Monday, February 25, 2013

Into the Third Trimester Already!

I cannot believe how quickly this pregnancy is going and that I am already into my third trimester. I am now 29 weeks pregnant and life has not changed much since my last post. So far my luck of a smooth and easy pregnancy has continued. Ive managed to still be able to stay very active and be able to either run or racewalk every day. Im doing around 80-90km's per week and feeling good. I even go to the gym up to 3 times a week in the afternoon to go on the elliptical or bike and to do some light weights. Im so thankful to be able to still stay so active, otherwise I think I would go absolutely crazy.

Life being pregnant is very different compared to how I have lived the past few years. Usually everything I for training consumes most of my day and now that I cant train as much as I usually do, I have been kind of bored. Luckily I was able to go back home to Peterborough for a week to visit my family, have a baby shower and be at a friend's wedding. It was so great to be there but im sad that I wont see my sisters again until this summer, a few months after the baby is born. I did a fun interview with PMZ when I was home on "Are You Faster than a Pregnant Olympian?". You can watch the video here: After a great week at home, my sister Renee and I headed to Miami for a cruise to the Bahamas. It was nice to go on a last vacation before I have my baby girl in tow everywhere I go.

Now that I am over 6 months pregnant, my baby bump is finally starting to show and im not just looking like I am pudgy around my waist. Since you are slowly gaining weight every month or week, I really wanted to at least LOOK pregnant. Before I was pregnant, I didnt think I would care about the weight gain but being an athlete, it is very difficult gaining so much weight since usually I am trying to control it. I do, however, put the weight gain into perspective and know that it is necessary for the baby to grow.

This weekend will be my last flight before the baby is born and we are headed to Albuquerque, NM for the USATF Indoor Championships. Now that everyone is starting to race again, I wish I could be out there too but im trying to save all that fire I have to race so that I can make a strong comeback next year. Even though I miss the heavy training and racing, I am trying to enjoy the time off that I have because I know that I will have to work very hard over the next 3 years to get back on the Olympic team in 2016. I am feeling very optimistic that I will be able to come back fairly quickly after giving birth and I can't wait!

Keep on walking,

Rachel