It turns out that Baby Borucki actually likes to run. I joined my neighbor and a friend for another Philadelphia YMCA-sponsored 5K on Halloween weekend. The Skeleton Skurry took us through the adorable neighborhood surrounding the Hatboro YMCA and hosted over 600 runners, many of whom came in costume.
It’s important for me to stay in shape during this pregnancy, so I’m maintaining with short runs like this and LOTS of yoga. I’m enjoying the break from my regular workouts, but part of me can’t wait to get back to hitting the weights after the baby comes.
Justin and I have also been getting out for some long walks and hikes. We took a little overnight trip to the Delaware Water Gap recently to hike Mount Tammany and spend the night at The Deerhead Inn, a local bed & breakfast.
I managed to make it up the Red Trail and down the Blue Trail (a 4-mile round trip hike reaching a peak of 1500 vertical feet), but it took about double the time of my last hike up the mountain last year. Pregnancy has slowed me down but hasn’t taken me out. It’s important for me to read my body’s cues of when to slow down, but I can’t let the baby give me an excuse not to exercise at all. It’s as important for the baby as it is for me to maintain my health, stamina, and endurance for the physical stresses of childbirth and raising a newborn.
Now it takes a full day of rest after a race or a big hike like this, but it’s always worth it. I feel so good about myself and my body. Physical exercise works wonders for the self-esteem, which is often challenged while going through a dramatic body-changing event like pregnancy. Big accomplishments, like reaching the top of a rocky mountain, give me something to celebrate beyond the baby – something to celebrate that came from my efforts alone.
So now I have another badge and t-shirt to add to my race collection, and I’ll keep putting 5Ks on the agenda (though I’m sure I’ll be going a bit slower with each race) – next up, the Thanksgiving Day “Gobble Wobble”!
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