Hi everyone!

I haven't been posting much, because I haven't been running! I've actually had to stop running on the advice of my doctor. Some people can still run when they're pregnant, but because of a few minor issues I'm going to have to switch to walking for quite a few months. Yep, I said it -- I'm pregnant! I've been waiting for this for a long time, and I didn't want to tell you guys (or anyone) until I confirmed it at the doctor (which I did today). So much for my plans for a marathon this year!

I'll still pop in and keep up with how everyone's doing, but I definitely won't be working toward the running goals I've set for this year. I'm just putting them off a bit, though -- definitely not giving up on them!

If anyone out there is trying to get pregnant, here's my advice: get a Garmin, get excited about it, and plan all your races for the next year, including a marathon training plan. Life has a way of teaching you that you really can't plan too much!!

Ilene, I'm still waiting for you to do that tri. How many years now? 3? 4? I'm watching you. Hmm, Helen, don't make me add you to the list. Sounds like a fun tri, that shouldn't interfere too much with your running goals.

Lisa, maybe we can start a sidelined runners thread! Official public congrats!! Come over to the pregnant/nursing board and check in! Looking forward to starting over again with you in a few months, jogging strollers in hand. A double in my case--ennay, what is a good one?

Everyone keep running. I like the virtual goals. I especially love newbies!

Anne

Well, I only did a measly 2 miles today, but I've started adding in some Fartlek and hill work, and boy can I FEEL IT!!

Lisa - on the That's awesome news!

Ennay, Ilene - great to see you both!

It's been nice to add some skiing to my workouts - we live very close to a hill and get there most evenings - I figure it's the laziest workout in the world: I get dragged up a hill on a lift, and then I slide down again! I absolutely cannot fathom that I am burning calories doing that! Hahaha!

All for now -
Heather

Lisa -- congrats!!

Anne -- YES, 3 years ... I'm such a big chicken ...

Congratulations Lisa! That's phenomenal news, even though I know you're probably slightly disappointed at missing your races. But soon you'll have a cheering section

I finally got pictures from my New Year's Eve race, and posted them with a race report on my blog... feel free to check it out for a good laugh at my expense

Lisa and Anne, congrats! I had good luck using the elliptical during my second pregnancy, and religiously used The Firm during my third. I had to switch to the beginner videos during my third trimester, but I worked out right on through to the end.

What's Fartlek, Heather? Sounds stinky!

No running for me today - rest day. I'll check in tomorrow after I get my workout in.

Laura, I checked out your blog and I must say you looked STUNNING in your hot pink track suit! Sounds like a fun run! Your blog isn't partly in Korean, is it? I'm sure it just showed up that way for me because that's where I am.

Kara

Sometimes when I look at my stats I find that my bike rides are at a slower pace than my runs I know I'm a decent runner, but you'd have thought that having wheels would be an advantage... (I think it's the way I time them - if I stop at lights when I'm running I stop my watch, but I leave it running on the bike, and also because I'm comparing short/downhill runs with long/uphill rides, but still there's not as much difference between the two speeds even on the flat as I'd like).

Just over 9 miles into work this morning. It does make me feel virtuous when I get to work already having done a longish run.

Lisa - congratulations!

Helen, do you keep a change of clothes and deoderant at work? I'd be a sweaty mess!

Kara

My gym is right over the road some work so I dump a change of clothes/shampoo/deodorant/everything else there the night before, run to the gym, shower, then cross the road and go into work. It just takes a bit of forward planning.

I'm annoyed. I just checked my diary (it was in the bag at the gym last night so I couldn't do it then) and the tri clashes with my friend's hen do. I'd almost talked myself into signing up, so it's a good job I checked first!

Woohoo! Lisa!!!!!

Actually you can burn quite a bit skiing. Last year I went on my ski trip, quit running for a week, ate everything on the planet, skied 3 days and lost a pound.

It depends a bit on how aggressively you ski, but you work hard to not FALL down the mountain.

Kara - I know! Don't you just LOVE fun words? Fartlek is Swedish (I think! Correct me if I'm wrong!) for 'speed play' and basically consists of doing bursts of speed in the middle of my training runs. It's described as unstructured interval training. I am not really working on my speed, though, so my Fartlek work (all two I've done so far!) is probably pretty poor, but I don't mind. I'm just shaking things up a bit so my body doesn't settle into comfortable runs that aren't getting my heart rate up!

Helen - maybe you could incorporate your tri with the hen do - they could all train with you and then run in silly hen night outfits... okay, yes, I AM kidding!

Have a good day all!
Heather

PS - Ennay, you are SO right - I work VERY hard at NOT falling down the hill!!

Thanks for all the congrats, everyone! It still doesn't really seem real, because I waited for it for a long time (I've been married 14 years after all, of course I didn't try all that time!)

As for skiing, I've never tried it, and I'm quite sure I'm too much of a klutz to do it. I fall just trying to walk across the room, so I don't think skiing would be for me! It does seem fun, though.

Hope everyone's running is going well, especially since I'll have to live vicariously through you for a while! I agree, Anne, that we should start a Sidelined Runners thread!

What's a hen do? I feel like the Thread Moron!

Got in three miles today, which finished up week one of my training plan. Thirty-six weeks to go until the marathon!

Glad to hear you don't have to go to work in spandex, Helen (unless that's something you actually wish you could do!).

Kara

I have been known to wander round work in lycra, mainly when I get changed to run or cycle home then realise I've left something I need. They're used to me by now, but I'm not sure they'd fancy sitting near me as I emit sweaty spells.

A hen do is a party before someone gets married. You probably have a different word for it but I can't think of it now.

I did my usual 5k again this morning, my slowest time so far but I still managed to finish 2nd. I did a 1.5 mile warm up and just over 5 miles gentle jogging home to make it into a longer run. I've been battling the onset of a cold all week, it doesn't seem to have hit yet but I felt a bit more sluggish than I usually do.