A baby bump photo!

24 weeks and 3 days, taken Tuesday night after my 7 mile run on the treadmill.

Boston Marathon Training: Week 7

Here I am 24 weeks pregnant and 7 weeks into marathon training.  Will I even be able to run the marathon?  Who knows, but I am enjoying the fact that I am pregnant but still having weekly long runs while carrying an additional 18lbs on my once slim frame.  It makes me laugh when I think of the few emotional break downs I've had during this pregnancy.  Each on has to do with running. 

Last week went pretty well. My mileage was lower than where I wanted it to be, but I am still satisfied since I only ran 4 times. 

Here is how the week's training went.

Monday: 15 minutes stair stepper, 25 minutes AMT machine (intervals at 20% resistance & 4 % resistance), Upper body strength training (bicep curls, tricep dips, lateral pull down)
Tuesday: Rest Day
Wednesday: 8.28 mile run outside early AM, upper body strenth training (shoulder press, lateral raises, upright row, push ups, planks) PM
Thursday: 6.5 mile run treadmill early AM
Friday: 3 mile run treadmill & yoga class 45 minutes, early AM
Saturday: 18 mile run outside AM, ran the Rock CF Half marathon course + 5 miles, VERY windy!!
Sunday: 45 minutes elliptical (intervals 4% resistance/1% incline & 8% resistance/10% incline), Upper body strength training (biceps, tricpes, shoulders, chest) afternoon gym session
Total Mileage: 35.78 miles

Boston Marathon Training: Week 5 & Week 6

I am not so sure I should be using this is a title.  I highly doubt I will be traveling to Boston, but until I know that's 100% a no-go, I guess it's ok to keep this title.  Technically, I am still training as if I will be running a marathon. 

Aside from my emotional break down last week, the past 2 weeks have gone fairly well.  I've been attending yoga on Friday mornings and really trying to get at least 1-2 good strength training sessions in.  I had a great 17 mile run during week 5 and ran my first race of the year during week 6.  It was only a 4 mile race, but with how my pace has been, I was almost embarrassed to run it considering last year my time was 28 minutes for 4 miles!  I actually have a  much better time than I expected!

Here is how my last couple weeks wrapped up.

Week 5 (Jan. 30-Feb. 5)
Monday: Pilates, biceps
Tuesday: 8.27 mile run - early morning outside; stretched & foam rolled PM
Wednesday: 8 mile run - early morning outside; push ups, foam rolled, stretched PM
Thursday: 3.35 mile run - PM outside testing out new shoes, push ups
Friday: Yoga - early morning
Saturday: 17 mile run - AM outside at Willow Metro Park
Sunday: 7.2 miles stationary bike, upper body lifting (biceps, triceps, shoulders), Abs - AM Gym
Total Mileage: 36.62 miles

Week 6 (Feb. 6-Feb.12)
Monday: 6.2 miles - PM outside, windy!!
Tuesday: push ups
Wednesday: 7.25 miles - PM treadmill, slow w/ walk breaks
Thursday: Circuit training at home - PM (biceps, shoulders, triceps, chest, abs, squats)
Friday: Yoga & 3 mile run - early morning at the Gym
Saturday: 9 mile run - AM treadmill at the gym
Sunday: Riverview Winter Fest 4 mile + 1 mile warm up (race results below)
Total Mileage: 30.45 miles

Riverview Winter Fest Race Results:
Time: 34:59
Pace: 8:44
A/G Place: 8th/29

Here is a picture of my running buddy Jeff and I after the race.  The #1 is because he is celebrating his victory of finally beating me at a race.  It took me getting pregnant for him to do so. LOL!!

Link to other photos

Finish Line photo

One mile mark

another one mile mark photo



I cried at the gym.

Yesterday I made the decision to run on the treadmill. When I run in the afternoon and evenings I have to pee more frequently than I do in the mornings. I needed to be near a restroom at all times.

Anyway, Chris was there lifting weights and I was running on the TM. Well, my run was going awful. I had a pain in my right foot, gas cramps in my stomach, stopped to pee twice within the first 2 miles and I was getting completely frustrated.  Chris walked over to talk to me and I lost it. I started crying, telling him how frustrating it is to see how slow and how hard running is when it used to come so easily and I could run much faster than I am now. So here I am sobbing while running on the treadmill!   People must have thought I was nuts.

Needless to say, after 3.5 miles and having a good cry, my last 3.75 miles were faster and pain free.

I also cried Monday when out for a run with Chris. It was the first time in 5 years that he was faster than me and it upset me so much that I started to cry. I told him how upset it made me to see his backside since running is MY thing.   I am the fast one, not him. 

On a positive note, I did run 132 miles for the month of January. 

Boston Marathon Training: Week 4

or should I title it "non-Boston Marathon Training"? 

Last week wasn't what I had hoped for.  5 days of running turned into 3 days of running.  36 miles turned into 28 miles.  and 2-3 x's of strength training turned into a couple days of doing push ups and 1 day of core work.  I wish I had a good reason why last week turned to crap, but I don't.  I was lazy and slacked off.  I chose sleep over running.  I did attend an early morning yoga class that I will be adding to my weekly training/work outs.  So that is a plus!  I also turned a 14 mile run into a 16 mile trail run.  so again, another plus.  But still, not anywhere near the mileage I wanted to be at.  I will definitely use this coming week to get back on track.  No more slacking off!

Here is how last weeks running and training went.

Monday: 4 mile run - treadmill PM at the gym, push ups 4 x 10
Tuesday: core work; modified planks, straight arm planks, side oblique crunches, seated crunches, Russian twists w/ 5lb weight
Wednesday: 8.02 mile run - outside early AM
Thursday: push ups 6 x 10
Friday: yoga class
Saturday: 16 mile trail run - snowy, icy, wet
Sunday: not a thing!  hello laziness!!
Total Mileage: 28.02 miles

Pathetic.

The road to Boston...a dead end?

As I get further along in my pregnancy, the more I am starting to realize that Boston may not happen for me this year.  I've shed many tears over this.  This journey was 2 years in the making and now I may have to bow out.  I know it is only a marathon and I know I can work hard to qualify again but its still hard to swallow.

My dad and husband have both made very valid points on why I may want to consider not going.  I am going to take it day by day because, as of now, I feel great!  I am much slower than I used to be (most long runs being around a 9 minute per mile pace), but otherwise I am running all my scheduled training runs using the same plan I used to BQ.  I have had to omit the tough hill and speed work I used to do, but have supplemented by adding quick pick ups to my shorter runs. 

I don't know.  Part of me thinks I can do this but another part of my thinks that maybe holding off is the best thing to do.  Do I really want to walk majority of the marathon?  Probably not.  But to cross the finish line, earn that medal and buy my 2012 jacket makes me think absolutely, I'll walk for that! 

Only time will tell. 

Boston Marathon Training: Week 3

Another week done.  Although, my road to Boston may be more like a dead end.  I'll get more into that another time.

My shins have really been bothering me lately.  Almost every time I run, they hurt until about 2-3 miles in, then the pain goes away. I've tried everything to alleviate it but I personally think its the pregnancy. I think my body, stride and form is changing to compensate for the extra weight.

Anyway, here is how last weeks training went.  it was a cut back week but I still managed closed to 30 miles.

Monday: 4.5 miles run - afternoon on the treadmill, triceps
Tuesday: 5.5 mile run - AM 2 miles on treadmill, 3.5 miles on indoor track
Wednesday: core work
Thursday: 6.5 mile run - AM treadmill, planks, crunches, push ups - PM
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 3.1 mile run - AM treadmill, upper body lifting
Sunday: 10.30 mile run outside on the snow covered roads. 
Total Mileage: 29.31 miles
Total Strength Training: 4

I'll leave you with a couple photos taken Sunday after our run.  I am definitely showing!!