Hi Pregnant Mamas and Pregnant Mama Supporters!

Thanks so much for your responses!

mayfield:  I totally hear you about being exhausted with running.  I have trouble doing more than 5-6 miles at a time.  I started doing 2 runs a day to keep my mileage up as long as I can and this seems to work pretty well.  It's pretty hard to find time though.  How long did it take you to get up to 65-70 mpw?  That's really awesome that you could do that EVER!  After this pregnancy, I'd like to get up to running 50-60 mpw and actually start training.  I don't think I have any sort of natural talent for running, but it would be nice to win even some local races once in awhile.     How did you fit the miles in with your little ones?

ktelsa:  My last doctor said the same thing about the bouncing not being good for the baby.  I think that is a pretty outdated school of thought though and doesn't seem to be supported by the scientific research that's out there.  The doctor I have now is educated about exercise in pregnancy and told me to run as much as I was before with some modifications (slower pace, limiting very long runs, avoiding very hot days.)  I'm 34 and run with a group of Moms where I live.  Some are older and some are younger, but more than half of our group is pregnant and they are all running.     Maybe there is another medical issue?  There are some medical conditions that limit or eliminate running during pregnancy.  Good luck to her though!   !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

Lieren: It's awesome you were able to get out there 4 weeks postpartum! That's my goal this time around. Last time it took me 4 months, but I was grossly overweight and totally out of shape by the time I had my son. My son was not a big fan of the stroller at first either. He still goes through periods where he doesn't like it, but generally enjoys it now. The best part is when I take it out and he says "run, mama, run!" !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

hturk: Congratulations to you! It's always really encouraging and inspiring to hear stories like yours. Thank you! !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

This week I didn't get as many runs in as I would have liked due to a work project and impending house guests who decided they are going to arrive a couple of days earlier than planned (eek!) I decided to call it a taper week though since the half marathon is this Sunday. I would be so proud just to finish it! I think I'll probably end up walking a lot of it, but just getting to the starting line will be great! I am running with a friend who runs 2 min per mile slower than me too, so hopefully that will make a difference. I've only been able to do 20 mpw for the past couple of weeks but I am going to start working my way back to 30 mpw next week.

I can't wait to hear your updates and thank you for your responses! !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

Anne

Hi Mayfield!

How are you feeling? Congratulations on your 7 mile run! I hope you continue to feel better and more zippy! !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

I 'ran' the half marathon with my friend almost 2 weeks ago and completed it, but there was a lot of walking, and it took an hour longer than it usually does for me to run a half marathon. I was glad just to have finished though. I think that's it for the half marathons for me though unless I start feeling MUCH better!

I think it's really awesome you can still run 7 miles without stopping! I run 2x a day so I can keep up my old mileage. The motivation not to gain an excessive amount of weight gets my butt out the door at times when it's usually not possible. I am typically like you, a big morning runner. I still try to get my runs finished in the morning. I run once at 4 or 5 AM before my husband goes to work and then again with the Mama running group at 8:30 AM. If worst comes to worst, I run in the evenings, but I really prefer the mornings too. I am only working part time and it's totally from home so I can take naps or I probably wouldn't be able to keep it up. I still haven't hit that 2nd trimester energy phase, I never did last pregnancy, but I am still hoping for this one since I'm just at 14 and half weeks.

I wanted to start a pregnant runners thread. Where would be a good place to post, do you think? I love hearing updates and it's really motivating to hear about other pregnant runners still running. !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

And Mayfield and Lieren, thanks for your recommendation for Dr. Clapp's book on exercising and pregnancy. I ordered it online and just finished reading it. It was AWESOME!!! It made me determined to run through the entire pregnancy...such great benefits! !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

Anne

Hi pregnant mamas and pregnant mama supporters!   !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

mayfield:  I'm sorry it took me so long to respond.  This pregnancy has made me pretty tired so when I have a spare moment, I tend to sleep.     So are you having a boy or a girl?  How is the running going?  Thanks so much for the tip about the Runner's World forum.  I'll definitely check it out!

yesican:  Wow!  That's awesome that you were able to run so long in your pregnancies with your kids!  I'm jealous of your low weight gain and early deliveries with both!     Thanks for your encouragement and inspiration!

Tamara40: Good luck with your decision to have a baby....so exciting! As for running while your pregnant. I belong to a group of Moms and half of us are pregnant and most run up until the very end. It's definitely a different kind of running though! !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

I'll be at 20 weeks on Monday and next week we go for our ultrasound and get to find out if we're having a boy or a girl...woohoo!!!

The running is going pretty well.  I've been maintaining 20-25 miles per week and am actually trying to get back up to 30 if my body will cooperate.  I ran a 10K a few weeks ago which was a lot of fun and am going to try to do a race a month, if I can, until the end.  I've slowed down a lot over the past couple of weeks, but it could be the heat and humidity.  I've been up and down with speed through the pregnancy so hopefully I'll pick up the pace again.     I was doing my long run a week ago, running up a long hill and looked at my GPS watch and saw that I was running at a 17 min mile pace.  I didn't even know it was POSSIBLE to run at that pace!  haha     Luckily, most runs aren't THAT slow!  I think I'm going to have to get one of those belly bands soon because I am starting to feel all that weight on my belly and having some extra support would probably be helpful. 

Any other pregnant runners out there?  Please post your updates too!     We'd love to hear from you! 

Anne