Well I'll be gosh darned!

I was under the impression, from my midwife and from the internet, that it was necessary for me to keep my heartrate under 150 while running.  Well, I have just found research stating that that is an old myth.  

Well smack my ass and call me petunia! 

I just found this article stating that this is a myth!  That if you are a current athlete and have been doing an exercise for long periods of time, as long as you can still carry on a conversation you are good.

Artal said that, in 1985, he and another doctor used intuition and calculation to determine the 140 beats rule. Six months later, when actual testing of women in a lab proved them wrong, Artal said he asked for the 140 beats notation to be stricken from the guidelines.

"For some reason, people caught onto that and they never let go," he said. "Each time I get asked about it, I said forget about it. I think it should be ignored."

Wonder how this will change my training for my half in two weeks.  :)

Running... one bathroom stop to another.

I have noticed that the biggest challenge to endurance running isn't going the actual distance... it's what to do with yourself when you are in between mile 3 and 4 and about 3 miles from the nearest bathroom.  This isn't normally a problem for the normal person.  Normally.  However, when you find yourself knocked up er  I mean with child.. well... that need all of a sudden becomes a dire necessity.  

It has gotten so bad that I find places to run that circle my house or public restrooms.  I literally plan my runs around a restroom.  I go once before I leave and usually can count the seconds til I return.  Where is that running zen I so covet?  

I am slightly worried that in San Antonio I will be reduced to a port a potty...  and I will be ok, not ideal but it'll work in a pinch.  

Do you think they will notice me running with my own roll of charmin?  

think anyone would notice the dress made out of toilet paper? no... really....    ???

Seriously...  I still enjoy my runs...  but you know it's desperate when you wish you'd worn your grandmother's depends.  

Maybe I am looking at it all wrong...  maybe the zen I covet is really....

snicker snicker

5 miles and three weeks

My very first half marathon is in three weeks and I'm excited but also nervous. My longest run is 10.55 miles and although 2.5 more isn't that many.... My comfort level seems to be around 5 miles. I like to stay close to a restroom (as after about 3 miles I NEED one)...  and I prefer to run at the park and well... bathrooms aren't as prevalent there.  :-)

This week I am home alone... without husband or child... so I am hoping to get up early and go for a 7 mile run and then on Saturday I want to run for 11.  That means that I have two weeks to kind of sustain before my marathon. 

My sister and brother in law just completed their first half and gave me some good tips...  and I know in my heart that it won't be bad, in fact it should be a lot of fun...  but I'm nervous.  :)  Mostly nervous about keeping my heart rate low (below 155 and it creeps up after about mile 3) and finding that bathroom when it's needed.  :)  And let's face it, I'm vain... I want to finish around 2.30 which was my goal before I found out I was pregnant..... 

Wish me luck and if you have any tips... I'll take them.  :) 

10.54 Miles

I am forging ahead with my goal of long runs on saturday's.  This past Saturday we were in Lufkin, TX where my inlaws live.  I arrived late Friday night and Joe having had a nice two hour nap was ready and raring to go.  :)  

We finally calmed him down about 11 and went to sleep...  I was so exhausted....  I barely made it through one Bob Builder.  I kind of thought that since he went to bed so late, he might sleep a bit later but nope.  :-)  Which was fine.  I wanted to go for my run and Jason was taking Joe to his cousins soccer game.  

They dropped me off at Crown Colony which is apparently the safest and nicest place to run...  and it has a 3.5 mile loop.  I hate loops.  But...  if this was the safest...  this I would do.  

The weather was perfect and I started out.  It was a nice hilly run...  and about half way through the first loop I stripped off my sweatshirt and had reached a nice pace.  Slow and steady but faster than I had been doing so I felt great.  I finished one loop and needed a potty break.  Got into the car and drove to McDonalds and used their facilities.  When I got back, I reversed my loop which was a lot harder for some reason.  

You ron along a golf course and the country club.  It's beautiful and mostly shady.  

However, I completed two more laps making my total 10.54 miles in 2 hours 14 minutes.  That last mile and a half was a killer though.  

I had chafing on my inner thighs... note to self... wear spandex shorts.  

I had sore feet... note to self...  probably time for new sneaks before the half.  

I felt great.  :)