Running First Trimester Baby #3
On November 12th 2022, I ran the elusive goal of a sub 3 hour marathon coming in at 2:54! I was very happy to accomplish this lifelong goal that took a decade to achieve, but I was also ready for a break from running. It might seem like now was the optimal time to try for baby number 3, but this journey to baby number 3 actually started almost 18 months prior. In early 2022, I had a miscarriage at 16 weeks & had complications following the miscarriage, and I was not in a position mentally to try again. It was a hard year of greieving the loss of the child we never got to meet. I had a miscarriage before my second was born, but this experience happening in the 2nd trimester was completely different. It wasn’t until 6 month after the miscarriage that we felt ready to approach the idea of trying again. I anticipated it would happen quickly as the prior 4 pregnancies occured within 1-3 cycles. This time was different. We had 10 cycles of negative tests and/or chemical pregnancies. When we finally got a positive test on 2/10/2023, I was elated but also very gaurded. I wanted to believe things would work out but after everything I experienced in the prior 2 years, I struggled to be optimistic about the outcome. I kept the pregnancy a secret from everyone except for 2 people (my running partner & my mom) for the first 16.5 weeks until I felt forced into telling more family members as I started to show. It wasn’t until around week 21 that I started to be able to breath a little easier. Pregnancy after a loss is challenging in a lot of ways, and I expected it to be. It has also been a healing experience in other ways.
MONTH 0
Pre pregnancy I was in the best shape of my life! The month I got pregnant, I was actually pretty sick. I was also skiiing a lot more than I was running training for 2 ski races. When I found out I was pregnant, it was 5 days after my first ski race. I had another ski race (50k) coming up 2 weeks later, but I opted to not do the race. I stopped skiing when I found out I was pregnant because it was my first year doing the activity and there was a lot of falling involved which is not safe for running! I started to increase my running as I was no longer skiing 60+ miles a week.
1/19 week 0– 10 miles
1/26 week 1– 31 miles
2/2 week 2– 40 miles
2/9 week 3– 43 miles
Got a positive test on Saturday 2/11 at 3w3d pregnant. I looked back at the test from the prior day & there was also a line at 3w2d pregnant. Was shocked because I was death bed sick during this month. Jason also had a fever when I thought I was ovulating. I’m a little lost how this was the month is happened after 10 months of trying. I felt symptoms like gas a fatigue immediately.
Monday 2/6- 2 miles @ 10:00 pace
Tuesday 2/7- 7.5 miles @ 10:00 pace
Wednesday 2/8- 3 miles @ 10:00 pace
Thursday 2/9- 6 miles @ 10:00 pace
Friday 2/10- 6 miles with 4 @ tempo 6:55 per mile + Lifting
Saturday 2/11- 5 miles @ 8:30 pace
Sunday 2/11- 2 miles @ 10:00 + Lifting
2/16 Week 4– 50.5 miles
Took several naps this week. Legs felt very fatigued. I took a test every day for 2 weeks. The line got DARK & every test darkened. It feels like some type of miracle that I am finally pregnant. Boobs hurt. Nausea & indigestion is bad. Running feels pretty normal.
Monday 2/13- 9 miles @ 10:00 pace + Lifting
Tuesday 2/14- 6 miles @ 9:00 pace
Wednesday 2/15- 8.5 miles @ 9:00 pace
Thursday 2/16- REST DAY
Friday 2/17- 10.5 miles @ 10:00 pace + Lifting
Saturday 2/18- 8 miles @ 8:30 pace
Sunday 2/19- 8.5 miles @ 10:00 pace + lifting
Month 1
2/23 Week 5– 53 miles
Nausea picked up. I gained 2-3 pounds. I feel super bloated. My boobs already grew a size? Things seem to be progressing strong. I am a little worried now that things are starting to feel more real. Pregnancy after loss is hard. Running has been feeling pretty good this week and doesn’t feel too much harder besides the fatigue and nausea. HCG @ 5 weeks 1708
HCG @ 5 weeks 2 days 3808
Monday 2/20- 7 miles @ 10:00 pace
Tuesday 2/21- 12.4 miles @ 10:00 pace + Lifting
Wednesday 2/22- 7.5 miles @ 8:30 pace
Thursday 2/23- 9 miles @ 10:00 pace + Lifting
Friday 2/24- 8.5 miles @ 10:00 pace
Saturday 2/25- 5 miles @ 8:30 pace + Lifting
Sunday 2/26- REST DAT
3/2 Week 6– 55 miles
Feeling lots of digestive issues this week and some nausea, mainly a lot of hunger. I also feel like I am 4-5 months pregnant when running. I also feel like I look pregnant 16 weeks or so. I guess that happens when this is your body’s 4th time stretching for pregnancy. Some days I started feeling a lot of fatigue and nausea. If I didn’t know I was pregnant, I would 100% know now
Monday 2/27- 10.5 mi @ 9:30
Tuesday 2/28 12.5 miles @ 9:30 + Lifting
Wednesday 3/1- 8 miles @ 9:30
Thursday 3/2- 7 miles @ 9:30
Friday 3/3- 12 miles (doubles) with 5 mi @ 7:25 tempo + Lifting
Saturday 3/4- 7.5 miles @ 10:00 + Lifting
Sunday 3/5- 5 miles @ 10:00
3/9 Week 7- 56 miles
Symptoms come and go. One day I feel awful and the next I get worried because I feel more normal. I find nausea happens more at night. Running is feeling a little harder with all the nausea and fatigue. I am glad I am able to run a lot inside because it is winter still here. We got a private ultrasound and baby had a HR of 147 bpm.
Monday 3/6- 12 miles @ 9:30avg + lifting
Tuesday 3/7- 6.5 miles @ 9:00avg
Wednesday 3/8- 8.2 miles @ 9:00avg + Lifting
Thursday 3/9- rest day
Friday 3/10- 9 miles @ 9:00avg
Saturday 3/11- 7.5 mi @ 9:00avg + lifting
Sunday 3/12- 5 mi @ 8:30avg
MONTH 2
3/16 Week 8- 60 miles
We went to Florida on Wednesday. I honestly don’t feel too terrible this week maybe because I’m distracted. I have been taking things easy and listening more to my body so I wonder if that plays a role in how I feel? Some days I wake up super tired like how will I even make it through the day even after sleeping from 7:30pm-5am so well over 9 hours.. did a progression run ending at 6:45 mile. Running felt better this week because the weather in FL is ideal or maybe it is easier as the symptoms are letting up more.
Monday 3/13- 13.1 miles @ 9:30avg + lifting
Tuesday 3/14- 12 miles (doubles) @ 9:00avg
Wednesday 3/15- 8.5 miles @ 9:00avg + Lifting
Thursday 3/16- 10 miles with 4 @ 6:50avg
Friday 3/17- 7.5 miles @ 9:30avg
Saturday 3/18- 10 miles @ 8:55avg
Sunday 3/19- rest
3/23 Week 9- 61 miles
Ran 14 miles on Monday in Florida. We came back from Florida on Monday. Appt with private ultrasound on Tuesday at 8W6D the heartbeat was 182. Super nauseous most of the day, can’t eat like I normally do. Already up 5lbs. Going to do a hard running workout once a week coming soon. Just short stuff to keep speed in the legs . 8x 200 meters @ 5:45avg. Legs felt pretty heavy at the end of the week but hoping next weeks cut back feels better. I ran 11 miles with my friend Ali on Sunday and didn’t tell her I was pregnant. Even though we were running 10 min pace, I felt more winded than usual and wondered if she noticed.
Monday 3/20- 14 miles @ 8:45avg
Tuesday 3/21- 7 miles @ 9:00avg + Lifting
Wednesday 3/22- 8.5 miles @ 10:00
Thursday 3/23- 8.5 miles with a few 200 meters @ 5:45 pace + Lifting
Friday 3/24- 7 miles @ 9:00avg
Saturday 3/25- 7.5 mi @ 9:30avg
Sunday 3/26- 11.5 miles @ 10:30avg
3/30 Week 10– 51 miles
Not having as many symptoms this week as I did last week. The increased energy showed up in the fact that I could bake muffins one day. It causes concern as loss of pregnancy symptoms can sometimes be a sign of miscarriage. However, it is also around 8-12 weeks with HCG stops increasing and the placenta takes over which relieves pregnancy symptoms in the second trimester: I still have 4 weeks until I’m officially in the 2nd trimester. 3.5 weeks until what happened last time. Heartbeat was 178bpm. We had a pretty bad snow storm and sun zero temps this week- yes- in April. I spent most of my running days inside which was helpful. We told my parents at the end of this week but otherwise no one know. Just 3 people so far total.
Monday 3/27- 8 miles @ 9:30 + lifting
Tuesday 3/28- 10 miles @ 8:20avg
Wednesday 3/29- 10 miles @ 10:00avg
Thursday 3/30- rest day
Friday 3/31- 9 miles @ 9:30avg
Saturday 4/1- 9 mi @ 9:00avg + lifting
Sunday 4/2- 7 mi @ 8:30avg
4/6 Week 11- 62 miles
Up 8lbs so far. They say you ‘should only gain’ 5 during the first trimester, but I always gain a lot more. There is still a lot of snow on the ground which is tough because there isn’t a lot of outdoor running happening. Kicked off the week with a 14 miler starting just before 5am on the treadmill. Feeling less symptoms of the first trimester this week. I am finally able to eat vegetables and meat now. For a solid 5 weeks it was off limits. It does worry me that I have less symptoms because that is what happened before the loss last time. I find that as I approach the 2nd trimester I am almost more on edge about loss.
Monday 4/3- 14.5 miles @ 9:30avg + lifting
Tuesday 4/4- 8.5 miles @ 9:30avg
Wednesday 4/5- 10.5 miles @ 9:00avg + Lifting
Thursday 4/6- 8.5 mi @ 9:30avg
Friday 4/7- 7.5 mi @ 9:30 avg
Saturday 4/8- 8.5 @ 9:00avg + lifting
Sunday 4/9- 7 mi @ 9:30avg
MONTH 3
4/13 Week 12– 62.5 miles
UP 10LBS. Ran 15.5 miles on Monday which was the longest training run I have had in 6 months. Right after the run, I got the call that baby is a girl and there are no genetic issues!! I was so excited when I found out. We had an ultrasound on Wed and baby HB was 167. Running has felt like a bit of a drag this week. I feel like I look pregnant but I know I don’t really. I feel more fatigued and some nausea again this week. Started spotting on Sunday after a run but it stopped immediately and things were fine. My OB thinks my cervix was sensitive.
Monday 4/10- 15.5 miles @ 8:55avg + lifting
Tuesday 4/11- REST DAY
Wednesday 4/12- 10 miles @ 9:00avg + Lifting
Thursday 4/13- 10.5 mi @ 9:30avg
Friday 4/14- 9 miles @ 9:30avg
Saturday 4/15- 10 mi @ 9:00avg + lifting
Sunday 4/16- 9 mi @ 9:30avg
4/20 Week 13- 42 miles
Baby HR was in the 160s and she was sqwriming around a lot! I got hit with a TERRIBLE Stomach bug on Tuesday and had to cancel trip to Florida because I couldn’t stop throwing up. It was rough but I am glad to be feeling better and gave me a good mental reset going forward I need to have 1 rest day every week and not overdo things. I felt pretty overwhelmed in the days before I got sick and I always feel that stress plays a role in getting sick to a certain extent.Only 3 people know I’m pregnant besides my husband and kids & 2 of them are my parents. This is the longest I have kept my pregnancy a “secret”. It’s kinda funny but also kinda hard. Went to my first yoga class in 4 months. Felt so out of shape but so good
Monday 4/17- 13.1 miles @ 9:00avg + lifting
Tuesday 4/18- REST DAY SICK
Wednesday 4/19- REST DAY SICK
Thursday 4/20- 7 miles @ 9:30avg
Friday 4/21- 7.5 miles @ 9:00avg
Saturday 4/22- 7.5 mi @ 9:00avg + lifting
Sunday 4/23- 7.5 mi @ 9:30avg
First Tri- 50 mi/week avg