Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nurse of midwife. The information expressed in the series “Mom on the Run” should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before running during pregnancy and postpartum.
Welcome to “Mom on the Run!” A blog feature that shares a mom-on-the-run and her story of running during and after pregnancy. My hope is to provide a resource for women who are thinking about running during pregnancy. The overarching theme: everyone is different. No two pregnancies are the same and of course no two stories of running during pregnancy are the same. In this series you will find a wide range of experiences that both inspire and comfort runners who are pregnant or have recently given birth. To read about other “Moms on the Run” click HERE.
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I’m excited to introduce April’s Mom on the Run is Isabel from the Running Teacher. Isabel is currently pregnant with her second baby boy and has had a radically different experience during this pregnancy compared to her first. Here’s her inspiring story:
Tell me a little bit about your pregnancy and your little ones:
We currently have a little boy, Alejandro. He will 4 before little Enrique makes his appearance. 🙂 My first pregnancy was difficult. I thought I was eating healthy at the time, but I clearly was not. I gained 68 pounds, had gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia! I was also placed on bed rest three times, with the final time being at 29 weeks up until I was induced at 36 weeks.
Enrique’s pregnancy came as a shock and surprise. We weren’t planning for another child for at least two more years. I was in the midst of training for my first 24 hour race, when I decided to run a half marathon. I expected to place, but instead, found myself struggling from the start. For the next week, I suffered nasty headaches, nausea, and felt overly fatigued, to the point I just stayed in bed. I went to the doctor proclaiming I had Lyme Disease, as I had a tick bite at thetime that kept flaring up for three months. He humored me and told me the tick bite was infected and that, chances were, I did not have Lyme Disease. He ran full labs, which came back clean, except for one surprising results. I was pregnant! Enrique’s pregnancy is picture perfect. I credit my pre-pregnancy fitness level and change in eating habits.
Did you run through your pregnancies? If not why not?
I ran through both pregnancies, except when on bed rest with my first child. I did not run near as much as I do now though, distance-wise. Two years ago, I started testing the waters with ultrarunning and got hooked. My long runs go up to 20 miles with my races being longer.
Prior to pregnancy about how often were you running?
Before pregnancy, I ran 50-55 miles a week.
How would you characterize your pregnancy, labor and delivery?
It’s currently low-risk, thank goodness!
Once you found out you were expecting did your running change? Did you consciously drop mileage or ease back on pace?
I didn’t cut back on purpose; however, the constant and unrelenting nausea and fatigue forced me to cut back during my first trimester. Luckily, my fitness level was high, so despite the time lapse, I was able to pick up right where I left off, albeit much slower.
What was your running like during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of your pregnancy?
First: I ran the first five weeks not knowing we were pregnant. After that, the nausea and fatigue sidelined me for a solid 1.5 months. From there, I picked up running sporadically, depending on my energy level that day.
Second: With the nausea mostly gone, I picked up right where I left off, albeit slower. I didn’t want to risk the chance of injury by trying to pick up the pace, so I ran at an easy-pace every run. Running was a cinch throughout my second trimester, smooth as butter!
Third: My pace has definitely slowed more, but I’m still going. The fatigue is coming back, so my mileage varies week to week, but I’m still pulling an average of 30 miles a week. I also have round ligament pains now as well, so I wear a maternity support belt. It doesn’t take away all the aches, but it does help. I’ve found that my body needs longer to warm-up now, sometimes up to 25 minutes, before I can really run comfortably and pick up the pace. I also use Galloway running religiously to help stay injury-free and to help my body recover faster! The walk breaks also give me a chance to eat on long runs as well.
Did you incorporate cross training into your weekly exercise routine? If so what did you do? and what did you find most enjoyable?
I do basic lower-body, body weight exercises and strengthening exercises at home, along with upper body exercises using dumbbells…oh, and planks. I have a love-hate relationship with planks, but they’re quite useful, seeing as I was asked not to do my other core work. Planks are awesome because not only do they work your core, but they work your entire body in just one move!
Did your attitude towards running change during pregnancy?
Definitely. I’m competitive by nature, but with pregnancy, I had to learn to let go, if I wanted to safely continue doing what I love. I run for pure enjoyment now, and every run is done at an easy-pace. To me, each run is a blessing! I hope to continue up until the day I delivery, but I know that things can change quickly during pregnancy, so I take it day-by-day and week-by-week.
Did your run any races during pregnancy? If so what was your approach to racing, was it different than normal?
I ran Tortoise and the Hare 13.1 and the Women’s Health Run10Feed10 Atlanta Fun Run during my first trimester. From there, I ran Miles for Maria 6 hour in November, although I had to sit out after 15 miles, due to an angry hamstring. Most recently, I ran the 6 hour race, A Stroll in Central Park, where I pulled 26.8 miles in 5:55, just shy of the 6 hour mark. JWith my OB’s blessing, I’m in the last few weeks of training for the Running Dead Ultra 50k, followed by Maria’s Spring Fling 6 hour Race. [At the time of this post Isabel had completed the Dead Ultra 50K. You can find her race recap on her blog.]
My racing approach is simple now. I run for pure enjoyment, and I always make sure I can talk comfortably while running. Basically, running is like a walk in the park for me, nice and relaxed, no pressure.
What was the most challenging aspect of running during pregnancy?
The most challenging aspect of running while pregnant is trying to stay hydrated and trying to eat enough in terms of what I need to keep little Enrique healthy and to keep myself fueled for my runs.
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When did you stop running during pregnancy? Or did you run right up until your delivery date?
So far, I haven’t stopped and don’t have intentions of stopping until I POP! I have races set up through May 9th, ending with the 80’s Rad Retro 10k, which is 4 days before Enrique’s due date.
With my first pregnancy, I ran throughout the entire pregnancy, except when on bed rest. They took me off of bed rest a week before being induced, in the hopes that perhaps it would relieve my stress levels. I started running three miles a day immediately up until they sent me to the hospital to be induced for high blood pressure.
What was your return to running like postpartum? How soon did you start running and did you feel your attitude towards running was different?
With my first pregnancy, I attempted to return four weeks after delivery, and it was too soon. I had absolutely no energy for nearly a week and was quite sore. After that, I waited another month before trying again. My return was S-L-O-W. It was a humbling experience to start all over again.
This time around, I don’t have a plan set in place for postpartum running. I’ll start off walking, and then, if all feels O.K., I’ll cross-train on the bike or do pilates. The rest of my pregnancy and the birthing process will determine how quickly I return to running, whether that’s a month or more. I honestly can’t tell you what will happen this time around. My main concern is getting back my strength first, as I don’t want to risk injuring myself.
What advice do you have for running during pregnancy?
Do what feels comfortable. If you need to back off, then take a rest day. Definitely incorporate cross-training to stay injury-free. It’s especially important for your ligaments and joints. Run at a pace comfortable for you, and remember to fuel properly.
Where can readers find you? If you don’t have a blog or social media accounts you may leave blank.
Check out Isabel’s Running and Pregnancy Posts:
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–Sarah
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What an inspiring mom story! Thank you for sharing your pregnancy journey Isabel!