Book Ends

May 23, 2021May 22, 2021 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

This week’s running post theme is — book ends. I’m starting to really feel the weariness and body aches of pregnancy hit me (I’m 31 weeks), and my runs are getting harder and harder. But, I started the week (Sunday) and ended the week (yesterday) with two good runs, which makes it somewhat easier to keep up my running streak for a few more days. Today is day 395 of my running streak, and super proud to have run this long. But, it’s getting harder and there are some days when I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make it.

What made those runs good? Sunday, B and I were on our own (B’s parents had the kids) and we got in a run by ourselves! I wanted to do 1 mile without stopping (my typical goal) but I made it to 2 miles and then we mostly ran/somewhat walked the rest. I felt pretty good nearly the entire time – at least much better than when I run without him! And yesterday, I had gotten more sleep (thanks to the kids sleeping in on Saturday morning), and I found a really good playlist and lost myself in the miles. I don’t typically listen to music while running, so it was a nice change and definitely helped.

Here’s how the rest of the week went:

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Tuesdays on the Run – 38+ weeks pregnant and RACE WEEK

May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

Wooohoo!! This is a Tuesdays on the Run post to celebrate – for two reasons.

IT’S RACE WEEK OMG. Yes, it’s Cleveland Marathon week. Yikes.
I got in two (semi) runs this week!

If you’ve been following along, you know that I’m (super) pregnant – like almost 39 weeks – and have not been able to run as much this pregnancy as the last one.

BUT, I did get in two sorta runs this week – well, walk/runs, and even though they frankly sucked in terms of how my body felt, emotionally, they felt good.

Saturday morning there was a 5k running through my neighborhood, so B asked me if I wanted to run it. An according to my doctor, since I’m 38+ weeks pregnant and could go into labor at any time so running is okay with her, I said sure!

It was mostly a run/walk. And the running was sloooooow. And didn’t really feel good on my body. But man, it emotionally felt good to be able to run!

And now, we’re just 4 days away from Cleveland Marathon race weekend.

I’ll admit- I’m nervous. The 5k I did over the weekend was HARD. How am I going to do a 5k AND a 10K in one weekend? And at 39 weeks pregnant? How much walking is too much for it not to be considered a race?

But still, I am excited for an ready for the race – it’s such a fun race with so many great events all weekend and I can’t wait to see my fellow ambassadors and cheer on the marathoners. I may not be in as good a shape as I was at last year’s event when I did the half, but I’m still going to try to have fun!

Some questions for you:

If you ran while pregnant, how long did you run for? Ever done a 10k at 39 weeks pregnant?
Are you well into racing season now that SPRING is here?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Tuesdays on the Run: No Running

March 27, 2018March 27, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

This week’s Tuesdays on the Run update will be a little less mileage-focused than usual. Why? Because last week didn’t have any runs.

Due to orders from my doctor, I’ve stopped running for the time being during this pregnancy. That’s right, just as the weather is getting nicer, I’m not running.

I’m hoping this is temporary (and it could be, pending some test results next week!) and the hiatus will be short-lived. But until then, this 32-week pregnant chick has been ordered to take it easy, rest, and stay off my feet when I can.

Am I going a little stir crazy? Just a little … but I know this is not only for my health but for the health of baby #2, so I’m listening to my doctor and playing it safe.

In the meantime, go out for a run for me! And sign up for a race. And if you’re planning on running the Cleveland Marathon or any of the events this may (half marathon, 5k, 8k 10, 1 mile (new!) or kids run, use the code MCCLE10 for 10% off your entry fee. I’m an ambassador for the race, so I get to have fun discounts AND I’ll have a giveaway coming up!

Some questions for you:

Are you running any races this spring?
What’s the longest you’ve taken off from running?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Tuesdays on the Run – Walking with a side of Running

March 13, 2018March 14, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 2 Comments

We got in another snow storm – or two or three – this week, so that meant a whole bunch of indoor workouts for me. And at nearly 30 weeks pregnant, the treadmill has become harder and harder. Still, I got in a walk/runs and a few walks this week. Here’s how it went:

As you can see, the bump is getting bigger and bigger. And this is definitely affecting my running- the breathing is harder, my back gets sore and my piriformis acts up. I’m surprised and dismayed when I’m running at a 12 min/mile pace and my heartrate is at 150 (how high my Dr suggests I get). Still, here’s to another week of keeping moving! And hopefully staying active so I can still participate in some of the Cleveland Marathon events.

Some questions for you:

Does it feel like spring near you yet?
How often do you run on a treadmill?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Tuesdays on the Run: Ups and Downs

February 27, 2018February 27, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

The theme for last week is “ups and downs.” It was one of those weeks that had a few good days (two outdoor runs), but then there were some bad days due to lack of sleep and massive headaches. Here’s where it ended up:

This week’s running highlights:

The ups: I got outside two days for a run and those days the weather was pretty good.

The downs: Those were the only real runs this week.

I’ve been plagued recently by some serious headaches. They started slightly last weekend, but have been getting worse as the days go on. On Wednesday’s run, about 1.5 miles in, I felt one come on; let’s just say it was a painful run home. Thursday, I opted to walk a little bit to see if this would help – I started out painfree but about a mile or so in, started feeling the pain again. The same thing happened Friday. And Saturday, I didn’t even attempt to run – I pretty much woke up with the headache. I’m thinking I have a sinus infection, since the pain is pretty much only in my sinuses, but I’m sick of them! I can’t wait to get out and run without a headache again.

Some questions for you:

Any headache or sinus infection cures?
If you’re not running, do you try to get in walks?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Training Tuesday- Back Outside Again!

February 20, 2018February 20, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

I’m not going to lie- I’m a little sore. Why? Because I had two days in a row of outside runs!

Two outdoor runs, a few treadmill walks and and some indoor walk/runs, and I hit 22ish miles for the week. Here’s what it looked like:

Some highlights:

The weather warmed up a bit this week, and all of the ice and snow melted Thursday off the sidewalks. So when Friday morning rolled around and it was clear and 30°, I got bundled up and went for a run outside. It was hard – I’m getting bigger and bigger (see the bump pic, below!) and haven’t been running, but I’m glad I made it out.

Saturday, B took FW in the BOB and I followed along on another run outside! Again, it wasn’t easy but it felt so so good to be outside.

Running outside feels so much better than the treadmill to me these days. On the treadmill, I’m only really able to walk/run, and outside there’s much more running than walking going on.

I’m 27 weeks pregnant this week, and hopeful that I can continue this level of activity for the next few months. I know it’s not going to get easier on my body, and that bump pictured above is only going to get bigger, but at least the weather will be getting nicer! AND I have the Cleveland Marathon 5k/10 to train for. If you’re planning on running the Cleveland Marathon or any of the events this May – half marathon, 5k, 8k 10, 1 mile (new!) or kids run – use the code MCCLE10 for 10% off your entry fee. I’m an ambassador for the race, so I get to have fun discounts AND I’ll have a giveaway coming up!

Some questions for you:

Any tips for running while pregnant?
Do you do better running on a treadmill or outside?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

2016 Running Recap

December 27, 2016December 26, 2016 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 1 Comment

Wow, what a year. 2016 has come and gone and probably been one of the most eventful years that I can remember – and not for running reasons. The Cavs won the playoffs and we had an amazing parade in Cleveland to celebrate. The Indians were in the World Series and I attended the last game! Oh yeah – and FW came into our lives and made it all that much greater.

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Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a sappy post about being a mom – it’s about running instead. 2016 was a pretty good year running wise. I did take it much easier this year than in the past – I didn’t even break 1,000 miles (for reference, in 2013 I had more than 1,500!) BUT it’s not like I didn’t have reason. I learned that running while pregnant is HARD. Oh, and I had to take several weeks off after giving birth and I’m just now getting back into the swing of things (meaning I’m back at 25ish miles a week since I’m not training for anything). Oh, and running on little sleep with a baby that wakes up a few times a night still is also HARD. BUT, that being said, I still ended the year with about 875 miles. Here are some highlights from the year:

Returning as a Cleveland Marathon Ambassador. Once again, I was an ambassador for the 2016 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. This was my first year not running the half since I did the race, but seeing as I was going to be just about 9 months pregnant during the race, I decided to do the 5k/10k challenge series. In all honesty, when I made the decision in January/February to not run the half, I wasn’t so sure about my decision. I thought for sure I’d be able to keep up with training and run – slowly – a half marathon without a problem. BUT I am SO glad that I ended up doing the 5k/10k instead. As I soon learned, running was a lot harder during pregnancy and after doing a 5k my body was as sore as if I’d done a 10 miler.

Here’s a recap of my experience during the races – I finished the 5k just under 10 minutes/mile and ran the whole 10k. It was slow – yes – but I was so glad I did it! And I got to share my experience with my other amazing ambassadors.

I did a 5k race at 39 weeks pregnant. This was unplanned – I was sure the Rite Aid Marathon races would be my last before FW, but at the last minute B and I decided to do the 5k that was part of the Transplant Games. It ended up being hot and humid, but B ran (well he practically was walking because I was so slow 🙂 ) next to me and brought water for me.

I ran throughout the pregnancy – including the day before FW was born! I ran on and off throughout the pregnancy, including 1 mile the day before FW was born. I slowed down a lot after about 8 months – my last 5+ miler was at 8 months pregnant – but I kept moving and walking and hobbling through runs as much as I could. Even on the days I couldn’t run, I would take long walks with B before work. I’m convinced that this helped me have a pretty incredible labor.

I’ve been able to return running – and run with FW! I was lucky enough to heal pretty fast and started running again at around 4 weeks postpartum. We have a running stroller that we were using about once a week when it was nice out, but since it turned cold/icy/snowy (yay for Cleveland winters!), I’ve been sticking to running on the treadmill while FW sleeps in the mornings. And, I completed my first official race – a 5 miler Turkey Trot – and even though it was by no means a PR, I still ran faster than I had run the race a few years ago! I can’t wait to try using the stroller again in the spring and even run in a race with it!

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I ended the year INJURY FREE. This is always something to celebrate. Yes, my heel bothers me if I don’t massage it with a golf ball nearly every day, but no stress fractures or major pain or other issues to deal with. I will be thankful each and every year that this is the case.

To read more about my running this year, check out ALL my running-related posts.

Some questions for you:

What’s something you’re proud of that you accomplished this year?
What should be a running goal(s) for next year?

Training Tuesday: It’s Race Week!

May 10, 2016May 10, 2016 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

YOU GUYS- IT’S HERE. Cleveland Marathon Race Week!

Eep.

In the words of Jessie Spano, I’m so excited…I’m so excited… I’m so..I’m so.. Scared?!

I’ve never been scared by a 10k before. No, typically this time of year I’m ready to run the half marathon or even gasp (once, sorta) the marathon. But this year, things are different. I’m doing the 5k 10k Challenge series.

In case you’re new to the blog or living under a rock, I’m pretty pretty pregnant. So needless to say, running has been a little … interesting?

How I think I look running:

How I actually look:

This past week, my runs have included runs/walks with me stopping for 1 (or 2) bathroom breaks. Stopping because of a cramp. Or Braxton Hicks. Or just because my legs are darn tired and my uterus hurts.

That being said, I did get in some miles – and even if I’m not in the best physical shape of my life right now, I am so emotionally ready for race weekend where I’ll be attempting to run the 5k and 10k Challenge Series.

Week of May 1: 15.23 miles – lowest week. ever. but i don’t care – almost race day!

Sunday: 0 miles!

B and I were in Boston, then flew back and I emceed a banquet, and we didn’t get home home until around 5 p.m. where I was too exhausted to even complete making dinner. So no runs.

Tuesday: 3.53 miles outside plus walking cooldown

Run with two walking breaks with a running buddy! It only took me 8 months, but I finally ran with another friend who lives downtown. I felt bad that we were going so slow, I wasn’t really able to talk and keep up the pace- but we did it!

Wednesday: 4.11 miles outside plus .5 walking cooldown inside

Run with B! This one did not start well – I made B change our route about a mile in because the baby was pushing on my bladder waaay too much and I wasn’t sure if I’d need a bathroom break. Felt better a few miles and a walking breaks in but still stopped for a quick pit stop.

pregnant runner