Ahhh, running clothes...

Maybe I'll become a bi-monthly blogger - that is rate I am going at least.

Can I tell you how much I love all of my running clothes these days? Because they all still fit. Lots of elastic makes me a happy woman. Technically the Nike Tempo Track short is probably not appropriate to wear to work, remember that I work on a college campus where the Nike Tempo Track short is like a uniform for all the lip-glossed girls. Of course I do not own a pair of Uggs, so it would be easy to discern myself from the aforementioned lip-glossed girls.

above: not me

And I really can't complain - I'm 23 weeks pregnant (like 5 months?) and I am just now having to get some new clothes. And they are summer clothes at that. Hooray summer. I hit the jackpot on ebay the other night at got a mini wardrobe for less than 200 bucks. I'm hoping that haul, plus my running gear that I can wear because I won't be going into work this summer, will get me through the rest of this pregnancy. I did quite enjoy the rush of winning the ebay auction so there is a good chance I will do a bit more shopping there.

Ran 3.1 on Monday night on the treadmill. It was a bit rough for the first two miles, but the last mile was great. I think my final time was in the 37:00 range (SLOW), but I did walk a good half mile of it, and I am doing that taking it easy thing as well. Kettlebells last night, which was great. I was able to do all of the moves, and I kept my form for all of them. Rest today, run tomorrow, and then the 5K race on Saturday. I am hoping there will be an "expectant ladies" division - maybe I could pick up a 3rd place paper weight or something in that division.

Outside again

There was a brief break in the rain yesterday, so when I was home for lunch, I packed up my running gear and took it back to the office with me. It has been ages since I've run outside (since early December maybe) and luckily my office is one block away from my favorite in-town running route.

I was only planning on running about half an hour, but I was geared like it was a 10 miler. Water bottle, cell phone, Garmin. I hate taking that much stuff, but I figured better to be safe than sorry. I have been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions this week, which is totally normally at this point in pregnancy, but I was still a bit unsettled about the idea of not taking all of that stuff out there with me. Better safe than sorry I guess (is this a sign of me being one of those over-the-top over-protective mothers?).

The run was fine. About 45 seconds into it though I realized that there was a good chance I might pee on myself a little bit. So my quickly my goal for this run went from "just getting out there" to "make it one mile to the bathroom in the pavilion at the park across the river." It took a good 5 minutes for my huffing and puffing to stop and my breathing to get back to normal and conversation pace. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that I maintained a pace somewhere in the 10:20-10:45 range. I did think about really pushing it at the end of the run to get in the last .25 miles, but I decided against it. I think I could have done it, but I am making a conscious effort when working out to say "well, you have done plenty - no need to overdo it."

I did make it across the river to the bathroom and then around my office a bit. I ended up running around 2.75 miles in about 31:00. It's the first time I've worked out in 10 days, first run outside in 5 months, and I am 20 weeks pregnant on top of that. I'm pretty happy with the results. At this point my belly isn't big enough to mess with my center of gravity, but I don't know how doable this will be four weeks from now. I may have to become an elliptical girl.

Oh, and in three weeks I am running a 5k. It's at a battlefield nearby and it is a very neat event. Some gentle hills, lots of monuments, and race day staff decked out in the Blue and the Grey.