pregnant

I hit the pregnancy wall…

December 18, 2013 by Kristy 15 Comments

Everything was going well. I felt OK, all things considered, and was still able to manage a few short runs per week. Then, at 36 weeks, I hit the pregnancy wall…hard.

My last run was Monday, December 2nd. I had no idea it would be my last run. If I did I would have savored it a bit more. I ran 5 miles with my friend Abby and it went well. I felt fine afterwards too. I woke up Tuesday with pain on my right side (lower back/upper glute area). Walking was difficult. It was so sudden and out of the ordinary I panicked and thought all the running had caused a pelvic stress fracture. After some frantic online searching, I calmed down and decided it had to be sciatica, which is very common in late pregnancy (and presents itself on 1 side – my left side is completely normal). A call to my OB confirmed it along with the bad news that nothing can really be done. The baby is pressing on my sciatic nerve and the pain won’t go away until I deliver.

It’s been 2 weeks since the pain started and it sucks, to put it nicely. Bearing weight on my right leg is painful and I have to be cautious that it won’t give out on me. I’m also sporting a nice limp when I walk. Thankfully it also resembles the I’m-so-done-with-this waddle, so I don’t think I get too many strange looks.

I’m 38 weeks today and praying that I go sooner rather than later. I’m dying to meet this little one and I’m dying to get rid of this pain. Or at least swap sciatic pain with labor pain 🙂 At least with labor pain there’s a nice present at the finish line.

looking so not ready to go anytime soon…

I am seeing a chiropractor – a husband and wife team. He specializes in runners and she in pregnancy, so I appear to be in good hands. It has provided some relief although not as much as I was hoping for.

Since I’m stubborn and refuse to do no form of exercise, I grunt through 2-mile walks on the treadmill a few times a week. The fastest I can go is 20:00 min/mile (that’s not a typo) and I waddle and curse the entire time. But at least it’s something.

I’ll conclude this whiny pregnancy post on a positive note. I am happy I was able to run for 9 months. I thoroughly enjoyed it – Garmin-free, taking in the scenery, and not worrying about pace. And I will be back at it again soon.

Anyone else battle sciatica during pregnancy?

Rothman 8K Race Recap

November 19, 2013 by Kristy 10 Comments

On Saturday I ran the Rothman 8K, the first race to kick-off Philly Marathon weekend. It seems silly to write a race recap, since I’m not racing these days, but what the hell.

I have never done the Rothman 8K before but you can call it the “other” race. I swear there were more porta potties than runners – which made me insanely happy (no lines!). There were a few spectators but nothing compared to the crowds you see at the Philly Half or Marathon. Not that I didn’t expect this…it’s just…different.

The best part of the morning was running into my friend Sara, completely unexpectedly. She was supposed to run the HM on Sunday but was sick so she made a last minute decision to run the 8K. Sara was my running buddy for the last 3 miles of the Philly RnR back in September so I was pretty excited about running with her again and not being alone. We decided to take it easy since Sara was essentially running with 1 functioning lung and, well, I’m carrying an 25 extra pounds. Sometimes I’m pretty delusional – like I had any other option other than taking it easy!

and…i look ridiculous. sara doesn’t but she’s hidden here in blue.

The course had an out-and-back section on West River Drive so we got to see all the speedsters and the look of pure anguish on their faces. I can’t even tell you how happy I am to not be racing right now. Running races for fun really is fun! I’m going to have quite the wake-up call next year.

high-fiving mayor nutter at the finish

Official finish time – 52:20 (10:30 average pace). I’m happy with that!

Thanks Sara for being my running buddy again!

When I got home Matt asked me if I was done with races until after the baby is born. Of course not! I found a 5K on Thanksgiving called the Gobble Wobble. With a name like that (and being almost 9 months pregnant at that time) how could you not run it?!?!

Did you run any of the Philly races this past weekend?

Nursery Tour

November 11, 2013 by Kristy 18 Comments

Allow me to divert from boring, pregnant running posts to something a little fun. We finished up the nursery this weekend and I am thrilled with how it turned out! I promised friends and family I’d do a post so they could see it. Don’t worry – boring, pregnant running posts will resume next week with a race recap (I’m “running” the Rothman 8K on Saturday).

When we moved into our house 4 years ago we painted the extra bedroom green and white (think Ireland green)…knowing that the room would eventually become a nursery. The colors were prefect and gender-neutral. When it came time to think about the nursery we definitely didn’t want a theme – like animals, etc. We figured we throw up some bright yellow accents (different shapes and patterns) and call it a day.

That idea only worked for so long. It’s hard to decide what to hang on the walls if you don’t have a theme. Since I love geography and maps, I selfishly wanted to hang a world map (it’s also educational, right?). From there the idea snowballed and our “no-theme” nursery became a “world” theme.

Let the tour begin (click on the image to enlarge)!

We bought the furniture unfinished. For 2 weeks Matt did nothing but sand, stain, paint, repeat. We love the way it turned out but it was a lot of work.

A closer look at the wall art, courtesy of Etsy. The world theme is in full swing!

My favorite part of the nursery: the world map. It’s actually a decal (from Etsy) that wasn’t as hard to assemble and put up as it looks! The map was divided into strips of continents with little dots that you can use to make sure the alignment is correct. I cannot stop staring at it!

From one of my favorite books – Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

The reading nook. We found these alphabet flashcards (you guessed it, on Etsy) representing different countries and how they say “hello” in their native language. We got them laminated and hung them on the wall with bamboo string.

A closer look…

There you have it! I’m pretty obsessed with it and often find myself sitting on the glider staring into space. Now we just need the baby to arrive!

Pregnancy Confessions – Part II

October 29, 2013 by Kristy 7 Comments

Running Update
At 31 weeks running is hard and not hard at the same time…which probably makes no sense. It’s hard when my shins tense up and can’t handle the weight of my growing stomach. It’s not hard in the sense that all I need to do is propel myself forward – set the wheels in motion – and then I’m good to go. I swear the weight of my belly pushes me forward. So the added 20+ pounds is both helpful and a hindrance at this point.

I can no longer run 5 days per week. My legs can’t take it. Running 4 days is manageable and I usually pair a “longer” run (6 or 8 miles) with a shorter run (4 miles) the next day. Then I add in a day of walking – 3 to 4 miles – and it brings me to about 25 miles for the week. I’ll take it.

I have one more “race” on my schedule before the baby arrives. I’m running the Rothman 8K – part of Philly Marathon weekend. I was originally planning on running the Philly Half but then reality set in. I will be spectating the full and half so if you’re running, let me know!

Glowing? Not me.
Our gut feeling all along is that we are having a girl. In fact, I’ll be quite surprised if she is really a he! I haven’t paid much attention to the old wives’ tales regarding gender prediction…until recently. Around 28 weeks I started looking haggard. Like really haggard. Puffy face and bags under my eyes – despite 9 to 10 hours of sleep (I’ve been sleeping great – knock on wood). I don’t feel haggard but I just look awful. Don’t they say that girls steal your beauty? Case in point…

7:30PM at Pearl Jam last week. I wasn’t tired (yet – they did play for 3 hours) but I look…haggard.

This past Saturday – post 8 mile run. Isn’t running supposed to leave you looking refreshed?!

Another sign pointing to a girl? I’m the very definition of carrying high. This picture makes me laugh because it’s so ridiculous.

Other perks
*Cankles – the reward for sitting on my ass all day at work. The more I am on my feet, the better off I am.

*Picking something up off the floor is impossible without loudly grunting and feeling as if my head might explode.

*I have maybe 2 inches to go before my belly rests on my legs (a perk of carrying high?). My friend Sara warned me about this. I’m still freaked out that my boobs rest on my belly. Now belly on legs?!

What other perks can I look forward to over the next 9 weeks?

pregnancy confessions

September 8, 2013 by Kristy 18 Comments

I’m just shy of the 6 month mark and time is moving fast but not fast enough, if that makes sense. Once I hit 20 weeks, time seemed to sloooow down. I’m hoping for a very fast Fall.

I’m grateful to still be feeling fine – other than feeling large (I’ll get to that later). But I do have some confessions…

I’m not sad to see the summer go
So long to BBQs, shore trips, and (not) drinking on the deck. Do I sound a bit bitter? I am. I really missed drinking this summer. Before you peg me as a binge drinker, let me explain. There is nothing quite like an ice cold beer over the summer. On the deck and down the shore. After a long run. Especially after a long run. I had no idea how much I would miss it. I think a lot of it has to do with being pregnant over the summer. I probably would not have minded as much over the winter (uh, maybe). And thankfully I’m not into anything pumpkin so my bitterness will not extend into the Fall with the arrival of pumpkin-flavored beers.

I did not miss training for a marathon over the summer
This shocked me. I love long, sweaty 20-milers during the summer (see why the ice cold beer comes in handy?). Again, I thought it would be bitter city seeing everyone train for their Fall marathon. Not at all. Guess it shows how much of a mental break I needed from training. I’m so happy with where my running is right now; I’m perfectly happy with 10-13 mile long runs. And I know that, come 2014, I’ll be fresh and raring to go again.

The weight gain is tough
Obviously this is something you know is inevitable but it’s still mind blowing. When I walk by a store window, I don’t recognize myself. I’m up 14 lbs, which I assume is normal (reading about “normal” weight gain would drive me more insane…so I don’t). This is the most I have ever weighed and some days it’s hard. To grow so rapidly out of your pre-pregnancy clothes (seriously, one week they fit and the next they don’t) and to have T-shirts be snug?! T-shirts?!?! Thank god for maternity clothes (also thought I would never say that). I can’t believe I resisted them for so long.

23 weeks, 5 days…and feeling large.

I’ll be waddling my way through the Philly Rock n’ Roll Half next Sunday. I’m feeling pretty good about it. Excited too. This is always a balls-to-the-wall race for me so it’ll be nice to enjoy myself. I’m guaranteeing a PW (that would be anything over a 2:16 – my first HM finish time!). I plan on walking through the aid stations and running very slow. This may be my last distance race until after the baby is born. We’ll see 😉

Any of your own pregnancy confessions to share?
Running the Philly RnR Half?

halfway done and other updates

August 16, 2013 by Kristy 10 Comments

I officially hit the 20 week mark this past Wednesday and I would like to think that it’s all downhill from here but I know that’s not the case. I have a feeling that I just went downhill and the next 20 weeks will all be uphill. Good thing I like hills.

19-and-a-half week bump shot. We were going to a wedding. A little different from my pre-run, no make-up bump shots.

It has been a busy 2 weeks since I last posted. Let’s see…we went on vacation. My parents celebrated their 50th (!) wedding anniversary earlier this year and we celebrated by taking them to the Outer Banks for a week.

I got a nice surprise while on vacation – I was selected to be part of the 2013-2014 Oiselle Team! To be honest, I was shocked to be selected since I fully disclosed that I was 9 weeks pregnant on my application and would be doing minimal racing this year. Thank you, Oiselle!

Demonstrating the stretching capabilities of Oiselle’s Winona tank

The biggest news happened this past Tuesday – I passed my personal trainer certification test! To say I’m relieved and running around a little lighter (as light as I can be at the moment) is an understatement. This was something I always wanted to do but always put off.

One of my new favorite quotes…

I felt like I had a gap in knowledge being a running coach. I know a lot about running and training but strength training? Not so much. I got my certification through NASM, which is huge on movement inefficiencies and muscle imbalances. This is why I went with them (versus NSCA and ASCM); realizing it would be the perfect “addition” to my running coach certification and knowledge.

In the short term I plan on using my PT certification immediately with my running clients. Long term? I haven’t decided yet…but I definitely plan on using it in a greater capacity. I plan on doing a full post devoted to how I studied, etc. since I found similar posts helpful when I was beginning the process.

Have a great weekend!