I’d like to preface this article with a note- I recognize that everybody and every body is different. Also, every pregnancy is different. I wrote this article because it’s important for women to share their personal experiences, if they’re willing. It gives others something to relate to and helps us all to recognize that we’re not alone in our struggles and successes. This article is written strictly for informational purposes and in no way constitutes professional medical advice.
Still finished a 12-hour race in the second trimester!
INTRODUCTION TO RUNNING WHILE PREGNANT
As a runner with two decades of mileage under my feet (half of that running ultramarathons), I’ve become quite familiar with how my body feels and reacts during training, from hard efforts to recovery days.
Last September, as I was running 80 mile weeks in preparation for an upcoming 100-miler, I noticed I felt “off” for an entire week leading up to a tune-up 50K. Of course, this was during the final legs of Covid, so I took two tests and got only one line on both. Negative.
My next hypothesis was simply training fatigue. I was training pretty hard, though it wasn’t that out of the ordinary for me. Around that same time, it dawned on me that my period was a week late. The morning before I was scheduled to fly out to Arizona for my race, I took another type of test, the kind you wait in the bathroom to see the results. That one also had only one line– a faint pink one. Yep, I was pregnant. It was nice to know my training was on point.
Once the initial joy and excitement of the moment subsided, I knew that I would need to shift gears and reassess my running goals at some point. This was also the first time that I googled “running during pregnancy.” My search produced mixed results that left me feeling confused and overwhelmed. To be fair, it’s not exactly the most common pastime, though it’s thankfully becoming more common thanks to the high-profile athletes like Alyson Felix.
Second trimester trails
I filed my own questions away for my first OBGYN appointment. I’ve known of many women who ran and raced through pregnancy and ended up with healthy babies, which was reassuring. However, this was now my baby and it was sudden and new to me.
Regardless, I decided to race my upcoming 50K with just a slight sense of nausea and uncertainty. In the end, it all turned out pretty okay.
Following that race and my first OB appointment, I came up with some new running goals:
- Continue running as much as I could through pregnancy.
- Take what each day gave me. If I felt good enough to run, I’d run. If not, I’d rest.
- Run through the entire pregnancy, or at least until I couldn’t anymore. If that didn’t work, I’d be okay with it.
As mentioned earlier, I consider myself an experienced runner. However, pregnancy has been extremely humbling. If I’m being honest, it feels a lot like starting over again. Nevertheless, I’ve learned a lot of lessons over the past nine months, and I hope that sharing them will help you in some way.
Testing out some Rabbit running gear
FIRST TRIMESTER
TRAINING TIP #1: COMFORT IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.
As far as running goes, not much changed in the first trimester besides nausea, fatigue, and a slightly slower running pace. I mean, that’s basically a description of the later stages of an ultra, so the feeling wasn’t that unfamiliar to me. Just like those moments, I found it useful to stay as comfortable as possible when running and not running.
Gear tip: My absolute favorite during first (and really all) trimesters was Rabbit’s EZ apparel, which is their ‘relax and recover’ line made of the softest ever fabrics. No, seriously, they are the softest. I practically lived in them throughout my pregnancy. I especially love the fit and selection of neutral and fun pastel colors and patterns that make the wardrobe very flattering and perfect to wear on any occasion. My personal favorites are the EZ tee (long sleeve and short sleeve), EZ joggers, and Leggy 4”. These were all staple wardrobe items early on and continued to feel comfortable as my belly grew.
Shop The Gear
Shop Rabbit EZ Tee$48
Shop Rabbit EZ Joggers$88
TRAINING TIP #2: DON’T STRESS OVER PACE AND MILEAGE.
I was guilty of this in the early weeks, but eventually I learned to let go. Running became easier and a lot more fun once I did. I also learned that each day was different- some days I’d feel good enough to knock out big miles, but others I opted to skip the run. I took full advantage of the good days and rested on the not-so-good ones. I also kept most of my runs easy and stopped looking at pace. My body was growing a human– that requires a lot of work!
TRAINING TIP #3: EAT SMALL MEALS AND/OR SNACKS OFTEN.
If I started my morning run on an empty stomach, it was almost a guaranteed puke fest. I found that starting the day with a light meal helped combat some of the morning sickness. Snacks and light meals throughout the day helped balance it out as well. Some of my go-to nutrition to ward off the nausea: greek yogurt with granola, small bowl of cereal, crackers, fruit, and granola bars.