Running While Pregnant {Round 2}

My original “Running While Pregnant” post has recently been popping up on Pinterest, so I thought it might be time for an update now that I successfully ran throughout my second pregnancy.

Many things were the same… I didn’t run long distances or particularly fast. I am not one of those women who runs a half marathon at seven months pregnant. I ran 4 days a week until my third trimester when I dropped to 3 days a week. I usually did light weights after running at least two days a week. I ran on the treadmill because I am gym rat… and I live in the desert where it is way too hot to run outside most of the time.

Some things were different this time… although I’ve been a consistent runner for over ten years now, I went into this pregnancy in very good running shape. I got super motivated after Zianne was born and was running some of my fastest paces ever before I got pregnant again {which again is not fast, but I was running around a 8:30 mile pace for 3-4 mile runs, which is fast for me as I’m usually a 9-10 minute miler}. I also ran much more in my first trimester, but tapered off my distance earlier in my pregnancy. However, I actually ended up jogging until almost the very end of my pregnancy this time, because I was in better running shape overall and I didn’t deal with severe hip pain this time around.

Weeks 0-14: I ran a lot. I ran a 5K on the day I missed my period {4 weeks pregnant} and was disappointed that my time was about a minute slower than I was hoping for. I had no idea I was pregnant and thought I was sluggish due to traveling and not eating well during the month of September. I immediately signed up for another 5K happening a few weeks later, determined to beat my time, and convinced a bunch of my girlfriends to run it with me. A week and a half later I found out I was pregnant and had committed myself to running another race on the day I would be 10 weeks. Since I was already in good running shape, I just laughed and went with it. I did not beat my time like I wanted to, but I was only 2 seconds slower at 10 weeks pregnant, so I considered the whole ordeal a success. I continued to run 3 miles at a 9:15-9:30 pace until the end of my first trimester and then I cut back to 2.5 miles.

Weeks: 15-28: This is where I tapered off more quickly than my first pregnancy. I ran 2.5 miles for a while, but then dropped down to doing 20 minutes runs by 20 weeks. I was running just under a 10 minute mile pace, so I would run just over two miles each run {example: 20 mins, 2.03 miles, 20w5d}.

Weeks: 28-34: During this time I reached my goal of running up until two months before my due date. I dropped to 15 minute runs and slowed my pace, so I would usually run just under 1.5 miles. Up until 30 weeks, I ran a 10:15ish pace, and after 30 weeks I dropped to a 10:30 pace.

Weeks 35-40: After I hit 34 weeks, we went on trip and I told myself I didn’t have to run any more when we got back. But then we returned and I still felt like running. I dropped down to running just one mile at a 10:45ish pace. At one month before my due date {about 35 1/2 weeks} I planned to stop running and move fully to incline walking as I had done during my first pregnancy, but in those final weeks before my due date, I still felt like jogging a little bit {which I think is due to the fact that I was running so much before pregnancy}. I would often only do cardio two times a week at the very end, and I would walk a lap, jog a lap, walk a lap, jog a lap for a total of one mile. The last day I did my jog/walk cardio was June 8th at 39w2d. Talitha was born four days later on June 12th.

Postpartum: With my first pregnancy, I took a full six weeks off from all exercise. I didn’t even consider it, since the doctor told me not to. I had third degree tearing during my first delivery and was completely overwhelmed by breastfeeding the first time around, so running did not even cross my mind during those first few weeks. However, on the day of my six week check-up with my OB, I went directly to the gym afterward and ran one mile as fast as I could. This time around I thought I would take a full six weeks off again, but I found myself feeling antsy to start exercising after just two weeks. My delivery was much easier this time, but I retained more weight and just felt ready to get active. I waited until 3 1/2 week postpartum and returned to the gym. On my first day back, I ran for 12 minutes at a 10:03 pace (1.19 miles), did planks, lunges, and a light leg workout. I will probably continue to do short distance runs and light weights for the next couple of months. When Talitha is three months old and can attend childcare at the gym {and breastfeeding is less demanding}, I will ramp up my running again. I’m hoping to do a half marathon this winter at seven months postpartum.

I never imagined I would start running again so soon after labor, but every pregnancy is different and every woman in different. I would encourage you to do what feels healthy and safe when exercising during pregnancy. Go fast if it feels good; go slow if it feels more comfortable. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what types of exercise are safe for you, but also know that a lot of it depends on your own body and your previous exercise regimen. I was able to run faster and longer this time around because of my running habits between pregnancies.

If you have any questions, please ask below!