A Good Solid Month of Running

I feel kind of pathetic being proud of this, but: I just finished up a month of consistent running. I ran about 85 miles this past month, which seems like a lot when I think back at the effort that went into running those miles, but not a lot when I consider that in January I ran 160+ miles. Of course, then I was hard core into marathon training (yeah, that didn't pan out) and now I'm just trying to get my funny pregnant body to move, but still, it's so hard not to compare What Is with What Would Be if I were not pregnant.

Still, I did get a couple of tempo runs in, one at 7:40ish pace and one at 7:20ish. Soon I know my expanding belly is not going to allow me to run like that anymore, and I love the feel of running quickly, so I'm enjoying these last fleeting (ha!) fast runs while I can.

Saturday I ran a 8 1/4 mile run. It ended up being longer than I had planned, but it made me feel good to know I can still do longish runs when I want to. I know that too will change and just getting out for 30 minutes will be challenging. Well, more challenging. 30 minutes is still pretty darn hard these days.

Getting used to it again

I realized that during yesterday's and today's runs, my body has actually felt pretty good. The last few weeks' runs have been marked with some aching and stretching pains in my abdomen that aren't very pleasant. They were worse when I would go up or down hills (which I can't really avoid around here). Now, though, my body seems to have adapted once more to the stresses of running and I am actually able to enjoy running again, even though I'm pregnant/slower/heavier/etc. I also get fewer side aches, although I still have to go pee often in the middle of runs (luckily I run near public restrooms), which is annoying.

I had a good tempo run today. I didn't mean to make it one, but I felt pretty sprightly as I set out and realized, when I'd made it to the .6 mile marker a good 40 seconds earlier than I had the day before, that I could maybe get in a faster run today, should my body feel up to it. I had to change my intended course up a bit in the face of some construction and had to do some creative running around impediments on the sidewalk (like the bleechers they're setting up for this weekend's car fest) but even then I was able to run a little over 4 miles at 7:20ish pace.

Oh, and I passed a guy. I don't know why I feel like I have to pass guys or feel validated when I DO pass them when I basically ignore the women. It's odd. I must have a complex. Anyway, yeah. He ate my pregnant lady dust.