Hello! Long time no talk…

I’ve been busy (haven’t we all). I’ve made a list more than 20 races I really want to run this year. I’ve already missed a handful of them… And I’m going to miss the remainder of them in 2013, because I’ve been working on something else –

GROWING A NEW LITTLE HUMAN!

That’s right, we are adding baby #2 to the mix this October and couldn’t be more excited!

Everyone takes 3 tests in 3 consecutive days just to “make sure”, right?

You probably know from this blog and Twitter (@jenbigham) that I’m obsessed with running. But more than that, I’m obsessed with having a family. And if I was told I had to choose between having children and running, I would choose children without hesitation. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with both. The running just takes a seat on the back burner for now.

Does this mean I’ve stopped running?! No way! I ran every day of my pregnancy with my daughter, until I left for the hospital to give birth and I intend to do the same with this little one. Does it mean I’m done racing? Well, I believe my best racing days are still to come but I’m done racing for 2013. I have an “in it to win it” mentality and racing serves no purpose for me right now. I think it’s great when other women race through their pregnancies, but it’s just not for me. I’m completely happy with my training runs (most days 4-5 miles, occasionally more or less), all much slower than usual. It’s relaxing. It’s time to dream of the future. It’s time to recharge. It’s time to obsess about something other than running. It’s healthy.

I’m out of the first trimester, feeling good and have seen the baby chilling in my belly on the ultrasound. I’ll spare you the pictures of my uterus and fetus, but believe me when I say they are both pretty cute (ha)!

Some pregnancy info: I was sick my first trimester. Not “toss cookies” sick, but all day nausea, major food aversions, and a need to eat unhealthy food constantly to combat those symptoms. I couldn’t stand the smell, and therefore taste, of any nut butter which is something I eat at almost every meal. I also couldn’t stomach another favorite food, avocados. I was surviving on bagels and cream cheese, lo mein, pancakes and spaghetti for many weeks. Baby likes a runner diet already! I’ve been pretty exhausted and very emotional. I’m usually not a crier, but I will cry about almost anything now. Kids singing, even a totally happy song – I’m going to cry. Someone accomplishes a goal, even someone on a tv show – it’s going to bring me to tears.

I’ll end this post with a few of my favorite reactions from my siblings:

• “Not to steal your thunder but I already knew.” – My younger brother. This is totally something I would say.
• “AHHHHHH!!! I’m so excited!” *proceeds to kiss and talk to my belly* -My sister
• “One of your sisters is pregnant” -mom informing older brother “Well, it better be Jen because she has some training (running) to do. -My older brother, referring to training for the Oly Trials, but knowing I wanted to have another child first. This was my favorite response so far.

There’s my big secret, one reason I haven’t been blogging and the main reason I’ve been a little MIA on social media in general lately. I have one more big announcement to make sometime soon (and it’s not related to baby).

 Any big news for you? Did you (or would you) run/race through pregnancy?