running while pregnant...recommendations?

Runner313

Hi all,

I am new to this board and about 9w pregnant. Prior to pg, I ran 3-4 miles 3-4 times a week. Due to being in the first trimester, I am way more exhausted than normal but have still gone jogging (much slower pace than before) about twice a week. I just wanted to hear advice or recommendations from other Moms about what their running routine was like during the first and second trimesters. TIA! 

KRun4Sanity

In my first trimester, I wasn't allowed to run for the first 10 weeks due to my fertility treatments. Now I am 17 weeks and have been running since. I run between 20-25 miles a week, last week I had an 8 mile long run. I have purposely slowed down my pace per my doctors recommendations. I take walk breaks if I need to. I am planning on running a half at 21 weeks and a 10 mile race at 28 weeks if everything goes well. I say start slow and make sure you have a longer cool down. You can do it

blu-eyedwife

My first trimester I was training for a half marathon, so I was running about 20 miles a week.

My second trimester I ran more often, but scaled back on distance so I was running 14 miles a week.  Which I kept up during third trimester.

HappyMommy28

I think the general rule of thumb is to not add extra mileage or push yourself to hard. Listening to your body is key.  

DonsJMUBride

Welcome to the board.  I"m more a lurker than poster but I love running so I thought I'd chime in.  I've done halves and tris in all 3 of my pregnancies.  I really based my running on who I felt.  I found it easier to run in the mornings in my first tri as I was always exhausted by 5.  I usually have a smoothie or yogurt so I can take my prenatal before going.  GL!!

JG362009

For my first pregnancy, I got pregnant while training for a marathon and ended up running a marathon at about 8 weeks.  I had been running around 40 miles a week up to distances of, well, 26.2 miles.  I noticed I lost about a minute per mile per trimester but I was able to run throughout my entire pregnancy until I was admitted to the hospital for an induction at 41w3d.  I gradually lost distance -- I was able to run up to 6 miles until about 30 weeks then 5 miles until about 35 weeks.  I did decently well (30 minutes) in a 5K at 37 weeks.  Obviously not fast, but I thought it was okay for a full term pregnancy. 

For me, the biggest thing was remembering that not every day is going to be easy and just because you have a really hard run one day doesn't mean you'll have a hard run the next day.  This pregnancy has been a lot harder for me because I'm gaining weight faster and my arches have really been bothering me, but I'm just trying to push through it.  Good luck running!!

Breezy8407

I ran a 10 mile race the day we found out I was pregnant, so prior to that I had been running 25-30mpw. Since the 10 mile was the last race on my calendar, I just kept up my mileage, but slowed down and stopped doing speed work since I wasn't training for a race anymore. I kept up 9-10 mile long runs on the weekends, but again, much slower than before. I just took my time and enjoyed it.

Right around 16-17 weeks, things started to get a lot harder, and much much slower. I was aiming for 3-4 miles 3-4 times a week at that point. Now at 23 weeks, I have pretty much stopped running altogether because of pain and pressure. I was happy to have made it as far as I did with twins. But I am still bummed because I always envisioned running until the day my water broke. I also envisioned being pregnant with one baby not two

Now I am walking on the treadmill at an incline and will throw in a couple jogging intervals.

 

MommaP12

I was a light runner prior to BFP.  I was running 5k 2-3 times a week and doing the elliptical 1-2x.  I plan to pare down my workouts as I progress since it could be 100 degrees my last trimester, ugh.

Now my plan is:

1st tri- run 2x a week what I can - 2 miles, 3 miles, whatever it is and do elliptical/weights 2-3x.

2nd tri - elliptical/weights 2-3x and prenatal yoga 2-3x (DVD i have)

3rd tri - incline walking/weights 2-3x and prenatal yoga 2x

You guys are inspiring and motivating that's for sure! 

NHRunner

This is my first pregnancy so definitely not an expert.  But I was training for a marathon (my 16th) when I got my BFP and so I ran the marathon at about 5 weeks.  I took it easy and was about a minute per mile slower than normal.  I am currently signed up to run the Boston Marathon in April, I'm hoping I can still run it but I'll see how I feel and how things are going.  I will be about 4.5 months by then.  Fortunately I found a practice with several doctors who specialize in exercise during pregnancy, plus one doctor is a marathoner herself.

Runner313

MommaP12:

I was a light runner prior to BFP.  I was running 5k 2-3 times a week and doing the elliptical 1-2x.  I plan to pare down my workouts as I progress since it could be 100 degrees my last trimester, ugh.

Now my plan is:

1st tri- run 2x a week what I can - 2 miles, 3 miles, whatever it is and do elliptical/weights 2-3x.

2nd tri - elliptical/weights 2-3x and prenatal yoga 2-3x (DVD i have)

3rd tri - incline walking/weights 2-3x and prenatal yoga 2x

You guys are inspiring and motivating that's for sure! 

 

This seems to be more my style right now. Thanks for all of your posts, everyone! I am very impressed and inspired by you all as well!  

uncharch7

i ran up until the day before i went into labor. the biggest thing is listen to your body. there were some days i didn't feel like doing much, but i went by the 10 minute rule. others i felt awesome and had great runs. my pace went down by about 1.5min/mi by the end of my PG.

daisysle

I will be 20 weeks this Saturday and have been averaging 30-35 miles per week.  I also ran a 50K, marathon and 10K during this same pregnancy.  My pace has gotten much slower over the past month or two, but I am still running and feeling great.  I am training for a marathon right now.  We'll see how I feel once it gets closer to the event.  if I can't do it, so be it.  I'll just have a goal for after the baby is born; re-qualify for Boston. 

I think it helped with my first trimester.  I beat m/s (had none) and it helped overcome fatigue.  Plus its a great way to know that even when I splurge on those cravings, I am still able to burn the calories.

JennBH

I found this book to be helpful:

https://www.amazon.com/Runners-World-Guide-Running-Pregnancy/dp/1579547478

I am about 5 weeks along and training for a 1/2 marathon.  At the time of the race I will be 13 weeks.  I was a bit nervous about packing on the miles while pg but it has been really great so far.  If I am tired I make myself get out on the road anyway.  I figure even if the run is slow at least I did it. The runs so far have curbed nausea for me during this pregnancy too! 

Like everyone else mentioned- just listen to your body, it knows what to do. Some days are going to be better than others, but I found that to be true when training for a marathon sans pregnancy!

Good luck!