Marathon Recap

It has taken me a week to post my summary of the marathon, which was last Saturday. I am sure all of my dedicated readers have been suffering through sleepless nights wondering if I made it...LOL

Well, I did!  We finished in 2:33. The time is nothing to brag about, but I guess running a 13.1 race at 31 weeks pregnant was/is!!! 

In the pic you can see the shirts Mike designed for us. Isn't he a sweetie? We got a lot of comments on them which was fun. They say "Run Like a Mother" in case you can't tell.

Mike was actually very fun to run with too...which surprised me considering how competitive he is.  I thought he would be going nuts running at my 11 minute pace, but he was actually quite pleasant! He kept asking if I felt ok, if we were going too fast, if I needed water.

We left the house at 4 a.m. Saturday, made it to the shuttle busses and were bussed to the start by 5 a.m. That left us with an hour and a half to stand around and do nothing - suck!! The waiting before a race is the WORST for me. I get so anxious and I just want to get GOING. Mike and I sat around and talked and then ran into a few people we knew and hung out with them. Finally it was 6:30 and time to start. The gun fired and we were off and running!

Weather at the start was slightly overcast and in the mid 60's. Beautiful sunrise with some stratus clouds. It was hard to tell if it was going to stay cloudy or if the sun would burn right through, in which case it would probably get quite hot - well, hot for me, anyway. 

The first four miles of the race were a bit of a struggle and I tried to settle into my pace. It was a slow, uphill grade for 4-5 miles and I was REALLY feeling it. I had some pain in my quads but not horrible. I was very thankful I was not having the shin or calf pain I've had in recent months as my pregnancy has progressed. Once we hit mile 5, we finally got a downhill break and I started to feel really good.  The sun came out but there was a gusty headwind that cooled us off nicely.

I was shocked - but I only had to pee TWICE, at miles 4 & 8!  Mike thought it would be a lot more, and so did I. The lines for the port-a-potties were so long that I just went into the woods. Running makes all modesty go out the window sometimes...lol

Time passed rather quickly and before I knew it we were on our last mile. Things started to get really exciting then - the course was packed with bands, DJs and people cheering.  The last quarter-mile of the race is a corral of people sitting on bleachers cheering.  Oftentimes people ask me to explain the appeal of running and/or racing - well, this is it.  The home stretch. The final push.  The crowd cheering for you. Even though I was a 31-weeks-pregnant woman, I could pretend in my mind I was an Olympic athlete if just for a little while.

Once in that corral, I couldn't stop myself from "turning on the afterburners" as Mike calls it. LOL I started sprinting and was probably doing an 8-minute mile for the last part of the race. The crowd was deafening... were they cheering for me? Hell, I doubt it, but at least I could pretend. I did hear someone read my shirt who said, "Run like a mother! And she's pregnant!"

Mike and I held hands as we crossed the finish... and the moment I stepped over the sensor I was so overcome with emotion I started to cry. It doesn't matter if I'd done the race 50 times. The euphoria was unbelievable. People who wonder what "all the hype is about" probably have never experienced that.

So, all in all it was a fabulous day - and didn't kick my arse too bad! Of course my pelvis was the sorest but as long as I kept moving it was manageable. We had a busy rest of the day (of course) and could not relax, nap or any of that good stuff...although we did go to bed early that night. For once in MONTHS, I slept a FULL eight hours without getting up to pee!  I think my body just shut down...lol  Another thing I was proud of was that I ran the WHOLE way! Except for when I needed water and walked a few steps while downing my cup, I was constantly jogging.

No more races for me til after the baby is born, although I will keep running my 3-5 milers. Completing this race while pregnant was an amazing accomplishment for me and gave me an entirely new sense of what I'm capable of.

Running like a Mother...almost 31 weeks pregnant on Marathon Day!!

30.5 weeks

I am sooo tired this morning. I slept like crap last night! I am already getting too excited for the race. I can't believe it's tomorrow.  In 24 hours, I will be out on the course with 5,000 other runners doing the half.

At least I will be very tired tonight...we have to get up at 3 a.m. tomorrow morning (or should I say this morning?) We have to catch the shuttle to the race start between 4:15 and 4:45. Don't want to be stressed and rushing. Today after I get out of court we will head downtown to pick up our race packets.

There are tons of people in town.  I heard an estimate that about 30,000 people come here for the marathon.  All week, I've seen folks running around downtown.  There's electricity in the air! I look forward to this every year.

The weather looks decent. Not exactly what I would have wanted, but it could be a lot worse. It won't be TOO terribly hot (looks like around 67 for finish time, 50's at the start), but we will have a 20 mph headwind. Why, oh why, after two weeks of wind off the lake and fog, couldn't we just get a little tailwind to help us out??? It may also sprinkle on us at the start...that won't be so bad as long as it's not pouring.

I've had so many people say to me recently, "I can't believe you're running this race at almost 31 weeks pregnant." I have a sense that I don't want to let anyone down. I will listen to my body, but I know when I get out on the course I will want to be somewhat competitive. I won't want to bring in some sucky time...LOL

I better get going...I have a million things to do today!!! I will be back sometime tomorrow with a race recap! It will all be over before I know it.

29 weeks, 3 days...About 74 days to Go!!!

It's exactly one week til marathon day!!! I am so excited.  I can't believe it's almost here. I was looking at the extended forcast and it said highs in the lower 70's for next Saturday.  That is too warm for me...but it's still a week out so a lot can change, plus if there's a wind off the lake that could mean 50's or 60's.  I will be watching the weather religiously in the coming week!

Today I will complete my last long run before the race.  Mike had to go into work this morning to finish some things up for a meeting he has on Monday, so I will have to wait until he is done with that. I usually like to get my run out of the way in the morning, but not today. I told him jokingly as he was leaving to "enjoy your time at work" because it was going to be considered part of his free time today. LOL  I don't know how many miles I will go today, I'll see how I feel. I am thinking 6-8?

I had my follow-up doctor appointment on Thursday for an ultrasound to make sure growth is ok with little girl #3.  It was pretty neat considering I was told I probably wouldn't have another ultrasound.  Everything measured right on target at 29 weeks and I was so relieved to see that.  Also, the baby  now weighs 3 pounds! I can't believe it.  She is about the size of a loaf of bread!  Plus my amniotic fluid increased as well because the tech found another "pocket" of it she hadn't measured before.  It is supposed to be between 5 and 25 (cc's?) and at my last appointment mine was 11.  (If it gets below 7 they get worried).  This time it measured at 15 so it's all good.

The doctor came in after the ultrasound to talk about the results and said everything looked great. She chuckled and said "I don't know where you put it," meaning when she had measured me the previous day I was only indicating 26 weeks, which was the reason she wanted to check the growth. I felt almost giddy to know the baby's growth is exactly where it should be!

After my appointment, Mike was talking about how his lunch had been terrible and he ended up throwing his salad away because he bit into a rancid cucumber. LOL I suggested going to Taco John's.  Sometimes I like to treat myself with a little "off limits" food after I have an appointment. I usually don't eat much the day prior to the appointment and beforehand I get nervous and cannot eat...so I was ravenous.  So we went to TJ's and had a nice lunch...I didn't go overboard but enjoyed every bite.

I continue to strive to seek balance with my food choices.  I have pretty much boycotted the "cheat day" which used to be a full-on food fest that left me sick and sluggish for hours afterwards.  I think I have succeeded in convincing myself that doing this is NOT FUN and not worth it.  The last time I ate myself sick was 5-15-10. I don't even think I wrote about it - that's how awful it was. LOL  Mike and I went to a seasonal burger place and I went crazy with fried fish, onion rings and ice cream.  It was good at first, but I kept on eating.  When I got home hours later, I took my blood sugar and it was STILL 148. It stayed elevated for like 6-7 hours, that's how long it took my body to process all that food... and thinking about that really sickened me.

So, I've been trying to just practice moderation and allow myself a little bit here and there, like on the weekends, but to maintain control and stop before I am full.  It's been working so far. Last weekend, Mike bought Oreos (damn him!) which I love and cannot resist... well we've had the package for a week and I've only eaten 3 cookies, so I feel like that's a victory!

Also Hailey and I went to DQ yesterday - she left on a week-long trip this morning so we spent some time alone together yesterday. We went to see my new office and then on the way home we stopped for ice cream. I had a small cone... reasonable. In the past, I would think "screw it, I'm getting a Peanut Buster Parfait or a large Blizzard." Well, I am teaching my brain to be satisfied with less and it works. I had the cone and two hours later my blood sugar was only 119 so I was surprised it didn't do much damage!

That's about it on the food front. It's another gloomy day here in Duluth.  I think when Macy wakes up we're going to bust out the Play-Doh and do some indoor crafts. Have a great day!  

76 (or so) Days to Go

I went to the doctor yesterday (29 weeks) and found out I am anemic. I wasn't surprised as I have been CRAVING ice big time for the past few weeks and chomping on it constantly... this was a symptom I had with both of my previous kids and it always happened around the end of the pregnancy.  Apparently the baby is a parasite who is sucking all the red blood cells out of me...lol

I sheepishly told my doctor I am "not very good" about taking my vitamins.  Not very good = hardly ever.  Yeah, I know that is poor but I try REALLY HARD to get all of my nutrition through food sources, and I THOUGHT I was doing a good job of it.  Hmmm... I don't like the prenatals because they make me gag, upset my stomach and, well, then there's that constipation thing.  I tried to be good about them in the early weeks of pregnancy but have since fallen off the wagon.

The doctor asked if I could tolerate a Flintstones chewable and I was pretty sure I could... so she told me to eat 2-3 of those per day.  If I can get my iron levels up I am sure it will help me in the marathon.  I'm actually surprised I haven't felt worse while exercising, but really it hasn't been too bad. As long as I'm on a relatively flat surface I seem to be ok.  Stairs are another story. I get seriously winded and out of breath climbing stairs and I sometimes have to take breaks. Makes me feel like I weigh about 300 pounds...lol  Other symptoms I've had include weakness, racing heart from doing minimal activity...and the main one, as I tell Mike, "it feels like it takes a huge effort to do just about anything these days."  Hoping the iron will help.

What else.  Well, my blood pressure was 90/58, that's always good.  She checked my cervix and said it was "long, hard and closed," no signs of preterm labor. 

I asked her about anesthesia, specifically if I could request a certain person. I had a terrible experience with my epidural when having Macy and had to be poked in the back probably eight times before the doctor THOUGHT he got it in.  He then went away and I continued to have excruciating contractions. I'd had an epidural also with Hailey, so I knew what to expect - and that was not it.  After about an hour of worsening pain, they called a different anethesiologist in... the nurse later told me the line from the first doctor's attempt was not even in my back when they removed the gauze.  The new guy did a great job and had me set up in no time. He said I had a curve in my spine which made it more difficult to find the space to insert the needle. Anyway, my doctor told me that first guy has since retired.  I am glad!! I don't want any more run-ins with him.

My doctor said I could probably request a specific doctor to perform the epidural "since you're going to be scheduled anyway." I am not sure what she meant by that.  Scheduled? Did she have me confused with someone else?  She didn't have her computer with her and was unable to pull up her charts... but I hope she didn't think "scheduled" as in she thinks I am having a c-section...because all of my births have been vaginal and I want to keep it that way.   I will have to ask her about that today. Oh yeah, when she measured me she said I haven't changed much since the last visit.  I can't believe it, because I feel much larger and everyone says they can really tell now. She also said it may be just the way the baby is laying, but she wanted to order another ultrasound to make sure the growth is okay. It doesn't freak me out too much because I carried small with Macy and Hailey too.  I just don't get how they can do this little measurement with a tape of your belly and that is supposed to tell them how growth is progressing. Weird. Well, I will have the ultrasound later this afternoon so I will let you know how it goes.

Only 9 days til the marathon...yikes... the weather has been cool and rainy around here lately, although the upcoming weekend looks decent.  I am very anxious about the weather. Like I keep saying, it was really hot last year.  It seems that weekend is when our summer has been starting for the past 3 years.  I am hoping for a lake breeze...even fog...

Well, off to do my morning run.  The past couple of days I've been able to do a 9:30 pace for the first mile and then 11 minute miles thereafter - not too bad.  This will all be contingent upon the weather on race day of course... and those pesky iron levels!

80 Days to Go

Today I start the 29th week.  I will have a doctor appointment on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to that because she had to cancel on me last week due to being in surgery all day.  After this appointment, I believe I will start going to the doc every two weeks...then it's every week once I hit 36 weeks.

I look at my calendar every night and count days to specific things I am looking forward to.  My due date, of course, the time I will go on leave from work, the marathon, summer events, things like that.

Yesterday, I told Mike I was going to start telling people my due date is 8-9-10. I will be 38 weeks on 8-9-10...and that way, I can say it's just a couple of months from now. Maybe that will keep people from saying "WOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE PREGNANT THE WHOLE SUMMER!" LOL

Yesterday, I completed my last long run prior to race day, which is June 19. I did 8 miles and it wasn't too bad. As usual, it took me 1.5-2 miles to "get into it," and after that it was tolerable, but never really all that fun or enjoyable.  It's a chore, it's work.  However, I feel that it's important that I continue with my running.  I was pretty slow on this run, but I've just accepted that I'm going to be a lot slower and try not to beat myself up about it.  I'm just happy I'm still able to do it - even though my "running" is more like a trot these days! After the run I wasn't feeling too bad - seems I can handle 8 miles fairly well. It's the 10-11 milers that really take a toll on my body.   I did get a weird cramp in my lower back when I only had about a half mile to go - it hurt pretty bad and I spent that last half mile alternating running and walking.  I don't know where the pain came from, but it went away pretty fast once I reached my house. After I got back home, Hailey needed a ride to a grad party and Mike was laying Pips down for a nap and wanted to hit the gym. After I brought Hailey to her party, I came back home and went onto the computer for a while. I suddenly got very sleepy and my eyes kept closing so I thought "I'll just lay down on the couch for a while."  I closed my eyes, and next thing I knew Mike was coming home from the gym and I was late to pick Hailey up from the party. A half hour had passed and I felt like I'd just closed my eyes!  Guess I needed that little nap.

Next week, the run will be 7 miles... then the week prior to the race is pretty laid back with only a few 3-4 mile runs.  Mike asked me last night how I was feeling about the race.  I told him I am feeling ok but worried about a couple of things... if it's hot it's going to be VERY hard for me... it was terribly hot last year and I was miserable plus I wasn't even pregnant! My time was 1:52 last year for the half which I was very proud of - I have accepted I will be nowhere near that mark for this time around! Mike keeps trying to tell me he doesn't care how slow I am - but I'm nervous about how he will handle it since he is such a competitor and has been doing great in his own training this season. I have told him several times I would be just fine with it if he wanted to go off on his own in the race and push himself to a personal best, but he refuses. He says this is "our thing" and he isn't going to leave me behind.

I know I will make it... I guess part of me REALLY doesn't want some horribly embarrassing time... I mean come on... I can at least come in under 3 hours, right?

83 Days and Counting!

Good morning!

I need to revamp my pledge to write in here EVERY day. I don't think it's going to happen, but I will try to write at least every OTHER day. Progress not perfection, right?

So I am 28 weeks and 2 days today.  Boy oh boy am I getting impatient!!!  I cannot wait for this baby girl to get here.  Dreaming of her... I will have three beautiful girls. I can't believe it.  So much is changing in my life right now.

I weighed myself today. This takes much preparation and worry and I am always nervous with a racing heart when I step on the scale. I hadn't weighed myself in nearly two weeks and was pleasantly surprised to find I had gained only one pound. That brings my weight gain to 15 pounds so far. It is incredible how CAREFUL I am being, how stringent, how scrupulous... keeping food logs, exercising 5 or more days a week, very limited "night eating" - and even with all of this, I am barely able to keep it under control. It is true the body will do what it needs to do while pregnant... you do have some control over it of course.. if you eat like a horse and throw caution to the wind the pounds are going to pile on no doubt - but even if you practice the same habits you did while you were living your "old life," (the non-pregnant one) most people will naturally gain the number of pounds their body requires for the baby.  I think I told you I have my weight chart from my pregnancy with Macy, and I often compare it with my current one.  I wasn't quite as strict with her, although I did run 3 miles every day and ate decent. I do remember eating a lot more "treats" back then...thinking "what the hell, I am pregnant" LOL and when I think of that it kinda blows my mind that I would be that relaxed about weight gain.  Anyway, I started out with Macy 11 pounds heavier than with this baby... so right now I weigh 17 pounds less than I did with Macy at 28 plus weeks. I think that is GREAT primarily for the reason that I am a small person and it's hard to carry around extra pounds.  I really notice the 15 extra pounds on my petitie frame, even though they're mostly in my belly.  I can wear most of my same pants... (they don't button of course, but it's encouraging that the butt and legs still fit...LOL) I just pull the Be Band over the top of them and wear a longer shirt! I haven't bought many maternity clothes... although I did get some cute khaki Liz Lange capris from Target and another pair of black dress pants, also by Liz Lange. I need to get those hemmed.  They fit really well though.  So, overall I feel pretty good in my clothes, which improves my self-esteem. I also feel good when I practice control around food, which I have continued to do all week! Yay me!

I told you we moved into our new office, and there have been lots of delicious goodies around to welcome the clients... cinnamon rolls, cookies, scones, all that delicious sugar, flour and doughy chewiness. I have avoided the breakroom and I've been sticking to my meals brought from home... low carb wraps, hard boiled eggs, berries, nuts and string cheese.  Well, yesterday I saw those damn cookies again. There were still like 5 of them in a plastic bag. I went back to my office, but kept thinking about how great it would be to sink my teeth into one of those...haha  Around late afternoon, I went back and broke off about one fourth of a cookie and brought it back to my office.  It was so chewy and delicious! I didn't have much... just a few bites... but it addressed my cravings and I didn't need to waste 400 calories on a whole cookie! 

Every day is a battle with food... now that I'm nearing the end of my pregnancy, people will say "this is where you gain the most weight" but I am encouraged to know I only gained 10 lbs from weeks 28-39 with Macy. I can at least do that this time around!

Day 85 - June First

Ok, somehow I am off on my calculations... because I got the calendar out last night and counted the days til my actualy due date. 85 as of today. Tomorrow I will be 28 weeks.

I had a great weekend, the 11 mile run on Thursday, short walk on Friday, 5 mile run on Saturday, then took Sunday and Monday off from exercise, which was nice. Today I will do four miles. It looks like a beautiful day so I think I will go outside!

I can't believe it's June 1st already. I have so much coming up to look forward to.  The marathon is June 19th, then I took 5 days off the following week to go to the Cities (Mpls/St. Paul that is) with Mike for some budget meetings he has to attend. That's always fun because we get a hotel and enjoy some shopping, swimming and relaxing.  Last year was NOT FUN because Macy was just a little over a year old and was NOT about to sleep in the Pack-n-Play.  We ended up having her in bed with us where she tossed and turned and kicked and rolled around... I barely slept for two nights it seemed because I was so worried about her falling out of bed.  I am hoping this year will be better, as she is over 2 yrs old and understands a lot more... plus you can reason with her somewhat... i.e. "we aren't going to the mall tomorrow unless you go to sleep."  (She loves the mall. What girl doesn't? LOL)

I will be going on leave from work at the end of July - my last day will be July 29. I can't believe how fast that is coming up.  I am thrilled to have the entire month of August to prepare, relax and get ready for the baby.  Of course, I wouldn't mind a bit if she decided to make her arrival a couple of weeks early!

I start school on September 7th.  I am enrolled in a masters program for Exercise Physiology which lasts for one year.  Lots of people think I am crazy for starting this right after having a baby... but I am not getting any younger and I don't want to wait another year.  I will be 38 in November... it was always one of my dreams and goals to earn a masters degree and once I found the program in EXP I knew it was the perfect fit.  Oh yeah, I have to try and work too... probably about 20 hrs/wk if I can handle it.  It will all work out.

Time to get ready for my morning run and then to head off to work to our NEW building!