7.77 Miles at 13 weeks

Call me crazy but this is exactly what I did yesterday. I marked my milestone of getting to the second trimester by running the 7@7 endurance race held at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, NY.  Its a challenging Trail run consisting of Trail, Gravel, grass. If I would've known the elevation profile of this race prior, I probably wouldn't have done it!

I was already signed up to do this race prior to me finding out I was pregnant. I was going back and forth in my head if I wanted to do it because the forecast said it was going to be hot, its a trail run, which is definately harder than road running. I woke up Race morning at 6 and debated, then finally made up my mind to do it and took off from the house at 6:30, getting there 5 min before the start of the race. I ate on the way there to the race, nothing big, just enough to settle my stomach, fruit and toast.

we started on the sandy beach, ran around the boat house and into the trails. From then on it was all about keeping my heart rate under control. It was harder than I thought it was going to be. For some strange reason my heart rate was all over the place, even though I was not panting and having a conversation with a girl that I ran most of the way with, only to have her leave me in the last quarter mile! Ha ha! thats ok, we stuck it out together and it was fun to talk with her.

There were some tough climbs, I had to walk them for fear I would slip or my heart rate would soar. Most of this was in a lonely field by the park. It was kind of boring and you really had to keep your mind active. There was nothing to see but fields, Black flies were all around you. Trail running is certainly way different than road running. I would have to say though, this course was well marked. I think there could've been some more water stops and maybe some offering gatorade/gels as it was hot and muggy out. I think there was only a total of 4 or 5 water stops. Thank goodness I brought my own!

I was tired by the end and ready to be done with the race. I had a huge blister starting on my Right heal as I wore my new trail shoes. I thought I had a twig or something caught in my shoe but when I stopped and looked it was actually a nice big blister forming.

My time was slow, I was the back of the packer, but hey I did it! 1:39:something

Me on the Left with Friends J and B

Entering into the trails~

The Heartbreak Hill

And another one I had to walk up

Beatutiful Scenery here in the park

The small Baby "bump"