Photo by Kristin Anderson / Vail Daily

Eight weeks to the day after delivering both of my children, I have participated in my first race.  It was the Beaver Creek Vertical Challenge with Ellen Miller after Juniper and the Vail Rec District Hammer in the Hay this time.  I didn’t feel amazing at either race but enjoyed the effort and being back racing.

Thanks to our amazing friend Kerry White and her parents (in from Australia), both Ian and I were able to race.  After a couple nursing sessions for Axel we were on our way.  For the first time, I lined up in the back of the group of starters – Women’s Pro and Men’s Vet Expert.  It was fun to have Ian line up next to me and even better to see him weave through the group to the front of the pack (while I stayed in the back sucking in lots of dust).

By the end of the four lap race, I was one of the last racers on the course and I finished third (out of three finishers since one girl decided to drop out).  I felt like I was hours behind everyone since I couldn’t really see anyone else, but I finished only one and a half minutes behind second place and about five minutes behind first.  Although many men beat me that don’t normally, it was awesome to be racing with friends again and getting my heart going.

Ian finished in a strong fifth although I think he could have been third or fourth if he had started with the front of the pack and not pulled two guys to the finish so they could pass him at the line.  Our friend and Honey Stinger co-owner/team captain, Len Zanni, took top honors in the Men’s Pro in a field of super strong racers.  Nice job boys!

Hammer in the Hay results can be viewed here.  Vail Daily article here.

Since this was a training race, I continued this morning with my training from Lindsay at Carmichael Training Systems.  This meant an hour run with five 3-minute hill repeats.  Yep, officially whooped from racing last night and running hill repeats in 80 degree weather but it’s all worth it!

Although I will be taking today and tomorrow off from training, I have had a great and active pregnancy.  I went for a trail run as recently as Wednesday, skied last Sunday, hiked with Juniper in the pack on Thursday and Friday, and rode my bike yesterday.  Yes, I’m extremely thankful I was able to do all this right until the end.

I have said it all along (and acted on it) but I feel very strongly that pregnancy is not a disease and not a reason to stop exercising.  I have slowed and brought the intensity down significantly but have made sure to get out do what I love whenever I had the energy.  Some of my friends and family think I’m crazy and that I should enjoy the time off but that would be miserable for me.

I’m looking forward to meeting the newest addition to our family and enjoying some time getting to know him.  Then I will be itching to get back in shape as soon as possible and add some intensity to my training again.

Spring skiing has officially begun and since the little man has decided to stay put in my belly, we decided to take full advantage of much warmer temperatures today.  After skiing some runs with the kiddos, the adults set up a great barbecue along the parking lot at West Buttermilk to basque in the sun and hang out.

Sufficiently full of food and fun, Ian headed out for another great road ride on the way home.  It was so nice out this afternoon that I couldn’t hold back and had to get out for a ride myself once Ian made it home.  It was my first road ride alone this year (no Chariot, no husband) and it was great to be out again.  Despite a case of major indigestion and heartburn on my ride, it made me less anxious for the delivery of this child.  I’ve been enjoying riding so much right now and am not looking forward to the break that I will need to take once he is born.  The longer he stays put, the more riding I can do.  Selfish? Yes, but healthier for all involved!

Anniversary Ride - 36.5 weeks pregnant

Juniper and I made it out for a gorgeous ride this afternoon and even were able to meet up with Ian for awhile.  What an awesome way to spend our anniversary – preggo riding!

Also celebrating our anniversary today. Happy Anniversary to the best dad!

I’ve made it past the point in my last pregnancy when Juniper was born which is a good thing for baby but tough on my mind.  I kind of feel like I’m past due at this point and very ready for the delivery.  But since that is probably still another week or two away, I’ve been taking advantage of the warm and sunny days.

I enjoyed a nice muddy four mile trail run yesterday and am prepping for a road ride with Juniper in a little while (before the 8-18″ of snow comes back tomorrow).  At this point, I’m realizing more everyday how lucky I am to still be able to be this active this late in the pregnancy.  Although I’ll admit I’m a bit cranky to still be pregnant, at least I have my running and riding to keep me same.  Hopefully I can continue right up to delivery day this time as well!

Juniper and I hiked up the Scout Trail in Glenwood Springs this morning for a great steep hike as well as to see how the snow is melting up there.  Despite only dirt showing behind us in the photo, the trail is nowhere near dry and is surprisingly very snowy.  About four or five years ago, Ian, myself and a few  friends decided to ride Forrest Hollow to the Scout Trail in late March.  After a very warm March that year, the Scout Trail was very dry but Forrest Hollow became a trek through rotten snow with our bikes.

I’m not sure the Scout Trail will be ready this year at the end of the month but I’m psyched to be out hiking it while the weather is so nice.  Hiking will become difficult with both kids as I’m not sure anyone makes a double pack or that I would actually want to carry one.  With just four weeks left until the due date (and only a few days until the mark when Juniper joined the world) I hope to get some more hiking in mixed with some good runs and road rides.

We’ve also been enjoying the plowed bike path between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale both for road rides for Ian and I as well as for Juniper to get out on her Strider.  I’ve been getting in some training when I have the time and energy which is most days but every once in a while I just need to succumb to the couch.  I actually swam yesterday for the first time in this pregnancy and didn’t feel too slow.

Now that the snow is falling again and the rocks have destroyed the commute to work, I’ll be working from home and cherishing the extra time with Juniper.

And here is the belly shot at 35 weeks that many of you have been asking for.

Exhausted from an epic day of skiing.

I’m not sure this pregnancy has gone fast per say but I do only have six weeks left to my due date.  And the scary thing is I only have two weeks

left to the point when Juniper was born.  Let’s hope this little guy holds on a bit longer than she did.

Since our trip to Florida a few weeks ago and getting back on the road bike a bunch, I’ve been riding the bike a lot more.  Unfortunately all these rides have been inside on the trainer but with the miles put in while in Florida, I am feeling very good on the bike.  Maybe I’ll be able to get in enough base miles before the baby is born that after a few weeks off the bike I’ll still feel decent.  I’ve also been getting out for some snowy trail runs a few times a week and am really psyched to still be running.  I ran and rode right up until the day Juniper was born and I hope I will feel well enough this time to continue for the next month or so.

Juniper has also been keeping me very active and skiing as much as possible.  We skied both days last weekend, this past Friday and all day today.  I’m sure if we had time, we would be up at the mountain at least three or four days a week.  Today she dragged the adults through the tree runs using her short skis as an advantage and laughing hard when one adult happened to fall down.

I can only guess that two kids will make all the activities of training and playing more fun and exhausting.  I’m looking forward to it!

Although I haven’t gotten much running in the past few days due to a cold, tons of new snow and an aching ankle, I have been able to ride the trainer, get the car stuck again and ski a few days.  The sun is starting to shine through the clouds today so I’m hoping to get my pregnant self motivated and out the door!