Planning TTC around races?

[jordylee]

Has anyone done this? My H and I have been talking a lot about when we want to TTC. I think am pretty much ready, but I want to wait until after Boston next year. H think's I've been putting it off and maayyybe using the race as an excuse to continue putting it off indefinately (there will always be another race around the corner). But I am one of those people who never dreamed I would ever qualify for Boston in a million years. It wasn't even a stretch goal for the longest time, but then I did it. And now I really really really want to run it and not be the size of a whale when I do so.

Tell me I'm not the only one, that I'm not crazy, and that this is totally normal..RIGHT?!?

[gt7301b]

Lol, minus the BQ this is the story of my life.

We were supposed to start TTC if we didn't get into Cherry Blossom. I also registered for the Nike Women’s Half, thinking I would get in to CB, but not Nike. Well I got into Nike, but not CB... oppss. Now the plan is to start TTC after Nike, but now I am seriously considering signing up for another marathon. I think I may enter the Marine Corps lottery and just run it pregnant or defer, but I'd like to PR and I am scared I won't if I wait.

To answer your question, you aren't the only one, but it is a LITTLE crazy

[runblondie26]

Yay, talk of another H&F baby!

Nope, you're not crazy. Boston is a pretty big "brass ring" for most runners.

We were ready in the beginning of 2012, but I put off TTC until the end of 2012 so I could run the NYC Marathon and accomplish a few other goals on my list.

(Of course NYC ended up being cancelled that year. However, by that point I had put in the training, and all I cared about was running any marathon, so I found another one to do a week later. I wasn't willing to put off TTC another full year just for NYC

[clseale]

Mar 5, 2014 13:49:10 GMT -5 jordylee said:

Has anyone done this? My H and I have been talking a lot about when we want to TTC. I think am pretty much ready, but I want to wait until after Boston next year. H think's I've been putting it off and maayyybe using the race as an excuse to continue putting it off indefinately (there will always be another race around the corner). But I am one of those people who never dreamed I would ever qualify for Boston in a million years. It wasn't even a stretch goal for the longest time, but then I did it. And now I really really really want to run it and not be the size of a whale when I do so.

Tell me I'm not the only one, that I'm not crazy, and that this is totally normal..RIGHT?!?

Hi! Get out of my head! lol All of that up there ::waves hands around::, has been happening in my house for the last 6 months. The only thing is...I might not actually be ready, but everything else is spot on. What remains to be seen, is if I find something after Boston to delay it even further. I don't know. I even thought about trying before Boston, but no. I worked hard, and I deserve this. I deserve to have it be the experience I want it to be. DH & I will have to get on the same page about kids, but I reserve the right to be selfish until next April. You do too. Totally normal. 

[wambam]

I don't know much about running, but if I ever qualified with my team to go to regionals (MY "Boston"), I would absolutely put off TTC for it. No doubt.

[Wines Not Whines]

We deferred TTC so I could run my first marathon. I got pregnant like a week after running it... ha! I think it's totally normal and reasonable, assuming you don't have health/medical reasons why waiting would be a problem.

[clseale]

My running partner just out off TTC for 6 months to run Albany. She really wanted to break 4:00 before a baby, and when she had to drop out of Chicago for a stress fracture, and Celebration for walking pneumonia, she delayed even further for Albany. Normal!

[jene]

I do not blame you, I would put it off until after Boston as well.

[tuggyruns]

I think this is totally normal- I wanted to wait until I finished my first marathon.

[ebeth]

yes. the original plan was 'after chicago'. now I'm registered for the MCM lottery so it may become an 'after MCM' thing. we'll see.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I don't think you're crazy, but this is why I'm glad I'm a swimmer and not a runner. With the exception of maybe morning sickness, I can't see any reason why I would need to defer a swim race for PG. Not that TTC has been working for us, but if it did, I'd still do all the races I have planned for this summer.

That said, if this is a bucket-list level goal, I'd do it, unless I was already in danger of being too old (by my standards, not medical standards) for a first.

[jordylee]

You guys are amazing for totally validating me. Originally the plan was to TTC after Chicago, but the BQ threw a wrench in that plan. I have even been saving my cute "fat" running clothes for like 3 years now so I wont have to wear ugly frumpy running clothes when I get huge. DH keeps threatening to take them to goodwill and then I have a mini heart attack every time and promise that I REALLY MEAN IT this time when I say "after this race".

[Susie]

Add me to the planning around races camp. It's not the only factor of course--and probably wasn't the factor in deciding the rough idea of timing-- but it's a big factor in the specifics. I wanted to wait until I made partner, until we'd hit certain financial milestones, and until I felt ready, and then once that stuff started falling into place, how does it fit racing season?

I don't have a single event like Boston on my radar, but I do 12-16 week training plans a couple times a year, and I didn't like the idea of spending $$ on a HIM entry fee, and throwing myself into training, knowing that I was actively trying to derail my own training and abort the race by getting pregnant. I don't want to race that kind of race pregnant, and it's too hard to really train hard knowing if things go right the race won't happen. So we decided I'd get this summer as my last hurrah, I'm doing two HIMs, and then we'll TTC. Once we start TTC, I'll keep running, etc., but local races, lower key stuff that's easier to give up if I decide to. I am hoping that TTC doesn't take so long that it comes back around to tri season again before I'm pg.

[Deleted]

I did a lot of this last year, putting off TTC because of X, Y, Z event. But I want to get the baby train moving, so I'm not scheduling around any races anymore. If I'm knocked up and can't run, I get a baby so it's cool. If I'm not, I get to run!

That said, I have nothing like Boston on my radar. I'm not sure how I'd plan around that one!

[Wines Not Whines]

I'll add that I think Boston is a special race and I'd be more likely to defer for Boston than any old race, especially if it's not your first marathon. There will always be another marathon to run (but not necessarily another Boston, since you need to re-qualify).

On the flip side, I can understand why your DH is antsy about waiting another year, if you've been talking about TTC this year. We only deferred TTC a few months (moved it from the summer to the fall). Is your BQ only for 2015, or could you also use it for 2016?

[cinco]

We waited to TTC #3 until I was tapering for Boston, and I got my BFP a few days after the race. I don't think it is crazy at all!

[mainewifey]

I think it's good to have set goals to accomplish beforehand. And I think that many women, even those that aren't as fitness-minded have some sort of goal in mind before they TTC. Whether it be travel, savings, a new house or whatever. What makes a race (and not just any race, it's the frickin' Boston Marathon!) a lesser important goal than any of those?

What you shouldn't do is set a goal that doesn't really have any measure of success, like my "I want to be in the best shape of my life before I have kids" goal. Am I there yet? I don't know... maybe I'll be there next year...

[jordylee]

My BQ is only for 2015 (got it in Oct 2013 after 2014 registration was closed). So assuming we wait (which we will, because I claim veto power over the occupancy of my uterus), there is the question of when to get off BCPs to start regulating my cycle. A month or two before the race? Or does that run the risk of me being a hormonal nightmare come race day? I'm sure I am going to have a million questions and whines at that point in time. Taper madness + baby fever = total insanity?? I think yes.

and wow cinco - getting a bfp a few days after the race? that's awesome!

[cinco]

Mar 5, 2014 14:29:50 GMT -5 jordylee said:

My BQ is only for 2015 (got it in Oct 2014 after 2014 registration was closed). So assuming we wait (which we will, because I claim veto power over the occupancy of my uterus), there is the question of when to get off BCPs to start regulating my cycle. A month or two before the race? Or does that run the risk of me being a hormonal nightmare come race day? I'm sure I am going to have a million questions and whines at that point in time. Taper madness + baby fever = total insanity?? I think yes.

and wow cinco - getting a bfp a few days after the race? that's awesome!

It definitely gave me something else to obsess over during the taper

[jene]

Mar 5, 2014 14:29:50 GMT -5 jordylee said:

My BQ is only for 2015 (got it in Oct 2014 after 2014 registration was closed). So assuming we wait (which we will, because I claim veto power over the occupancy of my uterus), there is the question of when to get off BCPs to start regulating my cycle. A month or two before the race? Or does that run the risk of me being a hormonal nightmare come race day? I'm sure I am going to have a million questions and whines at that point in time. Taper madness + baby fever = total insanity?? I think yes.

and wow cinco - getting a bfp a few days after the race? that's awesome!

I think it's kind of a crap shoot on when to go off BCP in regards to how quickly your cycle will regulate.  It took me a couple months before I had any sort of pattern in my cycles.  I had a couple of months where I would spot for a week, then period, then off for a week, rinse, repeat.  It was super annoying. 

[clseale]

I didn't have any adverse reactions to getting off of BCP, and I had been on them for 10 yrs. I felt better getting of of them, and my cycle was normal almost immediately. If you're not opposed to other types of BC, I might get off a month or two before hand. If not, I'd just wait until after the race.

[runaways]

I think you sound completely reasonable, but I also don't want kids at all. Soooo...my perspective may be skewed.

[kams]

Me too! TTC #2 commences immediately after ironman.

Some races can be major life events. People plan around major life events all the time!

[emilyinchile]

I do not do marathons, but I think this sounds reasonable. It's not just any old marathon, it's BOSTON. That's a big deal. Unless waiting is likely to impact the end result - either with this pregnancy or future ones - I'd wait.

[chw57]

Mar 5, 2014 14:56:14 GMT -5 kams said:

Me too! TTC #2 commences immediately after ironman.

Some races can be major life events. People plan around major life events all the time!

Same with us, and it's why I picked Texas rather than Wisconsin (later in the season)

[woowoo]

I've postponed TTC about 4,264x for various reasons, but yes, my most recent is due to my Half Ironman in August. Once that happens, I'm probably going to postpone again for some vacation that we book in January.....we'll see after that.

If I got a BQ I would absolutely postpone but only you can know whether that's right for you!

Better yet...try to conceive the night before or the night of the race! Wouldn't that be a fun story? You could name your kid Fenway or something. =)

[Mushe]

A BQ? Heck, yes, I would postpone TTC. Shoot, we postponed TTC until after an upcoming kid-free vacation to New Orleans, so I'm an easy sell.

[Mushe]

Oh, and it's common to take a few months off bc to regulate. I think it took me about 3 months. If you're not too worried about being super serious TTC right away, you could just wait until after Boston to go off.

[clseale]

Thanks for posting this, jordylee! I knew no one here would think I was crazy, but the validation I'm receiving by reading this thread really helps! lol

[lb2006]

Mar 5, 2014 14:36:59 GMT -5 clseale said:

I did haven't any adverse reactions to getting off of BCP, and I had been on them for 10 yrs. I felt better getting of of them, and my cycle was normal almost immediately. If you're not opposed to other types of BC, I might get off a month or two before hand. If not, I'd just wait until after the race.

Same here, on them for 10 years, now off them for 2+ years.  I chart to avoid, so we've had no surprises so far in the two years.  We have the TTC and race talk all of the time!