I once did a half-marathon while 5 weeks pregnant. That may be my second most memorable pregnancy experience. The first, of course, was the
birth of Umi which I would like to think was akin to completing a full marathon.
I was one of the 288 21-km runners of the Corregidor International Half Marathon (CIHM) on 10 December 2011. And no one knew, at least those in the race—even my running companions, that I was already 5 weeks pregnant. I finished 15th from the last, with a time of 3 hours 34 minutes and 23 seconds.
What follows is my recollection of how I found myself running towards the finish line one remarkable day.
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| Ultrasound at 4 weeks |
9 days before CIHM. I
learned about my pregnancy a week before CIHM 2011. My first ultrasound
indicated that I was 4 weeks pregnant. The doctor immediately prescribed Duphaston
for the developing fetus to hold on and advised me to stop any strenuous
activity until the second trimester. The latter came as a shock to me as I was
then at the height of my running and yoga activities. I just resumed yoga in
April and running in July after recovering from a surgical operation due to
endometriosis in February. In November, I completed my first half-marathon with
Run United and was very excited to try a more hilly terrain for my second
half-marathon with CIHM. So there I was, reluctant to follow my doctor’s advice.
The running superwomen. I searched for information on running and pregnancy in the internet. And there
I learned about the likes of Amber Mills, who completed a full marathon a few hours before she gave birth. Of course, there are those running divas Paula Radcliffe
and Kara Goucher who trained for their races while pregnant. Definitely, marathoner pregnant women exist
and have given birth to healthy babies. Yet, we also know that these pregnant
women did not reach the finish line with an overnight’s work. They have been running
way before they became pregnant; thus, running while pregnant is no longer new
to their bodies. They also admit to have decreased the intensity of their runs—distance-
or speed-wise—during their pregnancy. But they continued running, nonetheless.
If others can, why can’t I? So I thought to myself, “if others can, why can’t I?” But it wasn’t
really that easy a decision. Especially that the doctor thought I had a
sensitive first trimester. However, apart from the mild cramping that I
occasionally experienced that time, which could be due to the stretching of the
uterus to adjust to the growing fetus, I felt fine. Also, I was still very
eager to exercise and my body seemed to be cooperating. On the following week
that I learned about my pregnancy, I still attended Vinyasa yoga until my
instructor advised me to put my yoga practices on hold until the end of my
first trimester. I discussed with R my plan of joining CIHM. R and I both
agreed that my body had been accustomed to running—having progressed from 10 kilometers
in July to 21 kilometers in November (and even running way back) —and we believed
that it would do no harm to Umi (the name of our growing baby) if I run about
10 kilometers in CIHM at a slow pace. I just had to be more aware of my body as
I run; never attempt to go beyond my limit—a level certainly lower than what I
used to know especially with a developing Umi within me. And there, I had the
green light to join CIHM.
CIHM day. I almost missed
the ferry to Corregidor on the day of the race. I noticed that my body had
become more demanding of sleep—requiring me to sleep by 10 pm and for at least
8 hours through the night. Having slept at past 12 midnight because
of a Christmas party at work, I did not wake up in time for the ferry’s scheduled
departure to Corregidor. Luckily, I was able to catch the departing ferry that was
30 minutes delayed.
The sun was up
when we arrived at Corregidor Island. I picked up my race kit which I failed to
pick up in Manila and found my 2 running companions. We agreed to run at more
or less the same pace.
Shortly after
the gun was fired, I was surprised to find myself already panting after about
100 meters. Fatigue was kicking in. Was it the lack of sleep the night before?
But I also did not get enough sleep the last time I ran 21 kms in mid-November.
I believed it must be because of my pregnancy. Earlier that week, my colleagues and I were practicing for our Christmas party dance presentation and I was
surprised at how easily I would get exhausted. However, I did not realize that
the exhaustion would occur that soon in my running. Thus, I allowed myself to
be left behind by my running buddies and ran at a really, really slow pace.
I kept running,
or I might as well say I kept on jogging, as I tried to be cautious of what was
going on in my tummy. I imagined that the fetus cannot be stirred too
vigorously in my tummy so I had to run really slowly. I would say that the early
fatigue that caused me to run slowly early on complemented my already growing
motherly protective instinct.
I kept on
jogging continuously until the 10th kilometre when I decided to
start my walk-jog intervals to take time to rest. I relished the opportunity to
be able to join this event as it gave me the chance to explore Corregidor on foot.
I just wished R was with me to enjoy those moments.
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| A quick pose in the middle of the 21-km stretch |
I also
considered ending my actual race at this point. However, I thought it was
embarrassing to walk back, against the flow of runners. Besides, I deemed my
body was still willing to complete another kilometre, and then another.
Moreover, I got challenged with the hilly terrain of the island. The running
trail was something that I could not easily find in Manila. Actually, more than
the challenge, it was nostalgia that hit me. The hilly terrain was something
similar to my two jogging paths in Singapore. And having spent about a year
mastering that route, I believed I was capable of conquering this one as well.
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| Running towards the finish line |
It was a long
run and no matter how interesting and beautiful the scenery could get, boredom
was likely to set in. I realized this during my previous half-marathon at the Mall
of Asia–Roxas Boulevard route where I got fed up with all the music I had saved
in my mp3 player. At CIHM, I decided that after listening to some music, I
would pray the rosary. Throughout the whole 21-km stretch, I was able to finish
all the 4 mysteries of the holy rosary. And If I had only memorized the litany,
I would still have enough time to recite them, too. It was actually a beautiful
time spent praying.
At probably the
20th kilometre, I went to the loo and checked myself. There was no bleeding; thanked
God that Umi and I were fine. I then moved towards the finish line. The last
kilometre was the hardest. As I was on a hilly portion, I could already see the
finish line below and yet I still had a kilometre to go. I kept running until
the finish line got nearer and nearer that finally, finally, I was there.
Finally.
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| With my running buddies, Arthur and Ivy |
My running
buddies—who had finished way ahead of me—and I then celebrated our little
victory with some photos at the finish line, as we were all excited to share
our own CIHM experiences. After all, who would not be so eager to talk after
2-4 hours of solitary running and quietude?
An inspiration. The CIHM
committee awarded the top 10 runners in the male and female categories.
Spectators that we were during the awarding ceremony, my running buddies and I were
amazed and inspired by the winners. I personally knew one of the top male
runners for he was my housemate in college. Right there, I was again reminded of
the power of one’s dreams. Back in college, he shared his desire to join the
mountaineering organization in our university. A year later, he finally qualified
as a member after passing the stringent physical tests of the organization.
Later on, he ventured into doing marathons and then ultramarathons. Back in
college, I would not have an idea that we would reach this moment—he, being a
half-marathon awardee and I, a spectator.
I also
recognized a woman from my office who was awarded as one of the top 10 female
runners for the 10k category. She seemed to be in her 40s, married, and has
children. That was when I told myself to commit to a physically active
lifestyle even if I am already a mother. And my decision to join CIHM that day
was, hopefully, only the beginning of more physical activities with Umi, with
R, and even with our future children.
The day after. The
following day, when the euphoria of my half-marathon had partially subsided,
paranoia set in. Even if I did not see any bleeding, I believed I still have to
get myself checked. So I saw my ob-gyne and was examined
internally through an ultrasound. He found out that I had subchrionic haemorrhage
and was advised to go on bedrest for about 2 weeks (I didn't and continued to report to work) and prescribed some medicines.
It took me exactly two weeks to be back to the normal process of pregnancy.
However, one
more week after recovering from the haemorrhage, I started to have mumps. I
suspected I got the virus from the large concentration of people in the
marathon as the mumps virus have an incubation period of 16-18 days. Or I could have
gotten the virus in the mall or wherever. Nonetheless, I realized the
concentration of people in a fun run is another risk that a pregnant runner (or
just about anyone) has to face. That said, a pregnant woman has to be aware of
the consequences whenever she exposes herself to a large crowd.
The doctor could
not tell the effect of mumps on the developing fetus. He just assured me that
measles have a more adverse effect on the fetus than mumps do. R and I, and many
more significant others, prayed for Umi’s health.
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| Umi at 7 months |
Back to the present. It is
already 7 months since I gave birth to Umi. And we are deeply grateful for
Umi’s excellent health and happy character. I have R to thank for being
supportive and understanding of my needs, my colleagues at work who never fail to
make me laugh during crunch times, my loved ones who constantly prayed for me and
Umi, and above all, His constant graces.
I sometimes ask
myself if I would still do those activities that I did (there were other risky ones) in my
succeeding pregnancies, given the consequences it may have caused the unborn
child. My answer is, it would depend on my physical and emotional condition
then. If I would still be a physically active woman—which I
intend to be—and there are no serious risks to the baby and myself, I would
still do them. But no one can really tell. On another note, I may have to
attribute my youth for having done all those adventures and I may no longer be
so eager to go on those same adventures in the future. Well, I hope not to lose the
youth in me as I age.
The “holistic” lifestyle. On
a side note, I believe my pre-pregnancy and pre-natal activities have helped me
deliver smoothly. I was lucky to have a short labor of 5 hours. People say that
giving birth the natural way—without pain relievers—involves a great deal of
energy. That’s why mothers have to prepare for the big day emotionally,
physically, and spiritually. I did try to live a “holistic” lifestyle during my
pregnancy—doing occasional yoga exercises and spending quality times with
myself, Umi, and R, to fill the emotional part; walking as much as I can (after
that half-marathon at CIHM), eating healthy food (although I did go overboard
on the eating part), and swimming, to fill the physical aspect; and praying,
while making a point to hear weekday masses apart from Sunday masses, to
strengthen one’s spirituality. I believe my yoga exercises, that firm mindset
to deliver naturally, R’s labor coaching, and the prayers, helped me endure
those mind-blowing labor pains. Again, I was lucky to go through that difficult
process relatively shorter.
