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Columbus Pilgrimage Half: 1:36:57, 4th female overall (1st AG)
(Officially 1:37 something, had to stop to pee) 7:24 pace

Running a race while pregnant was a bucket list item I never had the chance to cross off with Maddy. I was sick, lightheaded and short of breath the whole time with my first, making running much more difficult. Even though I ran the whole way through with my first, my runs were shorter and slower and I pretty much started from square one post-partum. I really want this time to be different.

My first trimester with baby #2 I really suffered. Once I hit 6 weeks I was sick round the clock. It was a battle to finish most runs, not only because I felt so terrible, but also because I lacked motivation. I found that most runs done solo were usually cut short or slower than normal. As a result, I did everything I could to run with my friends.

For the first 15 weeks I made it through morning runs by stuffing a handful of jolly rancher candies in my pocket. As soon as I finished one, I would stuff another in my mouth. For some reason the sugar kept the nausea at bay, and by week 16 I was able to stomach half a copy of coffee and a few rice cakes before setting out for a morning run. As of today, 5 months into my pregnancy, I am still running 50 mpw with my regular running group AND still getting in one workout a week at about 20 seconds per mile slower than my marathon PR pace. Nothing crazy but enough to make the regular runs feel relaxed.

So a few weeks ago I decided to run a half-marathon. I had been running about 11.5-12 miles at least once a week at about a 7:20-7:35 pace. Being that there was a half-marathon 25 minutes from my house, I really couldn't pass it up. I got online a registered.

My husband was a little hesitant, not that I might get the urge to "race" but that he though I might be ridiculed because of it. Being a pregnant women in Mississippi I am often told that I should be "taking it easy" when in reality, I should be doing everything I can to remain healthy and active. I shrugged off his concerns and went anyway. Running while pregnant was nothing new to me....only this time I will be wearing at race number across my swelling stomach.

I rode to Columbus with two former teammates,  who ironically ended up winning both races. I did about a mile warmup beforehand, trying my best to avoid busy streets and awkward glares from other runners. Once the race started, things were pretty smooth, and I felt great throughout. Most of the runners I passed didn't know I was pregnant and most of the spectators didn't have enough time to tell anyway.

I was worried that it would have a hard resisting the urge to race, however I found that I was pretty content just running the 7:20ish effort I had planned for in the beginning. I stayed about the same pace throughout which told me my effort was probably spot on.
I'm proud of myself for getting it in. It's hard being a athlete on the sidelines, but pregnancy is a hard physical journey in its self. I'm hoping to stay in shape for multiple reasons, one including a relatively smooth labor and delivery. With Maddy I pushed so long that I nearly cracked my tail bone and couldn't sit properly for months. Hoping the second time around is a bit of an improvement. However, I'm just praying for a healthy new addition above all else. Physical activity and healthy eating will surely help.

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