Blessed Runner

I feel so blessed in so many ways. The biggest way is that Dustin and I will be able to meet our little girl in a few months. Being able to feel her kicks and movements as she gets stronger has created a bond that makes me more and more excited. Another way is that I have been feeling so good. I have heard so many horror stories about bad pregnancies (and births, women feel compelled to let you in on the worst!) and it makes me even more thankful that I feel so good, even better than pre-pregnancy. Thursday I entered the 3rd trimester, so I know I won't be feeling all that great for long. I cherish this time!!
I also feel so blessed to be able to be so active. Dustin and I go on bike rides, albeit short and slow. We go swim laps together; swimming is the one physical activity where I don't feel much different. And I am still able to run!!!  Keep in mind that it isn't all roses. It definitely isn't as comfortable to run as it was before. I get winded much easier and I have to go slow or else I get muscle fatigue in my legs. If there is any sign of possible cramping in my mid section I stop immediately.  The hardest part is not being able to stretch my legs out and finish strong at the end of the run or skipping speed work on the track. Wednesday's track day is normally my favorite, but is now a very boring run since I can't go any faster and only run in circles. I still go anyway because I get to see Dustin as he laps me :). Slow and steady is my current motto.
Currently I am still running 3-5miles a day, 5-6 days a week. I run some on my own, some with Dustin, and some with a group of girls. At Dustin's last race (60K trail run in Kentucky) I started talking with a girl/woman who was also spectating. We got to talking and both mentioned how we wish we could be running it too. I told her that I was pregnant and she said, "but you are still running, right? I ran 10-mile runs when I was 7 month pregnant". That put me in my pregnant-while-running place! Come to find out she wasn't running because she has a hairline fracture in her foot, that may put her out indefinitely, from a 100 mile ultra trail run. At that moment I visualized the word "freak" (a term I endearingly call runners that can perform at extremely high levels) flying in the air pointing down at her and it made me feel better. She normally runs 60-120 miles a week!!!  At 7 months pregnant I feel so fortunate to be able to run at all. I don't know what I would do without running (especially with the stress of pharmacy school). I know I couldn't have gone 9 months without it!