Over an Hour Today...

This afternoon I walked on the treadmill for an hour and ten minutes, while watching an awful movie called The Third Trimester.  (I kid you not.)  It was a made for TV movie about a woman who could not conceive and turned to adoption.  Obviously, the adoption plans did not go well, and the birth mother was a little bit on the crazy side.  My dreams will be happy tonight, I'm sure!  

As always, it felt great to exercise for so long this afternoon.  I walked about 4.5 miles at a 13-15% incline, which was challenging and rewarding.  Tomorrow I have plans to walk/run with the girls, relatively early tomorrow morning.  

Last evening I found this link for running while pregnant and I found it to be absolutely incredible.  It turns out that I'm a total wimp when it comes to running through a pregnancy.  Check it out, and this runner's mileage throughout her pregnancy.  My jaw hit the keyboard.  

More tomorrow....

Another Day, Another Workout!

I think I'm falling in love with our treadmill...

This morning, after Josh and Michael left for the day, I headed straight downstairs for the treadmill.  I re-adjusted the 60 minute heart rate workout, so that it wasn't as intense as Monday's workout.  While I didn't get in 60 minutes, I did manage to run/walk for 50 minutes.  It felt great to exercise and push myself a little bit.  I know this exercise is going to help both labor and delivery, even if I end up having a cesarean.  This morning I managed to run for about ten minutes (interrupted with walking breaks), without having any side stitches.    

While I was walking today, I thought about how helpful this treadmill will be when the baby comes.  It's going to be challenging (to say the least!) to fit in morning runs with the running girl, initially. So, when I'm not sleeping, or nursing, or parenting, or cleaning, or cooking, I'll be able to fit in a quick run or walk on the treadmill; when Josh is home or when the kids are sleeping, of course!  Ha. It almost seems like it'll happen!  : ) 

Today I also continued my dreams of running in a few races this winter and spring.  I think the first one will be the the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, and then the Colonial Half Marathon in February.  

A couple of miles...

Got in a few miles this morning with the running girls!  I actually only "ran" a mile, or so.  I think I walked maybe two and a half or three miles, which was great. The weather has really cooled off, which is making this whole exercising thing a lot easier at 8.5 months pregnant.  (Thank goodness for that...)  It's always uplifting to see my girlfriends. I always manage to run a little bit further when we're together than when I'm running alone.  It is such a blessing to be able to continue to exercise with this pregnancy,  with Michael's pregnancy I was completely cut off from exercising at this point (even walking).  

Tomorrow my goal is to walk with a neighbor early in the morning, if the rain stays away!  Though, walking in the rain would probably feel refreshing at this point.

50 Minutes on the Treadmill...

Yesterday morning I was able to get in 50 minutes on the treadmill. Initially, I tried a 60 minute heart rate workout. The settings were not correct, with my weight set at 160 pounds and the target heart rate set at 157. Both settings were a little off, which made the workout way too intense for me. The incline was set at 15, and the pace was set at an 11 minute/mile run. I could handle the incline, but not the speed. I managed to do about 26 minutes with the insanely high incline, and a slower running pace. Eventually though, I got fed up with the heart rate setting being too high and switched to a different program. Overall, no complaints! My legs were so tired last evening, but that's always a good thing. I like feeling like I've done SOMETHING.

It is such a strange experience, to know that my body is working so hard to finish the workout, even though I'm not sweating AT ALL. Maybe, just maybe, underneath all this BABY, my body is still fit... We'll see in a few weeks.

I've got a couple run/walk dates coming up, which is always motivating and fun. I'd like to try to get on the treadmill tonight while I watch the Democratic Convention. Even though I don't use the treadmill daily, I sure am thankful to have one right now. It's awesome to always have the option to walk or run late in the evenings.

Really, really missing it...

Good grief, I miss running right now.

I know that I should be enjoying each and every minute of this pregnancy and savoring the moment, particularly, the sweet movements of the baby. Honestly, though, I don't feel like myself right now. I feel huge. I miss my abs, just to be able to sit up without bracing myself or grabbing onto to something would be greatly appreciated.

In countless ways, this pregnancy is such a gift. It's a gift to realize how much I appreciate my non-pregnant and extremely healthy body. Unfortunately, I think so many of us waste our lives not appreciating our healthy bodies. I think it's not until the body begins to break down (whether it is normal wear and tear, or whether it is from obesity, or whether it is from a disease), that we fully appreciate the gift of health. I'm thankful that I'm realizing what a blessing it is to be able to run, roll around on the floor playing cars with a three year old, or dig in the sand with a toddler, with complete ease and comfort.

I really, really miss running. And, walking up the stairs without panting like a dog on a walk in the summer time. I miss my girlfriends, watching the sun rise while finishing up a run, and starting the day off with total peace. I also miss marathon training right now, which is ridiculous! : )

There are only a few weeks left before utter exhaustion kicks in with a newborn. Until then, I'm going to try to waddle on as much as I can. I plan to continue with run/walking; especially, since I will have my own exercise time in the morning now that Michael is starting the school year routine. I might even try to add swimming to the mix, once I figure out this new routine.

As long as I don't have a cesarean, I should be back in no time. And, I will try to remember these feelings of gratitude when I lace up my running shoes, with ease and comfort.

Round and Round!

Yesterday I walked a little over 5 miles around a high school track.  Josh and I also took Michael and Duncan for a mile walk last evening, since it was such a gorgeous evening.  Good grief am I sore today!  My shins get really sore from walking, and so does my right ham string.  It feels great to be tired today from exercising, though.  (How I'd love to get out and run a quick 5 miles around town! Right now!)  

Last week I did a run/walk with my running group, which felt great.  I was so relaxed the rest of the day and was able to sleep really well that night.  It was my intention to get more exercise in last week than what I did, but sometimes sleep is a little bit more important.  I guess...  

Tomorrow my goal is to try to run/walk for a little bit in the morning.  For some reason, I can handle the scale at the doctor's office much better if I have exercised that morning.  Even though the scale might be climbing two, three, four, or five pounds; I'm okay knowing that I've done some sort of exercise that morning.  I'm crazy, I know...