of the day and Sunday too!!

The upside to this type of exhaustion is that its from getting my body in-shape not because I'm sick and my body is worn down from crudeness.

~Doodlin'

Setting New Goals

I'm revving things up a bit. After running a handful of 5k runs I'm ready to bump up to the next level. The 10k is freakishly daunting to think about but I think with a little will-power, muscle memory and grinding my soles on the pavement I can do this. 

When I first started running I shared that journey with you and all the not-so-pleasant experiences in-which that journey entailed. So, why not do the same as I attempt to reach this new goal after all its liking starting over. The 10k is doubling the 5k, so in essence its sort of like beginning the 5k all over again. The training is similar with the exception of knowing I can run for 30 mins whereas when I started training for the 5k I could not. At that time I knew I could walk for over an hour without needing a break. 

Here's to setting new goals and achieving them. I'm officially registered for two 10K's.  One in August and one in September.

My training schedule is as such for the August 10K:

I just wrapped up Week #1 and it feels great to have it done and under my belt. Today, was a fabulous morning for my Saturday run/walk rotation. The sun is out and my lungs felt amazing. My legs are a bit sore but thats to be expected. 

I should note that after each workout I drink a homemade shake that contains fresh fruit and some sort of nut butter to help replace lost calories. 

As a side goal, I want to update you each week with how that week's training went. This will help keep me accountable as well as address any struggles I'm facing or successes gained. Training never goes exactly how I put it to pen and paper. There are times of progress and times of having to take a step back. That's okay and I know that. My body is not a machine but its better, its can adjust!

~Doodlin'

It's All About the Routine

My struggle with CFRD (Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes) is no secret to those who know me and read this blog. I struggle with diabetes more than I do with my CF. There are few factors that aid in the struggle. I wasn't diagnosed with CFRD until I was 13 or so, whereas I haven't known life without CF. Another aspect that makes diabetes a struggle is that it requires multiple injections a day and numerous finger pokes whereas their is no poking on a daily bases to treat my CF.

I humbly admit that I was far from the model diabetes patient. For many years I did the bare minimum and tried to forget about it. Something changed about 9 years ago, I started to care. I started to see the importance of getting this aspect of my care under control. I began with baby steps so that I didn't overwhelm myself and throwing in the towel. I started to by committing to checking my glucose levels 3 times a day. As this became a routine occurrence each day I added something else. I kept building on this model and I started to see and feel results.

I am a learn the hard way kinda gal. I have to feel the impact before action is taken. It simply isn't enough to hear the statistics or even have the unpleasant symptoms described to me. I have to be affected to change course.

Fast forward to present day me. For the most part I have this diabetes thing under control. I have fit it into my life and it feels rather natural. I have a routine. Routine keeps me healthy. Routine keeps me on track. Because of routine I have learned what bumps me off course and what it takes to get back on course.

Of course, I could do even better. Which I continue to evaluate and make changes as I can handle them.  I have learned a lot from having diabetes. I have learned that diabetes truly requires one to be on top of their care for the immediate present while many of the treatments for CF are to help prevent damage in the future. Meaning, if my blood sugar drops too low I immediately feel the symptoms or worse will need to be rushed to the emergency room, but with CF if I skip a treatment there are no immediate symptoms.

This is why for me having a routine is essential. My routine helps me always know what's going on with my diabetes while being proactive with my CF. My hope is that I can keep my body in as good as healthy at this very moment as well as in the future so that I can be present in life with my family and friends.

A motivating saying I have posted to read every day is ....."Doing all my meds is NOT submission to my CF but rather FREEDOM from it." This is easily transferrable for any illness we struggle with. A routine allows this statement to be true.

Do you thrive in a routine?

~Doodlin'