An excerpt from the post:

Listen to Your Body – Sari Anderson’s Belly Tale

November 3, 2011

I need to start by saying this – Sari Anderson is a stud. She is a two-time national mountain bike champion, the 2006 Adventure Race World Champion, a badass trail runner, ski mountaineer and an Xterra Winter World Champ. Somewhere along the way, she also managed to pop out two kiddos! And then to top it off, she got right back on the trails and after being selected as one of Outside Magazine’s “Fittest Real Athletes,” she was invited at the last minute to join the reigning XPD Adventure Racing World Championship team in Tasmania for this year’s event. Yes, she just left a few days ago.

So in other words, Sari Anderson is hard-core. Having kids has not slowed her down one bit. While I cannot claim to have maintained Sari’s level of workouts during my pregnancy, my favorite take-away from her story is her insistence that no matter what level of athlete you are, you need to listen to your body.

I thought about this concept for a while. Listen to your body. This is something I have told countless athletes who I’ve prepped for various events over the years. I have come to lean on this phrase because as an athlete, I understand what it means. It should be simple, right? Don’t get injured – Listen to your body. Don’t get dehydrated – Listen to your body. Don’t bonk – Listen to your body.

What I failed to remember is that the first time you ever try something new, you have no idea what you are listening for! So while I agree…Read more of the story.

Although I will be taking today and tomorrow off from training, I have had a great and active pregnancy.  I went for a trail run as recently as Wednesday, skied last Sunday, hiked with Juniper in the pack on Thursday and Friday, and rode my bike yesterday.  Yes, I’m extremely thankful I was able to do all this right until the end.

I have said it all along (and acted on it) but I feel very strongly that pregnancy is not a disease and not a reason to stop exercising.  I have slowed and brought the intensity down significantly but have made sure to get out do what I love whenever I had the energy.  Some of my friends and family think I’m crazy and that I should enjoy the time off but that would be miserable for me.

I’m looking forward to meeting the newest addition to our family and enjoying some time getting to know him.  Then I will be itching to get back in shape as soon as possible and add some intensity to my training again.

Spring skiing has officially begun and since the little man has decided to stay put in my belly, we decided to take full advantage of much warmer temperatures today.  After skiing some runs with the kiddos, the adults set up a great barbecue along the parking lot at West Buttermilk to basque in the sun and hang out.

Sufficiently full of food and fun, Ian headed out for another great road ride on the way home.  It was so nice out this afternoon that I couldn’t hold back and had to get out for a ride myself once Ian made it home.  It was my first road ride alone this year (no Chariot, no husband) and it was great to be out again.  Despite a case of major indigestion and heartburn on my ride, it made me less anxious for the delivery of this child.  I’ve been enjoying riding so much right now and am not looking forward to the break that I will need to take once he is born.  The longer he stays put, the more riding I can do.  Selfish? Yes, but healthier for all involved!

Anniversary Ride - 36.5 weeks pregnant

Juniper and I made it out for a gorgeous ride this afternoon and even were able to meet up with Ian for awhile.  What an awesome way to spend our anniversary – preggo riding!

Also celebrating our anniversary today. Happy Anniversary to the best dad!

I’ve made it past the point in my last pregnancy when Juniper was born which is a good thing for baby but tough on my mind.  I kind of feel like I’m past due at this point and very ready for the delivery.  But since that is probably still another week or two away, I’ve been taking advantage of the warm and sunny days.

I enjoyed a nice muddy four mile trail run yesterday and am prepping for a road ride with Juniper in a little while (before the 8-18″ of snow comes back tomorrow).  At this point, I’m realizing more everyday how lucky I am to still be able to be this active this late in the pregnancy.  Although I’ll admit I’m a bit cranky to still be pregnant, at least I have my running and riding to keep me same.  Hopefully I can continue right up to delivery day this time as well!

Juniper and I hiked up the Scout Trail in Glenwood Springs this morning for a great steep hike as well as to see how the snow is melting up there.  Despite only dirt showing behind us in the photo, the trail is nowhere near dry and is surprisingly very snowy.  About four or five years ago, Ian, myself and a few  friends decided to ride Forrest Hollow to the Scout Trail in late March.  After a very warm March that year, the Scout Trail was very dry but Forrest Hollow became a trek through rotten snow with our bikes.

I’m not sure the Scout Trail will be ready this year at the end of the month but I’m psyched to be out hiking it while the weather is so nice.  Hiking will become difficult with both kids as I’m not sure anyone makes a double pack or that I would actually want to carry one.  With just four weeks left until the due date (and only a few days until the mark when Juniper joined the world) I hope to get some more hiking in mixed with some good runs and road rides.

We’ve also been enjoying the plowed bike path between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale both for road rides for Ian and I as well as for Juniper to get out on her Strider.  I’ve been getting in some training when I have the time and energy which is most days but every once in a while I just need to succumb to the couch.  I actually swam yesterday for the first time in this pregnancy and didn’t feel too slow.

Now that the snow is falling again and the rocks have destroyed the commute to work, I’ll be working from home and cherishing the extra time with Juniper.

And here is the belly shot at 35 weeks that many of you have been asking for.

Exhausted from an epic day of skiing.

I’m not sure this pregnancy has gone fast per say but I do only have six weeks left to my due date.  And the scary thing is I only have two weeks

left to the point when Juniper was born.  Let’s hope this little guy holds on a bit longer than she did.

Since our trip to Florida a few weeks ago and getting back on the road bike a bunch, I’ve been riding the bike a lot more.  Unfortunately all these rides have been inside on the trainer but with the miles put in while in Florida, I am feeling very good on the bike.  Maybe I’ll be able to get in enough base miles before the baby is born that after a few weeks off the bike I’ll still feel decent.  I’ve also been getting out for some snowy trail runs a few times a week and am really psyched to still be running.  I ran and rode right up until the day Juniper was born and I hope I will feel well enough this time to continue for the next month or so.

Juniper has also been keeping me very active and skiing as much as possible.  We skied both days last weekend, this past Friday and all day today.  I’m sure if we had time, we would be up at the mountain at least three or four days a week.  Today she dragged the adults through the tree runs using her short skis as an advantage and laughing hard when one adult happened to fall down.

I can only guess that two kids will make all the activities of training and playing more fun and exhausting.  I’m looking forward to it!

Although I haven’t gotten much running in the past few days due to a cold, tons of new snow and an aching ankle, I have been able to ride the trainer, get the car stuck again and ski a few days.  The sun is starting to shine through the clouds today so I’m hoping to get my pregnant self motivated and out the door!