Sugar High

Week 25-July 20-26

Sunday- 11 miles at 9:04 pace

Monday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:21 pace

Tuesday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 9:23 pace

          P.M. 5 miles with Ian at 9:03 pace

Wednesday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:25 pace

          Then 4 miles at 9:04 pace

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

          P.M. 19 minute warm up, 8 minute cool down

          5x1000m with 3 minute recovery

          Times: 4:09, 4:09, 4:09, 4:08, 4:09

Friday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:05 pace

          Then 3.5 miles at 8:57 pace

Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:20 pace

          Then 3.5 miles with Ian at 8:59 pace

Total miles: 45

Comments: Tuesday and Wednesday were both hot and humid days, so I put off my track workout until Thursday. I felt fine during the workout, and arrived home to Thai food and chocolate cake to celebrate my 33^rd birthday. The best gift from Ian was the two running tank tops that are long enough to cover my belly.

I had my glucose tested on Tuesday to screen for Gestational Diabetes and boooooo – my sugar was a bit high. Of course I got this information in the parking lot of a grocery store where I had just bought a bottle of juice. I never drink juice, but it was so hot and humid, and I was driving back from visiting my Meme and it was just soooo hot and humid that I needed (well, wanted) something more than my warm Nalgene of water!

The nurse gave me instructions for a diet I have to have before being taking the three hour diabetes test. Starting Saturday through Monday, I have to carb load, and in addition to three high carb meals a day, I need to eat one of the following: 2 slices of bread, a piece of cake, a candy bar or can of soda at EVERY meal. Talk about taking the fun out of junk food. It’s not nearly as pleasant when you are told to eat it. Not everyone seems to have to carb load before their 3 hour test. I did a bit of research online, and it looks like they are having me do it to get my body used to producing insulin after consuming a boat load of sugar. It seems recommended for those that eat a low carb diet. I don’t eat a low carb diet, but the carbs I do eat are usually from fruit or whole grains (minus that fro-yo I gravitate towards at night). I’ll ask the nurse and report back, as my “research” was basically from online forums and not true medical providers.

I ordered the Gabrialla maternity belt, though I didn’t need to use it at all this week. I didn’t have any discomfort or cramping while running. I feel like every long(ish) run or workout I do is a bonus. I definitely didn’t think I’d be running like this (okay-I know I’m going slower) so far in my pregnancy.

Baby Kick(s)

Week 24- July 13-19

Sunday- 11 miles at 9:07 pace

Monday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:34 pace

Tuesday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 9:50 pace

          P.M. 5 miles with Ian at 8:46 pace

Wednesday- A.M. 2 miles with Lucy at 8:51 pace

          P.M. 12 minute warm up, 6 minute cool down

          6x800 with 3 minute recovery

          Times- 3:16, 3:18, 3:19, 3:17, 3:17, 3:12 (average 3:17)

Thursday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:23 pace

          Then 3.5 miles at 9:17 pace

Friday- 7 miles at about 9:40 pace

Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at 18:48 pace

          Then 3.5 miles with Ian at 8:44 pace
Total miles: 45

Comments: I was pleased with my Wednesday workout. I thought for sure after last week, that my workout days were going to be over soon. However, I felt good during the workout. A local running club meets there on Wednesday evenings, and if we get there early, we see them. (They put on the Winter Chiller Racing Series during the winter). They congratulated me and Ian on being pregnant. It was really sweet and kind. It was humid for much of the week. I didn’t even want to push the pace on my runs. I was content to slog/swim through. On Friday, I was feeling some discomfort in my lower abdomen, so I took breaks walking at times. I think it's time to start looking at maternity belts.

I truly felt the baby kick this week. I had been feeling things that may have been kicks, but I was never sure. This time, my belly moved. And Ian got a chance to feel the baby kicking as well. Overall, I’ve been feeling well, though Lucy has been barking us awake between 4:20 and 5:00 a.m. almost every morning. At first, Ian would go down to her, but we’ve started ignoring her in hopes she will get the hint that she shouldn’t bark in the morning. Good training for us, I guess! I was able to see my grandmother during one of her PT sessions, which made me feel grateful, though she just wants to be home.

Slowing Down

Week 23- July 6-12

Sunday-11 miles at 8:54 pace

Monday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9 minute pace

Tuesday- 7 miles at about 9:25 pace

Wednesday- 25 minute warm up, 19 minute cool down

          4x600 m with 2:30 recovery,

          4x400 m with 2 minute recovery

          Times- 600’s- 2:31, 2:33, 2:33, 2:36

                   400’s- 97, 98, 1:40, 98

Thursday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:03 pace

          Then 5 miles at 8:57 pace

Friday- 2 miles with Lucy at 8:58 pace

          Then 4 miles at 9:14 pace

Saturday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9 minute pace

          Then 3.5 miles with Ian at 8:47 pace

Total miles: 45.5

Comments: I am definitely slowing down. It was a pretty warm and humid week, so I had to take it easy on my runs. I wasn’t in the mood to go much faster than I did this week. I try to embrace that being pregnant means slower paces, but still, sometimes it’s a bummer when you feel like you’re running 7:45 pace only to see 9:15. I felt best on my long run; Ian again brought me water and this time an energy bar. It was warm for my track workout, so I cut back what I had planned to do, and went much slower.

My Meme has been ill, which is really difficult. She was in the hospital, then transferred to a rehabilitation center, both in Manchester. I went to visit five days this week, and Ian came with me three of those days, so I’ve been in a car a lot. I hate to see her sad. She’s 93 and has always taken care of herself, and to have others have to help her out is difficult for her to accept. I’m grateful for the time I’m getting with her right now, though I ache so much to see her sad.

Happy Rainy Fourth of July

Week 22- June 29-July 5

Sunday- 12 miles at 8:57 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:38 pace

          Then 6 miles at 9:08 pace

Wednesday- 3 miles at about 9:30 pace

Thursday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:07 pace

          Then 6 miles at 8:44 pace

Friday- Keene 4 on the 4^th

          10 minute warm up, 22 minute cool down

          4 miles (actually 4 miles minus 42 feet) in 26:48 net, 26:46 gun

Saturday- 5 miles at about 9:30 pace

Total miles- 43.5

Comments: It was mostly a hot and humid week, which my paces reflect, with the last two days gratefully cooler. Ian brought me water on my long run at miles 4.75 and 9. I couldn’t think to stomach a GU so I had a mini Hershey bar at miles nine. I also paused three times on the run for about 20 seconds when going up steep hills, just to make sure I wasn’t huffing and puffing.

Wednesday ended up being a washout. I ran with Lucy in the morning, but in the evening it kept pouring, thundering and lightning. Every time I thought there was going to be a break in a storm, we’d get more thunder and lightning, thus I couldn’t get a workout in.

Luckily, Friday was much cooler for the Keene 4 on the 4^th. As Ian and I started driving to the race, it started down pouring, but I didn’t mind so much as it was much cooler. I knew I would croak in the heat. And, I was secretly hoping no quick women would show up so I would have a chance at winning first! Once we arrived, we got our numbers, warmed up, and stretched. I used the bathroom three times. Then we saw a woman who just ran a 2:37 Boston Marathon, so my hopes to place were dashed.
The rain eased up at the start of the race. I went out feeling incredibly slow. I thought for sure I must be running 8 minute pace. I wasn’t out of breath. I remember looking down at my watch thinking a mile must have gone by already, and it had only be 4:39. I just couldn’t move my body. I got to the first mile mark at 6:51, with several women ahead of me and needing to pee so badly. My main goal was just to finish the race and get to a bathroom. I thought for sure I wouldn't place in my age group, and that didn't matter a bit to me at that point. I missed the two mile mark, if there was one, and at the 3 mile mark I saw my time was 20:15, so I was pleased I hadn’t completely slowed down as it felt I had. Ian was by me in the race and finished about a second or two behind me. Of course he could have sprinted by me, but he knew I am ridiculous enough to want to beat him and so he didn’t want me sprinting to the finish. I finished the race in 26:48. The race is short 4 miles by 42 feet, so good luck finding out what pace I ran. I’ve come to the conclusion (with coolrunning’s resource calculators and an actuarial analyst as a husband) it is about 6:45 pace, or maybe a second faster. So I’m satisfied with the race, and that I got to the porta potty in time to pee after it, and I ended up winning my age group. I was eighth woman overall. All those women ahead of me were in their teens and twenties. I’m getting old.
Oh, and a side note, I am so grateful for Alysia Montano talking about her experiences running while pregnant. Just wonderful.