It's Almost Time...

4 Days To Go

Holy Smokes! I can't believe the big day is less than half a week away. While I feel like I have spent more time preparing for this big day than my wedding, like most "planned" events in my life, it's definitely turned out to be an unexpected adventure. Getting knocked up and running the half at fifteen weeks pregnant was not a part of the plan. However, what a blessing! So with the first trimester funk interfering with those last few weeks of my training plan, my doctor said she felt most comfortable if I walked the half. However, she supported me trying to at least run some and listening to my body, promising to drink water at every station along the way, and stopping if I felt dizzy or nauseous. She also asked that I at least get 10 miles under my belt before the big day. And yesterday (drum roll, please), I knocked out my 10 miles! Thanks to a good (make that great) friend who volunteered to make the trek with me. We ran/walked the distance and my confidence jumped up about 5,000 notches now that I can erase that mental picture of me being carried off the running route on a stretcher clutching an oxygen mask (knock on wood).

This past weekend was also my little monkey's first birthday party (more pictures and a detailed post coming on the new blog) and it left me reflecting on my original motivation to start this challenge. It was to show him an account of strength and perseverance in his honor and to prove to myself just how important these traits are, as a mother and as a woman. Now, it looks like I will have two blessings to share this story with. If that's not motivation to drag myself through those 13.1 miles, I just don't know what is.

And on a final note, I still have a lingering goal to run a half-marathon as a non-pregnant runner in 2011. So, here's my question to all you fellow half vets...what's your favorite half-marathon and why? I am ready to put my new goal on the calendar right after this Sunday and begin planning the next adventure...after birthing Baby 2, that is (smile).

Bondi Band Winner!

17 Days To Go

Thank you for all entering the Bondi Band giveaway! I can see that many of you are already Bondi Band fanatics like me. If you haven't tried a Bondi Band yet, take my word, you will have no regrets. I even sleep in mine at times (true story).

I am happy to say congratulations to Jennifer York (comment #45) who is the lucky winner according to random.org. Jennifer, I've sent you an email and look forward to hooking you up with two Bondi Band headbands of your choice!

BIG thanks to Bondi Band for allowing me to host this fantastic giveaway!

As for me, I had a reality check visit with the doctor this week, and while I am still completing the Women's Half in seventeen days {gulp}, I have had to come to the realization that my first trimester uber sickness has put a big damper in my training. More on this to come and I will be looking for some advice from my fellow half vets. For now, I just completed a mountain of grading and am hitting the hay. A run is on my schedule for tomorrow morning and I am thanking the rain gods for the cooler temps forecasted for my early trot. More coming shortly!

Running...+1

45 Days To Go

You may (or may not) have wondered about the lapse in my weekly update last week. I think it is time to explain. Honestly, this compilation of my journey wouldn't be accurate unless I did. Well, remember when I shared about my experience almost eating the pavement upon a dizzy spell not long ago? And the not feeling so well here recently? The slight misspellings and grammatical errors from absentmindedness in my last few posts? Are you catching on yet?

Yes, I am preggo. Unexpected? A bit. Blessed? Unbelievably. These past few weeks have been spent trying to grasp my brain around the fact that this month I will spend my second birthday in a row knocked up and that my little chunky monkey is actually going to be an "older" brother. I am elated and thrilled but I would be lying if I didn't admit that when I thought about my half-marathon journey, I wasn't a bit crestfallen. After much discussion and angst, I decided I would not give it up. I kept running and kept progressing. That was until last week. Last week my familiar (and unwelcome) friend, good ol' morning sickness made it's appearance. Unfortunately, morning sickness is a huge understatement for my experience. It's more like I morph into a dehydrated, queasy, vom-monster. And without being able to keep anything of substance in my body, you can imagine, it's impossible to run. I went a full week without running and was heartbroken. Literally. Looking at my lonely running shoes sitting in my closet like a neglected stray cat on my front porch, starving and freezing, made my heart ache.

However, this week after learning to manage the sickness a bit better, I picked back up my running and I have to say it's one of the best distractions from feeling like you've been riding on a carousel for 24 hours...while trying to read a book....sitting backwards....staring into a kaleidoscope....with a belly full of ice cream and pickles. It actually provided some feeling of stability. I also found some relief in the ginger flavored Herbal Waters - which I didn't mention in my review since it was pre-announcement. (Don't forget to enter the giveaway if you haven't already.)

It's still early and I still have several more weeks before leaving my first trimester. Honestly, probably too early for most to make a public blog announcement. But I can't stay true to this journey without being completely honest. You have all been with me each step of the way. Each step in this (so far) 288 mile journey and I feel compelled to share the news. Aside from family and close friends, your the first to know. Yes, even before I have made an official Facebook announcement {gasp}. However, I have seen the flutter of the heartbeat of my little bean on my sonogram and I simply can't pretend he/she is not a part of this journey now.

After talking with my doctor (who is also a mother and a runner) I am aware that I will likely not be able to run the entire half-marathon. I have come to terms with this. Most importantly, I will finish. I will complete this goal - and have my own little two-person-in-one team with me each step of the way.

And there it is. This is where I am. Luckily, I am a creature of adaptation and a believer in a plan that is much more well thought out than my own. Best of all, I am a soon-to-be mother of two.

I'll still be reporting in and keeping you posted...on running +1 (smile).