Trail race, new stroller and other stuff

No, I did not do a trail race, I'm not that stupid, although I did hear one part of my mind saying: "I bet if I went slow enough..." 
It was Colin who raced a trail 16km in Bragg Creek.  And he did great!  He hasn't been able to do much training at all, other than just general fitness stuff, what with his fire fighting training and then renovations.  He still managed a strong third place, behind two legit fast, in-shape, runners.  It made me really want to try some trail races next year.  Seemed fun, low-key, and dirty! 

(It actually took him 1:08min, the race clock was for the marathon.)

As for me, I'm in my 26th week and things are still going along well.  I have days where I feel more pregnant than others, more tired.  I have been taking extra iron (Floradix is a natural miracle worker!) and its been getting much better. 

I totally thought it would be the running that I would be packing in first, but that has actually been getting better lately, I have had to really concentrate on my technique, leaning back more, as my weight gets front-heavy, engaging my quads and butt more than my shins. 

I have given up the bike (or trainer) lately, I find it too uncomfortable, too much pressure on my bladder and the muscles I use in my low abdomen don't feel right.  However, that said, I did check out Sara Gross' blog and saw how she rigged her trainer as her belly got bigger, so I'm trying to find something to raise my bike front up.  BTW, Sara Gross, is my new heroine, she had a baby about 8 months ago and managed to finish 4th at Ironman Canada this summer!  That is amazing!  She is my inspiration and motivation, that racing for me might not be out of the question next summer.  Colin has already signed up for IM Canada, which makes me very excited. 

Yesterday was my birthday, and I got to spend it with my parents, who have just arrived from Ottawa, and have officially moved to Calgary.  We all had a nice breakfast, then we went out and they bought our new stroller.  Gotta love the BOB revolution, it's going to keep me running with baby and Pearl!



Not the best pic... it's a dark plum colour.





And here is a pic of our little princess trying to find a place to sleep amidst our messy renos.  She truly is the cutest dog ever!



Renos have started!

Tip:

If you're planning some renos, get pregnant...

"Well, I would love to help you scrape off that stiple and re-paint but..... I'm pregnant, so instead I'll walk the dog and read my book in the backyard."

Looks good Colin!

Elbow River trail hike

The other we went for a nice afternoon hike, and it was very nice!  I had gone for a swim in the morning and wasn't expecting to go hiking, but it was such a nice day!  The weather was very very hot, but we took it slow, or I took it slow and Colin was patient.  It's amazing how out of breath a little bit of hiking up some hills made me. 

View from up top on the Elbow River

After about 3 hours of hiking we made it to the river, and Pearl couldn't have been more thankful for cold water!  Me too...

We ended with a little picnic of jam and honey sandwiches!  Needless that night I was completely tuckered out ... making a baby can really take it out of you!

Barely into the sixth month ... and a dishwasher!

Yesterday, I squeezed on my running shorts, and then a running top, shorts sit below belly, shirt rides up around around navel...  my neighbours must get a hoot, or feel sorry for me.

Pearl and I have been running about 45min, we've been exploring these trails just north of our place, it takes about 3 min to get to totally isolated running trails.  I've been struggling with major allergies at the moment, apparently I am one of the lucky few whose allergies gets much worse during pregnancy,so I return with welt-like bumps all over my legs and sneezing like crazy. 

I plod along slowly and have to stop to pee at least 3 times.  I also have been getting pain in my ankles and shins due to changed mechanics, smaller stride, less knee-lift, much bigger and ineffecient pendulum swinging that's for sure. 

Apparently there have been bear sightings around the outskirts of town, but I figure I'm safe with my 30lb-puppy spaniel! 

Running has been ok, I have my good days anf then some very difficult days where I can't seem to catch my  breath and my legs feel like lead.  The worst is the shin pain I get intermittently (sp).  Not to mention the constant pressure down in the abdomen, and feeling like I have to pee all the time.  But I am determined to keep at it, for as long as I possibly can, until it is unbearably uncomfortable. 

Swimming this morning, was outstanding, I almost forgot I was even pregnant.  My arm-strengthening is paying off and I am really feeling like I know how to swim, not just struggle to keep moving forward.  I haven't been doing flipturns ... not really sure why, I just keep thinking that doing somersaults over and over again might be weird for the baby... ??? Anyone know differently?

Other big news = we have a dishwasher, and we used it for the very first time last night, it was awesome!  Colin got a great deal off Kijiji, and then installed it himself, which was quite the task as this house had never had a dishwasher before!  What a handyman!  I am ever-impressed with my husband's handyskills these days.  Next we paint, then put in new floors.  Painting again, using stuff to kill, seal out smoke smell, which we ca't seem to quite get rid of from past owner.  Floors to replace the lovely plywood we've been living on, since the 1970s brown shag had to go, along with smoke stains!  I'd also love to have new countertops, not sure if that will happen so soon though.  There is only so much money a bank will loan people with no money...!

So I'm feeling pretty gronw up these days - house with washer/dryer and dishwasher! Baby on the way, and ever-increasing debt!  Very grown-up indeed!

Don't Rock the Boat

Yesterday started out well, went for an early morning swim, which I am enjoying more and more.  Besides the fact that I still squeeze myself into my old suits (this is getting kinda embarassing for me though - it looks like I borrowed my little cousin's suit!!)

My baby journey so far...

I decided I would blog about my baby journey so far ... I think I can sum it up into 4 stages from deciding to try until now: