Something fun to write about!

Because really, about all I've had time to do lately is to think about this whole, baby thing.  Which in and of itself is not a bad thing, it just means I'm kind of neglecting the things this blog is all about... mainly, running.

But, I actually have some running news to report!

Let me back up. I've been volunteering with the Women's Beginning group like usual.  I've been hanging with the D group Divas and trucking along at about 1:1 intervals.  Not too shabby.  I was up to about 10 miles/week.

Then I had some mild spotting.  Nothing serious, but the Doc said I had to lay off the miles.  Boo.

But, then she cleared me to run again after a couple of weeks, so yay!

Thankfully, it was just in time to run the Women's Distance Festival 5k - the goal race for the program!  This was my first-ever race in 2010, and I really wanted to be able to make this the baby's first 5k, too!

This year, the course was at Dorthea Dix campus and it was very, very hilly.  I fell in with a couple of C/D beginners and we trucked right along at about a 15:30/mile pace at 1:1 intervals.  It was hot, but not too bad.  The baby seemed to tolerate it well.  Some very mild cramping, but I think it was just a side stitch that is moved over because of all that's going on in my center section.  We finished in about 48 minutes (and the course was measured at about 3.25, so I feel pretty good about the time!

Here's a picture from before the race: please note the adorable shirt my husband peer pressured me into buying:

 

Me and my friend Jade.

In other baby news, I've got 18 weeks to go.  And it's a boy.  I hadn't even put that up here yet, had I??  Sorry!  He's quite the mover and shaker.  My regular pants definitely don't fit, though I did have a couple of pairs from when I was a bit heavier that work OK.  When we had the ultrasound 2 weeks ago, everything looked hunky dory (except for slightly low placenta, but that's no big deal at this point. Probably what caused the very minor spotting.)

I'll probably keep running, but maybe not quite so many miles.  I figure, 2 miles, on a flat course, a couple of times a week is still pretty good.  And that will keep my sciatic nerve from being a little bitch.  My husband has also been walking with me a lot now that the weather is getting very nice in the evenings.  I keep meaning to do some pre-natal yoga, but it keeps not happening.  I'm going to get 3 private classes to learn what I can and can't do, then hopefully attend some regular sessions.


Anywhoo, I'll keep you posted as we keep on this crazy journey!

Sarah

Running for 2 - Women's Program 2012

A slightly random update today...

So far, this year the Women's Beginning Running Group is doing SO well!  I think everyone is having a wonderful time.  Regan is doing a magnificent job coordinating the program.  Definitely putting her Type A tendencies to work! 

I'm running with D group this year because I'm supposed to take it a bit easy with the baby on board.  We've got a great group and they're improving a little each week.  They killed it up the big hill at Creekside today.

The group is going to be featured in Competitor Magazine!  We had a photographer come to take pictures today.  I'm glad we had a big group - probably close to 50 people.  It's been ridiculously hot, so I'm really glad people are sticking with it. 

Also, did I mention that it's been RIDICULOUSLY HOT?  I know, I know, NC in the summer.  But still. 

So far, I've felt pretty good about running with the baby.  I am being careful to hydrate a lot and not get *too* overheated - though I will admit I was pretty red-faced last Thursday!  I felt fine, but I was a little paranoid, so I'll be more careful from now on on the very hottest days.  I think the increase in exercise is helping me sleep, too, which is a major benefit.  It gives me a boost of energy right after, but I think I'm falling asleep faster.

As for weight gain, which, of course, I'm paranoid about, I've only gained 4 pounds, so I feel pretty good about that.  I'm trying not to gain more than 25 per the Doctor's recommendations.  We'll see.  I could eat carbs ALL DAY.  And there are a lot of veggies I'm still not interested in.  Especially spinach - which is weird, because that used to be my favorite!

I'm also trying to up my ab exercises - so far, so good.  I'm sitting on a ball at work too in hopes to get that core strength up just a hair. 

I've got to learn how to sleep on my side this week... every time I try, I wake up flat on my back.  I hear that it will be uncomfortable eventually, but that's not the case so far.

Anywhoo, I'm just glad everyone knows now and I can talk about it!  :-)

Sarah

Big news, folks!

So. There is a good reason I haven't been blogging.

I've been really tired, so I haven't been exercising.

I've felt a little sick, so I haven't been dieting.

I haven't been running because I'm not supposed to get over heated.

Because I am, of course, pregnant!!

See?? This is from 8 weeks, but we don't have another ultrasound until 20 weeks. I'm 14 now and everything is going "perfectly!" Our due date is January 27.

It's been such a whirlwind. I haven't quite wrapped my brain around it yet. There is so much to do! I've been feeling ok - just really hungry and tired. I spend my weekends sleeping and nesting. Work days are exhausting, but I'm lucky to have very supportive friends there. Preston, of course, has been amazing. He is going to be a fantastic dad.

Everyone is so excited to meet "Squishy!" it's been fun telling everyone the last few weeks. I'm glad I finally get to tell you here!

I am planning to stay active throughout. I 'm volunteering with the women's program this year, but bringing up the rear to be sure I don't push it. I plan to run the race with them in September- it's a major goal. I'll be almost to my third tri, but I think I can hang.

So, sorry i've been MIA this spring! Too much going on that I couldn't blog about. Now, I'll try to keep this more up to date as things progress!

Woot!

Sarah

IRELAND!

Hey!  So, I've been away for a while - in Ireland!  The trip was incredible.  When I get through all of the pictures, I'll post a few.  It was a fantastic trip.  It was great to get away and be completely incommunicado for a while.

I haven't been working out or running.  So.  Hence the lack of blogging.  Sorry.  I don't really have any excuses... I've just been lazy.  Work has been a bit crazy, but let's face it, not anything I can't handle.  I'm still eating well and haven't gained any weight. 

I'm looking forward to volunteering for the running program this year because it will hopefully give me some motivation.  I always gain strength from others.  (besides, because we start out slowly, hopefully it'll be a good chance to get back into the swing of things!)

I hope everyone is having a nice summer!  It's wicked-hot here.  (so really, running would be out this week anyways!)

We did walk A LOT on the trip, which helped balance out the really crazy diet of toasted sandwiches, ice cream cones, and Guinness.  :-)

Sarah

I'm still here!

But it's been busy, and I've been really exhausted.  Work has been really crazy.  I haven't been writing here because I haven't been doing much running. 

I finally got back to it today.  Just a shortie - 2 miles 1:1 with Shruthi (she's easing back in - good excuse for me to take it easy, too!) then another mile walk.  Then we hit the farmer's market for barrels of goodies.

It felt great.  I HAVE to make myself get up and go to the gym this week. 

But, in other news, I've actually lost a couple of pounds!  So maybe eating everything is actually good for you?  haha.  Probably not.  I'll pay for this later.  :-)

Hope y'all are well!

Sarah

Tough day

Today I had a tough day at work.  I was upset my whole drive home.

Two years ago, I would have called my husband, vented the whole way home, then called my mom and bitched some more, and then spent the evening just generally stomping and pissing about.

But.

That was two years ago.

Today, I called Preston, talked only briefly, and ran upstairs to change as soon as I got home.  I pulled on my favorite running skirt  and shoes, grabbed the ol iPhone, and hit the trail.

50 minutes, and 4 miles later, I was feeling much, much better.  I was calm.  I had time to work stuff out in my brain.  I saw bunnies (4 of them!) smelled fresh honeysuckle, and watched the creek go by.  I also ran without any walking intervals just to see if I could.  The extra challenge got out some of that excess energy.

You can leave a lot out there on the pavement by the creek in the woods.  It's a hell of a lot more productive than bitching about it all day.

Sarah

Review - my new stuffs!

I go through phases of not writing here.  Sorry about that.  I've been a little burned out at work lately and it's translating to this overwhelming desire to stay the heck off the computer.

But, I'm getting a little room to breathe at the office, so I'm back!  How're things?

I've been running, spinning, and weight-lifting my little heart out.  I even did a 2 hour class with Tom last week (if you've ever been to one of Tom's spin classes, you know that I am now a certified athletic badass for not dying).   Weather has been wack around here - it's been colder this April than it was in January.  WTF?

But, I've still been hitting that pavement, and I've got some new gear that I wanted to share with you.  (Also, opinions are my own and I'm not being compensated for this - just bought this stuff and thought you might want to learn about it!)

1.  I've officially journeyed into the world of minimalist shoes with these sweet Kinvaras that I scored after my half marathon for mere pennies.  They're a few seasons old, but for $40, it was a pretty great way to try this out.

Verdict? I don't hate them.  They're great for short runs, but my foot was a little twingie (that's the technical term) after a 4-miler, so I think I'll just use these for the short runs.  They also make a strange noise on the footfall.  I don't know - there's something weird about it.  Must give them more of a chance.

2. My new Happy Hour Skirt.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this.  Capris get a little warmish in the summer months, but I'm still super self-conscious about my thighs.  (I know, I know, I do love them, but that doesn't mean I want them all out there and stuff.)  But this bad-boy makes me feel uber-sexy.  For serious.

Verdict? Go buy one.  Now.  It doesn't slip, has handy pockets on the thighs under the skirt, and the shorts don't ride up.  For reals.  Go get one.  They have them at fleet feet.  I wear a Large, and it's just right.  (I'm a size 12 most places if that gives you a gauge.)

3.  Polar Ft4 Heart Rate Monitor - I bought this for 2 reasons: 1 - curiosity. 2 - REI coupon and Member dividend.  Good enough reasons for me.  I've been on the lookout for a while for a monitor - again, because I'm curious - and because I want to be more accurate in my calorie counts and knowledge.  I've worn it on 2 runs, a couple of walks, and spin class.  I was surprised how high it got running and how comfortable I still felt.  Bad?  I don't know, but I'm going to focus on keeping it in the "zone" and not letting it get too high.  They say that's a better way to endurance train, so I'ma give it a shot.

Verdict?  Nice to have if you're a data person.  I find it fascinating to figure out what I'm burning calorie-wise and if I'm phoning it in or really pushing it.  The aforementioned 2 hour spin class?  1004 calories. Yowza.  The watch itself is easy to use and the chest strap is pretty comfortable and is fabric, not plastic.  (But, remember, I'm used to a giant bra, so it wasn't that big of a difference for me.)  If you're in the market, I've been really happy with this model. 

Anyone else have some great new gear for the spring/summer?

Have a great week, all!

Sarah