As you all know, running is my life. If you read this you've grasped that about me. As I sit here writing this, I am on the beach and watching my husband fish - one last trip as a two person family before Sweet P arrives. The point of this little narration is to give you an insight into my journey of running pregnant. I still cannot believe our little miracle will be arriving in 6 weeks.
I'm a pretty petite person; this is not me bragging just a statement of fact. I hardly reach 5' 1" and stay pretty thin. Probably because my lifestyle keeps me moving. I say this to tell you that giving my body to this sweet little babe has been hard for me to grasp. Not that every ounce isn't worth it because I wouldn't have it any other way, but to feel the weight literally slowing you down is an intriguing change to go through. I want you to know that these feelings are normal. It's true, most pregnant women feel a bit upset about the weight gain. Eating healthy and regular exercise is still going to be beneficial once your holding the baby in your arms.
Now...On to my point. I have continued to running from day one of finding out I was pregnant. My doctors have encouraged it. Though my husband says he thinks I should stop, he never really means it. In my first and second trimester I was running up to half marathon distances on the weekends. In fact I completed a Ragnar Trail race, and three offical half marathons. The first trimester pace began to slow, but nothing to be terribly upset over. As I began to show more and as summer came on fully the change in my pace really began to happen. My body also really started to feel the weight in my knees and my lower back. As a child I was diagnosed with asthma, so this began to be a concern I had to actually monitor closely. Entering into my third trimester the true change occurred; finding that I couldn't continually run and transitioning to a run/walk. We would run for three minutes and walk for one. It realistically is what kept me running. As I finish up this post, there are 5 weeks, 5 days left until my due date and my running has ceased entirely. Walking is now the name of my game. There was too much pain on my spine, which I can only assume is from the weight and the curving. Due to time constraints I have spilt my walks up throughout the day. As my good friend told me "miles are miles." Most mornings I wake up and head to the gym EARLY, and do 2.5 miles, along with a light weight routine. Every day at work I take a 20 minute break and go for 1.5 mile walk and a few days a week when I take my nephew to his cross country practice, my sister (a new runner) and I will walk 2 miles. This division of my walks helps with keeping me from getting stiff and sore from sitting at my desk, in the car to and from work, on the couch at night and sleeping.
The intended purpose of this post is is to encourage pregnant runners, as long as you're not experiencing pain or problems and your doctors say it is OK to continue, is to keep going. Slow down when necessary and walk when needed. Know that slowing down is not anything to worry about. Stay active. The benefits of a fit pregnancy will prove itself when all is said and done. The main benefit is you will stay healthy and so will the precious cargo you are carrying.
I love that you have been able to keep up with your running. I had to find another way of doing cardio during my pregnancies because my bladder couldn't take the bounce of running (hello bathroom every two minutes while on the treadmill!)
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