Floating.

So, Run #2 = Success.

I ran again on Wednesday (shortly after posting about being bummed to have missed runs on Monday and Tuesday). Actually, I feel weird calling it a run because it felt more like a float. I honestly felt as if I were floating over my miles. Like my feet weren't even touching the ground.

It was a super run. I logged 4.1 miles -- 4.1 floating miles. How lucky am I?

Pretty lucky, for sure. I know that I've been fortunate with the whole pregnancy and baby thing: I had an easy pregnancy and was able to run through almost all of it. Then, I recovered quickly after delivery. Two weeks later, I started running and have not had a single ill effect from it. Instead, I've felt terrific. Not everyone has the same experience and I am grateful that I've been able to bounce back the way I have. I chalk it up to the miles I ran while pregnant. Those tough pregnancy miles were deposits in my big ol' running bank -- now I'm raking in the dividends in the form of floaty, easy post-pregnancy miles. Thank you, pregnant self! 

And now, it's Friday and I'm looking forward to a fun weekend -- hope you are, too! Big cheers to everyone running the MCM on Sunday, especially first-time marathoner, Amanda! Yay!

~ Felice

Following the run.

Based on how excited I was to go on my first post-baby run, you would probably think that I would have followed it up by going for more runs. Or, at least, another one.

Yeah, not quite. You see, I'm easing back but, honestly, even I didn't think I would ease back this slowly. I had every intention of running on Monday (after taking Sunday off). My plan for easing back was to run every other day. Seems reasonable, right?

Well, Monday came and before I knew it, Monday went. No run. I had company in the morning and then work to do in the afternoon. We were supposed to have company in the evening, but they cancelled. Unfortunately, too late for me to re-jig my plans and get out for a run.

No big deal, really, except that I couldn't run yesterday, either. So, I made the most of the day and took Niall out for a 2-mile power walk. Not quite the same as a run, but it was a beautiful day so I was happy to be outside enjoying it.

I was even more happy to be enjoying it while wearing my pre-pregnancy running clothes! (Gloating, yes, it's true . . . although I shouldn't gloat too much because I'm not yet back into my regular jeans, just my heavy jeans.)

What will today bring? I'm hoping I get a run in, but that may not be in the cards. I'm quickly learning that flexibility is the name of the game when you have a preschooler and an infant. So, I'll just have to be flexible. That may mean going for power walks instead of runs, running on the treadmill instead of hitting the roads, or lifting weights instead of doing anything else. I'll take what I can get!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

~ Felice

The return to running.

I held off for as long as I could. I lasted two weeks.

Two weeks after Niall was born, I laced up my shoes, tugged on the biggest sports bra I have, pulled on a baggy t-shirt and a pair of running shorts and hit the road. Ah, yes. I hit the road for my first post-baby run. And let me tell you: I loved it. Loved every step of my (just about) 3 miles.

I could have kept going but didn't want to push it. I've been off since I hit 38 weeks in my pregnancy, so with Niall arriving about a week late that's just about 5 weeks of no running. With that much time off, I need to ease back in to the miles. So, ease I will.

Easing back has felt terrific. I have never run such comfortable 9:30 miles. OK, sure, that's not particularly fast but, still. I was practically bounding up my neighborhood hills! Saturday's 3 miles felt like the easiest miles ever and I attribute that to the fact that I had been used to running while carrying about 30 extra pounds, most of them front and center. There's something about being pregnant that makes the miles a bit harder to run. Go figure . . .

So, the Happy Runner is back. Back and running. I love it! I'm even thinking about a race with my running mamas (most of whom, by the way, ran their first 10k over the weekend -- go, mamas!) on December 4th. Will I do it? Based on how I feel so far, I'd say yes. I'm not going to register just yet, in case something changes. But, in my head, I'm planning on it. Woo hoo!

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you all had a great weekend!

~ Felice

Photo Friday!

I don't want to jinx myself but, yay! Things are going really well just about two weeks into the whole "mother of two" thing.

Sure, I'm getting a little less sleep than I normally do (or, in the case of last night, a lot less sleep than I normally do), but I'm also getting used to it. I feel like I've been adjusting well and, in fact, I've been walking a bit and doing some Exercise TV workouts and generally feeling great. So, no complaints here, just a lot of good stuff. Two weeks in and Niall is, for the most part, a great sleeper. And he's so sweet. And adorable. And cute as can be. And . . . oh, am I gushing? Sorry. Can't help it these days!

Anyway, here are some pics for those of you who are interested:

 Conal holding Niall

 Hanging out.

Resting with the cat, who isn't quite that huge in real life. I swear!

So, that's that. Hope you all have a great weekend! 

~ Felice

Better late than never.

My little guy finally decided to make his appearance, a little later than expected and amid much more chaos. But, he's here. He's healthy. We're happy!

I'll post more soon -- maybe once I feel like some of my brain cells have returned -- but here's a quick pick of little Niall:

 

Niall!

 

 

Getting some love from his big brother.

Hope you're all having a good week! I am . . . 

~ Felice

Things I'll miss.

Assuming I ever deliver this bambino (and, these days, that seems a little questionable), there are a few things that I will probably miss about being preggo:

1. The anticipation.
2. Butter, and smothering my food in lots of it.
3. A big ol' baby belly that makes my hips and butt look smaller by comparison.
4. No pressure racing.
5. No pressure running.
6. Considering a walk solid exercise.
7. Having a really good excuse for crying while watching just about anything on tv -- including Modern Family. Only a preggo could generate non-laughter tears from that comedy.
8. Kind words from strangers and friends alike (including all those from yesterday's post -- thanks! I appreciate them!)
9. Jelly beans.
10. Sleep.

Feeling wistful . . . but ready. More than ready!

Happy almost weekend, everyone!

~ Felice

PS: I have an EcoMom giveaway going on over here if you haven't checked it out.

Wordless Wednesday (the 40+ weeks version).

Today, 3:12pm. 40+ weeks.

September recap.

If you're interested, my due date has come and gone. Sigh . . .  Yep. Yesterday was d-day and yet the little guy apparently is in no rush to make his big debut. So, I'm still waiting.

Lesson learned: What all those diet and financial service ads say really is true: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. I thought for sure that since Conal was born 10 days early, this baby would come early, too. Ha! Ha! Joke's on me, huh? Yeah, guess so. And now I wait. I never should have expected this little guy to show up early. Or, I suppose, to even show up on time! Apparently that just wasn't part of the plan.

Well, since I'm just hanging out, re-stocking the fridge, re-cleaning the kitchen and re-catching up on laundry I might as well take a look back at the month that was. September was my last month of running. Actually, my last run was on the 20th -- at my 38 week mark. I'm proud that I ran for so long but I have to be honest and make sure you all know that the last two weeks or so of running was a mixture of running and walking. There were just some times when I was out on the road and couldn't keep up the run. So I walked. No biggie.


Anyway, here's what the month looked like:

September stats:

Running/walking (miles): 21.9
Cross-training (sessions): several, but didn't keep count

So, there you have it. I hope that the next time I post I'm a mama of two . . . but I'm not going to count on it!

Have a great week, everyone!

~ Felice