Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy [Paperback]

Chris Lundgren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2003

Each year, about 785,000 women runners who are pregnant or who have recently given birth hear conflicting fitness advice from friends, family, and even doctors. Save for a handful of magazine articles, these women have nowhere to turn for accurate, up-to-date information.

Until now. The Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy is a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive look at the how-tos and benefits of running for expectant mothers. And the benefits abound. Even a modest pregnancy running program gives women a reduced risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and premature birth. It also leads to fewer cesareans, faster recovery after delivery, and even smarter babies!

From the worldwide authority on running, the Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy offers the latest, most detailed information available, along with real-life tips to help you succeed. Inside you'll find:

- Advice from experts including sports gynecologists, nutritionists, and exercise physiologists

- The most current heart rate and training guidelines

- Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy stretching and strength programs

- Cross-training suggestions including yoga, Pilates, swimming, and more

- Running-specific menu plans for a healthy pregnancy

- Strategies for preventing injuries

- Money-saving tips for choosing the best maternity running gear

- Guidance for postpartum running

The Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy gets to the bottom of the how-much-is-too-much debate once and for all. Pregnant runners will never be puzzled by conflicting advice again.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Each year, about 785,000 women runners who are pregnant or who have recently given birth hear conflicting fitness advice from friends, family, and even doctors. Save for a handful of magazine articles, these women have nowhere to turn for accurate, up-to-date information.

Until now. The Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy is a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive look at the how-tos and benefits of running for expectant mothers. And the benefits abound. Even a modest pregnancy running program gives women a reduced risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and premature birth. It also leads to fewer cesareans, faster recovery after delivery, and even smarter babies!

From the worldwide authority on running, the Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy offers the latest, most detailed information available, along with real-life tips to help you succeed. Inside you'll find:


* Advice from experts including sports gynecologists, nutritionists, and exercise physiologists


* The most current heart rate and training guidelines


* Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy stretching and strength programs


* Cross-training suggestions including yoga, Pilates, swimming, and more


* Running-specific menu plans for a healthy pregnancy


* Strategies for preventing injuries


* Money-saving tips for choosing the best maternity running gear


* Guidance for postpartum running

The Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy gets to the bottom of the how-much-is-too-much debate once and for all. Pregnant runners will never be puzzled by conflicting advice again.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

The seed for this book was planted during the fourth week of my first pregnancy. I wanted something that would tell me it was okay to keep running, that my baby would be fine if I continued the sport I'd pursued my entire adult life. After a desperate and unsuccessful search at the Barnes & Noble near my home in Anchorage, Alaska--the "Pregnancy" shelves, the "Sports" shelves, the "Exercise" shelves--I moved on to the two other major bookstores in town, only to find the same disappointing results.

At my first prenatal checkup, I timidly mentioned my running. "That's fine," the nurse said. "Just keep your heart rate under 140 beats per minute or you could divert oxygen from your womb." I turned green, not from morning sickness, but from the memory of a chest-pounding 8-miler I'd run the night before taking my home pregnancy test. I swore to myself I'd be more careful. During each subsequent run, I'd stop every 3 to 4 minutes and place a finger on my neck to check my pulse. It took little to nudge my heart rate over the limit, so stopping and walking became part of my routine. I began to enjoy my runs less. My frustration grew until I finally quit and replaced running with light workouts on a stairclimbing machine.

My first baby (a boy) was born a healthy 7 pounds 9 ounces and apparently unscathed by my early pregnancy misstep. After confirming my second pregnancy, I shopped again for that elusive book, certain that in the 2 years since my first pregnancy some writer had filled the gap. Again I came away empty-handed--but inspired. The Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy had started to germinate. I dug into the piles of research on exercise during pregnancy (and finally learned the truth about heart rate), recorded my experiences in a journal, interviewed medical professionals, and talked with all the moms I could find who had run through their pregnancies.

My second child also was born healthy. Nine months of running had diverted nothing from the womb, which became obvious when the baby emerged at a whopping 8 pounds 10 ounces and sporting an impressive set of lungs that he put to use immediately.

We all have different reasons for wanting to run through pregnancy (you'll find many outlined in the pages that follow). I love the physical and emotional boost I get from running, and I didn't want to let go of that for 9 months. And, like many runners, I thrive on goals. Four weeks postpartum, I began to intersperse some running with walking. Ten months postpartum I ran the marathon I'd fantasized about during my pregnancy. But that's just my story. Pregnancy is a highly individual experience, and your journey through prenatal and postpartum running will likely unfold differently from mine and that of the other runners quoted and profiled in this book. You'll want to listen to your own body and "run your own pregnancy."

Having run all the way through my second pregnancy, I've now answered the burning questions I had when I scoured bookshelves for the volume you now hold in your hands. I've organized the book in a read-as-you-grow format--trying to place answers at the most relevant moments of your pregnancy's progression. Since no two pregnancies are alike, if you don't find what you're looking for in a particular month, read ahead to the next. By the time you finish this book, you'll be armed with the most up-to-date advice from the experts--including exercise physiologists, sports gynecologists, and moms just like you. And you'll have fortified your mind and body for the unique experience of being a runner while becoming a mother.

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (September 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579547478
• ISBN-13: 978-1579547479
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Pregnancy
  • #100 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Running & Jogging

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference, April 27, 2004

By 

K. Duff (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy (Paperback)

I found this book to be easy to read and full of advice based on the latest studies. I enjoyed the book because it is the most comprehensive reference on current information about running and pregnancy I have found.

The book is written by a woman who has run with two pregnancies, and is full of stories from other women who have run with their pregnancies. It talks about their experiences, motivations, and suggestions/cautions. The book also provides material about how running and conception interact, diet, strengthening exercises, stretching, and the truth about aerobic exertion during pregnancy.

As a runner, I think the book is an excellent addition to my pregnancy book collection, and recommend it to all similar runners who are thinking about or have become pregnant.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration for runners, December 19, 2005

By 

K. Eilbeck "bod" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy (Paperback)

This is a fun book that details briefly the changes that happen to your body during pregnancy and focuses on the runners body. The author had first hand experience of running throughout her pregnancy. The factual data is supported by 2 page case studies of women runners who had children. Some of them ran all the way through, some switched to cross training and some had to stop. There is a whole spectrum of experiences.

It is an inspirational and supportive book, and helped me get through my exercise on days when I did not feel like it. I also passed it on to my mother when she had issues about my exercise .I recommend it to any runner thinking about having a baby.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Advice for Pregnant Runners, September 25, 2007

By 

S. Sprouse (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy (Paperback)

I picked up Running and Pregnancy before we even started trying to conceive so that I would be educated about my exercise choices once we achieved a pregnancy. I am pleased to say that this book is very realistic and doen-to-earth. They debunk some of the exercise myths (don't let your heart rate get above 140) and provide reasonable guidelines to active pregnant women. I am almost 16 weeks, still running strong and look forward to continuing to run through my pregnancy.