This previous summer, I had been working very hard to improve my running. I had shaved about two minutes off of my mile time, ran a full and half marathon, and set a PR in a 5 k. I was focused on continuing to improve and get even faster. I had set goals for the fall including a 10 k where I was hoping to place in my age group.
Then, I discovered I was pregnant.

  
I’m sure I went through the same range of emotions that most women do when confronted with the little pink line: Elation, fear, shock, giddiness, disbelief, amazement that my body would now house a tiny human, and perhaps a little dread concerning the next nine months. I love my babies, but I do not enjoy being pregnant. Nor do I enjoy the aftereffects of pregnancy on the body. But I was thrilled!

Except for one thing.

There went all the hard work of the past year in my running.  It took my almost 2 years after my second son was born to gain the ground that I did both in my weight loss and my running. Now I would have to start all over again.

Or would I?

I had attempted to run with both my previous pregnancies and never really managed to get very far or sustain it very long. I tried to remain active, but it was still difficult to bounce back. Perhaps this time would be different, though. Could I really be one of those women who managed to run through the majority of her pregnancy?

I decided I would try. After all, nothing ventured is nothing gained.

I began running in high school for something to do. Joining cross country connected me with friends and kept me active throughout high school. Since then, running has always been a part of my life. It’s like a relationship. Sometimes we take a break, but we always get back together; that commitment remains. It has become my therapy, my happy place, and my way to give thanks to God for my body. What better way to wade through this change in life than by continuing?

And so as I entered my second trimester (the first was spent kneeling over the toilet, not in any condition to run), I started. Slowly, steadily, and as consistently as I could. Working my way up to  a six mile long run and heading out several times a week. Will I be able to sustain that throughout the remain months? Probably not, but I’ll do my best. I’m 25 weeks pregnant now, and intend to continue as long as I can.

  
My plan is to balance both my running and nutrition, keep my weigh gain in check, and maintain my fitness as best I’m able, that way, when Baby Girl is born, I won’t have to work as hard or take as much time to get my fitness level back.

This is my journey through running – while pregnant, postpartum and beyond .