Crumbs here - Back from The Land of Fatigue and Heaving (a.k.a First Trimester) and happily gliding along through Celebration and Energy (well, relatively speaking!). I'm 22 weeks along in my 2nd pregnancy and have a renewed love of running quickly-paced waddling.
I've never been fast, but My Oh My, just 2 months ago it took me 45 minutes to force myself to go 2.5 miles. The agony! All because of this weird addiction that seemed like it was going to promise me relief in my rough months of sickness. Really - food was intolerable. Advil unadvised. And a Mojito with a floater? Highly frowned upon by the masses. I knew I was allowed to run, though. And when I run, I get a Runner's High! Sweet - Hook Me Up. Only, I couldn't really make it through the first mile so easily without getting dizzy and feeling like a 7 year old was taking drum lessons in my head. I guess only being able to force down 500 calories a day meant there wasn't much in the bank for added exercise. This, it seemed, was going to be a very, very long 40 weeks. Weekly milage went from 25 to...well, 3 (or 10, if you count running to the toilet).
Fast forward to this week.
I had slowly reintroduced myself to running over the last 8 weeks - first with the treadmill and then out on the street - week by week adding a little more. I even completed a 5 miler in just 1 minute/per mile slower than pre-pregnancy. HOPE! HOPE, I tell you!
So I signed up for a 5k in my old stomping grounds of South Miami. (I'm back in town for a little while and what better to meet up with old friends than at a race?! It's a fun way to let folks know about the little one, too!) Anyway - I knew I wasn't going to set any records but I couldn't believe that I finished a cool 2 minutes slower than I did last year - right around old running buddies. Just 2 months ago I had lost hope of ever having my runner's high again. But there it was: Baby and Me waddling through at a relaxed pace, waving to familiar faces, enjoying the course, passing the finish line with a smile and energy to spare!
Each day I get bigger.
I know every run won't be that smooth.
BUT it's so comforting to know that, even when I hit rough patches (be it morning sickness or injury or burnout), I'll eventually get my groove back.
Happy Running All!
9 comments:
Woo-hoo! Hormones! What a fun post to read!!
I finally made it to the end of a pregnancy still "slogging" (=slow jogging) but it was not continuous and it took three tries. There were some weeks I could do it and some I could not.
Hang in there! Whatever works will work for you, but either way, you'll be a rockin' good mom again.
Slogging! That's funny!
Very motivating, and I'm not even pregnant. I still claim "post-partum" even though #4 is turning 3 this summer!!
I love this post. Brings back great memories. Just wait till you get the stares and people realize your pregnant. Lots of advice coming your way. Go go go!!!
You offered hope and relief -- relief that I'm not losing my mind that I can barely exercise this first trimester (@ 11 weeks) among the mild nausea, overwhelming fatigue, and a denuded immune system that has left me crippled with 6 wks+ of bronchitis (even after 2 rounds of antibiotics and an inhaler). You give me hope that I will grip the handlebars of my jogging stroller, see the morning in its splendor, and feel the joy of jogging in my lungs, legs, and heart again this pregnancy.
You offered hope and relief -- relief that I'm not losing my mind that I can barely exercise this first trimester (@ 11 weeks) among the mild nausea, overwhelming fatigue, and a denuded immune system that has left me crippled with 6 wks+ of bronchitis (even after 2 rounds of antibiotics and an inhaler). You give me hope that I will grip the handlebars of my jogging stroller, see the morning in its splendor, and feel the joy of jogging in my lungs, legs, and heart again this pregnancy.
Kerry - you are so close to easier times!! I wish you well. Update us later on.
Trice - You are so right: Lots of 2 cents being offered up! But thankfully, just as many thumbs up.
:)
I linked to your blog from Amy Hemples weight loss blog and like this post. I am 34 weeks pregnant, and because of already being overweight and stress on my knees I don't run, but I work out every day and last week I was volunteering at Cub Scout Day camp and was heading down to my car when I decided to run. I'm huge right now, like I look like I'm ready to pop, but it was so fun to see that I TOTALLY could run back to my car (slow jog actually) and feel fine! I love to hear of prego moms who are keeping in shape so keep it up!
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