The Final Countdown

Lisa Jhung writes on her Runner's World blog about hitting the physical and mental wall as she approaches the final weeks of her pregnancy.

I definitely know what she is experiencing. At that point everything is physically more difficult and mentally it is hard to get your self up for something that's not really all that enjoyable anymore.

I ran up to 36 weeks during my first pregnancy. Albeit, it was very SLOW. My husband could walk faster than I was running.

I didn't have much pain but just felt out of sync and sluggish. Part of the problem could have been I put 37 pounds on a small frame.

To get through the runs I alternated running with walking which made it much more reasonable.

I also had contractions while running from time to time. My OB said it was ok as long as there weren't too many. Whenever I experienced a contraction I immediately stopped and walked for a bit.

I ended up quitting at 36 weeks mainly because I got mentally tired of everything - pregnancy, running, being huge, etc. I chose to sit on the couch and be a grump for the final weeks :)

Evidence: Marathon running easier than childbirth

If you listen to the baby books and mommy runners, they'll have you believe that running a marathon makes childbirth seem like a walk in the park.

I respectfully disagree. Scratch that. I don't respectfully disagree - I vehemently disagree. So here's why I think childbirth is tougher than running a marathon...

With my first child I went into the hospital a week after my due date to be induced. (LIE #1 - Runners tend to give birth early). I had been walking around for 2.5 weeks 4cm dilated. All the nurses and the doctor said I was going to have a short labor since I was already so far along (LIE #2).

I got hooked up to the pitocin, got my epidural and put my feet up for what was supposed to be a short and uneventful birth.

The first major difference between childbirth and running a marathon is nutrition. During childbirth all you get is water and popsicles (and not even the good juice ones - they are the cheap ones that taste like pure sugar). I would never imagine trying to run a marathon without proper fuel (Gu, Gatorade Endurance, etc). My body is conditioned to take in the proper carb/protein/water balance during extended physical exertion and it definitely rebelled from lack of proper nutrition. I never thought I would see the day when I would kill someone for a packet of Strawberry-Banana PowerGel.

So the hours passed (S-L-O-W-L-Y), my hunger grew insatiable, and I grew very impatient to meet the creature that had been mooching off me for 9 months. What was supposed to be a short labor, drug on and on. It felt like I was running a race where you didn't know the race distance. I would just have to keep running and running indefinitely until someone yelled “Stop!”. How do you pace your self for something like that? Answer: You don't. Instead you just whine to your husband, whine to the nurses, whine to the doctor, and whine to the cleaning lady who comes by to empty the trash.

Finally sometime that evening the doctor said the magic words I've been waiting all day to hear: "It's time to push". I would equate hearing those words to seeing the 25 mile sign in a marathon. You've come along way and you realize for the first time that you might actually finish this thing.

And just like the last 1.2 miles can eat you up and destroy both your body and spirit, so can the actually delivery portion of childbirth. I pushed. I pulled. I twisted. I turned. I cried. I ran out of epidural (which I highly do not recommend). I gave up. I rallied myself. I gave up again (Would it be easier if we took the baby out of my nostril?). I dug deep into my reserves.

It got ugly (it's never good when you look up and see a dozen doctors and nurses in your delivery room) but in the end I got a sweet finisher's medal - a little boy.

Now, back to my initial assertion that marathon running is easier than childbirth. Let's look each element of marathoning/childbirth separately...

• Nutrition: Marathon is easier (No specially blended power supplements to aid you during childbirth)
• Anticipation: Marathon is easier - at least you know how long it's going to be.
• Pain: Childbirth is easier. One word - epidural. They should hand those out at races around the 21 mile mark. The finisher’s area would definitely be less grim if everyone was hopped up on pain meds…
• Award: Childbirth is better. It's tough to compete with a long sleeve technical tee, but creating a human being takes the cake.

So, we have a 2-2 tie. For the tiebreaker, we will compare my marathon PR with how long it took me to deliver a baby (the actual birthing part - not the all day labor)...

• Marathon PR: 3:27
• Baby Delivery PR: 3:45

Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner! I could have run a marathon, got a finisher’s medal draped over my head, gave back my ChampionChip, ate a banana, washed it down with lemon-lime Gatorade and cozied up with a space blanket in the time in took me to deliver a baby.

The evidence speaks for itself my friends, marathon running is easier than childbirth.

Salivating over a stroller

Right now I have the single B.O.B. Ironman Stroller and it freakin' rocks. It glides like a champ, my son is nice and comfy and it's easy to fold up. I've logged many miles with it and love it like a member of the family.

However, when baby #2 comes along a single stroller just won't do. Thus I've been eyeing the B.O.B. Ironman Dualie. Rocks as much as my current stroller but room for two kiddos. Of course I would pimp it out with the infant seat adapter, weather shield and handlebar console.

The only drawback - the cost. The Ironman ain't no cheap plastic stroller you pick up at Babies 'R Us:

B.O.B. Ironman Dualie - $479.99
Infant Seat Adapter - $79.99
Weather Shield - $54.99
Handlebar Console - $24.99
A leisurely run on a local bike path with both kids - PRICELESS

In anticipation of this ridiculously expensive purchase I requested gift certificates to joggingstroller.com for Christmas. I figure that those certificates combined with forgoing Mother's Day and birthday presents should get me close to actually owning this marvel of engineering (instead of just lustfully looking at it online on a daily basis).

Pregnancy Apparel

In Lisa Jhung's Runner's World blog (Running For Two - Great read - you should check it out), she mentions the apparel she's found helpful for running while pregnant.

I haven't tried any of the stuff she has although it sounds interesting. Right now I am primarily wearing Nike maternity shorts with my some of my husband's technical tees. (Shh- don't tell him as he will freak that I am stretching them out). I have a bunch of Nike maternity long tanks but they are too big to wear right now.

Unfortunately Nike stopped selling their maternity line a few years ago. However, I have been able to get a bunch of stuff off of eBay. It's Nike quality which I really dig. It seems like the active wear you get at Motherhood Maternity or Target is designed for the mommy-to-be whose fitness regime consists of yoga and a few strolls around the block. If I am going to be running or spinning for an hour I need to look cute AND have moisture wicking!

The only other wardrobe change I have made is to wear two sports bras. I'm not large chested but have grown some since becoming pregnant. The double protection makes me feel much more comfortable.