I had a really good 20 mile run on Sunday, December 16th. Little did I know it would be my last long run for a while….
We are past 15 weeks and had our next big doctor appointment.
The good news is everything is going well with the baby. We got to hear the heartbeat and we hope to know the gender by the end of January.
At this appointment I brought along my training log to share with the doctor how I have backed off my miles to 40 a week and slowed down my pace. I wanted him to hear about my plans to still run the Goofy Challenge slowly. I wasn’t ever expecting his blessing. I know a doctor would never be in a position to advise something as “safe”, since really anything can happen. I was hoping however that he would review my information and tell me how to be as safe as possible. Things like how much to hydrate, eat, the proper heart rate to maintain, perhaps advise run/walk….things of that nature. Instead of getting advice for being safe in order to complete the races, he instead said I shouldn’t participate at all. It was tough to hear and I did my best to negotiate the situation. I’m running very comfortably now and I would make sure to not run any harder, in fact I would be extremely conservative. He wouldn’t support it. He reminded me that the first trimester the baby is small and still forming. Now that the baby will be growing much larger, he is not comfortable with my version of “moderate” working out going forward. He said that while I’m comfortable running long distances, the baby isn’t. He said that there isn’t a way to know for certain if the oxygen to the baby could be compromised with extended activity. And he wasn’t supportive of gambling on any sort of risk.
He had advised me that my 2nd trimester I would need to cut back my running volume by 1/3 and then again at the final trimester. I was just hoping it would be after this race. My version of “moderate” would have to change now. No Goofy Challenge, no more long runs, my pace would have to slow down again, and my running volume needs to come down a 1/3.
I never want to put my baby at risk, but this was still hard news to hear since I am feeling so good and I was looking forward to running as long as possible. Now I would be cutting things short while I felt great, it was hard to comprehend.
It took me a while to even write this post because it’s not how I expected the next 5 months to go.
I tried to convince Rob that we could still go and I would watch him race, but he wasn’t into it. He didn’t want me have to watch him doing the race we planned together, plus I can’t ride many rides when we would be there. I was still okay with going, but I understand where he is coming from. So Goofy is off the books for 2013.
So now what in the running department? I have to say after this first week of cutting back, it feels like I’m recovering from an injury without the actual pain. I savor my much smaller and slower runs. I get to do yoga and lift weights. I can mix in swimming and cycling here and there, but I haven’t done that yet.
I am also shopping my fall marathon. I think it will help to get a race on the calendar so I can focus on it post-baby. Also, I will be using the free time to focus on the nursery and other items around the house.
With the lower/slower miles I can’t say this blog will be very interesting. I will still post progress on the baby and some home project stuff. Rob is starting work on our next airplane so I will have info on that to share soon too.
Now off to plan for fall 2013….
Chase:Every:Second 
Bummer 😦 But hopefully it’s all for the best. Any way you can defer your registration to 2014?
By the way, you look amazing! Definitely have a lovely pregnant glow 🙂
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Thanks Maggie! No deferring, oh well. 😦
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I know exactly how you feel!!! If it makes you feel any better, I am having a hard time finishing 4M these days. Honestly, it is hard trying to lighten up on something you love, but eventually your body will be making the decision for you. We just need to think about the health and safety of cute little ones along for the ride 😉
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You are totally right. It’s been good for me to be able to follow your progress and experiences along the way.
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Hang in there…your body is making a human being!! That’s gotta be like running a full everyday….minus the chafing. Well, maybe not. Anyway, sending positive thoughts your way!
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Lol, thanks Curt!
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I can imagine that I would feel the same way. The good news is that this is temporary. Knowing that you and Rob are avid runners, I know you guys will find a way squeeze in racing with a baby. And wouldn’t it be fun to set some new Baby Jogger PRs????? So, you roughly have 5 months, just think of it as a really long taper…
HUGS! You’re going to be such a great mamma!
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Thank you so much Rebecca!!! 😀 Now I hope when we finally get to meet you at a race that you will also get see our little one! 😀
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I’m so sorry to hear that. I plan on being a mom some day and I also plan on running throughout my pregnancy (depending on the doctor’s thoughts). I can only imagine how hard that would be to hear. Wishing you the best of luck as you continue on your journey and I’m looking forward to hearing more about it!
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Thank you! Yeah I’m sure every doctor’s take on this is different. I know my doctor is being conservative, but I have to respect that and put our baby first. It’s hard to back off when everything feels good. But planning our baby classes and my fall races has helped me focus on all the fun things coming!
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Lower mile running is probably very hard, but it will all be worth it in the end! Can’t wait to hear updates on the baby and enjoy the running that you can do, however fast it is!
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Thank you! I appreciate it!
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Hi Christine,
I noticed that you chose the Monumental Marathon for 2013, great choice! They put on a terrific event! Enjoy this time with Rob and getting the house ready for your new addition to the family. 🙂
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Thanks Susan!! Will you be running Monumental in 2013 by chance?
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Hi Christine,
I won’t be at Indy this year as I registered for my first 50K! 🙂 You should have great weather as Indy is an early November race, which usually means cooler temperatures. By the way, there’s a great Mexican restaurant called Adobo, which is perfect for an after race celebration!
I know that our paths will cross soon! We are both Maniacs now and we seem to pick the sames races, so it’s only a matter of time, right?!
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Very true, maniacs have to cross paths! 🙂 So where is your 50K? Is it the Lakefront in Chicago by chance? Rob may try that next year.
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Hi Christine,
I’m doing the Flatlanders 6 and 12 hour run in St. Louis. Very small, the cut off is 70.
Check it out. It’s a flat 1.4 mile asphalt loop around Fenton City Park. I
http://stlouisultrarunnersgroup.net/?page_id=8
I would love to have some company out there! 🙂
Susan
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