Running...My New Sleep Drug

OK. This week I finally actually feel for-real pregnant. Mostly because I am back to not sleeping again. It is basically just impossible when you get up 7x or more a night (yes, I've counted).

I felt like I had tried everything. I stopped drinking so many liquids after 3pm (I would NOT recommend this to anyone but me...I am a camel I swear) and started just consuming ice instead, I ate at a reasonable hour, I do relaxing activities like reading before sleeping, I even gave up my favorite past-time...three rolls of smarties while reading in bed (which I share with my dog). NOTHING was working.

So last night I made Bill go on a run with me. I think he didn't really want to because he didn't get home until 8. He even texted me like "Are we still going on a run? I won't get home until 8." And I texted him back "YES. I was waiting for you and NEED to go on this run." Seriously, I am going stir crazy. And the workout videos are not even helping anymore.

Usually I welcome a week without running. It gets on my nerves a little, but not enough to actually do anything about it. But it has been too freaking long without a run! Stupid weather. (I am not "allowed" to run unless it is less than 85.)

So last night we went on our favorite short Riverside Park run, which is 2.5 miles. I actually felt pretty darn good (ok, pretty darn good for my new running norms). I notice that I am now running more up and down than forward, but hey, it's still running.

Even Bill noticed. He asked how I felt at our turnaround, and I think he was surprised to have to ask so late in our run. I'm usually huffing and puffing by then.

The secret? I think it is because I'm finking out on my numbers. I used to run 4 minutes and walk two, but now I am down to a 3/2 ratio, which feels much more doable. Oh well. At least I am out there I guess. I figure this is something that everyone goes through eventually because even NYRR said something about women starting off running in their 1st-2nd trimester, eventually moving onto a run-walk, and then a walk-run. (Besides, even with this ratio I am keeping a 14 minute mile, which makes me feel pretty good, because believe me, during the walk breaks I am in no way shape or form walking fast.)

One thing that does suck is that after a run my lower back hurts the rest of the night. I looked it up in my Running Through Pregnancy book but all it basically said was "Yes. Your back will hurt when you run while pregnant." They attribute it to all the relaxin and the fact that my posture is off. Oh well. It is really more of an annoyance than an actual pain, and besides, I will take that any day for the benefits of running.

And? I slept last night!!! I only got up....TWICE!!! That is a record for me.

They say the key is doing a run 3-4 hours before bedtime and that's what I did. Amazing! Makes me want to run every night.