I’m Pregnant!

Andrew and I are ecstatic to announce we are expecting our first child. Although we are announcing the pregnancy early, it seems fair to let my “team” in this sport know. I felt it important to share the news with my friends at ASICS, the New York Road Runners, Competitor, GARMIN, and my Mammoth Track Club teammates.  The running community is small and with mass communication, it isn’t easy to keep such a big secret.  So, we are putting it out there.  No rumors, just straight to the facts.  Andrew and I are expecting our first child in March.  In the past we have always chosen to postpone being parents, but this has been more rewarding than I ever imagined.  We don’t know if it is a boy or girl, but after seeing such a strong heartbeat, we are hoping the baby has my VO2max and Andrew’s speed.

Yes, there are risks involved with my age, but I feel great, other than being tired.  Actually, the exhaustion I was feeling caused me to take a blood test that confirmed what was causing my fatigue. I have stopped all hard workouts and still feel more tired than during marathon training. Being pregnant is more exhausting than running over 120 miles a week!  I will shamelessly admit that an easy 45-minute run can encourage two naps in a single afternoon.  I was really good at sleeping during marathon training, but I am bringing it to a whole new level.

Aside from needing extra sleep, I feel great.  I have necessarily changed my goals for the year and have pulled out of this year’s ING New York City Marathon.  New York is where I had my marathon debut in 2001 and it has been a dream of mine to win that race some day.  I have also had to plan ahead on the 2012 Olympic Trials and Olympic Games.  With the baby coming in March I will have more than 10 months to whip myself back into shape in order to make my fourth Olympic team.  I am fortunate to have such a supportive husband who is ready to take on the challenge with me.  So, a lot has changed with us in the previous weeks, but we are excited, flexible and happy to take on this new goal of being great parents and at the same time being successful with our running passion.  We look forward to getting a baby jogger,  our extra “carry-on”, and bringing up a child in this fantastic sport of ours.