Blogging got away from in 2013 and my goals took a different path as some big life changes happened. Although I didn't even come close to my goal of working towards a BQ marathon time I did have a great year and had a few cool running accomplishments and even more important some great life surprises!
In July, we found out we are expecting our 2nd child, a boy, who will be arriving in just a few weeks. Needless to say this put a lot of my running goals on hold. While a 2nd child wasn't a surprise we didn't expect it to happen so fast since getting pregnant with Mia took a lot longer. At this point, I just decided my main goal was to run and stay active for as much of the pregnancy as possible. It hasn't been easy. In the beginning this pregnancy wasn't much different from my pregnancy with Mia, but as time went on it's become a lot harder. I can't complain though, while we have had some scares along the way, the baby is healthy and so am I. Running for me tapered off around the holidays. My last race was our local turkey trot on thanksgiving. After that I pretty much stuck to the elliptical and a few treadmill runs. Since the holidays, I've mostly just been trying to get out for walks at lunch time. That seems to be all I have the energy for anymore.
All in all I was able to run 4 races while pregnant, one of them being a half marathon. The half marathon I ran while pregnant was the Camp Chingacook Challenge in Lake George, NY. This race was tough and I think I would have considered it a big accomplishment even if I wasn't pregnant, so I'm most particularly proud of finishing it pregnant. The most special race I ran while pregnant was the Troy Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. It was my daughter's first time running the kids mile race and we ran with all of her cousins. I almost bailed on the 5K because I was pretty tired and cold from running the mile race but at the last minute I decided to just try. I ended up having a lot of fun and completed it feeling good. It was certainly a slow 5K for me but it was fun and I felt proud of completing it.
Prior to becoming pregnant my marathon training was going just ok. I felt like I never really got into a groove in the spring and while I managed to qualify for Marathon Maniacs by running two marathons in 2 weeks in the Spring- the Memorial Day Marathon in Lenox, MA, and the Lake Placid Marathon- I just never felt as strong as I did in the fall of 2012 when I broke 4 hours. In a way it was like my body was trying to rest up and prepare for pregnancy.
While 2013 wasn't a running PR year for me, I must say I PR'd in race cheering and spectating. In addition to cheering for friends in Boston in the spring, I also cheered for Joe at RAGNAR Adirondacks and the Marine Corps Marathon. I was also proud to cheer on many of my Strong Running Mama friends at the Hudson Mohawk Marathon. Even though I wished I was running myself at all these races I think I had just as much fun if not more cheering!
I'm looking forward to meeting this little guy in a few weeks and getting back into shape once my body recovers. Lately I have been craving a good run. Joe and Mia got me a treadmill for Christmas, which is something I had been dreaming of for a while, lately it's only being used for walks but I can't wait to run on it. My running goals for 2014 will be all about listening to my body as I try to get back into shape. I know if I am careful I can get back to where I was in the Fall of 2012 but it will take some time. Last fall I deferred my fall marathon due to pregnancy so that is a goal I will work towards this summer. I am going to try really hard not to give myself any time expectations but since it's the same race I broke 4 hours at I know that it will be hard not to compare.
I also hope to blog more regularly again. I think keeping this journal of my progress will keep me motivated as I try to figure out how to juggle two kids, a job, running and everything else.
