Yeah. This physically hurts me to be putting preggie pics of me up on the world wide web. I think I am somewhere around 23 weeks or so. I think I measured my belly wrong the last time, because when I measured it this time, apparently I am still 36 inches around. And this is right after eating a greasy quesadilla and a half (that half was for you, Suz.) Last time I thought I was 36 inches around, and I know for a fact I am bigger than three weeks ago. My ribs and the esophagus that has made its way up to somewhere around my neck are telling me so. At my last doctor's appointment a few weeks ago, I had gained 3 kilos (6.6 pounds). Which means I have probably gained about 8 or 9 pounds by now. Maybe more. This is the point in time where I start gaining about a pound every week. It's not subtle, that's for sure.
So this last week marked the true ludicrosity (this is not a real word) of having signed up to do a half marathon. I still have six more weeks to go. SIX MORE WEEKS. My belly is already huge, and I will grow a lot bigger and gain a lot more in six more weeks. I told my friend Erin that this half marathon at 29 weeks pregnant will go down in history as one of the top ten dumbest moments of my life. I won't tell you what else is on that list, but it might include police, boys, and an incident of indecent exposure in a weight room during my Senior year of high school.
During the week, I have been running about four to five miles on two different days during the week, then doing the elliptical for 40 minutes (or bike or doing a class) combined with strength training and yoga/pilates on the other two or three days. Saturdays, I generally have been doing longer runs but have started to have to walk up inclines greater than 30 degrees. This past Saturday, I ran seven miles, but walked about a half a mile two different times (during mile 4 and the last part of mile 7 - both on the inclines of my run). I also always, always stretch for at least 15 to 30 minutes after every workout. If I don't stretch, I truly regret it.
So I will be honest here. Running does not feel good when I start out. Usually ever. But at 23 weeks, the first two miles feel especially excruciating. It hurts. It just does. BUT once I get past that initial inertia and my body sets into a comfortable motion (law of physics, friends), I am feeling good through most of the duration of the run. The rest of the day, though, don't ask me to do anything. All I want to do is lie down and nap. I also have greater pain in my pubic symphysis (the area of cartilage right in my groin between my pelvic bones) on those days I run. Walking over to the fridge feels more like a concerted waddle over to the fridge. I know it is the weight of my belly on that spot. Probably akin to hammering an 8-pound weight right over that piece of cartilage every time I run.
Here is what I would recommend by this point in time. If you are halfway through your pregnancy (with no half marathon in sight), walking, swimming, the elliptical, and the stationary bike are all great options for cardio. If you are taking a class, always take the lower options (for instance, while people are doing jumping jacks in the class, march in place, or if people are doing plyometric lunges or squats, then eliminate the jumping aspect and take the low impact option). I also highly recommend a continuation of strength training. Strength training not only increases muscular strength but also builds bone density. Muscular strength and endurance = better prepared for labor. Which, uh... I don't do since I have my babies via c-section, but I like to think it still makes my recovery easier. In my second and third trimesters, I generally do not lift more than 25-30 pounds and do a high amount of reps. I generally use 5-, 8- and 10-pound free weights for triceps, biceps, shoulders, chest and back work while pregnant.
Doing leg and hamstring extensions with resistance have provided the greatest relief on my knee joints as my weight increases. I feel a huge difference when I include these strength training exercises as part of my workout. And really, this is important for runners - whether you are pregnant or not. Our knees require a balance of strength between the opposing muscle groups (the quads and the hams) in order to function properly.
Also, my friend Lisa picked up this snazzy little Nathan hydration waist pack for me - in pink! It's the cutest and I love it. It doesn't bounce during my runs and provides all the hydration I need on those longer runs. Clothing wise, I have found two favorites: the BornFit Oxford Maternity Skort and the BornFit Rudy Seamless Maternity Tank. I love the skort because it has a wide waistband that really holds in my belly - eliminating my need so much for the Gabriella Maternity belt I've been wearing around the block. I also love the seamless maternity tank by BornFit (less chafing). Other than that, though, there is a shocking lack of maternity workout wear and I am on a mission to see that the fit mothers of the world no longer have to resort to ribbed cotton or neon-trimmed tanks on the treadmill. And those maternity gaucho capris? So wrong.
Basically, friends. I am still running. Four to six miles was what I was doing regularly pre-pregnancy, and it is pretty much what my body is still capable of at 23 weeks - albeit at a much slower pace and minus inclines. My biggest obstacle is me. I am used to pushing my body through pain and discomfort, and I have to consistently remind myself that now is not the time to push myself through anything, set any kind of PRs or max out into the red zone of total fatigue. And that is really, really hard for me. But my body can't take care of baby if I'm not taking care of me. That goes for both extremes (too much vs. not at all). There is a happy medium. Plus, who doesn't get high off endorphins? Let me be addicted to just one thing in my life. Please.
