Tri-al by Fire

Where, oh where did my flat abs go?

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:30:00 +0000

An unfortunate and expected side effect of pregnancy is a bad stomach after birth. It's true what they say about coming out of the hospital looking six months (or so) pregnant, and that you may look pregnant for some time afterward. At 8 weeks, I think I'm about down to 4.5-5 months pregnant-looking. And I've got quite a ways to go. My mother likes to keep reminding me, and it is good to keep in mind, that it took 9 months for the belly to expand and grow and so you shouldn't expect miracles before 9 months post-partum.

Now that I am 8 weeks in and have started exercising more frequently, I need to start focusing on my abs. I've searched for some exercises that will help and which ab muscles should be targeted. This is important, as I've read that by only doing regular crunches you are not working the right ab muscles to pull the pooch in and will only keep you from gaining a flat stomach again.

That's where I found that the transverse abdominal muscles are the key to getting the flat abs back. I've started doing specific exercises to target these muscles this week. While training my abs to go back to their original position and picking up my walks and swims, I'm hoping for a miracle sooner rather than later. :)

Let the games begin

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:59:00 +0000

Since mid-September, I haven't been allowed to workout. (And I still can't get over it.) My dry spell ended mid-December when I (finally) set foot at the gym. And boy did that feel weird. I felt like the new person who just joined and knew nothing about working out. I wanted everyone to know "I have a four-week-old at home!" yet I wanted no one to look at the pooch under my shirt (which probably didn't help the newby look in my eyes).

Actually, I guess it ended two days from being home from the hospital after delivery and we took Emmy for a walk. It was exhausting and painful, but was so nice to get out. After a few more walks and a few more weeks of recovery, I moved up to the gym. I may not be like many endurance athlete moms out there, but I decided to make it an easy recovery and not do any strenuous activity until after six weeks. I wanted to avoid any possible injuries or long-term effects of working out too soon. This meant no running (and still, to this day - 8 weeks later - I haven't run).

During my sixth week post-delivery, and after my doctor check-up, I decided to take the plunge - in the pool, of course. Wow - did that feel weird. I'm so glad I kept up swimming during my pregnancy; I think it made it a lot easier to get back into it, not to mention help my delivery and recovery. Like I mentioned before, I believe working out during pregnancy is so important (but please make sure you've cleared it with your doctor beforehand AND make sure not to push yourself too hard).

It started with 30 minutes in the pool. I've now swum four more times in the last two weeks and I'm almost to my old swimming self - almost. The second swim I must have been swimming in mud, but the third and fourth were better. I started doing intervals, and doing drills every swim to work on the ol' form. The only thing I wish would snap back is my swimsuit body, but I'm being told that'll come in time (ugh).

Mixed in with the swims are walks outside, on the treadmill or time spent on the elliptical, and some weights. My legs are already more toned, I can see my arms coming back to form and my sides tighten up. But I can tell this is going to take a few more months. Too bad I don't have as much patience for this as I do with Emmy!

You mean I have patience?? Who knew?

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:45:00 +0000

Even before my husband and I were having a baby, we'd always talk about how we'd be with a baby. When we were at a restaurant and heard a baby screaming, we'd look at each other and I'd say, jokingly, "This is when I'd hand the baby to you and walk away." And he'd agree.

Flash forward to today, and my, have the tables turned. Everyone in my family knows I have little patience. And I'm sure many of those who know me would agree. I dislike surprises, I have bouts of road rage and if I have to wait on others I could possibly blow a gasket one day. But from the day I had my baby, it's as if I'm a totally different person with her. Could I possibly be a mother? Hmm.

Now, don't get me wrong, now that I've gotten out and about since the birth I've noticed I still don't have patience for strangers. And sometimes for my husband either. But for little Emmy, she could be wailing and I can hold her and try to make it go away. My husband, on the other hand, is now the complete opposite. And I am the one who is trying to teach him patience!

For instance, Emmy's crying and we do what we can to settle her down. Usually this is around (or to be more exact, past) bed time and we've calmed her down, she's sleep and we put her in her crib. Five minutes later she's crying again. One parent gets frustrated; the other tries to soothe her back asleep. Another scenario is she's crying and one parent wants to immediately give her a bottle or hand her to mom to feed so she'll stop. The other wants to make sure she doesn't have a wet diaper or just wants to be held. It's hard when both are tired and this is usually where nerves are shorter, but it's getting easier.

He may think I'm knocking on him, but I'm not - since the begining of our relationship, I've learned a lot from him. But it seems this is his chance to learn a little "motherly love." He's an awesome, wonderful dad and has been such great support; I couldn't imagine going through this - or want to, obviously :) - with anyone else.

But it takes patience, honey.

Outlook on 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:21:00 +0000

I'm finally getting the opportunity to complete this post while trying to get Emmy to go back to sleep (it's 6 a.m.). I'm also post-dating this by nearly a week as I've (again) been working on this post but have yet to complete - so wish me luck.

Now that the first week of the year is nearly complete, I guess it's no better time than now to pull together a few things I'd like to work on this year. I've pretty much quit doing 'resolutions' to work on, so I like to call my thoughts for the new year 'perspectives.' And since I'm getting around to this a bit late, I've had a chance to read a lot of others' goals for 2010 and some have been quite aspirational and some pretty darn interesting. Of course, I'm always interested in seeing more ideas that I could possibly be interested in, so let me know what are some you've got on your list.

In no particular order, here are some new perspectives I'd like to achieve in the beginning of this new decade (can you believe it's a new decade already!??):

Enjoy every minute - whether good or bad - of my baby girl
Keep the love in my marriage, as we can see it can get a bit trying with the new addition (but luckily we can never stay mad at each other for too long)
Learn to cook more meals, outside of my usual spaghetti and enchiladas(my husband will laugh at this one)
Make sure to give myself me-time
Complete the New York City Marathon (I've yet to get to race it though I've 'won' the lottery 3 times and even had plane tickets in 2007 though I got horribly sick 3 days before leaving)
Spend less (ha!)
Don't be guilty about taking aforementioned me-time
Learn more about photography (which would consist of me getting my longed-for digital SLR camera - ahem)
Work on my running speed - I'd like to get my mile pace down to the 8's consistently
Swim consistently (at least 2 times per week, every week)
Be the best mom and wife I can be

Luckily, this list is a work in progress. I've learned - quickly - that not all goes as planned with a baby around. And for me as a Type A, super-organized, full-speed-ahead chick, this has been hard for me to adjust to. Thankfully my husband is much more laid back.

Speaking of a new decade, at the turn of the new year, we were all looking back at where we were while ringing in 2000. I was a senior in high school, kicking it at my parents' house with my best friend and boyfriend, while my brother and sister had a couple of friends over as well. At the strike of midnight, our lights went out. What?! With all the hooplah over Y2K, we got really freaked out.

Turns out my dad snuck to the garage and popped the switches. Nice one, dad.

And looking back at the decade, I have had so many experiences and have grown so much, it's pretty scary:

Graduated from high school
Graduated from college
Started my first job (and stayed there for the last 6 years)
Bought my own car
Rented my first apartment
Started my obsession with triathlon
Got married
Had a kid

Whew. It's been a great decade and a pretty positive one at that. Here's to a great 2010 and an even better decade that brings new experiences. And with Emmy and who knows if a brother or sister for her, I'm sure it will be very, very interesting. And tiring.

7 weeks in heaven (aside from sleep deprivation)

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It's been 7 weeks and a few days since my last post, but I have a great excuse, as I've been spending that time getting to know my little pumpkin, Emmy! She joined us Nov. 16, 2009, the day after my last post, at 7lbs 4oz at 10:50 a.m. It's been a whirlwind of a time these last 7.5 weeks and dad and I are quickly trying to adjust to life with a newborn. In fact, I've been "working" on this post since Monday, and hope to get it done before the next feeding.

If you've ever imagined having a child, or are pregnant and hearing stories, you never get the full extent of what people are trying to explain to you until the day you come home from the hospital with your child. No one ever shares with you their secret feelings of the experience, such as being afraid of the night because it seems lonely when she wakes up crying at 2 a.m. to eat and then takes another hour after the feeding to fall back asleep. But I think we're past that now, thank goodness! (*knocks on wood*)

And since this blog focuses on my physical adventures, I'd have to say my fitness and exercise during pregnancy provided a very smooth, easy, short delivery. Now granted, I was technically in labor for two months prior to my induction date, and was on bed rest for those final two months, which is no easy feat. But by the time I got to the hospital on Nov. 16 (I didn't even have to check in on Sunday night because I was already "moving along") I was already nearly half way dilated. Once they began the drugs to induce labor, it was nearly 4.5 hours later that we welcomed Baby Emmy. And yay for epidurals - it was absolutely wonderful with one and I don't think I'd do it any other way. I think my husband may have loved it even more - I didn't scream at him once for doing this to me! (And I am proud to say he was impressed with me.)

In all honesty, I never realized I would love someone so much so quickly as I did the day she was born and I was holding her in my arms. It was - and is - a great feeling. I'm already missing how small she was when she was born but am excited to see what a beautiful girl she turns into. Now to get used to being on someone else's schedule and getting back into shape...

My husband likes to refer to our first two weeks as Navy SEAL training; it was so intense, so stressful, so sleep-depriving your body has little opportunity to slowly work into existing on little sleep. And if it weren't for my parents, I don't know what we would have done. After our second night home (which seemed so horrible, but looking back now really wasn't), my mother stayed with us for a couple nights and, because of those ominous lonely nights, we stayed at their house for a few nights (luckily it was the week of Thanksgiving by then and we had plenty of help). Now we feel like old pros - um, yeah right.

10.5 hours before starting the rest of my life

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:35:00 +0000

In 10.5 hours we will be checking in to Labor & Delivery. That's it - 10.5 hours. At times it can't come soon enough, and others - well, it's just me freaking out about so many different things.

The last few days have been more and more uncomfortable, and I thought for sure we'd have to go to L&D last night, but I decided to wait it out and see. No need to do a false labor check-in at this point. The contractions have become increasingly painful and more frequent, but still not in a timely, consistent fashion.

I think I have vacuumed all the rooms every day for the last 3 days, mopped all the wood floors, re-cleaned the bathrooms, dusted the entire house and checked and re-checked the hospital bag. I even made four bows for Baby R, one of which she'll wear home. Bryon's done a good job as well - the cars' registrations are up-to-date, inspections passed, new tires on my car, and his car cleaned and organized for bringing home baby.

I may have mentioned this before in the past, but as a Type A person who thrives on logistics and planning and coordinating, this has been quite exhausting. Add in the random nerve pain in my right rear cheek and contractions, and it's been quite an experience.

We keep hearing "oh, get ready to never do anything again" and "your life is changing forever" -as if we'll never do what we love to do before baby ever again after baby. But we're going in this as though this is the start of our new life together and can't wait for her to join our adventures. As we keep telling ourselves, she's joining our lives, and we can't wait to share them with her!

Walking into parenthood

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:23:00 +0000

Now that I've cleared 37 weeks pregnant and I'm into 38 weeks, we have been trying everything to get things moving along even further. Eating spicy foods, walking, cleaning, etc. - nothing so far. Last week was the first time I actually took a walk around the neighborhood since before bed rest, and man was it weird! To be in my sneakers and moving - getting to do something physical - was exhilarating. Since then, I've walked about five more times with the dogs and Bryon. It's been nice to get out of the house in that way, and I can't help but think of pushing Baby R in a stroller around the block when she's here.

Last night, 2007 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack was at our local running store to chat about his experiences in triathlon and a little signing. Man I love Aussies! They're care-free attitude - let alone their accents - are so nice to be around! Not only listening to him talk about racing but to be in a running store once again (because why have I needed to since ~April??) made me miss running even more.

On a similar note, I must say I'm shocked in myself that I am missing running. I am not good at running, I've always had a complex about running - but man, I cannot WAIT until I can shuffle my feet faster than a waddle. I have visions of fast times, fast legs and baby weight being lifted off my frame. But let's get serious here; I know that once I do get the opportunity to run I will be huffing and puffing and playing mind games all over again.

Here's to less than 6 days until I get the chance to meet Baby R. Anxiety and anticipation grows!

11 days

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:02:00 +0000

Eleven days and counting. November 16 is just on the horizon, yet still seems so far, far away.

Now that I am only 11 days away, something new has happened: questioning of how much longer I have. I've been to Baby Gap, Joann's Fabrics, Janie & Jack, the grocery store... regardless of where I've been, at least one person has asked how far along I am. And then when I tell them I have x amount of days, they giggle with little sympathy and make me feel like a rotund beach ball.

I did hear something interesting today; you always hear of ways to induce labor at home (eat spicy foods, have sex, walk, drink pineapple juice) but one that I will happily jump on board with that was shared today. Pizza. Yes, pizza. Not any of the "fast" chains, but gourmet-y type places, like iFratelli's and Campisi's. So what did we have for dinner tonight? Fireside Pies pizza.

I think my husband was trying to make me eat the whole pie.

So, bring on the (stronger) contractions!

Nesting for Type A's is...an every day occurrence

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:08:00 +0000

Nesting. Apparently that's all the rage when you're thisclose to delivering. This involves heavy cleaning, organizing, baking - anything involving crossing things off a list and getting things ready for baby.

My problem is in determining whether I'm nesting or not - and in turn, close to delivery - because I always have lists. I always get in moments of deep cleaning. I always try to organize here and there randomly.

I'm Type A. It's what I do.

So how do I differentiate? I've been wondering it for the last couple of weeks after reading all the pregnancy sites. Over the last few days, I've baked, we got both cars cleaned and detailed, installed the car seat, got the lawn mowed, finished the baby room...

Hmm, looking back maybe we are in nesting mode. And I'm definitely in nesting mode at work. With deadlines this week, I'm nervous at the possibility of leaving something left undone for someone else to have to scrap up and finish. It's a logistical nightmare for my Type A, common sense-based, logical brain.

I always figured this last part of pregnancy would throw me for a loop and leave me filling completely helpless, but I really don't know how much longer I can stand it! Aside from the uncomfortableness, of course, too.

Twelve days and counting. Unless she would like to decide to grace us with her presence sooner.

Running is what again?

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:12:00 +0000

My husband and I were driving down the road on a beautiful Fall day and I saw a woman running. At that moment, I realized I forgot what running felt like.

I forgot how the wind feels in my face.

I forgot how my quads feel when they burn.

I forgot how to play mental games to keep me running...

Well, I miss feeling the good things about running and biking and swimming - just plain moving around! And it made me feel sad that I've forgotten the adrenal rush of a good workout.

In other news, at our last doctor's appointment, she asked if we wanted to induce a week early - uh, yes! So the new official date is Nov. 16. That is, if she doesn't come earlier, which everyone around me thinks she will. (And I hope so too!)

Everything in the baby room is ready to go...we just need a baby to fill it!

Doctor's orders

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:05:00 +0000

Bed rest does not a happy athlete make.

If you were to tell me 8 months ago I would be on bed rest during my pregnancy, I would have laughed. But fast forward to today, and here I am - on bed rest. Have been for the last 3 weeks. Oh sure, baby is doing great - she hasn't missed a beat. It's just baby and body are not cooperating and I someway, somehow went into early, preterm labor. It must have been all that shopping I did earlier in the day on a day off from work.

From all the reading and the childcare classes and all the stories, I always swore I wouldn't be "one of those pregnant ladies" who mistook Braxton Hicks contractions or think every pain or twitch was something important enough for a run to the hospital. I started having horrible ab pain on Friday late afternoon, the last weekend of September, and tried to feel better. I finally decided to look up what ab pain in pregnancy could mean (I was thinking more along the lines of stretching pains, but in the back of my head contractions). I found that if I'm still hurting after a period of rest, to call the doctor. So I figured I'll go to bed and if the pain is still around in the morning, we'll call the doctor.

Long story short, we wind up in the hospital to get checked out "just in case," though while walking in to the hospital I felt like such a lame duck and embarrassed and thought we would be out of there in a few hours, and a few hours turned into a few days. Turns out my body was gearing to go, and at only 32 weeks! Now we're just trying to make it as far as we can. I'm at 35 weeks tomorrow and I'm just waiting to make it to 37 weeks - after that, I'll be happy for Baby R to make an appearance any time!

In one day, all my efforts to have an active, fit pregnancy with any hope of bouncing back 'fast' after childbirth flew out the window. In a few short days I felt like my muscles were in atrophy and weak. But now, with some breaking of the doc's orders, I've been doing some cleaning and stretching that makes me feel a little bit better. An endurance athlete forced to do NOTHING has been interesting, challenging and difficult. Through this pregnancy, I've not only had to overlook the others going for long bike rides and runs but now I've had to step back completely and do absolutely no sort of working out.

Maybe it's good to have a break in training after 4 years...

10 weeks left

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:45:00 +0000

We are 10 weeks out from our due date, and I'm getting antsy already. Not only to meet my daughter, but something else that has begun to be an annoying reminder of being pregnant at every step: I cannot WAIT to lose this baby weight.

I mentioned this today after working out and my husband asked how I'm planning on doing that. Well, the first 15 I'm hoping to lose the day I give birth, thankyouverymuch. Then there's breastfeeding and getting moving as soon as I can.

And then I put together a few other things that have begun to irk me a little more and more, and in no particular order, here's what I can't wait to go "back to normal" post-delivery:

My weight
The ability to pull on pants and socks with grace
To just MOVE again with grace
My moods (which have actually been very good, but I'm putting this on here for my husband, as I don't think it's going to stay that way in these last few weeks)
Increase my physical activity (i.e., be able to RUN and BIKE)
Get my "old" hips back and not have them hurt after any type of walking, using the elliptical, etc.
Get my abs back
Be able to wear all my cute clothes being neglected in my closet
Get through the medical side effects that I'm now facing (which I will leave to myself)

I would also mention to wake up early and work out, but I'm afraid that I'll end up eating my words when I'm only sleeping 2-3 hours at a time at night, so I don't think this is going to change any time soon...

So welcome, 30 weeks - I'm sure the next 10 weeks are going to fly by, but I'm afraid it won't feel like it.

Fighting exhaustion one day; thinking of Ironman the next

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Week 26 for me was a little disconcerting; after my spell of exhaustion last week, I halted any workouts - my one and only was last Monday, which was 45 minutes of fast walking (3.5-4 mph) on an incline of 2.0-3.5. Not quite my idea of staying in shape and keeping the weight gain in check, but better safe than sorry, right?

I felt much better after working from home last Thursday and was able to enjoy a dinner Friday night with our training group for us Ironmen to share thoughts, tips and ideas on our experiences at Ironman to some Ironman hopefuls. All the talk about Ironman was making me wistful for another go at the distance, if not just any triathlon distance. It really got me thinking about which one will be my next... 2011 Ironman, anyone?

Hopefully my center of gravity is one of the first things to improve - this past weekend I was stumbling all over the place! Rather humorous, but it's not fun feeling this clumsy 24/7!

Here's to a better week 27 of pregnancy - only (only??) 13 weeks to go!

My pregnancy is my training, apparently

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:50:00 +0000

I was going through some of my past research on the effects of pregnancy on the body of an athlete and thought this should cheer me up (and others, if you're struggling like me):

Pregnancy does, in fact, have a training effect on you much like exercise does. It is nicely graduated as the baby grows, and unlike your exercise routine, there is no taking a day off!

Here are some of the systems in your body that are enhanced by pregnancy:

Cardiovascular: During the course of pregnancy your blood volume increases by about 40 percent and your heart rate increases about 15 beats a minute to supply the growing baby with nutrients and oxygen. This is the equivalent of doing mild exercise 24 hours a day over 40 weeks, adding just a little more load each day.
Breathing: Your respiratory rate increases, thus raising your oxygen uptake.
Musculoskeletal: Your skeletal system strengthens in response to the progressive weight training that the baby affords. At the same time, the hormone relaxin, released to expand the pelvis for the birth, will make you the most flexible you have ever been in your life, and you can get a real jump-start in your stretching routine.
Hormones: Your body pours out huge amounts of hormones to support and strengthen itself and the developing fetus.

So basically, I expect to improve my sprint, olympic and half Ironman tri times by 10s of minutes next season!

Sleep never sounded so good

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:18:00 +0000

In the last three days, I've felt I've been run over a bus, plowed into a wall and come down with a horrible flu. Or, put another way, I've hit the wall at mile 130 in Ironman and I'm walking the whole way to the finish line (oh, wait, I have actually done that!).

Exhaustion has set in. I've been waking up every morning this week feeling even worse than the previous morning - barely able to move my arms, feeling stiff as ever and feeling like I've had no sleep. I soon realized that I can't pull 11-hour work days consecutively anymore and it has caught me too late to remedy. Therefore, I have not left the house once today - I'm working from home. After starting a bit of research at 7:30 this morning and getting it done an hour later, I started getting ready and just had to sit down. With a cough that started yesterday, I decided to be safe rather than sorry and work remotely, wearing shorts that don't even fit because I was feeling overheated this morning (lovely, huh?).

It makes me a little frustrated, to tell you the truth. To let some alien thing take over your body and prevent you from doing what you're used to. I've done one workout this week - I feel like such a slacker! But, I hear my mom's voice in my head to take it easy (she did yell at me after I told her I worked 11 hours earlier this week), so I need to be ok with this.

But here's what I need to remember: it's hard work making a baby!

Exercising during pregnancy pros (and my mental cons)

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:45:00 +0000

It seems that more and more exercising during pregnancy is becoming commonplace. Maybe it's just because I'm around athletes a lot who don't consider "off season" in their vocabulary, but it's still interesting - yet fun - to show 'the others' that it can be done (yes, you stay-at-home women at the Y pool who look at me in my two piece swimming laps). And while I have not been doing group workouts so that I can keep it at my pace and my comfort level, I have found that I'm still not too far off from being able to 'hang with the group.' Which thrills me, really, because I need to make sure I come back from post-partum ready to rock and roll, kick butt and take names. :)

Sidenote: is it wrong to feel like a loser that I can't participate and can't continue to train while all these other people are racing and improving their times? I was talking to a fellow preggers triathlete in our tri group who has been feeling kinda the same way - it's difficult to know that our husbands are going out and riding 60-90 miles on Saturday while we're stuck away at home (or I'm trying to do an hour swim) cleaning, working on the to-do list, etc. instead of us out there with them, kicking butt on the bike. Man I miss my bike...

Anyways, like Tuesday, when I swam 2000m in ~40-45 minutes. That's approximately 1.25 miles. And while I have swum that faster in a half Ironman triathlon, it's still better than most who aren't carrying an alien inside them. My husband came back from a Master's swim and said they did 1800m; "In an hour?" I said, to which he said yes, "But we did, like, 5x200s in 6 minutes or so." So what - all my sets are between 200 and 400 meters, so I guess I could actually kick y'alls butt still. :)

But what really gets me is not being able to ride or run. I gave up riding outside on the streets around month 4 because I felt I don't need to be selfish and risk an injury or cause some major damage to my belly. And after a while, I had to give up spin because my hips were just not making it comfortable for me at all. I figured an hour spin wasn't worth the two days post-spin to be in pain - I'm uncomfortable enough as it is without it. And running has become minimized a bit - I've resorted to race walking and occasional run pick ups. And my "long runs" are now "long walks" on Sundays - which equates about one hour to 1h 15m because walking any longer than that is just not that exciting and it starts hurting. I do miss my runs around the lake or through some of my favorite richy-rich neighborhoods.

The other thing that gets me about not being able to participate in group workouts - don't worry that I don't even attempt to make the morning workouts anymore b/c there's no way I can get up that early right now - is all the new people coming into the group. I keep asking Bryon about them and every time he's out there with them I get more and more upset. It's just the competitor in me, I know, but it's very, very, VERY hard for me to just sit back and let this pregnancy - and baby - take me over. I just pray that the rumors behind the new moms who train during pregnancy come back afterward faster and stronger than before is true! (Some reading for that.)

All in all, once I quickly look past my competitive edge, I just remember the below points of why I really should continue my exercise.

Reasons your baby (and your body) will thank you for running (from here and here)

Babies who are born to active mothers often have normal growth but decreased body fat at birth which may have lifelong benefits
Regular exercise during pregnancy builds stamina and prepares & strengthens muscles and body for delivery
Running while pregnant can increase your baby’s ability to self calm
Moms who run have increased fetal movements which studies show may help with oral language acquistion later on
Regular exercise during pregnancy better prepares the baby for the transition from the womb
Running during pregnancy increases the circulation of blood and placental efficiency.
Cardio exercise increases blood flow from the placenta, supplying nutrition and oxygen to the baby
The endorphin rush that you feel when you run crosses the placental barrier and gives your baby its own “runner’s high. The feel good tranquilizing effect of endorphins can last up to 8 hours after exercise

Come December, when it's nice and chilly and I can cover all my baby fat with layers upon layers, I'll get my chance to pick it up again during the racing off season and begin preparing for next racing season. I just hope my age group is ready for some butt kicking, so get your popcorn ready. :)

You say 'weight', I say 'bleh'

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:50:00 +0000

I always imagined that I would stay within the 20-30 pound weight gain during my entire pregnancy. Ok, ok, probably more closely to 30. Up to 20 weeks, I was doing great - only gaining 11 pounds. Then I go in for my 24 week check up last week and I gained 7 pounds in ONE MONTH! What?? So of course my doctor says weight gain is fine but a little on the high end, so watch this and that and blahblahblah. Bryon jumps on board and starts throwing things out there like "so no cereal, no sweet tea, no this and that." Thanks for throwing me under the bus, dear! And the fact she threw in there that my glucose test is at the next appointment, in four weeks, and that I should be 'careful' because 'we'd want me to pass the test.' Really? Are we THAT worried?

So I freak out. I've never really had to watch my weight, except when I discovered I gained - and then immediately lost - 12 pounds in one month before my thyroidism was diagnosed.

So what do I do? Pick up my workouts, of course. Sure, I can tell I'm losing some muscle mass and the legs are getting flimsy, but I've cut out cycling and spinning (the hips are just not allowing that) and cut out full-on runs. So now I'm focusing on fast walks with some runs splattered in there intermittently, weights and swims.

What I've done since my dr's appointment last Wednesday:
Thursday: I can't remember, but I think I did weights and cardio? I've already forgotten...
Friday: 1800m swim
Sunday: 1h5m walk/run covering 4.5 miles
Monday: 45m walk on treadmill, on incline
Tuesady: 2000m swim

Six days later, I've actually lost about 1.5 pounds. Call me crazy, but "yay!" My baby's still kicking and I felt great the whole time, so I don't see an issue.

Where has summer gone?!

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:21:00 +0000

It's already August and I just noticed I didn't post once in July - it came and went too fast I feel like I didn't even have a chance!

Lots has happened since I last posted late June:

We're having a girl! We surprised my family with a cake. Bryon and I found out at a dinner by ourselves - we had the doctor circle whether it was a girl or boy, stick it and seal it in an envelope and we handed one to a baker that day and another to our waiter that night. The waiter was to bring ou t a cheesecake if a girl and tiramisu if a boy - I'm sure you get the idea of what transpired. :) It was a great way to find out together! Plus, I was always in the mood for cake, so didn't go wrong there!

I'm still getting out and about, though rather slowly, and my runs are now more majority walk, run pick-up here and there. This is taken at 21 weeks after a run/walk (around July 14th).

We're starting to make advances in the baby's room. We've got the crib, we've got our everyday stroller (we went with the UPPABaby - but still waiting on our BOB :)), and showers are being planned. We're also making some headway on our to-do list around the house to make sure everything's wrapped up before Baby R comes. Unfortunately, my time to comfortably help on those projects is quickly vanishing, so nothing like using that as ammo to get hubby to move a little quicker.

I'm now edging closer to the third trimester and it doesn't seem like it could be coming soon enough, now that everyone I know who was pregnant is starting to have their babies! However, I need to keep remembering to enjoy these remaining few months, make sure everything's in order and to RELAX! It's hard, but I'm trying.

Screw the critics, and screw cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:03:00 +0000

While my time with the Lance Armstrong Foundation was short in college, it left a huge impression on me. I wasn't into riding. I wasn't into spending thousands of dollars on a fancy bike, helmet and gear. I knew little about the ins and outs of peloton and cycling and the thrill you feel riding on the road in the middle of nowhere.

But it did leave me with compassion and the wish to be a part of something so big (it was big back then, but now is gargantuan!) that had so much meaning. To this day, if there was some way I could be on the inside again day in, day out and support this cause, I would drop everything.

Cancer has affected my life, just as I'm sure most of yours as well. We had a neighbor, when I was eight, be diagnosed with breast cancer. She had two very young children, who were my sister's and brother's ages, and I remember them staying over at our house for a few nights the week she was getting some major surgery and chemo. She lost her 15+ year battle this past January.

I have an uncle, who we don't get to see very often, who unfortunately seems to 'attract' every sort of cancer imaginable. Once he shakes off one, another is discovered. He's been fighting cancer for what seems like 20 years, and with lack of great health care coverage, he goes between Mexico and New Mexico for treatment.

Then all of a sudden, two years ago this month, my dad went in for some chest pain, and not only did they find a mysterious and very rare mass in his heart, they found a mass in his lung and his kidney. After many tests, travel to Minnesota to the Mayo Clinic for heart surgery by the one surgeon who has seen this type of mass (though it was still the largest and most mysterious ever), more tests to check the kidney (which they then suspected it to be cancerous because of it's own blood supply), and another couple months to wait for his heart surgery recovery, 40% of his kidney was cut out. And guess what? It turned out to be very early stages of cancer. Luckily, he did not have to go through chemo, he gets checked regularly for masses, but he went through enough pain and torture of tests, open heart/double bypass surgery and a long, arduous, painful recovery to last our whole family a lifetime.

I even had a scare in college, while at the LAF. I was first diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Then they did more tests and said I had Graves' Disease. Then they decided I had a tumor and wasn't sure if it was benign yet or not. After many tests, many pokes and prods with needles (which is why to this day I can sit and stare at a needle going into my arm. Thank God for good veins.), it eventually was diagnosed a benign tumor, which was killed off with iodine. I am now on medication for the rest of my life.

Seeing Lance Armstrong's new Nike commercial gave me chills. It hit me to the bone. Here's to kicking cancer's ass and helping those who are afflicted with this disease. It's a tough ride but coming out victorious is bone-chilling.

Good luck Lance! And here's to those who are diagnosed or know someone who is fighting cancer right now.

Stares and laps, cribs and strollers

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Now that I'm showing more, and look more like I'm pregnant and not just gained a few unnecessary pounds, I haven't minded wearing belly-hugging shirts instead of billowy tops. And for the last few weeks I've been going to the Y pool, in my two-piece Nike suit to swim laps and lay by the poolside (still gotta try to keep tan lines to a minimum!). Each weekend I've been getting about a mile swim in and about an hour to relax and read. Today was no different, but I felt that I was getting a lot of stares, more so than before.

What, had they never seen a pregnant lady in a two-piece swimming laps before?

Got 1700m in, nice and steady.

Whatever. I loved it!

Later on, Bryon and I stepped foot in a local baby store, shopping for our baby for the first time. Kinda makes the whole thing that much more real - and scary! I think Bryon was getting woozy with the "$200 here, $200 there" products. We had some great help looking at the cool strollers and car seats. We already registered for the Bob Revolution (duh - we told the saleslady we don't even need to sold on it - we're athletes, we need it. :) ) and got ourselves excited about the UPPAbaby Vista stroller (never considered before she showed it to us, I had looked at the Maclaren and Bugaboo). But while looking at Peg Perego carseats, I started looking at their strollers and for two hours online trying to figure out the difference of features between each. So, if anyone has any suggestions/thoughts between the UPPAbaby vs. Peg Pliko or Skate, let me know! :)

Tomorrow morning I plan to run/walk about 5-6 miles. I'm going to try to beat the heat and get up early for once. We'll see how that goes.

Stretchy pants, heartburn and lack of air

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:46:00 +0000

18 weeks, 3 days. I feel that I'm huge!

Sound lovely, right? Well, it's all hitting me this week - my first purchase of stretchy waistbanded pants, my first attack of all-day heartburn (and first take of Tums) and more and more breathlessness. Is it just too much to ask to have a little break from abnormal body issues and actually feel 'good'??

I guess not.

Our dog Duke checking out the scenery.

However, it is amazing how fast the tummy is growing outward now. I feel more and more comfortable in public thinking people HAVE to know I'm actually pregnant, and not just feasted on an all-you-can-eat buffet. My favorite thing about this belly, besides of course that it's my CHILD, is I can eat all I want and not worry about looking bloated, because you know - I am permanently for the next five months! I do miss my flat stomach and almost forget what it looked like. *Sigh* One day, I hope it will be the same!

I wish there were a lot more moms-to-be out there blogging right now and sharing some insights into their training. I've been on a cycle of Sat-Mon workouts because the rest of the week I'm too exhausted before or after work to do a workout! However, I am getting 3-4 workouts in during those 3 days and feel great afterward. I think that can be enough to ward off extra poundage?? (I haven't been to the doctor since the end of May and lost track of what my last weigh-in was. At that weigh-in, I had only gained 4 pounds after I had lost 5 in the first trimester. I weighed myself at the gym last week and, if I remember my last weight correctly, I've gained 4 more pounds.) I think I'm on track, but we'll find out in 1.5 weeks.

I did have to buy a longer workout top to cover the belly. Didn't feel comfortable running around the neighborhood or gym with a 'gut' hanging out, but now that it's getting larger, firmer and more 'preggers-looking', I've been wondering if I'm brave enough to go just a bra top on my runs! Eek! Would be pretty interesting, and much helpful with the temps at 6 a.m. already in the 80s. I'll have to think more on that though...

A client who is a cyclist and we talk frequently about the Tour and Lance, asked if I was doing any races this summer. We haven't officially told any of my clients yet since I don't see them often (only by phone), I wasn't ready to say 'no, I can't because I'm pregnant' but instead said I got into NYC marathon and am just volunteering a lot this season. I hope he didn't look up my profile on Facebook! :) Eventually they will all be told.

My body is a-changin'

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:24:00 +0000

I'm only 18 weeks along but I'm already way out of my element.

I bought my first pair of maternity pants. Augh!

Yes, yes, I know - this is a good moment. Or, supposedly a great moment, but I don't really see the excitement. Woohoo, I get to buy a pair of pants and shorts with a huge elastic band?? Whoop-de-doo.

On another note - something that is MUCH more exciting - I, for sure (or hope this is what it was), felt the baby kick. The baby must have realized I was starting to get the afternoon slump at my desk and needed a bit of a wake-up. It was three short, little nudges. The same happened last night, in a different spot. Tried to have Bryon get a feel, but the baby was just not letting him have it. I'll be sure to punch him in the arm every time the baby kicks me. :)

Long delay with big news

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:30:00 +0000

I've been MIA, I'll admit it. Every time I came to do a post, there was only one thing I wanted to talk about. And that one thing I absolutely couldn't talk about until very important people in my 'real' life knew. Of course, that happened at the end of May, which means I could have posted this a month ago. But that's beside the point. :)

What is this that I'm talking about?

I'm pregnant! The above photo shows just two of the FIVE tests I took over the first three days we found out. I just really had to make sure - I couldn't believe it! (Plus, we bought two different packages and since they come with two tests each we may as well use them all up since there's no use in keeping them for the next time...hopefully not for quite awhile after this first one!)

We found out back in March. Based on timing, bambino is pretty much our 1-year anniversary baby! The story on how we found out is actually funny: I woke up on a Thursday morning to go to the bathroom and decided to go ahead and take a test since I was still 'waiting' just to calm my head. Took the test, sat it on the bedside table, dozed off a little more and woke up to check it not expecting anything (I had a few negative tests before and was trying not to get hopes up). Took a look and could hardly believe I was reading 'Pregnant.' I woke up Bryon, scaring him a little, and told him to read the stick because I just wasn't believing it. He looked, I looked, we looked at each other, and after our eyes welled up we thought out loud "What the heck did we just get ourselves into???"

Ever since, it's been so hard to keep quiet especially when everwhere we turned, someone else we knew was announcing they were pregnant. For example, the day after we found out we went to our Friday morning group run and one of the girls turned to me and said she was pregnant. I know I paused with a dumbfounded look on my face because the first thought that jumped in my head was "I am too!" Luckily I bit my tongue and said congratulations instead. But, I ran with her as she was going slower and I was already feeling morning sickness, and of course I had to make an excuse as to why I was sticking behind. There are at least 12 women I know either at work (5!) or in everyday life who are expecting. It's a Baby Boomer's children's baby boom!

Since then, both of our families know, my office knows and all our friends know. And in this day in age, when telling more and more people, we had to constantly say "Don't put it on Facebook until you see something from us!"

We've had two ultrasounds - one at 5.5 weeks to confirm the little peanut was there and one at 12 weeks (above). It's amazing to see the difference in such a short time! Our next ultrasound is the first week of July, where we'll found out the gender, though during our 12 wk screening the doc guessed it was a girl by one image is was able to capture. He says he's right 4 out of 5 patients, so we'll see if he is.

Two preggers out for a ride before we both get too big.

I'm 18 weeks along, and they say Baby R is the size of a bell pepper or sweet potato. I'm definitely showing but don't have any belly pictures as of yet. I've been running/walking, swimming and weightlifting sporadically but slowly getting back to a rhythm of working out now that I actually feel 'normal.' (Though I don't know how you can feel normal with a protruding belly that I've never had before.) Now that I've posted this initial post I'll be keeping up with how my workouts are going. I can tell you now as an endurance athlete I am out of my element!

Warning: biking is dangerous

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:56:00 +0000

But so is jumping off a cliff, driving everyday to work and playing with fire. But, I still don't understand why cars have such issues with bikes on the roads. If bike riders and cars just both paid attention and shared the road like they should, this would be a much better, enjoyable world.

And not even the most experienced riders are immune.

Case in point: Dave Scott is reported to have broken bones, including collar bone, because he was struck by a car this week, riding in his hometown of Boulder, CO.

Another unfortunate case: Dallas-based coach and top amateur triathlete Ahmed Zaher was struck by a car in Kona during his Playtri Kona camp on a road that didn't have a shoulder and was one way each direction. The story goes the lady in her truck was angry that he was going so slow (he was going uphill) that she angrily swerved to pass him and struck him with her passenger side mirror, throwing him off his bike and breaking ribs and his collar bone.

In early 2007, I was also involved in a bike crash three months before IM AZ, though it wasn't a car - it was a guy riding with us in the back of our group. I have to say that coming back from a crash on the bike is scary, just like you were involved in a horrible car accident (which I also was in 2005). You get nervous with every movement, it took me a while to get back in a peloton group - it's just really hard. But, you have to get back on sooner rather than later or else it will play with your mind. I've also had some close calls with assholes who get impatient. Sometimes I wish I had a bullhorn to give them a piece of my mind - my road rage rears it's ugly head a lot when riding.

So, we can't trust the cars out there, just like you can't trust them when you're in your own car. And unfortunately we can't do much when they come barrelling at you. Here's to safe riding. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, there's two type of riders: those who have been in a bike crash and those who will be.

UPDATE: It was reported today (5/21) that a 61-year-old driver was ticketed with careless driving causing bodily harm. She was apparently doing a "slow" U-turn looking for an open house and caused Dave to run into the side of her car because he couldn't brake fast enough. I still don't know what to think/say, but just wish we could all just get along!

Excuse to work on my running

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqi) — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:37:00 +0000

Not only is it an excuse to work on my running, being motivated by hearing peoples race stories and thoughts on running, but who also doesn't like a good discount on running gear? I do! Yep, because I'm a part of the Brooks ID running program.

"Brooks I.D. athletes members use their athletic talent to help carry out the Brooks mission: To inspire people to run and be active. We look for athletes who have a passion for Brooks, race and train in Brooks’ shoes and apparel, and enthusiastically evangelize the brand." (Inspired Daily. Get it?)

I thought maybe this group would be beneficial for me to get more inspired to run and ENJOY running. I'll let you know how that goes. But, my 40% discount on my Adrenaline GTS shoes is absolutely awesome! (I can always do another order...free shipping for orders over $125!)

I've also got chosen to attend their first-ever I.D. camp in June outside of Seattle - which I've never been to. I haven't brought this up to hubby yet, but it would be a great excuse for us to take a trip up there as his company is based there and he can show me around, and maybe even a day trip to Vancouver?! I wouldn't mind getting out of the Dallas heat by then anyways...

As for my running - it's stalled this week, though I did do some more elliptical on Wednesday (gag). I swear I get more prone to injuries on the elliptical and treadmill than running out doors. What gives?? I guess my legs know when I'm outside or not! :)

So, here's to inspiration. Inspiration to put your running shoes on and get out the door. Inspiration to make it through another harried day or inspiration stop and smell the roses.

What's your inspiration?