Living Vicariously

So you're a fellrunner and you're off running. That much is apparent. What to do, to retain the contact with the ace community of runners I love so much? I signed up to help out at some events in this 'third trimester/really actually quite pregnant now' phase a while back, figuring that I'd not be racing and I would enjoy being part of events as a helper.

First up, the Stockport Trail Half Marathon on 28th February, a cracking race organised by local lad Tony Ward who goes by the name Crazylegs Events. You have to like a guy who gives out soap on a rope as a medal. I spent the best part of a chilly yet sunny Sunday pointing a few hundred runners up a small incline on a trail near the Macclesfield Canal. Oh and a stint being 'hello please park your car over there'. Enjoyed it thoroughly, shouting sarky comments at runners I know,telling folks I know at the sharp end what position they were running in and making friends with passing supporters. Always a bonus to be outdoors and walking about a bit too. 

Last weekend, I marshalled at Glossop Parkrun and then on a bit of a whim, accepted a lift over to Hayfield with two clubmates who were off to race the Chicken Run event , organised for the benefit of the school there. I wanted a walk that day, so planned to wander up part of the race route and see the race pass by me. It was a dry clear day and after checking the race map, I headed up via Park Hall opposite the Lantern Pike inn, along the path onto the moor. As I climbed steadily and happily, I noticed the grouse butts (usually I think I'd be going too quickly to see them!) and realised they'd make good sheltered spots from which to get pictures of the ascending runners, with Lantern Pike and the village of Hayfield in the background.

After a quick off-trail bash across the heather to startle the grouse, I settled in Butt 6, ate my excellent Eccles Cake from the bake sale at the school, then very soon the runners arrived. Once again I really enjoyed seeing familiar faces and shouting encouragement as they neared the top of a pacey climb. I trotted down and came across a race marshal, had a chat and then hung about helping her to spot numbers on the runners as they joined the return leg back to Hayfield. I can confirm it is very much more difficult to read a race number on a leg than on a torso. 

I had a great time doing that and will try to do so at another race again soon - it's my 'passive fellrunning' fix, and a walk in the hills is always a good thing. Especially with Eccles Cakes. My pictures didn't come out too badly either. 

The Bump is now getting pretty hefty and I can't say I regret stopping running at all. I'm suffering days where I'm not much use to man nor beast, and stumble round sleepily, looking at food and gobbling it up. The baby is confounding and entertaining me with its contortions, hiccups, kicks and headbutts (yes, headbutts). I've managed to control my bloatey indigestion a bit by eating small plates of less wheat-based stuff in the evenings, which makes for interesting evening meals. An example tonight being some polenta, some parma ham, a kiwi and some leftover roast veggies. Plus one Thornton's chocolate for pudding. 10 weeks or so, and the Bump should be here in person, then I can headbutt it back. 

Stop Sign

I knew I was having a good run of it (no pun intended ha!) , I knew I was lucky and it wouldn't last forever. It happened. I went out for a club pack run about three weeks ago and it felt quite uncomfortable. I soldiered on, with encouragement from the other runners and my partner Alan who'd decided to make a rare appearance at a club run. I was thankful he was there, as after about 40 minutes I'd had enough, and we broke off from the route and headed home. The next morning - pain. Lower bump achey pain and groin-ey area pain whilst walking. I was a bit worried. I have always said, if it hurt, I would stop, and this was a sure stop sign.
I called Lynne from Global Therapies who assured me that it was strain in my ligaments/groin, lay off running for a while, and sound advice to call the GP if the pain got worse. Thanks Lynne for picking up the phone when you were on a weekend off!

Since then I've tried a couple of short jog/walks up a hill and down wearing a 'bump support' which a recent-new-mum-runner friend kindly gave me. These outings went OK and resulted in only mild versions of the same pain. I've also been way more careful with my pacing and how I hold my pelvic area, as well as stretching. I've been very busy at work again and to be honest haven't missed running. The jog/walks keep my desire to be outdoors satisfied and my strength training sessions give me a bit of the 'exercise high'.

We went on holiday too, to Morocco, and the bump expanded at a rate of knots, fuelled by tagines and mint tea. With the increasing size and weight, even walking around the medinas of Marrakech and Essaouira necessitated careful pelvic positioning to avoid a sore back. There were some quite uncomfortable days where I swear I could feel my abdominal muscles coming slowly apart. Swimming was great, it got my heart beating and my muscles clicked into familiar action, it felt good. I now need to ensure I work swims into my weekly routine. My regular swimsuit definitely does not fit (as it did a month ago) and once more I've benefitted from a hand-me-down - a maternity swim top which goes with some 'regular' swim shorts nicely.

I'd like to stick with the easy paced run/walks though I need to think carefully about routes, I haven't got any in my repertoire short enough but will figure something out. I am going to head to parkrun tomorrow and have a stern word with myself about keeping very slow pace, and walking all the uphills. Glossop parkrun is a good safe bet for me, being three laps, so if I feel sore after two I can stop. I like the convivial atmosphere and it'll make me feel as though I'm 'still a runner' though in reality that has now changed - I am getting used to the idea that for the coming four months or so, I'm in a new category of athletes club called 'pregnant and post-birth'. One thing which definitely keeps me going is the constant changes to my body, and the new things I am learning about what it and the baby are doing as time continues on towards 'the big event', and how I can help increase the chances of that event running more smoothly.