Now that I am into my third trimester of pregnancy, I wanted to recap how running went during my second trimester.
If you want to read a recap of my running during the 1st trimester, check out this blog post: Running During the 1st Trimester.
Overall, running during my pregnancy has had its really good moments and a fair number of challenging moments. However, I still feel very fortunate that I have been able to run as much as I have and am confident I will be able to regain my fitness post-baby.
The first trimester (minus the first month because during the first month I didn’t even know I was pregnant) was especially challenging. I had no motivation to run and every run felt like a death march. I would get done with a run and think, “I’m not sure that was even worth it.” Versus the normal ‘runner’s high’ I have at the end of every run. I did what I could, running 5 days a week and knowing it was good for me to keep at it. I guess I just didn’t expect to feel this way because I wasn’t big and carrying around any extra weight.
Moving into the second trimester, my running vastly improved. Literally, I hit 3 months and running became enjoyable. I was able to run pretty much as I would normally had, running 6 days a week and up to 15 miles for a long run.
During the second trimester I didn’t wear my heart rate monitor very much. I wore it at a couple of races and training runs, so I’m not sure how/if my heart rate has changed during the trimester. The highest I saw it get in the race was 180 beats per minute, but this was short-lived and only when I was climbing a hill. Instead, I focused on my breathing and how my body felt. I definitely still pushed the pace but didn’t feel like I could push as hard as I had pre-pregnancy.
Running went really well for the first two months of the 2nd trimester. I felt great most days and didn’t have problems completing any workout I wanted to. I did notice my paces drop slightly, but only by 15-30 seconds. However, then I ran a half-marathon at 5 months pregnant and had some serious groin/pelvis pain for the next three weeks. I took it easy and did what I could, but it definitely put a damper on things.
It was about this time I started using a maternity support belt during my runs, which has help a lot! It hasn’t been a cure-all, but I can definitely tell a big difference when I don’t use it. It helps to lift my belly and give it additional support rather than putting that weight on my pelvis and hips.
Up until this point, I have run 846 miles during my pregnancy. Here’s a break-down of my mileage thus far.
Trimester 1: 450 miles total | average (app.): 34 miles per week
Trimester 2: 335 miles total | average (app.): 25 miles per week
Trimester 3: 61 miles | so far averaging 22 miles per week
I’m sure I will be averaging much less these days as I approach my due date. But like I’ve said from the get-go, I am going to continue running as long as my body allows!
Races During the 2nd Trimester
Trent/Waldron Glacier Half-Marathon (4 months pregnant) | 13.1 miles | time – 1:38 | 10th place for the women
Twilight 6K (19 weeks pregnant) | 3.7 miles | time – 25:24 | 4th place for the women
Mayor’s Half-Marathon (5 months pregnant) | 13.1 miles | time – 1:43
Her Tern Quarter Marathon (6 months pregnant) | 6.5 miles | time – 50:35 | 3rd place overall
I am hoping to do two more races before the end of this pregnancy–one in August and one in September, but we shall see! I’ve learned I have to take it one day at a time.
