First trimester running

Curious about my relationship with running over the course of my pregnancy? Here’s how it went in my first trimester.

Overall, I was shocked at how my relationship to running changed in my first trimester of pregnancy.  I went from training with a running coach doing super fun workouts to run-walk intervals.


But first, let’s be clear, I’m not an elite/sub-elite runner in the lead pack pacing 5:30/mile over the course of the marathon.  I’m an amateur competitive, female, 40+ runner who’s best marathon pace was 8:16/mile.  Pre-baby, I worked as a full-time massage therapist, yoga therapist and yoga teacher with odd hours.  Because of my wacky schedule, don’t train with a super cool NYC running crew.  But, I do have a smart, grounded, VDOT running coach who helped me race my first Boston qualifying time.  His workouts were THE BEST: 2x2 miles threshold pace followed by 1x1 mile at threshold pace; 18-mile interval long runs; 2x6 miles at marathon goal pace...all with warm up and cool down miles.  (I can’t wait to get back to it!) 

If my baby is the size of a blueberry, surely my pace and training wouldn’t skip a beat?  Right?  Wrong. First trimester I experienced a great deal of nausea and fatigue. I reached out to my coach to let him know I couldn’t keep up with a workout schedule anymore.  On one occasion, I treated myself to a five mile bridge run.  Two hours later, I was in the fetal position in bed exhausted and nauseous.  I learned that the increased levels of the hormones progesterone, estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), were the cause of this.  I also learned that the blood levels in my body were increasing, making my heart work harder and causing shortness of breath.  

All of these years, I thought the most challenging part of pregnancy would be the final trimester.  Little did I know how many females struggle to get through the first three months.  Added to that, most pregnant people wait to share the good news until the second trimester, and you can’t even see a growing belly.  To me it seemed like I was keeping a big secret while I suffered in silence.

I will say that one of the positive changes in my relationship to running was running for enjoyment, fun and to feel good.  In the immediate moments after my run I felt exhilarated rather than worn-out and stressed about my performance.  I wasn’t tied to a coaching schedule anymore.  I could head out whenever it worked for my schedule that day.  I truly enjoyed warming my body up in the crisp winter air during all of those January and February mornings.  I decided that four miles at a time was enough for me.  What’s more, my achilles tendon pain went away!

Amanda Kerpius