Baby on the Run

Baby Newman is growing by the day!  I am loving feeling his little kicks and finally looking like I have a baby growing, not just an unusually fast weight gain.  

Last month, my running bestie and I had a chance to participate in the Retro Run 5K in Greensboro, NC.  It was a lot of fun, and a totally different kind of challenge since I was about 22 weeks pregnant at the time of the race.  Running while pregnant is hard.  Not only physically, but also mentally.  I have struggled to drink enough water throughout the pregnancy, and between that and the added weight that comes along with being pregnant, it has been very difficult to continue to run.  Regardless, I am going to keep trucking along-with plenty of walk breaks!  My distance goals have certainly changed.  At the VERY beginning of pregnancy, I was still able to run 5 miles without too much of a challenge.  Now, I struggle for 2 miles, and have to walk if I plan on running 3.

Pictures from the Race:

We went with tie dye to stick with the "retro" theme.  I was very proud of myself for finishing this race, and never imagined a 5K could challenge me so much.  This whole process has definitely given me a new perspective on the challenge that non-runners face when they are starting to run for the first time. My goal is to run one more 5K in October-fingers crossed!

Surprise!

Well bloggers, it's been a year!  In the past year, I have graduated with my MSA, completed a year long administrative internship, run a half marathon, and......found out I am having a baby!  Yay!  My husband and I are ecstatic to welcome Baby Newman to the world in December:-)

ECU Principal Fellows Class 20

Heart and Sole Half Marathon 2-7-2015

Zoey and Jax are excited too!

A few highlights of the changing bump:

5 weeks pregnant

13 weeks pregnant

Crazy Eats

Little Newman has grown so much already! I have definitely been through some body changes.  I started with crazy food aversions.  I could not eat any meat or have any coffee.  Just the idea of anything that was not a crunchy or cheesy carb was repulsive to me.  I am still not totally over the aversions, but it has gotten better.  I am typically a very healthy eater! so it has been really hard to not want healthy food.  Late in the first trimester, I started having cravings-mainly for slushies and pimento cheese?!?!?!  Healthy, right?  I also had slight naseau (which I understand could have been so much worse), and serious fatigue.  Today marks my move to the second trimester, so I am hoping that the fatigue will fade, and I'll be able to enjoy some healthy food again!

Workouts

Since I found out I was pregnant, working out has been challenging.  For a majority of weeks 6-10 I did little more than go for walks.  I have always been a runner, but it is a struggle now to run even 2 miles, but I am still trying.  The biggest challenge has been a constant need to pee:-). It results in frequent walk breaks.  I really had no idea that pregnancy would affect my exercise the way that it has.  Here's to hoping the second trimester will be a little easier!

Highlights

My favorite pregnancy moments so far have been telling our family and friends, hearing the heartbeat, and seeing our baby moving during ultrasounds.  It is crazy how active our little one is in there!

Spreading the News

I told Mike (the hubs) using the cinnamon roll pictured above.  We were ecstatic, and so thankful for a "quick" pregnancy.  The blessing of becoming pregnant is not lost on me.  We told my parents using the scrabble board pictured above, since we spend a lot of time playing scrabble with my parents.  We made coffee mugs for mikes parents, and served his mom coffee in the mug when she came to visit-and forgot to take pictures.  Typical.

Until next time...

Running with Furry Friends

How many of you have dogs that join you on your run?  I really enjoy taking my two dogs for a run, especially since I don't have a running partner.  I appreciate that they benefit from the experience too.  I find that it can be hard to take them along though, and often choose to jog alone because of the issues that sometimes arise.  For a long time, I was taking one of my dogs who has a LOT of energy on all of my runs.  It was so good for him, and we were logging 3-6 miles per run!  But one of the last times I took him on a run like that, we got chased down the street by **2** dogs.  Eeek!  My nerves just couldn't handle it!  I was so fearful that he (or I) was going to get bit or otherwise injured, and be a long way from home.

Pros of dogs joining on the run:

1.  Dogs get much needed exercise. (I live in a townhouse with no yard)

2.  I run faster.

3.  The dogs and I bond:-)

Cons of dogs joining on the run:

1.  Other dogs barking, chasing, etc.

2.  No music. *sigh*  I feel that I need to be extra attentive when I take along a pup.

3.  I can only take one dog at a time, in order to make sure that I maintain control of the dog at all time.

 What insights do you have about running with dogs?  Do you find that the pros outweigh the cons, or that the cons keep your pups homebound?

I found this resource from Runner's World that you may also enjoy-it has lots of information and thoughts on running with your furry canine:  http://www.runnersworld.com/motivation/running-with-dogs

Zoey, ready for a jog!

Jax postrun....maybe more tired than me? maybe not.

                                                                                                             

It's been a while....

Blog World!!

I am embarrassed to report that it has been a full YEAR since I have last posted!! Sheesh.  Maybe I should just hit the highlights??!!

I am still holding strong in my graduate program, and currently am out for summer break.  I know what you are thinking.....summer break? from college classes?  While that sounds amazing to some, I am SO ready to head back to work, and am eagerly waiting to find out where I will be placed for my internship!   Here is a picture of me with my fellow Principal Fellows:

Such a fun bunch!!  

In addition to school, there have been lots of races and places since my last posting.  I set a goal for 2014 to race at least once a month.  So far, I have hit every month with the exception of March, due to a family emergency.  

Highlight Reel:

January:  Run for Young 5K-Raleigh, NC

February:  Cupid Crawl 5K-Greenville, NC

April:  ECU Pirate Alumni 5K-Greenville, NC

May:  Elmhurst 5K-Greenville, NC

June:  Asheville Half Marathon-Asheville, NC

Don't ask me why I waited to run the longest distance in the mountains....I am such a flat land runner!!!  Needless to say, that was one of hardest races I have ever completed, and I felt amazing after finishing.    I owe a huge thanks to my trainer, who coached me through hills training on the *dreadmill*. 

Now, I am looking for races to finish out the year!!  I am needing a little bit of a break after training for and running a half in the mountains!  

Any suggestions for fun races to try?  

How have you pushed yourself to run farther, faster, or stronger than you have run before?

I may live in a sauna.....

So, being as I am training for this half marathon in October, every other day I find myself outside in the steamy eastern NC heat for a run.  Today was no different!  But, sadly, today marked the beginning of the countdown until one of  my running besties relocates with her husband.  AHHHH!!!! *panic setting in*  I hope that when she leaves, I will still find myself motivated to run solo!

Me....running solo?!

Anyway-as for the heat-I could LITERALLY see STEAM coming off the road when we left for our run.  Sheesh.  But, even through the steam, 6 miles and approximately one hour of girl talk later, we were done!

Question for the day:  Do you prefer to run with a pal, or run solo?

Hello Bloggers!

Hi Everyone! 

Some of you followed me over at Life and Times of a Third Grade Teacher, but, as I am no longer going to be a third grade teacher, I decided to start up a new blog, keeping with my current lifestyle. 

Here's the story:

I am a 26 year old, happily married, running, reading, blogging grad student!  Here is a pic of me and the hubby with our two ADORABLE poochies:

I scored quite a catch with this one!  And as for the doggies, Jax is on the left, and Zoey is on the right.  We adopted both of these dogs from our local shelter, and haven't looked back!

I have been teaching for 4 1/2 FABULOUS years.  I love teaching with all my heart!  Here is me, with some of my kiddos:

**oldie but goodie**

But, sometimes, you have to make changes to do what is best for your family.  So, I decided to go BACK to SCHOOL to become a school administrator.  I applied for a scholarship loan, interviewed, and the next thing you know I am getting together MY school supplies and prepping for a whole new schedule and lifestyle.  *WOAH*  This is a far cry from my usual July meandering through Target, waiting to get the best deal on crayons, markers, and Lysol wipes in bulk! 

This is such a huge change for me, and I am actually surprised by how emotional the whole thing has been-I mean, I get on pinterest, and the next thing I know I am getting excited about back to school games and new classroom management ideas!  Sheesh.  So, I am on the hunt for ways to distract myself from the bittersweet emotions I have with the impending approach of a new school year, that I won't be a part of.

Distraction #1:  run girl run

I love going for a good run.  It definitely helps clear and quiet my mind, and gives me a sense of accomplishment, even on a bad day.  To date, I have run various 5K, 10K, and Half-Marathon Events.  I am NOT going to claim to have the best pace, best stride.....whatever.  I run for the enjoyment, and I love seeing other motivated people at races!  Here I am with a friend at our most recent half-marathon (I'm on the right!):

I am going to call running distraction numero uno since I am training for the Neuse River Bridge Run in October.  Bring it on, bridge!

 

Distraction #2:  chef.boy.ar.dee

I have also developed a passion for trying to cook or bake new things lately.  I have certainly had my fair share of FAILS, but I would say there have been an equal amount of YUMMY treats that have come out of this hobby.  I will post about recipes that I try, and let you know how they turn out!

Distraction #3:  house upgrade

My husband and I put our house on the market almost a year ago.....womp.  We are still sitting right here in the same living room we were a year ago....womp.  No time for pity parties though.  We are constantly trying to upgrade and re-do something, and I will let you know how each reno goes!


Anywho, please follow along with my journey, and I hope you enjoy some of the recipes, workouts, and other projects that I share!

Question for the Day:

What kinds of challenges have you recently had to face or overcome?