At first, you are super excited to get that positive pregnancy test, but you don't really feel any different. You constantly wonder if you're going too hard or if you should be slowing down, so you check yourself during every run.
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| Too bad I didn't spring for the digital test |
As the first trimester sets in, you start to feel sick and tired. Running still isn't that bad, as long as you can repress your deep desire to dry heave long enough to get it done.
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| That cat is basically your fetus |
When the second trimester hits, you are probably starting to show with an adorable baby bump and you don't feel like death warmed over every day when you wake up. Running still feels pretty good and you have to mentally remind yourself to slow down. You also finally get to rock the "adorable pregnant runner look" and people can finally see why you've been slowing down and passing on races.
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| This is how you feel inside |
End of the second trimester and beginning of the the third: You don't have to remind yourself to slow down, you ARE slow. You feel your outdoor runs in every joint you have and runs that used to be short weekday runs are now your idea of a long weekend run. In group running you are now the person slowing everyone else down and you feel like an out of shape rhino running with a herd of gazelle.
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| I'm basically the Chris Farley of the group now |
I'm interested to see how running changes over the next 9 weeks. Unless a doctor tells me to stop, it looks like I'm not giving this up. If I'm still running with this rib issue, then I guess I'm more stubborn than even I imagined.
It seems that my desire to keep running even if it hurts has passed to Faith because she had a little run in with the driveway today, but she didn't let it slow her down.
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| You should see the other guy! |
Her problem is that her body runs faster than her legs. Every one of her "sprints" is really more like a controlled fall and I'm amazed she doesn't fall more often. She was a little upset about catching herself with her face, but within a few minutes, she was back to running across the driveway as fast as she could go.
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| I'm too busy to WALK places, I must run! |
If you fall and draw blood during a run, do you cut the run short or finish it anyway? I always finish it, but to be completely honest, I've never had the opportunity to cut it short because I'm usually not close to my car or out in the woods and running back is the only option.
"rub some dirt in it"
ReplyDelete"suck it up, buttercup"
"guys dig scars"
"take it like a man"
"buck up, champ"
"It's just a flesh wound"
Delete"I'm not dead yet!"
"what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"
"You can rest when you're dead!"
DeleteAt least run until the aid station.
DeleteThe good news is those aren't her permanent teeth. My sister was so good at falling that she had a grey front tooth for a few years. The one time I fell during a run I went home, but my knee was also so swollen that they thought I might have shattered the kneecap or torn my PCL.
ReplyDeleteOuch, that sounds really painful!
DeleteMaybe I'd be a faster runner if I tried Faith's example? Worth a try.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could run as fearlessly as Faith on trail downhills!
DeleteI am amazed that you are able to run still. You rock! It always makes me nervous when I see toddlers run. My youngest fell on his face to many times to count when he was little. Luckily he grew out of it:)
ReplyDeleteWatching her run makes my blood pressure spike, but she loves to go as fast as she can!
Deleteapparently my mom went running the morning she gave birth to me and started having contractions partway in, but refused to cut her run short.
ReplyDeleteYour mom and I would get along, I love it.
DeleteI will be referring to this post extensively in the future.
ReplyDeleteI don't exactly get the "cut the run short" thing - I mean, what am I going to do, just stop five miles from my house? People sometimes say things like "I don't know how you finished Stone Mill" and I'm like "well it was that or die, so, you know". I think the only times I've bled on runs was during trail runs, but I did get stung by a bee on two different occasions. Also I dropped my chain cycling once and cut my hand fixing it and ended the ride covered in blood.
I guess if someone gave you a ride home, then you could cut it short, or if you could take a short cut back home or to your car. Basically, if you're NOT out in the woods somewhere :)
DeleteDon't say scary things about Stone Mill here, b/c Kara is already waffling about doing it. Even if she gets the 17mile triple-mileage special.
DeleteOk, totally props to you running while gestating. When I was pregnant with my second, I went out for a walk this one time (I think I was 34 weeks) and the baby shifted mid walk. I was so uncomfortable it took my about half an hr to walk the 1/2 mile home. That would have been a 60 min mile, something to be proud of I think. Needless to say, I gave up exercise from that second on. I can't even imagine breathing with a run away rib, much less running. So, seriously, good for you!!
ReplyDeleteNow, about the injury. One time I tripped on my own shoelace. That takes talent. I cut the run short because I was still, technically, on my warm up block. I PRed a 1/2 marathon two days later and then found out I had fractured my kneecap just a week after that. It healed, and in hindsight, actually really lead me down an amazing running path (with that whole everything happens for a reason bullshit), but I was literally cranky for 3 months when I had to take off to let it heal. Clearly I'm not nearly as tough as you. Or Faith.
Wow, you PRed with a broken kneecap?? That is nuts!
DeleteIf you're not out in the woods, how does yor clumsy ass manage to fall down and bleed? - Marcus
ReplyDeleteI have fallen more on sidewalk than in the woods. I can't handle those cracks! :)
DeleteI don't think I've ever fallen while running. then again, I don't give myself all that much opportunity for that to happen. I shouldn't even bother answering your question. because yeah. I'd cut it short. I'd call someone to come pick me up. because I have my phone on me.
ReplyDeleteI try to save up my calls to my husband to come get me. He hasn't said it, but I feel like he has a limited amount of times he'd come get me before the mocking would begin.
DeleteIf I'm by myself and am not sure if anyone saw me, I'll totally try to act cool, like I gashing my leg is not biggie. But if I'm running with my brother I will cry a river about how bad I'm hurt. So yes to finishing the run, and a bigger yes to openly complaining.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing with trying to act cool, like I don't even notice I have blood on my leg. "Oh, that?"
DeleteI'm usually a big cry baby. But the few times i had a bleeding injury, I had to run the loop back to the car or get lost in the dark and eaten by mountain lions. If I had the option of calling for a ride, I probably would have.
ReplyDeleteMountain lions sound like awesome motivation.
DeleteI keep running out of sheer stubbornness. I fell off a treadmill once at the start of my run (okay, was thrown off). I could have easily given up. Nope, I figured I should make the injuries worth the effort it took to convince myself to run that day. :P
ReplyDeleteI have only ever fallen at or shortly after the half way point so there is no turning back. I also got bit by a dog at the mid way point of my run once and my options were to run home or let the rabid beasts (yes, it was not vaccinated) owners drive me home... I choose the run route but 4.5 miles to get home feels reallllly long when your leg is throbbing from dog teeth marks.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Brian. Be a man and rub some dirt in it is my policy. I really only cut a run short if it's physically impossible for me to finish.
ReplyDeleteCameron has a cheek injury from day care yesterday too - same cheek only a big blue bruise. Love the pick up days that begin with "I have an incident report for you to sign"!
ReplyDeleteYou are a constant reminder of what it truly means to place exercise as a priority in your life - a big wakeup call for accepting petty excuses!
Oh poor Faith! That looks like it hurts!
ReplyDeleteI generally finish the run. Obviously, I fell twice during Rosaryville but I finished. I did stop once. Last winter I fell while running and stopped after another 5mi. Why? Because my bloody knees were getting stuck to the inside of my fuzzy running tights. That was grossing me out way too much. I wasn't broken, just had the heebiejeebies.
The two times I've really eaten shit on a run I had no choice but to finish. The first time I was mere feet from the furthest point in my out-and-back. I had 6 miles left to go, and my palm was tore the fuck up.
ReplyDeleteThe second time I was only a mile from home, but bit it sooooo much worse. I pretty much spent the whole mile in total shock.
I do the dramatic sniffle & shuffle all the way home. Think MySpace profile pic & status update in one. I did it when i fell during my pregnancy and twisted my ankle, I had to shuffle-sniffle back to the office, after being hoisted up by some high tourists off the street. It was a special day, as my co-worker got hit by a car and also showed up for work, but we both ended up going home after my fall & being checked over by an eager first aid employee.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very familiar except I suck and am dealing with my second running injury so far this pregnancy and I'm not even running that much!
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer in exercising all the way through pregnancy if there are no physical issues. I had to give up running at five months with my first because of blood pressure issues but by my third I was able to continue at the gym until just a couple of days before I had him. And all my kids have turned out fine - except for a total inability to make their beds. I wonder if that was caused by oxygen deprivation.
ReplyDeleteI suppose if I thought I needed medical attention for said cut and I was able to call someone, I would call to have them pick me up. Otherwise - I have to get home somehow, so I'd keep running.
ReplyDeleteWatching little kids run is equal parts awesome and scary (due to their propensity to have face meets driveway moments).
I fell once when running. I had tripped on something and my entire body slammed against the concrete. I had the wind knocked out of me and almost passed out. Once I was able to stand I tried to run but the blood was pouring our of my hand, leg and knee. I ended up walking... I mean limping.. to the nearest business and called for a ride. I was bleeding so badly I almost made the person working throw up and pass out. haha!! Once I got home and cleaned up I realized my knee was the size of a large grapefruit. I actually had to take about a week off from running.... a month before my first marathon too.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on where I am. I usually tend to fall right in the middle of a run so there's no point in turning back.
ReplyDeleteYou are a stud! I was such a wimp when I was pregnant--as soon as I found out it was twins, I read too much on the internet about miscarriage etc. and stopped running immediately. The only thing I did for the whole pregnancy was yoga. I really regret that now--I should have signed up for some hard-core pool cardio class (Lord knows they have them in Boulder). I paid for it with my long "come-back" over the ensuing years. What I'm hoping for you is that the rib thing will go away (at the very latest when your baby is born) and you'll bounce back from everything very quickly.
ReplyDelete