6th Semester of My Pregnancy: Weeks 26-30

Week 26 (Nov 4 - 10): I went back to the gym this week, it felt good. I added the extra day of leg weight training and squats. When I say my legs were hurting, they hurt, but I kept it moving. I skipped my Saturday morning run. This marathon training is killing my desire to run. Therefore, I know I will not run another marathon distance. I love how my body is toning, but the run distance is very unappealing.

Week 27 (Nov 11 - 17): Because of school I had to switch my gym visits to the evenings after classes. Not my idea but staying up to the wee hours of the night to study and then trying to function on just 2 or 3 hours of sleep wasn't cutting it. Plus my appetite has been increasing in the mornings and I want more time to eat. Working out in the evening gives me more time to complete my entire planned workout and eliminates me having to rush through it, skip something and driving like a mad woman to get to work on time. Friday evening me and my running buddy Brenda headed to San Antonio for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I decided that this is how I wanted to spend my birthday this year. Saturday we were able to get a little pre-race workout by going to the race expo at the Alamodome. If you know any thing about that place, it's surrounded by stairs, steep stairs on all sides. Add the walking around the expo, we had a good workout. My bib number happened to be my month and year of birth. I was so impressed with it until I realized I signed up for the wrong distance. I had registered for marathon, not the half. Oh hecks no. I headed to the change race table immediately. That's when the first labor pains hit. I posted my bib number on my Facebook page to see how many would catch I had registered for the wrong distance and to show off my bib number. That's when posts began about I should go ahead and run the distance. More labor pains. Sunday morning, more labor pains. Is this really meant to be. While standing in the corral area, I started talking to this older woman about running the full. That's when I decided to go ahead and attempt to complete the 26.2 miles. My first marathon on my birthday. Happy Birthday to Me. Read my post about my marathon.

Week 28 (Nov 18 - 24):

Week 29 (Nov 25 - Dec 1):

Week 30 (Dec 2 - 8):

5th Semester of My Pregnancy: Weeks 21-25

Week 21 (September 30 - October 6): So I started this week with a bad attitude. I was still upset about the time it took to complete the 20 miles. I was trying to decide if I really wanted to run a marathon. I still went to the gym, but I was constantly thinking if I should really complete this marathon. Several people commented that I had did the training and I needed to get my reward, the gold medal. On Saturday, I didn't make my run because of a work event.

Week 22 (October 7 - 13): I missed the gym this week. School work won my time. I decided I needed to add more lower body weight training, two days a week instead of one. On Saturday, I did 10 miles in an effort to help some of my running buddies complete their mileage, I only needed to do 6 miles. It felt good to do a short run.

Week 23 (October 14 - 20): The week I was a little edgy because I was dreading running 23 miles on Saturday. As the week began to wind down, my attitude slowly began to change. Saturday morning, I didn't get up at 4 am as schedule, why...because of my neighbor's tendency to play his music until 3 am. So I delayed and delayed until I finally made it out the door. I did not want to run those miles. I looked at my watch, it was 10 am, a late start. I grab my race watch, turn it on and realize I forgot to charge it, it was at 40%. Doggonit!! I would have to rely on Runkeeper, which would be testing the longevity of my phone battery. I start my warm-up walk, then I start to run. I'm .68 miles into my run when I realize I wasn't hearing the interval changes. I stop running and check out my watch, it is set for swimming, UUUUGGGHHHH!!!! I readjust, set the watch correctly and started to run again. I run on the back road of Lancaster Rec, down Wintergreen to Dallas Avenue, back up Wintergreen to Cedar Valley College. Around Cedar Valley College, back up Wintergreen, then back down Wintergreen. I turned onto Dallas Avenue and ran around Lancaster Rec, 7 miles done. I headed on Dallas Avenue to Pleasant Run towards DeSoto. While running, I was honked at by several passing cars. I made it up Pleasant Run to DeSoto and turned onto Hampton Road towards Beltline. I turned on Beltline. I was so tired of running, but no body aches. Then my watch said 15 miles, dang it, only 15 miles. I had decided that I would make it to my cousin's house and whatever the mileage, I would be done. As soon as I finished that affirmation, I was passing a church and this guy walked up to me and said hang in there, the training will be so worth it. I thought how did he know I was training for a marathon. Well, I know how. I thanked him and kept moving. When I reached Cockrell Hill, I realized I would have to run to Cedar Hill, not my plan. Mile 18, I was out of water, not good. I told myself I would make it to Joe Wilson and turn around. It seemed that Joe Wilson was getting further and further away. I was beginning to get emotional and started fighting back the tears. That's when the Holy Spirit started talking with revelation about somethings that I had experienced recently. I told myself when I get to Mile 20, I'm quitting. I soon realized, I had to make it back to my car, my eyes welled up with tears. I said God please help me get to my cousin's house. At Mile 21, I had no more energy or desire to run, so I walked, and walked. I finally made it to my cousin's house 23.42 miles and 5:45:20 later. I was super funky and sweaty. I was able to sit down and reflect on the run. And made a promise to myself that I would never, ever run a marathon again. I will be forever a member of the One and Done Club. Forget about the huge medal from Little Rock, they can keep it.

Week 24 (October 21 - 27): This week will be a rest week because I need to allow my body to recover fully from the 23 miles. But I will be participating in the Allstate 13.1 on Saturday. Surprisingly, my body doesn't hurt. I'm a little stiff, but no pain.

Week 24 (October 28 - November 3): I took another rest week since I participated in the Allstate 13.1. I have really lost a lot of weight and inches. I'll have to do some more clothes shopping.