• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Journey

Running, Racing, Coaching and Life with Nichole Porath

  • Home
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • My PR’s
    • My “Team”
    • Speaking Engagements
    • My Nutrition Journey
    • Contact Me
  • Blog
  • Coaching
    • Personal Coaching
    • Testimonials
    • TNC Results!
    • Coaching Scholarships
  • Fast After Pregnancy
    • Running Through My 2nd Pregnancy
    • Running Through My 1st Pregnancy
  • Product Reviews

Well, well, WELL!

May 5, 2016 By Nichole Porath 9 Comments

A couple weeks ago, Nate was away for the evening, pacing a friend through the Zumbro 100 miler. I put Greta to bed, changed into sweats, and plopped myself on the couch downstairs. I half watched Babadook, a scary movie (Nate refuses to watch them with me, and I secretly love paranormal movies), and half caught up on emails and life stuff. It was AWESOME.

I didn’t wander up to bed until midnight or later.

As I laid in bed, I felt a tiny bit queasy. I was on birth control, so being pregnant was unlikely, but for some reason I thought, “I should take a pregnancy test, just in case”.

So, I did. Even though Nate and I have a pact that I’m not supposed to test when he isn’t there with me.

Check out how well I kept that pact for my first pregnancy 🙂

You guessed it – this is what I saw!

After staring at it in disbelief for a while, I immediately re-downloaded the pregnancy apps on my phone. Hmm… what was the first date of my last period? I hadn’t been keeping great track, but thought it might have been March 10th. That would put a due date at December 15th.

Oh my gosh. A Christmas baby.

My mind raced:
What about Grandma’s Marathon? 
What about our house build – will this affect it in any way? 
Oh, my – Greta will be a big sister! Wait, does that mean she’ll need to be out of her crib by then? (That’s do-able, I told myself) 
Guess this means I’ll be pregnant for our Alaska vacation this summer. Hmm. Hopefully I’m feeling well then, since our vacations usually center around exploring as much as we can, usually by foot!
What about… everything?!? 

(Clearly, this pregnancy was not planned!)

The worst part about it was that Nate wasn’t going to be home until the next afternoon. Ack! My head was spinning with questions, dates, etc. I eventually calmed down enough to get a few hours of sleep before I had to wake to run over to the Color Dash 5k, where Greta and I were scheduled to volunteer that morning. After throwing some colored corn starch on the runners (Greta was a little scared by that), we headed to the Home & Garden show downtown.

Color Dash 5k Volunteers!

Both events were good distractions to keep my mind off of pregnancy until Nate got home. I heated up a quick lunch, and after we prayed & started eating, I slyly started:

So… if we finalize our house plans in another month or two, we’ll be in a new house, by what – the end of October? Nate thought a little bit and then nodded his head.

Hmm… well, then I might be, oh… 7 months pregnant when we move in!

Enter positive pregnancy test into view 🙂

—

Since then, short story version:

-The next few days were emotional for me. On the one hand, I was so excited. Nate was SO excited, too! On the other hand, I just saw someone pushing “pause” on my life and my goals. I had just begun to LOVE training & racing again! I was so strong & fit! A sub-3 hour marathon or faster was in sights! Now… did it even matter that I trained? I may as well just have eaten corn dogs for the last several months 🙁

YUMMMM

Did you know that I’m an all-or-nothing kind of person? Ha :).

-I’m in a great place now, thanks to a few very smart friends, and after having thought through timing, what our family might look like, etc. Now I can’t wait to meet #2 and to enjoy adventures as a family of four (or more!). *Love*

-I called the clinic last week (end of April) to see if I could come in for an ultrasound before my 8 week appointment. I told them I thought I was showing a little more than I should for 6.5-7 weeks, and that even though I was loosely keeping track of Aunt Flo, I wasn’t really sure since I spotted throughout the first trimester with Greta. They obliged (probably thinking that I was THAT pregnant woman who is uber paranoid) and brought me in on Tuesday, the 26th.

-Friends made guesses: 7 weeks? 11? Further? 1 baby? 2? More?!? (No… please!!)

-No one was right! Turns out I was almost 15 weeks, not almost 7!!! FIFTEEN! The due date is really October 20th or 27th (to be confirmed in June when they re-measure). Thankfully, it’s just one kiddo. *wipes brow*

Immediately the tech says, “Whoa! You aren’t 6.5-7 weeks along!”

-Then I did some math backwards. So… I did the Hot Dash 10 miler with PNEUMONIA, while 6.5 weeks PREGNANT? 10 miles at goal marathon pace (6:50s)? I’m still impressed. I guess I whipped into shape pretty darn quickly!

Craziness

-More math: remember when I noted that I needed to work on my “mom pouch“? Turns out that wasn’t a leftover-from-Greta mom pouch – it was the start of one! That’s kind of funny. I thought I was just getting a little pudgy.

-Even MORE math: I wonder how many high mileage weeks I logged during the first trimester? How long into my first trimester was I still getting faster? So, obviously, I have been feeling pretty darn good so far in the pregnancy :). I was a little more sleepy about a month ago (which I attributed to high mileage), but other than that… it’s been great!

Quite a few 20+ mile runs and 90+ mile weeks. Also crazy.

-I was able to tell my co-workers at a staff meeting this Tuesday. It feels so good to not have to wonder if anyone has noticed. They’re all really excited. I couldn’t ask to work in a more welcoming and supportive environment!

Now I don’t have to run out the door at lunch, hoping my coworkers won’t see this ever-growing little bump!

Yup. Bump.

—

I’ll write more later about how training has been the last couple of weeks, since a lot has changed! But, now it’s bedtime for this mama! 🙂

First “weekly” photo – 15.5 weeks!

Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Pregnancy

Previous Post: « Training Updates, and 2 races this weekend!
Next Post: Pride – Letting go of it… »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Violet Elskamp

    May 5, 2016 at 3:59 AM

    I love the baby bump pictures 🙂 so glad you are feeling good , and they say the 2nd trimester is the best. Good things to come 🙂 I'm already in love with my neicenephew. Wouldn't that be crazy if we both had two girls both born the same month ?!?

    Reply
    • Nichole Porath

      May 9, 2016 at 9:13 PM

      If I have a scheduled C-section like Greta, they'll be 1 day shy of 2 years apart – EXACTLY like the two of us. Fun!

      Reply
  2. Danielle Goodfellow

    May 5, 2016 at 11:53 AM

    So excited for you guys! Greta will be an amazing big sister.

    Reply
  3. Danielle Goodfellow

    May 5, 2016 at 11:54 AM

    So excited for you guys! Greta will be an amazing big sister.

    Reply
    • Nichole Porath

      May 9, 2016 at 9:12 PM

      Thank you! I'm really excited to watch Greta grow into the big sister role 🙂

      Reply
  4. Claire

    May 5, 2016 at 1:50 PM

    Yay! oh my gosh I'm so excited for you guys! Congratulations 🙂

    Reply
    • Nichole Porath

      May 9, 2016 at 9:12 PM

      Thanks, Claire!!! When can we see you again? I miss you!!!

      Reply
  5. chacha

    May 6, 2016 at 5:43 PM

    Congrats!!! I just found your blog this week 🙂 I'm also 5'0", though not as fast as you, so I love to see shorties who are super speedy.

    Pretty awesome that you got through the less than fun 1st trimester without even knowing about it!

    Reply
    • Nichole Porath

      May 9, 2016 at 9:12 PM

      YAY, 5'0" runners! Who needs height, anyway?

      Pretty awesome, indeed. I still can't believe that… all of those miles – and getting faster for the first 6-8 weeks! Crazy. Now I'm definitely feeling it 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

I’m a runner, ’12 Olympic Trials Qualifier, TNC Endurance founder and coach, and former World Record holder in the indoor marathon. I’m also a finance professional, high school cross country coach, wife, and mom. I am passionate about finding my potential as a runner and helping others do the same. Run along with me, friends!

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Team Nichole Coaching

Popular Posts

  • Twin Cities Marathon To say TCM didn't go as I expected or hoped is an under...
  • Vegan Cornbread This cornbread recipe is just awesome. It's even better...
  • Scott Jurek's Vegan Strawberry Pancakes These are SO good - please try them!  You really d...
  • Generation UCAN Review After a good 6+ weeks to test the UCAN product exclusiv...
  • In Memory Andrew Howard; A TNC Member Gone Too Soon (A Giveaway Tribute at End of Post) If you know me & the team I have created and coach...

Blog Archive

2018 Top Coaching Blog

Find it Here

2016 TOP WOMEN’S RUNNING BLOG

Footer

@nlporath on Instgram

  • So so good. I could eat plain Greek yogurt, berries and @sevensundaysmn muesli every single day. Twice a day. 🥰

Hope you can make this a part of your (daily) routine as well. Added bonus: perfect combo of protein, carb, and healthy fat!

#mueslilover #eatinghealthy #runnerfuel #balancedsnack #sevensundays #healthysnacks
  • Thank you, #northfieldcrosscountry boys for letting me win the Frightening 2 mile! They got to yell all of the things I had been yelling at them all season the last 1/2 mile. Kick, Coach! Now, you gotta go now! 🤣
Thanks to my move with 2/3 mile left to go, I also notched the win against @porathnathan . He had put a good gap on me before we hit the pavement and I made it my mission to FLY passed him! 
Yep, pavement is still my friend (must be the way I run, more pronounced now that I’m old?!).
  • And just like that, the majority of the high school XC season is done. Not entirely done as we qualified one individual to the State Meet! 
I think it ranks up there as one of the best teams I’ve had the pleasure to coach. Why? The crazy team spirit and dedication to each other and their goals. Top to bottom improvements and overall results (a lot of unbelievable improvements!), and some transformative moments with my students athletes that I will never, ever forget. 🏃🏻‍♀️ 🏅

I truly love this sport and all that it represents. I love the NHS XC Raiders and all that THEY represent and the amazing young people they are becoming. If you can’t tell, my heart is very full 💗. I think they’ll agree with me that they finally “get” what I’ve been trying to tell them the last 3 years. I’ll probably keep telling them, though - just in case they forget 😉. #statemeetbound #statecrosscountry #highschoolcrosscountry #amazingseason #northfieldraiders #xc #seasonsbest #crosscountry
  • Fabulous day at the #mankatomarathon. @cassielofgren with a 4+ min PR in the half and an age group win!, @lindseyburgstahler who made the@marathon relay look easy (first “workout” back after a TCM PR), Angela who just came off a 16-year 5k PR (now 37 and 4 babies later!) running the half, and Jeff who made lemonade with his lemons, smiling the entire time. So proud of this #tncendurance crew! I’m so lucky to coach such passionate and hard working athletes!

To keep warm the girls decided to do hill repeats. Greta is actually getting quite fast, I was surprised I had to try a bit harder to keep up! 😳 
#lovemyjob #lovehelpingpeoplegetfast
#onlineruncoach #onlinerunningcoach #subeliteruncoach #personalrecords
  • I love my job as coach. Through and through. Coaching my #tncendurance athletes, seeing them crush it, and find new levels of fitness they didn’t think possible is such a passion of mine 💕. Thought I would share one of the many awesome things that fill my inbox daily! 😊
.
Have running goals to chase? Want to refine and make the most of each training session? Need to take the “think” out of training so you can just enjoy the execution? DM me. .
#lovemyjob #runcoach #betterstrongerfaster #trainsmarter #subeliteruncoach #getafterit #runcoaching #runningcoach
  • Today was beautiful. The most perfect fall day! My training build up was great, especially after a lot of hiccups before Grandma’s Marathon. Based on training I thought my range was 2:52 low to 2:57. Nothing pointed to 3:11 (where I finished today) - but sometimes that’s how a marathon goes. I ran 5k with Carrie at 6:43 pace but then she sped up and I told her this was all I had for pace (as in, 2:52 was not going to happen). I still thought my C goal of breaking 3 was doable. D goal was get a BQ. 
From 5k on... I just kept running slower... and slower. I have no idea why. My quads felt shredded by 10-15k (!). I’m think I was just running really heavy - bam-bam-bam- not bouncing off the pavement like I know I have in the past. 
I gave Coach Meghan Armstrong Peyton a hug at the finish line and actually shed a few tears. I’ve had set backs before but becoming so much slower in the span of a year (nearly 20 mins) mystifies me a bit. 
But, you know what I love about the sport? That you can go back to the drawing board and give it another go. Work on weaknesses. Try something different. I find joy in the pursuit of the goal. 
Even though I knew I was so far off my original goal, I absolutely positively LOVED the race. So many familiar faces! So many cheers! Jeff Lanners yelling at me to surge! The streets are just packed from start to finish. So cool. I also had my cow cheer herd supporting me and a high school athlete of mine lift me up with the world’s best sign. Two NHS XC alums I coached cheered SO loud for me that I smiled for blocks. The people and the experience make the event and the sport. Really. And I’ll keep coming back. Hopefully faster next time 🙂
(But of not, eh, I’m actually pretty content with my role as Coach to TNC Endurance athletes and the NHS teams 💕) #tncendurance #twincitiesmarathon2019 #notmyday #tomorrowmightbe #runhappy #teamucan #runningmama #bostonqualifier

Latest Posts

  • Twin Cities Marathon
  • Ramping up for Twin Cities Marathon
  • Lost motivation? 5 easy steps to get back into it
  • Grandma’s Marathon = 3:07
  • One Month until Grandma’s Marathon?!?
  • It’s April 2nd So You Know I’m Not Fooling You
  • Life Updates from the Polar Vortex
  • Merry Christmas 2018!

Archives

Tags

#teamnichole 1/2 marathon 5k 8k Ask The Coach Bi-Polar Disorder Car Carb Depletion Chicago Marathon Coaching Dinner Fargo Marathon Giveaways Goal Setting Grandma's Marathon Greta Illness Injury Inspirational Cheese Marathon Medications Mesa Motivation Monday Nordic Skiing Nutrition Olympic Trials Planning PR Pregnancy Product Reviews Quilting Race Report Recipes Sports Psychology Stunt Puppy Taper Tempo Workout TNC Track Workout Training Camp Training Update Twin Cities Marathon VO2 Max Workout World Record Zoom Yah Yah Indoor Marathon

Blog posts and TNC Newsletters by email!

Copyright © 2019 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework