Pregnancy Running – Week 17

We are onto week 17 of my pregnancy and next week I will be 4 months along. I am counting my blessing that I am able to run as much as I can because I know that won’t always be the case.

During the second trimester I have been running on ‘feel’ to determine effort during harder workouts. I was wearing a heart rate monitor during the first trimester, but then I started to develop a rash on my chest where the strap was, so I haven’t been wearing it for several weeks. I think the rash is finally clearing up and once it does, I will go back to wearing my heart rate monitor more often because I would like a more accurate reading.

Running mileage for the week of May 12 – 18

Monday

6 miles/50:00/average pace – 8:20

Ran with a friend on the Coastal Trail. We chatted about babies, upcoming races, and nutrition. I felt good and there was really nothing for me to complain about.

Tuesday

8 miles/1:04/average pace – 8:05

I did an out-and-back route and ran out “easy” and back “hard.” I like this workout because you don’t have to think that much and the time flies by on the way back. Most of my splits on the way back were around 7:50 with the last one at 7:35.

Wednesday

6 miles/52:28/average pace – 8:44

Slow-going. It seems like if I don’t have someone to run with or have a hard(er) workout to do, I feel really sluggish. (Or it might just be in my head.)

Thursday

9 miles/1:14/average pace – 8:15

I did this run with a friend, which makes the time fly by! For so long I only ran by myself, but I am loving the company and learning about other individual’s running and mothering experiences. Plus I appreciate their opinions and advice. It was also warm and sunny, which I loved and makes me excited for the rest of summer.

Friday

6 miles/48:16/average pace – 8:02

I did this track workout at 5:30 a.m. and while it was a bit chilly, it was absolutely so serene. I love my early morning runs. This is the track workout I did:

1.5 miles warm-up (included static stretches, dynamic stretches, and accels)

4 x 800 meters (3:37, 3:33, 3:31, 3:27)

4 x 400 meters (1:40, 1:38, 1:35, 1:34)

1.5 mile cool-down

I felt really good and was happy with my splits. So if 800s (Yassos 800s) can predict your marathon time, can 400s predict your half-marathon time?

Saturday

15 miles/2:00/average pace – 8:03

I wasn’t sure how my legs would fare after two days of tougher workouts, but it was as if I couldn’t slow my legs down. They wanted to run even when I tried to slow down at the beginning because I didn’t want to be dragging by the end. I felt amazing during this run. I think the warmer weather also helped me: sunny, mid-60s, and no wind. I didn’t know how I would feel running this distance since this is the farthest I’ve run all year!

Total: 50 miles

I think 50 miles will be what I top out at during the pregnancy. I also don’t foresee myself running more than 15 miles at a time. I wanted to do a 15-miler because I’m running a half-marathon next weekend and wanted to mentally feel prepared.