Friday Five: Things I'm Loving Lately

1. Running in this Georgia fall weather. Running here in general, really. Trees are still a novelty after three-and-a-half years in El Paso! And it's cool enough now that I can run and then come back and walk the dogs--all with the stroller, without worrying about either of us getting too hot or too cold.

2. She Reads Truth. I'm so glad a friend told me about this online Bible study. Having these daily devotionals when I'm not otherwise involved in a study makes it easier for me to get into the Word every day. You can jump in wherever they are now, or you can go back and do one of their older studies from the beginning, and you can (but don't have to!) purchase a beautiful study pack.

3. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. I couldn't put this book down, and I'll be recommending (and loaning) it to everyone I know. The story of a traveling symphony and theater company in the years after most of the world died in a flu pandemic, this book is so richly-imagined I felt like I lived through these events.

4. Searching for races via UltraSignup and Run Georgia--so many possibilities!

5. Freezer meals. I'm still learning how to get everything done while carrying a baby around most of the day, so I love being able to make meals ahead of time and dump them in the crock pot when I need them. Some of my favorites here and here.

Friday Five: Thoughts on Pregnancy and Postpartum Running

Some of the best advice I received as a new parent was to not Google things I worried about. Instead, find some reputable sources and get my answers there. Call the pediatrician as often as necessary. Much of what we read on the internet are worst-case-scenario anecdotes, dramatized for effect, or even completely untrue. And everyone has an opinion about everything--especially when you become a mom. Anyone who has ever read a parenting article online is probably well aware of this.

I think the same logic applies to reading about running and pregnancy: everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants to share their experience. But each pregnancy is different, each woman is different--as a mom, as an athlete. The most important thing is to get your doctor's approval and guidance. Ask as many questions as you want, and then, within their recommendations, do what you are comfortable with.

Some of the articles I read made me wonder whether I could have run much harder during my pregnancy. And some articles and comments I read made me question running at all. Was I selfish to run? Was I lazy for cutting my mileage so much?

I had to take a step back and remind myself of two things:
1) My doctor fully supported my running. The only limit she set was to listen to my body and don't overdo it.
2) I know how to listen to my body. I know when I'm overdoing it.

Angst aside, I still love to read about running during pregnancy--personal experiences and research alike. Below are five six things I read recently and/or while I was pregnant. I don't necessarily agree with all of the advice in them, and my experience was obviously different from that of the elites represented here, but all are interesting reads.

1) Sarah Canney of Run Far Girl, guest post on Runblogger, on running during pregnancy.

2) How Pregnancy Changes a Runner's Body from the New York Times.

3) NYC Running Mama on "How soon is too soon?"

4) Liza Howard and Brandy Erholz at Liza's blog, Ultrarunning Mom.

5) Runner's World's Coach Jenny on "training for two instead of you."

6) The New York Times on pregnant marathoners.

Race Report: Oktoberfest Trail 10K

Last weekend was Fort Benning's Oktoberfest celebration. Along with plenty of beer and German food, there was a 10K trail race, making for a perfect weekend!

I ran this race four years ago, the first time we were stationed here, and I loved it. So when I saw they were having it again, I couldn't wait! It often seems like trail runs involve lots of travel (which can be fun, but not necessarily with an infant), so when there's one right down the road, count me in!

My awesome parents were visiting, and my dad agreed to watch Etta while we ran. Normally he would be running too (and winning his age group!), but he spent the previous weekend running on an ultra team at the Texas Hill Country Ragnar Relay. I'm jealous--it sounded so fun!

The course covered two different loops on asphalt, dirt, and gravel roads. The first was flat and fast; the second was steeper and rockier, resulting in a much faster first half for me. I felt great running on the flatter portion, but my hill climbing needs some work. I finished in 51:08, happily beating my goal of 54 minutes.

My mom placed 2nd in her age group!

This wasn't my first race since giving birth (the first was a 3 mile fun run in my hometown at the beginning of September), but somehow this 10K felt like a new beginning. I'm not nearly as fast as I want to be, and I'm still working on increasing my mileage, but running is starting to feel more normal. I'm excited about this, and looking forward to even more racing!

Running Through Pregnancy: A Summary

I blogged throughout my pregnancy, but I thought it might be helpful to sum up the running experience in one post.

First Trimester

In November 2013, my husband and I learned we were expecting--due July 2014. We were excited (and nervous). One of my first questions was: how much can I run?

Before I was able to see my doctor, I clung to the wisdom everyone repeats: you can keep up the type and amount of exercise you were doing before pregnancy. My doctor confirmed this, provided I wasn't playing contact sports. I ran five or six days a week those first few weeks, wanting to maintain my running volume as long as possible.

New Year's Eve 2013, 11 weeks pregnant

And then the fatigue hit. In hindsight (in addition to being 20/20, hindsight also usually comes with rose-colored glasses), I didn't have it so bad. While exhaustion, sensitivity to smells, and weird food aversions aren't exactly fun, I never threw up, and I didn't have to worry about the dehydration and weight loss that can accompany extreme morning sickness.

During the first trimester, I didn't run more than six miles at a time. Part of this was due to fatigue and inability to fuel properly, but part of it was fear-related. Having never been pregnant before, even with reassurance from my doctor, I worried about harming the baby by getting overheated (even though it was winter), or becoming over-tired. This fear faded with the realizations that I know my body well enough to know when to take it easy, and that the baby benefits from my exercise.

First Trimester Tips

-Drink plenty of water!
-Listen to your body, but know that sometimes getting out for a run when you don't quite feel like it can actually help. I found was less nauseated and tired on the days I ran.
-Try eating a little before you run. I used to head out the door first thing in the morning, before eating. When I tried that during pregnancy, I was exhausted the rest of the day, even if I refueled well afterward. This only got worse as the weeks progressed, but eating something light before running--like grapes or half a granola bar--alleviated this problem.

Second Trimester

A few weeks into the second trimester, I ran a half marathon. And it was great! This seemed to be the best part of the pregnancy for running.

In February and March I ran a few road races and a seven-mile trail run. After the trail run, a little over five months pregnant, I decided I was done racing for the remainder of the pregnancy. I was starting to get slower and a little more uncomfortable, even with the support of my maternity belt. And since sleep was getting kind of iffy (pregnancy insomnia is no joke), my desire to wake up early to make it to the starting line was dwindling.

I was pretty satisfied with the racing I'd done, and tried to go forward with the mentality that any running I continued to do would just be bonus running. I managed to continue running, on average, four times a week, two or three miles at a time. There were days I felt like superwoman for still being able to run, and there were days I felt incredibly discouraged for not being able to run very far or very fast.

Second Trimester Tips

-If you're lucky enough, like I was, to have your first-trimester nausea go away, take advantage of this window of time in which you feel good and aren't too big yet!
-Take it week by week, if not day by day. Every day is different, every night of sleep is different, every run is different. Listen to your body each time. Having one bad run doesn't necessarily mean you're done for the pregnancy!
-Consider purchasing a maternity support belt. It made a world of difference to my comfort level, and by the end of the second trimester, I wouldn't have dreamed of running without it!

Third Trimester

At this point, I had no plan. Each day, the goal was to get out the door for a few miles, and to be grateful I was still able to do so. This was harder some days than others (both the running and the gratitude), but even short runs helped me maintain my fitness and my sense of accomplishment.
I stopped running a week before my due date because of discomfort caused by the baby descending into a lower position. I continued to walk twice a day, but the days without running were tough. I love to run, and I really missed it. I'm not sure when I'd last gone over a week without running. I also think  running helped me sleep better at night.

Third Trimester Tips

-REALLY listen to your body. Even though it has changed, you still know it better than anyone else. If you think you need a day off, you probably do; you're not just being paranoid.
-Continue to get your doctor's support. At the start, my doctor gave me the green light to run for as long as I felt up to it, unless I developed complications. But at every appointment, I mentioned I was still running and made sure she still thought it was a good idea. If you're a paranoid first-time mom like me, this will make you feel better!
-Take your phone, let someone know where you are, and stay in well-populated areas. For your peace of mind, and your family's. Just in case.
-Stick to smooth surfaces--sidewalks, not trails. Because, hello balance issues!
-Get in the water. Even if you don't cross-train in the pool, simply getting into the pool is worth it. The water supports your belly and takes the pressure off of you.
-Take a minute to be proud of yourself! Running is hard enough on its own sometimes, and carrying an extra 25+ pounds while doing it is an accomplishment!
-Go easy on yourself. It's going to be much slower than you're used to. Some days a run won't happen. You might have to switch to walking or swimming. Whatever happens, know that you will get back to normal running after your baby arrives.


Running during pregnancy, especially near the end, is an issue about which people seem to have very mixed feelings (I'll share a list of links to some varied opinions and experiences in another post). Even though most doctors, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend exercise during pregnancy, some medical professionals and expectant moms are hesitant about running as that exercise, for reasons ranging from discomfort to balance issues to placing undue strain on the pelvic ligaments.

I understand these hesitations, and think it comes down to an individual choice. Some runners, even elites, choose not to run during pregnancy, or stop before they get bigger.

As for me, it helped to be able to run during this first pregnancy. Running is the place I decompress, the place I feel free and strong, the place I go to think and sometimes to pray, without the distractions of daily life. Running also gives me a great sense of accomplishment, and I think losing that during my first pregnancy would have been tough. There were times it felt like the pregnancy would never  end, like my body would never be normal again. And being able to do the thing I love, even on a smaller scale, gave me a sense of normalcy.

But if we ever add to our family again, I can see myself doing it a little differently. I sometimes put a lot of pressure on my running, and that's the first thing that needs to go during a future pregnancy. Running, even racing, needs to be entirely about fun and well-being during that time. It doesn't need to be about how tough I am for running a long race or for running as many weeks along as possible. In fact, I might plan from the beginning to stop running at a certain number of weeks, when I start to get bigger, to see if that prevents some postpartum core-strength issues I'm having (which I'll write more on later). Because, having done it before, next time I'll know it doesn't last forever, that my body will be (mostly) normal again, and I'll return to running at the same level I was before.

I'm Back.

Nearly three months (!) after her arrival, I'm finally finding time to introduce our new addition!

Etta arrived on Friday, July 18 at 1:28 pm, weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces.

These days she looks more like this:

Since her birth, we have packed up our house in El Paso, moved across the country to Georgia, and had countless adventures along the way. I didn't intend to neglect the blog for so long, and in the coming weeks I plan to sum up running during my pregnancy, discuss my postpartum return to running, and possibly write a short post about her birth. 

But until then, enjoy the cuteness:

Due Date

Dear Baby Girl,

Today is the day you are due to arrive! And we would so love to meet you.

I think I'm done running until you get here. For one thing: knee pain. It kind of snuck up on me. I had noticed that it hurt to kneel, but I hadn't noticed the knot developing below my patella until a few nights ago. I want to give it a chance to heal before throwing myself headlong back into speed work and long runs like I know I will want to once you have joined us.

Another reason: you are sitting so low now that my bladder has no room at all. I love it because it means you're preparing to make your arrival, and because my lungs have more space to expand, but it just doesn't work for running. Sometimes not even for walking.

We have your running stroller ready--did you think you wouldn't be a running baby from the very beginning? Not a chance! Expect to spend plenty of time on the move. We are already planning your first 5k this fall.

I know you're content to hang out for a while longer, happily kicking and packing on the pounds, but we are ready to hold you in our arms. Our hospital doesn't want to let you go past 41 weeks, so we will see you soon. And we can't wait!

Love,
Mom

Friday Five: What I've Loved About El Paso

We're about to PCS (permanent change of station, Army-speak for move) to Georgia. We will have spent three and a half years in El Paso, Texas, and while I'm ready for a change, I'm also going to be sad to leave.

Sadness would have been last on my list of how I thought I would feel about leaving when we first arrived. El Paso wasn't our first choice, and it was hard to get used to. There are few trees, almost none of them shade trees. Most yards are full of gravel, not grass. For the first several months, I woke up every day with a dry throat and cracked lips. While running, the dry air made me feel like I wasn't getting enough oxygen.

But even as we were learning to drive in dust storms and deal with the fact that travel around the city takes forever due to having to drive around the mountain or Fort Bliss, we were also learning about all the city has to offer. Here are five of my favorite--and it was hard to pick just five!

1. Franklin Mountains State Park. Hands down my absolute favorite thing about El Paso. Much of the land surrounding the rugged Franklins is state park land, filled with trails ranging from wide and flat to steep and arduous. To avoid the daily usage fee, annual passes can be purchased, and they're good at all state parks in Texas!

2. McKelligon Canyon and Scenic Drive. I couldn't pick just one. These two roads are El Paso's most popular for walking, running, and cycling. Scenic Drive is closed to vehicle traffic on Sunday mornings, and McKelligon Canyon doesn't carry heavy traffic unless an event (like the wonderful, free Movies in the Canyon) is happening at the amphitheater.

3. El Paso Public Libraries.  With thirteen locations and two bookmobiles (bookmobiles!), I haven't had trouble finding most books I've wanted. The bookmobile means you can place a hold online on books at any library and designate your library for pickup. When it has been delivered to your location, you receive an email. They also have a large collection of ebooks and audiobooks you can download straight to your phone or computer.

4. Food trucks. This is a recent discovery for me, and I wish I'd learned of it sooner. El Paso boasts a variety of gourmet food trucks, just like other foodie cities across the country! I've sampled some excellent fare, and I'm making it my mission to try the Mini Donut Depot and Holy Cupcake before we leave here. You can find out where they are by following the Food Truck Circus Facebook page.

5. The running community. Though you're more likely to see a group of cyclists working their way up Transmountain Road than a group of runners any given Saturday morning, El Paso has a vibrant running community. The local running store, Up and Running, hosts morning and afternoon group runs at their two locations, as well as fun and informative events. This city also has races you won't find anywhere else--like the World's Fastest 10k, which starts at the top of Transmountain, the highest paved point in the city.

Bonus: First Baptist Church. Our first morning in El Paso, a friend brought us to FBC, saving us the long process of church hunting and plugging us into a place where we have grown, learned, and made the best friends. It's a big-small church: there are lots of people, but everyone is glad to see you and help you find a friendly Sunday school class. If you move to El Paso looking for a church home, I recommend starting here!

More bonuses: The Las Cruces Farmer's Market, Cattleman's Steakhouse, the Lincoln National Forest near Cloudcroft, NM, the El Paso Zoo, the El Paso Museum of Art. There is so much to love about El Paso!

Getting A Sister: A Guest Post by Bruno and Howdy

Bruno:

My mom is letting me write on the blog! This is so exciting! She wants me to write about getting a sister. I don't know what a sister is, but I know two things: 1) It's not something I can eat; and 2) It has more toys than I do. I don't like it when someone else has more toys than me, and the sister's toys look so fun. The packages her toys come in are fun too, because I can shred them and leave them all over the floor, but I have to grab them before mom notices. Otherwise she throws them away and perfectly good boxes go to waste!

Also, the sister will get to ride in a stroller when we walk. I didn't even know strollers existed, and now I'm wondering why I don't have one. That's the perfect way to go for a walk: all of the nature, none of the exercise! Mom, if you're reading this, I want a stroller for my birthday. Or I can just share the one you got for the sister. She won't mind, right?


Howdy:

Oh, Bruno. A sister is a noisy, attention-hogging miniature human who will replace us in the hearts of our humans. In fact, I think she already has. And because of the sister, they won't take us for as many walks or runs or pet us as much. I bet they'll even forget to feed us.

Thanks, humans. I can't believe you're doing this to us.

Running at 39 Weeks

Some honesty: I'd hoped I would have delivered this baby by now.

I think most women hope that, especially by this point. And especially in the summer. You're large, uncomfortable, sweating like crazy, constantly hungry, and plagued with heartburn. You're tired of wearing maternity clothes, and probably down to fewer outfits. And since babies are considered full-term by this point, you'd love it if the baby would go ahead and get here.

But since I'm still pregnant, I'm making the most of it. For me, that means continuing to run and go for long walks in the desert with my husband and the dogs--walks we won't be able to take when the baby arrives because mesquite thorns would instantly puncture the tires of our jogging stroller. And it also means spending a good amount of time on the couch with my feet propped up, making excellent progress on my reading list.

The belly just keeps growing.

Running at this point is slow, so very slow. But I almost (almost!) don't mind, because it feels like such an accomplishment. I didn't think I would still be running at this point. Or, at least, I was afraid to hope I would.

The maternity support belt is still my best friend, and I'm glad I bought the medium instead of the small, because it almost doesn't fit anymore, though I haven't really gained any extra weight. Round ligament pain is something I'm still dealing with, but (during the run, at least) it goes away after the first few minutes. It reappears later in the day, however, especially if I don't cool down properly or I forget to stretch afterward.

Tips for running late in the third trimester:

• Take your phone. For your own peace of mind, and for that of your loved ones. Especially if any of them are skeptical about your running.
• Be flexible. Some runs are going to be great. Some are going to be uncomfortable. And some are going to come with pain that means you should stop. So stop. Walk. Try again. If it hasn't improved, be content with walking that day, or spend some time on a stationary bike.
• Stay close to home. You never know when you'll have to interrupt a run or cut it short due to discomfort or the urgent need for a restroom.
• Be terrain-aware. Even if you're used to running on rugged trails, you might want to stick to the pavement at this point, or at least be very careful of your footing. I didn't believe all the warnings about how your balance changes until I felt it happen to me. Go slowly and watch your step.
• Be proud of yourself! Running this late in the pregnancy game (or getting any kind of exercise) is an achievement, and one that you'll thank yourself for after the baby arrives and it's time to build up your fitness again.

Friday Five: Scripture for the What-Ifs

Running is full of the exhilarating unknown. Hanging over every race are questions of whether we trained enough, fueled correctly, rested adequately. And each time we step up to the starting line, we have the chance to outdo our expectations, to run a personal record, to place in our age group.

The unknowns of everyday life are somewhat harder for me to handle, and nothing has made me more aware of this than jumping into motherhood. If I let it, worry over all the things I can't know and can't control about my pregnancy and delivery will cripple me. And pregnancy worries are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the unknown, uncontrollable, and unexpected in parenting.

A Facebook friend linked to this blog post last week. It was just what I needed to read, a reminder of truth I know but all too often cast aside in fear.

And it reminded me God's word is overflowing with promises and reminders to combat every kind of fear and worry. Here are five of my favorite:

1. Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

My absolute favorite; the words I repeat when I catch myself caught up in worry. Every time, I am astounded anew by the phrase "in every situation." That means even the small things, and to me, that means so much.

2. Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

3. Psalm 91

The entire Psalm describes the Lord's protection, but my favorite verses are 11 and 12: For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

4. Jeremiah 29:11-12

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

5. Matthew 6: 25-27

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Share your favorite scriptures for dealing with worry in the comments!

Why Running is Better than Baseball

I spent Saturday evening at the Western States finish line, via Twitter. (So impressed with Stephanie Howe's win in her 100 mile debut!) In reality, I was at an El Paso Chihuahuas baseball game.

I'm going to be honest: this was only my second baseball spectating experience ever, and I was mainly there for the food and the fellowship (it was a church outing). The food was delicious. The fellowship was wonderful. The baseball? Well, at first it was exciting. Until...

The ninth inning ended with a tie. And then the tenth inning followed suit. And the eleventh. And the twelfth. After thirteen innings, the Chihuahuas lost 15-12 to the Tacoma Rainiers. We were already gone, though, because the twelfth inning took us past midnight, at which I turn into a pumpkin zombie.

Being a runner, I was totally unprepared for the possibility that the game could continue indefinitely. There's no such thing as overtime in running (unless maybe you get lost). When the race is over, the race is over. And there's something to be said for that. To me, infinite possible innings is the equivalent of the race director announcing at the start, "This is supposed to be a fifty mile race. But who knows, the course could be five to ten, even fifteen miles longer. Good luck!"

But baseball wins the concession stands category. Food is the one area where running could take a few notes. If we also supplied our spectators with slushies, gourmet hot dogs, and churros, maybe spectating running could become the next American pastime!

All in all, it was a fun night. But I remain extremely glad my sport is running.

Friday Five: The Best Things All Week

Good reading/watching on the web this week.

1. Alysia Montano, 34 weeks pregnant in the 800 meter National Championships, running faster than most of us can hope to run while not pregnant. You go, girl! This makes me so happy.

2. This Runner's World article about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy. My husband sent me the link this week, on a day I really needed some running encouragement. The study correlated exercise during pregnancy and weight control, which sounds kind of obvious, but I'll take any encouragement I can get to keep exercising!

3. Western States this weekend! Loving all the pre-race interviews at iRunFar.

4. This article on bear safety while trail running. Depending on where you live, run, and race, bear safety may not be anything you worry about, but the video is worth watching (warning: strong language). I was terrified for these guys!

5. An interesting point of view on enjoying running. I've (almost) always been a runner who just loves running, as well as training for and competing in races. But I loved reading how he stays motivated, and I think his tips are great for those who don't always love it but wish they did.

Bonus. Not a "best thing." In my opinion, a worst thing: The New York State Court of Appeals struck down NYC's ban on soda's larger than 16 ounces. As the empty calories and high sugar content of drinks like soda are a huge contributor to obesity and diabetes, the ban was a step toward helping consumers make healthier choices. (And if you really needed more soda than that, you could always buy two). Read about it at NPR and Marion Nestle's Food Politics blog.

We Need A Running Channel

I don't watch much television. OK, I don't watch any, because we have neither cable, satellite, nor local channels in our home. Just Netflix. But I guarantee you I would watch the heck out of a  channel dedicated to running. I would even be willing to pay for channels I neither need nor want, just to get The Running Channel. Which would make the husband happy, because it would probably come in the same package as all thirty ESPN channels and the College Football Network.

This occurred to me today as I got excited for iRunFar's live coverage of Western States this weekend. Yes, I'm this excited about following via Twitter a race happening over a thousand miles away. It's the sole reason I joined Twitter. And it works pretty well for this sort of coverage. But how much more exciting--and inspiring--would it be to see it all on TV?

Imagine: A race you can't make it to? An event you've always wanted to run? Or one you're planning to run next year? Well, finish up your Saturday long-run, pull on your recovery compression socks, prop up your feet, and grab the remote. Prepare to be motivated. Bonus: Course reconnaissance from the comfort of your couch.

The great thing about running is its variety and ubiquity. The Running Channel wouldn't just be an Ultrarunning Channel, or a Track and Field Channel. It would cover all sorts of events, from the obscure to the prominent, in all kinds of places. And it would feature mid-packers and ordinary, inspiring humans as well as elite leaders.

Someone please make this happen!

Friday Five: What I'm Looking Forward To

As I'm getting closer and closer to having this baby (even when it still feels like I'm going to be pregnant forever), these are the things I find myself dreaming about.

5. Crunches, planks, and pushups. I don't mean it in a vain way, but I really can't wait to work on my abs, and actually feel them working. I feel like I haven't used them in forever--they don't help me sit up at all anymore.

4. Pumping some iron. Strength training has long been something I've struggled with, doing only the minimum, and only when I feel like it. No more! Back in February, I posted about a maximal strength training article on iRunFar which inspired me to give it a shot. I plan to follow through on that and join my husband in our garage twice a week for some heavy (for me) lifting.

3. Training for a race. Nearly a year of not having a race on the horizon will end up benefitting my training. I'm going to be so excited to have a plan and a goal, and so grateful, that for once, motivation shouldn't be a problem!

2. Running long. Long runs are the part of training I miss most (speed work is a close second, and I never thought I'd say that). Really long runs might require more planning ahead now that I'll have a baby in the mix, but that will make me appreciate them even more.

1. Meeting our daughter. More than anything related to running, fitness, or getting my body back (though those things will be wonderful!), I simply can't wait to meet our little girl. What will she look like? Whose personality will she have? When I think about these things, I realize just how much of a miracle motherhood is, and how blessed I am to be a part of it.

Diversity in Trail Running: If You Build It, They Will Run

When I saw this month's Trail Runner Magazine blog symposium topic, my thought process was initially thus:

1) I don't know how diverse the trail running community currently is.
2) I don't really know how to go about finding that out. Do races even track demographics? I don't think I have ever been asked my ethnicity on a race entry form.
3) Like running in general, there are probably more men than women participating, but not drastically so.
4) I'm not sure I have anything interesting to say about diversity in trail running.

But I realize diversity is about more than just race and gender. It can be related to geography, and it struck me that access to trails is probably the biggest obstacle to a more diverse trail running community. So maybe I can comment on it after all.

I grew up in a running family, but in a small south Texas town where running was not extremely popular and trail running not at all. Why? Because we had no trails.

When I was in fourth grade, my parents became the resident caretakers of a brand-new local outdoor education center. And suddenly, I had trails to run on: several miles through trees, fields, and alongside a creek. It was great. I had a better place to run than anyone else in town, and to this day I'm grateful for that.

But trail running in my community and wider region didn't suddenly explode because we got a few trails. Our high school cross country meets ran through our town's scenic riverside park, but it was not uncommon for us to travel to urban meets at which the course wound through a parking lot or around a soccer field and golf course.

Cross country meets in other places = amazing.

When I ran cross country in college and traveled to meets run on actual trails, I was awed. When I moved to College Station and met runners who spent their Saturdays on the trails at nearby Lick Creek Park, I was inspired, and soon did the same myself.

My first non-cross country trail race was an Oktoberfest 10K at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was a blast, and I was hooked. But almost immediately, I learned trail races were much, much harder to come by than road races. Even here in El Paso, home of the largest urban park in the nation, there is not a wide offering of trail races.

El Paso Puzzler Trail Marathon 2013 at Franklin Mountains State Park

The point: people without access to trails have a very hard time becoming trail runners, and people without access to trail races are missing out on (in my opinion) the best kind of racing. And the trail running community is missing out on them.

Efforts to increase diversity in trail running can be two-fold:
1) To push for the development of trails in all kinds of places--urban areas, suburbs, small towns, rural areas without many recreation options. Trails are a given in scenic areas and in cities with high densities of outdoor enthusiasts. But by developing trails everywhere, people in all cities have the chance to become enthusiasts themselves.

2) To encourage running on those trails. More trail races would help, as well as training groups, educational events at running stores, and placing user-friendly maps and information online and on location.

Increasing the number of trails, trail races, and as a result, increasing diversity, will look different in different places. It can start with each of us. Have trails in your area but no races? At your next road race, compliment the director on a well-executed event and then express your interest in races on your local trails. Or start a race yourself. Have no trails in your area? Get involved in local politics, civic organizations, and conservation groups (or start your own) and share your trail vision with anyone who will listen!

36 Weeks: Looking Ahead

I made it to 36 weeks, still running! (Nothing spectacular, I ran a pretty slow two miles this morning).  Getting this far was my (sort-of secret) goal all along. I wasn't going to be devastated if I had to stop earlier, but I really hoped to still be able to run at this point.

These days I run entirely by feel, beginning each run with the mentality that even one mile will be enough, and there is absolutely no shame in stopping if I need to. This was a hard place for me to get to mentally, and I'll be honest: some days it's still really discouraging to have to call it quits after a mile. But most days I'm okay with where I'm at and so grateful to still be running. Because I look like this:

Admittedly not the largest 36-weeks-pregnant lady ever, but large enough that complete strangers are no longer afraid to comment on my condition. Yesterday at church and lunch afterward, several strangers (and the entire waitstaff of Red Lobster) wished my husband happy Father's Day in advance. It was really sweet.

And it's starting to feel so real: in a few weeks, I'm actually going to have this baby. I'm not going to be pregnant forever!

With that in mind, it has started to feel more acceptable to do the sort of looking ahead I've been doing all along. At the beginning, finding races was solely a way to motivate myself to keep running, even when it was hard, even when the short distances didn't feel worth the effort. Now, these race possibilities are starting to feel like they will actually happen.

We are moving to Georgia in the fall, so my search area has been the Georgia-Alabama-Tennessee area rather than the West Texas-New Mexico area. A change of location is always exciting, but I'll be sad to leave El Paso, especially the wonderful friends we've made. And the dry climate.

The list of races sits on my desk for daily motivation.

These six events are possibilities and options, not anything I'm absolutely determined to run. I hope to manage at least one, maybe two of them. After all, I have yet to see what returning to ultra-training as a first-time (hopefully nursing) mom will be like. But right now, its amazing what kind of motivation I find in hoping and dreaming about running them.

They range from 50ks in late November/early December (Tranquility Lake, Duncan Ridge, Bell Ringer), to races with longer options in late December through March (Lookout Mountain, Pistol Ultra, The Running Dead 100). I have no idea which races will be feasible because I don't know yet what my recovery and return to training and racing timeline will look like, other than that I plan to be cautious to avoid injury, but I can't wait to get started!

Training and Prepping

Preparing to give birth is like training for a race. A race of unknown duration and date. A race that could technically happen any day now but probably won't happen for another few weeks. A race for which the prize is probably going to wake you up at all hours of the night, indefinitely.

Unknowns aside, the preparation really is similar to the lead-up to a race. You read up on the course and plan your strategy and listen, rapt, to other people's experiences and are so, so grateful when those stories are encouraging rather than horrific. Your training plan consists of Kegel exercises, stretching, yoga, practicing breathing, and getting as much light-to-moderate cardio as your compressed lungs and taxed ligaments can handle at this point. You make a playlist of high-energy songs on your iPod.

It's also like prepping, in the sense of the word survivalists mean when they refer to hoarding countless rolls of toilet paper, boxes of ramen, and means of water purification in their reinforced underground bunkers against the zombiepocalypse, or whatever kind of -pocalypse they fear most.

I'm usually firmly on the minimalist side when it comes to stuff: if I don't have it, I can probably do without it until I can get to the store. (My cooking often suffers from sub-par substitutions for this reason). I hate clutter more than I like to feel extremely prepared. Especially because we are moving a couple months after my due date; I don't want to acquire even more stuff to pack up. The husband, on the other hand, subscribes more to the prepper mentality: he would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Which explains the stores of ramen and Backpacker's Pantry in our house. It's okay, we complement each other.

But adding a baby to the mix has brought me around (ever so slightly) to his way of thinking. I have no idea when (if?) I'm going to feel like grocery shopping after the baby. Or cooking. So I would rather have that extra toilet paper taking up my whole bathroom cabinet than wish I didn't have to shower and put on clothes and drag myself out of the air conditioning to get some. I would rather have six homemade meals in the freezer than have to throw something together at the last minute or order a pizza.

So this is what my to-do list looks like right now:

It's all on one page so I won't keep losing them like I have been. We have almost everything we need for baby, but there is a ton of stuff I feel like we need to stock up on so we don't have to rush out and buy it late at night. And I want to put together several healthy meals to freeze so there will always be something to eat.

Am I actually doing any of this right now? Not really. I'm pinning freezer recipes on Pinterest and searching for winter ultras.

I'll get to most of it, I'm sure. But if I don't, that will be okay too. Because just like in a long race, you can be as prepared as possible for every scenario you can imagine...and one will pop up that you didn't imagine. And you'll get through it, with a little bit of flexibility and a whole lot of support from your crew.

A Four-Mile Long Run

The post title makes me laugh, but with joy. Five weeks ago, I ran four miles and spent the rest of the day (and the next) with the worst round ligament pain I've yet experienced. I hobbled around, and even standing for long enough to cook dinner felt uncomfortable. Since then, I had limited my runs to two or three miles, thinking anything longer was off the table until after the baby arrives.

That is, until today.

Despite the fact that current El Paso temps are hitting 104 and higher in the afternoons, this morning was cool (cool becomes a relative term in Texas in the summer), and I felt great heading out for a three-miler. Halfway through, I started to consider going for four, and decided to give it a try. If I felt bad, I could always stop.

But I didn't feel bad, and several hours later, I still don't. I have about the same level of round ligament pain I've been having: some discomfort, but not enough to keep me on the couch. I'm so happy! Even though it takes me a few tries to get up from a sitting position sometimes, and I often get winded walking up stairs, it's nice to know I can still run four miles. I can't wait until my long runs are actually long runs again, but right now, I'll take it!

Today I planned to start washing everything in the nursery: cloth diapers, clothes, blankets, tiny towels and washcloths. I still plan to, but I'm really wishing that nesting urge everyone talks about would hit me so that it sounds fun. Or at least urgent. With six weeks to go, it feels so close, yet still so far away. Tomorrow is our birthing class; maybe that will make it feel more urgent!

Don't Make Decisions Going Uphill

My husband said that to me the other day. He actually said I told him that once. I don't remember saying it, but there's a lot I don't remember lately (thanks, pregnancy brain!). Whether I did or didn't say it, it was a piece of advice I needed to hear.

Last week was a week of painful runs, poor sleep, and general irritation at how uncomfortable I'm getting. I wondered aloud, more than once, why on earth I'm still trying to run, and whether it's worth it, and whether I even want to run anymore after the baby, let alone train for ultras. Dramatic, yes, I know.

And that's when he imparted this bit of wisdom: Don't make long-term decisions while you're going uphill. At the time, I thought whined, "Yeah, yeah. But this is hard. And it's not fun."

But this morning I had a great run. The weather was cloudy and cool, and I got in a good three miles with minimal pain. I remembered his words and smiled. I'm so glad I didn't let last week make me quit yet. I am so glad I had this run.

Almost exactly two years ago, I ran my first ultra, the Jemez Mountain 50k. In the first ten miles, the course climbs to the top of a ski mountain, and in that stretch I did as much walking as running. Painful, oxygen-deprived walking and even more painful running. I knew my mom was waiting for me at the next aid station, and I fully intended to drop out there and let her drive me home.

But the aid station wasn't at the top of the mountain. I had to go back down first, and in that short stretch of blissful descent, I had just enough time to change my mind. I didn't drop, and I am so, so glad.

I recall that race all the time, as motivation on tough runs. You'd think by now I would have learned that lesson applies to life as well as running. Keeping up my fitness during this pregnancy, with round ligament pain and fatigue, has seemed like an uphill race getting steeper with each step. But today reminded me why it's a bad idea to quit just because the going gets tough: you never know when it might get a lot better.

Treading the Depths: Carlsbad Caverns

Last Thursday we took a trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, about two and a half hours from El Paso. (We hit up two national parks that day--bathroom break at Guadalupe Mountains, because there is seriously nothing else between El Paso and Carlsbad).

I looked like this:

My parents took me to Carlsbad as a young child, but since I don't remember much of that trip, this was like experiencing it for the first time.

The self-guided tour enters the cave through the natural entrance (the gaping hole behind me), via an asphalt path which has been blasted into the wall in places. The initial descent is steep at times, and very dark once you leave the light of the entrance behind, but I never felt unsafe. Only slightly creeped out about being so far below ground.

But the creepiness is worth it, for views like this:

It's amazing to think all this was formed by dripping water, and that some of the speleothems (my new favorite word) are still growing! The park website has better pictures; cavern photography is apparently a specialized art form for which the iPhone is not equipped.

The park ranger at the entrance (they give you an orientation before you can go in, to make sure you know not to touch anything) said the 1.25 mile descent to 750 feet underground takes about an hour and the tour of the Big Room at the bottom takes an hour and a half; we did both slightly faster. And while you can leave the same way you came in, we took advantage of the elevator ride direct to the gift shop.

I had intended to wear my support belt since I knew we would be doing so much walking, but my scattered brain forgot to bring it. I was fine though--no round ligament pain. I didn't run that day, so our two-ish hours of hiking counted as my workout.

It was a fun trip, definitely something worth seeing while in El Paso. If you have the time to make a weekend of it, stay until evening to watch the bats fly out of the cave en masse. I wish we had been able to see this, though I'm sure hordes of bats would creep me out as much as going so far underground!