With my first pregnancy I ran until I was about 5 months along and ran a 1/2 marathon when I was about 12 weeks. I was much slower, had a harder time breathing, and took frequent breaks.
This time around I'm maintaining my pace better, but feel less motivated. I usually only make it out once or twice a week. I'm hoping to do a 1/2 marathon at the end of the month, I'll be about 17 weeks along.
Any other pregnant runners out there? How far along are you and how much have you slowed down?
pomelo / 5326 posts
Oh gosh, I gave up running as soon as I got my BFP. I was so worried about knocking the little bean around too much. I can't wait to get back into it though! Good for you for keeping up your running!!
grapefruit / 4800 posts
I am but I've backed off a ton and am running a lot less this pregnancy than I did my first. With my first I still ran 5-7 days a week about 4-8 miles each time until probably 30 weeks when I started backing off a bit. I'm 27 weeks now and I think I'll probably only run a couple times a week as I get into my third trimester and swim and do the indoor bike other times but I've had way more non-exercise days with this pregnancy.
For both pregnancies I was super slow my first trimester, just so tired and dragging. Then there was a period between like 14-22 weeks where I could pull off a decent pace. And then from there I start slowing down again.
I'm not sure I could have done the whole half-marathon without walking at 17 weeks, good luck! We did about 20 miles of walking/running around that time but I would only run about 3 miles at a time and then walk for a bit (and stop to pee a lot). And half way through we stopped for lunch and walked around town while we digested and then ran back. On the run back I only was lasting 2 miles at a time running but then would only walk for a couple minutes and then do another couple miles running.
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I ran up through 8 months with my first pregnancy, going 2-3 miles 4-5 days a week, but it slowed to a fast walk towards the end of that 8th month.
I had a 2nd knee surgery right before DD turned 1 so I've only been going to bootcamp 3x/ week. I definitely don't have the motivation I did the first time around.
grape / 89 posts
@maysprout - there will definitely be some walking involved. In my training runs I've been running a mile, walking 2 mins. I've been dragging in pace, but not as bad as I did with my first.
grapefruit / 4800 posts
@deannab1: Yeah, I'm a big fan of doing both walking and running while pregnant. I can keep my pace up much better if I take some walking breaks. I've been dragging more in pace too but to an extent I'm not that worried about it, it's not like super quality workouts while pregnant so I just want to keep up some level of fitness/muscle tone so I can jump into things better afterwards. But I def enjoyed having some respite from feeling like I was dragging during the beginning of the 2nd tri. I wish I had entered a race since at that point I was showing but had picked up speed from my 1st trimester.
pomegranate / 3331 posts
I'm 20 weeks and still running, though way less than i used to. Pre-preg i ran 4 miles a day at a 7 min mile pace. now i'm running 2-3 times a week (elliptical the other days) 4 miles at 8 minute mile pace. It actually has been much easier in the 2nd tri than the first, but i'm finally starting to show so i'm not sure how comfortable it will be to continue. I'm hoping to continue 1-2 times a week when i get to the 3rd tri, but will listen to my body and do what it tells me!
grapefruit / 4800 posts
@Pirouette: That's really good, your pace hasn't slowed down that much at all! Other than early 2nd trimester I run at least 2 min slower/mile if not more.
apricot / 253 posts
ooh! I so badly want to be a pregnant runner! I've run a few 5ks in the past few years. I have my ups and downs with running and I was just getting back to form when I got my BFP. I was probably about one week from being able to comfortably finish 3 miles.
But for the past 4 weeks, (I'm a little over 9 weeks along) I've felt so sick and exhausted that even walking really takes all of my will-power. I'm trying to start getting myself hyped up to start running again once I feel better - but I'm worried that I will have lost all of that muscle memory and gained only a heavy belly to carry along!
Have any of you started running during pregnancy after a bit of a break from it?
pomegranate / 3331 posts
@Maysprout: I've been really surprised I haven't slowed down yet! It might be because I just started showing this week? The current pace still feels slow to me compared to my old pace...I'm guessing that won't be the case much longer!
@math.nerd: I ran less in the first tri, because it was much harder and I was scared. But it has been so much easier again so far in 2nd tri - it feels like a slightly slower version of pre-preg running with way more pee breaks 
apricot / 253 posts
@Pirouette: Thanks for the reassurance. I have no hopes of being a *fast* pregnant runner (let's be honest, I have no high hopes of being a fast runner at all!). But I know it'll be good for me and really help me feel better too.
grapefruit / 4800 posts
@math.nerd: I ran much better after my first trimester. At 27 weeks I've just slowed back down to about my first trimester pace.
@Pirouette: That's great your body is handling it so well! I have less aches and pains this pregnancy (my foot arches and and round ligaments would bother me occasionally with my first when I ran) but I gain weight immediately so I just feel like I'm lugging around so much extra even before my belly pops. It's motivation to get back into shape though after pregnancy because I see how much an effect the extra weight has on me.
pomegranate / 3331 posts
@Maysprout: I completely agree on the extra weight! i am petite, so i notice the extra weight when i have only a few extra pounds on me, and it's very frustrating. It's been tough to completely change my mindset and want to carry that extra weight, haha. I had one instance of pelvic pain while running and almost freaked out and stopped running altogether, but i took a few days off and it hasn't happened since (that was over a month ago).
@math.nerd: I honestly had no expectations that i would continue running or feel this good doing it, so i'm trying to keep those expectations tempered since i know it's about to get harder! it just helps me feel more "normal" while there are all these crazy changes happening with my body 
persimmon / 1141 posts
i just found out i'm pregnant this morning (!!!) and i am a hardcore runner / exercise addict. about two days ago i was doing HIIT cardio but now that i got my BFP, i am really thinking about toning it down. on days i don't do HIIT cardio, i usually run 5-8 miles at a 9.30 pace. because it's so early in my pregnancy, i don't feel any fatigue aside from the usual day-to-day tiredness, but will not be pushing myself with HIIT anymore because that usually knocks my breath out for a good 40 minutes off and on (where i am literally gasping for air). i'm going to try and stay within the 5-6 mile range 3-4x a week but will probably slow down my pace a lot. i'm a little nervous about pushing myself too much.
apricot / 253 posts
You ladies have all inspired me to get back out there. Yesterday I went on a very short, small run. I did better than I expected! My huge boobs and bloated belly definitely made the experience quite strange, but it felt good and empowering to get out there and do something good for my body and mind. Thanks for the wisdom!
pomegranate / 3331 posts
@SupernovaJ: congrats!!!! Just listen to your body - there were days in the first tri (quite a few!) that I just felt sluggish and didn't want to push myself. And I was definitely scared to overdo it so I stuck to the elliptical more often. Just take breaks if you start to feel tired or at all winded and you should be fine!
@math.nerd: yay!! Glad it went well
apricot / 253 posts
Hello all! I know this thread has been dead for a while, but I wanted to check in.
I went on one run 3 months ago and that was it for a while. Now I'm 22 weeks and finally feeling human again! I was wondering what you all think about starting to run now - I shouldn't even call it running. It's 5 minute jogging intervals. I did one 30 minute set last week and I felt pretty OK. Just looking for any words of wisdom!
honeydew / 7916 posts
@math.nerd: I don't know but I was just thinking today that I'm tired of sitting around and am itching for a run! Like you, maybe intervals. Have you been walking?
pomelo / 5220 posts
I am planning to start TTC this month and I was thinking of doing a 1/2 marathon in January. Obviously I know I could very well not be KO, these things take time, but I was thinking even if I am it would be okay to try and do the 1/2. What do you guys think? I've been running about 10+ miles for a year so my body is used to running.
pomegranate / 3331 posts
@math.nerd: go for it! just take frequent breaks and try to check on your breathing a lot -if you're gasping for breath, your baby probably is too, so just try to maintain a pace that enables you to have a conversation (yes, i talk to myself while running pregnant!)
@psw27: i wouldn't commit to it mentally, because you have no idea how you will be feeling if you are pregnant or how your body will react to being pregnant (you could be high risk, or you could be really sick, or running could just not feel right). That said, i don't see any harm in thinking about doing it and talking to your doc about it if you are pregnant by then. FWIW, I didn't run much in the first tri because i was too nervous about something going wrong with the pregnancy, ran a lot in the 2nd and early 3rd tri, and just stopped at 33 weeks, but not because it was uncomfortable - i could definitely still be running right now. i only run 4-5 miles/day though, not half marathons.
pomelo / 5220 posts
Thanks @pirouette! My doc doesn't seem to be very pro-running in general. She told me to cut back my mileage even when TTC -- but all of my hormone levels, etc. are totally fine so I don't really know why that was her suggestion. I am okay with signing up and just not doing it if it doesn't feel right or work out for me. I'm pretty sure I won't get KO up on the first or second try so this is probably a moot issue at this point.
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