26 weeks

The light rain kept the walkers indoors and brought the runners outside, I think. The roads and trails were full of runners today - which was so fun! I met my pregnant friend, T, at Olmsted Park and we ran around the Riverway, Muddy River, and JP for awhile with her puppy. She is about 30 weeks along, so we had lots to chat about. Sometimes, its nice to spend an hour or so just talking about pregnancy stuff without feeling like I'm annoying to everybody else around me! Our run was nice and easy, with a couple of walk breaks. My body is feeling better than it has since the beginning of the pregnancy. I don't know if it is because of the nice crisp weather (always my favorite running weather), the 2 week China stint of lower mileage, or just the regular ebb and flow of pregnancy, but I'm very happy that I'm enjoying my runs so much these days. As I type, baby girl is kicking away so hard that I can actually see her from the outside. It is such a cool sight. She got a gorgeous yellow and white summer dress as a present from Grandma and Grandpa Aulie yesterday - I can't wait to see our little girl wearing it. Only 14 weeks to go!

Run: 7.5 miles
Walk: 1 mile

Wow

Woman who just gave birth wins Oakland Marathon

 Thanks for sharing this story with me, Spink!

25 weeks, 6 days

 What a great day to run! It's a sunny and bright 50 degree day. I ran my JP extended loop and felt wonderful the whole way. I had to take about a 30 minute break 5 miles in because I had a work call to make (and 5 miles in, I'm usually breathing a little too hard to sound professional these days)! I got so many encouraging nods and words of praise (not sure if it is because people support me running while pregnant or if I just look like I really need encouragement). Either way, it's motivating.

Run: 8 miles
Walk: 5 miles

Uh, I've graduated to wearing Brad's running shirts!

Entering Jamaica Pond - what a gorgeous day

One of my all time favorite running loops

25 weeks, 5 days

Breathing in our lovely fresh air, I ran the 6.5 mile loop around Olmsted Park and JP. The morning was nice and crisp, my legs felt well rested, and I loved every step. I got on the phone with my mom as I left the house and, somehow, didn't get off the phone with her until I had gotten back home. So, it was kinda like I ran 6.5 miles with my mom!

I'm looking forward to dinner out tonight with Coach Tom and his wife, Cynthia, and the Bradleys - we're going out for Chinese food! He he.

Run: 6.5 miles

25 weeks, 4 days

Met Luke at the gym for a 4.8 mile loop (variation on the PU loop) around the Charles River. Everything felt fine. It was nice to do my run in the morning - I'm hoping my schedule will work out this week so I can run every morning without having to get up too early! My first thing today was an 8 am meeting, and I was able to do it on the phone as I was running to meet Luke! I love my job :-)

Run: 4.8 miles

25 weeks, 3 days

Easy 2 mile run today around the Muddy River before work. It felt wonderful. I am trying to hold myself back a bit right now so I can ease back into regular running after a couple of weeks of low mileage. It was tough to only run 2 miles - but I'm glad I did it as I finished the jog excited for more running this week. I have a pretty normal work week, so I think I'll be able to dial my mileage back up a bit. Yay!

Run: 2 miles

25 weeks, 2 days

2+ weeks of being in Xi'an means 2+ weeks of not being in Boston, which means 2+ weeks of Boston related stuff to catch up on today. At one point, with a free hour, I could have run, but I chose to take a nap instead (and it felt goooooood). Topped off the day at Jimmy's for dinner with S, MB, and K. Great day for Laura. Bad day for exercise. My only exercise was the mile walk home from Jimmy's with MB.

25 weeks, 1 day

Travel day today - back to Boston. Ran 3 miles on the track with Brad in the morning. Nice n' easy. Then spent 2 hrs on a plane from Xi'an to Beijing, 3 hrs of walking laps around the Beijing airport, 13.5 hrs on a plane from Beijing to Washington DC, 1 hr walking laps around the Dulles Airport, and 1.5 hrs on a plane from DC to Boston. Finally got home around 1 am on Monday morning.

Run: 3 miles

25 weeks

Well, my darlin' husband treated me to a special anniversary night last night (our 6 year anniversary is April 21st, but we won't be together). I'll post about it on our family blog (www.haydkoz.blogspot.com - let me know if you want to be invited), but the reason it is relevant to my training log is because we got a sweet hotel room with the most luxurious bed I've ever slept in. Meaning, when my alarm woke me for my run at 6 am, I turned it off, got another hour of sleep, and skipped my run for the day. No matter - after we spent the morning at the Shaanxi Museum, we took a bus to the City Wall and spent the afternoon cruising around town. We must have put in a few miles of walking, which felt really nice!

24 weeks, 6 days

The sun came out today! It was such a treat. I ran 4 miles around the track and neighborhood. It felt great - my plantar was fine, achilles were both solid, and back didn't bug me too much. I plugged into Jeremiah and Kanye and just zoned out for a bit. Two more runs until I'm back to running in Boston. Yay!

Run: 4 miles
Attempted to lift upper - problem is, my push ups are definitely not legit given that my belly hits the ground well before my elbows are totally bent. Oh well.

24 weeks, 5 days

Today was a lovely wet day in Xi'an. The rain kept people indoors, so I ran a few miles on the Gaoxin track before lunch. I'm finding it a bit harder to run this week than last week given that I'm working more (I took it easy last week work-wise). So, I had time for about 4 miles and a good stretch before lunch. I'm really looking forward to Boston running again. It's challenging to use running as a way to see the city here because the streets are just so crowded that I'd have to stop to walk or pass people every few seconds (Bostonians: think Newbury on a sunny June afternoon, but filled with people who never expect to see runners on the sidewalk). I'm also struggling to love running here, given that the air isn't great, meaning that it makes my throat a bit scratchy and my eyes a bit itchy. Since it's coming to be Spring, there are lots of people hosing the greenery. Problem is, I think they use sewer water to hose the plants, so everything smells a little funky. It could be that my pregnant nose is the culprit, not the water, but whatever the reason, I prefer to stay off the roads right now and stick to the good ol' track.

Run: 4 miles

24 weeks, 4 days

Just a couple of miles on the track with Brad tonight. It felt good to stretch my legs after a day of sitting around while interviewing and writing.

Run: 2 miles

24 weeks, 3 days

Tired today. Not super motivated. So, I didn't fight it. I ran/walked 2.5 miles and then walked for about an hour at night. Super light day.

Run: 2 miles

24 weeks, 2 days

I wasn’t really in the mood to run today. It was a little chilly outside, I was a bit tired from a long day out yesterday with 2 four-year olds (‘spose I should get used to that), and I was thinking about my research agenda for the week.

Last week, UMass was on Spring Break, so I decided to enjoy myself. This week, I’m back to work mode.  I needed to spend the afternoon collecting data, so my head was all about work, not about running. So, I told myself I’d go out for a mile or so, just to get some fresh air. Once I got out there, as it goes, I didn’t want to stop. But, I waited so long to actually go out for the run (distracted myself with March Madness highlights) that I only had time to run 4 miles. So, 4 wonderful miles it was. Everything felt fine until about 3 miles in when my plantar started to bother me again. It only happens when I run the OTC loop, probably because I’m running on concrete the whole way. Maybe I’ll stick to the track tomorrow.

Besides my right plantar feeling a bit tight, everything else feels fine. I’m not so uncomfortable that the runs are a bother. Actually, I feel the most comfortable when I’m slowly shuffling along, rather than when I’m sitting or walking. My back tends to bother me a bit on the right side when I’m walking, but it feels great when I’m running. Maybe it’s endorphins. Maybe it’s the stretching motion. Maybe it’s just my way of justifying running through back pain.

My interviews today went great. As everybody within earshot or keystroke knows, I research the role of sport on life skill development in youth. So, today, I interviewed 18 students about their experiences within sport. Lo and behold, track and field is the most popular sport among these 18 students. While I can’t release what they said (stay tuned to a journal near you next year), I can say that they, and I, think that track and field is just one of the coolest sports in the world! Woo hoo.

Run: 4 miles

24 weeks, 1 day

Given that I went a little longer than usual yesterday, I decided to chill out today. I ran for about 2 miles with Brad around the track and finished up with a mile or two walk. My body felt absolutely fine after yesterday. Great even. Since the entire run was on the track, my plantar felt like a million bucks. No pain at all. Achilles pain has gone completely.

Run: 2 miles

24 weeks

A balmy 60 degree day, wide open track, and a free morning.

I ran until I got hungry.

Run: 1 hour 25 minutes

23 weeks, 6 days

Standard loop. Nothing much to report. Still experiencing some plantar tightness. I planned to just run/walk a mile or two to shake out my legs, but once I got on the road, I decided to complete the little loop. Saw two very tall Asian women at the OTC. Probably high jumpers. That's about it.

Run: 3.8 miles

23 weeks, 5 days

The rain kept most people home today – which was fantastic for me because it means I got to enjoy a run without feeling on display. I ran the usual loop and finished up on the Gauxin track. I could have kept on running around that lovely oval, but I needed to meet Brad for lunch so I stopped when I hit the 5 mile mark. Running around the track today reminded me of a run I did once when I was fourteen. I was late to track practice (I think I had rehearsal for a dance team – I remember because I think I wore my leotard under my running clothes – so uncomfortable!!), so all my teammates had already left for their warm up. I thought we had an interval workout, so I figured people were out for a 2-mile warm up and would then head back to the track for our workout. So, I started jogging around the track while I waited for people to come back. Now, for those of you who remember me from back then, I was NOT any sort of distance runner, nor was I interested in being one, so a couple of miles was more than enough for me to feel justified sitting around until the rest of the gang arrived. But, I just sort of fell into a rhythm and, before I knew it, had run 7 miles on the track before my teammates got back (turns out we had a mileage day, not a workout). Now, for this fourteen year old, with the attention span of a 4 year old, running for an hour on the track would seem impossibly boring, but the same thing happened as what happened today… I just followed those smooth white lines and zoned out… it’s the best feeling. Now, if the baby in my belly wasn’t draining all my energy and replacing it with shooting hunger pains every few hours, I would have kept on going. I followed up my run with some dog balling, a hot shower, and some sort of noodle and meat type dish. Now, time to work!

Run: 5 miles

Stretched

23 weeks, 4 days

Today’s run was the standard loop with the standard stares. About a mile in, my right plantar started bothering me, but it was a feeling of tightness, not pain, so I stretched and kept on running. I had to stop a few more times to stretch out my right hammy and calf, hoping that would help with the plantar (which it always does). When I got home, I spent a good half hour with my trusted friend – the dog ball I picked up from the supermarket a few days ago that looks surprisingly like my very valuable old racketball I use to massage my plantar. I can’t believe I forgot to bring my racketball with me to China. That thing goes everywhere with me. For those of you with a history of plantar problems, you know exactly what I’m talking about and exactly how invaluable little racketballs can be (way better than tennis balls, in my opinion). Anyway, after a half hour with the dog ball, my plantar was all better.  Next stop, Chinese barbeque with some friends.

Run: 4 miles

23 weeks, 3 days

Over the past year, I've traveled a few times for work. Each time, I've used running as a way to explore the area. In Malaysia, I discovered a hidden palace on the top of a hill. In Panama, I learned how unsafe it actually is to run around Panama City alone (luckily, I learned this the easy way through noticing the eager looks of groups of young men congregated on the corners). In Portugal and in Hawaii, Meredith and I used it as a way to see unparalleled views of the ocean and travel through unbelievably different neighborhoods (remember when we stumbled across that neighborhood in Madeira full of those locals who thought we looked hilarious, Mer?)

So, I thought I'd do the same today - use my run as an exploration tool. But, my love for the track trumped my love for exploration. I headed to the Olympic Training Center again, with the intent of running through it to the other side and hopping onto some of the roads over there to see a new side of the city. But, once I got to the track, I noticed it was occupied... by really fast people! It was hard to tell what type of runners they were. On the one hand, they were tiny (screams distance runners). On the other hand, they warmed up in full track suits in 60 degree weather (screams sprinters). Their 200 intervals were between 32-33 (could be sprinters or pretty legit distance runners). Then, so strangely, rather than jog (distance style) or slowly walk (sprinter style) between intervals, they actually power walked. Like, legit power walked. Using their hips and their arms. It was wild. So wild that I had to run in circles around the park area surrounding the track to watch them (hence not exploring).

The security guards at the OTC definitely know me now - I get a thumbs up from them as I come and go. It's refreshing, as most other people just stare (in mild disapproval, I think).

Run: 4.5 miles
Kinda stretched - getting a bit hard to stretch anything other than my arms/shoulders and legs. Need to figure out a core stretch.

23 weeks, 2 days

Since Brad worked today, I ran solo. I did the same loop as yesterday, without the couple of walking breaks we allowed ourselves on yesterday's outing. The run felt incredible - I felt smooth, moderately quick (although my pace definitely did not verify that feeling), and completely comfortable. I don't know if it was because of the really light week of running, great night of sleep, or phenomenal Jeremiah to keep me company, but it was a wonderful run.

Run: 3.75 miles
Stretched

23 weeks, 1 day

Um, how cool is this: outside Brad's front door is a track!!! An actual track! I can't be happier :-)

Brad and I left his building today, walked through campus and across the first big street, and hopped onto Tang Yan Lu. It is a long straightaway path, lined with bushes, remnants of the old city wall, and public bathrooms (non-Western style). Everything is in shades of green, but a little muted by the haze. After about a mile, we turned into the Olympic Training Center and ran a loop around the grounds. I saw the coolest statue of 3 hurdlers that I'd love to post on here - I'll try to remember to bring my iPhone so I can snap it. After the loop, we retraced our steps home. We get a lot of stares - like, ALL the time! I didn't seen any other white people on the run, so I think we're a little noteworthy. There are also very few runners running outside, as far as I can tell. I wonder if it is because of the air quality - very dusty, hazy, and polluted. It certainly isn't the healthiest way to exercise if you live here. The bummer is that there are so many tracks going unused. Just on our run today, we passed 3 of them. Anyway, the run was relatively uneventful. It was great to stretch my legs and chat with Brad :-)

Run: 3.5 miles
Walk: About 3 miles

23 weeks

I don't really know what happened to today - I think I sorta skipped it with the whole time zone change. Regardless, I got on a plane early on Friday morning in Boston and I got off a plane at 10:30 pm on Saturday night in Xi'an. So, no running today. Definitely a little kink in my back from the flight and baby combination - but nothing big.

22 weeks, 6 days

I had to be at the airport by 6:30, so I just did a mile shake out run around the neighborhood. Throughout the day, however, I must have walked at least 3-4 miles around the Beijing airport. The long flight was easy as pie. Let's see, noteworthy things:

1. I felt baby kicking from outside my belly for the first time somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.

2. I watched 4 movies. In order, from best to worst: My Week with Marilyn (love Michelle Williams), The Hangover 2 (can't help it), The Descendants (cute plot, just don't love Clooney), and a distant last place... Breaking Dawn. I put the last one on so I could fall asleep to something, but I'm ashamed to say I got a little sucked in about the time that Bella got pregnant with the half vampire baby.

3.  I'm a celebrity in Beijing. I don't know if it was because I'm white, pregnant, or walking laps around the airport for about 5 hours. Regardless, I got a lot of stares.

4. Almost seeing Brad!!!!!!

Run: 1 mile
Walk: Who knows!

22 weeks, 5 days

Again, long day at work. I ended up having some time at night to get in about 2.5 miles of jogging while I made some work calls. Since it was pretty late and dark, I just ran around Amory Park, the Sanctuary, and then back through the cool diagonal park where the BU students sunbathe. No achilles pain, probably on account of me not running much this week.

Run: 2.5 miles

22 weeks, 4 days

Day off. I didn't really need the day off, but sleeping beat exercising. I got home from work last night around 10:30 pm, so by the time I ate dinner and got into bed, I only had about 6 hours until I had to be back at UMass. Same situation at night - by the time I got home from work tonight around 10:30 pm again, I just went straight to bed. Oh well - tomorrow is another day!

22 weeks, 3 days

My mom and Brian left today (they were visiting for the weekend). It was awesome to have them around!!! I now have 3 days to get in my week's worth of work before heading to China to see Brad. Sadly, I have a feeling that my running will suffer as work takes over this week. Today, I had time to throw in about 3 miles before the guilt of not working much yesterday took over and escorted me to campus.

Run: 3 miles
Lifted upper body

22 weeks, 2 days

Another wicked light day of running. A quick 2 mile jog around Brookline, followed by about 3 miles of walking. A visit to the doctor today was successful - baby is looking healthy, I clocked in at 2 lbs more than last month (right on pace), and my mom got to see and hear the baby, which was awesome.

Run: 2 miles
Walk: 3 miles

22 weeks, 1 day

As planned, I totally took it easy today with a slow 2.5 miler around Brookline, followed by a bit of stretching. Nothing exciting. I've figured out how to run without peeing all the time, which is the biggest accomplishment in my running life recently. A bit of achilles pain, but not much. I'll take it easy tomorrow too.

Run: 2.5 miles
Walk: 5 miles

22 weeks

There was an incredible amount of driving rain on my run today! It was so fun. Sadly, the rain melted the last bits of snow lingering on the tree branches, but the Muddy River was so pretty in a kinda depressing way. I ran 4.5 miles around the Muddy River and then around Amory. My achilles felt totally fine - how odd. I'm going to take it easy the next couple of days just to be sure the weird pains have left for good!

Run: 4.5 miles

21 weeks, 6 days

Just an easy 3 mile run today plus about 3 miles of walking. Given that my achilles have been bothering me on my runs, combined with a busy day, I decided to go pretty short. All was fine, nothing special. Now, time to enjoy a weekend of Michigan family!

21 weeks, 5 days

This morning, I wrote down my three goals for today (along with my goal achievement strategies, of course):

(1) Be home to receive my Visa for my trip to China next week.
(2) Run outside since I haven't run outside in 2 days.
(3) Submit a revise & resubmit manuscript.

Unfortunately, all three goals involve complications.

(1) I was told my Visa would come last Friday, then I was told it would come last Tuesday, and then yesterday I was told I'd receive it today. Trying to be home all day for each of those days is not an easy task for somebody with a full time job, who likes to exercise, and who wants to see her friends and brother a lot.
(2) My running buddy this morning very wisely decided to stay home, which drastically decreased my motivation to brave the 36 degree, wintery mix day of snow and freezing rain.
(3) While I'm the lead author, I have 3 collaborators, all of whom got their revisions to me around midnight last night, leaving me less than 24 hours to get the manuscript to the journal's editor by today's deadline.

But, friends and family, so far I have prevailed.

(1) Visa was hand delivered this morning. Now all that stands between Brad and me is 1 week, 1 day, and 3 plane rides.
(2) As soon as I got my Visa, I laced up my running shoes, headed outside, and enjoyed a blustery run around Olmsted Pk and JP. I told myself I'd only run about 4-5 miles because of (3), but I was enjoying myself so much that I let a few more miles slip in. By the time I got home, I had covered 8 miles, but probably only run 7 of them. Like the other day, my achilles were killing me for the first 4 miles, so I stopped to stretch and walk a bit. I didn't turn around because I was enjoying the fresh air and I wanted to see if the pain would go away. At exactly 4 miles in, the pain went away in both legs. Then, weirdly, my right foot fell asleep for half a mile, and then everything felt totally great for the rest of the run. Crazy baby stuff. Runner moms who read this blog: did you experience any achilles pain? Maybe pain isn't the right word - more like incredible tightness?
(3) Still working on this one. I have 4 hours until the deadline and need to shorten the piece from 8868 words to 7000 words, translate part of it into Spanish (it is going to be published in a Spanish journal), and do some small APA formatting changes. Totally doable, especially since I have a bowl of carrots, cup of decaf, and two cuddly cats to get me through the afternoon.

My post-work treat: taking Luke out for a celebratory dinner at Orinoco!

Run: 7 miles