And I did it at 17 weeks pregnant! I’m so utterly exhausted and emotionally drained, but I did it and I’m happy everything went well. It’s strange doing something I’ve done many times before with the only exception being that my body has drastically changed. I am no longer one as I am two people being an expectant mother and have many more things to consider when trying to accomplish a goal such as a half marathon.
My training for this race consisted of me trying to run. Running since I became pregnant was not the first thing I wanted to do each day. Needless to say I am tired all the time and walking up the stairs exhausts me and I have to pee every 20 minutes it seems. Plus I was rather depressed after discovering I was pregnant and those emotions didn’t inspire me to get out of bed to work out.
But one day something in me said to get up and get moving! I started out by jogging and walking and would do this every other day. The miles were low at first, one here and two there until I got up to walk/jogging at least three times a week. I’d walk every day, but the jogging would only take place after work. The most I’ve been able to do with my work schedule and the darkening skies has been five miles. My best mostly walking with some jogging time was 5 miles in one hour and 15 minutes. I figured it would take me about 3 1/2 hours to finish 13.1 miles and on Sunday I completed my 8th 1/2 marathon 17 weeks pregnant in 3 hours and 13 minutes.
For most, this would be an extraordinary accomplishment and something to be proud of… But that competitive voice inside me said I could have done it in under 3 hours. I had completed my third full marathon with little training in 4 hours and 27 minutes keeping a consistent 10 – 10:15 pace! I was of course then 15 pounds lighter and in much better athletic shape than I am now.
Long beach International Full Marathon
This past race I was able to run the first two miles without needing to stop to walk. I always tell people who want to start running to get yourself up to two miles without having to stop. After your get over that hump the miles are easier to pass by without feeling the need to take a break. If you do need to stop, then get a watch and set yourself at a 4 minute run, 1 minute walk interval at your comfort pace. That’s what worked for me when I first started out and a lot of other runners also follow the interval training program.
This is also the second Rock and Roll half marathon I’ve completed this year and I’m anxiously waiting to get my encore medal! Below is a picture of the one I received last year for completing two of the same series of race within the same calendar year. I’m hoping this one is a bit different, but will totally be happy with whichever medal they send me 
Race medal!
Some things that were a lot different about running while pregnant is the way your muscles feel. Especially your ab muscles. Everything was tight! After about mile 8 I wasn’t really able to jog anymore even though I really wanted to because my legs weren’t hurting at all. It was my abs! They would pull and hurt when I tried to speed up my pace. I pinpointed the pain to be in my lower uterus/cervix and got terribly scared that I was doing something to hurt the baby so I didn’t push it and just walked at a fast pace for the rest of the race. I looked up what this pain could be and came across a forum on baby center,
Lower ab pain after long run: 15 wks pregnant
Some of the women on the site stated that this could be “RLP” or round ligament pain. According to WedMd, Round Ligament Pain,
is a sharp pain or jabbing feeling often felt in the lower belly or groin area on one or both sides. It is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy and is considered a normal part of pregnancy. It is most often felt during the second trimester.
Phew! NORMAL PART OF PREGNANCY! That is what I needed to read to feel better about what I was feeling because my doctor had already told me that she wouldn’t personally attempt to complete a half marathon while pregnant. I asked her, well medically what do you recommend? Sure enough, medically she said there was nothing wrong with running that distance as long as I stayed hydrated, ate enough calories and listened to my body. Which I followed her instructions exactly and then when I got this pain I thought I had done something horrible wrong. Thankfully this is a common occurrence in the second trimester and can be felt even more in women who exercise and run during their pregnancy.
Causes of Round Ligament Pain
Several thick ligaments surround and support your womb (uterus) as it grows during pregnancy. One of them is called the round ligament.
The round ligament connects the front part of the womb to your groin, the area where your legs attach to your pelvis. The round ligament normally tightens and relaxes slowly.
As your baby and womb grow, the round ligament stretches. That makes it more likely to become strained.
Sudden movements can cause the ligament to tighten quickly, like a rubber band snapping. This causes a sudden and quick jabbing feeling.
One thing the WebMd site recommended to alleviate RLP is prenatal yoga. This is something I have wanted to start doing anyway so I’m off to purchase an exercise DVD in the next few days. Also one can apply warmth to the area such as a heating pad and also flexing your hips. Bend, stretch and repeat!
I have one more race planned in November and hopefully after putting the yoga and stretching exercises into practice I’ll be ready to tackle the 13.1 miles again. However, if I do not feel up to it or have any issues with running at 23 weeks pregnant then I will not attempt to run this race. Because one thing my doctor said did stick with me… You cannot take it back. Which was a very undoctorly thing to say but very human and personal. She’s right, I can’t take it back if something were to go wrong, but I can’t stop living and having fear that something might. I have to listen to my body and have the conviction to know what I think is right for me and the baby. But in all honesty if anything is even slightly off with how I feel then I will not risk it. Wish me luck folks and happy blogging!
Half Marathon Start Line
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