Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Ooops!! I (We) Did It Again...

On Sunday I headed out for my long run... one of my favorite routes that includes lots of hills and takes me up up up an old road that is no longer maintained (so hardly even a road) through wild forests where typically you can run forever and not see a soul. The idea was that I needed to reconnect with my enjoyment of the long run. I remember doing this route a few times while training for Ironman and thinking that I would really enjoy this run when I was training for 'just' a marathon.

I felt ok on the way out. Didn't push the pace or anything but saw splits that were reminiscent of a few months ago when I was running better. But then coming home it all started to get too hard. Not that it got fast, mind you, just hard. After about 90 minutes my heart rate just felt like it was so high and there was nothing I could do to make it come down. Ok, I could stop, and I did that at lights... HR came down. Start running again, slowly, but HR would just jump right back up. Ugh. I ended up walking the last 1/2 mile home and officially (in my head) dropped out of the marathon. My body was just not handling these long runs like it should if I was going to put together a decent marathon in 5 weeks.

I checked my FB account later that afternoon and saw a sarcastic comment from a riding partner and friend of mine reminding me that I am getting fatter and slower every day. Thanks, Spence. If only you knew how right you were...

It was frustrating for the rest of the day. Ok, maybe I just wasn't recovered quite yet from Ironman. But seriously, it's been 4 weeks so you'd think I should start feeling more normal soon. I decided that I needed a rest week. Back everything off. No long swims. No hard runs this week. Let's see if that'll get my body to bounce back...

One thing that was bugging me some was that I have not had my period since before Kona. It was about 10 days late. I wasn't particularly worried about it because I figured that an event like Ironman was surely something that could/would throw your cycle off... but just to reassure myself, I bought a home test. I brought it home. Peed on the stick. Holy crap.

I think that's how I phrased it when I walked out of the bathroom holding the stick while approaching Scott. (Romantic, no?)

Um, yeah, so, um, this wasn't in the plans. I mean, it was in the plans for next year, but not right now. But what are you going to do? This is the second time I've peed on a stick and the second time I've instantly felt like I was going to puke while looking at the results. I mean, seriously, wouldn't it be nice to actually try for these things, and then be all psyched and happy when telling your spouse your great news??

And seriously, who gets pregnant immediately after completing an Ironman? Doesn't it seem like our bodies would want a little break and maybe not ovulate for a month or two? Word of caution: You can ovulate immediately after completing an Ironman.

Anyway, I know I am in control of my attitude and how I respond to all of this (well, kind of... pregnancy brings all sorts of whacked out emotions and responses that we may or may not be in full control of). Anyway, instead of focusing on the fact that I am, indeed, getting fatter and slower every day, I am trying my hardest to see the good in all of this. So here goes. The good stuff:

1. This is the last time I'm going to have to be pregnant. After this we will do something permanent to make it impossible since clearly all we have to do is sleep next to each other and BOOM. Pregnant.

2. At least we don't have to plan a wedding this time. :)

3. Ah ha! An explanation for why my long runs have not gone well. It's not just that I suck.

4. So while two babies within two years will be tough at first, the theory is that the two will be good friends since they are so close in age.

5. I get moved to the priority list to get the H1N1 vaccine.

6. Being pregnant is the best excuse for everything. Seriously. Everything. Want to eat another cookie? Go ahead. You're pregnant. Want to leave the party early? Tell people you're tired because you're pregnant. They cannot argue with you. Nap in the middle of the day? You totally should! You're pregnant. Don't feel like running hard? You shouldn't! You're pregnant.

7. It's really a license to cry at any given moment.

8. I'll get to stage another awesome comeback after having a baby. That really was pretty fun last year- doing little races here and there and knowing people were thinking, "Holy crap. She just had a baby!!"

9. Speaking of an awesome comeback, how freakin' motivated am I going to be in 2011??? I am not so scared this time about how long it will take me to recover and get back into shape. I know I can do it because I've done it before.

10. At some point in July, I'm going to get to hold a new precious little baby. If I'm honest with myself, I am quite curious about what another one will be like?

So anyway, sorry to all you triathlon folks out there... this blog will now likely turn into some crazy ramblings of a pregnant woman for the next nine months or so... though hopefully I'll still have some tales to share of how to exercise when you feel like an elephant. Maybe there will even be a swim race report in there every once in a while... (yes, I'm still planning on the Double RoughWater in 4 weeks.) After July 2010 it'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming of New Mama Kicks Ass in swim/bike/run.

48 comments:

cat. said...

HOLY CRAP! and i was about to write on your FB page that you've been quiet. guess i know why. wowzer and CONGRATULATIONS! sure, you may not have planned it, but like you said, you knew there was another one a some point. might as well be now! : )
xoxo

Beth said...

WOWSERS!!! I totally didn't expect to read this! :) CONGRATS!!!! Really happy for you and your husband!! What a great little family you will have! :) Can't wait to read all about it!

Molly said...

Holy crap!!! Congratulations! Sounds like you've done a good job adjusting and wrapping your head around it and getting quite a positive attitude! You're just being as efficient about the baby-producing as you are about everything else :)

RunningMama said...

WOW! Congrats!! You will have another awesome comeback in 2011 no doubt...except this time we will be doubly amazed b/c you'll have two little ones!

Anonymous said...

wow-- from Ironman Kona to another baby...your blog is always full of fun stuff to read! Congrats!! It will be exciting to read how you continue to kick butt as a mom of 2!

Allison Chapple said...

Niiiiiiiiice!!!!!!!!!!!

I am tickled for you! And a little jealous. Hopefully we'll be joining the ranks sooner than later too!

Kate Parker said...

WOW!!! That is NOT what I was expecting reading this post.

SO happy for you guys! Congrats!!!! Hope you're feeling well and can't wait to watch your journey this second time around!!

Erin Kathleen said...

WOW! Congratulations! Can't wait to have another little cousin around! Moana's going to love being a big sister...it's a lot of fun (coming from someone who knows!).

DR said...

congratulations!!!!...i will be following your blog with much anticipation as i am also planning for another one (but a bit later)

be good to yourself!

(mother to 15 mo old)

Billie said...

Congratulations!! Hoping the fertility spreads this way :-)

Jennifer Harrison said...

I got that PIT in my stomach when I was reading this for fear you were pregnant during your IM in Kona - NOT knowing! SO I am so thankful it was after (and WHO has the energy during that Im training, ha). ANYWAY congrats Michelle! I sent you an email too - having the kids close in age is going to be AWESOME....coming from the mom of twins. lol

ENJOY THis last one and um.....2011 will be BIG BIG BIG!!!!

The Salty One said...

Congrats!! I got my own surprise a couple of weeks ago and 1.5 weeks after a marathon. I'm still nursing a lot, I was running a lot--who woulda thought?! But how exciting! It will be hard but also nice to have two so close together. It'll be fun to follow along with you during your pregnancy and it'll be fun to see how Moana reacts!

Congrats again!!!

Rebecca DeWire said...

Your comment on my blog now makes a lot of sense! CONGRATS!!!

N.D. said...

congratulations! you just did an ironman, moana just turned 1. It is PERFECT timing!!you guys are fertility god and goddess!!!! :) yay!!

I think I'm ready now !!

fancy nancy said...

Yay congrats!!!! I love your list of good things! Hilarious! I wish I came back from pregnancy like you did! Congrats and enjoy being a little slower while us mortals try to catch up!

Clare said...

dang, i just saw your FB post and was like, HUH???? wow, congrats!!!!!!

Mer! said...

Ahhh!! Congrats!!! And welcome to the club
of instant pregnancy post-ironman! I got
pregnant two weeks after Arizona!!!
My sisters girls are 19 mos apart --hard
at first but now like you said they're so
cute together!! Congrats again!!

Kathy said...

Congrats! What great news. What fun they'll have together!

GetBackJoJo said...

Congrats! Dude, I'm just impressed you had the energy to copulate just after IM!!!haha!
I had 3 babies in 4 years. It's rough for a bit, but really all good in the end. They WILL be friends, and that is just the best, because then they can play together while you go train. ;)

Regina said...

Ok, THAT I didn't see coming as I'm happily following you along on your post. Congratulations!!! I guess my decisions made; June it is!

Seriously, I'm really happy for you and you have such a great attitude about receiving such a surprise. Can't wait to see pics of the ever expanding belly and relive the pregnancy days through your blog.

Congrats to you, Scott and Moana!

Sara said...

YAYYYYYY! Michelle, I'm so excited for you three (now four!). What a journey it will be. Moana is going to have a sibling!!! She'll love it :-)

kerrie said...

that is great! you are such a fantastic mom and it will be great to have two so close in age(all though there are advantages, having kids a little too far apart is a PITA).
Lucie is also a post-kona baby...a little more post than yours, lol, but that is wonderful news!

H said...

Congrats and good luck, you're an inspiration for me watching you train and juggle home life and a baby :) x Enjoy the cake ;)

Ordinarylife said...

wow - congratulations.

I thought I fell pregnant pretty quickly after an IM but you beat me by far.

I will continue reading your blog with interest!

ADC said...

Congrats. I agree having them close in age will be hard but so good for them.

Lizzie said...

Congrats Michelle! I have three friends who (well, actually they planned it .. . well, except one of them didn't plan the first one, it kind of happened while she was planning her wedding :)) have two boys each both with a similar age gap. It sounds selfish, but I am really excited to follow you through this, as I didn't join your blog until after Moana arrived. I need some more hope that having a baby doesn't mean the end of training (well, athletic training anyway!).

jbmmommy said...

I'm a new follower to your blog, just want to wish you all the best. Not that you care, but my sons are 21 months apart and they're wonderful friends. Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy.

Angela and David said...

OH MY GOD! I was not expecting this post to be about you being pregnant. You are one fertile mertile.

Congrats! It is fantastic news. Part of me wants to joing you and knock out number 2 but I really don't want us to get pregnant again until we know where we will be living. Too many life changing events going on at once.

Shevaun said...

Yeah for you and your family! My girls are 22 months apart and, usually, are best buddies. Your racing will come back stronger than ever afterwards. Congratulations.

Katie A. said...

CONGRATS! This is soo cool! You are one fertile mertile like Angela said! I can't wait to start reading agian about all your running/swimming adventures during pregnancy. Might make me start considering it myself! Congrats again to all three of you! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, Myrtle ;)

I LOVE having two kids -- so much easier than one (I know that sounds weird, but I think there's a rhythm/routine with two that's harder to find with one).

And now you definitely get bonus bonus bonus points in the bad-ass mother category.

Nitsirk said...

Congrats!! Just think how strong you'll get running with a double "BOB"! I have to admit I am no where near ready to have #2 yet but reading your post made me think about it just for a second :)

Trisaratops said...

YAY! I for one am excited that you'll be writing more about being preggers! :) And about the post-baby comeback, too. Bring it on! Nothing like 40 weeks of pregnancy to get you all motivated for the season, right?

Congratulations!

TriGirl Kate O said...

Congratulations!!! My young ones are just about 2 yrs apart and it's perfect. I also think you did the right thing on giving in on the bottle. I can attest to kids out growing habits before college--I would have sworn when Joey was 3 that he'd be going to kindergarden in diapers. Patience paid off. Whew!

X-Country2 said...

Whoa, TOTALLY not what I was expecting to read. Congrats!

Running and living said...

It's funny, but I knew you were pregnant the moment I read the title. I knew you wanted another one from a comment you left on another blog! Congrats! Time flies, the baby will be here shortly, and you'll be back in tip top shape and some in 2011!

Charisa said...

Congrats!! It'll be fun to see baby #2 in July! Loved your list :)

cherelli said...

Woo-hoo-hoo! that is truly exciting for you guys - congratulations! love the title.."oops..." :) and like you say, you'll have knocked out your family within a short time frame. I hope your preggers journey is a good one, great to go into it so super fit!

Katie said...

Congratulations! Yeah, I was about 2 months into training for an IM when we got pregnant... last thing I would have expected when we'd been off birth control for 2 years while I was NOT training!

Marit C-L said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! From me AND Nathaniel! That's awesome - I can't wait to follow along on your adventure :) :) :). Another blogger friend that I know who got preggers RIGHT after IM (aside from Mer) is Alicia Parr... she's on my blogroll. She won Silverman and then BOOM! 9 months later, Remy came along. I am SO HAPPY for you! HOORAY! Can't wait to meet the next little one :)

The Salty One said...

I'm excited to have an athlete pregnancy buddy too! I think we're really close. Based on my LMP my due date should be 6/29. I haven't had an appt yet either so that could change. We shall see.

I hope you're feeling better than I am. I forgot how much the first tri sucks!

Alicia Parr said...

Looks like Marit told on me already, but yup, I was pregnant a month after Silverman. Sure brings back memories...

You'll come back in no time after #2, stronger than ever. It was amazing how quickly you were back in shape after Moana was born.

Alili said...

WOW! I love your attitude about all of this and honestly, I'm looking forward to your next comeback season...I mean this one was pretty darn awesome!!

Congrats! :)

Ange said...

43 comments! I didn't even read the whole post! Just jumped ahead to say YAY!!!!!!! I have goosebumps. :) Awesome. Just awesome.

GoBigGreen said...

Ok
we are on our honeymoon and THIS great news derserves notice!!! I have a self imposed blog and FB ban but thuavis so awesome I can't wait:)
happy healthy and moana gets a sibling:)
I mean what more can you ask for!
Congrats!!

Angela said...

That's about how far apart the boys are. It will be a little tougher the second time, more fatigue from dealing with a toddler while pregnant. but you'll do great! Tim and I had to resort to "more trustworthy" birth control after Brayden as well, because we didn't want number three coming too soon. Hopefully about the time you're having no.2 I'll be getting ready to start for no.3

enjoy it Michelle! Oh, you're belly might poke out a little more quickly this go around.

Mnowac said...

Woah I am behind on blogs! Congratulations!!!!!!! THat is so wonderful.

Leanne said...

I just found your blog, it is just what I have been looking for!- I raced my 2nd IM in Canada at the end of August- Crashed on my bike at mile 92 and was transported to medic- no lasting injuries, but am now 17 weeks pregnant (1st time)- conceived the week following the race. So I agree, yes it can be done, even when actively trying not too! Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your honest reflections on training, pregnancy, etc. I will look forward to your posts regarding ongoing training during pregnancy and early-ongoing motherhood! Thank you and congratulations too!!