Sunday 2/27/11
Is there such thing as a pre-baby "bucket list"? Well if there's not I think there should be! Not that I think having a baby is the END of your life, but it's hard to deny that life changes...for the better I'm told. :) So I have unintentionally put both my husband on two different "bucket-list" plans. Mine consists of lots of training, participating in races, taking the time to read books and magazines just for fun, and taking naps WHENEVER I want. The path I have decided my husband needs consists of going to concerts, having more nights out with the guys than usual, and basically not letting him say "no" to any of his friends invites for any reason other than he really doesn't want to go. I didn't realize I was actually doing this until recently, but I think it makes sense because in a short 12 weeks or less life as we know it will change drastically...at least while we try to figure out this baby thing. Maybe there should be an event like a bachelor/bachelorette party before a wedding when you are about to have a baby (besides a baby shower...that's like a bridal shower...I'm talking one more last hooray for the dad and mom to be). Something to think about all you party planners out there...this could be the next new thing!
Any way...So you may have noticed my blogs have started to have more and more time pass between entries. Time just seems to go by faster and faster these days. Since the half marathon I have tried to keep up with my training (running, biking, swimming, lifting) but have definitely noticed some changes in the past couple of weeks and had a few instances that I wondered if I was nearing the end of my running while pregnant days. My legs felt heavy, my muscles burned even on easy runs, and I think I had my first experience of Braxton-Hicks contractions. I skipped my long run this week and only did 6miles instead of 8-9. I kind of felt like a wimp for missing my run with my running partner (who let's not forget is 5.5mo pregnant with TWINS!) because it was raining and cold out. Of course she, being the stud that she is, powered through the weather to complete her 8mile run! It was the first time EVER I wimped out and did a treadmill run inside instead, but in the end I think it was the right thing for my body, which was just feeling a little beat up physically this week. This past week it it has become a little more uncomfortable to bend down and tie my shoes and anything around 10min/mile while running feels like I am SPRINTING...not necessarily that I am out of breath, but that my legs feel so heavy and I just can't seem to get my feet to move any faster! It's also taking my body a little longer to recover between workouts and I hit a major sleepiness wall at 8pm sharp. By the way my just to give you an update, my Doctor has given me the green light to continue with all my exercise as long as I don't have any intense cramping or bleeding, and I stay hydrated. I told her I almost feel guilty with how easy the pregnancy has been so far...she said don't feel guilty and that the more "boring" my pregnancy was the more she like me as a patient.
I still have had some good workouts the past couple weeks. I met my friend to swim and did a 3000m swim in a little over an hour, I've had a couple of brutally hard workouts on my new bike trainer (which luckily I found out that the trainer IS actually harder than biking outside because at first it was a little demotivating for it to feel so hard on my legs), and I had a great long outdoor bike ride today totalling 2hrs and made it up the big hills home by my house...guess the bike trainer does actually help! The other cool thing that has been happening the past couple of weeks is feeling her move and kick, and they are getting stronger by the day! I think feeling the movement has been both the weirdest and best feeling so far during the pregnancy.
....Well off to go check some more stuff off my pre-baby bucket list :)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Half Marathon 26 weeks pregnant!
2/15/2011 26 weeks pregnant
Sunday 2/13 I ran the San Dieguito Half Marathon (13.1 miles). For those who know the course it is pretty hilly, but a beautiful run. I debated back and forth until the very last second if I should do it or not, and it always comes down to asking myself the same question...would I have regretted it if I DIDN'T do it? The answer is always YES, so I sent in my registration on the last day and hoped for the best both with the weather and for me physically. I figured as a last resort I could walk it and still be happy I finished. The morning of the race the weather was pretty darn perfect. Cold, but not bitterly cold, and it warmed up without a cloud in the sky and luckily there was lots of shade on the roads too. I think this was my first half marathon since last February when I did this race. Going into it I knew it was hilly, but as I approached the first major hill I was reminded just HOW hilly it was...I am pretty sure we ran up hill for at least a mile. I instantly felt pretty horrible for having one of my clients run this race as her first half marathon...that was just cruel. Well, at least she has bragging rights for finishing one of the most challenging half marathons around. ;)
As I was warming up and stretching I did get a few people asking me if I was doing the half....pregnant (it is fairly obvious now that I am prego and not just a heavy beer drinker with a gut). Most were supportive and impressed and one or two were concerned and let me know it! I have to admit that I was a little nervous myself, but not because I was worried if I could do it fitness wise, but with the pregnancy thing you just never know what the day will bring you physically....will I get dehydrated? overheated? will she be sitting in an awkward spot making the run too uncomfortable? will I have an EMERGENCY bathroom break?! I just told myself I would start slow and walk whenever I felt that I needed to and fight the urge to push through the discomforts.
I started near the back of the pack, which is fairly usual for me. But I did notice something different about this race...either I was in the exact right section for my pace or EVERYONE was starting off slower because they knew that had some big hills to conquer and 13.1 miles to complete. In the past few races I have done both the triathlons and the 15ks it seemed like everyone started out SO fast! I was instantly reminded of how much I like the longer endurance events for this reason...slow and steady is the way to go! I did have to go the the bathroom about mile 6, but there were only porta-pottys, which is not horrible...but there were always at least 3 or more people waiting. I didn't want to have to stop and wait so I kept going hoping I didn't have any issues along the way. When I made it to mile 8 and 9 I started to really hit a good stride...I felt pretty great. I had actually kept a fairly steady pace of about 11min/miles or less even with some walking up the steepest parts of the runs. I finally saw a bathroom opportunity with NO LINE and jumped at the chance to go quickly. After that it was all down hill...literally...the GIANT hill we went up for over a mile was a nice steady decline near the end of the race. Although, the last 1/2 mile or so was a cruel joke of an uphill climb to the finish, but with all the energy conserving I did throughout the race I actually felt pretty good and was able to keep a good pace through the finish! I looked up my time last year (2:07:45)...this year I think I did about 2:15 or so...I should get my official chip time soon. My goal was just to make it under 3 hours and hopefully more like 2:30 to 2:45, so I was pretty stoked and surprised to get fairly close to my time last year!
Yesterday I was a little sore and walked the dogs (no running), did a little circuit training workout, and went to bed at 8pm! Today I am realizing how important it is to me to have another event on the horizon...because I NEED that to keep me motivated and on track with my workouts. Someone told me that I wouldn't know what do to with myself if I was told to just sit still and do NOTHING....that's not entirely true. I actually ENJOY doing nothing, but I think I am more intrigued to see what ELSE I can actually do. I think too many women look at pregnancy as a pass to DO NOTHING, when it is probably one of the most important times in your life to focus on being fit and healthy. I'm pretty sure labor is NO JOKE and if you're more fit you can at least give yourself a fighting chance at making it slightly easier, and I am ALL about that!
On a side note...yesterday I attempted to start registering for baby stuff thinking that with all the great tips and advice I have been getting from Moms that would have a little less anxiety about actually going down the baby section at Target. I think I still broke out into a sweat and got completely overwhelmed....I gave up after about 30min and decided I needed to come back with a better plan of attack, and one of these days get the courage to actually go into a BABYSRUS...but that's a whole other ball game that I need to work up to.
Besides my semi-panic attack in the baby section of Target...here's what else I learned this weekend:
Two things that are AWESOME and make you feel SOOOO good, but you really don't want anyone to catch you doing are:
1) Using a NediPot to clear your sinuses and 2) Taking off your prego pants with the big stretchy band that pulls up way over your belly! Both are not what you might consider very attractive...oh well.
Sunday 2/13 I ran the San Dieguito Half Marathon (13.1 miles). For those who know the course it is pretty hilly, but a beautiful run. I debated back and forth until the very last second if I should do it or not, and it always comes down to asking myself the same question...would I have regretted it if I DIDN'T do it? The answer is always YES, so I sent in my registration on the last day and hoped for the best both with the weather and for me physically. I figured as a last resort I could walk it and still be happy I finished. The morning of the race the weather was pretty darn perfect. Cold, but not bitterly cold, and it warmed up without a cloud in the sky and luckily there was lots of shade on the roads too. I think this was my first half marathon since last February when I did this race. Going into it I knew it was hilly, but as I approached the first major hill I was reminded just HOW hilly it was...I am pretty sure we ran up hill for at least a mile. I instantly felt pretty horrible for having one of my clients run this race as her first half marathon...that was just cruel. Well, at least she has bragging rights for finishing one of the most challenging half marathons around. ;)
As I was warming up and stretching I did get a few people asking me if I was doing the half....pregnant (it is fairly obvious now that I am prego and not just a heavy beer drinker with a gut). Most were supportive and impressed and one or two were concerned and let me know it! I have to admit that I was a little nervous myself, but not because I was worried if I could do it fitness wise, but with the pregnancy thing you just never know what the day will bring you physically....will I get dehydrated? overheated? will she be sitting in an awkward spot making the run too uncomfortable? will I have an EMERGENCY bathroom break?! I just told myself I would start slow and walk whenever I felt that I needed to and fight the urge to push through the discomforts.
I started near the back of the pack, which is fairly usual for me. But I did notice something different about this race...either I was in the exact right section for my pace or EVERYONE was starting off slower because they knew that had some big hills to conquer and 13.1 miles to complete. In the past few races I have done both the triathlons and the 15ks it seemed like everyone started out SO fast! I was instantly reminded of how much I like the longer endurance events for this reason...slow and steady is the way to go! I did have to go the the bathroom about mile 6, but there were only porta-pottys, which is not horrible...but there were always at least 3 or more people waiting. I didn't want to have to stop and wait so I kept going hoping I didn't have any issues along the way. When I made it to mile 8 and 9 I started to really hit a good stride...I felt pretty great. I had actually kept a fairly steady pace of about 11min/miles or less even with some walking up the steepest parts of the runs. I finally saw a bathroom opportunity with NO LINE and jumped at the chance to go quickly. After that it was all down hill...literally...the GIANT hill we went up for over a mile was a nice steady decline near the end of the race. Although, the last 1/2 mile or so was a cruel joke of an uphill climb to the finish, but with all the energy conserving I did throughout the race I actually felt pretty good and was able to keep a good pace through the finish! I looked up my time last year (2:07:45)...this year I think I did about 2:15 or so...I should get my official chip time soon. My goal was just to make it under 3 hours and hopefully more like 2:30 to 2:45, so I was pretty stoked and surprised to get fairly close to my time last year!
Yesterday I was a little sore and walked the dogs (no running), did a little circuit training workout, and went to bed at 8pm! Today I am realizing how important it is to me to have another event on the horizon...because I NEED that to keep me motivated and on track with my workouts. Someone told me that I wouldn't know what do to with myself if I was told to just sit still and do NOTHING....that's not entirely true. I actually ENJOY doing nothing, but I think I am more intrigued to see what ELSE I can actually do. I think too many women look at pregnancy as a pass to DO NOTHING, when it is probably one of the most important times in your life to focus on being fit and healthy. I'm pretty sure labor is NO JOKE and if you're more fit you can at least give yourself a fighting chance at making it slightly easier, and I am ALL about that!
On a side note...yesterday I attempted to start registering for baby stuff thinking that with all the great tips and advice I have been getting from Moms that would have a little less anxiety about actually going down the baby section at Target. I think I still broke out into a sweat and got completely overwhelmed....I gave up after about 30min and decided I needed to come back with a better plan of attack, and one of these days get the courage to actually go into a BABYSRUS...but that's a whole other ball game that I need to work up to.
Besides my semi-panic attack in the baby section of Target...here's what else I learned this weekend:
Two things that are AWESOME and make you feel SOOOO good, but you really don't want anyone to catch you doing are:
1) Using a NediPot to clear your sinuses and 2) Taking off your prego pants with the big stretchy band that pulls up way over your belly! Both are not what you might consider very attractive...oh well.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Less than 4 months to go?!
2/2/11 A little over 24 weeks
The time is just flying by now and reality has started to set in! I am almost to the end of my second trimester...scary. It has been a little harder to get going with my exercise routine, and believe it or not I am even slower (basically my jog is now the pace of a semi-fast walk), but physically I still feel pretty good. No back problems and no weird feelings that would make me feel like I can't run anymore. I guess I keep waiting for that day that I go out for my run and I realize that I am done...but I'm happy it hasn't happened quite yet. Last week I was able to do a 9mile run with my running partner, then took the weekend off to go to Palm Desert with my husband. We took bikes and rode a little, but didn't really do a workout. I did notice that changing the position of my handle bars made a huge difference and makes me feel like I'll be able to ride my bike a while longer. Getting away was nice so we could have a little time without distractions to think about things like...a name, what baby stuff we need, and discuss a little more what life will be like after the baby. I have to say that being pregnant doesn't freak me out nearly as much as the drastic change in lifestyle and schedule that is inevitable post baby. I know it will all be "good changes" but I am nervous about how I am going to fit it all in.
This week so far I have run 5.5 miles on Monday and did a short workout after the run. Later on Monday I did my AB class, which is getting a little more tricky for me to participate in...I don't do any of the core exercises completely on my back, but was able to at least demonstrate them. This time, I could definitely FEEL the heaviness of the "basketball" size uterus! Yes, I have read in one of my many prego books that my uterus is now the size of a basketball!! Holy cow! Yesterday I was pretty tired and just ran/walked the dogs for 2miles, then went to the gym and did the spin bike for 30min and a quick 30min circuit training workout. Today I ran/walk 3miles with the dogs and hope it get in another running workout for me later this afternoon. Tomorrow the plan is an outside bike ride, Friday I hope to swim, and Saturday will be my big test for the half marathon decision....I will do a longer run, but probably only about 8miles or so. If that run goes well I will FOR sure sign up for that half marathon race that is FEB 13th!
I wore my first maternity clothes over the weekend...it was a little sad going through my closet and realizing I officially don't fit in any of my shorts, nearly all my pants don't button (even my big baggy jeans and shorts that I thought for sure would carry me through the whole pregnancy!), and most of my shirts are now "half belly shirts"...I am EXTREMELY grateful to have a couple of friends, who unlike me actually have some fashion sense, let me borrow their super cute maternity clothes and it's nice to actually be comfortable when I sit! While I am determined to try to stay fit...I have definitely had ZERO problems putting on the weight!! I don't go to my doctor for another week and half and I am pretty confident that I will be at the 20lb mark by then for sure!
The time is just flying by now and reality has started to set in! I am almost to the end of my second trimester...scary. It has been a little harder to get going with my exercise routine, and believe it or not I am even slower (basically my jog is now the pace of a semi-fast walk), but physically I still feel pretty good. No back problems and no weird feelings that would make me feel like I can't run anymore. I guess I keep waiting for that day that I go out for my run and I realize that I am done...but I'm happy it hasn't happened quite yet. Last week I was able to do a 9mile run with my running partner, then took the weekend off to go to Palm Desert with my husband. We took bikes and rode a little, but didn't really do a workout. I did notice that changing the position of my handle bars made a huge difference and makes me feel like I'll be able to ride my bike a while longer. Getting away was nice so we could have a little time without distractions to think about things like...a name, what baby stuff we need, and discuss a little more what life will be like after the baby. I have to say that being pregnant doesn't freak me out nearly as much as the drastic change in lifestyle and schedule that is inevitable post baby. I know it will all be "good changes" but I am nervous about how I am going to fit it all in.
This week so far I have run 5.5 miles on Monday and did a short workout after the run. Later on Monday I did my AB class, which is getting a little more tricky for me to participate in...I don't do any of the core exercises completely on my back, but was able to at least demonstrate them. This time, I could definitely FEEL the heaviness of the "basketball" size uterus! Yes, I have read in one of my many prego books that my uterus is now the size of a basketball!! Holy cow! Yesterday I was pretty tired and just ran/walked the dogs for 2miles, then went to the gym and did the spin bike for 30min and a quick 30min circuit training workout. Today I ran/walk 3miles with the dogs and hope it get in another running workout for me later this afternoon. Tomorrow the plan is an outside bike ride, Friday I hope to swim, and Saturday will be my big test for the half marathon decision....I will do a longer run, but probably only about 8miles or so. If that run goes well I will FOR sure sign up for that half marathon race that is FEB 13th!
I wore my first maternity clothes over the weekend...it was a little sad going through my closet and realizing I officially don't fit in any of my shorts, nearly all my pants don't button (even my big baggy jeans and shorts that I thought for sure would carry me through the whole pregnancy!), and most of my shirts are now "half belly shirts"...I am EXTREMELY grateful to have a couple of friends, who unlike me actually have some fashion sense, let me borrow their super cute maternity clothes and it's nice to actually be comfortable when I sit! While I am determined to try to stay fit...I have definitely had ZERO problems putting on the weight!! I don't go to my doctor for another week and half and I am pretty confident that I will be at the 20lb mark by then for sure!
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