Doctor's Orders

So, I started having Braxton Hicks contractions this week, at week 33 of my pregnancy. I thought it fairly innocuous until I mentioned it to my doctor today and she was instantly concerned. She hooked me up to the fetal monitor in her office for about 15 minutes to help make a decision about what to do. After this, a quick examination revealed that the baby is already pressing down and could put me into labor at any time. STOP.ALL.ACTIVITY.PERIOD. were her orders. No running, no shopping, no taking my son to the park or playground. Nothing. Lay horizontal over the weekend as much as you can, and go for an ultrasound next week to check on the baby's progress. Wow. I know I wasn't running much lately, but I am not exactly the type to enjoy sitting in bed all day with my feet up. I am really bummed about this latest development, but of course want to do everything in my power to keep from going into pre-term labor. 

And Norway 1.7M Makes Three in a Row

For the third weekend in a row, I toed the line for a race. This week was a 1.7 mile run around the bottom of Central Park, called the Norway Run. This is my second to last race before I have this baby, thank goodness. I am already chronically tired, but it didn't help that I flew in on a red eye flight from Denver literally an hour and a half before the race start time (poor planning, eh?). So fresh off an airplane and out of a cab, I headed to the start line and started the run ... 3 minutes in I had to pee (again!), so I made a quick pit stop and finished the 1.7 miles in 20:21 (an 11:58/mile pace). Whew. One.more.to.go.

The Fifth Avenue Mile

I love this race, pregnant or not. It's so fun to just run as fast as I can down New York's Fifth Avenue. This year the race marks my seventh race of this pregnancy...and I am thankful for its brevity! I literally stood at the very end of the corral knowing that most people sign up for this race to run fast, and I didn't want to get in anyone's way since I planned to basically jog it. My only goal was to finish in less than 15 minutes. Mission accomplished, I crossed the line in 9:22. Not bad! 

Fitness Games 4M Race

So I have finally reached the point in my pregnancy where I am basically just running my races ... and not running anything in between. It's just too hard and too uncomfortable ... the lack of control over urination is not something to take for granted!

This morning was the last long race of the pregnancy, a 4 miler in the park. I was very much looking forward to running, and finishing this race (the sixth of this pregnancy). The weather was perfect, cool and sunny, and the start time was a bonus (10am, what?). I felt a little self conscious as I entered my corral, with this big pregnant belly that in no way was going to run anywhere near the mile pace plastered on my bib number. It was an all women's heat, so I felt a bit of relief in that fact, but still. 

As the gun went off and we got moving, sure enough I was "that slow person that must be in the wrong corral" that I am usually cursing under my breath as I side step in my much-better-shape-self. Karma. I tried to stay out of the way and just keep a slow but steady pace. The course is quite hilly, but I managed to run the entire race without stopping and finished in 44:09 (an 11:02/mile pace). Glacial by normal standards, but just fine for  6 1/2 months pregnant. 

I felt good after the race, tired yes, but good. I walked home with my husband and son, who were my cheering team. Six down, three to go!

R/W to Preschool

I was late getting my son to his first day of preschool this morning, so I did a run/walk from 89th and Central Park West to 70th St and West End Avenue...about 3.5 miles round trip ... pushing jogger + kid of course :). Running is running.

Walk to Church

I can almost always count on a 3 mile walk on Sunday mornings ... and this morning was no different. I am not getting in many runs these days, but I am (somewhat) satisfied with the walking at least. 

Errands...in the rain...

Itching to get out and run, but being realistic about my current to do list, I decided to run some errands literally. I loaded up the jogger, covered in a rain screen because it's raining (fabulous), and set out. About 1.5 miles later I had all of my errands complete. I was exhausted from schlepping around in the rain and in and out of places, but I will take the exercise!

Harlem 5k: Make-up Race

Yes, it has slipped into September, and I have to admit I am slightly disappointed that I did not technically get to run a race in August since the 5k was canceled. But I was determined to make up the race regardless. So, this morning I set out to run the 3.1 miles, and my husband so graciously offered to run alongside me pushing my son. I am always so thankful for family runs, particularly when I am feeling so sluggish. My husband had also mapped out a course for me, even though we had his Garmin to track our progress. Normally I would have run the exact race course, as I had to do in July when I missed a race, but this race was run all on City streets up in Harlem, so logistically this would not work without the traffic protection provided during a race. So, to Central Park.

I actually felt really good while I was running. Admittedly, it was not an easy run, but I did manage a sub-ten minute per mile pace, which is nothing short of a miracle at 6 1/2 months pregnant! It took me just over 30 minutes to run the 3.1 miles, a 9:56 pace. So five races down as I continue to count down this pregnancy, four more to go. I.can.do.this.

Dinner with Friends (and Dessert!)

My husband and I had the opportunity to catch up with friends over dinner tonight. Naturally, I thought if we walked there and back I could eat more chips and salsa (we were trying out a new Mexican place). After dinner, we headed back up towards our place and indulged in some treats from Crumbs Bakery. We walked a total of 3.6 miles over dinner and dessert. 

Dr. Appt & Meeting

I had a regular OB check up today, and a leadership meeting tonight, so I used the occasions for a good walking...a total of 4.4 miles of hoofing it around the city. Whew.