4/15

Tough run today--the nerve pain in my leg is getting really bad and hard to run through.  I kept having to grip the treadmill every few minutes so I didn't fall over.  Speed varied a lot--I had to take one walking break @ 17:08 pace, running pace varied anywhere from 15/mile (trying to go REALLY slow and seeing if that helped with the pain--it didn't) up to 10/mile.  Overall, for 4 miles it took me just under 50 minutes.  I think I pulled a muscle in my back during the last half-mile; between that and the awful leg pain we'll see how the next session goes.

38 weeks

I meant to run or walk yesterday, but it was SO busy and by the time everything was done (10 PM) I was exhausted and my back hurt so much that I couldn't sit, stand, walk, or lie down without it throbbing.  So I didn't run.

Kind of an interesting workout today--I really wanted to run outside, but I also wanted to spend time with everyone as a family before Neil went to work.  So I ran the 1.25 miles over to a nearby nature center, we hung out there as a family, then we walked the mile loop through the woods, then I ran home.  Then after everyone ate lunch, I washed the dishes, put Luke down, read to the kids, and then hopped on the treadmill  & ran another 1.5 miles and walked .5 miles.

The first 1.25 miles I ran today were really painful--it was GORGEOUS outside but the nerve in my right leg kept dropping me every couple of minutes, so I had to walk every so often for 30 seconds or so until it was bearable again.  It seemed to be worse on the uphills, didn't bother me much when we were walking around as a family, and then was at a low enough level that I could ignore it on the way home, so I could run that one the whole time (except for the occasional sudden  careful walk through giant boggy puddles).  I got home totally mud-splattered but thrilled about having run outside!

4/11

No yoga today, but I walked a couple miles tonight after everyone was asleep (2 miles @ 17:45/mile).  I've been having some swelling that isn't very fun--my bad ankle, of course, but when I walk and let my hands hang down, my fingers swell enough that I can't clench them into fists (which is actually kind of entertaining given how skeletal my hands are the rest of the time).

4/10

Better!  Tired today, so I debated between running tonight & taking a nap in the afternoon, or just running in the afternoon...decided to run because the kids were playing with a noisy game and I figured I might as well.

Started out with some cramping, so after I'd run 4 minutes I walked for 2 minutes, then started up running again and ran until I hit 2 miles.  Stopped for water and decided to see what would happen if I cranked the pace up (I was running about 11:19/mile).  So I started up at 10:00/mile and thought I'd just take the pace down every minute or so in order to not get exhausted--I dropped down every minute until I hit 10:31/mile and then realized I wasn't really tired, so I went back up to 10:00/mile for another 6/10 of a mile or so, then stopped again for water, and started again at 10:00/mile.  This time I did drop the pace every 2/10 of a mile by .1 so that I could start to cool down a bit.

Average pace for the 4 miles, including walking, was right about 11:00/mile (close to 12:00 for the first two and close to 10:00 for the second two).  I feel much better about this run because of the negative splits for the second half.

Walked 6/10 of a mile earlier with the kids; hopefully if the rain stops we'll get out for another walk later.

4/9

Trying to work the nerve pain out--yoga this morning and 2.2 miles power-walking this evening.  Hopefully I can run tomorrow...

4/8

Weird workout today.  I didn't really have time to run and shower because I had an appointment early this evening, so I walked 2 miles this afternoon (not all consecutively since I was constantly having to stop to help the kids with things).  Then this evening I walked another half-mile with the kids around the block, then I did some walk/run stuff tonight where I ran half a mile, walked a couple of minutes, ran another half-mile, took a water break (that extended into a way-too-long email-checking break), then ran another mile, then walked another mile.  I have REALLY been struggling with nerve pain lately that just drops me in my tracks when I am walking/running/standing/sitting/you name it.  Totally agonizing and I haven't figured out any way to get relief (I went to see a massage therapist today but it was still awful tonight).  It's bad enough that if it hits when I don't have any support around to grab, I'll just fall right over because my legs literally go out and there's no muscular control from my brain.  Weird and not fun and very painful.

Totals for today were 2 miles running and 3.5 miles walking.  I have to say that I am really not thrilled with myself right now...I weighed myself today and I weigh 6 pounds over my standard "delivery" weight, and I've gained 30 pounds total from where I was when I got pregnant, which is by far the most I've ever gained with any of my babies.  So depressing when I couple that with how unfit I feel right now...today I just feel old and fat and very pregnant with still 3 weeks to go.

37 weeks

Kind of a bizarre workout today; I had really bad contractions after my run both Monday & Wednesday and then HORRIBLE stomach cramping that put me on the couch for 4 hours straight yesterday, so I just sort of decided to do whatever today and get in 4 miles somehow.  I stopped every 10 minutes for water because I think part of my problem has been dehydration.

First 10 minutes I ran only 1 minute; contractions were really bothering me.

Second 10 minutes I ran 6 minutes.

Third 10 I ran 7 minutes.

Fourth 10 (plus a few) I ran 8 minutes, walked 2, and then ran another 2 or 3.

Fifth 10 I ran for...I forget...four or five? then walked for 2, then ran to finish out the rest of the 4 miles.  I think in total it took me about 54 minutes, which is a long time, but...we'll see if it makes the rest of the night any easier because I am not a fan of the contractions every 8 minutes and the unbearable backache that accompanies them.