Running Pregnant: Week 32

Baby Germain is the size of a head of lettuce
This week's craving: I've been craving citrus fruits... Probably not related to pregnancy, just a normal summer time craving for me... but that's it
This week's aversion: After all the sweets I just ate, I'm putting that on the aversion list... just for today (Sunday)



MONDAY- 0 Miles-  I Almost was talked into a run with my sister, but I just needed a day off from running after the race. I had my last monthly (now bi-weekly) appointment for the baby in the morning, so I took a half day from work. I got an extra 30 minutes of sleep or so and it was nice to not be so rushed when my body was still sore from the race. My glucose test results obviously came back normal (otherwise I would have heard from them a month ago) but I was curious about my iron. Once again, my iron and B-12 levels came out "spectacular! Whatever you're doing for vitamins, keep it up!"... SO I'll share that with you! I'm vegetarian, and when I became pregnant with Raea my husband did a lot of research to make sure I was never deficient (I suffered from B-12 anemia badly when I first became vegetarian so this was a big concern). My husband graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2007(?) maybe 2008... Anyway. With Raea I was a champ with the vitamins and with the green smoothies EVERY DAY. But I gotta admit, I've slacked with this kid. Not only in the green smoothies department, but the week I had my blood work done I had run out of my iron supplement and it's SO EXPENSIVE I had to wait until the end of the week to get it... so I was shocked with all the running I've been doing that I was still well in the normal range. What am I taking? : FLORADIX. This has been a game changer for both of my sisters in their running as well. Even if you're a meat eater, the meat industry is so.... terrible... that unless you are purchasing the top of the line stuff, it's likely you're also not getting enough B-12 or vitamin D because the animal you are eating is not eating well... SO, whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or carnivorous, I highly recommend talking to your doctor about Floradix and giving it a try if you've struggled with iron. If you're not sure, here's a link to some tell tale signs you are anemic or iron/b-12 deficient. A simple blood test can confirm! When I got home at night I worked on some pelvic floor exercises. I got some shit on instagram for laying flat on my back while pregnant. *disclaimer* I'm not a doctor! What works for me may not work for you or be advisable for you!* Don't take my advice as gospel! I've researched a lot for some pelvic floor exercises to prevent diastasis recti (which I'm afraid of getting this time around for some reason... I think the somewhat subsequent births and the fact that I'm measuring in the 86th percentile). I do often do exercises on my back. I read it's not great, and that I should do them standing against a wall... BUT the truth of the matter is I just simply wont do them if I have to stand at this point. I don't stay on my back long, and roll to my side between. Also, I'm usually either a. In a yoga class with an instructor to help me, or b. on the couch where I'm slightly inclined. It just so happened when I took the picture on Monday I was also so sore I rolled out so my yoga Mat was there, and the bachelorette was on. Bottom line: It's ALL GOOD. I'm laying down because I'm tired, alright?!  


TUESDAY- 5.1 Miles, 9:42/mi After last week I wasn't going to miss count. I knew I had a busy weekend ahead, and also knew I had some weekdays off... So I front-loaded this week kicking it off with an easy 5 miler. I felt good even thought it was super hot. Fortunately my parents have finished installing the pool, so I have a place to cool off immediately after. I was tiredtoday. I had to be up a bit earlier for another  doctors appointment. This time I needed to get an Ultrasound to check on the baby's kidneys (they were dilated for the previous two ultrasounds) and I'm very relieved that both kidneys are now in the normal range and I wont need to worry about future interventions! Every day a little bit of stress is removed I feel a little lighter (which is weird because I'm getting SO much heavier!) Weighing in at 160lbs now! I've gained 30-35lbs. Can't be sure, I never really weigh myself or put much emphasis on exact weight... but based on pre-pregnancy performances I'd have to guess I was just under 130. Anything less than 125 I'd get injured, and anything more than 130 probably wouldn't have gotten me those XC PR's 


WEDNESDAY 3 super slow pathetic miles. Last day of work sucked. Packing, firedrills, nervous kids on move up day (where they meet teacher for the next year) and worst of all, a bus that was over an hour late. Yes... and HOUR late on the last day of school! (where's my overtime!!?)... Needless to say, this did not make me want to run... BUT I did it. Albeit slow, I did it. 


THURSDAY: 5.1 easy in the middle of the day: We have so many baby shower errands today! I dropped Raea off for Day Care and then started listing out the things I needed. Went to get my sisters Jane and Caroline for a day full of errands. Standing on my feet shopping didn't make my legs want to run, but we all had to get something in so during the peak of the heat, as soon as we finished the errands, we headed out for our runs. Caroline and Jane did 5 together.. and I thought I could go with them but I was just too slow. I was able to do a progression run though, even though in the end I only averaged 9:40's. Hopped in the pool after, did some hip drills using the water as resistance, and then got Raea at Day Care. Then went back to my parents to continue setting up and cleaning for Mary's the baby shower. 



FRIDAY: 5.1 at night, this run was very worth my while: My husband was finally home at the same time as me! (although he had to go to New Hampshire eventually). He got a morning run in... I was going to head out right after him but the only running I could think about was running errands for our baby room (most of my focus this week has been on Mary, but I'm still having a baby, too! So I have my own things to do!). I"m glad I waited until night time, because there was a light rain that kept it a bit cooler. I went out for 3, but ended up looping for a full 5.1 This lowered my weekend mileage a lot, which is awesome because Mary's baby shower is definitely going to make me tired and I'll feel like skipping. 



SATURDAY- 5 miles at a slow ass pace. Mary is in town for her baby shower. More and More errands and decorating... and another midday run. It's been nice to have my sisters around to watch Raea while I run, but I'm missing Matt. He's gone up to the White Mountains for a bachelor party. Perfect weekend for him to do this because my weekend is so jam packed with girl stuff. I had a really hard time convincing myself to do this run, I just took it a half mile at a time and just kept telling myself Sunday was going to be easier all around if I had less miles to do. I needed to do 5. I focused on just running out 2.5 and then if that was too much I'd walk back and still count the mileage. I managed another gradual and slow progression run and was really relieved to get in the pool after and do some pool drills. Man, I love the damn pool. 




SUNDAY- 3 easy morning miles:   Mary and Jane both slept over my house. We crafted until 1am and then Jane got up early for her 7.5 miles. I wasn't too far behind her (once I got Raea settled with Mary) and headed out for my 3. I ran out and back on the route I sent her on knowing I'd probably bump into her. She passed me just before I hit the 1.5 turnaround mark. She later came back for me and ran the last .5 at my turtle slow pace. I'm pretty lucky to have three sisters that all get along. Caroline normally would be with us, but she took her first ever flight all the way over to Ireland for a vacation with her friend. She's only going to feel a little left out that she missed the baby shower. 


**TOTAL MILES: 26.3** 
This week was for sure easier on my body. Not having to work everyday allowed me extra time to roll out or to do some exercises in the pool and to not always be in a rush. I also was less tired day to day so getting in a midweek 5 miler was easier; I didn't have the stress of running 6, 7, or 8 milers just to hit my goal of 26.2 per week. What was unique about this weekly marathon (compared to the rest) was the elevation gain I made! Since more of my runs are from home, my elevation is significantly higher. I ran 1,805ft this week (the next closest was 935ft). I did run one pretty substantially hilly route, but the other routes are some of the flatter roads I live near. There aren't a lot of (or any) flat options from where I live... which often deters me from running out here! However, I welcomed the change of scenery... I've been running basically the same 2 or 3 routes from my parents every day so the 2 or 3 runs from home were kind of nice!

Additional Work: Pool Drills 3x this week. Rolled out 2 x, and pelvic floor exercises on Monday.



Looking Forward To: A week OFF. Totally OFF! No wedding, no baby shower, no work. No NOTHING. I just need one down week before I head into a big wedding weekend in the beginning of July. I had a ton of fun at my sisters shower, but it was A LOT of work, so I'm relieved to have completed it all and I'm ready to REST

Gender Prediction: Well, for Mary's shower we did some old wives tales for gender prediction. I came up 50/50 for mine, but for the "ring test" I came up boy... and it was 8/8 for my mom so that means it's 100% accurate. Still going with boy ;) but both my husband and I love the idea of Raea having a sister! (the ring test also says I'll have 4 kids, which I'd love... but that means I either remarried or my husband is getting a HUGE promotion! Hopefully the latter! hahahah!)


Total Pregnancy Miles: 869.7

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You can follow me here: c_mom_run_fast 
My goal is to:
a. inspire, empower, and share my story with others since there is VERY LITTLE on running and competing pregnant out there 
b. Just to get my fat ass out the door each day and the more followers I have the more I feel like I have an obligation to go! Whatever works! Those of you following and commenting are helping me more than you know! 


Thanks again for your support!