I am so happy to report that this week was much less eventful (and stressful) than last week! I was even able to get another trail run in the books, which I am more than celebrating! When I was in the middle of morning sickness, I honestly didn’t know if trail running while pregnant was going to be a possibility. But I’ve actually found it to be more comfortable and enjoyable than road running. Honestly, if I had the time flexibility and arouces to trail run exclusively, I probably would. I know that’s not a reality for me, but I do hope that I can prioritize 1-2 trail runs a week for as long as possible.
The boys and I had a pretty relaxing Sunday, for the most part. We went to church, and then picked up some swim gear for E on the way home. Summer is right around the corner, and this kid is READY to hit the pools. The week was pretty typical for all of us, with work, school, and working out. We finally pulled the trigger and started buying some gear for a garage gym this week. I have a feeling that getting out the door consistently with 2 kids is going to be trickier than 1, so it’s nice to know we’ve got a few staples here at home to help me get in a good workout during naps.
I’ve been working to find a sitter than has availability Saturday mornings so that Henry can join me on some trail runs, and I FINALLY found a very sweet girl who can come occasionally. It’s a little embarrassing how excited this makes me, but it’s been a LONG time since Henry and I were able to run together, just the two of us. Saturday morning, Henry met me for some trail miles, and while he didn’t love all of the hiking involved, he was definitely a trooper. I have a feeling that trail running will grow on him the same way it did for me. A few gorgeous sunrises has a way of converting people.
After our run, we took our son to a pool party to celebrate the end of his baseball season. Even though it wasn’t quite hot enough for me to want to jump in, and there were a few drizzles here and there, the boys spent about 4 hours jumping in and out of the pool. And the adults had burgers and beer (for everyone whose not currently pregnant), which is never a bad way to spend a weekend. The party definitely cut into my precious pajama time, but the kids had a blast.
Trail Running While Pregnant
I’ve gotten so many questions about trail running while pregnant, and it seems like it’s something more mom to be’s are interested in. Which I think is amazing! Generally speaking, as long as you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy, trail running can be just as safe and healthy as road running or any other physical activity. There’s a few recommendations I have to ensure that trail running while pregnant doesn’t lead to any undesirable outcomes, but keep in mind that I am 100% not a medical professional. I am, however, more than happy to share what I’m doing differently to make sure that trail running during pregnancy is safe, comfortable, and fun for me.
Here’s some recommendations to keep you safe and happy on the trails:
- Slow Down – Pregnant pacing should generally be slower than non-pregnant, since you’re carrying around a lot more blood and your body is doing some wild things during pregnancy. On the trails, though, it’s even more important, since you want to make sure you avoid any serious falls. So slow down, hike any rocky/rooty area’s, and embrace the extra time on your feet.
- Pack Intelligently – It’s a good rule of thumb to pack more water and fuel than you think you need for a trail run in general. Afterall, it can be really hard to predict how long a trail run is really going to last. When you’re pregnant though, it’s even more important to make sure you bring more than enough water and fuel. Fueling is different for everyone, but I’ve planned on carrying what I normally would plus about 20% “just in case.”
- Avoid Weather – Part of the fun of trail running is learning how to be adaptable and gritty, but when you’re pregnant you need to be a little more careful. It’s a good idea to plan on saving the trails for daylight hours, and try to avoid tricky weather, like rain or snow. Any precipitation has a way of making the trails more slick, and less visible, which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to avoid tripping.
- Choose Trails Wisely – As much as I hate to say it, pregnancy is not the best time to explore the more technical trails. Especially if you aren’t REALLY comfortable on them when you’re not pregnant. That doesn’t mean you can only run on flat, buttery smooth trails, but it does mean that scaling up the side of a mountain probably needs to wait a bit. If you do plan on spending some time on more difficult sections, don’t hesitate to hike!
- Bring a Buddy There’s safety in numbers, and it’s nice to know there’s someone available just in case something goes off the rails. Plus, having someone to talk to will probably make you less tempted to break out the earbuds.
- Communicate – Tell your people where you will be and when they can probably expect you to be back. I recommend taking your cell phone or some sort of device that you can message people with, so that you can let them know if the run is just taking a bit longer.
- Leave the Earbuds at Home – You definitely want to be able to hear what’s going on around you while your on the trails, and even more so when you’ve got a baby on board. Leave the earbuds at home so the trails have your full attention, and you can hear things you need to be on the look out for; like thunder, growling, or rattles.
- Have Support – And I don’t mean your running buddy! Depending on how far along you are, you might benefit from a belly band or a larger size sports bra. Running during pregnancy can be less comfortable, and making sure your body is well supported can go a long way to keeping you happier for a longer period of time.
- Don’t Hold It – Trail runners are notorious for being able to spot the best bushes to sneak behind when nature calls. When you’re pregnant, there’s more abdominal pressure taking a toll on your pelvic floor, so it’s even more important that you don’t try to wait when you feel like you need a potty break.
This Weeks Workouts
Total Miles: 30.5 Miles
Total Workouts: 4
How the Run Felt
I was actually pretty excited to have a higher mileage week. 30-40 miles is on the lower end of what would be “normal” to me, and I was pretty happy to have a good amount of time dedicated to what I love doing. I was also happy that my body held up pretty well throughout the week. I will say that I felt a little soreness on the bottom of my bump during the end of my 6 miler runs on the road. I didn’t notice that during my trail run, and attribute it to some pressure from baby being so low. The soreness only lasted about an hour afterwards, and I didn’t have any other issues, but I suspect that 6 miles may be the high end of my weekly road runs.
We had a little cool front come in from some of the gulf storms, and on Thursdays run, the temp was 60. For mid-May in Texas, that is just freaking incredible. I met up with my cousin, and the miles flew by. On Saturday, my husband and I were able to get a babysitter, which meant we could hit the trails together. Most of the trails in San Antonio are a little more technical than what my son can handle on his bike, so running trails with my husband is a rare treat. I did 3 miles on the greenway, and then he and I ran 6 powerline miles. It was drizzly, and not the prettiest morning, but I was so excited to take him for a little off-road tour of San Antonio. I also didn’t hate that my legs got some climbing in.
How the WODs Felt
Monday’s WOD was so tough. There was a 30 minute time cap, and I only made it to 6 of the last round of pull ups before time ran out. I was not disappointed to stop, however. After all of the weighted and air squats on Monday, my legs felt like lead during Tuesdays workout. Also, having two workouts with wall balls programmed into one week was not my absolute favorite, but I mostly survived. I realized that I needed to adjust my deadlift to more of a sumo stance this week, since the belly was getting squished in a regular deadlift.
What I’ve Been Listening
I finally finished Counter Clock, and the last season did not disappoint. Once again, it’s clear that the true answer is not easy to find, but I hope there is some closure for the Pelley family at some point. I also caught up on a few episodes of Morbid that I had putting off while I finished binging Counter Clock this week.
What Went Well
I loved being able to show my husband one of my favorite running spots that he’s never been able to explore himself.
What Went Shitty
My legs felt like they were going to fall off on Tuesday.
Plans to Improve Next Week
Keep logging as many trail miles as I can!