Throwback Thursday: Marathon Running While Pregnant

Posted on December 4, 2014 by menchviduya

Today I fly out to Singapore for my third Singapore Marathon. I can’t help but remember that I ran this same race as my first full marathon in 2008. I was eight weeks pregnant then.

The run was set for December 2008 and I think I started really training for it around June. I was in good condition since I had been training for an office olympics program in the early part of the year. I just downloaded a free marathon training plan for beginners and tried to stay as close to the prescribed mileage as possible. I also joined fun runs almost every week (since registration fees were cheap then and sometimes we even got free race kits because it was company sponsored). I tried to pack as much training between June and September since we were set to embark on our Manila to Morocco honeymoon in October. I knew that training will take a back seat during a long trip abroad.

Then a month before the marathon I learned that I was pregnant. I was ecstatic and then I remembered that I would be racing in four weeks. I started thinking, what if I still run? I have always been a stubborn person and once I set my sights on something that I really want to do, I can be pretty bullheaded. So I started searching the net for cases of women running marathons while pregnant. There were a few professional athletes who have successfully done it. If I remember correctly, both Kara Goucher and Paula Radcliffe continued to run with a bun in the oven. I talked to my husband and he was very supportive, yet stern when he said that I can run only if I get my doctor’s clearance.

I was nervous when I went to my first OB check up. After the standard tests and check up I mustered the courage to ask my doctor if she can give me clearance to run. To my relief she said that I may go ahead but that I had to go back right before flying to Singapore to make sure that the baby had a heartbeat. She said that it would be okay to run since my body was used to the training but that I should listen to my body very intently and be extra sensitive to any change in energy level, heart rate, body heat, etc. The mandate was to stop immediately if I feel anything wrong, if I’m in pain or if I get dizzy. A week after, we heard my baby’s heartbeat. That was my green light.

Eight weeks pregnant, I finished my marathon at five hours and ten minutes. I remember talking to my baby throughout the course telling him to hang on. It was a good thing that the Singapore heat was not that intense and there was a friendly cloud cover for the duration of the run. I took note of the following guidelines throughout the race:

Stay hydrated. It was very important to keep the body at a stable heat level. An increased temperature would be very harmful for the baby.

Breathe normally. Keep your breathing steady and avoid hyperventilating. As a rule of thumb, make sure that you can carry a steady conversation as you run.

Stop and assess. Every kilometer, I paused and checked if I was feeling anything weird. It also gave me a chance to shake up a bit of the fatigue and realign my running form.

Avoid getting hungry. I had with me a bar of Snickers since that was my favourite snack. I did not know much about sports nutrition then but I knew that I didn’t want to get dizzy from hunger.

Keep it steady. I kept to a constant speed from start to finish, making sure that my heart rate was stable. This also allowed me to have sustained energy throughout the race.

As I crossed the finished line, I was awash with gratitude and happiness. It was one of my most memorable experiences ever. I have run a lot more races since but nothing really beats your first time, especially if you cross it with a little one in your tummy. Maybe it was such a special moment that I ran my second marathon, fifteen weeks pregnant. So both my kids ran full marathons even before they were born. So every time my friends find out that I am running a marathon they ask if I am expecting. Marathon time now has a different meaning.

Crossing the finish line with a baby bump and feeling like a winner.

7 Principles When Traveling with Kids

Posted on December 1, 2014 by menchviduya

Yes, you can continue to travel even after you have kids. For a lot of people, traveling no longer is an option after having the little ones. They wait until they are bigger to go on a trip, big or small. Traveling with kids is a bit more expensive but more than that, I think what’s stopping most of us is the fear that things will turn out really bad and that it will just be a nightmare of a vacation, bringing out the worst in us.

We have been traveling with kids since our first born was three months old and we have taken him to four continents since. We started traveling with two kids when our daughter was also three months old, buying her plane ticket even before she was born (so we were forced to come up with a name to book the ticket). The preparations may vary depending on the ages of the kids but we have tried to apply a few key principles in our travel. I would like to share some of these with you so you will be inspired to see the world with your children.

First trip with two kids. Katy’s first flight was booked before she was born.. because there was a seat sale. Taken at a remote island in Phuket in 2011.

Shift Your Mindset

It starts with an acceptance that traveling with kids is not easy. It is not impossible and difficult but it will not be the same as how you used to travel. It is challenging and trying at times but if you manage your expectations things will be easier. Know that you will have occasional meltdowns, that you will have to scamper to find a toilet or at the worst, end up with a sick child. It may seems like a doomsday kind of perspective, seemingly expecting the worst to happen, but it’s not. Instead it is an openness that a lot of things, not entirely within your control, will happen but that it will still be a fun trip. It is important to keep the fun in your mindset since that is really one of the reasons why we travel.

Plan Ahead

Closely tied with having the right mindset is planning. You will be calmer as a traveling parent if you know that you have covered your bases. Yes it may be challenging to take little kids along but with proper planning you get to prepare for certain things to ensure a smoother trip.

For instance, you can plan for your flight times. Especially for long haul flights, pick a time that coincides with your kids’ nap or sleeping times so that they can rest for most of the flight. Be aware of any lay-over that will require you to vacate the plane. I learned this the hard way during a flight from Sydney to Manila. I was not aware that there was a lay-over in Melbourne so I went ahead and got the kids cozy and settled in only to find out a couple of hours later that we had to get off the plane. It was one of the worst plane rides ever, hauling sleepy and tired kids out of the plane and having to settle them back again after an hour.

In terms of planning for activities, leave a lot of breathing room and be very flexible. Do not pack your itinerary with so many things to do, so many sights to see. Accept that you will not be able to tick off all your must sees and must dos. I used to be checklist traveler but I have come to terms with having a slower and more deliberate pace. It has actually allowed me to appreciate a place more since I am not rushing through things.

However, be wary too of over planning. Plan for the most important aspects like transportation, accommodations and key activities. Be flexible to change course if needed and allow for spontaneity as this is what makes travel memorable.

Pack Light

I like to travel light and as much as possible I don’t want to check in luggage . But with kids, it is so easy to bring the entire house along and to pack for every single imagined scenario. What I have learned throughout the years is that kids don’t need much stuff and they can adapt to their environment.

With this in mind I only pack the following items:

Clothing packed in individual cubes. Each family member gets one (1) big packing cube which contains day clothes and sleeping clothes. I do not bring more than is necessary and just buffer for 1-2 extra outfits. Small items like undies and socks are packed in smaller cubes. Sweaters, warmers, swimsuits are brought as needed.
Footwear is limited to just one pair plus another pair of slippers or Crocs that kids can use in the hotel, especially in the toilet ( I don’t like kids stepping on the bathroom floor barefoot).
Medications. Bring any prescribed medicines and vitamins in small quantities. Have a ready first aid kit containing basic medication for common illness (headache, tummy ache, dehydration, cough/colds). For longer trips, ask your doctor for a prescription for your child’s most common illness and bring these also in tiny sizes.
Nutrition. Bring milk powder especially if the brand is not available in your destination. I also used to bring bottles with disposable liners so that I did not have to bring a lot of feeding bottles. You just need to sterilise the nipples and caps and I used Medela microwaveable steam bags for this ( I can’t imagine bringing a steriliser on a trip).
Diapers. When the kids were younger, I brought enough diapers for the trip so I don’t have to spend on expensive ones abroad. The luggage space occupied by the nappies then became my allocation for things bought on the trip.
Toiletries. We have a ready toiletry bag with 100ml clear bottles that we just refill after every trip. All needed items are in small quantities enough for the trip. Except for trips to isolated islands or remote areas, I just bring exact amounts since you can always buy in case you run out.

I cannot imagine traveling without these packing cubes. It allows for a more organised packing and you can assign cubes to each family member. Plus it makes it easier to transfer stuff around in case of excess luggage weight. (photo from http://www.eaglecreek.com)

Be Ready for the Flight

One of the most daunting parts of the trip is the plane ride, especially if it is a long haul flight. Apart from trying to sync flight times with nap times, it’s good to be ready with a bag of tricks to keep the kids busy. Our carry on luggage contains the following:

One complete outfit per child and an extra top for each adult, in case clothes get soiled or check-in luggage is lost or arrives late.
Hoodie for each child since the aircondition in planes can get a bit too cold.
A small kiddie travel kit that contains their favourite small toys (with not too many parts since you don’t want to spend the time just picking these up every time your kid drops them on the floor), stickers and masking tape (just be ready to peel these off the backseat before you land), one book per child especially if reading is part of your nap/winding down routine, a pack of flash cards/game cards.
Snacks and nutrition. Bring your kids’ staple and favourite food in case they don’t like to eat airplane food. Include some fun snacks too so that kids know that it’s gonna be a happy flight.
A lot of wet baby wipes. Yes you will be needing a lot of these.
If you have an iPad, bring this too. It is always good to have this as a last resort to keep the tiny ones still.
A few earplugs that you can give out to your neighbours in case your kids have a meltdown. I think I got this idea from another friend of mine. This gesture will let them know that you are considerate even if you are super stressed.

But more than the above, stay calm and try to keep yourself together even if things go haywire. Try not to feel guilty even if your kid screams his lungs out. It is easy to think that people in the plane are judging you as a bad parent. Let them think whatever they want and just focus on the job at hand. Stay sane and breathe.

The calm before the excitement. Our first long haul flight with two kids – 17 hour flight to Amsterdam then connecting to Gothenburg.

Choose Accommodations Well

Our most memorable accommodations are not the nice hotel rooms but the Airbnb family apartments that allowed for sufficient running and screaming space for the kids. Our host family in Gothenburg, Sweden even provided the kids with toys they can play with during our stay.

For places with no available Airbnb, we pick hotels in centrally located areas to make sure that we can have a short break during the day so kids can nap and rest a bit. We try to plan the day around their sleep times to avoid getting them overly tired, avoiding a major meltdown.

It’s good that the kids are not picky and can sleep through the night anywhere. I guess this also comes from exposing them to various types of accommodations. As long as they are with us, they can relax and trust their environment.

Our Gothenburg Airbnb apartment with a kids room and toys for the little ones.

Take Public Transportation

Part of the adventure of travel is trying out all sorts of available transportation. Let them ride trains, taxis, buses, ferries, tuktuks, trikes, jeepneys, bancas, etc. They also get used to being in transit when you allow them this experience. It is also a good learning activity as they learn about the various modes of transport.

Taking public transport is also cheaper, especially in places with organised metro and bus systems.

Our little mate on board a ferry.

Choose Activities that are Fun for All

Find places for kids’ activities like children’s museums, playgrounds, parks, etc. But also include activities that are fun for the adults. For instance, food is such a big part of travel and we try to find interesting dining places that are also child-friendly. We try not to eat in fancy places since we will not enjoy the place as much and it may just be a waste of money. There’s always a time for fine dining during one of our date trips.

We don’t really shop a lot and if we do one of us stays with the kids in a park or play area or back at the hotel so we do not have to drag them to stores. It’s also not much fun to keep on saying “no, don’t touch that” or “don’t do that” so better not to bring them in places where you have a lot of restrictions.

Good thing I also enjoy kids and science museums. Taken at Universeum in Copenhagen.

And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun. It is tiring, but there’s nothing like spending the entire day getting to know your children and seeing the world through their eyes.

Bunk bed Lego building and bonding, fun for these two kids.

How You Can Afford to Travel – 5 Easy Steps

Posted on November 26, 2014 by menchviduya

I grew up very poor and only took my first plane ride when I was 22 years old. The year after that, I went on my first trip out of the country, to Singapore. So that explains my thirst for travel. After getting bit by the travel bug and after visiting over 50 cities, I can only live a life marked by wanderlust.

I have always been asked how I can afford to travel a lot considering I am earning average middle manager income. We are a regular working class family but somehow we have been able to go places with what we had. I have always been open to friends and colleagues about how we managed to do this so allow me to share some of my favourite travel hacks and best practices we have used over years. Some of the tips we have shared as well in our Travel Hacking article for Revel Magazine.

Prioritize What You Spend On

It’s easy to just spend mindlessly on big and small things so it pays to know what truly matters to you. Travel is important to me so I choose to spend on this. I rarely shop for shoes, bags and clothes and if I do, I never buy anything at full price. Clearance is my best friend. However I would willingly spend on high impact experiences while traveling (culinary tours, off-the-beaten adventures, etc).

It will also help to pack your lunch and refrain from eating out a lot. You may not notice it but the lunch meal tab plus the Starbucks and dessert adds up over time. We love to eat out and enjoy going on dates and dinners with friends. but we try to keep this at a manageable level by employing some money saving techniques. For instance, we have early dinner at home before going out for after dinner drinks or dessert.

Financial blogger Ramit Sethi said, “Spend money extravagantly on the things that you love, and cut costs mercilessly everywhere else.” If you’re a travel hacker, that means optimizing where every peso of your travel budget goes. So this also means that we don’t give each other expensive gifts on our birthdays; instead we go on trips and spend on having memorable experiences.

I love running, I love travel and choose to spend on these things.

We love one-of-a-kind experiences like Munich’s Oktoberfest. The beers are a bit more expensive during this time but there is nothing like being part of the world’s biggest party.

Set a Travel Budget

It may seem counterintuitive but having a budget set for the year has given us more freedom to make travel decisions. With a set budget you can choose to go on a few major trips or several small ones and not just charge blindly. Since you know your budget, you can plan better and plan ahead. Related to this, its good to have a separate travel savings bucket so you know how much to set aside on a regular basis. Making travel a part of your monthly savings will allow you to build your fund steadily and consistently.

Maximize Mileage Programs

For the past five years we have never paid full price for long haul flights. We have been loyal users of the Platinum Premier Miles card of Citibank and have been able to maximise it’s mileage program. What is good about this card is that you can convert it to miles of most airlines. So we combine miles earned with actual miles flown to get award tickets. We have flown to the US and Europe at very minimal cost. because of this. We also only choose airlines that are part of the same mileage program so we can accumulate miles faster.

Go for Great Deals and Book Early

I am a morning person and am usually asleep by 10PM but I stay awake for seat sales. I can’t count anymore how many times I have booked flights at dawn to get first dibs on these promo fares. I think the best deal I have ever bought was from Cebu Pacific for three Manila-Osaka roundtrip tickets for a total of Php 3,600 including all taxes. These flights are months (or even a year) in advance so it gives you sufficient time to plan for the trip and even take advantage of accommodation deals since you already know when you will travel.

I also go to travel fairs to avail of highly discounted accommodations for flights that we have booked in advance. I usually have a list of hotels/resorts to check out at the fair so I don’t aimlessly walk around and impulsively buy anything just because it is cheap.

Tickets for three to Japan for Php 3,600. Not bad at all 🙂

Try Alternative Accommodations

When it comes to accommodations while traveling, look for local accommodations instead of a hotel. We discovered AirBNB.com in 2010 while traveling around the US, and staying at locals’ apartments was a very rewarding experience. Our hosts were always very friendly, gave us tips on where to go off the usual tourist path, and the prices were lower than what you’d get for a hotel in the same area. Since you stay where the locals live, you can usually find interesting and cheaper dining places, groceries, markets, etc. It also gives your trip a bit more local flavour.

Our Airbnb host lent us traditional Bavarian wear for the Oktoberfest and even helped in fixing us up for the party.

These tips are nothing fancy nor extraordinary but have worked for us consistently. I will try to share more of these as I build this blog.

BONUS: Join Contests

Airline companies launch promos and contests and the mechanics are usually simple. There’s no harm in joining these. I am believer because last year I won two round-trip tickets to Europe via KLM 🙂

Free flights to Europe for a wintery post-Christmas trip.

The New York Marathon Experience PART 2

Posted on November 15, 2014 by menchviduya

I chose a very strong finish time, 3:30, and was assigned to the first wave. This was a wise decision since I did not experience the clogged and slow race start that friends who ran New York Marathon previously went through. At the sound of the canyon, we were off. It was the most amazing start as we were welcomed by the magnificent vista from the Verrazano-Narrows bridge. It was also very cold with real feel temperature of 0 degrees celsius combined with headwinds of around 48kph. But I had such a strong and fast start despite this.

Wave 1 runners raring to run after hours of waiting in the cold

Beautiful views as we cross the Verrazano-Narrows bridge. It was hard to take a photo while running against very strong headwinds.

Game face on! Happy to have a strong and fast start.

I was so pumped up and energized. I decided not to look at my Garmin for the entire duration of the race but I felt that I was going very fast. I felt extra confidence when I passed the 3:35 pacer several times and for a fleeting moment I considered that this might be my Boston Qualifier. I sustained this pace until mile 16 as we crossed the Queensboro Bridge. Then both my ankles and calves started to tighten. I told myself that this was just a passing pain and will eventually go away. It didn’t.

Trying to ignore the pain and instead focusing on the crowd presence as we run through the five New York boroughs.

I slowed down but I never stopped. I just focused my attention on the generosity of the volunteers as they handed over drinks and food. I absorbed the energy of the crowd as they cheered on and held up funny signs. I sang along with the bands as they played Eye of the Tiger. I gave high five to little kids, ignoring the pain that started to creep up all the way to my hips. I refused to stop because I knew that if i did, my legs would harden and I wouldn’t be able to move it anymore. Then I heard people shouting my name at mile 23. It was Gabby and JC cheering me on. Renewed energy surged through me and I just set my sights on finishing the race as I revelled in the cheers of the growing crowd leading to the finish line. I felt my knees locking at mile 25 and it was such a relief to see my best friend Neri and her husband Richard at this point. Their cheers gave me the extra push to plod on. Then I entered Central Park, the last stretch to the finish. I was just glad that I ran this route before the race so everything seemed familiar and comforting despite the pain. I felt my tears welling up and my emotions building up as I approached the finish line. I still cry at the end of every major race.

Running with all my heart and might made the marathon finish extra sweet.

The finish was extra sweet because I knew that I ran this race with all my heart, refusing to give in to the pain and the urge to stop. It felt great receiving the finishers medal and then getting wrapped in an insulated blanket then a poncho. I felt warm inside out. Just happy to be here, blessed to be part of the world’s greatest marathon.

Runners wrapped in blankets make their way to the exit.

Sea of blue as runners in warm ponchos amble their way to meet family and friends at the exit.

Sweet finish made sweeter by victory cookies from Levain Bakery.

The New York Marathon Experience PART 1

Posted on November 13, 2014 by menchviduya

Every marathon experience is different. But the New York marathon was extra special because I waited for four years to finally get in. Since it is the world’s largest and most popular marathon, a slot to run this race is much coveted with a lottery oversubscribed by eight to ten times. I persisted because I knew that if I kept trying I will eventually get a guaranteed entry after three consecutive tries.

We arrive in New York a week before the race and I couldn’t keep my excitement. I did a couple of easy runs in Central Park and couldn’t help but feel jealous of the beautiful running grounds that New Yorkers are so lucky to have. I do most of my trainings on a treadmill so you can just imagine the envy I felt. As we went around the city, I was imagining running through these neighborhoods lined with people cheering us on. I was giddy with anticipation. I couldn’t wait to run.

I also could not wait to go to the marathon expo, a runner’s ultimate wonderland. Every year I look forward to this expo like a kid waiting to go to a toy store. It feels like Christmas every single time. We went early on the first day of the expo at Javits Center and I was not surprised to see the place packed with other eager runners. A Filipina runner handed me my race packet and she said she would be running too. As soon as I got my race kit, I happily sauntered to the sports expo where you can find everything a runner would need from gear to apparel to nutrition. I went home with my loot of swags, shirts and of course my yearly pair of Newtons. I was a happy camper:)

Nice photo-op area at the marathon expo

The New York Marathon sports expo had everything a runner would need.

My happy loot:)

The New York Marathon is also extra special because we had friends who were there to support us. Usually, my lone support crew is my husband Gabby and it would just be a simple arrangement- we take out food the night before the race, he takes me to the nearest transportation on race day and he waits for me at the finish line. This time we were with my best friend and our other friend JC, appointed himself as my Marathon Concierge. We planned our pre race dinner, plotted where they would cheer along the way and arranged for after race meet ups. JC even prepared my corned beef, rice and egg breakfast 🙂 They even brought me all the way to the Staten Island Ferry Building. I felt spoiled.

On race day, I boarded the 6:15 am ferry to Staten Island, the race’s starting point. I was so amazed with the superb logistics management of shuttling over 50, 000 runners via ferry, bus and subway. It is such a complex start and quite challenging to organize but everything just worked with the help of over 10,000 volunteers and the NYPD in full force.

Exodus of marathoners at the Staten Island Ferry Building

We were brought by bus to the starting villages, color coordinated based on our bib color. I was happy to meet a fellow Filipina amidst the exodus of runners and we got to chat a bit before heading to our respective villages. I was assigned to the Orange Village. We were handed bonnets as we entered and told that there was food for everyone. Food gets me excited and I think I ate every single type of available food and drink while waiting for the race start. I sat beside an Aussie girl named Katy and she told me about her other sport, adventure racing. It’s always interesting to know what other things marathoners are up to. We also happily observed how the runners creatively put together pre race outfits to keep them warm during the long wait before the start. Some were even in bath robes and fur mascot costumes.

Runners waiting at the Starting Village

After two hours of waiting, wave 1 runners were called to go to the starting line. As I walked I could not feel my toes from the extreme cold. After the marathon, I read somewhere that this was the coldest NY Marathon in history. Brrrr.

Watch out for Part 2 of my New York Marathon story in a couple of days 🙂

wandermench

Daily rambings on habits, practice, mindfulness as I try to sort myself out.

Category Archives: Travel