This week offered absolutely no break from the Summer heat wave, which has me considering the possibility of working in other types of pregnancy friendly cardio. At this point, I’m still comfortable running (as much as you can expect to be when it’s a million degrees outside), but in the near future I may have to venture outside of my traditional running routine. After some research, I’ve found a few types of pregnancy friendly cardio options that I may explore during my last three months of pregnancy.
Related Post: Summer Running: Surviving the Heat & Humidity
Fortunately, this week was also both of my boys’ birthdays, and we decided to head to the water park to celebrate! Our week was fairly standard for the most part Sun through Tuesday. I did finally have an opportunity to see a pelvic floor specialist this week, and I plan to go a few times before delivery. The plan currently is to try and prevent any preventable issues, and start rehabbing from as advantaged of a position as possible. I know too many women who never corrected the pelvic floor issues caused by pregnancy and training, and I’m thankful to have access to medical professionals that can get me back to running and lifting in a way that is healthy for my postpartum body.
On Wednesday, the boys and I drove up to Austin. Henry had a hair cut, and we knew we would get out to the Kalahari earlier if we left from Austin, rather than San Antonio. We had a free night at a Marriott property, and our son loves a hotel trip, so it all worked out well. Thursday morning, I got in a quick hotel workout while the boys ate breakfast and then we opened up presents. We left south Austin late morning, and got checked into the Kalahari resort, where we met up with my dad and one of our sons buddies. All the boys had a blast going down the water slides, while my mom friend and I floated around the lazy river.
We had a late dinner with the obligatory birthday cake, and pretty much collapsed into bed back at the resort. Friday morning, my son and I went down to the resort and got my husband a birthday cupcake. It’s always hectic having both birthdays one day apart, but it’s also a really great representation of their bond. I had a quick treadmill run while the boys ate breakfast. Afterwards, we checked out the resort arcade and adventure park for a few hours. Enrique loved all of the climbing, and it was really cool watching him be so brave.
We left a little after lunch and drove back home. It was such a fun trip, but I was more than exhausted, and honestly I feel like it took me most of the weekend to recover. I got in a nice, long run on Saturday and spent most of the rest of the day cleaning, unpacking, and doing so much laundry. I’m really happy we decided to take a couple of days off work, because I don’t think I could survive all the fun we had and then going right back into work. I normally like having a day or two to recover, but being 6 months pregnant, I need the time even more.
Now that I’m further along, here’s a few cardio options I might consider working in from time to time, especially if I eventually find running to be uncomfortable.
Pregnancy Friendly Cardio
- Hiking – While walking in and of itself can be a great option for cardio, hiking is slightly more interesting for me. It’s important to make sure to hydrate appropriately, wear comfortable shoes, and watch out for tripping hazards. The uneven surface and ups and downs can really get the heart pumping, without being hard on the joints.
- Incline Walking – Set a treadmill or elliptical to a high degree of incline, and watch how quickly your heart rate can increase. What I like about this option is how easy it is to hop off for bathroom breaks, and the fact that I can catch up on some Netflix series at the same time.
- Swimming – I cannot adequately describe the relief that is the weightlessness of getting into a pool as a pregnant person. Swimming laps can get a little repetitive and boring to me, but my back and joints really the break. I’ve always found it really ironic that the one place I don’t feel like a whale is in the water. I almost forget the belly is there entirely.
- Biking – So, you do have to be careful about where you bike and making sure you are able to ride without falling. If you feel comfortable, though, and have access to a safe space, biking can be a great low-impact option for cardio.
- Running – As I’ve shared already, running can be a safe, healthy way to incorporate cardio into a workout routine. It can be harder on the joints than some other options, so it’s important to listen to your body and take walk breaks when needed.
- Spin Classes – If you love biking, but don’t feel safe hopping on the roads or trails, spin classes can be the best of both worlds. The security of being in-doors, not having to fight against vehicles, and knowing you won’t have a crash or fall, while still being able to enjoy the movement of biking.
This Weeks Workouts
Total Miles: 32 Miles
Total Workouts: 4
How the Runs Felt
Thankfully, despite all of the travel, my running calendar wasn’t overly complicated the way it was last week. I was able to get in my runs outside, in the morning, before work Monday – Wednesday. Honestly, this is my favorite way to run, and as much as I love having flexibility with my treadmill, I feel like my day just goes smoother when I’m able to get my run in early. Friday, I squeezed in my run at the resort gym on the treadmill before we got started with my husbands birthday. I feel like my pacing and effort level were pretty consistent for all of my weekly runs.
My calves have started to feel tight, and I’ve noticed it takes about 2 miles for them to loosen up. I’m not sure if it’s the additional pregnancy weight or something else, but my calves are having a rough time this week. Outside of that, I had a very interesting long run this weekend. My husband and I decided pizza was the easiest and fastest option for dinner Friday night, since we were both pretty worn out. I had four amazing slices. Saturday morning, my stomach didn’t feel so amazing, however. I didn’t have any major issues, but let’s just say that running in the humidity, plus being pregnant, and eating 4 slices of pizza can take a toll on the GI. Thank God for port-a-potties, because there was definitely a close call towards the end!
How the WODs Felt
There was a lot of cardio this week, which most people think I love, but actually do not. I did appreciate how simple the workouts were, however. It made modifying the CrossFit movements a lot less complicated. Monday’s workout was probably the most mentally exhausting, because I don’t love high rep wall balls. They just feel never ending. I survived the workout, and felt pretty strong for the rest of the week.
What I’ve Been Listening
I am living for the live releases right now, which is weird because I am normally a podcast binger. Unfortunately, the new series that I am into are not all available currently, so I haven’t been able to just listen from beginning to end. But I have been catching every episode of Algorithm, The Devil Within, and Camp Hell. They are all true crime and investigative journalism, and sooooo interesting if you like true crime.
What Went Well
Being able to get in all of my workouts around the boys’ birthdays.
What Went Shitty
Even though I had two days off work this week, the weekend felt like it flew by.
Plans to Improve Next Week
Try and enjoy the consistency with my calendar and schedule.