Gulf Coast 1/2 Ironman Great Success

Geoff & I just came back from Panama City, Florida. We headed down there to coach our TNT 1/2 Ironman team. They all did the Gulf Coast 1/2 Ironman and crossed the finish line successfully! It was so great to see all of them do so well. We couldn't have asked for a better team.

Luckily the only coaching we needed to do on race day was answer the call from one of our athletes asking if we had a spare wheel! One of his spokes broke at mile 20 on the bike. Luckily Geoff talked to him and told him to pull the spoke out, unhook the breaks and attempt to keep riding. (I would have never thought of that as a solution!) It worked! He was able to get through the bike and finish the race.

They definitely had a challenging day too. There was white caps in the gulf coast for the swim and the temperature reached up to the 90 degrees with humidity around 87 %. Talk about a tough race. Preparation, hydration/nutrition and a game plan became vital. The waves and undercurrent were so strong on Sunday they changed the warning to double red flags - not open to public swimming. Good thing the race was on Saturday! Here are some pictures:

Part of the team before the swim start. There was plenty of nervous energy in the air.







Geoff & I (& baby Beaty) at the victory party looking a little sunny since we stood outside all day.















Here is Jen with her 3rd place award at the victory party. Everyone did so great we think they all deserved awards!













Me and baby (at week 29 of the pregnancy) building a sand castle on the beach the day after the race.

New Doggie Collars

Don't they look great. Geoff and I took the dogs to a Doggie Fiesta on Saturday. They got to meet (sniff) tons of other dogs and we bought them new collars.

We also heading to a huge yard sale Saturday morning. Over 150 families. We founds some great baby stuff. The best being a Halloween costume I just couldn't pass up.

Baby Room Rug

I haven't finished painting the baby room, so I'm holding off on posting pictures, but here's the baby room rug. When we saw this, in the exact color of the decor, we knew it was meant to be.

Week 27

Getting bigger! Baby is growing like a weed and moving around all the time now. I'm finding some of my first pregnancy clothes aren't quite long enough now. We had one of our first really hot days on Saturday. Boy am I affected by the heat. I'm going to be spending much of June and July at the pool :)

In about a month I'm flying out to Minnesota to visit family and friends. Ya! Before that... actually in a week in a half (wow that is soon) I am flying down to Florida with my participants to coach the Gulf Coast 1/2 Ironman. I'm so excited for everyone, they are all going to do great!

Week 26/27 Photo

Bike Racing in the Rain

I decided to head up to Columbia, MD with Geoff for one of his bike races. Geoff was going to race the 30+ /40+ race with the fast boys. There was one thing different about this race. It poured. I mean all out downpour.

Go back two hours. We stood in the garage looking out at the car for what seemed like ages. It was pouring cats and dogs. Could we even see our neighbors house? We looked at each other. Who in their right mind would want to race in this? Geoff finally decided, it might just be different up in Maryland, an hour away. He was right it was. It wasn't raining when we arrived luckily for the race going on. As the guys toed the line for their race it started sprinkling. What bad timing. By one lap it was a full on rain assault. They had 11 more to go and I had 11 more laps to sit in the rain through...

Photos from the race

You can see Geoff, in the middle of the picture in the back. He's the tall one in black/red colors. Notice the nice spring conditions! You can also see him in picture #10.

One of Geoff's teammates crashed hard. Hitting with his head first. They took him to the hospital in an ambulance. We went and visited him. God was looking out for him, nothing damaged, just going to be sore for some time. Bike racing is a tough sport, but somehow Geoff can't get enough of it! I'm glad to see him enjoy it so much.

National 1/2 Marathon Accomplished

I did it! I completed the National 1/2 Marathon six months pregnant! What a fun time. Race morning I was feeling really bad, to the point of not sure about going. I actually had some bad stomach cramps the day before and didn't get any sleep due to allergies. But Geoff was my big support and encouraged me to at least go downtown and we could play it by ear. So we headed off at 5:30am to get to D.C. by car then metro. My biggest supporters were in tow: my Mom, Dad & Geoff.

Race Day Morning
Weather: Cold but perfect for running once it warmed up a few degrees.
Setting: National monuments & neighborhoods in Washington DC
Pregnancy Timeline: 23 weeks, 4 days
Arrived: 6:45am
Goal: FUN!

Dad & I on the Metro heading down to DC









We meet up with my running buddy, Libby. Thanks so so much Libby for running with me during the whole race. Here is Libby, Geoff & me before the start.









To add some more fun, I put a sign on my back saying "Baby on Board". Other runners commented on it throughout the race.












Me at the finish with my finishers medal.












The race didn't go as expected due to my IT band. It started acting up around Mile 4, so I had to do more walking then expected. All those loose joints due to pregnancy! Luckily I had Libby so we chatted the whole time enjoying the morning. I enjoyed the whole experience and couldn't have done it without all my supporters.

Starting My Third Trimester

Can you believe it, I've just started my third trimester. Ya for that! I'm enjoying most parts of the pregnancy except for still being nauseous 90% of the time. The baby is kicking and elbowing me more then ever. It's doing it right now BIG time. What a strange feeling... being kicked from the inside out. Geoff & I have also been reading to baby, thanks to all the books Grandparents Richards bought for Baby Beaty.

(FYI: Baby Beaty's is going to be it's name until the delivery since we decided to not find out the gender)

Two things you'll likely notice right away in the photo:
1) Baby is growing fast! My belly is huge compared to previous pictures.
2) My belly button popped!

Week 24 photo.

Parent's Spring Visit

My parents left today after being here for 2 1/2 weeks. We had a great time. We got to spend some wonderful time together. For one of the weeks we were down in Williamsburg, VA on vacation checking out all the historical sites. Then during our time here at the house we finished some big projects including putting on a patio and the babies room. I'll save those for a later post. Here are some pictures from Historical Williamsburg, Virginia:

Governor's Palace, when the Virginia capital was in Williamsburg, VA.















Mom hanging out on the main street













Capital Building where some of the first polictical decisions where made in American history.













Parents in trouble with the law :)

Week 23

I'm a bit behind on posting. So here is week 23 belly picture.

I'm Tired of Studying

It feels like I'm back in school, just before finals. Study some, then study some more. Whew, when is the end in sight? Luckily that is tomorrow morning. I've got all the bones of the body and all tissue information crammed in my brain, ready to bust. Time to take quiz 4, Exam 3 and Exam 4 tomorrow for my Anatomy and Physiology class.

Why all this cramming? My parents are coming into town on Saturday for 2 1/2 weeks. Ya! I can't wait. Here's a list of all things I need to do before I pick them up at the airport so I can use that brain space for bones!

• Gather tax stuff for Cheryl to finish our taxes
• Call my 'old' doc and basically fire her... and then ask for my files for my new doc.
  
• Take quiz 4, exam 3 & exam 4.
  
• Write a training plan
• Get Geoff to clean the house. :)
• Answer a bunch of these crazy Catholic church questions. (Don't even ask.)

Well I'm nauseous again (imagine that) so I'm off to find another good snack. I've already had ice cream twice, fruit snacks, and peppermint paddies today so I suppose I should go for the carrots or something.

Laura

Reston 10 Miler Accomplished!

Geoff was nice enough this past weekend to let me skip out on the TNT 3 hour ride and head off to a 10 mile run. I really wanted to see how I was doing running with baby belly in tow. See, I've really felt like my belly has grown in the past few weeks so I wasn't sure of my pace or how I would do at that long of a distance. The test was on...

Race Day morning
Weather: Rainy drizzle, with a chill in the air.
Setting: The hills of Reston. This wasn't going to be a flat run.
Pregnancy timeline: 21 weeks, 5 days.
Arrived: 6:45am
Goal: FUN!

We needed to arrive early to drop off some Accelerade from our team. Geoff came over to the start with me to unload the car and help get the jugs ready for the aid stations. Then he was off to lead the TNT ride. I waited inside with the rest of the runners, avoiding the rain and chill.

Once we were off, I had a lady run up next to me ask me, 'What goal time are you going for'? I was stumped for a second. Then I had to chuckle at myself. This might just be the first race where I really hadn't thought about a goal time. I had no idea. So I said "I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant and just out for fun!". What a great thing. No pressure, no set expectations, just running for the enjoyment of running!

I trotted along most of the run making sure to keep my heart rate in check, enjoying the drizzle and thanking all the volunteers. I had to walk a few of the hills with all that extra 18 pounds of weight I was carrying. But boy could I fly on the downhills. I was so front loaded it was unbelievable!

By the time I got to the finish line I was happy to be there. My knees were a bit sore from all the pounding. Otherwise I felt great. I did the 10 miles in 1 hour 32 minutes. A 9:10 min/mile or so pace. I had accomplished my goal! Have fun and finish the race while 5 1/2 months pregnant! Now I am really ready for the National 1/2 Marathon.

Laura

Switching Doctors & Hospitals

I have always wanted to have a natural childbirth. Not because anyone I know has had one. But because I want to know first hand what a birth is like. I want to experience it the way God made it. Not half out of it and restricted to bed, due to a 1/2 dozen or so drugs.

That choice has let to another one. I've decided I need to switch my ob/gyn doctor. Let's just say I'm glad I finally asked some important questions and we aren't seeing eye to eye regarding labor. I never realized how many doctors in this area have the primary response of using Epidural, drugs and c-sections. Nor did I realize the hospital I picked has the highest rate of C-sections in Northern Virginia. (And we are talking about an area where scheduling a c-section so you know your due date is not that uncommon.)

So here's a taste of our conversation...

Question: What's your thoughts on medical intervention like using drugs vs. a natural childbirth?
Answer: Well, women that get an epidural make my life much easier.
Internal Response: ((Likely a shocked but attempting to hide it look. I thought birth was about the mother & child, not the doctor?))

Question: What do you think of natural childbirth?
Answer: Almost all my patients end up with an epidural. If you come in here expecting to have a natural childbirth it almost never happens. You can only success if you start now and put months of planning into it.
Internal response: ((So you don't really go for natural huh?))

Question: I am planning on taking the Bradley method childbirth classes, that focus on natural method and my husband being my coach.
Answer: Just realize they will tell you that all doctors are evil and out to get you! We the doctors are here for you and know what is best for you.
Internal response: ((Oh, like giving me an epidural?...))

Question: Would you work with me if I want natural?
Answer: Yes, but know that you don't always get what you plan. Don't be one of those difficult patients who will always stick to their plan.
Internal Response: ((makes sense))
For example after 6 hours of labor you'd better be willing to get a c-section.
Internal Response: ((SHOCKED look again. Doesn't that seem really short?))

That's it for now!
Laura

Week 21

I had to take this picture today because I think I just 'popped'! My baby belly seems so much bigger today then last week or even yesterday. I wish I would have taken a week 20 picture but I never got around to it. I'm also amazed at how much my back is arched forward in this picture with all the weight.

Here's my week 21 Picture

More Ecuador Pictures

I have posted a bunch of our Ecuador pictures on Picasa web albums if anyone wants to see other ones I haven't put on my blog.

http://picasaweb.google.com/trailgirl75/EcuadorTrip


Laura

Belly Pictures

Keeping with my belly picture trend, here are the two weeks while I was on vacation:

Belly week 17

Belly Week 18