Fun Friday Laughs

I came across two pictures lately that just made me laugh and what better time to share them than on a Fun Friday!

So I have a boxer named Chance, and Jason and I constantly wonder what it will be like with Chance and a new baby on the scene.  Well...now I know!  Our little girl will have not only a protector...

She will have a babysitter as well!

Picture compliments of the I <3 Running Facebook page.

 

Overdoing It While Pregnant

Being in my second trimester (21 weeks), I have begun feeling pretty good.  Almost normal, even.  The weird nausea type feelings in my stomach are gone as well as the extreme fatigue I felt during the first tri.  When it came to exercising during my first trimester, I always knew what I could and couldn't do because my body would tell me.  I'd feel tired by mile 4, so I'd know 6 miles wasn't a good idea.  My breathing would become labored quickly, so I knew to slow down and do more of a warm-up before running or picking up my pace.  And some days my body simply said, "Not today" or "Just go for a walk."

Now, however, my body seems ready to go!  And it is wonderful!  If I don't run in the morning, I am raring to go by the afternoon.  My runs are stronger and I can go further than I thought I'd be able to by this point.  I've added in weights and pilates, and I'm on week 3 of being consistent with those workouts.  They feel SO GOOD!  So what's the problem?  Well, my body no longer tells me when I'm overdoing.  At least not in the moment.  It waits a few days and then it hits.  The extreme tiredness returns as if I am back in my first trimester or I haven't slept in a week.  Yesterday was one of those days where I didn't have the mental or physical energy to do much at all.  It started the day before but I did not recognize it for what it was.

Sunday Jason and I went to church with his parents in Kentucky and then drove home.  I got in a quick and fast 3 miles that night.  I ran a sub 9 minute pace, flying down my neighborhood streets under a starry sky and it felt AMAZING.  On Monday I got up and did my weights and pilates and then ran to my sister's house to feed her pets, giving me 5.5 miles for the day.  Tuesday morning I didn't have the will to get out, and I had class that night, so that was a rest day.  I assumed after that, I was ready to go so Wednesday morning I met a client at 5:30am for two miles and then ran with my friend, Julia for 3 more.  Then I was dead.  Dead tired.  I had a hair appointment at 9:30, so I crawled back in bed until time to go.  After my appointment, instead of going to work, I went back home and slept some more.  What was the deal?

I think I overdid it.  And the sad truth is I HATE thinking I overdid it.  I don't want that to be the case.  I've been reading of several women who have done amazing things during their pregnancies, so I wanted to believe I could do amazing things too.  They are able to run fast paces for 6+ miles while pregnant, so why shouldn't I be able to run a slow and easy 6 miler a few times a week?

Comparison.  It is the root of unhappiness I think.  And usually I don't compare because I know I'm me for a reason and I've got what I've got.  And what a blessing it is!  So I'm not going to compare myself to someone else because I don't want a different set of blessings no matter how fast they run or how great their arms look.  Except lately, I've turned to these women for examples on what is acceptable during pregnancy and how to approach our beloved sport of running when we are building a little one at the same time... and they amaze me.  So I step out the door and try to do the same thing.  It works for a day or two but then my body says, "You are Jane!  Act like Jane!"  Only I have no idea what I should act like when I'm pregnant because I've never been pregnant!

You can see the problem here.  I simply don't know.  My Personal Fitness instructor gave me a book reference, along with a link to the ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) article on exercise during pregnancy to help with my questions.  I purchased the book and I'm still making my way through it, hoping for more information on how much is too much.

The thing is, everyone is different.  One hint that the women I am reading about can and will do more than me while pregnant is what they did when they weren't pregnant.  If they are shooting for a sub 3:10 marathon and I am shooting for a sub 3:45... there is a difference there.  I am not yet where they are physically sans baby, so why would I expect to be with one on board?  Well duh.  But still...

So as I sat on my front porch yesterday, enjoying the breeze and watching green leaves grow on the tree outside, I thought the best course of action was to take one day at a time and learn as much as I can in the process.  Listen to my body, go a little easier than I think I should, and be kind to myself and this little one growing inside.  I want to be tough.  I want to be strong.  And while I thought my definitions of these things had been modified for pregnancy, I think I may still have a little more modification left to do.

I write about this to not only chronicle my very first pregnancy, but to hopefully provide a resource to other women who are newly pregnant runners themselves and like me, searching for women who have already gone through the experience.  It is new and exciting, but also full of questions and changes and I hope my journey as a pregnant runner can assist my fellow moms-to-be with their journeys as well.

A Great 2nd Trimester Run

I've mentioned before how I've had to change the way I think these days when it comes to running.  Now that I'm pregnant the things I used to do have to be modified as I figure out how to approach one of my favorite activities with a new little addition on board.

Yesterday afternoon I experienced one of these changes.  I got home from work after a quick stop by the grocery store and I had a beautiful afternoon just waiting for me to get out and run in it.  I also needed to feed my sister's pets while she and her family were out of town.  My sister lives exactly 3 miles from me and I have run to her house and back countless times.  I've taken the long way, making the 6 mile route 7 and adding in a killer hill.  I've run to her house, run with her, and then raced myself home to see if I could beat my time from the first 3 miles. 

But as I changed clothes yesterday afternoon, I actually questioned whether or not I should run to her house to feed the pets.  It would be 6 miles and I only run that on weekends, with plenty of time and pit stop options.  It was also 6:00pm and I wasn't sure how long it would take me if I got tired and needed to walk.  I hated to run my usual neighborhood route and then get in the car and drive over there though.  That just seemed like a waste of gas when I knew my legs could carry me there.  So I decided to try it.

Jason was already out running so I left him a note to come and get me if I was not back when he got home.  And then I set out.  I walked the first 3 minutes to warm up and then started a slow jog.  Eventually I picked up the pace just a little and everything felt great.  Let me just say right here that I am LOVING this second trimester.  Everything they say in the books I've read about how great I might feel is TRUE and I'm thrilled.

Just to be on the safe side, I took the shortcut, which would give me 2.7 instead of 3 miles.  I was glad too because that was the longest I'd gone without a pit stop in some time and I had to GO by the time I got there!  After taking care of all the pets (a dog, a cat, a guinea pig and a fish), I set out again.  I walked a minute to warm back up and then resumed my jog.  Annoyingly enough, by the time I got off my sister's road I had to go again!  I couldn't believe it!  There was a park about a mile away at that point so I made a beeline for it, hoping the bathrooms were open.

They were.  Whew!  That was my last pit stop before finishing up the run.  As I crossed the last red light before our neighborhood I saw Jason drive by.  I waved at him and he turned around and picked me up at mile 5.5 just as I entered our neighborhood.  He pulled up next to me and said, "Hop in, you've done enough."  I grinned.  He is very cautious and protective of me and this little one, and he tries to keep an eye on me to make sure I don't do too much.  My doctor said he was good for checks and balances to keep me from overdoing it during this 2nd trimester of feeling great. 

I was really happy to have done 5.5 miles and I had to go AGAIN, so I hopped in the car and thanked him for picking me up.  He asked me if I felt okay and I assured him that I did and that I had taken it very slow and easy.  It was so exciting to feel that good. I didn't want to overdo, but at the same time if I could run 5-6 miles, I wanted to!  Every time I have a good run these days I feel like it is a major triumph.  I feel like I am pushing back the days when I can't run (if and when they come) and that gives me hope. 

I was pretty tired this morning, however, and despite my most motivating conversations with myself I did not make it out for a run.  Since I also did weights and pilates yesterday, I decided today could be a rest day and tomorrow I would resume all my workouts.  Despite being a little tired, I feel really good and I was encouraged to read this blog post by NYC Running Mama.  She is pregnant as well, but also has the experience of having run through a pregnancy already.  Check out her post if you want to be INSPIRED!

And don't forget to enter the Favorite Sock Giveaway for a chance to win your favorite pair of running socks!

Favorite Sock Giveaway to Celebrate the New Look!

Readers and Friends!  See Jane Run has a new look!  As you can tell from all my exclamation points thus far, I am pretty excited about this!  It may be silly but I love this little blog, so I decided it was time to invest a little more into it.  And now I want to celebrate!

So here's how I'm going to do it.  Not only do I love my little running blog, I absolutely LOVE running socks.  I mean, can you ever have too many running socks?  No you cannot!  And I think we can all agree that a good pair of socks makes quite a difference, especially on those longer, hotter runs (or those super cold and icy ones depending on where you live).  So, I want to give 3 readers a pair of their favorite running socks to celebrate my new look (and our mutual love of running socks).

Here's how to participate:

1. Comment on this blog post and tell us the brand/type of your favorite pair of socks and why you love them so much (so we can get a pair too).  You might also want to include information like size and where you usually buy these socks in case you win. Don't have a favorite pair yet?  Just say so when you enter and I will pick a GREAT pair for you!  That will earn you one entry into the contest.

2. If you want another entry (I'm being shameless here and I sort of apologize, but only sort of), go to the Running Start LLC Facebook page and like it. That will earn you a second entry into the contest.

3. For a third and final entry you can follow this blog.  But really, I'd like for you to follow only if you really like it. If you DO decide to follow it, I'm going to think you really like my blog (not that all of your running socks have blood stains and holes in them).  So be careful with that third and final entry.  Hearts are at stake.

Get your entries in by Friday, April 13, 2012.  I will do the drawing with the help of a handsome assistant named Jason and announce the winners by April 16.  

Enjoy the new look and tell me about your favorite running socks!  On your mark...Get set ...GO!

Whoa

That is all I have to say about baby stuff.  Strollers and car seats and carriers, oh my!  There are 4,000 brands and each brand has 100 different types of the same item.  And then there are safety regulations and recalls and staying up to date before purchasing any of this stuff. 

So I looked at it all and asked my sister and a few friends what they used and if they liked what they used, and then I looked at bouncy seats and then I closed my internet browser and made an iced mocha run.

Did I say whoa?  Jason will be roped in to this shopping/registering spree.  I think he thinks it is all about me picking my favorite color but, I'm going to need some help if I'm to research all 100 types of each of the 4,000 brands.  Whoa.  And that doesn't even take into account bottles and thermometers and towels and bpa free and organic cotton and baby lotion.  I haven't even gotten passed baby transportation!

I think the best course of action is to first, think of this another day (something I like to call the Scarlett O'Hara Approach), and go out on my lunch break for an iced mocha and a new (larger) running tank top. I thought that since so many of my tops were loose before I got pregnant they'd still fit.  WRONG.  There's a little girl in the way now. 

So I'm thinking I'll go with tank top shopping and iced mocha sipping for now.  I'll worry about baby stuff tomorrow (or the next day or sometime in May). 

Pilates with the Help of a Husband and a Dog

The face that appears if anything fun is going on in the living room.

As long as I can remember, I have had a thing about arms.  I have always wanted a good set of toned, fit-looking arms.  As a runner who mostly (okay, only) likes running, I am not super balanced where that is concerned.  I have major muscles in my legs and absolutely nothing in my arms.   I have always believed (rightly or wrongly) that a truly fit runner has a good pair of strong arms, and yet I have never really been able to attain such (aka, stick to a weight/yoga/pilates/etc routine long enough). 

Being pregnant has only made this worse since parts of me are going to have to grow and I have absolutely no control over those parts.  So, in an effort to feel better about the growing parts, I'm focusing on the parts I can control - my arms!  And since I'm not running the kind of mileage I ran before pregnancy, I have a little more time and energy (and motivation) to devote to other areas of my body.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that I purchased a set of prenatal fitness DVDs with yoga, pilates, and weights all included.  I did those workouts on and off for a while before finding the parts of it I really liked.  I am currently on week 2 of consistently doing these workouts 3 times a week (I know, not much, but I'm pretty excited about it given my previous history with non-running workouts).  There is a 15 minute full body weight routine and a 20 minute pilates routine that I like.  I can handle 35 minutes and I'm actually starting to like it and look forward to the workout (making me hopeful to continue this habit after pregnancy).

This morning was on my schedule as a pilates/weights day, so when Jason said he'd be getting up to ride on his trainer, I told him I'd be getting up to do my video.  His trainer is set up in the living room where I'd be doing my workout.  He usually watches sports as he rides, but he said he didn't mind if I came in to do my video.

He'd been riding about 30 minutes when I came in and started the DVD.  I began with weights and as soon as the video started, I glanced over to look at Jason.  He was grinning.  I think he was trying not to, but he couldn't help it.  I laughed and told him to watch it or he would have to do his prenatal workout as well.  While I continued with my weights, I not only had commentary and encouragement from Jason as he mimicked the lady leading the workout, but Chance (my boxer) decided I needed assistance as well.  He stood as close to me as he could, resting his head or paw on my knee if I was still long enough.  When I laid down on the mat for my pilates segment, he laid down beside me.  By this point Jason had finished his ride and was back in the bedroom getting ready for work, but every once in a while I'd here him say, "perfect" or "great job" in the same tone as the instructor in the video.

I'd just like to note here that it is really hard to focus, breathe, throw your leg around and laugh at the same time.  It was hilarious.  At one point I caught Jason trying to get a picture of Chance "helping" me, but by then Chance had opted to see what Jason was up to in the kitchen.  

Before this morning, I don't think Jason had really seen the video I'd been using to do my workouts.  I will admit, it is kind of funny.  There are three women doing the routine.  The instructor is the one you follow if you are in your first trimester, and the other two women are both pregnant with one in her 2nd and one in her 3rd trimester.  As you do the workout, you are to follow the woman who is in your trimester.  While it is a great workout for me, I will say it is also cheesy and I was very aware of this with Jason in the room.

I'm not sure Jason and Chance were all that helpful during my morning workout, but they certainly added humor and fun to the mix.

The Baby and Me

I'm a little over 19 weeks pregnant and I found out today that I am having a little girl. I really thought I was having a boy because Jason is a boy and he was first and the man decides the gender so my highly scientific theory was that we too would have a boy first.  Even though I was wrong, I was not disappointed.  As long as this little one is healthy, we can't really go wrong either way.

I think about this little thing all the time.  I feel her moving around now, so that just makes it all the more real. I place my hand on my belly and wonder what is going on in there.  I smile to myself a lot.  I'll be sitting at work just working away and all of a sudden there is movement in my belly.  This happens during meetings, during church, while watching TV, while having conversations, while lying in bed.  It's like a little secret between me and the little one.

"Hi Mom."
"Hi Little One."

That's how it usually goes.  In my head, of course.

When I'm singing along to the radio in the car I wonder if the baby knows it is me and if she likes the song.  Sometimes I turn the volume down so it won't hurt tiny ears. When Jason places his hand on my belly I tell him he should say something, just in case.  My "What to Expect" book says she can hear us now.  I kind of want to tell her where we are going and what we are doing.  I know we are connected, and even though she can't hear or know my thoughts, I send them to her anyway.

While running, I tell her about our future stroller rides.  I point out the park in my neighborhood as I pass and tell her the whale seesaw looks really fun.  When I eat celery and peanut butter, I wonder if she likes the celery or if she's really just using it to get to the peanut butter like I am.  When I bend over to tie my shoes or pick up laundry, I wonder if she is squooshed. When I sneeze or cough, I wonder if I just woke her up. 

I wonder who she will be and who she will look like.  Will she have curly hair?  Will she have brown eyes like mine or blue eyes like Jason's?  Will she want to be a runner?  I hope so and I look forward to the day when she flies by me at lightning speed.  If not, that's okay too.  As long as she discovers something she loves to do and does that, it will be enough.

I can't wait to hold her.  I can't wait to sing to her.  I can't wait to tell her stories and show her all the sights and sounds and smells and colors and tastes that make this world such an amazing place.  I can't wait to tell her about her amazing Creator, and my most fervent prayer is that she will know and love Him.  This very hope and prayer has changed my own life quite a bit and I wonder if that is hypocritical or circumstantial or if it is this kind of life change that makes us lean on God all the more.  I dare not go on this journey alone and my prayer is that I always stay focused on my main role as this little girl's Mom, which is to teach her about Jesus Christ and in everything I do point to Him.  What an important job!  I feel so honored and so blessed to be entrusted with it! 

I'm trying to prepare myself to be a good mom.  I'm trying to be now the woman I want this little girl to see.  I watch other moms.  I think about my own mom and I think about my sister who is a mom and I take note.  Both were and are top notch, so I have some awesome role models.  Jason has a good set of parents too, so we are following in some great footsteps where parenting is concerned (lucky little girl with awesome grandparents).

How I'm supposed to focus on work or anything other than this little girl, I have no idea.  To say my head is in the clouds is an understatement.  And with the warmer weather and spring on the horizon... it is like the world around me matches my own frame of mind.  Birdsong greets me every morning, I see gorgeous flowers blooming on every run, the air is fresh and green, the sun is warm, and the breeze is refreshing.  It seems like I'm not the only one excited about this little girl.  Creation seems to be celebrating too.

Goal Setting for the Pregnant Runner

I've mentioned before how things have had to change with my running since I became pregnant.  It is all very new, so the most I can do is check with my doctor, read up on exercise safety for pregnant women, and reassess what my goals can and need to be.  As a runner who usually pays attention to daily and weekly mileage and pace, I've had to sort of shift my mindset to a new way of thinking.  It has taken a little time, but I think I'm getting there.

The new goal for me has been to get at least 30+ minutes of exercise a day.  Usually I do more than that, but this also gives a tired pregnant girl an easy out on a rough day.  I can wrap even a tired brain around the idea of 30 minutes.  This is the suggested amount for pregnant women who have or haven't been exercising before they became pregnant.  Most women think that if they weren't doing anything before (which we all must admit is unfortunate) they can't start anything new once they get pregnant.

WRONG!  New studies (and I've included links in several blogs below) are showing that pregnant women need to move it!  That doesn't mean they need to start a half-marathon training regimen, but it does mean they need to start walking or doing water aerobics or prenatal pilates and yoga, anything to get some exercise.  Many of these articles suggest water workouts and swimming because it is low impact on the new mama's softening joints and it works all the muscle groups while getting that heart rate up.  Exercising while pregnant helps prevent gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and it holds the possibility for an easier labor (sign me up for that!).  That doesn't take into account everything it does for the baby, either. 

Still, with a busy schedule, getting ready for the baby, and the tiredness that accompanies carrying one - some days exercise can seem like a HUGE challenge.  That's why I have the 30 minute goal.  Here is an example of my workouts last week.

Monday - Pilates and Weights in the morning (35 minutes), 3 mile run in the afternoon (28 minutes)

Tuesday - Run 3 miles in the morning (38 minutes), take Chance for a walk in the afternoon (15 minutes)

Wednesday - Pilates, Weights and a 2 mile walk/jog with client in the morning (68 minutes), Run/walk 1.5 miles with 5k training group (25 minutes)

Thursday - Run 4 miles after work (40 minutes)

Friday - Walk 2 miles with Sis in the morning (35 minutes), Pilates, weights and walk Chance in the afternoon (50 minutes)

Saturday - Run/walk 4 miles with Mom (50 minutes).  Followed this up with housework and shopping.

Sunday - Pilates (20 minutes), walk Chance (15 minutes).

That is more than 30 minutes a day, but my goal remains the same.  It is something specific and something reasonable.  It is a goal I can face even when I am worn out.  While I can no longer focus on my mileage and pace like I used to, I have found something on which I can focus that will get me through this pregnancy and hopefully help me to come out on the other side of it healthy, strong and ready to train once again.

The Old Regret of Sleeping In

I need to tell you something important.  I think it is fact.  I'm going to center it and make it big and bold because that is how true I think it is.

You will always regret cancelling your morning run. 

Always.*

Despite how I know this to be fact, I still occasionally do it.  More so now that I'm pregnant and not training for anything. But the truth is, whether I'm pregnant or not, I never wake up at that later hour and feel any more rested than I did when I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and decided not to go.  I always get in the shower with regret because all I'm washing off is sleep (and sleep is a lot harder to get off than sweat).  I know in my heart of hearts that I would feel more awake and refreshed had I pushed through the early morning sleepies and gone for my run. Always always always. 

And yet, I did not push through this morning.  I woke up at 3:00a.m. again, but this time I made myself stay in bed (after using the facilities, of course) and go back to sleep.  Eventually, I did.  So when the alarm went off at 5:00, I felt heavy with sleep again.  I hit snooze and was out.  Ten minutes later it went off again.  I still had time to get dressed and meet my sister, but I didn't want to go.  I texted that I had woken up at 3 again and wouldn't make it.  Then I curled back up and...picked up my phone really fast to say yes I was coming, to wait! (See, I already suspected it was the wrong choice.) But I didn't text and I eventually went back to sleep.

I woke up at 7:00 in a fog.  A sleepy, heavy fog.  I stumbled to the back door to let Chance out and stumbled to the shower, feeling all those regrets about not going.  I shouldn't have backed out on my sister.  I was really looking forward to her tough, hilly route and some good conversation.  I knew I would have enjoyed myself once I was there, even if I was a little sleepy at the beginning.  But alas, the decision had been made and what I knew to be true about cancelling a morning run was still true. Bad choice.  Every time.

To end this post on a positive note, however, I can go this afternoon.  I have a client to see and plenty of daylight, and I will be good and awake by then (in theory). This day will not pass without a little exercise, but I know I still missed out by not going this morning. 

So there you have it.  My bit of advice.  Don't cancel your run when your alarm goes off.  It won't be worth it.

*There are of course outside factors besides sleepiness that don't apply here such as injury or bad weather.  But it is still fact.  You'll still be mad when you get in the shower and you didn't go, no matter what the circumstances.

P.S.  To follow up on yesterday's post, I was really tired all day long.  I did rest for 30 minutes on the floor of my office during lunch, but by the end of the day I was a zombie.  That (in my small defense) was what I was trying to avoid this morning.

Cocoa Puffs and Pilates

This morning I woke up around 3:00 a.m. and I could not go back to sleep.  I waited...and waited...and waited.  By 4:00 a.m. I was bored. I looked at my iphone for a few minutes until I realized I was hungry.  I laid there thinking, I could get up and have some Cocoa Puffs.  Or I could get up and do my 20 minute pilates video.  OR I could do BOTH!  I had time for both activities before meeting a client at 5:30 a.m. so that is what I chose.

As quietly as I could I got up, put on my robe and slippers and slipped out of our bedroom, closing the door behind me.  I ate a bowl of cereal (yes, it was Cocoa Puffs but it has WHOLE GRAIN written really big on the box so I figure it must be healthy, right?) and then turned on my pilates DVD.  I did the workout in my pajamas so I didn't have to go back into the bedroom and possibly wake up Jason.  Around 5:00 a.m. I was finished so I changed into my running clothes, met my client for 2 miles, and then came back home to complete the morning with my 15 minute weight workout.

Jason was out running by this point so I turned on some tunes and enjoyed a long, hot shower.  I felt pretty good and thought it might be possible to get through the day without really noticing how early I'd gotten up.  I ate 2 of Jason's homemade banana bread muffins, took my prenatal vitamins and packed my lunch before heading off to work.

It wasn't until I was sitting still, driving to work that it hit.  I was SLEEPY!  The yawns started and wouldn't stop. My body felt sluggish and tired.  All I could do was hope it passed quickly.  Around 9:30a.m. I visited the campus cafe for an iced mocha and tried to savor it as long as I could.  Since then I have felt a little less sleepy... but it is barely lunch time so we shall see how the rest of the day goes.  Tonight I will run with my 5k training group and then visit Katie who has a bin of maternity clothes she has kindly offered to loan me. I think once I get to the running and friend visiting part of the day I will be on the home stretch.  If I can just keep my eyes open through dinner, I can take my sleepy self to bed.

While the early morning Cocoa Puffs/Pilates date was fun and I was glad to have time to get in my workouts, I hope to do a bit more sleeping tomorrow morning.  I have a feeling that is not going to be a problem...

Rest, Rambling, and Newton's Law

Picture found on www.activeWoMOM.com.

Sunday I didn't do a thing.  Not a single thing.  Well... that's not entirely true.  I think I folded some clothes and washed a few dishes, but other than that I was on the couch watching Army Wives on Netflix.  It was lovely.  I felt sort of guilty about it, but we lost an hour and I'd had a busy week and day before, and all I wanted to do Sunday was veg and be left alone to do so.  I did get up at one point and look at my running clothes for a few minutes, but when I thought of changing, running, and showering, it all seemed like too much work. 

By Monday, however, I was ready to go.  I woke up Monday morning and decided it was time to incorporate pilates and weights into my routine again.  I've fallen off the wagon where those two workouts are concerned, but I think they will help with flexibility, strength, managing weight gain, and possibly labor and recovery afterward.  My prenatal workout DVD set contains yoga, pilates and a weights DVD with several different things on it. Monday morning I chose the weights DVD and did the 20 minute pilates workout and the 15 minute full body weights routine.  It was just perfect.  I get bored with non-running activities quickly, so the shorter the better.

Monday night my client needed to reschedule her run so I went out on my own.  After hitting the grocery store for healthy eats for the week, I quickly changed clothes and headed out the door for 3 miles.  Mile one was a 10:00 mile, mile 2 was 8:49, and mile 3 was 9:29.  I was all over the place!  I was very winded during that second mile, but I enjoyed it.  I didn't really know how fast I was going because when pregnant a little effort feels like a lot more.  Many times when I am running I feel like I am flying only to look at my watch and see that I am not (so I've stopped looking at it while running). The actual 8:49 split was surprising, but as you can see I couldn't hold it.

I stopped after mile 2 and stretched for a few seconds before finishing the run at a slower pace.  My lower abdomen and back had begun to ache a little.  When I finished I was sweaty and out of breath and it felt great.  The day had left me feeling really good.  I've come to see that exercise breeds more exercise, just like being sedentary breeds more sedentary-ness (which is basically Newton's law of motion).  I've also noticed that everything is just a little bit harder while pregnant. Not impossible, just a bit more challenging (and being in my 2nd trimester this will probably become more so as things progress).  Waking up is harder, even though I've had a full night's rest.  Running is harder, even though I want as many miles as my body will allow and most of the time it feels really good. Recovery from workouts takes longer, even when I feel there shouldn't be recovery necessary at all.

This morning I forced myself up and out of bed to get in a 3 mile jaunt through the neighborhood. I have class tonight, so I knew if I wanted exercise, it had to be this morning. It was difficult to get going and once I got out there running did not feel as comfortable as it had yesterday. I did a run/walk combination, completing my 3 miles in 38:09. Walking felt really good and I tried to keep a quick clip so that my heart rate still increased even though I wasn't running. 

Another thing I've noticed to go along with my version of Newton's law is that when I'm exercising on a regular basis, my eating tends to match.  I make sure to fuel with fruits and veggies, I stay away from too many sweets and try to pack a healthy, well-balanced, energy providing lunch to take to work. I think exercise gives me that extra motivation to treat my body (and baby) right with nutrition, since I've already been treating it well with exercise.  Today I have strawberries and grapes, celery and peanut butter with some back-up apple if I run out of celery before I run out of peanut butter.  I have a turkey and cheese sandwich as my main course and Yoplait vanilla yogurt for dessert. That is sort of my guilty pleasure because I think Greek is better for me, but I really love Yoplait. 

In conclusion, I think a little rest helps me get going again.  I think this holds true for both pregnant runners trying to stay fit and healthy while cramming a lot into their days, as well as non-pregnant runners training for a specific event.  Rest is a powerful training tool, and one often overlooked or viewed as slacking off.  I'm guilty of this same viewpoint, but as a coach I'm trying to grasp it more firmly and not only require it of my runners, but set an example by resting myself when needed.  And just like I've seen this week, I think my body will thank me for such thinking. 

For more info on exercise and pregnancy, check out this article on activeWoMOM.com.

The Joys of Maternity Clothes

So yesterday I went shopping with my mom for maternity clothes.  My sister was going to go, but her husband had the flu and we decided I didn't need to be exposed.  After a 6 mile run and a delicious lunch at Jason's Deli, Mom and I headed to the old mall here, which is sort of scary but they've tried to fix it up and I guess it still has some decent stores (I don't really know because we only visited two.  I do know they don't have a coffee shop and that is really unfortunate for a mall).  A friend of mine who is also pregnant said JCPenney had cute maternity clothes and Motherhood was also in this mall.  We parked at JCPenney, asked about the maternity section and made our way there.

The rule I heard when shopping for maternity clothes is that you should buy the size you were before you got pregnant.  However, in JCPenney, my size looked huge.  And maybe they were meant for someone my size in their 8th month.  Either way, Mom and I laughed really hard in the dressing room.  This could be partly to the way I stand when clothes don't fit me right.  I usually change my posture in such a way to bring out the absolute worst that is already apparent in whatever I have tried on.  Sometimes a dance accompanies this attractive posture.  So I slumped and walked really slowly to the mirror. Mom said I looked cute, but she loves me so her vision could be questionable.  My sister called during this episode and Mom told her she should be there to see this.  I said it was all her fault.  She had two cute, sweet kids, made it look fun and doable so I gave it a go and now look!  I have to wear tents!  Julie said it was Jason's fault and we all agreed with that too. 

We left JCPenney with nothing.  On to Motherhood. 

Motherhood was a little better.  They had petites (I am 5'2 or 5'3 depending on who measures), and their clothes were not quite so tent-like.  However, I am pregnant so I am going to look pregnant and these clothes REALLY brought it out.  Really.  And I don't think I realized how pregnant I looked until I got in these dressing rooms and started trying on clothes.  The day before I had been wondering if my baby was big enough for 18 weeks and in that moment I knew I did not have to worry about that!  Seeing myself in these maternity clothes was a bit of a shock. 

I tried on several dresses.  They only caused more laughter (and sighing).  I wanted an Easter dress, but there just wasn't one I could bear.  I joked that I was going to have to quit my job on Monday and just stay in the house, in my pjs, until the baby arrived.  I joked that maybe I could wear my running clothes to work.  They have elastic waistbands and in them I just look like a runner with a donut problem, especially since sports bras mask other areas of growth.

Mom was very sweet and patient as my laughter died down to a kind of pitiful look and a loud sigh every time I tried on something new.  We did find several things that worked and a shirt that looked exactly like one I'd purchased from Ann Taylor Loft a year ago.  I would cling to anything at that point. 

I have no idea if all women feel this way as they begin to need new clothes, or if I am a horribly vain and ungrateful person.  I DO want to be pregnant right now and I would not trade it for the most amazing figure or the fastest marathon in the world.  But wow.  Just wow.  That is all I can say when I look in the mirror at the changes.  It is fun but...it is something else too.  Mom reminded me it was just for a season.  Surely I can handle this for a season.  And look what I get at the end!  It has been important to me to handle pregnancy with grace and peace and excitement.  I think I have the excitement part down...and maybe even the peace.  But I am sadly lacking in grace when it comes to accepting all the woes along with all the joys.  And really, if you were to compare my pregnancy with so many others, I have very few real woes!

So Mom and I made our purchases, left the mall, and stopped by Starbucks on the way home.  I got a decaf iced mocha, and it was the most delicious thing in the world.  Shopping for maternity clothes is hard work!  Hard on the feet and hard on the mind!  It was so nice to have Mom there to help and laugh and soothe as needed.  It was a wonderful day all around and when I got home and told Jason the joys of maternity clothes, he was equally as sweet about it all. 

So in the end I suppose they are worth it.  Tents, panels and all.

Running Another's Race

I often get questions from friends and clients about whether or not they should run a race with a friend.  I think many runners are faced with this issue at some point in their running journey and it can be a tough one. I'm going to share what I think, and I'd love your thoughts and feedback.

When a person trains to run a race, they are training to do something they have never done before, something challenging.  Not always, of course, but much of the time (I have and still run races just for fun - Spooktacular 5k is an example).  Whether it is to run a new distance or run an old distance at a certain pace, a race provides a way for a runner to test their current abilities.

For brand new runners a race is a test to see if they have trained enough and if they are capable of accomplishing the goal they set for themselves. Many say they do not care about the finishing time, they just want to finish.  I agree with this approach - especially when new to running or running a new distance for the first time. However, I think even brand new runners or first time half or whole marathoners want to get to that finish line and feel they did their very best.  One issue many face with this is that they have trained and will race with a friend.

Here's what we know.  Even if two uninjured, healthy people of the same age and same gender follow the exact same training plan and run every single run together at the exact same pace (rare, but let's use if for the sake of argument), the race results can still be very different.  Why?  Genetics!  I think there are many ways to improve what we've got, but I also think we've got what we've got. I want to make the most of what I've got and I want to help others make the most of what they've got, but in the end... it is what it is. I'd like to add here that most of us never reach the end of what we can do, either because we don't know we can get there or we don't know how to get there or we get tired of trying to get there.  So don't go limiting yourself because of genetics.

So let's say two friends train for a marathon together.  First one. It's a big deal. And with a marathon, if you don't experience the kind of race you wanted or you don't give it your best, it isn't like you can just pick another one in a few weeks and go at it again.  Especially when new to the sport of marathon running.  Running 26.2 miles takes a toll on the body whether we feel it or not, and it takes some time to be ready to run one again at full potential.  So one friend gets a cramp, has an upset stomach, or any myriad of issues that can crop up during a marathon. What does the other friend do?

In the end, this issue is really up to the individual runner.  What do you want from the race?  What will you feel good about when it is over?  Will you feel good that you ran with your friend and the two of you had a great time, even though your friend needed to walk a lot at the end?  Will you wonder, could I have done better, or will you be perfectly satisfied with the experience of your first race of this distance?  Will you leave your friend behind and finish your race at your current training potential and will you feel good about that or bad that you left your friend... or both?  This is all up to the individual.  But I will say, I have heard many regrets when it comes to staying with a friend during a race. And if not regrets, certainly questions...what ifs.

So what do you do?  Well, I think one option is to come to an agreement with all friends and training partners before race day. If for whatever reason one is having a harder time or needs to slow down, the other is free to go.  I can't promise that the friend who gets left will be happy with the friend who leaves even with this agreement in place, but I will say that the friend who runs their own race will feel good about their performance at the end.  Is it worth it to hurt a friend?  That is for you to decide.  I don't believe either decision is wrong. It just is.

There is always the case when you run a race with someone for that person. I have run races with my sister to encourage and pace her, I have run races with those I have trained, and I ran my mom's 50th state marathon with her, for her.  One thing I would caution you about if you agree to do this is to stick to it. Don't say you will and then get caught up in the moment and run off.  If you don't want to run a race with someone, don't say you will.  Be true to your word.  The second thing I caution against is distance.  It is hard to run a marathon slower than you can.  You wouldn't think that to be true, but I promise you as someone who has run a 5:20 marathon and a 3:45 marathon, the 5 hour was much harder on my body.  I'm not saying it isn't worth it, I'm just saying you have to get your mind ready for that.  When I ran with my mom, I had to ignore the runners already turning back, I had to let go of the desire to dash to the finish when we only had 3 miles left. I was running with her, for her and that was the goal of the day.  Was it difficult?  Sure, at times.  Was it worth it?  You bet!

It is no small commitment to run a race with someone. If you commit, know what you are committing to and stick to your word.  Be careful when making these commitments.  Consider yourself, your current training and goals, and be careful.  Know what you want out of the race and what will satisfy you the most.  Be a good sport if you are the slower friend in your training group. Your turn will come.  Be a good sport if you are the faster friend and be sensitive to the feelings of others.  You won't always get it right, I certainly don't.  But I do think there is a way to be true to yourself and others when running and racing with friends.

What do you think?

The Seaside Half Marathon and Unofficial 5 Mile Run

This weekend Jason and I went to run one of our favorite races, the Seaside Half Marathon in Seaside, FL.  Not only is this location ideal, but the race is great as well.  With Vera Bradley as the sponsor, finishers get a gorgeous Vera Bradley bag and other goodies too.  Last year I PR'd there, finishing in 1:44.  This year I knew would be an entirely different story... and it was.

When I realized I was pregnant and I wasn't going to be able to complete 13.1 miles, I e-mailed the race director about switching to the 5k race.  She responded that it was full, but that I could turn around after the 5k turnaround point and still get my finisher's medal and Vera Bradley bag.  That seemed weird, but it worked for me.  What I didn't realize until race day was that the actual 5k race started 30 minutes after the half marathon.  The course is an out and back along Hwy 30-A, which is great unless you are the lone half marathon runner who is going to turn around before the actual turn around.

I decided that since I wanted 5 miles for the day, I would run 2.5 miles out and then turn back.  I started at the back of the pack with the half-marathoners and took my time.  It was interesting to start with runners who were approaching this distance for the first time.  I overheard conversations about pace and strategy, concern about finishing, laughter about taking it slow and as a running coach it was very enlightening.  I used to be back there myself, but it has been a while.  I wanted to give words of encouragement and join in the conversations, but I stayed quiet and just listened.  I was VERY tempted to just go the distance with them.  I was running much slower than I needed to, even for 5 miles and I felt great.  Still, I knew I probably would not feel great for 13.1 miles, I didn't want to hurt myself or the little one, and I knew Jason wouldn't be too happy if he saw me still going once he turned around.  The funny thing about this thought process was Jason actually looked for me among the runners when he was headed back, knowing it was possible that I might try to run the entire thing.  We had a good laugh about that later. 

After mile 1 there was a port-o-potty and I stopped my watch and stood in line to use it.  I can honestly say I have never stood in line for a bathroom break in any race ever, so this was a new and somewhat funny experience.  I stood patiently waiting, watching all the runners get water and keep going.  I took my turn and then continued running until I reached mile 2.5.

This was slightly awkward.  There were still a good many runners behind me and I received many questioning looks as I headed back.  I ran along a bike path next to the road so I wouldn't be in the way of other runners, and hoped I could go unnoticed.  One runner asked me if I was running the half-marathon and before I could come up with an answer she congratulated me.  I laughed as I realized she thought I had run the whole thing and was already heading back!   This got even funnier as I thought about the impressive half marathon finishing time it would be (about 50 minutes - which would be 3:49 pace).  That would be impressive for a non-pregnant Kenyan! I was trotting along at a comfortable, gentle pace and the more I thought about her reaction to seeing me, the funnier it got.  She was wearing a No Boundaries shirt, so I figured she was relatively knew to the sport and might not be familiar with winning times and what folks who achieve those finishing times look like.

Before long I reached the end of the half-marathon runners, but I still received strange looks from volunteers.  One EMT looked me over good to make sure I was not hurt and I just wanted to say, "pregnant."  He didn't ask so I just smiled, said hello and kept going.  After a mile I reached the 5k runners, joined them and thankfully blended.  I crossed the finish line and entered the tent where I got to pick my Vera Bradley bag and grab a banana.

You may be wondering if I should have crossed the finish line.  First of all, I was instructed to do so by the race director so that I could still receive my finishers award.  The reason it worked out was that I did not cross the half-way point, so my chip did not register that I had gone the entire distance.  I was placed in the "Quarantined" category.  I think that is for those who did not finish the half-marathon and there were 42 of us total.  I would have preferred to have been moved to the 5k race so I would have had an official time, and I didn't completely understand why they couldn't do that since I was already a paid participant for the event but... I was still able to participate somewhat and that was okay with me.  No PPR and no official results, but I got in a lovely 5 miles and a lovely Vera Bradley bag, and I was satisfied with that.

I quickly made my way back to our bungalow, which was right next to the race start. I took a bathroom break and grabbed my camera and jacket before heading out again to cheer for Jason.  He said he hadn't really trained for the event so he was just running for fun, but I was still not surprised to see him shortly after the first finisher. 

He gave me a high five as he ran passed and finished the half-marathon in 1:22:26, second place over all and first in his age group. He got his Vera Bradley bag and then we met up, telling each other about our race experiences for the day.  

We grabbed showers before the results, and Jason received a blue glass as his award and a mug for being in the top 100 finishers.  We got some coffee and walked around before lunch at Bud and Alley's Taco Bar.  We walked on the beach and did a little relaxing in the sunshine before enjoying some frozen Yobe yogurt.  

Despite not getting to officially enter and finish the race, I still had a great time out there.  It was a gorgeous day spent in the sunshine running and hanging out with my one true love, and a girl can't ask for more than that.

Bump Watch at 17.5 weeks in Seaside, FL

Mom Prophesies

I'm going to tell you something I don't like.  And if you've ever done it, know that I like YOU, just not this one thing.  And my capacity for letting things go and forgiving perceived wrongs is huge.  It is my one gift.  I am an awesome forgiver.  I'm not bragging because that's really the only thing I do well.  But ask anyone, I can't hold a grudge for anything.

So with that said, on to what I don't like.  I DO NOT LIKE Mom prophesies.  A mom prophesy is when a current mom tells a new mom or a mom-to-be what it will be like to be a mom.  What she will do and what she won't do.  What she will love and what she will hate.  What she will eat, how much weight she will gain, and how she won't care.  And when people tell me these things (and they usually are not happy, exciting, positive things), I want to look at them and say, "I AM NOT YOU!  YOU ARE NOT ME!  How do you know what I will do?"

First of all, I know moms who don't fit whatever prophesy I am being told.  Second of all, sometimes you don't want to hear that you will never look post-pregnancy like you did before you had kids.  Come on!  I'm already freaked out enough to be walking around with my pants unzipped all the time (actually, I think that's kind of funny, like a secret I know and you don't - but you know it now so... anyway).  I do get freaked out.  My body is changing in all kinds of freaky, amazing ways.  I love it and it scares me.  And then I have to get this thing out somehow.  Yep.  I think about that.  Also, I desperately want to go back to running, loving running, racing, beating my times, and looking like a runner who does all of those things.  Call me vain all day long and maybe I am.  But there it is.  I sat on the couch the other night and planned my post-birth race schedule. Yes I did.  Jason cautioned me and kept me somewhat reasonable, but I could not be deterred.  I WOULD be running THIS race on THIS date and after that I WOULD be running an ultra. Even if I'm wrong, let a girl dream!  (And if you tell me I can't or won't, that's just gonna make me more determined so better to keep it to yourself). 

So the other day one of my dear, sweet friends told me that the way my belly looks now (like I hit the Oreos a bit too hard after a few hamburgers) is what it will look like after my second kid.  Forever.  Even if this is true, this is horrifying (vanity, vanity, thy name is Jane... I know).  And in my mind I come up with all the reasons I am the exception to that rule.  I tell myself about the running I did before I was pregnant and the running I'm doing since being pregnant and I can't believe that once I have a kid I just won't care about running or health or skinny jeans any more.  I admit, I'll probably only care about sleep and staring at this new amazing bundle for a while but... eventually I'm going to be Jane the Runner again.  And I want to believe that when I return to my former self, my belly is not going to hang over my running shorts...forever.

And the mom prophesies don't stop at health, weight, energy, belly fat and running.  But those are probably the ones that stick out the most in my mind.  The thing is, I can list a TON of moms who do amazing things with their running and are amazing moms at the same time.  My friend, Katie, for example.  For that matter, all of my running girls who are moms inspire me daily. The blog I've recently started reading: NYC Running Mama.  My friends, Shannon and Jane.  My sister, Julie. And you know I can't help it, but I also think of Kara Goucher.  No, I do not consider myself on equal footing as a runner but if she returned to her beloved sport and improved upon what she'd done before she became a mom, surely in my own way, I can do that too (although my stomach never did and never will look like hers).  And while I am more excited than words can possibly express about this amazing honor of motherhood, I am now and will always be in love with the sport of running. 

I have to believe this.  I believe if I love it and if I want it, I will go get it.  If I can drag this body through 50 miles of insane trails, I can drag my sleepy, newly-mommied self out the front door for a few miles (when cleared to do so by the doc, of course).  Even if I'm walking.  Even if I'm slow at first.  Even if the stroller goes with me.  I am mentally preparing as best as I can for those moments when it is hard.  I don't have a history of giving in when things get hard.  So why would I start once I'm a mom?  And if I am wrong, if you are shaking your head thinking, "she has no idea..." please let me believe.  Remember what it was like to do all of this for the very first time, think about what your most favorite thing was, and tell me about that!  Because right now, all I'm seeing is blue skies and rainbows, and while my brain knows there will be so much more to it, my heart is refusing to listen.  Just for now.  And when those mom prophesies come to fruition, let me come to you and say, "What in the world did you do when this happened?"  Then I will want to hear it.  Then I will want to know.  But not now.  Not yet.