16 weeks has been really good to me! I feel great and my energy is back, the baby is kicking daily and of course I ran my first half marathon pregnant. As far as training goes, I've kept up the gym 4 times a week and was using one day over the weekend for a long run {10+ miles}.
I used to daydream what it would be like to be a pregnant runner, imaging the end result while I was going through endless Dr appts and treatments. I'm old enough to know that sometimes you can have the best intentions, but that you can't control everything especially when it comes to your body. I'm lucky enough to have had a low risk pregnancy which means I can continue my workout regimen, for the most part, without worry. In fact it's encouraged! Was it easy to workout while I was dealing with all day morning sickness for 11 weeks? Heck no. In fact I've never had a harder time getting up at the crack of dawn in my life. The weekend were the hardest, but again the end result is what I'm after so I keep doing it.
Months ago Brandi and I were asked to come to Fort Wayne to run the Fort 4 Fitness Half Marathon in Indiana. Of course we said yes, meeting some of our northern readers and friends, some of who ran their first half, was amazing.
Meredith from Is this Thing On, the PG Sisters Kristie and Kara, Mel from 4Kottez, Brandi, Ashley, and Holly.
We stayed in the hotel connected to the Fort Wayne Ballpark where the race was being held, it sure is nice to not have to fight parking and people the morning of a big race. I might always stay in a nearby hotel :)
The finish was over home plate which was fun, when you ran the last leg in the stadium people where everywhere cheering and they called your name and put your sweaty face on the jumbotron. I knew I wasn't trying to PR so my goal was just to run and have fun. The first 7 miles I stayed with Holly, but I had to speed it up after that to make it to the next bathroom. The worst part about running while pregnant is peeing, a LOT. Big thank you to the Fort for having bathrooms every mile!!! I skipped on mile and seriously thought I was going to have to find a bush, there is no 'sweating it out' which is what I normally do. The pressure on my bladder is overwhelming at points. The bathrooms go fast the first half, but the second half I had to wait in lines which is SO frustrating! Regardless 12 trips later I finished my 5th Half in 2:25.
Running while pregnant is hard, my mind wants to go faster, but my body just won't. I had a few moments where I felt a little defeated by how slow I felt I was going, I had to keep reminding myself that I'm carrying around extra weight, fluid, and you know a human. Once I reached that finish line though, I just felt proud. Proud of sticking to my guns and of pushing myself to do more. This is completely different that the last time I was pregnant, I gave up then, but that's not in my vocabulary anymore! After everyone finished we all met up for lunch with our non runner friends at a cute place called Dash-In in downtown FW.
I was so so so excited to meet so many people I talk to online in real life! This is Jill from Sugar Love Boutique and her adorable daughter {who just turned 16 and is like the SWEETEST teenager I've ever met!!}. They are both just as friendly and stylish in real life as I imagined they would be.
My girls are amazing and surprised me with a baby shower!! This freaking fantastic cake was made by Brooke {@myivorysmile} she just does them for fun, how awesome is that!?! So many people came and celebrated with me, I'm completely overwhelmed by the love I felt. Thank you!!! I promise next time I come I'll shower first, whew, haha.
I had a genius idea to go and spend the afternoon getting pedi's so we loaded in the car and OMG, such a good idea. New post race tradition!
That night we had a low key dinner and did a little dancing at an 80's themed club. Honestly the 80's music should be supplemental to other dance music, not the main source of it. I can only handle so much Michael Jackson.
The weekend went way too fast, but was worth it. I love my girls and we always have a great time together. Thank you to Ashley for hosting us in Fort Wayne and thank you FW for being such a great little town, everyone is so dang nice! Oh and Holly thanks you for the beer shots at mile 11 :)
Big things coming for this week, my sonogram is Wednesday morning and Saturday is the big reveal! Boy or Girl??? I can't wait!
