running

postpartum running: the real deal

March 17, 2014 by Kristy 12 Comments

During my long run on Saturday I thought about everything my body has gone through in the past year. A 30-lb weight gain, a gait that changed (and back that ached) because of said weight gain, a wider pelvis, a squished sciatic nerve, feet that grew both in length and width, labor and delivery, and then weight loss.

So why am I surprised that running kinda sucks some days and I often feel like I’m running in someone else’s body? During pregnancy I had these visions of effortless runs where I was flying. I mean, I ran throughout my pregnancy – don’t I just hop right back in the saddle?! Not exactly.

how we spend most days

Structural Fitness
Cardiovascularly, I feel good. While marathon pace may feel like half marathon pace, I know that in time my speed will come back. I’m not overly concerned about that. My structural fitness (muscles, bones, tendons, etc.) has taken a hit. Again, I’m not sure why I am so surprised. My last substantial long run in 2013 was the Philly RnR Half in September. I was 6 months pregnant and knew my days of double digit runs were numbered. I ran 12 miles this Saturday and, structurally, it felt like 20. This system takes longer to adapt than the cardiovascular system so I just need to give it time.

Sleep
Sleep just ain’t what it used to be. While I shouldn’t complain – Fiona sleeps very well – I could definitely use more (couldn’t we all?) or more deep sleep (checking the monitor excessively doesn’t lend itself to sound sleeping). Less sleep = less repair.

Hormones
This surely has something to do with it, right?

one more because i couldn’t resist…

Taking all of this into consideration, I need to give myself a bit of a break. Maybe I’ll feel back to my old self in 6 months? Or maybe I’ll adapt to my new normal?

Just like it has in the past, consistency and hard work will pay off. I just have to be patient.

Any moms out there feel the same way about running postpartum?

how running has changed

February 18, 2014 by Kristy 10 Comments

Last week was the first time where I feel like I returned to real training. Some substantial weekly mileage (22 – yes, that is substantial right now) and a 6 mile “long” run. I feel confident about the Philly LOVE Run (half marathon) at the end of March. Confident I can finish without keeling over, that is.

Fitting in runs and how I go about them has certainly changed since Fiona was born. Honestly, it hasn’t been too bad. Of course, she’s not mobile and sleeps all day. I imagine that I’ll have to get a bit more creative when she’s older (4AM runs?!). Back in the day, I was very creative about fitting in my long runs around my social schedule (and by social I mean drinking). Guess I’ll have to tap into that creativity again.

You run when you can
The luxury of running in the early morning no longer exists (for now, at least)! Instead, I hop on the treadmill whenever I can predict that Fiona will sleep for a decent amount of time (+1 for the white noise of the treadmill). Pre-baby, the thought of running in the afternoon – or worse, at night – was unthinkable. Now I relish any run…no matter what time of day it is.

what fiona does while I’m on the treadmill

Running clothes are my wardrobe
Since I never know when I can run I must be prepared at all times! I change into running clothes shortly after I get up (and brush my teeth, if it’s my lucky day). Thankfully my running wardrobe is far superior to all my other clothes (err, sweatpants).

Being proactive
Since I have big running plans this year and I know my body has changed with pregnancy I have myself on a strict “pre-hab” regimen of hip, glute, and core strengthening. These are all areas that have weakened for me during pregnancy. I don’t want pre-hab to turn into re-hab and derail any of my plans.

All runs are fast finish
Keep in mind fast is a relative term these days. Fiona will generally sleep for a good amount of time but I’m constantly checking for signs of her waking up. Once I see her stirring, up goes the speed on the treadmill. Might as well end the run on a good note!

Completely unrelated but Matt took this picture a few days ago of Hawk and Fiona. It’s too cute not to share!

*****

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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?

New Year, New Look!

December 17, 2013 by Kristy 4 Comments

Welcome to Run The Long Road COACHING!

I am so thrilled to unveil my new website, just a few weeks shy of my 3-year blogiversary! I also can’t believe I’ve been blogging for that long…just about running?!

My intention 3 years ago was to have the blog promote my coaching business. I consistently blogged 5 times a week and, over time, I acquired new clients. The more clients I had, the less time I had to blog.

Now that I want to grow my business even more I knew I had to shift the focus of my website to more coaching-centric and less blog-centric. And it definitely needed a makeover to look more professional. It was important for me to keep the blog. I think prospective clients like to read about my training, my PRs, and my failed attempts at PRs. I have always maintained the blog as an honest look at my training – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and I intend on keeping it that way. Speaking of bad and ugly – tomorrow’s post will explain why I haven’t run since December 2nd.

I now have more coaching options, including more options for runners in the Philly area. Just in time for those New Year’s resolutions! Please spread the word if you or anyone you know would like to tackle their first race, make the jump to the marathon, or PR/BQ. As crazy as it sounds I am accepting new clients even with the impending birth of baby RTLR!

You may need to update Feedly, etc. with my new site – runthelongroadcoaching.com – so you continue to receive blog updates. My old site will also automatically redirect you to the new site.

I owe a HUGE thanks to Rita at Blog Genie. This was my second time working with her (the first was when I made the jump to self-hosted). She is amazingly talented and incredibly patient! She literally had the new site up and running in a week! I was terrified I was going to have the baby mid-design (ha ha ha, so naive of me) so I’m grateful to Rita for working quickly. It looks so professional, clean, and simply amazing!

Gobble Wobble 5K Recap

December 1, 2013 by Kristy 10 Comments

One month until D-day! Of course I have visions of going early and everything going seamlessly. Or…I’ll still be waddling along after the New Year. I have to think positive, right?

On Thanksgiving I ran my first Turkey Trot ever. Usually I use Thanksgiving as a rest day, sleep in “late”, and refuel with mashed potatoes. Since my mileage is scarce these days (see below), I figured it was worth trotting 3.1 miles before the mashed potato refuel. And who can turn down a race called the Gobble Wobble at 9 months pregnant?!

This 5K is extremely popular (I believe it was the 30th anniversary this year?) and well organized. It’s also a 5K you don’t want to race (see below). You are better off doing it as a fun run with family…which seemed to be what most folks were doing (at least in the back of the pack anyway).

I cringe over my finish time – 34:16 (11:00 average pace) – when, just 2 short weeks ago, I ran an 8K at 10:30 average pace. Maybe I missed my running buddy Sara? Or maybe it was this –

There was no way I was running up that hill. It was a gradual climb that never ended. I sucked it up and walked. Ouch…my pride hurt more than my shins did during that mile.

photographic proof of my wobbling (check out my shadow!)

35 weeks

My mileage continues to dwindle the bigger I get. Right now I’m averaging anywhere from 15-22 miles per week. And that includes 2 days of walking. I can only run 3 times a week and no more than 6 miles. My shins can’t handle the extra weight…and the last thing I want to do is risk a stress fracture. I space my runs out to allow ample rest time in between. For now, that works. In the wise words of Lauren Fleshman (whose pregnancy posts I love), “since I decided to opt out of any kind of heroic pregnancy training plan, it doesn’t bother me to only run 4-5 days a week, and take walk breaks now and then. Except for those times when it really bothers me.” I could not agree more with the last part.

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?