Sunday, December 28, 2014

A Longish Run, Some Hills and a Track Workout



Week 6- December 21-27
Sunday- 9 miles at 8:30 pace
Monday- 0
Tuesday- 7 miles at 8:29 pace
Wednesday- 6 miles at 8:42 pace
Thursday- 3 miles at about 9 minute pace
Friday- 20 minute warm up, 14 minute cool down
          6x800 with 2 minute recovery
          Times: 3:26, 3:22, 3:19, 3:20, 3:20, 3:16
          Average: 3:21
Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:30 pace
          Then 3.1 miles at 8:11 pace
Total miles: 37

Week 5- December 14-20
Sunday- 7 miles at 8:44 pace
Monday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:45 pace
Tuesday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 8:30 pace
          P.M. 5 miles at 8:38 pace
Wednesday- 6 miles at 8:56 pace
Thursday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:45 pace
Friday- 5 miles at 8:38 pace
Saturday- 5 miles at 8:39 pace
          10x 40 second hills, with jog recovery
Total miles: 35

Comments: It feels nice to be getting back into somewhat of a running routine, with a Sunday ‘long’ run, and some faster paced workouts. I’m happy with my 6x800 workout, not about the times I ran, but rather that I got out there and did it knowing I wasn’t going to be near to what I used to run. It’s a good start, though. I have felt pretty decent running, except for my 2 miler at 9:45 pace (I felt so achy) and 6 miler at nearly 9 minute pace (that was after Isaac’s photo shoot where we spent about 4 hours in 90 degree heat so he wouldn’t be cold posing in his birthday suit).
Isaac’s sleep has been getting a bit better. We will sometimes get a four hour stretch of sleep at night. It’s amazing! It’s been a busy and wonderful couple of weeks with the holidays. This past week, Ian had off from work which was wonderful. Not only could I run in the daylight, but we could be together as a family and he could spend more time with Isaac. We absolutely love our little guy. Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Back to Running



Week 4- December 7-13
Sunday- 4 miles at about 10 minute pace
Monday- 5 miles at 8:58 pace
Tuesday- 4 miles at 9:04 pace
Wednesday- 4 miles at 8:29 pace
Thursday- 5 miles at 8:45 pace
Friday- 0
Saturday- 5 miles at 8:39 pace
Total miles: 27

Week 3- November 30-December 6
Sunday- 0
Monday- 2 miles with Lucy at about 9-9:15 pace
Tuesday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:49 pace
Wednesday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:58 pace
Thursday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:41 pace
Friday- 4 miles at 8:57 pace
Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at about 10 minute pace
Total miles: 14

Comments: It feels nice to be running again. The first few runs, I felt tight and achy and sore, but I’m starting to feel better now. I need to get back into stretching once I find time for it while caring for a newborn (actually, I’m stretching as I write). I’ve noticed that I’m not as out of breath while running. I mean, it’s a big difference. I don’t need to stop on hills anymore to catch my breath. What a difference it is not to have a baby pressing on my lungs. Ian went back to work this past week. Initially, my plan was to run before he went to work. But when you’re up all night, and 6am comes, the last thing you want to do is run. So I’ve been running in the evenings, and hoping once Isaac gets into some sort of sleep routine I can switch my running to the morning.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Welcome Isaac Emmanuel!



Weeks 1 and 2- November 16-29
Sunday- 4 miles at 9:30 pace
The remaining days- 0 miles
Comments: Isaac Emmanuel was born on November 17, at 6:19 p.m., weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and measuring 19 inches. Giving birth was truly one of the most difficult things I have done, and I have so much more respect for any woman that has given birth.
On Sunday’s run, I felt good. I started having more contractions throughout the day (looking back I know they were contractions). I started to not feel well that evening, and cancelled Ian’s parents coming over. I just felt off. That night, I began having more contractions. I couldn’t sleep, and kept the light on as the idea of even trying to sleep stressed me out. We kept track of contractions, but they weren’t the 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for one hour that we had been told was when we should go to the hospital. At one point in the night, I stood crying with Ian hugging me because I was in pain and wasn’t sure at that point I was having contractions. I felt like a wimp, and wondered how I could possibly give birth. I threw up a couple times, as well. My appointment was scheduled for 11 Monday, but Ian called to see if we could get in earlier, and we headed there for nine.
At the appointment, I had a non-stress test and ultrasound, and everything looked good. I had gone down three pounds since Thursday, as I hadn’t been able to eat or drink and had been throwing up. Then the doctor check and I was 5-6 cm dilated and was sent to the birthing suite. I felt relief at that point knowing I was actually in labor and not just being a wimp. My nurse talked to me about my birthing plan and I told her I didn’t want to have an epidural or c-section, but was open to nitrous oxide. She monitored my contractions, and told me I was having them every 2-3 minutes, but was only really feeling the strongest ones. I felt relief again there. My nurse suggested I try to eat some lunch since I hadn’t eaten. I had a couple bites of grilled cheese and tomato soup which I didn’t keep down. The doctor checked in and gave me the option of getting my water broken, but I decided to wait a bit. Around noon, I was about 8cm dilated and decided then to get my water broken. For the next two hours, I trekked through more contractions. Then, the doctor checked and I was only 8-9 cm dilated. I was devastated. I thought for sure I had to have progressed further. I was feeling exhausted after having not slept since Saturday night, and not having any food in me. At that point, I decided to use the nitrous oxide. It is similar to laughing gas, but it’s not an anesthesia. You still feel the pain, but you disassociate from it. From 2-4 p.m. I used the nitrous to get through the contractions. It heled me relax more and gather some strength. When it came time for pushing, however, my nurse took it away from me. She had been surprised by how much I was using, as your hand is supposed to fall away from administering it when you have too much. That happened a couple times, but other than that I was stuck to that mask.  I wasn’t pushing effectively because the nitrous was making me so relaxed. So for the next two hours, I pushed and cried and demanded a c-section and epidural and threw up on myself. The nurse was absolutely amazing in pacifying my demands, basically saying the doctor would be in soon and we could discuss it. The doctor used the vacuum to help the baby get by my pelvic bone. They thought he might be a bit asymmetrical coming out which was making things difficult. Then, at 6:19 p.m., baby Isaac finally arrived. Ian cried. I was in awe and shock and totally exhausted and thrilled I finally had a baby lying on my chest. I didn’t quite have the easy labor I was hoping for but I know my running 100% helped me get through 18 hours + of labor on no sleep or food.
          These past couple weeks I haven’t even thought of running. I may go next week with Lucy. I’ve gone out walking a couple times. However, my days are full of Isaac, holding him, nursing him, changing him, bathing him, taking him to doctor’s appointments, and being up with him all night (he doesn’t know that he’s supposed to sleep at nighttime). Several people have asked if I would keep this blog going post-birth, and I will definitely try. Now, it’s time to hold my little bundle of cuteness.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Still No Baby and Not Much Running


Week 41- November 9-15
Sunday- 7 miles at 9:27 pace
Monday- 2 miles with Lucy at 10:06 pace
Tuesday- 0
Wednesday- 0
Thursday- 0
Friday- 0
Saturday- 3 miles at about 10:15 pace
Total miles: 12
Comments: Sunday, my due date, came and passed with no sign baby was on his way. I felt great on my seven mile run. At my doctor’s appointment on Monday, I was not dilated at all, which at that point I was happy about. That morning, while running with Lucy, she pulled the leash hard in an awkward way. I felt something pop in my upper left back rib. I could barely move the rest of the day, and it was excruciating to get up from a chair or a lying position. Ian ordered me Netflix, and demanded I not do anything. My sister, niece and nephew visited Tuesday, which helped me to be entertained.
I did not run the next four days to help it recover. It’s feeling better now, just like I’ve been punched in the ribs. This morning’s run felt wonderful, loosening up my muscles and getting fresh air.
On Wednesday, I started feeling what I believe are contractions. I mean, they aren’t too pleasant feeling. But they’re not consistent. I had a doctor’s appointment on Thursday for an ultrasound and non-stress test. Baby and I passed with flying colors. The doctor said it couldn’t be any better. I guess baby just likes where he is right now. I was dilated between 1-2 centimeters (progress, right?), and they estimated baby is about 7 pounds 13 ounces, though that’s give or take 1.5 pounds (Please don’t let it be a nine pound baby!).
Ian worked from home on Thursday, and took Friday off since I was having more contractions Thursday night. Our next doctor’s appointment is Monday for another ultrasound and non-stress test. The doctor said they would probably look to induce me Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, which of course I didn’t want to have to do, but will if it’s for baby’s benefit.