running

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?

2nd trimester running recap

September 29, 2013 by Kristy 8 Comments

Farewell, 2nd trimester! On Wednesday I’ll be 27 weeks and beginning my 3rd trimester, according to my Sprout app. Whether this happens at week 27 or 28 – I don’t know – but I like the sound of it so I’m sticking to it.

I know I sound like a broken record but I still feel pretty damn good. Aside from having a gut that won’t go away and grows after each meal, I still feel like “me”. Although I must admit, over the past 2 weeks, I get pretty cranky from 3-5PM. I’m exhausted from carrying around the excess weight and just want to lay down. After dinner I generally feel better so maybe I just need a snack? Why do I feel like a toddler?!

Running during the 2nd trimester was pretty consistent, with the exception of a few days of extreme humidity, where I just bagged the run all together. I decreased my overall mileage to 30-35 miles per week, compared to 35-40 miles per week in the 1st trimester. My long runs stayed in the 10-13 mile range. And I completed (pregnant) half marathon #2!

The 2nd trimester also brought some so-called “shin tension” while running. I really can’t describe it any other way. My compression sleeves helped a bit but my legs have to continually adapt to the increased weight. Even more so now that my weight gain will be more rapid (awesome!). I’m super vigilant about recognizing any shin tension, taking extra rest days, using the Tiger Tail, and icing.

Now that it’s cooler out my running wardrobe is limited. All my tanks and shorts fit fine but my race Ts are a bit snug. My weeks of wearing them (decently) are numbered.

Instead of buying new ones, I decided to take advantage of Matt’s Ts (some of which were originally mine but too big). Since Matt is “retired” from running, he shouldn’t miss them.

This morning I ran an impromptu 5K! Might as well leave the 2nd trimester on a high note. My goal was to give it a solid effort and beat my PW of 28:22 way (way) back when I was 25. That was my first 5K ever – on University of Maryland’s hilly campus. That race is probably why I still hate 5Ks to this day.

Anyway, I didn’t think it would be that hard to beat – it would be close – but feasible. What I didn’t expect was for my legs to feel like bricks after mile 1. I felt like I was at mile 24 of a marathon…where your brain and lungs are saying “go, go, go” and your legs are uncooperative. My breathing was fine, my stomach wasn’t “in the way” or bothering me but I just couldn’t move my legs any faster. I did run 6 miles on Friday and 8 on Saturday but I really think it was just all the added weight and increased “speed”.

I finished in 28:44 – 9:16 average pace. And now my legs are sore. Who knew 17 lbs (and counting) could cause such havoc?

26W5D

Looking ahead to the 3rd trimester, I think my motto is going to be “grateful for each day that I can run”. I will cut myself some slack on my miles per week mandate and just be happy running 25(ish) miles per week.

I decided (after MUCH debating back and forth) to drop out of the Philly Half Marathon and instead do the Rothman 8K in November. I’ll be 8 1/2 months by then and I need to be realistic. Even with using a run/walk approach, 13 miles is too far with all this added weight. Today’s race confirmed that!

Philly RnR Half Recap

September 17, 2013 by Kristy 10 Comments

I came, I waddled, I finished…in 2:18:12 (10:33 average pace). Only 2 minutes slower than my very first HM back in 2002!

Let me back up a bit first…

A small part of me wasn’t sure I would finish. I have never felt that way before. I was well trained (I had done numerous 8 to 12 milers in the past few months) but you just never know what you are going to get day-to-day. I was worried about the tension in my shins – would it be unbearable? Would I have to walk half the race? Would I get excessively tired? Would today be the day some new pregnancy symptom would appear?

my SIL and I at the start

At least I had the weather on my side. It was about 50 degrees at the start. Had it been anywhere near the humidity we had earlier in the week, I would have not run the race. My tolerance for humidity decreases each week I get bigger.

I knew it was going to be a good day during mile 1. I had no shin tension whatsoever (it generally appears ASAP). I was enjoying the crowds and laughing at my shadow. I looked ridiculous! I was moving slowly and was definitely doing more of a waddle than run.

I stopped to pee right before mile 3 (already?!) and then before mile 9. I lost 4 minutes total – mostly waiting in line at mile 3 – but what can you expect at 6 months?

Screen Shot 2013-09-17 at 11.59.16 AM

having fun

I saw my friend Sara at mile 10 and I was so happy for the company. I was getting a little bored and really wanted to chat with someone. I was feeling really good at this point…I wanted to go faster but I knew my body wouldn’t cooperate. Or I would pay for it dearly on Monday.

After mile 12.5, I picked up the pace. I weaved in and out of runners and raced to the finish line. I had the biggest smile crossing the finish line – I wish there was a picture to capture it. My 2nd HM while pregnant done! For comparison:

HM #1 (10 weeks): 1:59
HM #2 (24 weeks): 2:18

Screen Shot 2013-09-17 at 11.51.29 AM

thanks sara for letting me chat your ear off

Congrats to my SIL, Sara, Jimmy, and Jen who all had fantastic races!

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?

(running) lessons learned at 21 weeks

August 25, 2013 by Kristy 8 Comments

Running is still going fairly well at almost 22 weeks. It’s not necessarily blog-worthy – lots of slow miles – but I feel like I’ve learned some lessons along the way.

You never know how you are going to feel day to day. I used to map out my mileage and workouts for the week every Sunday. During the 1st trimester I still did that but then discovered it’s rather pointless. Good days and bad days come and go like the wind. These days if I feel good, I add miles. If I feel bad, I cut the run short. 6 milers can turn into 8 milers or 4 milers…it all depends.

I hold myself accountable for weekly miles, not pace. This sound like a contradiction to what I just said above. During the 1st trimester I was running 35-40 miles per week. Now I’m holding steady at 30-35 miles per week. I really strive to hit that weekly mileage for 2 reasons: (1) it motivates me and (2) why the hell not? If I still feel good, go for it. Things could change drastically in the next month. But pace is the one thing I cut myself some slack on. I stopped wearing my Garmin a long time ago. I’m slow and I’m getting slower. But if I hit my weekly mileage goal, all is good!

Lungs are fine, legs are sore. Some days there is so much tension that builds up in my legs (mostly my shins) that I have to take a short walk break to shake them out. I attribute this to the increased weight (concentrated in one spot) and probably gait changes as my body figures out the best way to handle its changing shape. The plus side is that I’m rarely out of breath (but I also run like a turtle).

The more support the better. I’m talking shoes here. I usually rotate between my Brooks PureCadence and Brooks Ravenna. A few weeks ago I noticed the PureCadence were not cutting it anymore. I could feel everything and I felt like my feet were working overtime. Again this is probably due to increased weight in one specific area.

Sundays are rough. I generally do my long runs (these days that’s 10-13 miles) on Friday or Saturday and, come Sunday, I’m just not mentally up for a run. Rather than take a rest day or bog myself down with a “longer” run, I do 4 miles and allow myself to walk/run. It allows me to get in a shake out run but also not set myself up for failure.

Motivation. I always thought running without training for something specific would be hard. I am running the Philly Rock n’ Roll Half in a few weeks but don’t really consider myself training for it. Instead, the biggest motivator (besides hitting my weekly mileage), is knowing that I’m doing good for myself and the baby. Cheesy, right? While I’m at it, I love running “with” the baby. He/she is the best running partner and our runs together are our special bonding time. I’m becoming a softy with this pregnancy!

Any running/exercise pregnancy lessons you can share?

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!