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!

Pregnancy journal

Since I was really trying to record my training, when I found out I was pregnant and didn't want to tell anyone it kind of put a cramp in the training journal. So I started a pregnancy one along with it and I'm posting some entries now if anyone is interested in how I arrived at the conclusion to run this marathon anyway.

March 23, 2011

Well here we go. The words I never wanted to say again. I’m pregnant. I found out last Friday, 5 days ago after suspecting for a little over a week. I wish I had written some of my feelings on Friday but at the same time I’m glad I didn’t. It would have just been full of swear words and why?! Why?! WHY?! WHY!!!!!!! The last few days have been a real roller coaster but surprisingly I am coping well. I feel the Lord helping me and I trust in His plan for me. I’m not alone. My husband on the other hand is still in denial he just can’t quite grasp what is happening.

So why do/did I not want to be pregnant? HELLO!!! 5 CHILDREN! I don’t want to do the midnight feedings, I don’t want to have a brand new baby, I don’t want to go through child birth again, I don’t want to give my body up to someone else. Mostly, I am training for a marathon and my body is MINE! I don’t want to gain any weight!!!! I just finally am getting back. I’m 9 lbs from my goal and pregnant or not I am going to reach it!!

The first thing I did after finding out, before telling lance, was email my trainer. She reassured me that she would help me have a fit pregnancy and alter my training but she didn’t say I could still do the marathon. So I got online and did some research. I found stories after stories of running mommies. Some who even completed a marathon while pregnant. After reading one particular story I felt reassured that I could still do it. Once I felt like the marathon wasn’t off the table I felt so much better. Now I have to just make it happen. While Lance is still in denial I am just dealing with the situation. I think that is one of the talents women have. We take the cards we are dealt and move on. As long as I can still run this marathon I can deal with this pregnancy. This affects my day care business which makes me sad but hopefully I can still watch kids next year.

I wish I could be posting this on my blog since this IS my marathon training right now but I just can’t share this with people now. Some people will be upset later when they find out but I have to keep this a secret now. This is why..

• I’m just not ready to deal with the comments. “You know where babies come from right?” “Wow, you sure have your hands full.” “You are braver then me.” If I could go the whole pregnancy without ever hearing those phrases or phrases like that I would be happy. Even the pity looks I get drive me nuts. Let’s face it. After 3 kids people stop being happy for you and start thinking you’re crazy. I’d much rather people find out after the fact.

• I don’t want to be judged. I can only imagine the opinions people will have of me running a marathon pregnant and I don’t want to hear the negative.
• I make enough excuses for myself I don’t need others to add to it. You know, saying “You’re pregnant you should rest, don’t push yourself.” Yes I’m pregnant and I want this baby to be healthy but if I am going to accomplish this goal I need to push.

So, lets talk a little running. I’m still doing it! The weeks to come are going to be hard but I’m sticking to it. I ran 4 this morning. I threw up at mile 2 but I kept going.

March 26, 2011

We’ve known just over a week now that #5 is on its way. It’s been an emotional week but all in all I think we are coping well. I went to the chiropractor yesterday. He’s been working with me and my had hip and back for almost a year now and always tells me how proud he is of the weight I’ve lost and how amazing my running story is. Yesterday he very sincerely was complimenting me on how I was like Forest Gump. One day I decided to run and just kept running. He told me how great he thinks that is and really what a great example I am and he hopes others will follow me.

It was such a nice compliment but honestly it almost made me cry. I’m pregnant! That’s all I was thinking. I felt like by being pregnant I was letting people down. Here I am doing these great things and I am inspiring people. I feel like I’m letting lots of people down. But really I just have to make this change of events another challenge and inspire people with my persistence. I feel like I will be letting so many people down not just myself.

My biggest fear: that voice in my head that says, “You’re pregnant its okay to eat that,” Or you’re pregnant you don’t need to exercise that hard.” This voice will be the death of me. I fear this voice in my head. It is my enemy.

March 28, 2011

Down a pound down a pound! 8.2 pounds to go! I feel like I’m racing time. Racing against the inevitable weight gain that is coming. How far down can I get before I start going up? The further down I go the more room I have to go back up. The pressure is building. I just hope I don’t sabotage myself.

April 3, 2011

Feeling pregnant already??

Yep, I am!!! Not just yes the morning sickness and passing out every time I sit on the couch, I’m talking my stomach hurts and feels like it is poking out!!! When I roll over in bed I feel the muscles stretching in my stomach, any woman that has had a baby probably know what I’m talking about. It hurts. I feel my stomach growing!!! I even think it looks like it is sticking out a little more. I thought I was just crazy until the other day Lance even mentioned it. Of course no one else in the world would possibly notice at this time but hello… already??? I’m not sure exactly how far along I am but I’m thinking about 7 weeks. That is too early to be feeling this way. I don’t like it. I’m not ready to surrender my body to this process. It kind of pisses me off!!

I’m still running. I ran great this week and got my heart rate up easier then I did last week. That is one thing I think the pregnancy is affecting, my ability to get my heart rate up, which in turn affects my speed. But I’ve already surrendered the goal of any time records. I’m not racing for time I’m just racing basically for health now. I want to do this marathon yes, but now I’m just desperate to keep this fit body of mine fit.

April 13, 2011

So went to the doctor Monday and I’m a little further along then I thought. I will be 11 weeks tomorrow. Good part about that is I’m almost done with the first trimester which means I’m almost over the throwing up part of all of this. But the bad new is I’m going to be that much further along for the marathon. I will be 18 weeks!! That’s just about showing. I will have a little bump it just won’t be obvious that it is a baby bump. Oh well.

It also means I will be 26 weeks for the triathlon. I’m due November 2^nd. I was hoping to do the Halloween 5k. We will just have to see about that one I guess.

I’m warming up to the idea. I’ve even told some people and their reactions have been really kind so that makes me feel better. Maybe this won’t be as horrible as I thought it would be. I seem to have stopped losing weight. I guess that is how it should be but I would really like to go down just a little more before I go back up. Oh well. I’m going to just have to let some things go and just take things as they come. I got to see the baby on the ultra sound and its hard not to get excited when you see that. The whole thing really is a miracle.

April 20, 2011

So I’ve reached the point of excitement. I realized the other day that if I were to miscarry at this point I would be devastated.

May 18, 2011

Sometimes I’m so full of emotion I just don’t have the energy to write anything. At this point looking back at how upset I was about being pregnant sounds so selfish and silly. Last week I went to the doctor and heard some really bad news. We’re having complications with this pregnancy and I will be so grateful to get a healthy baby in the end. I can’t believe I ever didn’t want this.

Its difficult for me to understand exactly what is going on and even more difficult to explain but here it is in a nut shell. I have a sensitivity to Antibody e and Antibody C which I was probably exposed to in my last delivery. So, now my body recognizes those antibodies and unless the baby has the exact same blood type as me my red blood cells will start attacking and trying to kill the baby. From what I understand and from the few little blogs I've found on line from women with similar, not even the same situation as me is that usually the babies usually come early and usually have jaundice and are anemic. So who know what the next few months will hold for us. But its been emotional to say the least. I still get to run the marathon though! So that is good.

I felt like it was such a trial just to accept this in the middle of training for a marathon and just losing all that weight. Now once we've accepted it and gotten excited about it I feel like the Lord is taking it away. What can I do but just laugh? You never know how much you want something until it is taken away.

My doctor is sending me to the Platt River Clinic for high risk pregnancies. I’ve already had my blood taken 3 times and I’m 15 weeks.

Running: I’ve been doing pretty good documenting my long runs. Just add to it, I’m pregnant. I don’t wake up early any more to work out. I just can’t do it. I am tired but I feel pretty darn good. Less then 3 weeks before the big day!

14 miles

So, 14 again today. My trainer told me I should run 2 minutes walk 1 this time since my legs have been dying at mile 11. So I tried to do what she said but when I'd only ran 4 miles and I had been out for an hour I had HAD it! So I just ran. I had to walk a bit. A little at like mile 11 and mile 13 and I was pretty tired at mile 13. My legs really started to hurt. Seeing as that is only half of the marathon I don't know what I am going to do on marathon day. I guess I should have stuck with what she said to see how it turned out I just couldn't do it.

I fueled better today. I ate oatmeal and toast for breakfast and I think that helped. I also had rested legs from not running so much this week. I just hope it all comes together marathon day.

Eating my way through a marathon??

Yeah, that's right! I think I'm going to eat my way through this thing! I was much more conscious about fueling this time because last week my stomach was growling! How can I be running when I'm so hungry? So I took 1/2 a bagel with me and a cliff bar along with my gels and energy drinks. I snacked on them on and off while I ran and it helped a lot. I felt a little silly but my tummy was happy.

I snapped this picture of myself. This was on mile 8 and I look a lot happier then I feel. It was wet and cold and rainy and when I looped around and stopped at my house I had to change my clothes into dry warmer ones. It was really hard to leave the house. I wanted to stay home! I thought that this would be easier after 22 miles but it was, for lack of better words, horrible. Just like last time my legs just died after 11.5 miles. Being out of breath and the cardio workout of it all doesn't bother me, I could go for ever. But my legs kill. It gets so painful just to put one in front of the other. Walking hurts worse then running. I am confident I can finish this race but it is going to be SLOW and PAINFUL!

My son snapped this one of me right before I ran up and changed.