Running for Two Part III

It’s been 6 weeks since my last update, and there is a lot to report. I am now 26 weeks pregnant (about 6 months) and about to begin the third trimester. This is getting very REAL.

Weeks 21-26

The good news: I am still running! The not-so-good news: I’m starting to struggle a bit to get the miles in.

When we last left off, I was still doing long weekend runs and getting in about 20 miles a week. I did one more 10 mile run at 21 weeks pregnant (and hit 22 miles total that week), but that would be my last double-digit run of this pregnancy.

In the weeks since, and more specifically in the last 3 weeks or so, I’ve started feeling the reality of my pregnancy in many aspects of my physical body. I’m getting bigger, but still not huge, and I haven’t gained that much weight (only about 11 lbs). So, it’s not just my growing size. It’s partially just that in general my body is working HARD to grow this baby, so I get tired quickly. Also, as my stomach grows and stretches, there are a lot of achy muscles and ligaments and things going on. Baby is huge in there- about 2 lbs and 15 inches long. She’s squirming around and opening and closing her eyes, sucking her thumb, getting hiccups, etc. There is a PERSON inside of me. The result of all this is that running can be uncomfortable at times.

I’m still running though. Because for every achy, uncomfortable run I have, I have a perfect, happy, cruise of a run to make up for it. So at this point it’s not enough to stop trying to run. I just never know what I’m going to get when I head out the door, and I am trying to be accepting of this. If things hurt, I walk. If they don’t, I run (and still walk a bit). I’m going with the flow.

Generally, my pace hasn’t changed much in the last 6 weeks. Looking in my running log, most of my runs average about 11:30 pace. When I’m running I am doing about 10:30-11:15 pace, so depending how much I walk, the average ends up a bit slower. My fastest run of the last few weeks was definitely the 5k race 3 weeks ago (10:06 pace). My slowest run was just over 13:00 with lots of walking.

I’ve maintained a good weekly mileage- generally around 15 mpw. I’ve been running 4 days a week still.

Here are the stats from the last 6 weeks- I didn’t do a “long run” every week so I think I’ll post my weekly total as well to paint a better picture.

21 weeks pregnant: 10 miles at 12:15 pace, 22 miles total
22 weeks pregnant: 7 miles at 11:27 pace, 17 miles total
23 weeks pregnant: Sellwood Scamper 5k, 13 miles total
24 weeks pregnant: n/a (4 miles at 11:00 pace), 12.65 miles total
25 weeks pregnant: 7 miles at 11:39 pace, 16.25 miles total
26 weeks pregnant: 6 miles at 11:56 pace, 17.3 miles total

I’m really happy overall, and I’m optimistic I’ll keep running for a while. The main problem the last couple runs has been getting a bad side-stitch early in the run, but it goes away after a short break and doesn’t come back. Other times I’ve had achiness in  my lower abdomen and other times I just feel too exhausted to even get out the door. These are all things I can adjust for and accommodate.

My plan going forward is to continue to be flexible. I can take all the walk breaks I need, or cut back on mileage. My main goal is to stay active, and that doesn’t have to be running exclusively. Although I hate to think of giving it up… that makes me sad. I am doing my best to listen to my body but it’s hard. 90% of my body is saying Yay Running! And 10% is saying Ouch, are you nuts? It’s tricky.

I’m definitely giving up “long runs.” 6 or 7 miles is plenty these days, especially since at 11-12 minute miles it takes a long time. I may even just cut back to 3-4 miles like I do for the other runs. Zach had a good idea to make my goal to run as many miles per week as I have LEFT until my due date. For example, this week I am 26 weeks pregnant, so 14 weeks left. Weekly mileage goal: 14. (I did 17, yay!) I like this because it gets easier every week.

Who knows how long I’ll be able to keep running but I’m trying to live in the present and be happy with what I have today. So much of my energy lately is spent thinking/planning/worrying about the future… I don’t need to add to that. Today I ran 6 miles, and that makes me happy.

Running pictures:

24.5 weeks in my Portland Marathon shirt!

 

25 weeks:

26 weeks:

 

Body Changes

Well, I’m certainly not getting smaller! I’m looking “obviously” pregnant. Plus, with the warmer weather and less layers, my bump is more the public. I got my first comment from a fellow runner on the waterfront- he pointed at my stomach and said “Impressive! Good job!” Thanks buddy!

Compare 16 weeks:

with 26 weeks:

I still don’t look pregnant in these front pictures:

 

But in this work outfit… hello baby!

Belly! Here you can see the beginning of the Linea Negra- a dark like running above and below my belly button (which is still a cavernous innie):

Here I am trying on a hilariously tight (though the largest size they had) strapless dress- I didn’t buy it but really wanted to. I am finding I feel very sexy in my weird pregnant body. It helps that my boobs are double the size of normal.

In general, I’m loving my body. I am a little scared of what it’ll look/feel like in the next few weeks and months but I can deal with it. It’s not easy to be pregnant, but it is fun.

Cross Training

Um, not so much. I think in the last 6 weeks I’ve gone swimming 3 times. I’ve only been to prenatal yoga 3 times also. I have been trying to to feel obligated to do these things and only do them if I really want to. I figure I’m focusing on running now and if the other activities have to suffer, so be it. I do miss these things, but I just don’t have the energy. Not beating myself up about it.

I did lift weights in my basement the other day! I did 15 bicep curls and 15 shoulder raises. :)

One Down

Finally, of the three of us that were pregnant last Saturday:

(at Emily’s shower)

Only two of us are still pregnant (this Saturday):

Congratulations Amy:

Thanks for reading!

Sellwood Scamper 5k Race Report

Last weekend was a big racing weekend in our household. I started us off with a 5k fun-run in nearby Sellwood. It was a free event to promote the opening of a new Foot Traffic running store and I signed up a couple of weeks ago. I have been wanting to do some kind of little race- it's been so long and I just miss it! I miss writing race reports! I also wanted to run a couple races while pregnant, because that is just fun. (This wasn't my first race while pregnant- I ran/walked a 7 mile trail race at 7 weeks pregnant, but was only secretly pregnant and also very paranoid and it wasn't that fun at all.) So this was a perfect opportunity. It was a super casual event run around the neighborhood streets (the course wasn't closed, but little to no traffic to deal with), but with perks like a free pair of socks to all participants and even chip timing and professional photos.

The split the run into two waves: 8:00 am and 9:00 am to ease congestion. I was in the later wave, and being only about 4 miles from home made for a very relaxed morning! I got in line for the store's bathroom (the only bathroom) right away and that took about 20 minutes of waiting. Having to pee all the time is a big concern these days so I was glad to empty my bladder. Although I still felt like I had to pee the entire race. I'm pretty used to that feeling but it is not pleasant.

I had picked up my timing chip the day before so all I had to do was park and walk to the starting line. It was such a casual, family-friendly setting with only a few "serious" runners about. I was excited but not nervous at all, since I obviously wasn't trying to run fast or anything. To be completely honest, I had a moment of feeling somewhat embarrassed for myself (and by "somewhat" I mean I broke down sobbing for a couple minutes before I got out of the car). Like "this is what I've been reduced to" kind of feeling. With a dash of "do you know who I am?!" I've admitted before that I'm an egomaniac, so I'm not afraid to tell you this. I wonder if some of you would relate to this feeling. I know I'm pregnant, and it's great that I'm still running, but it still hard to accept this new level of fitness and lifestyle. Also, I'm clearly an emotional, hormonal wreck.

One thing that made me feel ok about doing this 5k fun run was wearing an adorable "Running for Two" shirt that Amy gave me! And my Ironman hat. Not that anyone noticed or cared, but it was important to me to blatantly announce that I was pregnant and also show my racing credentials. I would have incorporated some Boston gear in that outfit if it was possible. Shameless.   

The sun was shining and all the trees and flowers are starting to bloom. Sellwood is a really cute neighborhood so this was a lovely setting for a little race. Part of the race went along this bluff and you could see downtown across the river. Zach got some good photos (posted below) including a bald eagle in flight!

I took it easy and just enjoyed the run. I felt like I was running very slow and was being passed by a few people that started further back. My garmin showed I was around a 10:00 pace, which is actually fast for me these days, but I felt great! However about halfway through I started to feel my face getting hot, which was obviously a sign of exertion. So I backed off and walked up the last hill. I figured I would finish in 31-33 minutes or something, but as we got back toward the start they had us cut out about a block and head straight for the finish line, making the course about .2 miles short. Sub 30 finish here I come!

Mile 1: 10:02
Mile 2: 9:58
Last 0.91: 9:25 (10:19 pace)

Garmin showed: 2.91 miles in 29:25- 10:06 average pace

Official results: 29:24 (9:27 pace, HA!)
17/38  30-34 AG
83/201 Females
134/288 Overall

A decent time for 23 weeks pregnant!

I got some water and walked around a couple minutes to cool down. I stretched out and we headed back to the car. Done and done! Now that wasn't so bad, was it?

Pictures!

 

 

 

 

The next day, Zach ran a race that was 10 times that distance. The Gorge Waterfalls 50k. I went along with my friend Deana and we got to see him at several points of the race. He did so great! Every time I saw him he was super relaxed and friendly- not the "don't bother me" husband I used to see grinding it out in road races! It was such fun. He finished in 4:47 (9:15 pace), 24th out of 223 runners. That's about an hour faster than his first 50k last year. He's in fine form with only 8 weeks until his 50 mile race!

 

 

Thanks for reading!