Desert R.A.T.S Fruita 50

After my failed attempt to do my first 50 at Antelope in March I worked hard to get my leg better (chiro, laser, heat/ice, ultrasound, rolling etc)  Things were feeling good and timing was right so I selected this race as my redo.  7000+ feet of climbing over 2 lolipop loops.  Not flat, but closer to flat than climby in my opinion which is what I was looking for for this first....er second....whatever - for this 50.  I wanted to be able to run it. 

Only 4.5 hours away northeast of Moab is Fruita, Colorado.  I'd never been to Fruita before or run in Colorado.  Beautiful desert scenery similar to some of what we have in Utah.  We got in late Friday night, attended the pre race meeting and set up the tent in Rabbit Valley, an excellent free camping option closer to the start than even the hotels.  The air was warm out and I slept really well that night.  I was up at 4am to eat my typical all natural PB&J on wheat, we packed up the tent and headed to the race about 10 minutes away. 
I hung out in the car as long as I could because I hate cold and it was a little windy.  It really wasn't that cold but I'm a baby.  As per my usual I was scrambling a little at the end putting on some KT tape (of which only some stayed in place) and getting my reusable fabric race number and pack together and on.  I ran to the line just as they'd said go.
In this race they had a $100 bill for the first man and first woman up the hill at 1.3 miles. I figured I'd test the waters and go for it if I had a chance but decided to rein it in after being 3rd at close to the 1 mile mark.  No biggie.  It did take me several miles to get my heart rate back in check, probably not the smartest move, but didn't hurt me in the end.  The 5.9 miles to the first aid station were almost exclusively technical slickrock.  Not my favorite stuff.  It seemed to be either switching back up or down and just didn't let me take my eyes off my feet to see the scenery around me.  The runners behind me were also running what to me seemed really fast and I was getting a little tired of having people breathing down my neck and having to pull over to let 4-10 of them pass at a time or running hard to stay in some open space and avoid being passed by a wagon train.  Finally after that first aid station the slickrock went mostly away, the course flattened out and the field spread out.  I could settle in to a groove and just get running.

Reference splits

I went into this race truly just wanting to finish.  Yes I had some splits written down but that was mostly just to see how I was doing and gauge when I'd be to the next aid station approximately since I chose to wear a non-GPS watch (too easy to look at the mileage every 3 seconds).  I wanted my leg to cooperate and I wanted to finish solid.  So I ran the majority of the race at a very conservative effort, simply a pace I could settle into.  I don't know exactly what it was but I bet it was between 9 and 10 minute miles on average on the flatter terrain.  I walked when it was steep which wasn't too often (I maybe walked 20% of the race, maybe). 

I met 3 ladies around mile 13 and ran with them for the next 10 miles.  That was nice.  I put my headphones in earlier than usual because there just wasn't anyone to talk to.  Most of the time we were fairly spread out.  I don't mind being in my own head, but it was nice to chat and pass a few hours by.  Heading back to the start/finish to get ready for lap number 2 I was feeling a bit tight and sore and hoping the next 26 wouldn't feel like this, but no quad specific pain and no question I'd head back out.  Enjoyed pushing what felt like a good pace on the mile of dirt road back to my husband.

He had everything ready for me including my ingenious idea of simply switching packs.  I know not everyone has the luxury of having 2 hydration packs, but being in the industry, we do.  I wore an Ultraspire Surge for the first half and had my Nathan VaporShape waiting for me already filled with the gels and pills and food and water I wanted.  No worrying about forgetting to switch something or calculating how many gels to reload with.  Perfect.  I used the bathroom even though I didn't really need to (no portapotties and really no bushes out on the course so might as well I suppose) and decided to throw on some CEP compression socks as my ankle kept feeling weird when I'd land on a rock wrong, like it was compressing more than usual, and my right soleus was a little sore.  It was a good choice.  They also helped keep the new KT tape I put on to help with some plantar pain I've had flare ups of lately.  It had been overcast and cooler the first have, but now I wanted to switch shirts as it was warming up.  I decided to pack a tank top with me and run just shorts and sports bra.  Felt good.  We got lots of sunscreen on my face and arms and neck.....but failed to put any on my stomach.  I kind of took my time in 'transition' if you will (the triathlete in me), and my husband tried to hurry me back out onto the course.  I came in at about 4:48 and left right around 5:00 (timer time, not time of day).

Coming into the halfway point

Left the halfway point feeling good.  Didn't push as hard going back out as when I was coming in, but I felt fine.  Felt good to have my shirt off too.  We did the second loop backwards so there was a steep downhill section around mile 30; really bothered my knees so I ended up walking most of it.  The first aid station of the second loop came a little faster than I expected which was nice.  I put an ice pack on my knees for just a minute.  My husband was there waiting for me and said he would meet me at the next aid station and run the last 12 miles with me.  Sounded good.  I left that aid station feeling amazing!  I was seriously flying for what felt like an hour.  Anything seemed possible then!  Unfortunately all good things must come to an end I guess and I went into a low. It wasn't a true bonk, wasn't a nutrition bonk, I stayed right on top of that.  No real pain in my legs, more of a mental bonk I guess.  I expected to be able to see the next aid station for a quite a while, even if it weren't close, and it just never came.  I went around hill after hill thinking it would be there.  It was really warm out now (70 maybe which is warm for a spring runner from Utah), I had just run out of water, was way behind schedule for any goal I'd written down.  I was convinced they had moved the aid station.  Had periods of fast walking just to keep moving because I was pretty discouraged. 

Scenery with the blue skies was so great in the afternoon!

Finally finally finally I saw the aid station and came tromping in a little grumpy and ready to see my husband.....who wasn't there.  Oh boy let me tell you, I was as mad as a wet hen!  I'd been without water for half an hour and was due for a gel a while ago but wasn't going to take it without water, went through a discouraging hour+ and all I wanted to see was him.  We left the kids at grandma's at home so they weren't his excuse, this Crossroads aid station was a 10 minute hike over the finish line hill.  He had no excuses.  I tried to stall for a couple minutes watching the ridge hoping he'd come but had to keep going.  I was moving slower now and wanting to be done soon, but not dying.  I think I was mostly tired of how winding the course was.  He happened to show up a mile or so down the trail after getting lost and going to the wrong aid station.  He waved to me.  I didn't wave back  :)  I told him I was happy to see him but not very happy with him.  We kissed and made up quickly after I hassled him and were on our way.  Was nice to have him there, someone to talk to.  I ate a little at the second to last aid station, Pizza Overlook, just a few chips and some watermelon, the most I had eaten at any aid station and the longest I had stopped at one.  We hung out there for a few minutes eating, putting on more sunscreen...still not on my belly though...then carried on.

I figured once we got the last aid station I knew we had 5.9 to go and could set a new goal.  We'd be almost done, pretty much home free.  What I forgot was how winding and how many blasted slickrock switchbacks there were in that next 5 miles.  I had wanted to finish that 5.9 in an hour but between waiting for my dear pacer, bless his heart, and walking up more than I remember being down I didn't make that goal.  That really was ok though.  I came to finish and was happy my husband was with me.  Yes I did want to run ahead and go faster, he wasn't having the best day, and we'd both run out of water again thinking that section would be faster, but I didn't want him to feel bad.  With probably 2 miles to go though I listened to him and took off to try to get in under 11 hours.  Was grateful to FINALLY see the road to head down to the main road, both of which felt like they were taking forever, but I ran the best pace I could -probably a 9 min mile :) and finished with a couple minutes to spare.  52 miles - 10:55.  5th woman, 2nd in my age group.  Finishers dog tag and shirt and good post race food afterwards.

Love that sunscreen white tan...

My second loop was about an hour slower than my first which is more than I'd like, but not too bad in my mind actually, considering the low that felt like a couple hours in an of itself.  I never felt a ton of pain, never a ton of tightness or lead legs.  I never bonked nutritionally, a little mentally, and the heat didn't get to me as I worried it might.  I never looked at the clock really and thought "Uhg!  I have x number of hours left!".  In fact I remember looking at my watch on that last mile back to the finish and it was 5:20PM. The first time I knew what time of day it was.  It astonished me I had been litterally running all day, since 6:30AM.  I had probably only stopped moving for 20 minutes at most.  I had run ALL day! 
I didn't finish or come away from the race with this big "Wow I did it!" or big epic feeling and I'm not sure why.  I did train really well I think but I never ran longer than 30 miles, 50 is indeed a lot longer than 30.  I wasn't unhappy with my time or placing, I wasn't concerned with it at all during the race.  The scenery was great, not amazing but I did stop 5-6 times to take pictures.  It was beautiful.  So I don't know.  It was more of just a satisfaction and check, got the 50 done.  I certainly wouldn't say it was easy, but maybe it's that it wasn't "smash me, kill me, leave everything out there" hard.  I took it conservatively like I wanted and finished strong.  It was never a death march and that I am really happy with.  And I am SO grateful my leg played nice!  It was a really good experience taking it at a reasonable pace like that and while I would like to improve upon that time and maybe even actually race this distance, I still think I'll go into it with the same attitude of running a pace I can hold but maybe push the last 6-10 miles more and see where I end up.

Really my only regret of this race?  Not putting sunscreen on my stomach - OUCH!  I'll take that regret though over anything else any day!

LOVED these canyons!  Seeing them more than running in and out of them  ;)

Technical stuff
Course:  Mostly hard packed dirt single track but a fair amount of slickrock too and a little bit of dirt road.  Felt like a rolling course with a few uphill specific sections.  A hard course, but not brutal and mostly runnable.  Almost zero shade.  Lots of winding trail going in and out of small canyons above the Colorado river
Aid Stations: 5 aid stations each 26 mile loop approximately 4-7 miles apart.  They had Hammer Gel, potato chips, peanut butter and jelly, chocolate, trail mix, oranges, watermelon, bananas, ice water, HEED, ginger ale and Coke.  They also had first aid stuff, chairs, ice, electrolytes, and excellent and very helpful staff!
My nutrition:  quick and dirty - water every 20 min, gel every 40, electrolyte pill top of every hour, 3 granola bites/2 hours, Coke at every aid station and halfway in between.  Totals to around 140oz of water, 14 electrolyte pills, and 2000 calories.  Breaks down like this

• Drank about 4oz of water from my pack around every 20 minutes, my body has gotten good at an internal clock.  I took 70oz with my on the first 26 miles and did not finish it all.  Emptied a little of my 1.5L, 50 oz Nathan bladder a few miles into the second half because it felt heavy and I figured I'd fill it up later (note to self, remember to do so).  Drank A LOT more water the second half of the race. Filled it up at mile 35 and should have again at mile 46.  Drank probably 140oz total.  

• Carried a 5oz flask with me during the race.  Easier to carry with you than a cup and less messy.  Sometimes I had room to put it in my pack, other times not and I just held it, no big deal.  I would fill it with Coke at every aid station and drink about half of it there, then half of it before the next aid station.  Around 500 calories.  Does a number for settling the stomach and adding a little caffeine and sugar.  And it just tastes good and I'm not a Coke drinker.  NOTE - you must shake it up and slowly let the carbonation out several times or it will leak out all over you and make a sticky mess.

• 1 electrolyte pill, SaltTab or Metasalt (yes I use whatever I have) at the top of every hour - 10 pills total.  The only time I would look at my watch was for the top of the hour but I had a pretty good idea when it was. Kept them in a small Mentos container with a tissue packed in so they weren't noisy. I also took 4 SportsLegs pills.  Should have had more but forgot to pack more. I also believe I took 400mg Ibuprofen but I honestly can't remember where in the race.

• I have a 40 minute repeating time on my watch.  Every time it went off I had a gel.  VI for most of them, Gu Roctane for the caffeine as every 4th gel, every 3rd gel miles 26-52.  Stayed right on schedule except for one gel while chatting with the ladies around mile 15.  Got back on schedule after that.  Consumed 15 gels total, 1500 calories. 

• Kept a 10oz Nathan bottle in my second pack with First Endurance EFS drink.  150 calories worth then filled it with another baggie of 150 calories worth of powder - 300 calories total. 

• Real food wise I had organic flax seed nut granola bites from Costco, consumed 1 about every hour totaling about 600 calories.  They pack well because they're reasonably moist but don't crumble.  Kept them in a snack size baggie.  Also had a couple pieces of watermelon, a few chips and a handful of trail mix at mile 38 - about 100 calories.  That was my only aid station food.  I do well with gel.

Gear:  Ultraspire Surge pack - love it, but the nozzle was leaking bad enough I had to reroute the hose to loop up under and elastic and was still getting things wet so moved my pills out of the awesome electrolyte pocket to my shorts pocket.  Was easy to stuff my ear warmer into the back pocket without stopping.  Nathan VaporShape pack - a nice change of feel and no leaking hose.  And it's cute.  Ace brand knee strap to keep my quad happy.  Soleus watch.  No GPS, just a cute orange and yellow watch.  I did bring and use our little iPod shuffle too.  Love that it clips on.  Yurbuds are the best earbuds ever.  I only listened with one ear for safety reasons.

Clothing:  Altra Lone Peak 1.5 trail shoes the whole time.  LOVE THEM!  Worked great, protected from rocks well, never needed to change shoes.  Wool socks and gaiters first half (didn't need the gaiters), CEP compression socks second half.  Started with arm warmers, cheap stretchy gloves and a fleece neckwarmer on my head, shed the gloves and neck warmer by 10 miles in, arm warmers came off at halfway.  2 Altra tech shirts, my favorite blue RaceReady shorts my husband hates (have to go for comfort and trust in a long race like this) and sunglasses the second half of the race.

Had a chance to talk with the race director Reid from Gemini Adventures a few days after the race for some Q&A.  This race of his is not just a race, but a festival.  They start a pre race dinner at a local hotel on Friday, the marathon and double on Saturday followed by awards and a party, then a half marathon and 5 miler on Sunday.  A whole weekend of events.  I wish we had time to stay for awards and the party, but had to head home quick.
Gemini Adventures prides themselves on scenic courses, and this one does fit the bill.  They have several other events that would be worth looking into as well.  I'm pleased with the way the race was run.  Organized, scenic, plenty of aid station support, good flagging, and very supportive race staff all over the course.  It is a race I would recommend, especially for someone newer to ultra running or someone looking for an early season race not too challenging.  Thanks for a great race Reid!

Before I make this race report sound like it was easy, it wasn't....

...and the drive home requiring me to lay in the backseat (with a seat-belt awkwardly on) on a sleeping mat and sleeping bag prove my point
But I did it and I'm proud!Thanks for reading!

50 mile - take 2

Ready or not, here I come!  my 2nd 50 mile attempt in Fruita, Colorado.  My first time racing in Colorado.  Legs feel pretty good, I hope my mind will be too

I just want my body to work, I just want to run 50 miles

50 miles take 1 - Buffalo run

I went into this race so prepared physically and mentally too I believe. Yes there was a bit of unknown concern in my head but I was ready to just run and experience it and see how it went. I wasn't afraid or nervous. Excited to finally get racing underway for the year and see what 50 miles was like.
Matt W picked me up from our hotel and after hanging out in the van for a few minutes staying warm we went out and got started. My pack was all packed, drop bags set, had 3 time goal worth of splits recorded and tucked neatly in my pack. I wasn't scrambling at the start, it went smooth and I was ready. Ran with Matt and Josh and Sam for the first 13 miles or so in the quiet vast views that the west side of Antelope Island are. We got even more solitude when we passed the out and back first, electing to do it after the loop. We had a whole valley to ourselves. It was amazing!
Body felt great up till about 15 miles were I started feeling pain in my right quad where I had lightly felt it earlier in the week. I did all I could to curb it that week, massage, adjustments, laser, heat/ice and having not felt it at all until this point the thought if it hurting or being a problem wasn't even in my head. I was shocked when I felt it. I figured I could work through it though. I stopped and pulled my tights up and put some muscle cream on it. Continued on another 1/2 mile and it was really bad, the pain was a 9. Sharp burning pain that would peak and stay there by my 5th running step. I was limping running or walking. I stopped again and rubbed at it. 3 or 4 women passed me at this point, I had been right behind 1st place. Perfect. I walked for a few minutes, maybe that would cure it. Started running again trying all kinds of different paces, gates, turnover rates (cadence). Every time 5 steps in was the same fist clenching hollering out pain. DANG IT! This wasn't supposed to happen to me! I had trained so much, I eat well, I haven't been hurt in years, really since I broke my foot in a race in 2009. I'd felt nothing like this before a little nag earlier in the week. Had no fall, twist, nothing. I broke down a little pissed off this was happening but it was surprisingly short lived. I have only DNF'd once, BAM in 2009 when I broke my foot. Yet I kind of knew with 3 miles to go to get back to the start finish that it was over. Of course I didn't want to stop, I was there, ready, the day was in front of me! 50 mile races are hard to find here, only a couple every year. My head, heart, and spirit were there but I felt like I was going to do more damage, that this was a big deal, not a cramp, and that walking 30 miles was just not what I came to do and wouldn't do my leg any good. So after not recognizing my awesome friend Jen who came to pace me (I even asked if a friend next to her knew her number so i could call her) we spent the next hour together getting it looked at and massaged and taped by a therapist, run/walking another mile or two just trying to talk myself into what I knew was the right choice with a torn muscle, I was done. I hung around the rest of the day waiting to watch my husband come through at his 50k half way, missed it by minutes. Waited another 5 hours in chilly wind to watch him finish - missed it by 2 minutes. I'd been stalking his finish stretch all day and missed it by 2 minutes. The day was a huge disappointment. I had so very many awesome friends wish my luck on Facebook (since my blog is dead I guess), more than I expected and I felt like I let them down, cried wolf or something. But it was the right decision to an unforeseeable event and there will be more races. I had a great time running with those guys that morning and saw some simply spectacular scenery. I love the west side of the island. I've been patient and proactive these last 3 weeks and so far so good. As frustrating as this was, it's just a race. I'm grateful for my body, abilities, husband and kids and this beautiful earth I get to explore.

50 miles here I come!

Well, the training's gone well. I feel pretty confident in my nutrition although I will need some additional real food calories that I will experiment with the aid stations for, but the bulk of my calories are set. I have a bag full of most of the tech clothes I own I'm working on choosing an outfit from now. The weather has turned on us dropping to 23-35 and windy tomorrow. Snowed a blizzard today. No snow on the trails though.
Sometimes racing feels normal, mundane, and sometimes that's ok, but I remember the excitement and hype leading up to my Ironman for instance and I miss that. Feeling a bit of it now though sitting in a hotel (we usually camp or drive morning of) prepping stuff and emailing my pacer. I have a pacer! An awesome lady named Jen coming out to run miles 33-50 with me.
My goals. Of course finish but I'd like to be between 8-9 hours, for sure under 10. It's hard to estimate though with such a long race on varied terrain that I've never done. I'd love to be top 5 in the women too. We shall see. My first 50 miles awaits me in 8 hours. Nighty night!

My biggest run weeks ever

The last 2 weeks have marked my biggest running weeks ever! As a triathlete I only had time to devote 3 days a week to running and I didn't believe my body could stay injury free with more than that. Not sure I believe that now but maybe if all my miles were on road it would prove true. Anyway, here's the rundown of my last big weeks of preparation for my first 50 mile race March 23.

Sunday - 5 mile steep snowshoe with husband on our Alta ski resort date I earned us in September
Monday - 13 miles on the treadmill. It was just so cold and I had to do it early I resorted to the treadmill and don't shoot me here...but it wasn't so horrible *gasp!*
Wednesday - 20 miles up Millcreek canyon with several other crazy friends. Yeah we started at 4am and it was SO cold. Had to have been below zero at the top. It was mentally tough to keep going with the cold but I'm glad I did and grateful to the friends who pushed me to keep going. Miles 17-20 felt the best
Friday - 20 miles on the canal roads by our house. An evening run that went well aside from some strange sharp stabbing head pains I get on occasion that are hopefully and likely a form of migraine and not a brain tumor ;)
Saturday - 14 miles on the treadmill. Evening again but wanted that back to back action. Wasn't horrible. Ran at 8:30 pace and incorporated three 5 min 10% grade speed hikes into it. Felt good
TOTAL: 67 running miles

Tuesday - 10 mile hilly snowy trail miles. Local Avenue Twins run. I wanted this week to include 2 hillier runs and while this isn't extreme, it was good for the time I had. Weird severe right knee pain on the way down after we had stopped for no more than a minute. Took me several minutes to kick it but all seems well now
Wednesday - 30 miles! Really wanted to do 30 again before the race. I've done that distance 4 times now. A group of us started at 4am on the Jeremy Ranch Rd near Park City. A 7.3 mile wide dirt road paritally snow covered running to East Canyon. Very remote, no houses, maybe a handful of cars the whole time. While in the dark wee hours of the morning I saw this big fish right on the road (snow). Thought, that's weird. Then we saw a fisherman's bucket, then his boot a minute later. I was convinced the body or killer was next! If it wasn't for friends there I would have been SO freaked out and turned around. I had fun with the fish on the way back. Ran the first half with friends then the last alone and while it was tough with slick snow and a strong headwind on the last back of the double out and back I got er done!
Friday - 8.4 hilly miles at Lake Mtn. Could feel my tired legs and probably hiked the last 3 miles up. At least the run down was nice
Saturday - 11.5 road miles with my friend April. My legs were a little tired but surprisingly ok on this run. Felt great knowing it was taper time after!
TOTAL: 60 miles

I haven't complained a ton and it's not that I don't feel fatigue or sometimes that it's hard to run for 3-5 hours, but honestly, I'm handling it.  I have loved watching my mind and body be challenged yet adapt.  I wanted to try ultras to mix up what I've done for so long and knew I'd like the new racing, but I didn't realize experiencing new trainng would be so interesting too.  Some of the runs I do I have a specific mile or time I want to go for, but for the most part it's get the time on the legs I can when I can.  I have also tried to follow the 10% rule.  And I rarely watch my min/mile avg because it's generally a lot slower than road with dirt/snow/hills.  Much better scenery though :)
Today I did 10 miles, my last double digit run before Buffalo 50 miler! I'm definitely playing it safe and tapering down well. No more time to build fitness and I feel good about what I've got. Now it's just time to rest the legs, run 4-5 milers to keep them sharp and loose and play the waiting game! I'll follow this up next week with a goal setting post

Avenue Twins

Beautiful sunrise on Jeremy Ranch Rd.  It's been neat running under stars, through sunrises and into the sun as well as a few sunsets



Caught with my own 2 hands  ;)

I need your ab help

UPDATE:  Ok ya'll, I really do need your help.  Went to a water fitness class last night I'm training in for work and it killed me.  They did a lot of dryland stuff like situps, pushups, planks, and seated flutter kicks.  Not to mention this move called a Hellbender.  It's not that those things are super hard in and of themselves, but I couldn't believe how weak my core was and how much it was holding me back.  Yes I did 22 real pushups in a minute, but I shouldn't have pushed myself to do them knees up, my stomach was bulging.  And while I haven't done sit-ups in a long time (don't really believe they're better for you than crunches done well, especially on a ball), I hated how weak I could feel my core was while doing them.
It's remarkable to me that I can go out and run 30 miles in one shot and not have it be a drop dead kill me workout, yet my core still isn't strong.  I imagine how much better everything would be if it was.  Help!

Yes I'm posting a picture. Please don't feel bad or hate. It's really discouraging to me when I talk about myself (on my own blog especially) and it de-motivates people or makes them depressed. NOT my intention, I don't do anything I do to be better than others - where I come in in a race is a different story ;) You know what I'm getting at.
Anyway, yes my abs look pretty good but they have a big weakness. Literally. And it's not my stretch marks. See that diastisis or abdominal separation about 2 inches above and below my belly button? It's a good 2-3 fingertips wide and no amount if flexing (which I am doing by the way, it was for a photo shoot job I didn't get) closes it completely.
I've had one since my 2nd baby but it hasn't been this bad since this last baby. I have to be cautious what core work I do. Anything that makes that area bulge up is bad, pull-ups and prone planks for instance or full supine leg lifts. As I get stronger I'll get more range of motion with the latter and likely be able to do regular planks and pull-ups again but while it bulges I have to pay attention or it could get worse.
The condition is a separation and weakness of the transverse abdominal a, a deep cross running muscle group as their name implies. One thing I know is good are pelvic curls, rolling the pubic bone upward toward the ribs. Holding that (also holding the abs in toward the spine) for 10 seconds makes you aware of the area I'm trying to work. Any ab work I do I occasionally watch my abs or put a hand on my stomach to feel if the gap is closing or not. Closing is good, widening or bulging bad.

Here's where I need your help though. I really need to close that gap down. It's not just an aesthetic thing, it's a strength and function thing. So, what are your suggestions? Have you dealt with this too?

One year ago - running and racing

A little late on this one as my sweet Ella's 1st birthday was a week ago today but oh well. As might be obvious, I love to run. I wasn't running much between getting engaged and having my first baby, but ran until about 28 weeks with my 2nd baby before going on bed rest then ran all through our 3rd baby's pregnancy, doing a 5k at 37 weeks. Because I'd been doing even more running as an athlete by this point I really wanted to run all the way through this 4th baby's pregnancy both for health reasons but also for my own internal satisfaction of being able to say that I did, that I'd done even better than before.
Well come about 20 weeks was this awful pubic symphysis pain. Basically a great ache or pain that feels like your pelvis is coming apart in front where it is connected by strong connective tissue down low. By 28 weeks I believe I just could handle it no longer. I couldn't go 10 steps running/waddling. It hurt too much and just wasn't worth any long term damage. So I called it good with a half pregnant half marathon trail race that was organized for me that I unfortunately only did half of. I was bummed a bit but didn't let it get me. I stayed way active with spinning, weights and swimming.
After her birth it was a rough comeback to running, harder than after my other babies. Could have been I was older, on my 4th full term pregnancy, that I have giant babies, or a combination of all of them.  I do not believe it has anything to do with my staying active during my pregnancy.
So I mean I was running faster and farther than most people probably, but for me it was slow. I remember trying to run slow for the first time at 2 weeks out on a track and that darn pubic symphysis pain just killed me. I didn't make it one minute, probably not even 20 seconds. So I started walking only. The first day I think I walked a mile and felt it the next day in my core and pelvis. I gradually increased my walking distance up to 3-4 miles then gradually sprinkling in 1/4-1/2 mile running (slow) segments. My legs and lungs were fine, it was my pelvis and lower abs that took forever to strengthen again. I ran a half marathon at 10 weeks out and definitely felt that low core by mile 8. It was rough, definitely my postpartum limit.  Even in October, 8 months out during my 50k I felt the strain there by 20 miles in. Yeah I can run far and fast according to some standards but it's been a challenge. I'm actually going to ask for your help with it in my next post.  However the challenges, running is a release for me, it's me time. I love to explore the trails and mountains on my own 2 feet but even runs from the house are just a chance to be out, see the sky, and think or occasionally enjoy music not exactly suited for the minivan ;)

Racing wise I did an open water sprint tri at 5 weeks, 9 weeks, 14 weeks (in a much too large wetsuit to accommodate my belly), and a pool tri at 20 weeks. I had friends question me maybe thinking it not a good choice but I did it because I love it and its fun! Pregnant women are allowed fun. It was fun to swim bike and run and fun to see friends and fun to push my body to safe limits I knew my body and baby could handle. Athletes tend to know their bodies well and this was my 4th baby. I had a great time!

9 weeks.  2nd OV at Women Rock Tri

14 weeks, last open water tri - Saratoga, 4th OV

Just tanning my baby white belly.  One of my last successful runs

Even if I couldn't run, at least I could wear my super cute tops to spin or lift or teach.
I felt SO cute and confident in them!

Rusching(sp?) for maternity wear?  Best.  Thing.  Ever.

Last real race with baby #4 inside and baby #3 happily on my lap

One year ago - cycling

I rode outside until about 20 weeks I think, really can't remember actually, but I do remember doing a pool triathlon on my 20 week mark, after that I stuck her on the trainer. As I got bigger though I moved to the spin bikes. I love the trainer but don't love spinning, but it's a lot easier to drastically change my bike fit on those than my own. I rode till 39-40 weeks (not the last 5-10 days after that because I was just sure she'd be born the next day, hahaha) and by that point I was basically in beach cruiser bike position :) Sitting up almost straight, bars in as close to me as my belly would allow so I wouldn't have to lean over, because there really wasn't any room to do so.

Like swimming I felt quite normal cycling. Took the weight of my belly down and allowed me to get my heart rate up and feel my muscles work without killing my pelvis. I grew to like the spin classes more, defiantly a good workout, I just think I like knowing what's coming and being in control of it.
I managed to wear my regular bike shorts, just low on my belly but definitely didn't wear my bike jerseys. Instead I LOVED wearing my Fit2BMom tops. Oh how I loved those.  Looks like one of my favorite tanks is on sale too

Anyway, I got back on the bike at about 2 weeks, still on the trainer. Much easier to work with baby's feeding and sleep schedule just being downstairs. It really didn't hurt to sit in the saddle.  If I'd attempted this after my first baby....oh wait, I never would have.  I couldn't sit comfortably in a padded chair for months, I even remember trying to strap a pillow to my bike seat to ride it on my trainer.  No good.  She was my smallest baby but involved lots of drugs, intervention, the bed, and nothing natural really.  Everything but a C-Section.  Getting on the saddle 2 weeks out with this baby I attribute that not tearing and no prolonged pushing with Miss 9lb14oz. I believe a gentle birth in the water with no drugs allowing me to push quickly but with control and midwife assisted perineal support and the warm water aiding stretching of the tissues made all the difference, water birth, amazing stuff I tell you!  Cycling postpartum felt good to not have gravity working on or bouncing my pelvis, pelvic floor, and recovering core muscles and ligaments, again, I could just sit down and work my lungs as muscles. But you gotta do what you gotta do when dad travels for Altra a lot.

I only rode with her on the trainer like this for a few minutes really, she wasn't fond of the idea.  

And now at almost a year old miss Ella had to have her right of passage ride on the aerobars all of my other kids have.  We don't ride like this for a long, a couple minutes.  It's not nearly as fun as it looks for mommy, but I'll do what I have to do

One year ago - swimming

I should be in bed, been trying to be better about that, but I wanted to do 1 post each day this week reflecting on this week last year.  You see my baby girl turns 1 on Friday and I can't believe it!  I loved being pregnant with her (and all my babies) and loved my belly and was proud of my activity level, so just want to look back a little.
I've swam 3 times in the past 2 weeks.  That's good for me, really.  I hadn't swam before that for probably almost 3 months?  Really didn't keep track.  Have just been doing so much running and not planning any tri racing that I figured why?  Then I swam again and remembered, I do enjoy it!
I loved swimming while pregnant.  No where else did I feel quite as normal athletically than in the water (probably why I had 2 water births, LOVE them!  Email me for any help/advice).  Loved the weightlessness.  That big belly was heavy to carry!  I was self conscious at first when I had to go to a 2 piece suit, wearing a towel out on deck, but then I didn't care anymore.  I loved watching people's reactions.  They'd see me from the back or even front sometimes, and then from the side  :)  I'd just smile.  I look at pictures now and yes my belly was an awkward sight, especially at the end, but I rocked it  ;)
I was out being active and that's what counts!  I wasn't showing the world my belly to scare/scar or chase away people to get my own lane, it's all I could wear!  I didn't really have any issue with tempo slowing much, could do all the strokes fine but didn't do much butterfly or kickboard the last 5 weeks because it hurt my lower back, but I do recall swimming squares  :)  In our bubbled 50 meter pool they set it up short course, half with lane lines, the other half without.  Not the flip turn itself, but the push off hurt my low belly, stretching the ligaments trying to hold my big baby and belly in place.  Swimming squares was perfect though!  Only a push off once every hundred or two, just to change direction if I wanted.
Today I didn't need to though, but I thought of it fondly.  I swam up till 40 weeks 2 days I do believe, 3 days before she was born.  Swimming also felt great around that 6 week mark after when I was ready to get back in, nice to not have the jarring of my weak core muscles gravity can provide during running.  Good times I tell you, good times!

I like to look at this progression of my belly.  It's surely not all my swimming belly shots, but a decent bunch.
I went from my regular once piece suit, excited to grow out of it, to a much larger one piece suit (not pictured),
10 sizes larger I believe, 28 to 38, to a matching 2 piece suit (below), to a mismatched 2 piece suit at the end
just to accommodate my remarkable 10lb human growing body.
I do cringe a little looking at just how out there and strange my belly looked sometimes,
but I sure was proud of it and grateful for it and my healthy body!