If I’m being honest with all of you, then I have to admit something: I’m feeling very overwhelmed. There’s a lot going on, both at home and at work, and everything just seems to all be happening all at once. I feel like I’m burning the candle at both ends of the stick.
Part of my feeling overwhelmed is because we were on the go every moment of this past weekend. Most of our weekend was spent at childbirth class, where almost every topic dealing with childbirth that you can think of was covered over the course of two days. To say this weekend was information overload is an understatement. The only remaining class we have to take that wasn’t covered this weekend is infant CPR, which we plan to take next month.
In addition, to childbirth class, we also had our usual weekend errands and household chores to take care of. I also had a large stack of essays to grade for school. Oh, and its the last week of the quarter at school this week, and I have a parent conference, doctor’s appointment, or test retakes scheduled for every day after school this week. There’s also the pressure from parents to get assignments graded as quickly as possible (even though quarter grades aren’t due to school administration until next Tuesday).
Because of everything going on, my fitness was the first thing to take a back seat this week. Not only did I struggle to fit in my planned workouts over the weekend, but we also had unseasonably warm weather the last half of the week, and on Wednesday and Thursday I came home from work with extremely swollen feet, to the point that it hurt to walk on them. Not only did needing to put my compression socks on and put my feet up put a damper on my workout plans, but our early mornings for childbirth class followed by busy afternoons and evenings made it difficult as well. I would have loved to workout before childbirth class, but the sun rose too late making it unsafe to do so outside, and our gym only opened 30 minutes prior to the start of class on both Saturday and Sunday.
To say I’m feeling a bit unprepared for Rock ‘n’ Roll Philly, which is five short days away, is an understatement. My longest run/walk since Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach back on September 6th was my nine miler last weekend. My cardio training over the past several weeks has also been inconsistent. I know I’m 31 weeks pregnant and should be “okay” with not being able to do as much as I’d like to, but I’m having a very difficult time accepting that. Its so difficult when mentally you want to be able to do it all, but physically you just can’t.
My physical limitations were not only put to the test on Wednesday and Thursday when I had to put my feet up, but I also had to cut my run short Friday evening due to round ligament pain. After 2.5 miles, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to continue running through the pain for the last half mile that I had planned, and at 2.71 miles decided that I needed to walk the rest of the way home. This has me reevaluating how to approach Saturday’s race, and on one or two runs this week I plan to test out a different run/walk interval than what I’ve been using lately.
Though I didn’t workout as much as I would have liked to this past week, I’m trying to remind myself that at this point in my pregnancy any workouts are better than none at all.
Smiling through the pain after having to cut Friday evening’s run short
Mon 10/19 – Rest day
Tues 10/20 – 30 minutes on the elliptical, 0.32 mile cool down walk, kettlebell squat swings, abs, arms, shoulders, back
Wed 10/21 – 1.88 mile walk with Riley
Thurs 10/22 – Rest day
Fri 10/23 – 2.71 mile run, 0.71 mile cool down walk
Sat 10/24 – Rest day
Sun 10/25 – Rest day
Total Weekly Mileage – 8.17 miles (7.24 miles less than week 6)
Total RnRPhilly Mileage – 70.60 miles
QOTD: How do you manage your stress when you feel overwhelmed?
I think this is life’s way of preparing you for being a mom. Multitasking, feeling overwhelmed, juggling a bunch of balls in the air…it’s all part of the fun! Hang in there, mama! You’ve got this!
Thanks for the support, Wendy.
All of the childbirth classes and info can be really overwhelming! Take a deep breath. Just try to enjoy the process. All of this prepares you for being a mom-it’s always hectic you just got to go along for the ride. You got this!!
Thanks Deborah.
It will all be worth it when Baby Thayer makes his appearance – and when you tell him you crossed a finish line whether running walking or crawling, he’ll be impressed by his mama!
Thanks! I certainly hope he’s proud of his mama. 🙂
All I can say is hang in there. I remember how hectic school was as a student but since I played sports, I had my way of blowing off stress before heading home.
And that’s exactly why I’m going to try and not let my work stress overtake my fitness priorities.
It always gets really hard just before it gets better. I wouldn’t give backing off some of your workouts a second thought. Hang in there!
Thanks Marcia!
You are doing an amazing job keeping up with life and staying active during your pregnancy. Don’t be too hard on yourself! Like you said, any movement is better than no movement, and the fact that you’re doing a half at 31 weeks pregnant is pretty incredible, even if you walk the whole thing!
Thanks Nicole. I’m trying to remain optimistic that I can run at least a couple of miles of Saturday’s race.
Sorry to hear it’s been tough to balance training with everything else going on at home and at work. But you know what your body will need come race day – I’m sure you’ll do great! It’s not easy, but try not to be so hard on yourself!
Thanks Janelle. I know that we’re all often our worst critic.
Sorry to hear that you are feeling a bit overwhelmed. I’m sure that is expected with everything that you have going on. None the less I think you are doing a great job while juggling everything. Just relax and know that this race will be a sense of accomplishment by just completing it. You go girl!
Thanks Lacey!
You are doing great. Be kind to yourself and rest when you need to. It’s ok to take breathers and regroup.
When I’m overwhelmed, I try to make lists, compartmentalize and just tick things off my list, one at time. It doesn’t always work out, but it helps give me some feelings of control.
Take your time at RnR Philly. You’ll be great!
Making lists and crossing things off has definitely been helpful, especially since I’ve been having difficulty with remembering everything that needs to be done.
Usually I run to manage my stress however if I’m feeling overwhelmed I stop everything! I get the basics done: food, take care of my daughters, clean clothing and that’s about it. I cross off things that are out of my control until I can manage them again. Usually, I don’t give up working out but it could change from running at home to a run/walk at lunch time. Those things that can wait…wait.
Yes, I’m definitely trying to prioritize what needs to be done now and what can hold off.
Don’t be so hard on yourself girl! Your body is working hard growing a baby! You will do great at the race…it just won’t be the type of race you could do pre pregnancy and that’s ok! You are still out there doing it! Proud of you girl!
Thanks Mindy!
I have no idea how you do all you do, you are amazing! Hopefully you’ll get some cooler weather soon, and the feet will enjoy it!
I do the same thing if it makes you feel better, I get myself involved in so many things and then just as I think I am on top of it all, life decides to throw me one of it’s famous curve balls and throws everything out of orbit and I have to regroup and prioritize! You just take care of yourself and that sweet baby to come, and let everything else fall into the blanks where it may:) Better said than done, but go for stress free as possible!
Definitely trying to focus on limiting the stress, Kristy. I know that its not good for myself and the baby.
I think you are amazing. You’ve stayed strong with your training when many mamas to be would have slowed way down. It’s so important now to listen to your body and do what’s right for you and your baby.
Thanks for the support, Debbie.
i hear ya, girl! Just wait until you add a baby to the mix. Fitness (and the blog) sure have taken a hit in my life after having my baby!
Understandable. I’m sure my fitness and my blog will also take a back seat once he’s here.
I”m with you and feeling overwhelmed. Everything seems to have culminated into the past weekend and into this week. You have such a great attitude!
Definitely trying to focus on what I can do, one step at a time.
Oh yea, multitasking at it’s best! I know you don’t want to hear this, but have you thought about maybe NOT doing the race? You know it would be totally ok to do that 😉 Don’t put too much pressure on yourself!
I have thought about it, as well as just walking the entire race. We’ll see how I’m feeling on Saturday.
You’re totally still kicking butt! It has been so inspiring to watch your journey and to see that you haven’t let anything get in your way of doing your races and doing them your way.
Thanks Becki!
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