lofty goals

I was never a fast runner.  In fact up until February of last year I wasn't a runner at all.  Little by little I have started though and have gone further and further and further.  Now I can say that my longest is 9.25 miles.  Not bad for a beginner, huh?  :)

I have bought the clothes.  I have bought the running shoes.  I even have a sweatband circa 1980.  :) 

I have never been all that fast and I'm okay with that. 

However, this pregnant 'time' is WAY slow and really hard for my ego. 

Crazy, I KNOW it is.  I'm lucky that I can still run at all.  I am lucky that even with a bit of morning sickness I strap on my shoes and hit the pavement with my ipod in tow.  But try as I might, I cannot get over that damn lady telling me on my runkeeper that my pace is 12 minutes 30 seconds.... or 13 minutes and climbing.  I hear her saying...  hurry it up you snail!  what are you, Lazy?  A granny could pass you! 

BUT... I also know how important it is to keep my heartrate down.  I've been mantaining a heart rate of under 150.  I have heard that with this training, I will eventually be able to run a 9 minute 30 mile. 

however, it's not so much about running fast right now but running in the first place.  So... with my very first half marathon coming up... I need to keep my goal in sight and not get discouraged.  Remember that it's about finishing, not about being first. 

So, me and Fiona.  (Fiona the fetus)...  we will continue to put one foot in front of the other and race on down the road.  :) 

8.96 miles

I try to keep my long runs to Saturday  mornings.  There is a group that runs at Trinity Park and they are great at motivating you plus they have water stations every two miles.  :)  

So, this past Saturday I got up at 5:30 am, ate some oatmeal and went to Fort Worth Running Company where the group meets. 

We set out at 6:30 and I moved back to the 12-13 minute per mile range so that I could keep my heart rate below 150.  I chatted with the pace leader and told him I was pregnant and had to keep my heart rate low and he said... keep at this and you'll be running a 9.30 mile in no time.  :)  Wouldn't that be nice?  :)  

It was an easy pace and I was really enjoying it.  The weather was PERFECT and even a slight bit chilly.  I had my water and had loaded up on my electrolytes.  I had used the bathroom and was ready to go.  I got about three miles into it and kablam.  I had to go to the bathroom.  :(  

There are no facilities on the trail.  :(  So... I broke away from the group and found a haven in a nearby Braums

and the guy must have seen my panicked look so he just pointed.  :)  

I then started back on my run...  and made it to the next water station so about 4.45 miles and turned around. 

By the end of my run I was starting to feel fatigued but determined to do 9 miles...  and I got so stinkin close.  I would have done another trip around the block but people had already started congregating back at the store and I would have felt silly.  :)  I know I know... my own issue. 

But, it felt great to do almost nine miles!  This weekend I want to do 9.25 and the exciting part is that I will be in New Orleans.  I LOVE running in new places!!!  Even if I did run there back in June...  it was so stinkin hot I couldn't do much.  This time... no alcohol the night before and better motivation.  Wish me luck! 

Mad at myself....

I am planning on working on my long run tomorrow because there's a running group through Fort Worth Running Company and it pushes me to go further.  So, I took today and yesterday off to prepare myself. 

I got all showered and dressed and walked outside and it's a whopping 77 degrees, overcast and PERFECT Running weather but ... oh well. 

Maybe I'll go for a walk later.  :)

My doc said....

So I had my first doctor's appointment this morning... a confirmation appointment.  We did the usual... pee in a cup...  talk talk talk...  stick me in the arm... pay your money and out you go.  :)  All in all, a good appointment. 

We will do the date confirmation in four weeks with a sonogram and OB appointment. 

Good news:  She's all for a VBAC (Vaginal birth after C-section).  I think with my healthy ways it will be a great challenge and one that I am up for. 

Bad News:  She told me that she doesn't love the idea of me running.  :(  I knew it was coming in my heart of hearts but I also don't believe her.  I feel like I have done a LOT of research on it and as long as I keep my heart rate under control (walk when I need to)...  I will listen to my body and forge ahead. 

I do have my dear friend checking with her doctor that she's on a first name basis with though.  She's battling a crazy Stage 4 melo something lymphatic cancer that's outside of her lymph system and she is amazing.  She leaves for Germany in a couple of weeks for her holistic protocol therapies.  And her doctor who is the head of oncology for the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is the one she'll ask.  :) 

So... for now, I am going ahead.  I really want to run my half marathon.  It may be slow (to keep my heart rate under control) but I will finish it!  :) 

First time for Everything

Let me introduce myself.  I am a mom of one and one on the way.  I am an ex smoker who quit when she got pregnant with number one.  So, it has been four years since I smoked and although I miss it sometimes.. .I do not miss being a slave to that cigarette.  I have been married for five years and have always been relatively active.  

It was about February that I started running.  Not well mind you.  I started running a 3 mile loop and making it maybe a half mile of that.  I vowed that I would one day be able to run that whole thing.  It is now September and I have worked up to running 3-4 miles consistently and as long as 8.6 miles.  I have run my first 5 k and have signed up for my first half marathon in San Antonio, TX.  

Two weeks ago, Sunday I turned up with this.  

So, I start a new era in my exercise routine.  I am still dedicated to running my first half marathon but now, I will be doing it with Edgar.  (I call it Edgar the Embryo).  I am early.  I am VERY early but I quickly went from a 10 min 45 second mile to pushing a 12 min 30 second mile.  I hate the slowing but now I have to very closely monitor my heart rate.  I can't have Edgar getting overheated.  

I am hoping with all of my heart to run throughout this pregnancy.  I hope to remain fit and active.  I also am hoping for a TOLAC (Trial of Labor after C-section) AND unmedicated.  Hopefully with the right work, the right doctor and the right training... I can have the birth my body was meant to have.  

So climb aboard and join this fun journey with me.  In the words of my gorgeous three year old son... 

ALL ABOARD!