Why I Hate Running & Why I Keep Running

It’s Friday so I decided it’s a good day to be completely honest. We’ll call it honesty Friday (I just made that up).

Let’s just saying running isn’t my favorite past time these days. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I used to love running. It was my mental escape and something I had to do nearly everyday, and sometimes more than once a day, in order to be sane, calm, and collected. It was my stress release.

Lately though it’s an activity I drag myself out of bed for. Why has it become something I dread nearly every morning? Well in short I am prego, as you all know. Running when you’re pregnant isn’t entirely fun, at least for me it isn’t.

The first trimester was met with fatigue, nausea and vomiting. I kept running high miles through this trimester, because I was training for Boston and didn’t know I was pregnant for some time. Everyone said the second trimester would be so much easier…..

Second trimester comes around, and I am already having to pee at least once on nearly every run (and sometimes more). I was even more tired, and left with horrible headaches. I can say there were a 2-3 weeks where I felt so much better than the first trimester and didn’t mind running while pregnant. It didn’t even feel as if I was pregnant.

Then as I got further along into the second trimester, and my baby became heavier, running became more of a chore than a fun activity. I felt horrible pressure from the baby’s weight, and was reminded over and over again “you’re not even that big, you have no idea.” Well frankly, I had every idea. I guess the “small” that I was, was and is too much for my tiny frame.

(On a lighter note, here’s a photo from a 5K we did on Wednesday…it was a little wet. It was one of my better runs….can you tell?? Looks like I am thoroughly enjoying myself……)

Most of my runs are spent complaining, stopping to pee, complaining, walking out round ligament pain for 30 or so seconds, stopping to pee again, and running through painful pressure and round ligament pain. I am sure my husband enjoys all of this. And my 7 minute pace soon became a 8 minute pace.

Third trimester hit, and I knew it wasn’t going to get any better. Baby girl is only getting bigger, my round ligament pain sharper and now back pain. I know poor me. I am not trying to have a pity party, because I know I am not the only woman who has had these experiences in pregnancy. I now respect mothers so much more, and moms who run during pregnancy that much more.

I envy those moms who loved running during pregnancy and said it was only uncomfortable the last month of so of pregnancy. Well I hate running……and I have been uncomfortable for more than half my pregnancy.

So why do I do it? It’s simple….One, I am addicted to running and the rush and high I get from it after my runs done. Two, it’s still a time for me to release some stress, even though on some occasions I feel it causes more. Three, I love the feeling after I complete a run or workout. I feel great, besides the wobble up the stairs from the pain during the run.

There was lots of wobbling after Wednesday’s race

I have this love/hate relationship with running. I am 31 weeks pregnant and wish I could enjoy running as much as I used to. I wish I could go back to the mornings where I would literally fly out of bed, eager to get my running shoes on and head out the door.

So, I hate the act of running on most mornings, but I love the accomplishment, the views, the sunrises and the challenge running blesses me with. 

I know in a couple of months, I will be a stronger runner because of all this. I will probably appreciate running during pregnancy more then. Believe me, I ask myself sometimes “Why am I running? It’s not even fun.” But then I remember how great it feels to finish the run. You simply can’t get that same feeling by skipping the run.

There are mornings where it’s too painful to run, so I don’t. And ironically enough, I hate that I can’t get out there and run, even though I hate doing it anyways….I know, us runners are weird.

So third trimester running…..well it still sucks. A good run is a run when I don’t have to pee, and the pain isn’t so bad I can actually finish the run without having to stop and walk for a couple seconds or say a word about it. For now, I am going to be content with just that. At least I can do it. I least I can complain about doing it (as horrible as that may sound). Because others aren’t as fortunate. Reason number 4, for why I run. I CAN!! 

Source

So if you were to ask me if I love running while pregnant, I would honestly and bluntly say NO. I rather run not being pregnant any day. But I wouldn’t give it up. Running is apart of me, and with everything else in life, it has it challenges. If we gave up every time we were left with pain, challenges and frustration, we simply wouldn’t get anywhere in life or achieve much of anything. 

So, here’s to many more hate/love filled miles in the next 9 weeks (and hopefully no more that that).

Until Next Time Be Whole and Fit

Has there ever been a time you hated running? Or hated your favorite past time? Thoughts?