Halloween 5k

I was really hopeful with all the running I've been doing I wouldn't still be pregnant today. But alas, I woke up the morning still huge so why not run a 5k? I'm not gonna lie, it gets harder every week and I wasn't sure how much of this I could run. Some days I feel great some days I don't.Today I felt pretty good. Other then the obvious heavy weight in my abdomen and pressure down there I felt good I ran almost all of it. I had dreams of being like the woman who ran the Chicago marathon at 39 weeks then had her baby later that day, but no luck.

These are some of my running buddies.They crossed the line almost 20 minutes before me. I look forward to running races again when I can actually see them ahead of me most of race.

This is Karen, Lara, and I. We are all Weight Watchers employees. I was ahead of Karen most of the race but she caught up to me around mile 2. She could walk fast next to me while I "ran" and we went about the same pace! I walked a tiny bit with her during mile two but other then that I ran the whole thing. It took me 43 minutes. Not too shabby! Especially considering I am carrying probably an 8 lb baby!

The next race in town is the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. I've got my eyes set on that baby! And I wont be pregnant I can guarantee it!! I do think it will feel awesome to run not pregnant but I'm also thinking its gonna be rough getting back into running shape. Still, I can't wait!!

Hospice 5k

I think I'm more proud of these last trimester runs then any other 5k's I've done. I wasn't sure if I was going to feel up to doing this one or not but the last week I've really felt fantastic! I hate to say it out loud but I might actually stand to stay pregnant a while longer since I've been feeling so well. Much better then the whole last month. My husband even remarked this morning, after he woke up at 430am to get ready for hunting, he said, "wow you were sleeping really good!" I was like I know! I only woke up once last night, I don't know what the deal is all I know is I better enjoy this while it last cause this baby will be here soon enough and I wont be getting any sleep.

So the 5k: it went great! I ran the whole way! I ran it 4 minutes faster then I did the 5k 2 weeks ago. I was being motivated by the walkers behind me that I could hear them the entire time! Dang fast walkers! I was afraid if I stopped to walk a minute they would pass me so I just kept going. Usually what stops me and makes me walk is the pulling I feel on my stomach muscles but they didn't hurt so bad today. So I ran it in 40 minutes 20 seconds. Which is like a 13 minute mile, yuck, but oh well. This was probably my last pregnancy race which is kind of sad. The fun thing about running pregnant is there is no pressure. Everyone is just so impressed that I'm out there I don't feel any pressure to go fast. Soon enough I will be trying to get back to my old times and pushing myself harder. I'm enjoying the laid back feeling.

So I napped today and tonight I'm off to our Zumbathon fund raiser with the other Zumba instructors in town. You would think with all this activity I'm doing eventually this baby would get the idea and come out! Probably not for a few more weeks though.

Pink Ribbon 5k

Today was the annual health fair, breast cancer research 5k/10k. Last year I ran the 10k and got lost, this year, it was a bit different! I "ran" the 5k, kinda. My goal was to come in before all the walkers and I did! Even though it was a breast cancer run, the lady running the event even said we were supporting all types of cancer. It seemed like a very appropriate thing to do today as a friend of mine lost her husband to leukemia this morning. I felt like I was actually running for a cause. My friend Jenna ran it with me and I am so glad! Running by yourself is enjoyable when you are pushing to beat a time and really racing, but when you run like I do right now it can be incredibly boring. We talked the entire time and just had fun.

So running for me is most obviously difficult. Funny thing is I physically can not run fast enough to really get my heart rate up. It raises a little but I can fairly comfortably carry on a conversation the whole time. I physically cannot move my legs fast enough to get a great work out, which is probably a good thing. The thing that slows me down is just how uncomfortable and painful the weight of this baby is on my middle. I'm good for the first mile and then I have to walk occasionally to ease the pressure.

Still, I love it. Can't wait to run not pregnant, but I really enjoy running still. It makes me feel better. Funny thing is, yesterday I felt horrible. Standing, walking, bending just moving in general made me miserable. By evening I was lying on the couch. Today, I feel good. My legs are tired but I don't feel like I'd rather die then walk upstairs. I really think exercise is the best thing for this preggo lady.

I think I will do the hospice 5k next weekend if I'm still feeling good.

Maybe I should update?

Well, there just isn't a lot to say! No races, no new goals, no new training programs just me getting bigger!! I am still running, if you can call it running. I shuffle my feet for about 20 minutes a few times a week. I'm slow and it hurts but what can I say? I'm 32 weeks pregnant! I still love exercise. I can't wait to run not pregnant. I think its going to feel so freeing! I do a little Zumba, I swim every now and then and I even though I don't go on any bike riding exercises I ride my bike with my kids. I take Lainy to school on my bike and rode to the kid's school a couple times. Its hard to stay active but I love it when I do. As of now, I've gained 25lbs which is FANTASTIC for me! I've always gained 50-60lbs. Even if I tried I don't think I could do that at this point in this pregnancy although there is a part of me that is afraid I'm going to ruin it these last few weeks. I had Eve snap a picture of me after a "run" the other day, just to have prof that I was still getting out there.

I feel good, as good as I can feel pregnant. Sleeping is getting harder, but it seems easier then past pregnancies. I still wear mostly pre-pregnancy clothes although there is a large part of my closet I can't squeeze into. Everything about this pregnancy has been easier then the past four. Except for leg cramps. I've always gotten bad leg cramps in my calves while I slept in the last 4 pregnancies, but its out of control this time! Not just while I sleep and not just in my calves. I get them in my outer thigh, inner thigh, hips and even my big toes! I got a hip cramp so bad in McDonalds the other day I thought I was going to hit the floor! I don't know what the deal was with that.

All in all. A fit pregnancy is WAY better then a lazy eating whatever I want pregnancy. I feel great, I'm not near as tired and I think its going to be great until the end! I hope, fingers crossed!

Go Fremont County 2011 Triathalon

Well I did it people! I accomplished all the goals I set for myself for the summer BEFORE I knew I was pregnant. I certainty had every excuse in the book not to do it but I did! I ran a marathon, ran the Lander half marathon and completed a sprint triathlon. Its a good thing I did them in that order too because running is way too stinkin hard now! I'm just really grateful to accomplish this. Grateful to my family for supporting me and for a healthy body and pregnancy that allowed me to do this. Just a few years ago I could have never imagined myself doing ANY of these things.The triathlon was definitely my most favorite. It was fun, and I didn't feel like I was going to die like I did with the marathon. I might have to consider changing sports lol! So, above picture is taken before the race by my bike. I'm really excited.

This is Jenna and I before the race started. We've been training and worrying together for the past 4 months

The swim was really unique. It started at one end of the pool and you actually swam in every lane crossing under the lane ropes until you reached the other end of the pool and got out. Lance and kids showed up before my turn which made me really happy so he snapped a picture before I got in.

Here I am on the ramp 3 people from my turn. I was pretty nervous!!

Last lane, last lap! I think I rocked the swim. My time was 9 something (606 yards), I question the accuracy of that though it seems really fast. Several people in front of me struggled and had to stop and rest but I went right through without stopping it felt good.

Almost to the end!

And now I'm getting out. I think its hilarious how many pictures Lance took. I'm not even posting them all. He said he was worried about disappointing me. What a nice guy.

And now I'm walking to the bike. That's Eli's face in the corner.

Here I am coming in from the run. Lance didn't get any bike pictures. He said I was too fast and he didn't make it to the turn around point fast enough. He did pass me in the car so they cheered for me. I did the bike in under an hour which made me happy. I think it was 55 minutes (13 miles). I made it up Hill St without walking my bike which was FANTASTIC! The run was the worst, as I thought it would be.

The kids tackled me before I crossed the finish line so they got to cross with me which was fun! I ran it in 39 minutes which I'm trying really hard not to be disappointed in but is a pretty terrible time for me. My transition to the run took a minute. I was so excited I walked away from my spot without my visor or belly brace so I had to turn back around to get them and then I was flustered and it took a minute to get my brace on. I should have stopped and used the bathroom then but I didn't want to spend the time doing it so I kept going... mistake. This kid on my bladder was not forgiving at all! Luckily there was a bathroom at the half way point but that takes time ya know! The last half of the run felt a lot better bladder and wobbly leg wise.

Almost to the finish with the kids!

All done and so happy. You can see my brace under my shirt it is all cockeyed

This is my friend Lara. We've done a little training together and she is one of the organizers of the event. It was WAY FUN! I can't wait to do another one and I really hope I'm not pregnant next time! Overall I was really happy with my time. I wanted to be under 2 hours and I came in at 1:55 so that is perfect. Imagine if my running time weren't so horrible!

Buffalo running tracks 5k

So one of my favorite races each year is the Buffalo Running Tracks 5k. Its such a small little race in Ethete that just about everyone walks away with a trophy of some kind. This time I brought my kids and like last year I ran it with Kimberley and Lara. I ran it in 34 min some seconds which was 3 minutes slower then last year but, I'm pregnant! Running is getting harder. It hurts, and I always have to go to the bathroom!

Eve and Isaac ran the 1 mile kids race. Eli sat it out but this is me and my little runners

These are all of us runners; the Orbells and me and my kids

Me, Kimberley and Lara

Isaac and Cyrus. Isaac got 2nd and Cyrus 3rd. Mostly I think they just had a great time running together.

I got 2nd, out of 2 people but still! Yay!

Eve got 4th. Mostly she stayed with Isaac and Cyrus and tried to keep them on the road.

Kimberley got 2nd, Lara 1st

And the whole Orbell family! How cute is that!?

Lander Half marathon

Whew! This was a tough one! My friend Pam and I ran the Lander Half Marathon yesterday on the 4th of July. I'd never done this race and Pam had never run a half marathon. I convinced her she could keep up with the pregnant lady and we went for it! It had a lot of hills, a tough first half marathon but Pam did awesome!

Here we are at the start. Pretty fuzzy picture but fuzzy is better then no picture at all. Our goal was to start out slow, and that we did! By the time we had gone a few blocks we were dead last lol. But slowly, we started passing people along the way and we were far from last at the end. It went up for the first 6 miles and then down the rest which was very nice. Pam did great especially considering this was 4 miles longer then she had ever run before. I did pretty well. I was mostly worried about the one potty stop but it was just fine. It wasn't until the last mile and a half that my stomach really started to hurt. I hate to admit it out loud but I'm pretty sure I was having small contractions the last mile and a half and all through the parade after. I was so confident everything would be fine and the doctor supported me so much that I would have felt like a real idiot if something had gone wrong and if the contractions didn't stop. Thankfully by late after noon they were pretty much gone. That is the farthest I will run until this baby is born. I wasn't the only pregnant lady there, there were 2 others doing the half! I don't feel as crazy anymore!

And here I am crossing the finish line at 2:45:36. Not terrible. I ran the last half I did in 2:16 and the first in 2:36 so for a tough course and being pregnant I'm not sad about it.

Yay! We are so glad to be done!!

And after the race we all stayed for the race. So here we all are! Happy 4th!

Dubois High Country Challenge

This last Saturday we did the Dubois High Country Challenge. This is an extra fun event and a little extra special to me. Last year this was the big event I trained for. I worked really hard to work up to those 6.2 miles. It is a challenging course mostly trail and lots and lots of hills all out in the country running mostly on game trail. It was hard again this year but even though I was pregnant this time it wasn't near as hard as it was last year.I really love this picture. I feel like this picture really represents me. Yes, I am pregnant, running and these are my 4 crazy kids.The kids ran the 1 mile fun run and did awesome. We all had a really great time.

This is Eli and Eve running the last stretch of the 10k with me.

Isaac got 1st place for his age group! Ages 5-7 as a 5 year old I think he did awesome! Lance and I ran the 1 mile with them and we just couldn't even keep up with the kid.

Eli got 2nd for his age group (there were only 2 in his age group but don't tell him) Eli really hates running so this was a really great confidence builder for him.I ran with him. We stayed in the back and I helped him run walk it.

Eve got 4th but her big news is she won a bike!!! They did a drawing and she was the winner! I was running the race so didn't catch the event and just haven't taken a picture of her with the bike.

And here are my little runners. Lainy was too young to officially run but she sat in the stroller and was just a part of the fun.

As a pregnancy update:
Running pregnant is hard. Its starting to hurt. I bought a brace and it helps but... still hurts. The Lander half marathon is on the 4th I'm nervous but I think I can do it.

We went to the specialist last week and he had nothing but good news. First- its a boy! Second- my anti body levels are low which is good and it looks hopeful. He said that I have to have my blood drawn every month to monitor the levels. As long as they stay low we are good. If they get over 8 then we have a problem and 16 is really bad. I guess if they get over 8 and I'm far enough along they will take the baby, if I'm not far enough along I will have to go back to Denver and do a blood transfer into the baby's umbilical cord. That sounds just lovely doesn't it?!

He also said, that its been a really long time since he has had to do a blood transfusion on an antibody e (which is what I have) in a really long time so he is encouraged. So I feel like things are really going to be okay. I'm just going to keep livin life like nothing is wrong cause most likely it will be just fine!

A little over a week later...

Not gonna lie, those first few days were rough!! I could barely walk day one and two. Last Saturday I managed 4.5 miles but that was all I could do. It seems like my body knows that the marathon is over and I'm no longer hiding the pregnancy and my tummy has just popped right out! Its crazy. Friday we go to Denver for testing and we get to find out if its a boy or girl.

My mom sent me some of the marathon pictures she took at the finish line. I'm excited to post them. So the top one is us running just the last few feet before the finish line.

Whew we are done!

This is the actual finish line

And of course my first stop was the bathroom

Renee and I

And the whole family at the end

I did it!!!!!!!!!

I am so so glad that it is over and that I did it!!!!! I woke up the morning of the marathon with a protruding belly, feeling fat, not at all like a marathon runner and thought to myself "I am as insane as everyone thinks I am." But it was too late I had to do it.I got my bib number the day before the race. It was very exciting. That night I made several wardrobe changes to decide just which shirt made me look the least pregnant. We decided that once I snapped my water belt around my waist that none of them could hid it completely but the purple one was the best. It has a pocket in the front too which I like because I could stuff sport beans and other goodies in it.

I met my friend Grace and my sister in law Renee just moments before the race started. Renee was holding my spot in line for the bathroom. I used the bathroom and we literally ran to the start line. We got another racer to snap our picture about one minute before the start. And before we knew it we were off! It was fun too. We stared really slow and kept a good pace. It was a lot more fun then any of my training runs because I had good company. We walked about one minute every 15 and Renee was really good to make sure I kept fueling.

Around mile 11 to 13 my legs started hurting like usual but not near as bad as in training. I didn't hit my horrible 11 mile wall. It was painful but bearable. My friend Grace had an unfortunate knee injury about mile 13 and she was out. :( We were sad for her but Renee and I forged onward. The weather was super nice but HOT! We had shade the first 11ish miles but after that... blah it was hot.

If the race ended at 20 miles it would have been awesome. I was done done at 20. With my fantastic sister in law by my side I pulled through. About mile 23 I hit the swearing stage of running, when all I wanted to do was shout out obscenities but I contained myself since Renee was with me. :) Mile 25 I really thought I was going to die and a few tears started to form but its really hard to cry and run at the same time so I pushed them back. That was most definitely the hardest thing I've ever done. Keep running.

Pain, pain, pain. People did take pictures of me at the finish, none with my own camera. Hopefully some day I can post one. We finished, which was my goal, it was right at 6 hours. Not fast by any means, but I got the metal and the shirt!

I think right now I would pick labor over running another marathon although I'm sure there is another marathon in my future. I just have to see what it is like to run one not pregnant.

So here I am showing it off for the first time. It is LARGE!

This is Renee and I after we crossed the finish line. She did a lot better then me I think. She was awesome. I was dead. 2 days later... my legs have honestly never ever been so sore! I went for a small 1 mile run today if you could call it a run. It was more like an old man shuffle. I'm still really really happy I finished!