catherine's running efforts

Today was a really hard day because we found out at the ultrasound that Baby's not measuring as big as she should in her abdomen. The medicine can reduce blood flow to the placenta, so it's hard to not think that she's not doing well because of something I chose. 

The other difference between now and three weeks ago is that I haven't been exercising as much. So tonight I went to the gym with Eric and did about 35 minute on the elliptical. Just in case exercising can increase the blood flow to Baby. 

60 minutes on the elliptical during the worst basketball game I've ever seen. It was like when you're watching a stupid show and you keep thinking, "Why am I watching this? This is such a waste of time." Once my 60 minutes hit, I hopped off and went over to the treadmill next to Eric and didn't even care what happened in the last few minutes of the game. *So* stupid.

My heart rate was between 120 and 140 pretty much after the first 10 minutes. I don't know how cardiovascular stuff really works, but I kind of imagine it as an hour during which Baby was able to get what she needs. I really hate that my body isn't working well enough to keep her growing like she should. 

2 minutes on the elliptical, then 28 minutes walking on the treadmill because it had a better TV. I'm not sure what my heart rate was, but I didn't really get sweaty or anything. I did feel some pain in my abdomen (I'm pretty sure it was from gas), so I slowed it down a little for the last 8 minutes. 

Lots of ice cream for dinner. Probably not the best choice. 

A half mile on the elliptical (what does that even mean?). I was watching people on the treadmill, and it made me want to run, so I did a half mile really slow. It was fine. 

30 minutes on the elliptical. My heart rate was between 120 and 140. 

Eric said something to me yesterday about how he thought it might be hard for me to get back into running after the baby comes, and it made me want to try harder now. So I went to the track with him and Tigger and ran a very slow mile (*very* slow - like 12:00). I wore the belt thing and pretty much felt fine. My goal is to do another mile Friday and Saturday, and then bump it up to one and a half starting on Monday. Then up to 2, then eventually to 3 for as long as I can. Now that I'm used to how it feels to be pregnant, I'm a lot less worried about every little ache/pain, so maybe the running will go better this time. And who cares if I'm slow? It's not like I'd stop gaining weight if I were going faster...

It was so nice outside! I went to the AF high school track and was just going to do a mile, but I kept going for the extra half since I didn't run yesterday. Everything felt fine, but my lower abdomen/inner thighs got a little sore during the last two laps. Tigger trotted along and seemed to enjoy himself until we had to pass the colorguard/flag people on the way back to the car. 

At the track with Tigger and Eric. It was kind of painful after the first lap - like some sort of side ache or stitch in my abdomen/tummy - but I kept going. Later Baby was bopping all around, so I know she's fine. I'm going to stick it out until Friday to see if the pain goes away - maybe it's just soreness after not running for awhile (and then being 20 pounds heavier). 

I wanted to keep up with my running-every-day goal. But during the second lap my abdomen hurt, my inner thighs hurt, my pelvis hurt, and my back-bum (the SI joint problem) hurt. So I decided to stop. I felt like such a wuss. Plus, I *want* to run. Nothing else makes my leg muscles feel good. And I want to be able to get back to it soon after Baby comes. I'm really disappointed in my body. I expected more from it. 

I guess it's cool that it's growing a person, though. 

Thirty minutes walking on the treadmill (15 minutes at an incline, 15 minutes faster on the flat). 

Twenty minutes on the stairmaster. This might be my new favorite not-running thing because it actually makes my legs feel like they're doing something.