I have a half marathon tomorrow. It's supposed to be hot and the course is hilly. I'm pregnant and have a hard time not trying to be competitive as evidenced by my last race. I'm a little concerned regarding the heat and hills and the fact that no one can come with me in case of emergency. I also Know that there is no way this one will go like the last and mentally Im not sure how I will take that. I'm considering not going. Ill still run 13.1 tomorrow morning but I can start earlier and not feel the need to be in race mode. What would you do? Bag it or suck it up?
I'd like to say that I would swallow my competetiveness, and do the race as best as I felt I could safely do it. Realistically, I'm not sure that I could do that though, especially with no one there with you.
So I'd probably skip it, go running early and use the rest of the day for whatever your heart desires.
I would suck it up. That being said, I have a competitive streak too as evidenced by setting a 5 miler PR at 6 weeks pregnant after telling myself I'd just run the race "as fast or slow as my body would let me" (I signed up for the race the day before I found out I was pg). So it'd be hard, but given the race conditions and course elevation for tomorrow, I'd force myself to walk the hills as well as any other point during which I felt like I wasn't able to carry on a conversation if need be. I'd also carry my own water in addition to whatever water stops the race provides (if its hot, they could run out), extra nutrition (Gu, shot bloks, whatever), and my cell phone in case of emergency. I picked up a Spi Belt at the end of my first tri and its been a godsend-it fits my cell phone and a pack of Shot Blocks easily and you can adjust the belt length so it doesnt bounce around.
My biggest thing would be to ditch my running watch if I ran with one (I don't race with one, but you might) and run by feel only.
Well I am not pregnant so take this with a grain of salt, but I have a half this weekend too. I also really wanted to run it to race it and get a new PR. The idea of running a half without a shiny new PR was awful. I am very competitive with myself! But training for a new PR was really burning me out and making me miserable, so I decided to run this race (and the training runs) with no goal other than to just enjoy it. It has been great training so far once I mentally changed my goal, but I am nervous as hell to run my race on Sunday and not RACE it, you know?? I think you should do it, but just try to enjoy it. Just think to yourself "this is just something fun I am doing for the next two hours." and then it won't be as much pressure (at least, that is what I do and it seems to work??)
But if you would still get up early and run 13.1 then I suppose it doesn't really matter, you are still getting in the miles!
Well, if I was going to still run 13.1, I'd just go to the race but set my Garmin to timed run/walk intervals and make myself stick to it. However, I've discovered I don't mind walking in races if I know it's for my own good and it is nice because I can talk to other walkers, and I see more than I otherwise would. The experience is just different than if I was racing it.
How far along are you? I couldn't imagine running a race like that at this point in my pregnancy, but in the first few months, I still felt fine to run at a decent pace.
I would race it, but really just take your time. Drink plenty of water and don't go crazy.
I think I would skip it. I can be pretty competitive with myself, even at times when I know that I shouldn't be. It sounds like you may be a bit that way also. Yes, you paid for a race, but it is a sunk cost now. Physically, and emotionally, it may be more of an additional 'cost' to you to go through with it than to skip it.
I would suck it up. That being said, I have a competitive streak too as evidenced by setting a 5 miler PR at 6 weeks pregnant after telling myself I'd just run the race "as fast or slow as my body would let me" (I signed up for the race the day before I found out I was pg). So it'd be hard, but given the race conditions and course elevation for tomorrow, I'd force myself to walk the hills as well as any other point during which I felt like I wasn't able to carry on a conversation if need be. I'd also carry my own water in addition to whatever water stops the race provides (if its hot, they could run out), extra nutrition (Gu, shot bloks, whatever), and my cell phone in case of emergency. I picked up a Spi Belt at the end of my first tri and its been a godsend-it fits my cell phone and a pack of Shot Blocks easily and you can adjust the belt length so it doesnt bounce around.
My biggest thing would be to ditch my running watch if I ran with one (I don't race with one, but you might) and run by feel only.
How far along are you?
I won't take a watch and I will have my phone on me just in case. I'm 20 weeks along. So far running had been fine but I always feel like its up in the air. I'm actually more worried about letting my competitiveness go. I almost feel as though my last race was my high point of running during pregnancy and I should go out on a high note. Not that I will stop running, just not race. I'm a mental head case, obviously. Another thing that worries me is the nutrition aspect. Everything I've tried during pregnancy instantly makes me have horrible GI issues, something I've never had problems with before
do you have a slower friend you could pace? is there a shorter race you could do?
it sounds to me that you are going to have serious trouble running this race 'easy'. I'd also have a problem with this. as much as I'd hate to lose the $$ I'd bag it if you know right now you aren't going to be able to reign in the competitiveness/speediness. the heat, especially this early in the season when you aren't totally acclimated yet, would give me pause if I was pregnant.
I would say just run it and take it easy. Wear your garmin to MAKE yourself take it easy. Check the watch and if the pace is faster than it should be force yourself to take it back a notch. Just think about the baby and how terrible you will feel physically anyway after pushing your pregnant body too hard in heat.
Don't feel like going slower now means your pregnancy "high point" has passed. Every week more pregnant you are, the fact that you are still out there putting in the miles (in a healthy way!) are a "high point"! to run a half marathon at any pace halfway through a pregnancy is a huge accomplishment.
Post by runblondie26 on May 31, 2013 9:11:10 GMT -5
I understand, it bothers me a lot more than I thought it would to have people pass me in a race. It's so silly in the grand scheme, but I'm having a hard time letting go of the competitiveness too.
I'd probably skip and do your own thing earlier. It'll take any sense of pressure off. Also, heat is a big concern this time of year, so starting earlier would be better for you and baby too.
I totally get your dilemma. Gl on whatever you decide.
Do you use a hrm? I think I would wear my hrm and carry my own water.
I, however, am neither lightning fast nor particularly competitive. If I was pretty sure I would push it too far, I wouldn't race it. Plenty of halfs after baby arrives
It is near impossible to keep your HR down when it is hot -- you would have to be close to walking. I, personally, would not have with that. Also, you will have to drink a ton of water to stay properly hydrated, I would not want to risk dehydration.
You are pregnant and it is amazing that you can/will run 13.1 miles! Don't let yourself feel guilty - this will be the first of MANY sacrifices you will make for this kid. Go run tomorrow (not race), run for yourself, run for fun and just enjoy it.
Post by starburst604 on May 31, 2013 10:19:50 GMT -5
If it were me I'd err on the side of caution and skip it. The competitive stuff aside, I would not want to become heat exhausted/dehydrated at 20 weeks pregnant.
If it is going to be as hot and humid as it is today I'd skip it. Summer running was hard for me pregnant, b/c I'd feel fine, and then all of a sudden I wasn't. I stayed close to home, and only ran in very shady areas. Even knowing I was going to take it slow, race day adrenaline would kick in and I fear I wouldn't know I was pushing it too hard until too late. This sort of happened to me when I ran the Baltimore Half at 27ish weeks. I was feeling great and doing an easy pace, hydrating well, but I started having back to back BH contractions at mile 11. I think race day adrenaline masked my ability to really gauge how I was feeling.
If you're going to do 13.1 anyways, you may as well try out the actual race that you paid for. Pace yourself the same way you would if you were running on your own and ignore everyone else. It sounds like the external factors (heat, nutrition, GI problems, etc.) will be the same whether you are part of the race or running on your own, so if you start to feel uncomfortable, just bail on the race part.
I've never done a half, so this isn't my area of expertise but wouldn't a legitimate race have better bathroom/water stops than just running on your own in the morning? It seems like it may actually be a better option if you are worried about hydration, nutrition and GI problems.
'Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather, to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, screaming 'Woohoo! What a ride!' So every day is a holiday and every meal a feast."
Thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to bail. It stinks losing money but I think I'm better off sticking close to home. Also the mental issue for me slowing down during a race is huge, even though its such a stupid thing to get angry about in the long run.