Faith Laces

K now your body! K now when to push yourself! K now when to take it easy! K now when to hold 'em K now when to fold 'em! Wait, that's not right - well, you k now what I mean! It's essential while running during pregnancy to pay attention to our bodies. They are changing, growing and super busy creating new life! Running is good for both mommy and baby, but only if mommy knows the limits. But aren't runners used to pushing limits and testing boundaries? Why yes, I think we are. It's not possible to run 26.2 miles (or more) without going beyond what we think we are capable of achieving. I've found it extremely difficult to rein in my typical running impulses to go faster and go farther. Every time I step out the door, my mind tells me to, "Go, go go!" But my body tells me, "Slow, slow, slow!" After years of running, my mind is accustomed to overriding my body's resistance, so it's hard to not push myself. Eventually...

Photo Credit -  roadid.com An essential for every runner, not just pregnant runners, is I dentification. I D is a runner's most valuable training partner. No one wants to think of being in an accident, but it could happen, and if it does, having identification means family will be notified and doctors will be able to access medical records. I dentification Options: Road ID offers convenient wristbands with identifying information. As far as I can tell, this is the most recommended option for runners. Even my mom texted me the link to Road ID because she thought it was a good idea.  Road ID also offers ankle IDs and shoe IDs. I prefer the shoe ID because it is the least intrusive.  Road ID Shoe ID While Road ID is popular,  IdmeBand  also offers similar products. IDmeBand - Shoe ID Dog tag necklaces are another option. In desperate times, I've simply used a laminated 'business card' with my name, address, phone number and husband's name tuck...

Photo Credit - Morguefile.com Without question,  H 2O is an essential for every runner, but especially during pregnancy when dehydration can lead to serious consequences, not only for the runner, but also for the baby.  The standard recommendation that everyone should drink eight  eight- ounce  glasses of water (or H 2O) a day has come into question.  This article at Runner's World suggests using the following formula to determine how much water we should consume: Male Drinking Requirement, in fluid ounces: Body Weight x .35 Female Drinking Requirement, in fluid ounces: Body Weight x .31 In this article , The American Pregnancy Association recommends that pregnant women consume "10-12 cups of fluids each day".  I just try to drink as much water as I can. On a normal day, I drink about 60 ounces of water throughout the day. On running days, in addition to my regular 60 ounces I drink : 16 ounces an hour before I run  8 ounc...

Photo Credit - Microsoft Clip Art For safety reasons, all runners should carry their cell phones, but it's even more important for pregnant runners. I only started regularly carrying my cell phone after a particularly scary wake-up call  a year or so ago. To make a long story short, I was running on a trail near my parent's house is West Virginia. On one side of the trail was a mountain and on the other was a river. It was beautiful, tranquil and isolating. So when a man on a four-wheeler sped past me, stopped, waited for me to catch up, sped off, stopped again, waited again, and repeated this same pattern twice more, I remembered the last CSI episode I watched where men were hunting people and figured I was a goner. Thankfully I wasn't attacked or kidnapped, but the incident scared some sense into me and I've managed to remember my phone ever since. Now I still worry about being vulnerable to homicidal maniacs, but not as much as I worry about pushing myself ...

Nestled in the hills of West Virginia is a little town called Rachel, home to a post office, Downs United Methodist Church and my parents. During a visit in early December, I had a choice between running along the winding back roads or along the rocky defunct train tracks. I usually avoid the roads because of the narrowness and frequent blind bends. My main concern about the trail following the old train tracks was hunters; it was the height of hunting season after-all. When I expressed my concern about running along the old train rails, my mother said, “Oh they aren’t hunting along the trail.” Great! I made my decision. As I reached the start of the trail, heading towards me in a bright, neon orange vest carrying a rifle in one hand was a bearded man. Ha! I was right and Mom was wrong! But my inner gloating was interrupted by a gunshot echoing in the air. Well, while my original worry had just been confirmed, nothing short of a giant black bear standing on the path was going to st...

When I first ran with the jogging stroller, I was nervous. I worried it was too big and cumbersome to control or maneuver easily around cars and pedestrians, but after just a couple of runs, the stroller started feeling like a natural extension of my body and even helped to improve my form by keeping me standing straight and looking ahead. Despite feeling comfortable, I still feel a little nervous when I run with the stroller because it’s carrying precious cargo, so I do everything I can to make my runs with Monkey enjoyable and safe. Ten Tips to Protect Your Little Running Partner: Don’t run with your infant unless he or she is able to sit up on their own, usually around 6 months old. Before I began running with Monkey in the jogging stroller, I checked with her pediatrician to make sure it was safe to do so. Run during daylight hours. Although I don’t take the jogging stroller at night or early morning, my jogging stroller has a reflective light on the wheels, as most joggin...

The number 2 item on my ‘Running’ packing list is a sports bra. So it boggles my mind how on a recent trip, I forgot to pack one. On the other hand, I  had  remembered to pack my Ace bandage in case I injured my ankle. I was at my parent’s house and my always resourceful mother suggested using the bandage as a suitable bra replacement. She did the honors of wrapping me up. I remember it like the scene where Mammy ties Scarlett O’Hara’s corset. If a sports bra, is number 2 on my ‘Running’ list, then number 1 has to be my shoes. Not just any old pair of sneakers will do. A good pair of running shoes are essential to keep injuries at bay. A good running shoe helps absorb the shock of pounding the pavement and prevents sore knees and painful joints. As far as gear goes, those are the only two essential items a female runner needs.  But to be a runner, to enjoy running, to make it a part of your lifestyle, you need a lot of support from your family and friends, espec...