Week: 24
Waist: 36 inches (no change)
Feeling: Pretty good
Dare I admit it? Iβve been running throughout my entire pregnancy and with the sixth month almost upon us Iβm still clocking up around 12 miles a week. Itβs now clear I have a baby on board (pictured) and itβs amazing how many people Iβve been running past since we moved here 18 months ago have suddenly started smiling and saying hello. Which is heartening.
When I was expecting BB and carried on donning my trainers it wasnβt long before I discovered people seem to view pregnancy as some sort of illness, requiring one to sit on the sofa and eat crisps for nine months. I also discovered β and became increasingly infuriated by β people who dished out their advice on the subject despite having no medical knowledge whatsoever.
βIβm not ill, Iβm pregnantβ I would find myself saying over and over again. Having run six to nine miles at least twice a week for more than 10 years, there was no question in my mind that hanging up my trainers in favour of the sofa would be more of a shock to my system than continuing to pound the pavements. Every pregnancy book you find will tell you β assuming your blood pressure is ok – to continue your normal levels of activity as far as possible. Whatβs more, I love it. Why would I stop?
Of course thereβs a certain amount of moderation involved β while Iβm running for around an hour twice a week, Iβve cut my distance from nine miles to six, a snailβs pace for me. Hills are out – instead Iβm sticking to the nice flat promenade along the beach where we live β and where I used to aim for an effort level of 10 Iβm sticking to a maximum of 7.
As with BB, adapting from a fast runner who set myself speed challenges between lampposts and always incorporated a hill on the route has taken some getting used to, but at week 24 weβre bumping along nicely. Iβm alternating running with swimming, meaning I no longer do two runs in a row, and at my new slower pace Iβm taking in sights I didnβt used to notice and am appreciating nature a little bit more. Itβs also pretty much the only time the baby and I are on our own together – the perfect opportunity to think about and bond with the baby.
Iβd go as far as to say Iβm finding it easier at this stage than I did with BB: when I was expecting her I would have to include at least one loo stop on my route, if not two by week 24 thanks to her bouncing around on my bladder. (It cost 20p to use the public loos where we lived at the time β I often wonder if they ever noticed a spike in revenue). This time, however, Iβve had to make a pit stop on just two occasions, and that was weeks ago β the babyβs in a totally different position.
I ran until I was 36 weeks pregnant with BB,Β andΒ without a doubt this helped me recover from the birth faster than I would otherwise have done. While it would be great if I could do the same this time, Iβm not sure Iβll manage it. With the third trimester approaching I can feel my muscles softening, especially around my pelvis, and after each run itβs taking me longer to recover. But as long as itβs comfortable and Iβm enjoying it, Iβll continue.
I only hope the smiles and hellos from my fellow runners and walkers continue too.
If, like me, youβre a pregnant runner here are some links Iβve found useful:
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/staying-healthy/reader-to-reader-running-and-pregnancy/2420.html
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/staying-healthy/two-for-the-road/286.html
Wow. You have motivation. My idea of exercise is sex and that’s literally as far as it goes lol. I spend my day sitting on the sofa!!
Good for you!!! Wow! I wasn’t as hard core of a runner as you before I got pregnant. Mostly because I don’t run when it’s cold outside. lol But I’m almost 20 weeks pregnant and get out of breath just walking up the stairs. This is my second pregnancy, and it’s been rougher on my body than the first one was. I’m trying to do some yoga and pilates though. π
Great post!
I love running and was very active until I got pregnant with my youngest – I intended to carry on running whilst pregnant but we had some scares early on so I stopped. Getting back into it was HARD!! So glad I did though, nothing better than heading out with some music (bizarrely my idea of some peace and quiet!!).
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
Xx
Good for you, absolutely no reason why women can’t maintain their fitness regime during pregnancy if their bodies are used to it!
Wow I am in awe of you. Thank you so much for sharing this and linking to #MaternityMatters! I swam and did pilates all through my pregnancy and lots of people told me to slow down and not do so much but I honestly felt it helped with the sickness and also my frame of mind. And I think afterwards it helps with your self confidence and ability to return to ‘normal’ too. Having had another section this time around I was glad to have kept active during my pregnancy so that I wasn’t carrying too much weight during surgery too. x x x
Thanks for sharing your personal experience. When I was pregnant, I didnt do any physical activities or exercise that is why I had a hard time. I will definitely run for my next pregnancy and see how my body will adapt to it and help me during labor.