One for the runners!

[shinglebob]

Hi all

I'm a keen runner and it was both my main form of exercise and my therapy too! I can pretty much pinpoint the day I got pregnant as when I ran earlier that week I was fine but suddenly I literally couldn't keep going and struggled round a 5k. I've tried once since and it was even worse - that's when I took my test.

I'm six weeks tomorrow, so still early days but I'm just wondering if any runners out there have experienced something similar, or whether you've been able to run still? Did you have to change your routines? I'm low on energy but also keep getting sugar lows too so, so I've been too nervous to try since. I was hoping I could still do it in the earlier part of pregnancy but maybe I'm just being stupid and should look to something else - I'd like to keep active if possible. I really miss it already!

Thanks for your thoughts

@goatlady5812 congrats!! Literally the same as me and it's what made me do the test 🙈

I am happy to report I completed a steady 5k at the gym! Opted for the air conditioned environment and my OH was there too so I felt comforted that he'd be nearby if it was too much. But I took it slow (which was hard, normally I like to race my neighbour 😂) and used it as an opportunity to work out what pace felt comfortable and what was too much. Feels so good to have done it!

This is a great post to follow. I'm not currently pregnant but planning for dc2.
I run a few times a week so would like to maintain some form of running in pregnancy.
Will keep my eye on this one for future reference.

Congrats to all of you so far!

@snowbrigade
@shinglebob

I'm going to attempt a run when my husband gets home in about an hour - I'll let you know how I get on!

I'm signed up to do a 24 hour relay in a few weeks and I've had to tell the guy from the club who's organising the teams and ask to be put in a less competitive team and not do any night laps. He's told the rest of the committee that I'm carrying a 'light injury' - so many lies in the first trimester 😂 It's annoying as I'll be 12+4 by then but my scan isn't until the Monday after the race so we won't have announced.

Yeah, I ran pre pregnancy, now I'm 8 weeks now and stopped at 5 weeks, I just felt weak and faint! Quite pathetic but very real. Hoping to take it back up soon.

Bless the guy from your club @polkadotjersey! Love that. How did your run go this evening?

@Wellthisunexpected it sounds like you're being quite right not running at the moment if that's how you feel. Your health and well-being needs to come top. I have to say, slowing down made it much better for me today, even though it was hard.

What a relief to find this thread! I got a BFP today but I went to the gym yesterday and it was such hard work!! Keep getting hot flushes and felt exceptionally breathless very quickly. I'm reluctant to tell anyone too early but feel like I should let the PT at the gym know ASAP so my sessions are tailored accordingly.

Very heartening to see others who are continuing exercising and running throughout their pregnancies though. I was hoping to go for a run today but the nausea has hit quite hard already. Good to see others are managing but just scaling it back a little.

@polkadotjersey "carrying a minor injury" is a pretty funny first trimester lie, made me laugh! Although from a running and general fitness point of view it feels more like carrying my husband in piggyback...

This weekend I managed slow 11k on Saturday and an even slower 8k on Sunday. Cannot complain! Though really can't wait for that second trimester return of energy.

Congrats, @toastfiend! I think you should definitely tell your PT, especially with how it made you feel this weekend. It's amazing how fast it changes, isn't it?! I'm sure they will be glad to adjust everything accordingly. As you said, scaling back seems to be the way forward. Good luck!

Smashed it @snowbridgade! Think I'm going to stick with the treadmill at the gym this week in the heat.

Have people changed the post-run/workout routine? Should we be eating/drinking anything specifically afterwards?

Can I just say, enjoy it whilst you still can manage it. I'm 30 weeks now and get a stitch if I walk too fast! I know lots of people can run all the way to the end and I'd have loved to be one of those people but it wasn't to be!

I'm also so happy to have found his thread! 15 + 4 now and stopped running at 13 when I had some lower abdominal pain. Midwife recommended to rest a few days and all feels fine now. I use the cross trainer and swim but haven't been brave enough to try a run yet. I also found I just wanted to pee for the whole run haha

I jogged until 39 wks in 2 pregnancies.
I don't know what a bump support band is.
I say jogged b/c I didn't time myself or think about how fast I was.
If I got out & did it, I was good.
Fairly minimal miles in the weeks that were worst for nausea (shudder).

@shinglebob

The run was good actually! Only did just over two miles at a very gentle pace but it was so nice to feel up to doing it. Going to try to go tomorrow again.

Totally feel ya, @polkadotjersey! Feels good to be doing something doesn't it, even if it's a bit different to normal!

Sorry to hear about that, @wiggle4 :( Sounds like you've done a good job of keeping active nonetheless. How have you been feeling this week?

@shinglebob I had my midwife appointment on Tuesday when I heard little ones heartbeat and she said if you don't run in the next 2 weeks, don't pick it back up so....I went out Wednesday morning for a slow 2 miles, pain free don't think I'll do much more than that at a time but it felt so good to get back out!

I’m slowly giving up this end! I’ve taken to running and stopping every few minutes as it suddenly feels so hard!!! I managed 3 miles Saturday and 4 on Sunday. Amazing to think a year ago I was running marathons! The breathlessness is making me struggle quite a bit - I may just end up sticking with yoga! How is everyone else doing? X

@Goatlady5812 don't underestimate this heat too!! I'm sticking with Pilates for now until the heat subsides a little - have always preferred running in the cooler temperatures.

@toastfiend I told my PT yesterday so she gets why I'm moving at the pace of a sloth 😂 she's going to change things up so that we're working on areas that will have lasting benefits. (Luckily for me, she's also just done a pre/postnatal Pilates course)

I agree with @TheWanderlust too, @Goatlady5812 - the heat will be making it even harder. I'm suffering with low blood pressure AND a heavy cold so last week was a total write off for me.

I might start doing some more yoga actually, will see if my gym have many classes. I used to go to hot yoga but obvious I'm not doing that now!

PT was great about it and I'm hoping to get back to sessions once it cools down a bit!

Is anyone else struggling with the heat? I can't even contemplate running in it but went out for a walk (brisk 5 miles) the other day and by the end it was a real struggle, just feels like the heat is hitting me like a wall at the moment and I find it so hard to cool down, end up submerging myself in a cold bath just to feel normal again! Kudos to any of you managing to run in this!

How are all the running mummies to be? I've literally not had the energy or willingness to run in the heat we've been having. I'm just past 12 weeks and starting to feel a bit less dead on my feet, so really hoping to try a little jog this weekend.

Can anyone recommend a good bump support band? I don't need it yet but I'd like to be ready! xx

Hey @shinglebob
Great to hear I'm not the only runner struggling!!
I am 9 weeks and run for a club (who now think I'm the most ignorant member as I've dropped off the face of the running world lol)
Anyway just before I found out I was pregnant I just lost interest in running for speed. I started feeling like 'hmmm sod it, I'm in no rush- let's take it easy and stop every 5 minutes'
Then I started thinking come on girl push yourself stop being lazy - and I couldn't anymore!
Then I found out I was pregnant and was so over the moon so i embraced the slower pace.
Then when I hit 7 weeks I just got so fatigued that I can't even bring myself to get ready for a run! The thought of trudging up the hill (or even down it!) Makes me feel a bit ill..... So I'm waiting to feel better - very impatiently.
The heat hasn't helped to be fair! And wouldn't be good for us anyway eh!

Please let us know when you go out for a jog and how you get on - you may be the inspiration I need to get my bum out the door
X

@Mum2bejac feel you in every sense. I tried a couple of times but in the end thought I needed to listen to what my body was telling me... which was... have a nap. ALL the time. Ha! By the time I got home from work there was absolutely no chance. I feel like such a blob now though.

Will definitely let you know how it goes.

That's the other obstacle isn't it - by time you get through the day at work there's absolutely no energy left for a run anymore. I always think I'll just make myself but that never happens hahaha.
No choice but to listen to the body!

Looking forward to hearing how it goes x

@shinglebob: I used to be a serious runner (although for the past year or so I have focused more on strength training - plyometric). Anyways: the week I conceived I was running home every day from work (10k), in 30 degree heat! I still can't believe I actually managed to get pregnant

Now I am 5 weeks and keeping running as my main LISS. I tend to seek shade and jog rather than run (the rule of thumb being that I need to be able to hold a normal conversation). And no more crazy commutes, I just go for 30 min max. At the gym, I am doing spinning and the elliptical. And a few light weights/resistance band exercises. A bit sad to say goodbye to burpees and HIIT but better safe then sorry!

That is seriously impressive @Monipop84 and I'm a little bit jealous! I literally haven't been able to do anything that requires effort since the first couple of weeks. Long may it continue for you!

@shinglebob I have tried to stay active till I can. I am currently on the bus home after having been sick the whole night and struggled at work today so all my exercise plans might turn out to be wishful thinking....