Lots of Energy

I don't know where all of this energy is coming from...definitely not from sleep because a full night of uninterrupted sleep is something I haven't had in a long time. Perhaps it is the two iron pills I am taking a day to combat my anemia. At any rate, I am NOT complaining.

I finally feel back on track with my workouts. I am not saying that I am doing amazing things on these workouts, just that the frequency of these workouts is more what I wanted them to be.

For example, Monday I went on a run with Bill, Tuesday I did my prenatal resistance band DVD and Wednesday I even got some weight training in! Tonight I plan on another run with Bill, another DVD on Friday and then Saturday we are planning on a nice, long run. (Long being like 5 miles, which will probably take forever).

I just can't figure out my runs lately though, and I've pretty much given up on trying to do this. I mean, last week I was hardly working out at all and I felt GREAT on my little run. This week it was a bit rougher. I stuck to my intervals (3 minutes run and 2 minutes walk) but it was a lot harder. I do still feel like I'm running up and down instead of forward. It's kind of crazy. At least last time I didn't have any crazy back pain afterwards.

I really really want to sign up for another NYRR race, probably the Fitness Magazine 4-miler. But I don't know. I would be 36 weeks by then, so it's probably not a good idea :) I don't really want to go into labor in Central Park. Unfortunately, August races are few and far between (I'm not really up for any more half marathons :) , so I think my racing career might be put on hold.

Bill thinks that when I do get back into racing next year that I will be crazy. I think he's right. I told him I'm going to come back from a practice run and be like "BILL! I was hitting 6:45 miles! For 5 miles!" and then the next week I'm going to be like "I don't understand...why can't I go any faster than 10 minute miles! For 2 miles?"

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.

Working Out

All right. It needs to stop being so damn hot here. Really. I am following my rule of "no running unless it is less than 85 degrees out" which is meaning "no running". It's not even less than that in the morning. I guess it wouldn't make a difference since I feel like I need my sleep more than I need my running.

So what HAVE I been doing? Lots and lots of DVD workouts.

But here are some things that I am calling "accomplishments":

• I am still working out in my 7th month of pregnancy!
• Working out actually makes me feel GOOD
• I am gaining weight and inches perfectly, (according to my doctor) which I attribute to the working out
• I don't look pregnant from the back
• I actually have to make modifications to my third trimester workout video to make it harder (I don't use a chair to balance for the squats, lunges, stretches, etc)
• I can stand on one leg to do my quad stretches for 45 seconds without losing balance!
• My belly is still rock solid! (although like a big, round, rock)

I also have really been digging these things called labor lunges. They are SO COMFY and relaxing. They are meant to be done in the delivery room to relax you, and when I heard this in the second trimester I was like "What?! I don't think so!" But now I am truly considering them for that. (I couldn't find a link to describe what I am talking about...basically it is a wide second position plié where you rock side to side, bending deeply in your knees.)

Some lady at the running store also told me to stock up on GU for the delivery room. Why? You need the calories and can't eat solid food! She said her sister swore by this when she was in labor for 17 hours.

Also, it seems like Kara and Paula are making people realize that you can run while pregnant...well, maybe only in the running community, but it's a start. NYRR even has a pregnancy article now! So take THAT all of you chastisers! (Actually, I haven't met too many, but the ones that I do tick me off!)