Fitness fanatics - when did you stop running?

[CareerGirl01]

Am 23 weeks pregnant and still managing to keep up a fairly regular regime including 2x 5k runs a week. All okay until yesterday when my bladder felt a bit 'squished' may just have been the way baby is lying - want to keep running till 28 weeks when I've promised myself I will knuckle under and do preggie stuff such as swimming and aqua aerobics/Zumba.
Am I being too ambitious?

Did a run today and have to say it felt like a slog. I'm with worsetershire in that running can be ageing - cross training and mixing it up is what I like - yoga stretches are great but pregnancy yoga doesn't cut it for me - I'm doing an ashtanga class tomorrow - teacher has given me modified poses to do.
Have to say am so inspired by everyone still exercising. As for overheating- what do mums in hot country's who have to walk miles cope?! I don't get too hot but I do 'work out' and I feel better for it. Would recommend doing a bit of resistance work - as it seems to be keeping my restless legs ANC cramps at bay x

As a fitness junkie I find this thread fascinating reading. Everyone really is so different!

Like some others, I had sickness/tiredness bad enough to stop me from doing most activity during the week in the first few months, which meant I lost fitness. Now I'm back at it but found running enormously uncomfy when I got back on the treadmill at 18 weeks - baby's foot/head definitely in my bladder!

Now at 21 weeks I'm still teaching aerobics once a week which is my endorphin "buzz", doing Pilates twice a week and then one or two more cardio sessions - Body Attack if I can get to it or cross trainer. Both at reduced intensity though. I really do miss running and am very envious of all you have managed to carry on!

I ran til 37 weeks with both of mine - was a bit run/walk by the end though! Started back 5 weeks after with both ( ELCS both times so no issues 'downstairs'!). Loved running pregnant as just enjoyed it without pushing for times/goals and both DC have a few medals from the races they were along for the ride in!

Hahaha!!! Yes, agreed - I much prefer pilates too - in fact thanks for reminding me. I really need to get back into it but find the poses more difficult to remember than yoga. Maybe I'll have a look for a pregnancy pilates workout!

Agree about running being ageing. I have a pic that was taken during a 10k race and the skin on my face is hanging from my bones- I look 10 years older & it also looks like I have weird jowls!

LivingThings, think that's one of the reasons I am enjoying it so much at the mo - no pressures - can just run for running's sake! Wow, 37 weeks, that's inspiring :-) I'm already having to walk up some bits of hills at 15 weeks but then that's nothing new for me.

I agree with worsestershiresauce in that running alone is very punishing on the body, pregnant or not. I used to hate running, did the marathon and that made me love it. I carried on to 36 weeks - I just liked feeling free and strong, loved the endorphin rush, plus I had an easy pregnancy. I also did normal yoga and reformer pilates. I was very sniffy about pregnancy yoga and wsn't keen on any of the classes I tried in the very late weeks but I have a DVD by Tara Lee which is really good, especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy. It's not as easy as most yoga classes and is very good for relaxing and stretching out the right bits. I also joined a gym when I stopped running and used the stationary bike and weights, again just to get the endorphin rush.

I really recommend staying fit during pregnancy - I am convinced it helped with labour. Also helped me sleep during pregnancy and I was back in my normal jeans within a week despite eating huge amounts of cake and chocolate (which I still am 12 weeks later... oops!)

Oh, and running since I have had the baby has been amazing! I am a single mum so don't get to go out that much, but when I do, splashing around in the mud and running until my lungs burn just makes me feel free! I feel a bit like that dude in avatar when he gets his avatar body. Actually, training during pregnancy leaves you very fit as you are effectively training with 2 stone or thereabouts of weight attached to you!

I'm early days yet (about 6 weeks) and am running 4x a week but no sessions or hard work, just a steady easy pace. My plan is to continue to go out 4x a week whatever even if some runs turn into walks (i'll wear more clothes).

A friend of mine is a crazy hill runner and she is still run/walking up mountains at 30-something weeks.

I am wondering about a race that i've got booked for end jan though, an off-road duathlon, i might not do it as i fell quite badly flat on my front at the last one and of course it's 100% effort to get up the hills in the mud... maybe not a good idea... but i am still mountain biking just not doing anything tricky like jumps or rocky drops, avoiding technical challenges and just riding steadily.

I did a spin class last week too which is very sweaty but i didn't feel overheated at any point, sweating cools you down as long as the air isn't too humid (there are big fans at spin). I would like to keep spinning when I stop mountain biking (which i'll do as soon as i have a sticky out bump that isn't protected by my pelvis anymore).

Ahhh pollyindia I have Tara Lee DVD from first pregnancy!
I really must do Pilates though as worsetershre points out we need to stretch. I did try spinning (now 23 weeks) bike in the gym (not in a class) and it was uncomfortable after 15 minutes. Rowing is also out but I did find 25 mins on the stepper holding 1kg weights not only helped with my balance but it did feel like a medium exertion work out. And my butt ached the day after. I'm going to aim for a 40 minute gentle run in our park today - no road or pavement running from now on - and I'm going to use my pg as motivation to improve my swimming - got a refresher lesson next week

flyingsprocket that I'd why I've never run marathons - respect to those that have though. And after having babies I have noticed the fat on my face disappeared - or is that ageing!