Walking...

So maybe I need to change the title of my blog to "walking mama". 

After much deliberation, I decided that I probably should heed the doctor's advice, take it easy (I am 25 weeks after all!) and just be thankful that I was able to run this far in.  Today, after an extremely stressful day at work, I decided I had to get outside and exercise one way or another.  Fortunately, my husband had just come home and was getting ready to leave for his run.  I walked a mile while he ran 2.  Of course it was frustrating for him to come back from his 2 miler in 12.36 when this is the third time he's ran in about 2 weeks....and previous to 2 weeks ago, it had been several months, but I'm supportive that he's doing so well of course!  I hope he'll keep at it (not just doing it for the church 5k that's coming up on Sunday) so that once I can come back to running from being pregnant, I'll be able to have another running buddy - even though he'd have to go at a turtle's pace by then...

...speaking of the future, we've been looking at strollers and I really am wanting a hybrid jogger/stroller - one where the wheel locks and swivels. DH and I found one that we LOVE online - the Jeep Liberty limited stroller which is one of those hybrids:

 And yes it really does have speakers and an mp3 hookup which is pretty much amazing.  But we haven't been able to find any retailers that sell it locally, so if we do get this one, it will probably have to be a craigslist find. (picture is far left)

We did register for a Safari Instep stroller that is basically the same thing, but without the speakers. (picture below)  I just want something that is a hybrid, is affordable, and is something that I'll be able to use for awhile. Both of them are infant seat adaptable with a list of about 10 different infant seats for each one that can be attached.

I don't know which one we'll end up buying, but I'd be happy with either really as the goal is to be able to use it walking soon after baby is born and starting to run in a couple months after the baby is born. 

Pregnant and still running...?

After my amazing run on Monday of last week...I experienced some bleeding and got a little scared - I did my research, of course, before calling the midwife - and sure enough, everything suggested that I call...

...so I did and what did I find out??

That I probably bruised my cervix.  No harm, no foul as the midwife couldn't see anything wrong and the baby has been happily kicking away at my bladder all week, but when I mentioned that I ran, she wasn't all that happy and said that she never lets her patients run.

Now this leads me to think because I've read of plenty of women running well into their 8th month with no adverse affects...

Did I just push it too hard on Monday?
And if that's the case, can I still continue to run while pregnant as long as I take it easy and listen to my body?

I had been running a leisurely 10 min/mi pace with my school running buddy the past 2-3 months, but on Monday with my husband I totally killed it with an 8:20 min/mi which is the fastest I've run in a long time.  I really was enjoying running while pregnant and had experienced nothing like that until the Tuesday/Wednesday bleeding episode.  It's not like I'm new to running - I've been doing it for years off and on - and I've been running consistently since before I was showing and semi-consistently since before I was pregnant.

The funny thing is that my husband was the one who really wanted me to consult the midwife about my running regime, and then later asked if I was participating in the church 5k that's coming up.  I told him no as I didn't want to walk in the 5k - too depressing having been recently told not to run and I'm too stubborn as I've never had to walk in a 5k - he then said, "well the pace you were running with your school running buddy was probably ok"...lol, gotta love my husband.

Awesome sites:
www.dailymile.com
www.active.com
www.active.com/fitness/calculators/pace

On the trail again...

So much for doing this every week...or at all...but I have been running consistently since November! Here are today's and last week's stats...

Jan. 11
Who: Ran with Ali
Distance/where: 1.6 mile route by school
Temp: 58-60 degrees
Time: 15:11
Pace: 9:29 mile
Notes: Hard pace, but it felt excellent....I really enjoyed our run despite going a lot faster than we normally do. Cold weather might have helped? This was first run since before winter break. 23 weeks preggo.

Jan. 13
Who: Ran with Ali
Distance/where: 1.6 mile route by school
Temp: 67 degrees
Time: 16:11
Pace: 10:06 mile
Notes: Decent run. Belly felt heavy today and asthma was somewhat present. Talked entire route.

Jan. 15
Who: Ran with Ali.
Distance/where: 1.6 mile route by school.
Temp: 72 degrees.
Time: 16:15.
Pace: 10:09 mile
Notes:Felt good and decided that we needed to up the distance to 2 miles next week since we've been doing 1.5 miles for awhile now and our church 5k is the end of the month.

Jan. 18
Who: Ran with hubby.
Distance/where: 2 miles in complex.
Temp: 75 degrees.
Time: 16:40
Pace: 8:20 mile
Notes: Happy with pace, it felt really good and I picked up the last quarter mile or so. 24 weeks preggo.