Pregnant Marathon- An Update

Well, I did it.  I ran my third marathon.  Not only that, I ran it while 10 weeks pregnant.  Yay!!  So, how did it go?  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

Going in to the race, I had three goals.  The first was merely to finish.  I did not want to have to drop out of the race, and I wanted the sweet swag at the end.  The second, and this wasn't super important, was to finish in under 6 hours.  Normally my goal, which I've yet to reach, is to finish in 5 hours, but I was really allowing myself more time.  My last goal, and this one was fairly important was to finish feeling better than I had in the past.  In the past I've been in a significant amount of pain when I've finished.  I've been sick to my stomach and could think of nothing but sitting and sleeping.  My last marathon, in Minnesota, was particularly bad because I also felt unbelievably cold (a symptom of the weather and the hard work out).  I wanted to feel way better than that, and I wanted to recover quickly.  Well, I succeeded at all three!!!

The Challenges
The biggest challenge was that everything I had used in training all of a sudden had to be thrown out the window.  My energy gels made me sick.  Gatorade made me sick.  Running non-stop and shooting for a 5 hour marathon would probably kill me (or cause significant harm to the little person growing inside me).  Not only that, but I was significantly hungrier than I was a month ago.  I had trouble going 4 miles without getting something to eat.  What was I going to do for this marathon?  I had to quickly come up with a new plan, and I didn't have a long run to test anything on.

My second challenge was purely mental.  I really hadn't had a good run in a while.  I was tired and hungry, and I often felt kind of sick.  I was worried that I'd have trouble making it to mile 3, much less mile 26.2!

The Plan
Hans and I did some quick planning for food.  I might not be able to eat gels, but I could potentially handle peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  And I might not be able to drink Gatorade, but water was fine.  I could only hope this would be enough.  I honestly didn't know what I'd do if I lost too much salt or needed something other than PB & J.  What if PB & J made me sick?  It was a risk I had to take.

As for the mental thing, all I could do was tell myself I could do this.  I would take things much, MUCH slower than I had in the past.  Even much slower than I had on recent training runs, and I would hope for the best.  Hans and my friends were actually great about this.  I had a couple of friends try to convince me to drop to the half (something I almost did), but most just kept telling me I'd be fine and to trust my body. 

Overcoming the Challenges
Luckily, everything went quite well.  The PB&J was PERFECT.  I had two sandwiches cut in quarters and I ended up eating 5 quarters.  I probably could have had 1 or two more, but I did end up supplementing with a couple of Fig Newtons (which surprisingly didn't settle well) and a mini Clif Bar.  Hans and I had mapped out the route and he met up with me just about every 6 miles to make sure I was OK.  That was generally just enough for me to feel hungry and want a sandwich.

The biggest help for the mental thing actually happened at the beginning of the race.  I was really trying to decide if I just wanted to run slowly for as long as possible or if I wanted to try more of a Galloway method (run/walk combo).  As I was thinking about this, I heard two other runners chatting about something that interested me, so I struck up a little conversation.  As it turns out, they were part of a group of Galloway runners!!  I made a quick decision, asked if I could hang with them for the race, and we were off. 

Running with those other runners ended up being the best thing I ever could have done.  It gave me someone to chat with as I ran, and it helped me keep a more consistent pace.  Not only that, it gave me companionship when the race got long and I started to hurt.  However, those runners weren't the only support I had.

I already mentioned that Hans met up with me every 6 miles or so, but I didn't mention that my dad, my dad's girlfriend, and my mom all came out every few miles too.  I also had a few clients and friends that I happened to see along the way.  Lastly, though, for the last 5k Hans decided to run with me.  It's really the first time we've ever run together, and I was thrilled to see him.  To be honest, by that point I kind of wished he could have just carried me, but that's another story.  We were going slow, we were walking more than we should have, but we were together, and Hans was there for me.  By that point, I knew that, no matter what, I would finish the marathon, and I knew that Hans would finish it with me.

As we rounded the turn for the last hill I thought about last year.  Last year was my first marathon.  Last year I was simply happy that I could claim the title "marathoner."  I thought for a moment as to whether I felt differently this year.  Well, I was finishing my third marathon (goal 1), I was finishing in 5:45:20 (goal 2), and I felt tired but fantastic (goal 3).  Still, though, my answer as to how I felt emotionally is the same.  I can't believe I did it.  I can't believe that all those people, random strangers, other runners, my family, I can't believe they were all cheering for me.  That's a pretty spectacular feeling.

And now, some gratuitous photos!

Around mile 11

Mile 16 and feelin' good!

Happy to have finished!  With Hans on my right and Dad on my left.

Standing with the Canal Walk and the city in my background, I'm a 3-time marathoner.

Yep, I finished.

Oh, and one last note, baby is a 2 time marathoner already!!!

Pregnancy Update

First, I have to answer some questions.

I'm officially 9 weeks and 3 days along today.  It's early on, but that's OK.  I'm due June 14, 2014 (Flag Day!).

I have not experience any vomiting, but there has been plenty of nausea.  I also haven't had any consistent cravings, but my eating habits have definitely changed.  I'm eating smaller meals and lighter foods (lots of fruits and veggies).  Honestly, I'm kind of hoping that stays after the pregnancy!

Honestly, my biggest challenge has been eating enough.  I feel full after my meals, and there have definitely been days when I've over eaten or eaten less-than-healthy calories, but my runs are telling me I'm not fueling well.  I'm starting my runs on tired legs, and while I expect to slow down and feel the effects of pregnancy on my runs, I don't necessarily think I should be staring my runs feeling sluggish or worse, sore. 

So, the biggest thing I'm asking myself right now is, is this good for me and will it help my run?  Aside from that, I'm learning to stop asking myself, "Am I hungry or am I thirsty?"  Generally the answer to that one is yes.  I'm both hungry and thirsty.  So, instead of reaching for the candy bar (which really isn't all that appetizing right now anyway), I'm going for that bag full of grapes that I packed this morning.

I'm also making sure to pack tons of snacks for wherever I go.  Apparently, when I get hungry it quickly turns to feeling sick.  So, I always have almonds or grapes or raisins or something with me for a quick pick me up. 

Other than that, I'm just really tired.  That, plus the list of about 10 million things that keeps repeating through my brain has given me what most people refer to as baby brain or pregnancy brain.  Oh boy, has it hit full force!  I can't remember words, I lose track of what I was saying in the middle of a sentence, and holding a conversation of any kind is fairly difficult.  Mostly, what I'm thinking is, "That's nice.  Can I take a nap now?"  Actually, I have a funny baby brain story.  The other day, I came in to work and used the bathroom.  Apparently, I forgot to flush, never changed the roll, and locked the bathroom door as I was leaving the bathroom, thereby locking the rest of the staff out of the bathroom!  That was a little embarrassing.

All in all, though, life is good.  My running buddies have been great about my slower pace, and Hans has been super supportive.  I'm still planning to run the marathon this weekend, although I'm a little nervous about it.  I hope all is well in your lives!

A running photo from this past Saturday, and one of my favorites for the year.  There was a costume theme, hence why I'm wearing the skeleton shirt.

News

Well, I have some news to share.  First, the vacation went very well.  We were able to spend some much-needed time with Hans family, and we were able to take an even-more needed break.  I did end up running the Mankato Marathon, although I still didn't finish in my desired  time of 5 hours.  I blame myself, though.  I just didn't fuel well enough.  During a long run, one should really consume between 100 and 150 calories per hour.  Unfortunately, during the ENTIRE run, I only consumed about 200 calories (stupid I know).  So, I did great until about mile 20, and then I bonked...big time.  Oh well, my final time was 5:13:??, so not terrible. 

But that's not the news.  The news is...

HANS AND I ARE EXPECTING!!!!

Our announcement photo.  We announced on Halloween.

  Hans and I are fairly stoked.  In case you're wondering, the answers are:
Yes, this was planned.  Completely and totally.
Yes, we're going to find out the sex.
Yes, we already have names picked out.  Please!  We picked those out over a year ago.
And while we really don't care either way, I'm kind of hoping for a boy.  I'm not sure I'll be able to handle girl drama!  Still, though, as long as our baby is healthy, then I'm a happy mama.

We had our first doctor's appointment today.  Everything looks good.  The heartbeat is strong (171 bpm), and for the first time in my life I looked at an ultrasound and saw a baby, not just a sea monkey.

The top picture makes me think of a mermaid wearing a beanie.

I'm so excited, but I'm also still fairly scared.  It's kind of nerve-wracking knowing everything that could possibly go wrong.  Going in to this first appointment, I had so many worries.  What if there's no heart beat?  What if my positive at-home test was wrong?  What if, what if, what if?  I felt my blood pressure lower and breath release as soon as I saw the image of the little pup.  Today, as I walk around this chill, cloudy day, I seem to carry a secret smile.  What can I say?  I'm happy!

So, I think that covers all the really big stuff.  Oh, except for one thing.  The doctor did say I'm clear to run the Richmond marathon, as long as I listen to my body and eat enough.  So, YAY!  I don't think I'll have any time goals for this one.  I just want to finish!

Long Time No See

Hello all!

I'm sorry it's been so long.  I've been super-busy with work, and frankly I'm often just too tired to write a blog post.  Today, though, I have a little time and a little energy, so I thought I'd fill y'all in on everything that's been happening.

First, the kennel is doing great.  It's doing so great, in fact, that Hans and I were able to take a vacation.  We've driven out west with the dogs to visit Hans' family in MN.  It's been great so far.  We were able to see Hans' old roommate, attend our SIL's baby shower, see Hans' favorite train, and even visit our Alma Mater.

Speaking of the Alma Mater visit, that was an interesting experience.  Here's the thing, by the time I graduated, I was D-O-N-E with school.  Correction: I was done with that school.  I graduated with a major that I didn't love, I was sick of the cold, and all in all it just wasn't a great fit for me.  The school in and of itself was perfectly fine, and I have plenty of fond memories, but it definitely was not the best fit for me.  So, returning was weird.  In some ways, all these memories came flooding back and made me feel like I was back in school with no responsibilities.  In other ways, all these memories came flooding back and reminded me of everything I hated.  The smell of the practice rooms reminded me of hours of practicing, making myself better, but it also reminded me of the hours spent crying, not wanting to do it anymore.  It was an interesting sensation.

In addition, we got to visit our old choir...where we met.  That is something I did miss.  It was a lot of fun sitting next to Hans, singing like we used to.  I was definitely rusty, but I loved it.

We also went on a little date to one of our favorite restaurants.  It's the place where we had our rehearsal dinner, and I love the food.  Ahh, memories!

In addition to all that, on Saturday, Hans will be running his first 5k, and I'll be running my second marathon on Sunday.  I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of Hans.  He's really been training well, and he's taking this quite seriously.  I'm SOOOO proud of him.

Well, that's really about it.  The dogs are doing well, travel is great, and I'm really enjoying the extra sleep.  Woot! 

Morning Run

Beep.

I hear my alarm.
I struggle against my blankets which are keeping me safe and warm in my bed.
The air is cold and I shiver.

Beep.
I start my watch.
My legs are stiff and tired, not yet ready to move.
I wait to ease into the movement.

Beep.
Mile 1
I am loose and relaxed, so I pick up the pace.
Things feel good.

Beep.
Mile 2
I am half way through.
Not much longer.

Beep.
Mile 3
I begin to feel the fast pace, and I take a deep breath to slow my heart rate.
Almost there.

Beep.
Mile 4
I sprint to the end, racing against myself.
I breathe.

Beep.
I stop my watch.
I stretch.
I am ready for the day.

Incognito

Have I ever told you how much I love what I do?  I really do.  I love working with dogs on a daily basis.  I love taking a wild, hyper, out-of-control dog and turning him into a well-loved, well-behaved family pet.  I love the excitement a dog shows when he sees me.  I'm the treat lady!

There are also times, however, when I kind of want to forget that I'm a trainer.  There are times when what I really want is to just enjoy my time with my dogs.  I want to be just another person who just happens to have great dogs and a great bond with them.  This is especially true at the dog park.

When I first became a trainer I always wore my company shirts at the dog park.  I'd pass out cards, I'd talk about training, I'd answer peoples' questions.  What I found was that I never got any clients from it, but I did get a lot of people looking for free advice.  To some extent, I don't mind the occasional question, but after a while it got to be old.  I'd go to the dog park just to throw the ball for Cody, and what I'd get would be questions about potty training and jumping and barking and obedience.  What's worse, is they often wouldn't listen to my advice.  Here's an example (based on an actual conversation):

Person: What can I do to get my dog to stop licking his paws?

 Me: Is he licking the tops or the bottoms?

P: The tops.

Me: Well, this could be related to two things.  The first could be a pain issue- arthritis, soreness, etc.  The second is boredom.  How much exercise does your dog get?

P: I know he's not bored.

Me: OK, have you had the vet check him for any pain issues?  That might be the best course of action. (Note: This is my discreet way of saying I don't know your dog and asking me this question without knowing much history isn't fair.)

P:  He went to the vet this week for antibiotics because the licking has caused raw spots.  She didn't mention anything about arthritis.

Me: Well, sometimes a vet may not check for that unless  you talk with them about it.  Maybe you should bring it up at your next appointment.  Of course, if you really don't think it's a pain thing, that would bring us back to boredom.

P: I know he's not bored.  He's the laziest dog.  All he ever wants to do is sleep. (Note: Assuming the dog is young and healthy, this sleeping-all-the-time thing is probably the biggest clue that he's bored).

Me: Actually, sleeping a lot could be a sign of boredom.  My dog, Cody, is a very high energy dog, but he'll often choose to sleep through his boredom rather than become destructive.  I can tell when he hasn't had enough exercise because of how he acts when we're out of the house; he goes nuts!

P: Oh, that's interesting. (Note: The person just tuned me out.)

Me: Good luck with everything.  If worse comes to worse, you could always try to find a salve or try a bitter spray.

P: Yeah, we tried that too.  Thanks.

Sure there are some dogs who lick for no good reason.  There are some dogs who lick just because they lick.  There are some who have serious medical issues beyond basic arthritis and who need serious help.  The majority of dogs, though, are just bored.  So, unless there's something else you haven't told me, why should I believe that your dog is any different?  So, when you ask me for my professional opinion, what would make you believe that I'm lying?  Often, I may suggest some alternative therapies too (acupuncture, chiropractic care, etc), and I'll explain why I recommend them.  Still, though, I'm met with a look like I'm insane for even suggestion such a crazy remedy.

Anyway, now when I go out with my dogs, I always go incognito.  I don't want to be a professional at that moment.  I just want to be with my dogs and enjoy them the same way you're enjoying your dogs.  Unfortunately, this doesn't always work.

The other night, Hans and I made a special trip to the dog park.  It was a rare evening off, and I was excited for it.  We were having a lovely evening until one guy said, "Aren't you Myron's daughter?"  When I confirmed this, his wife followed with, "You're a dog trainer, right?"  I confirmed her question and hoped that would be the end of it.  What I got was an impromptu lesson.  I tried to be nice.  I tried to simply encourage her to keep working or to even set up a consultation with me (it's still free but it's during my working hours), but I was still barraged with questions.  Finally, I simply turned to Hans and said, "I'm getting kind of hungry.  Care to leave and grab some dinner?"  So, my relaxing night off with the dogs was cut short and it sucked!

I suppose this post doesn't have a big point; it's really just a rant.  However, I will encourage you to be considerate of other working professionals.  If you have a question, ask how to schedule an appointment with them so they can answer it then.  Don't approach them during their family time.  Not only are you cutting into the precious few hours they have with their family (annoying not only them, but their family as well), you're also just being rude.  You're expecting a highly-trained professional to devalue his/her worth and give the goods away for free.  That's not at all fair.  Please be respectful of that.

Thank you.

And thank you for reading my rant.

Laid Out

Last week I started to wonder if I was getting sick.  I didn't really have any symptoms, but I was SO tired.  It wasn't just that I was waking up at 4:30 every morning or working until 10:00 at night.  My tiredness was a bone-weary exhaustion.  At night I couldn't seem to function, and working during the day was practically painful.

When I awoke Saturday morning, though, I felt great.  I was a little worried Friday night, because Saturday I was scheduled to run a half marathon.  I had one goal in mind: beat my time from last year, but if I was still so tired I didn't know if I'd be able to do it.  Well, I felt great, and my time reflected that.  I was able to push a little harder, the weather was great, and I clocked a time that was 5 minutes faster than last year.  Huzzah!!!

So, I thought I was doing well.  I was very tired afterwards, but that's kind of to be expected.  I went home, showered, and slept for a few hours.  It was beautiful.

Sunday I was still really tired, but I had stayed out late the night before (a night at the theatre and driving a friend home), and I figured my body was still worn out from running 13.1 miles.  I went to work, I napped when I could, and I was fine.  Things went well for Monday and most of Tuesday.

By Tuesday evening, though, I could feel that something was different.  My head hurt, my legs ached, and all I wanted to do was sleep.  When I woke up Wednesday morning, it was official.  I was sick.  My throat hurt, my ears hurt, my nose hurt, my eyes hurt.  I took the majority of the day off from work to recuperate.

Today I'm back at work, but I can't say I'm feeling much better.  All I really want to do is sleep.  The worst part is, I know this isn't even close to the worst cold I've had.  It actually isn't all that bad except for the bone-weary tiredness.  So, this tells me something.  I need to sleep.  I need to sleep a lot.  It's obvious that's what my body's craving is rest.  I've been pushing hard for a while now, and I'm simply exhausted.  This is made obvious when I go to bed at 9:00 pm, wake up at 7:00 a.m. and am still exhausted.

So, I skipped my runs this week (I hate doing that).  I'm sleeping more.  I'm eating much better.  Hopefully, by treating my body with a little more care, it will care for me back.

Fingers crossed!