Dealing with Running Setbacks-My Experience with Pregnancy and Running

Coach Sarah
Apr 2, 2019
7 min read

Hello, Friends!

It has been quite a while but I am back with a new post! Today, I want to discuss running setbacks and how to deal with them...mentally and physically.

Sometimes, life throws us a curve ball and we have to decide if we want to let it get the best of us or if we want to stand back up and fight. For me, the past year has been filled with blessings and struggles. I'm sure you all can relate.

It all started last summer, when my husband and I found out that we were expecting. We were beyond excited and couldn't wait for the next months to fly by so we could welcome our little man into the world.

At the same time, I was in the thick of marathon training and had just completed my last 20 miler (the weekend before we found out) in preparation for race day 3 weeks later. During that run, I felt unusually tired and sluggish but at the time, I chalked it up to fatigue and possibly over training. After finding out that I was pregnant, that feeling made so much more sense to me as it was something that I had never experienced before. Even though I wasn't feeling quite like myself, I decided that I would see how the next few weeks progressed before deciding if I would make it to race day (which was an 8 hour drive away).

And then it hit me...like a ton of bricks...exhaustion, nausea, dizziness and just feeling weird.

Race day did not happen for me. And the next few months were filled with naps, ginger tea, raw ginger and just trying to make it through the day. I went from running 20 mile long runs, to not running at all. Now, that is a weird feeling.

At first, it was frustrating to me. I wanted to run, but my body just felt like it couldn't. My husband tried to reassure me that it was only temporary and that I would be back to running in no time. This helped for awhile and after a few months, I started to feel better and was able to run a bit. No long runs, but I could manage a 3 or 4 miler which made me beyond happy! And just when I thought I would be that pregnant runner who would run all the way up to her baby's due date with no problems...it hit me again. This time it was extreme pelvic pain. It was crippling. I tried various products such as belly bands and high waisted leggings that were advertised to help with the pain and provide support. After awhile, I decided it wasn't worth it and began to just enjoy taking walks with my husband and pup. Again, my husband reassured me that this was only temporary and I would be back to running again soon.

A couple more months went by. I reached my third trimester and was content. I was excited to meet my son and I found joy in the small things. Like taking a walk with my pup around the trails in our neighborhood. And then it hit me...I started to feel off. I don't even know how to explain the feeling. I started to feel light headed and out of breath easily. I almost felt like I was going to pass out whenever I would walk across the room. I didn't think much of it and continued with my days...continued to enjoy my walks with my pup. Until I went to my next check up and my doctor told me my blood pressure was high. What?!?! High blood pressure?!?! But I'm a runner...or was a runner. I've never had high blood pressure in my life and my resting heart rate was always on the low end of normal. I'm a runner!!!

Then that's when I found out that I might have Preeclampsia and they would have to run further tests to determine if I did have it. Disclaimer: Do not google Preeclampsia as a hormonal and upset pregnant lady...there are too many scary things on the internet and I was a mess reading about them.

For those of you who don't know what Preeclampsia is, it is a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure. The only cure known today is delivery of the baby. And if it is not diagnosed, it can lead to serious and fatal complications for mama and baby.

Since I was not familiar with the condition, I ignorantly asked if I could change my diet or exercise to help. Nope, if I had it, nothing would help but bed rest and the only cure would be delivery of my baby.

A week or so went by and at my next visit, they discussed my test results with me and diagnosed me with Preeclampsia. Then, I was told to go on bed rest at home. If I didn't comply, I would end up in the hospital on bed rest until my baby was delivered. So, I went home, just a week before Christmas and laid down. I did this for a month straight. I could only get up for the necessities of life. I also had to limit my visitors (to reduce any stress) and I had to take my blood pressure at home every day. I also had to go to the doctor twice a week for a month to make sure everything was okay.

The scary part? They said there was no way to know how bad it would get. So I just had to stick it out, go to my checkups, monitor my BP and call them if I had any issues. I also had to get steroid shots to help my baby's lungs develop in the case that my condition would force them to deliver him pre-term.

Everything sucked.

I was scared.

I was frustrated.

I cried.

I just wanted to be "normal." I wanted to enjoy pregnancy. I wanted to enjoy running while pregnant. I even got a Runner's World magazine in the mail with a pregnant runner on the cover and an article discussing pregnancy and running and how she raced up to her baby's due date.

Cue the tears!

Why couldn't I do that!?

I had never dealt with this much of a running setback in my life. I had to learn to be tough and stick it out. It was only temporary. It was only temporary. It was only temporary. Those words were on repeat in my mind as I cried over everything-the wellbeing of my baby and the unknown of how or when he would come into this world; the loneliness of bedrest; missing out on Christmas parties and celebrations due to my bedrest and restriction on visitors (it was supposed to be the happiest time of the year); the frustration of experiencing high blood pressure and the side effects of Preeclampsia such as headaches and seeing spots; and dealing with insomnia, especially while being on bedrest. I felt stuck and so irritated. I dreamt of how next year would be. I dreamt of having a Christmas celebration with my little one and my family. I dreamt of running all of the holiday races I could fit into my schedule.

I tried to stay focused. And then it hit me. There is so much more to life than worrying. There is so much more to life than feeling sorry for myself. Even though I still struggled and felt useless as my husband was running around the house-cleaning, cooking and preparing for our little one's arrival, I tried to find ways to focus on others.

I focused on coaching my clients. I focused on their goals. And I lived vicariously through them.

I realized that this was just one setback that life threw at me and I was damn well determined to make sure that it would not get me down. It was just temporary. I thought about how lucky I was-things could be a lot worse. And I thought about how there are so many others that are dealing with way worse situations. I should feel blessed for what I have.

I counted down the days. And on January 14th, we welcomed our little man into our lives.

Today, as I'm writing this...it is hard to believe that was almost three months ago. Time flies, it truly does.

I won't ever forget the way I felt but it definitely seems silly now. Again, there is so much more to life.

Moral of the story: if you don't like something, if you are feeling down or defeated, if you are sure that the world is against you and things will never be the same again...just stop. Stop and think for a second. It is only temporary. Whatever setback you might be facing at the moment will end. Will it matter in a month, a year, or five years? Don't let it suck the joy out of your life. Find joy in whatever you can. And dream of your future. It really isn't that far away!

So...am I back to running? Has the joy of running returned to my life? Will I be running any races this year?

The answers are no, yes and I'm not sure.

I am walking and recovering from my experience. I am taking it slow and not rushing my body to get back to where it was. I want to make sure that I am fully ready to return to my life of running. I am in no hurry to sign up for a race. I don't know when I'll be ready. Running will always welcome me back whenever I'm ready...and that's what I love about this sport.

As for now, I am walking, running a little and walking some more. I am discovering a new way of running and enjoying it. Maybe Jeff Galloway's "run walk run" method will be my new normal.

I hope my story will help you get through whatever you might be facing.

Just remember...