A little momma K update

I'm trying not to let this blog become a "baby blog" because really, who wants that?  But, I also haven't blogged since the 17th and well, I have major baby brain.  It seems most every thought revolves around our little one these days.  So I will give an update on that.

First, I had an AMAZING Christmas.  What about you?  My mom and dad came in and bless them, after a 13+ hour drive which should have taken them 9.5, stayed through this morning.  They were supposed to leave yesterday morning but with Snowmageddon in Ohio happening, they stayed another day which was perfectly fine with me!  We did a whole lot of nothing while they were here (I'm sure they were super bored), but I was just so happy to have them around. They totally spoiled us rotten on Christmas with gifts and love the entire time they were here.  I miss them so much and am excited to know that I'm heading to Ohio in a month so I don't have to wait that long to see them!! 

Saturday morning, we went to go see Matt preach which was so great.  The people of his church are by far the nicest people ever and if you ever see someone in their professional setting and sit there saying to yourself "wow, this person is doing EXACTLY what they should be doing", then that was me on Saturday.  He's incredible.  His message was phenomenal (not to mention it included many pictures of Baby C which I always love seeing), but he was funny, and well... just Matt.  It was really a great experience and Tom and I can't wait to go back!  (On a totally side note, check out his blog here for a chance to enter and win a medal hanger from runningmedalhangers.com.   You only have through tomorrow night but I saw one when I was at his house last week and it's really cool!)

Okay, now on to some baby news.  Saturday afternoon, we took my mom and dad to see an ultrasound of Baby K since they had never seen an ultrasound before.  I'm so glad that we did that.  Plus, we got to find out Baby K's gender, (but I'll get to that in a minute).  Here's one of the pictures from Saturday.

As you can see, the little stinker had it's legs crossed for the ultrasound and the umbilical chord was between the legs.  I was convinced that I wouldn't find out it it was a he or she, but alas, Baby K cooperated and we were able to see what we needed to see!  I'm going to hold off letting everyone know what it is until we have it confirmed in three weeks at the doctor. :)  I'm no fun like that.  Feel free to guess.

We immediately went shopping (because, you know, that's what you do with grandma and grandpa when they are in town).  We were able to get the crib ordered and the bedding which should be coming in the next week or so.  We have decided to make a different room the nursery and are going to do a little swap-a-roo this weekend to get started.  And Tom and I spent like 2 hours in Babies R Us today just looking around at everything, trying to decide what we want to register in a few weeks.  Where do I even start???

I went to the doctor yesterday for some blood work and he seemed really happy with things.  I'm 17 and a half weeks.  At this point, the doctor told me that I had gained 3.5 pounds and he was super happy with that.  Me too.  I think it's actually a little higher as that was based on my 8.5 week appointment, but I still think that I'm around 5 pounds.  I feel like I've gained 50.  And I look like it too. :)  I'm definitely struggling with my regular clothes.  And by struggling I mean, if they have a button and zipper, it ain't happening.  Hahaha.  No, I won't post a picture of me with a "little" bump on here.  Again, I'm such a downer aren't I? :)  I just think it's weird... personal preference I guess.  Maybe when I'm big and feel more pregnant and not like a walrus then I'll humor y'all.  Let's just say, it's definitely obvious that I'm pregnant.

I am still working out about 6 days a week and that will be my saving grace as long as I can.  I am really happy with how December is going.  I ran a little more than 4.5 miles today at a sub-10 minute pace on a fairly hilly course so that makes me happy.  I have been able to maintain that sub-10 pace throughout so far and although that doesn't seem like anything really great, I was only running 9:20-9:30's prior to getting knocked up (it's damn hilly here people... I'm not kidding).  I haven't really run more than about 4-6 miles at a time (except for the 10k a week and a half ago), but that's a good distance for me at this point.  I've also started biking on the trainer more.  I took my magnet off the back wheel so I'm not obsessed with my pace, but I'm making sure that I'm working as I read my magazines and watch Teen Mom the whole time.  I'm finding that my bike shorts are less than flattering (because you know, spandex always makes everyone look great anyway) and might have to raid the hubbies stash soon enough. :)  And then there's the good ole' hour and fifteen minute walks that I take on the other days with Charlie.  They seriously about kill me more than the biking and running!  My goal in January is to do something, swim, bike, run or walk every day.  All 31 days.  Through my 22nd week.  And then we'll see how I want to handle February. I'm aiming for activity through the day I deliver.  No reason to think that won't happen.

So that's kind of where I'm at with things. All is good.  Mentally and physically I'm feeling great.  That's all I can ask for at this point!  I hope you all had a fabulous holiday and I'm making a vow that after the holidays pass, I'm going to get back to blogging more.  I have some reviews and give-aways coming up which is fun.  And so exciting sponsorship news. YAY!

Christmas 10k race report

I love finding small town races that I've never done before.  Even better is suckering inviting a friend to join you who jumps at the chance (Karen is pretty awesome like that). So when Tom left to go out of town, I figured, "why not find a small race, and get my Saturday workout done".  The Peachtree Corner Christmas 5k and 10k was right up my alley - close to home, "rolling", 9am start, costume contest, and prizes.  Sounds pretty amazing.  Karen was in - yay!

I haven't been running nearly what I wish I could, but the hills around here wind me pretty easily, especially now that I am with child.  But I'm trying.  And I get points for that, right?  I have learned to just keep my watch off and go with how I feel which is exactly what my plan was for Saturday.  Except I wanted to have a 10k time to just see where I'm at.  You know, baseline, pregnancy PR, whatever.

I arrived early on Saturday and snagged one of the 14 spots right in front of the church where registration was.  Karen and I were meeting there, but I went in and registered since there wasn't a line.  And used the potties (bravo race director for making the men's bathroom a women's bathroom the morning of the race).  People were mulling around in Christmas socks, green and red tutu's, Santa costumes, Poodle outfits (yeah, I didn't get that either, but that's alright) and I felt a little bah-humbug because I was in the only thing that fits these days... a pair of capri's and a new running shirt that's purple.  Oh well.  Karen arrived, got her stuff and we started talking about how we definitely missed our opportunity to run in costume.  Next year Karen, next year.

Around 9, we lined up in a parking lot with a big blow up race arch within view.  I guess we were at the right place (I come to find out that this race is really laid back and I'm totally cool with that.  Some people aren't.  They are a little uptight, especially at a race that encourages running in costume).  Around 9:15 they counted us down and we were off.  I told Karen to run without me because, again, I'm with child and MUCH slower than usual.  Especially on a rolling course.

Okay, so I would love someone to define "rolling" for me in the South.  In Ohio, rolling was rolling.  You kind of went up.  You kind of went down.  No need to really change gear or pace.  Georgia "rolling" is a tad different.  This course was Ohio hilly.  Like climbing climbing climbing where the heck is the down part of this hill kind of hilly.  As in you can't find a course like this in Columbus hilly.  Alas, I'm learning that the north and the south have different definitions of things.  That's cool.  I'm getting used to that.

I started off comfortable.  All of the 5k and 10k started together and it was a tad crowded, but thinned out.  Karen got ahead and I let her go.  I hit the first mile, looked at my watch at doh, I had forgotten to start it.  Lovely.  I probably didn't want to know anyway, as I was working.  I didn't wear headphones in hopes to really listen to my breathing and make sure I wasn't working too hard.  I felt good, but I'm not going to lie, it was hard.  I didn't pass a ton of people, but a ton of people didn't pass me either so that was good.  I just stayed steady.  Both laps were very similar in terms of effort.  I was happy.  I came to the finish line and the race clock was not on.  Awesome.  So I had hoped to know how I finished, but would have to wait until results were posted.  I figured it was about 1:02 which I was thrilled with.

We sat around the gym for a while to see if we won something at the raffle, but we didn't.  We watched them award stuff to the costume contest (the poodles won something...) and then they posted results, but disclaimed it by saying that the official results would be different because there was a timing issue but we could at least see our places in our age groups.  Karen and I both ended up 5th in our AG according the unofficial results.  YAY!

I saw that the "official" results were posted.  I ended up finishing the 10k in 1:00:56 for a 9:50/mile pace.  I was 5th out of 17th in my age group.  At nearly 16 weeks pregnant, I'll take that!

It's humbling to run while pregnant.  I know that it's good for me and my baby.  The benefits are endless.  But it's difficult... mentally and physically.  There were many times on that course where I was breathing hard and had to slow down.  I work a lot harder to run a 9:50 pace than I did to run a 8:50 pace before. There were many times that there weren't many people in front of me.  My boobs get in the way of my arm swing (sorry, but it's a fact people).  I have to pee the whole time.  I feel like I'm running for the first time in my life after being on the couch for years, when in fact, I have been doing this for 10 years.  But you know what... I wouldn't change it for the world!

My cousin told me that every time I run to remind myself that my baby's brain is getting bigger.  You'd' be amazed how powerful that can be during a workout.

Changes

Changes seem to be the theme of my life these days.   As you probably noticed, I've made some layout changes with my blog.  From that, all of my REV3 stuff is gone.  Here's why...

When I joined Team Rev3 back in 2011 (it was Trakkers then), I couldn't have been more excited.  I was on a national tri team and I did it while not having to be the most amazing athlete in the world (I always envisioned that this is how you got on a team).   I was excited to see what a "team" was all about.  And it was awesome.  Yes, we got free race entries and great goodies from our sponsors, but it was so much more than that. 

I met some of my best friends in the entire world from this team.  Literally these are people that I would probably never have met in life and now I talk to them daily, I hang out with them, I plan trips with them.  They know every detail of my life.  I can laugh with them, cry with them, joke with them and I know that no matter what, they will always be part of my life.  My husband has gotten to know them.  And their spouses.  They have become like family.

And there are some teammates that I never even met in person but they too have become friends.  They support me in athletics, they support me in life.  Our paths may never cross in real life, but they are part of my life.

And of everything that I've gotten from the amazing people at REV (which is a lot), the friendships and support mean the absolute most.

Going forward in 2013, I don't know what life will hold.  I won't be racing until after the baby is born.  Most likely, it's going to be a balancing act that will take some practice.  I have a few running races that I'm eying in the fall, but I'll have to see about tri's.  I can run (hopefully) through June when I deliver, but I'm a bit leery of doing tri's.  I'm using this time to kind of regroup.  And when I thought about my sponsorship with REV, I just didn't feel like it was fair.  By me being on the team and not being able to race or support the sponsors, I was taking away from someone else out there in tri-land that would be an amazing spokesperson.  So with I made the decision to leave the team.  Not because they did anything wrong.

Just because my life is changing. Simple as that. 

I have a few potential partnerships in the works which I'm excited about.  I'm hoping that they work out for the 2013 season and if they don't, I'll be alright.  And maybe when 2014 rolls around, I'll be ready to seek out a team and sponsorship again.  We'll see.  I'm taking one change at a time.

Some ramblings

First off, ya'll are awesome.  Thank you so much for all the kind words about our news of the baby.  We're excited and to have all of you tell us how great of parents we'll be made me smile.  You know just the right things to say to make me happy. :)

Tom just told me that Kate Middleton is pregnant and that should help take some of the attention off me. Hahaha - I love him.

One more baby related thing and then I'll move on.  As most of you know, Baby K is the reason that I didn't do Ironman Florida.  So many people asked me why I wasn't racing and although I really was struggling with burnout (something fierce I may add), getting pregnant just put the nail in the coffin that it wasn't meant to be this year.  I'm a smart girl and knew that there was no chance that I would put my body through 12+ hours of exercise for the day.  It never ever crossed my mind to be quite honest.  And the pregnancy was probably a blessing in disguise when it comes to my feelings on Ironman this year.  I'm really at the "been there, done that" phase.  I'm not out to impress anyone.  I enjoy racing, but I would rather just be active.    I love setting goals for myself and the baby isn't going to stop that.  But I'm going to follow through with all that I said about following my heart from here on out with racing and training.  Someday I might feel like racing long again.  And maybe not.  I'm cool either way.

Okay, so I'm loving Georgia weather right now.  Today we went for a 4.5 mile walk with the dog and it was nearly 75 degrees when we were walking.  How awesome is that? Yesterday we realized the joy of living on a half acre of wooded land... leaves galore.  It was a day long project, but it was so amazing to not be bundled up and freezing.  Tom had shorts and a teeshirt on.  In December.  YES!

Tom's leaving on Sunday for Spain.  He'll be gone 7 days.  He's never been to Europe and I'm excited for him to see some it it, although I am wishing that I was going.  But alas, I'll keep myself entertained for the 7 days.  That's a lot of time to get my Christmas shopping done and my presents wrapped. Teeheehee. I'm about 80% done.  Now Christmas cards... that's another story.  We haven't even taken the picture for them yet.  Maybe they will be New Year's cards. :)

And just a reminder... if you are in the Atlanta area this weekend, come support Kacie and Dani and their fundraising efforts for Race Across America at All3Sports.  Friday night, Craig Alexander will be there for a book signing.  They are doing a raffle and silent auction which will start Friday and continue to another event on Saturday morning.  They have some pretty awesome stuff in the auction.  Check out their blog, Power, Pedals and Ponytails for more information.All the proceeds benefit Camp Twin Lakes.  I'm sponsoring Kacie for a day during RAAM and doing some fundraising on her behalf.  Stay tuned for information about this!  I could use your help! :)