Fun with Bun on the Run: June 2014

Week 20: June 15-21

Sunday-12 miles at 8:42 pace

Monday-0

Tuesday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 8:54 pace

P.M. 6 miles at 8:44 pace

Wednesday- 19 minute warm up, 20 minute cool down

6x800 with 3 minute recovery

Times- 3:11, 3:08, 3:11, 3:11, 3:11, 3:07 (average 3:10)

Thursday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 9:04 pace

P.M. 5 miles at 9:11 pace

Friday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 8:48 pace

P.M. 4 miles at about 9:30 pace

Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:35 pace

Then 3.5 miles at 7:55 pace

Total miles: 45.5

Comments: What a busy, fun week. Ian brought me water at mile 4.5 and 9 on Sunday so that I didn’t need to wear my fuelbelt. This helped a lot, both mentally and physically. Getting to see Ian on the run makes the run go by faster, and not having the fuelbelt press on my bladder is wonderful.

I felt a bit sluggish on several of my runs, mostly because it was a busy week. Tuesday was Ian’s and my second anniversary! We celebrated with Thai food, and cupcakes and fudge. Looking at our wedding pictures and our wedding montages was very sweet. Ian's so kind and giving and laid back, and I just feel so lucky he's my husband! We met while working at Marathon Sports when I was getting my masters degrees in Public Health and Social Work at Boston University. I got a part time job there, and was often in the Cambridge location, where he was the manager. I'm very blessed we were brought together.

I felt good during my workout on Wednesday. Ian said something to me that was really special. He said he was proud of me for keeping up my running. He said he’d rather me come home from work and take a nap in order to have a good run, rather than coming home and sitting on the couch and maybe just walking. His support means a lot to me.

I can’t believe the school year is over. The fourth graders had their graduation on Thursday, and then Friday was the last day of school. The PTO put on a wonderful luncheon for us, and then one of the teachers had a BBQ at her house in the evening. Needless to say, I put on 2 pounds this week, which makes my weight gain about ten pounds for the first half of my pregnancy.

Week 19: June 8-14

Sunday-12 miles at 8:42 pace

Monday-6 miles at 8:42 pace

Tuesday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:53 pace

Wednesday-20 minute warm up, 17 minute cool down

5x1000m with 3 minute recovery

Times- 3:58, 3:59, 3:57, 3:58, 3:56; average 3:58

Thursday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 8:45 pace

P.M. 5 miles at 8:44 pace

Friday- 6 miles at 8:54 pace

Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:30 pace

Then 3.5 miles at 8:03 pace

Total miles: 45.5

Comments: I’m definitely starting to slow down on any runs with hills, which is the majority. The 8:03 pace I ran on Saturday was on a pretty flat bike path. I felt good during my workout, too, likely because it’s on a perfectly flat track. I’ve never been good at hills, but even more so now. I go about 9:30 or 10 minute pace going up the hills. I just can’t move! I’m not even half way to having this baby!!

I feel pregnant now, as far as having a belly. I have lunch duty with the Kindergartners every day, and trying to bend down to pick something off the floor is a test of acrobatics to try not to crunch my belly. I have to bend down with one leg in the air, the other leg going into a lunge, use one arm for balance, and with the other arm reach and pick up the straw wrapper or rolling grape, then kind of swing my leg in the air to get momentum to stand up straight. One of my coworkers saw me and told me not to pick things up from the floor, but I think I can make it with only one more week left.

Week 18: June 1-7

Sunday- Well School 5k in 20:12

16 minute warm up, 33 minute cool down

Monday- 2 miles at 8:58 pace with Lucy

Tuesday- A.M. 2 miles at 8:39 pace with Lucy

P.M. 7 miles at 8:26 pace

Wednesday- 20 minute warm up, 22 minute cool down

6x800 with 3 minute recovery

Times- 3:11, 3:09, 3:08, 3:07, 3:06, 3:06; average 3:08

Thursday- A.M. 2 miles at 8:56 pace with Lucy

P.M. 5 miles at about 9 minute pace

Friday- 6 miles at 8:45 pace

Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:30 pace

Then 3 miles at 8:33 pace

Total miles: 45

Comments: I was fairly pleased with my race on Sunday, except that I really wanted first place! However, I wouldn’t let myself push it (baby’s safety means more) and kept to a comfortably strong pace. I saw a woman ahead of me and all I could hope for is that she would fade. But she didn’t, and I settled for second. The course is where I run almost every day, so it was nice to know how long a hill would last, etc.

I was a bit tired/achy for many of my runs this week, except the track workout where I felt really good. I haven’t been stretching as much lately, which I think is the problem. I need to get back on track with that and make my former P.T. proud. He’s the one that got me addicted to stretching last year before my marathon when I was having a lot of hip pain.

I wore maternity pants twice this week. My dress pants just felt too snug, and my classroom at school gets so incredibly hot so I was desperate for any way to be more comfortable. One of the other Title One teachers set up a fan for me which I was grateful for. Overall, I’m pleased with my race and track workout, and content with the rest of the week. I definitely am starting to feel pregnant.

Week 17: May 25-31

Sunday- 12 miles at 8:24 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- A.M. 2 miles at 8:45 pace with Lucy

P.M. 6 miles at 8:09 pace

Wednesday- 7 miles at 8:33 pace

Thursday- 8 miles at 8:02 pace (including 8x1 minute hard/easy)

Friday- A.M. 2 miles at 9:15 pace with Lucy

P.M. 4 miles at about 9:15 pace

Saturday- 2 miles at 8:23 pace with Lucy

Then 3 miles at 8:13 pace

Total miles: 45

Comments: It was a pretty uneventful week for running. I didn’t do a track workout because there were lacrosse games going on both days I had wanted to go. Last year, I would have pummeled out a workout dodging people and lacrosse balls, but this year’s a bit different now that I have a baby inside me.

When Lucy and I were running on Saturday, she stopped as a car was driving up behind us. She’s scared of cars. Before we got her, she had a broken back leg, and I wonder if it was because she was hit by a car. But there’s not much information on her as she is a rescue dog from Mississippi. So anyway, we stopped for a second to let the car go by, and right in front of us were two small animals at the end of a driveway. The car pulled up beside me and the man said they were foxes and living right there in the front yard of the house. They were cute, but hopefully their mother wasn’t around.

I had another doctor’s appointment on Tuesday. The APRN said the baby was moving a lot, and later that day, I think I may have felt it, or maybe it was just gas. My blood pressure was 112/70, I have gained 6.5 pounds so far during the pregnancy, and the baby’s heartbeat is 146 beats per minute. The APRN said it was fine to use a fuel belt for now during my long runs, even though I feel a bit bruised/sore afterwards. She said the baby wasn’t going to be hurt by it as long as I was comfortable.

This is the first week where a pair of my dress pants felt snug. Hopefully, I’ll make it through the next three weeks without having to go out shopping.

Week 16: May 18-24

Sunday- 12 miles at 8:29 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- A.M. 2 miles at 9:30 pace with Lucy

P.M. 6 miles at 7:55 pace

Wednesday- 6.5 miles at about 9:15 pace

Thursday- A.M. 2 miles at 8:32 pace

P.M. 16 minute warm up, 16 minute cool down

4x1200m with 3 minute recovery

Times: 4:53, 4:52, 4:50, 4:45 (average 4:50)

Friday- 4 miles at about 9 minute pace, part with Lucy

Saturday- 6 miles at 8:01 pace

Total miles: 45

Comments: I felt good on my long run, though I had to stop and pee about five times. The first half of my usual six mile run is mostly uphill, so I go slow on the way out, but then pick it up on the way home. For example, on Saturday I ran out in 25:44 and back in 22:20. It was raining on Thursday, so Ian and I drove to the track, and when it let up I got my workout in. Ian stayed in the car until my cool down, studying for an upcoming actuarial exam. I felt great during my workout. Overall, I’ve felt pretty good running this week and even have to hold myself back a bit.

Week 15: May 11-17

Sunday- 3 miles easy in D.R.

Monday- 7 miles at 8:38 pace

Tuesday- 13 minutes easy (about 1.5)

6 miles at 8:22 pace

Wednesday- 7 miles about 9 minute pace

Thursday- A.M. 2 miles at about 9 minute pace with Lucy

P.M. 18 minute warm-up, 20 minute cool down

3x1600m with 4 minute recovery

Times: 6:30, 6:28, 6:21 (average 6:27)

Friday- A.M. 2 miles at about 9 minute pace with Lucy

P.M. 3.5 miles at about 9 minute pace

Saturday-6 miles at 7:59 pace

Total miles: 45

Comments: I was a bit tired this week getting back to work after traveling back from the D.R. Ian and I were lucky enough to have a few people from the wedding on our flights which made them actually enjoyable. My stomach was off for the whole week-likely an unwanted souvenir from the D.R.

I’ve decided to start taking Lucy out in the mornings for a short run. She’s home all day by herself, and I want to make sure I tire her out in the morning so she doesn’t have a bunch of pent up energy. I have a bit of guilt for leaving her home alone, too. Usually I wouldn’t count anything under three miles towards my mileage, but I’m giving myself some slack for being pregnant. I figure by the end of pregnancy, I’ll be happy to get a two mile run in.

On Thursday, I told my coworkers that I was pregnant. Oh my goodness. What amazing excitement and support there was! It was pretty wonderful. I also loved hearing stories of fit women talking about the exercise they did during pregnancy. One swam a mile 24 hours before giving birth. It just feels reassuring, and also they had easy pregnancies.

My workout went well on Thursday. I felt fine, and having a porta pottie so close was a pregnant runner’s dream. The 1600’s felt easy, and the weather was nice out.

Ian and I hiked (most of) Mount Monadnock on Saturday. I still hadn’t been there since moving up here from Boston nearly two years ago. We turned around where the White Dot Trail met the White Cross Trail. I was getting tired, and maybe my blood sugar was getting low, but I didn’t feel like eating. It was a beautiful day out! So overall it was a good week. I napped a lot, and have started to go to bed a few minutes earlier so I can get up for Lucy.

Week 14: May 6-10

Sunday- 14 miles at 8:37 pace

Monday- A.M. 3.5 miles easy (half with Lucy), about 9:30 pace

P.M. 5 miles at 8:07 pace

Tuesday- 3 miles at 8:39 pace

Wednesday- 5.5 miles easy in D.R.

Thursday- 5.25 miles easy in D.R.

Friday- 6.25 miles easy in D.R.

Saturday- 4.5 miles easy in D.R.

Total miles: 47

Comments: Ian and I headed to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday to celebrate the wedding of his best friend, Harris. I wasn’t sure how much running I would get in, which is why I didn’t bother taking Monday off. Surprisingly, the running was bearable. The weather was hot and humid, but we went slow, like 9-9:30 pace. There was a path at the resort that we ran on and it was completely flat which was helpful, but it was also a bit boring. The path was about a mile long so it was back and forth, back and forth. One of Harris’ cousins joined us on Saturday for our run and it was great to have company. He is planning on running the Hartford Marathon, and listening to him talk about it was so exciting. He asked if I was training for anything, and I had to bluff and say I had to start thinking about something soon. It was Ian’s and my plan to not let people know we’re pregnant, as we didn’t want to take anything away from Harris and Jasmine. It was their time. We did pretty well, except one of the guests, a nurse practitioner, guessed it, along with Jasmine’s father which Ian and I were dumbfounded. This is likely the only time we’ll go to an all-inclusive resort as I'm more of a backpacker, and of course I couldn’t drink a sip of alcohol or enjoy coffee (decaf doesn’t seem to exist there). However, it was a really special time and I’m so happy for this amazing couple!

Week 13: April 27-May 3

Sunday- 12.5 miles at 8:42 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 9 miles at 8:12 pace

Wednesday- 7 miles at 8:22 pace

Thursday- Track Workout: 20 minute warm-up, 30 minute cool down

3x1600m with 3 minute recovery

Times: 6:27, 6:27, 6:29 (average 6:28)

Friday- 6 miles about 9-9:15 pace

Saturday- 7 miles at 8:10 pace

Total miles: 50

Comments: What a week! I was offered a long term substitute position for the rest of the year at the elementary school as a Title 1 teacher. It has been a wonderful whirlwind. I love PES. I love the teachers and staff there and the students. It is such a joyful place. The other two teachers in my room have been wonderful at helping me dive in, and it is so exciting to see the activities and lessons that can be taught to the children to help them become fluent readers. Of course, I have gone home and collapsed on the couch for a nap before I could manage to run.

More important, though, is that Ian and I heard out baby’s heartbeat! So it is real! We saw a different doctor than last time (we will see everyone in the practice so whoever is on call the day of the birth will know us). He was very supportive of my running, including my long runs and track workouts. He said he had been doing a lot of reading lately on pregnancy and running, and that most people should be fine as long as they’re not absolutely gasping in order to talk a bit. So I made sure to talk to myself every now and then during my speed workout. For the rest of week, my pace dictated how I felt. I was tired on Sunday and cut my run short. And Friday, I was tired after a long week so went very easy, running the first couple miles with Lucy. I feel great overall.

Week 12: April 20-26

Sunday- 14 miles at 8:16 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 9 miles at 8:06 pace

Wednesday- Track Workout: 21 minute warm-up, 15 minute cool down

4x1200m with 3 minute recovery

Times: 4:50, 4:56, 4:53, 4:56 (average 4:54)

Thursday: A.M. 3 miles easy (second half with Lucy)

P.M. 5 miles at 9 minute pace

Friday: 5 miles around 9 minute pace

Saturday: 7 miles at 8:28 pace

Total miles: 50

Comments: I felt great on my long run, I think because it was Easter-the holiest day of the year, and also I knew I was excited to tell my family that I’m pregnant. The weather was nice and I got out early to run. I took a fuel belt again, and drank about 24 ounces. It was great to tell my family that I’m pregnant, especially for the support. One of my sisters said she didn’t get morning sickness which made me feel better because I really haven’t. I just get nausea and have some food aversions. I just don’t feel pregnant, which worries me!

It was windy for my Wednesday workout. I felt decent, though after the third repeat, it felt as though a golf ball was bouncing in my belly. I felt fine when starting the fourth repeat. It was probably just gas. I know I likely over think things, and worry a lot, but it’s hard not to. I’ve always had stomach/abdominal cramping while running due to Ulcerative Colitis, but now when I feel it, I worry about baby. It will be good to go to the doctor next week.

I went down to visit my best friend, Kate, in Plymouth, MA on Thursday, and we ran together in the evening which was nice for two reasons: 1. It was a flat route and especially 2. It was great running company.

I felt a bit tired on Friday (I had driven back from Plymouth) and Saturday I was still a bit sluggish (I think due to it being cool and rainy), but overall I had a decent week.

Week 11: April 13-19, 2014

Sunday- 14 miles at 8:49 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 7 miles at 8:07 pace

Wednesday- 8 miles at 8:03 pace

Thursday- 1 hour slow (last twenty minutes with Lucy) 6.5 miles

Friday- 1.5 mile warm up with Lucy; 7 miles at 8:17 pace – 8.5 total

Saturday- 6 miles at 7:54 pace

Total miles: 50

Comments: I felt even better this week as far as strength. I have been napping a lot. I basically come home from work and crash on the couch and Ian has to pry me awake to go running. I was going to do a workout on Thursday, but my body said “No, thank you. I don’t have the strength,” and I listened.

It was nice to get up to 50 miles this week. I hope to stay around 45-50 until my body doesn’t want to or until the second trimester. In Exercising Through Your Pregnancy, the authors state that in “well-conditioned, regularly ovulating athletes, the best approach is probably to keep this component [endurance] constant through these two phases [preconception and first trimester]. The volume should be similar to what it was before the woman began attempting pregnancy” (Clapp & Cram, 2012, p. 140). I’ve obviously decreased the intensity of my runs, and run how I feel that day. On Sunday, I felt drained and just wanted the run to be over. I took a bit of water and 100% juice with me, but I don’t think it was enough. (I try to avoid Gatorade as it upsets me how they market Gatorade to make water look like an enemy. Just what the obesity problem in America needs). On Saturday, however, I felt great. I ran the first 3 miles at 8:30 pace, and the last 3 miles just under 7:20 pace. My ten mile and fewer runs are typically out and back courses and the way out is mostly uphill. The way back has great mountain views I can enjoy as I’m running downhill.

On Saturday, Ian and I went down to Boston to pick up my number and packet for the Boston Marathon. It was wonderful to see our former co-workers from Marathon Sports at the expo, and I never felt threatened in the city as I thought I would. I felt a different type of spirit, as if people were looking out for others.

We started considering having kids back in December, but my plan was to train for Boston. The winter was horrible, and I was also nervous to do 22 mile runs in case I was pregnant. Then, three months later we were pregnant so that finalized that I would not run it this year. I’m watching the marathon now on t.v. and know one day I will run it.

Week 10: April 6-12, 2014

Sunday- 8 miles at 8:17 pace

Monday- 5 miles at 8:07 pace

Tuesday- 8 miles at 8:22 pace

Wednesday-5 miles at 8:15 pace

Thursday- Track workout- 17 minute warm up, 17 minutes cool down

6x800m with 3 minute recovery (took 6 minutes after second 800 for bathroom break)

Times: 3:05, 3:09, 3:13, 3:12, 3:11, 3:09 (average 3:10)

Friday- 7 miles at 8:27 pace

Saturday- 5 miles at 7:38 pace

Total miles: 45

Comments: It’s amazing how much better you feel when you have fluids and food in your body! I started feeling better at the beginning of the week, and improved steadily. I vomited once on Sunday night, but it felt more pregnancy related than stomach bug, and it was right after taking those nasty prenatal vitamins. I gained back two pounds which puts me back at my pre-pregnancy weight.

Thursday’s track workout felt amazing. It was so good to be back on the track. I just love the precision of knowing exactly how far you’ve gone and how far you have left. My body felt great during the workout, but I was a little nervous throughout it because I wanted to make sure I wasn’t pushing hard. I continuously checked on how I was feeling, and again, I ran strong, but not hard. I was definitely breathing harder than normal runs, but held myself back and would make sure that at any point I was breathing steadily and not panting. I checked my heart rate after the repeats and it never seemed to be higher than the 130’s. I know that the number of 140 is an old myth, but I am trying to use any advice that is out there.

Week 9: March 30-April 5, 2014

Sunday- 50 minutes slow (5+ish)

Monday-0

Tuesday- 21 minutes slow (2+ish); puked on the run

Wednesday-0

Thursday- 3 at about 9:30 pace

Friday- 4.75 at 8:34 pace

Saturday- 50 minutes (5.5ish)

Total miles: 20.25

Comments: Holy Stomach Bug. I don’t know who’s making up that it only lasts 24-48 hours, because this lasted all week. I was so weak Sunday while running, hence no long run. I vomited all over my bedroom floor the night before. Pleasant, I know. Even more pleasant for Ian who cleaned it up. I couldn’t eat much all week. Ian went to the store three days in a row, trying to get things that I might actually be able to keep in me. We did best with saltines, Outshine strawberry popsicles (I let myself eat them even though I had given up sweets during Lent), and water and 100% blueberry pomegranate juice mixed in a 3:1 ratio. I dropped four pounds this week (down to 113) because I could barely eat or drink anything, which frightened me a bit. I know I have plenty of storage, but still, you always read how you’re not supposed to lose weight during pregnancy.

We had our first prenatal appointment on Wednesday morning. I was so dehydrated they couldn’t get my blood at first. Two nurses were trying on both my arms, and nothing was coming out. I had a bottle of juice/water that I made myself drink during the visit with the APRN, and they were able to get some blood at the end. I liked that the nurse practitioner didn’t flinch at all when I said I was running 45-50 miles (except for this week due to the stomach bug), and that it was completely normal. Finally, we’re in the 21^st century.

Week 8: March 23-29

Sunday- 14 miles at 8:39 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 7 miles at 8:15 pace

Wednesday- 9 miles at 8:08 pace

Thursday- 7 miles at 8:25 pace

Friday- 5 miles at 8:24 pace

Saturday- 8 miles at 7:32 pace, with 6x3 minute pickups, 3 minutes easy jog recover

Total miles: 50

Comments: I felt weak on my long run, and took it very easy. I ended up feeling tired much of the week while running. On Saturday, I felt decent so I did a workout and felt really good, which was a nice surprise.

Week 7: March 16-22

Sunday- 10.5 miles at 8:17 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 9 miles at 7:50 pace

Wednesday- 7 miles at 8:20 pace

Thursday- 63 minutes total (7 +ish); tummy problems kept me from breaking any records

Friday- 6 miles at 8:20 pace

Saturday- 7.5 miles total; 11 minute warm up, 5 minute cool down

5.7 mile race in 38:13 (6:43 pace)

Total miles: 47

Comments: My shoulder was still bad on Sunday, but finally got better during the week. Saturday’s race was another Winter Chiller. I felt decent during the run. There was another female with me up until maybe the last three quarters of a mile. If I started to push it, she would respond. I knew it would be a sprint to the finish if I challenged her, so I ended up just keeping my pace, so as to not overdo it.

Week 6: March 9-15, 2014

Sunday- 14 miles at 8:24 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 8 miles at 7:53 pace

Wednesday- 7 miles at 8:23 pace

Thursday- shoulder hurt too much to run

Friday- 7 miles at 7:58 pace

Saturday- 7 miles at 7:42 pace

Total Miles: 43

Comments: I had a joint pain in my shoulder this week and didn’t sleep much (neither did Ian, as he was helping me either get out of bed/turn over or was getting ice for me). I’ve been getting them since diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 15. I had been cutting back on my UC medication, which is why I think I got the joint pain. I’ve broken a few bones before, been hit by a car while riding my bike, but nothing compares to these joint pains I get. I usually take Prednisone for a few days and that helps, but now that I’m pregnant I can’t take my go-to medication. I caved and took Tylenol twice.

Week 5: March 2-8, 2014

Sunday- 14 miles at 7:56 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 8 miles at 7:50 pace

Wednesday- 5 miles at 8:18 pace (roads snowy, slippery);

Thursday- 8 miles at 7:28 pace, with 12x1 minute hard, 1 minute easy

Friday- 6 miles at 7:55 pace

Saturday- 8 miles total, 22 minute warm up, 22 minute cool down,

3.3 mile race in 20:32 (6:14 pace). I have a feeling it was more of a 5k (6:37 pace)

Total Miles: 49

Comments: We found out we were pregnant this week! I’ve been feeling good, and making sure that none of my runs feel hard, but rather “strong.” During the race on Saturday, I would check my breathing to make sure I wasn’t struggling, and just running strong. These are little fun runs (Winter Chillers’ Series), put on by the local running club during the winter.

Fun with Bun on the Run

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Welcome to Belly Shirt Land

Fun with Bun on the Run

The First Half