Written:  Thursday, 11/10

How we’re growing?:  At 20 weeks, baby’s about the length of a banana (or the size of a gameboy!  Remember those?!) and nearly one full pound!  The bump is definitely growing…

How I’m feeling? / What we’re up to?:  These last couple weeks have been so full of awesome, that all my complaints pale in comparison to the flood of good feelings, joy, and gratitude (get ready for some exclamation points)!

We had such an awesome trip last week, reuniting with so many family and friends!!  The Cubs won the World Series!!  I was able to run a half-marathon at 19+ weeks pregnant!!  And we found out we’re having a baby boy!!!!

Running with Cookie — A Race Recap!:  On Friday, my friend Amanda asked if I wanted her half-marathon bib for Sunday’s Celebration Run.  Without hesitation, I said, “Yes!” then remembered: I’m 19 weeks pregnant, exhausted, and untrained!  I haven’t run more than eight miles since the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half in June… However, I have been running, and (mostly) feeling good.

Jared loaded me up with words of encouragement, and my friend, Eve, gifted me this adorable “Racing For Two” tank, which pumped me up for the race, too.

On the drive to the start, I was still debating my options: A) Drop down to the 10K.  B) Run the half-marathon, but cut the course short, if needed.  Or C) take my time run/walking the entire half-marathon, which has a 3:15 time limit (15:00/mile).  I lined up towards the back of the pack, still undecided, but excitedly (nervously!) hopeful that I could cover the full 13.1 miles in 3-ish hours.

It was a cool, foggy morning, and it started misting as a horn signaled the start of the race.  I took off, filled with emotion as I thought about the theme of the Celebration Run: “We all have something to celebrate.”

I was wearing red for Ruby and purple for Jessica, determined to choose joy for both of those sweet angels.  And of course, I couldn’t stop thinking about my round, growing belly, housing a new life — our second child!  Here we go, baby, I thought, let’s make today awesome…

• Mile 1 – 10:09
• Mile 2 – 10:00
• Mile 3 – 9:50
• Mile 4 – 10:06

Miles 4 and 5 are an out-and-back stretch, where I got to see Jared and Liv two times.  On the first leg, I got hugs.

On the return, Liv hopped in and ran with me.  Look at her fly!

She really wanted to keep running with me, and in the days following the race, she asked me several times why she couldn’t run all 13 miles, too!  One day, Rainbow Dash, one day…

At Mile 5, I started thinking about walk breaks, but I felt good, and kept plodding along — slow, steady, comfortable.  By Mile 8, I was feeling my strongest yet, thinking: Only 5 miles to go! 

• Mile 5 – 10:10
• Mile 6 – 10:17
• Mile 7 – 10:07
• Mile 8 – 10:03
• Mile 9 – 9:52

Between Miles 10 and 11, I was excited to see Jared, blasting a 10-year-old mix CD from our car, and Liv, who couldn’t wait to jump in and run with me again.

Liv was so excited to ask: “Mommy!  Mommy?!  Will you get me a medal at the Finish Line?”  I knew I was going to finish at that point, but continued on, bursting with renewed motivation to collect that medal!

• Mile 10 – 9:58
• Mile 11 – 9:56

Jared and Liv cheered once more as they drove toward the Finish Line and I ran on, starting to feel the ache of fatigue in my hips and back.  My pace slowed a bit, but the final mile around Bonita Cove is thrilling!  The arch of the Finish Line is in sight, the noise and music of the post-race party echoes across the water.  That last mile was my fastest, because I was excited to be done!

• Mile 12 – 10:25
• Mile 13 – 9:34

I pulled out my earbuds, scanning the crowd for Jared and Liv, but never spotted them as I crossed the Finish Line.  Over the loud speaker, the race announcer said: “Here she comes!  Racing for two!”

I collected my medal, filled my arms with snacks for Liv, and ventured off to find my crew, before I even looked at my watch.

Official Finish — 2:11:48 @ 10:03/mile

I was elated just to complete the whole half-marathon, but I’m truly shocked I ran every step, AND averaged 10:03/mile!  Our bodies are amazing, guys!

In the end, Liv was more interested in the frozen yogurt tube I’d picked up than the medal, but she cooperated for a few pics, before we headed home.  I was over-the-moon happy until I realized it was only 9:30AM, and Chipotle wouldn’t open for another 1.5 hours… But Jared picked it up for me for dinner that night.

Celebration Run Half Marathon 2016 – Rundown:

• Finish Time:  2:11:48 (10:03/mile)
• Lifetime Half:  #36
• Dedicated To:  Ruby, Jessica, Sully, Liv, and Baby Cookie
• Spectators:  2 = Jared and Liv
• Fuel:  (pre-race) peanut butter cookie Larabar and (during) grape Nuun
• Post-Race Treat:  Chipotle
• Favorite Mantra:  “Choose joy.”
• Favorite Song:  I Lived by One Republic

“Hope that you spend your days, but they all add up // And when that sun goes down, hope you raise your cup // I wish that I could witness all your joy, and all your pain // But until my moment comes, I’ll say … I did it all”

Weeks 19 & 20 in Review:

• Workouts:  10 runs, 2 walks, 1 yoga session
• Miles with Cookie:  412.6
• Weight gained:  +11 lbs.
• Favorite foods:  Almond Joys, chili, and always, Chipotle (maybe we should name the baby Chipotle Lurie…)
• Cravings:  chili, chili, chili!
  
• Next appointment:  8 days!
• Highlight:  There are too many!  Every bit of our Midwest trip, the Cubs’ win, running with both my babies during the Celebration Half Marathon, and Monday’s ultrasound, followed by Liv telling us: “It’s A Boy!“