23 weeks, 2 days

I love my gym. I just love it. I love seeing the usual folks there. I love that I never have to wait for a machine. I love that both men and women are lifting, cycling, yoga-ing, etc together. I love that the shower always has really hot water. It's the best. Running outside is obviously it's own magical thing, and I'll continue to do it, but I can get a better workout in at the gym right now because I can push harder with lower impact.

Elliptical: 45 minutes hard
Bike: 15 minutes easy

23 weeks, 1 day

An easy few miles around Lincoln trails today. The shade is a wonderful thing. I have this silly little burning feeling right above my rib cage - it is the same feeling I had when I was pregnant with Zoey, popping up at the exact same time. I remember it starting the day I arrived in China during the last pregnancy, which was right at 23 weeks. It's interesting to have the same feelings resurface. Anyway, it doesn't really impede my running - it's just annoying. Run was great!

Run: 4 miles

23 weeks

Brad and Zoey had a play date with some good friends while I hit the gym for an hour on the elliptical. Felt great.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

22 weeks, 6 days

We had a goofy run today. Brad, Zoey and I headed out for a routine run to the middle school soccer fields so Brad and I could stretch while Zoey ran around the fields. Turns out, Zoey had another plan and threw a normal toddler fit about a mile into the run, so we adjusted the plans, ran to the closest playground, Brad went out for some miles, and I played with Zoey. Jogged home for a total run of 2.3 miles - ha! I lifted upper afterwards.

Run: 2.3 miles
Lifted: Upper

22 weeks, 5 days

Today, Zoey and I hit the gym for a quick elliptical stint before our morning play date. I'm trying to ease back into running, rather than my usual dive right back in. So, tomorrow, I'll run again. For today, the elliptical got the job done. My ankle is fine. Belly is fine.

Elliptical: 45 minutes

22 weeks, 4 days

After dropping off Zoey, I headed to the Lincoln trails for a peaceful run. It was glorious! Soft, hilly, and shaded...perfect. I'm not wearing my belly band these days, as I'm prioritizing feeling cooler over feeling supported. Overall, great day.

Run: 5 miles

22 weeks, 3 days

I tried running today and all went well! I only did a short 2.3 mile trail loop, so it's hard for anything to go too wrong during such a short run. I followed the run with a 5.5 mile walk on Battle Rd trail with a dear friend. All is fine when I exercise, but immediately following, my uterus decides to tighten a bit. Nothing noteworthy though.

Run: 2.3 miles
Walk: 5.5 miles

22 weeks, 2 days

One more day at the gym, and I'll try running again tomorrow. I did a hard 45 minutes on the elliptical while Zoey was in the gym's day care. It was quick, short, and efficient. More time for us to hit the playground :-) My belly is continuing to tighten, but I'm not inconvenienced by it when exercising, so all is good here.

Elliptical: 45 minutes

22 weeks, 1 day

I like Mondays. I always have. Something about the start of a new week awaiting me... I feel organized, prepared, and eager to make the week count. It's similar to the feelings I have when I think about September 1st. The start of a new academic year. I suppose that's likely due to the fact that my husband and I have both worked in education ever since we stopped being students ourselves. So, today, in a cheerful mood, I walked to the gym, elliptical'ed for 45 minutes, and yoga'ed my tightness away. My body feels tight. It's partially due to having to sleep in funny positions each night, maneuvering around my growing belly, and partially due to doing different types of exercising with weird pressure on various muscles as I grow and grow. Stretching helped. Now, time to buckle down with a manuscript!

Elliptical: 45 minutes
Yoga: Lower

22 weeks

We're at the Cape, so no gym! I hit the bike path for a little wog (walk/jog). I ran the first couple of miles with K, which felt great - I can't remember the last time I ran with a friend! I stopped to stretch for a while. My ankle wasn't great, but running on the bike path was much better than my usual trails, so I could definitely run. I'm noticing my hamstrings are pretty tight, and I'm not sure if it is because of the added belly weight or the new exercising I've been doing on the elliptical. Regardless, it's time to bring back some yoga, so that will be the goal of the week. Also, I think I'll try running on the roads a bit this week, as that felt much easier than trail running.

Run: 4.5 miles

21 weeks, 6 days

As we were heading for the Cape today and had a packed morning before take off, I thought I'd save some time by trying a run rather than going to the gym. I got about 5 minutes out and my ankle was throbbing, so back home I jogged. I definitely achieved my time saving goal, as my exercising for the day took 10 minutes!

Run: 1 mile

21 weeks, 5 days

I was hoping to do a little run today, but my ankle was still acting up, so I hit the elliptical for a nice power hour. Felt good. Zoey behaved. Shower water was warm. Perfect little exercise session.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

21 weeks, 4 days

I thought about trying to run today, but I failed the downstairs test yet again this morning, so I hopped back on the elliptical. I'm a little short on time tomorrow, so I think I'll try a short jog in the morning before Brad goes to work. That'll give me a chance to test out my ankle.

I'm feeling bigger ... belly-wise. Over the past few days, I've been basking in round ligament enjoyment (written sarcastically), so I can tell we're going through a little spurt here. I was a little extra tired on the elliptical today, so I took it easier than usual. Still, did my usual hour, just with less intensity.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

21 weeks, 3 days

I'm happily enjoying a day of writing today. I have a revise and resubmit to attend to and another manuscript that is mid-draft. Writing days are so wonderful - they're peaceful, relaxing, stimulating, and private. Sweet little Zoey slept until 7:30, so my day started a little later than usual. She is usually in daycare by 8 am so I can be done working out by 9:15 and in my office by 10 am, but we're about an hour behind today. I thought I might cut my workout short, but it felt so good to sweat that I did my typical 60 minutes and followed it with a light stretch. No round ligament pain. No ankle pain. I might even try running tomorrow.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

21 weeks, 2 days

With Zoey in the gym's daycare, I did my usual 60 minutes. My ankle is feeling much better, but not perfect yet and I'm trying this new, play-it-safe plan with injuries. So, after I exercised and showered, Zoey and I went from the gym to the playground before lunch. I felt fine at the gym, fine at the playground, fine during Zoey's nap, fine on the car ride into Dedham for a BBQ, fine at a friend's house, fine in the car on the way home, and then, as soon as I got home, holy crazy round ligament pain! But, it's not really pain. It's more like this weird discomfort that is totally localized. During my first pregnancy, I remember not knowing if I was having round ligament pain, because I was never really in pain. Same now - except I've been through this already so I know what is actually happening. Basically, it feels like my uterus is trying to expand but my skin is holding it in. It's a goofy feeling. So, after Brad and I put Zoey to bed, we just chilled out for the rest of the night. We watched our little Jack Bauer guilty pleasure show and went to bed. I was asleep by 10 pm. It was great!

Elliptical: 60 minutes

21 weeks, 1 day

I pushed hard today. Zoey was in daycare and I was feeling guilty about using precious daycare time to exercise when I had 2 manuscripts I needed to get out by the end of the day. So, I pushed. Until about 55 minutes, when I just hit a wall. I cooled down for the last 5 minutes, did a nice long stretch, and spent the rest of the day in my office.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

21 weeks

Today was a great day - it started with the same ol' workout - an hour on the elliptical, followed by Brookline High School's graduation, and ending with a BBQ and play date with some good friends who will be moving soon. They have a young daughter the same age as Zoey, and the two of them are so mischievous and silly together that it is a joy to watch. I was on my feet a lot today, carrying Zoey in the heat for large portions of the day, so I was a little more worn out than usual by the time we got back out to Concord at night.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

20 weeks, 6 days

Family time trumps exercise time today. I did a quick 45 minute stint on the elliptical while Brad and Zoey were at the playground, but I was eager to get back to them.

Elliptical: 45 minutes

20 weeks, 5 days

There are so many reasons why I exercise. The love of sweat. An hour or two to self-indulge. Time to process and make decisions in other parts of life. Time to cycle through recurring weird running fantasies. Time to breathe fresh air. For the last week or so, I've been exercising in the gym, so I haven't been enjoying the 70 degree weather we've been experiencing. I've been spending a lot of time outside during the rest of my day, but nothing beats working up a good sweat outside while sucking in fresh country air. I'm looking forward to getting back to outdoor running. My litmus test is the downstairs walk. If I can walk down the stairs in my home without pain, I'll run. Not there yet.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

20 weeks, 4 days

To celebrate my birthday, I decided to give myself a little extra workout time! So, I did the typical 60 minutes on the elliptical, followed by 40 minutes on the bike. The bike was a little challenging, as my belly kept getting in the way, but it was a nice switch from the elliptical. I think I irritated my ankle a bit on the rotation, so I'll lay off the bike and probably stay with the elliptical for a few more days. I'll try a run this weekend. I'm not really feeling very tired when I'm working out, but I am noticing that I feel more tired throughout the day than I am used to feeling.... when I look back at my last pregnancy's log, I notice the same thing happening back then too.

Elliptical: 60 minutes
Bike: 40 minutes

20 weeks, 3 days

Day 6 of the elliptical, and while I feel my ankle slowly mending, I don't feel a crazy need to get back on the roads. I'm still feeling ankle pain when I go up and down stairs (especially down) but it's pretty mild. Another elliptical session today, followed by yoga.

Elliptical: 60 minutes
Yoga: Lower

20 weeks, 2 days

Fun day with Zoey today. I did a solid hard hour on the elliptical while Zoey played in the gym's daycare. Nothing noteworthy - great to elliptical - I can get in such a good workout without any impact.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

20 weeks, 1 day

Same gig as yesterday. A nice hard 60 minutes on the elliptical. I'll include weights tomorrow.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

20 weeks

Great workout again. I felt a little tired around 55 minutes, and I think it might be because I kept my HR a little closer to 140 this time, which I try not to do too much while pregnant. It just felt so good to sweat.

Elliptical: 60 minutes

19 weeks, 6 days

Great workout, yet again. The elliptical is so easy on my body. I still have limited range of motion in my ankle, but I can slowly stretch it out while on the elliptical. Besides, it feels so great to be able to push hard without having a crazy sack of potatoes weighing down my belly, which is how I feel when I'm running these days.

Elliptical: 60 minutes (it is SO much easier to elliptical than to run these days - I might be getting a better workout with a 60 minute elliptical than a 60 minute run)

19 weeks, 5 days

So, I'll tell you what, it is pretty convenient bagging running for a few days and just hitting the gym. I have a bathroom nearby, my water bottle is always full, I can chill out to an episode of Scandal or work hard to some great tunes... all in a lovely air conditioned room. Given that my ankle is a little busted up, I'm planning to hit the gym for one week. No running for 1 week. That will give me more than enough time to rest my ankle and I'm actually looking forward to the consistency and ease of the gym. I'm a self-identified gym rat by nature - I love to lift, enjoy working out with other people, get pumped up by seeing others working hard, etc. Combine all that with having more time on my hands now that the semester is over, and I'm a happy rat.

Elliptical: 30 minutes hard (I had to leave for graduation by 6 am, and couldn't bring myself to get up before 5... honoring my prioritizing sleep initiative)