Up and Running!

Well, it's September 20th, and baby Chapman is already one month old! Time has flown already, I dread how fast it will go from this point. I am thoroughly enjoying my time with him. It's hard to believe that I only have three more weeks to spend with him, but I'm trying not to think about what it will be like to go back to work.

 

As far as running, the doctor cleared me last Friday to get out and run. So, what did I do on Saturday? I RAN! My friend Sarah and I took off for a three miler on Saturday morning. She hadn't run in a few weeks, so we were both kind of starting from scratch. We ran three miles and did minimal walking. We made it a mile and a half without walking at all, which I feel is good, considering I haven't run in nine weeks. I've been walking since I stopped running, but it just isn't the same. So, to be able to do three miles the first time out felt pretty good.

 

On Sunday, Chapman and I participated in the Constitution 5K as our first race. I ran the race and my parents walked and pushed Chapman in the stroller. I finished in 34:49 (by my watch) and was able to be there to cross the finish line with my little man! While it's definitely my slowest 5K in years, it just felt good to be out there participating. Here is a picture of Chapman and I after the race. They even gave him his own bib that we hung from the stroller.

 

 

We had a lot of fun and I hope that running is something that Chapman and I can share together for the rest of our lives. As far as MY running, it's feeling okay at this point. I'm a little tender in certain areas, but other than that, I feel great! I went out for a run last night and was able to average about a 10:10 mile, which is pretty good for not running for nine weeks. Hopefully I'll be back to those faster miles soon and adding some mileage!

 

 



Baby Chapman has arrived!!!

Well, I know I've been slacking on blogging, but we've been finishing up with getting ready for Baby Chapman's arrival. And...it's a good thing we did! Baby Chapman decided to make his appearance a week early, so we were very glad to be as prepared as we were! :)

 

Chapman was due on August 28th, but decided to make his grand entrance on August 20th at 11:53 p.m. He weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long, and to us, he's perfect in every way. We look at him and wonder how it's possible to love something as much as we love him.

 

Here are a couple of pictures to show you just how cute he is!

 

 

This was right after he had been cleaned up and Daddy was getting ready to hold him.

 

 

He's a week old in this one. I love those lips!

 

New baby aside, I absolutely cannot wait to start running again! We are going to start some walking this week and will go from there.

 

Also, look for some awesome reviews and giveaways to come once I start running again. I have tons of goodies just waiting to be used and given away!

 



Usually the optimist, today the pessimist (not really)

I'm usually the one who always sees the "silver lining" as my husband says. And I am still seeing the silver lining in everything right now, I mean, I'm getting ready to welcome my first child into the world. How could I not see the silver lining? But, that doesn't mean that there aren't things in life that are frustrating. Things frustrate me just as much as anyone else, I just normally tend to see the brighter side because it's a waste of time and energy to let things get you down. Things could be so much worse, and that's what I tell myself when I start to feel sorry for myself.

Here's my frustration today, and then I'm done with it.

I stopped running at about 34 1/2 weeks because it was unbearably hot and I was running so slow that I may as well have been walking anyway. Obviously, I've gained weight through this pregnancy, along with slowing down. My frustration is that everyone around me is still running and can still run. I miss running. I miss being able to go out on a Saturday morning and have a long run with my running friends. It's like I've fallen off the radar and I can't get it back for at least another month or so.

I don't want to have to start from scratch. I don't want to never gain my speed back. I want to be able to run another half marathon and have it be a PR. I'm scared to death that I'll never have that back. People keep telling me that it will be fine, that I will be able to come back even stronger. I try to tell myself that everyday when I can't run, while everyone around me can.

So, that's my soapbox for the year. I know that no one likes to read things like this, but I had to get it off my chest, and I feel better.

A question...

Have you ever had to take a long break from running, not by choice? If so, how did you make it back to where you were before?

Only 5 weeks to go!

So, we are closing in on the finish line of this pregnancy. Only five more weeks! (Give or take.) Here's a pic!

I have pretty much stopped running, about a week and a half ago. I'm sticking to walking and riding my bike on the trainer at home. I figure as long as I'm keeping up some kind of cardio for the next five weeks, I'm still being active. My motivation at this point is that it will make labor much easier.

My husband and I are getting so excited to meet our little Chapman! He's already turned and I feel like I can feel him moving lower everyday. His movements aren't as high as they used to be and I'm experiencing back pain and some pain in my pelvic area. Hopefully that means he will be here soon!

On a running note, I'm trying to decide what I want to be my first big race back in the game. I am honestly having long run withdrawals! I miss the long run so much and I miss the half marathon. I can't wait to run a half marathon, but I want to make sure that I'm ready for it when I do. I don't want to go out there and not be able to perform the way I did before I was pregnant. So, that means giving myself plenty of training time.

With that said, if he's born at the end of August as planned, I could be ready to run one by December, I think. Anyone have any suggestions for a good half marathon to run in December or after?

Razzy Roo Headband Winners!

The random numbers chosen by www.random.org to win the RazzyRoo headbands are...

#6 - Suz and Allen

and

#15 - Bobbie from Journey in Running

Suz and Allen, email me your mailing info at sheridunlee@bellsouth.net and I will send out your headband.

Bobbie, I'm sure I'll see you soon to get you yours!

Congratulations!

Strange aching...any ideas?

Jeremiah and I ran two miles last night and in the middle of our run, my Achilles area started hurting on the outside of my left leg. Since last night, it's gotten worse and now it's not only in my Achilles, but it stretches about halfway up the back of my calf.

It doesn't feel injured, maybe just strained. It feels like I have a 'charlie horse' in my calf that won't go away. I have stretched it and stretched it, used my stick to roll it, and nothing. It's not unbearable, just annoying.

Anyone have any ideas as to what this could be? What muscle? What tendon? Anything?



31 weeks today and FRUSTRATED!

I can't say that I've ever been one to blog about the bad things in my life or what's bothering me, but today is just one of those days. Nothing has really gone wrong, I just feel blah! And it takes a lot for me to feel that way. My husband tells me that he wishes he could always see the silver lining like I do, but I'm just not seeing it much today.

I'm beginning to have trouble with my running. I'm 31 weeks pregnant, and I'm grateful that I've made it this far. I just can't seem to shake the feelings of "Where did the runner I used to be go?" I keep reading blogs and posts about how great everyone is doing and how much faster they are getting, but not me. Oh no...not Sheri. I just keep getting slower and slower. And I completely understand why I'm getting slower, and I'm okay with that. It's not right now that bothers me.

What bothers me is later. What if I can't ever get back to the runner I used to be? What if I can't speed up or lose the weight post-pregnancy? You see, it's not the present that scares me, it's the future. I keep thinking I have these lofty goals of coming back better than I was before, but I just don't know. Baby Chapman is going to take a lot of our time as parents, and that is what's more important to me.

I guess I just have to remember that every Mommy and Daddy need their 'me' time. I have some wonderful family who will be willing to let me go run for an hour or two while they spend quality time with their grandson or nephew.

This pregnancy has been one of the easiest things I've ever done. I'm still running, I haven't been sick AT ALL, and you can't tell I'm pregnant from behind. I have thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant, I must say. The only thing that bothers me is the road back to where I used to be. But, with perseverance and determination, hopefully I can do it.