It’s Race Week…

In 6 days, I’ll be running a half-marathon PREGNANT! Am I excited? You bet! After missing out on the full marathon in March and getting pregnant in April, I thought I would miss out on racing in 2011 (with the exception of the Virginia is for Lovers 14k in February). I was able to start “training” again on April 18th. This consisted of walking fast.  Little did I know, I was pregnant already.  About a month later, I was able to start “running” again.  One minute of running. Five minutes. of walking. Repeat.  At this point, I knew I was pregnant.  I was incredibly nervous that the doctors were going to tell me that I needed to avoid running during my pregnancy since I was on a 12 week running vacation when I got pregnant.

After a visit to the doctor, I was given the thumbs up to continue with my training plan since I had been consistantly running for over 2 years.

I need to be aware of my body. I need to hydrate A LOT. I need to take walk breaks. I need to run slower.

I will take whatever I can get.  I’m just so happy to be running.

3 months of very casual training, and I feel more than ready for the half-marathon on Sunday. I won’t be setting a new PR on Sunday. I won’t be passing too many people on the course. I’ll be starting in the back of the pack (corral #16). What I am doing is finishing a race and that is more than enough for me.  I’m guessing my finish time with be somewhere around the 3 hour mark. (I’m secretly hoping for a sub 3 hour finish, but I’ll take whatever I can get. Trust me. I’ll be just has happy with 3:10 as I will be with 2:59.)

Every race has a different story for me. Each race develops a personality over the course of training and over the race course.

Shamrock 1/2 Marathon 2010 – my first race.  I proved to myself I could do it.

Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon 2010 – my first race without proper training. It was an incredibly emotional race for me (more on that later this week). This race was about overcoming and processing emotions.

Richmond 1/2 Marathon  2010 – A new PR on a Hilly course. Not too shabby for a girl from FLAT Virginia Beach.  This race inspired bigger goals. Get Faster. Run a Full.

Surfin Santa 10 mile 2010 – Finished with a 10:00 mile pace exactly. Getting faster!

Virginia is for Lovers 14k 2011 – Finished with a 9:55 mile pace. I learned to always carry my own water no mater what!

Shamrock Full Marathon – I didn’t run (Stress fracture after 18 mile training run). I learned to be a spectator during this race. I fell in love with running even more by cheering on everyone as they ran by. I learned that running is something I HAVE to do for the rest of my life. I learned to appreciate my body and the sport that I love. I was inspired. I learned to appreciate every spectator at each running event. I became more thankful for my family and their support. This was the race that turned my flirtation with running into a marriage. I was committed.

And now the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon 2012 – While I haven’t run the race yet, I can tell you this… By running through my pregnancy, I have become rooted and connected to my body, my baby, and running in a way that I can’t describe. After every run, I take a moment to say thank you to my body and my baby for allowing me to run another day and another mile. While I can’t predict what will happen on race day, I already know there will be A LOT of tears that day. The Rock n Roll half is turning into my emotional run each year.

6 more days! I have a 6-mile run I’d like to complete this week and two 2-mile runs. This week is about eating clean and staying healthy!

Somebody pinch me. I’m still a little bit in shock that I will running a half-marathon PREGNANT! When the seed of hope was planted in my brain over 20 weeks ago, I was never convinced it would really happen.  6 more days and I can check this very lofty goal of my list! Run a half-marathon during my pregnancy. Almost done!

I finally treated myself to the new running shorts reward from my last 40 day goal challenge except I didn’t buy shorts. I bought a running skirt. I’ve avoided this trend.  Christian suggested I try one to accommodate and comfort my pregnant body, so I did. And I’m in LOVE! Anyone else run in running skirts? I seriously might wear it every day until Mister Moo arrives!