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Healthy Habits

Running Pregnant: Running a half Marathon at 12 Weeks Pregnant

Dec 01, 2017
by Jani du Toit
Comments: 1
Tags: ASICS, blogger, blogging, calories, diet, exercise, fitness, friends, Gym, health, healthy, holiday, JBRobinblog, life, lifestyle, love, Mood, motivation, Personal, Product review, runner, running, science, South-Africa
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, midwife or nurse. The information expressed in the series “Running Pregnant – By JBRobinBog.com” should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before running during pregnancy and postpartum.

For most people running 21km is a challenge, not to mention doing it when you’re pregnant. In your first trimester you are very tired, your body is going through changes and things might just be a little off. They say when you pass 12 weeks of pregnancy then you’re in your 2nd trimester and then things get better and safer.

So far everything for me has worked out like they said and in my 12th week my energy levels were up and I had been able to run 3 times in one week. I decided to join a friend for a road race over the weekend.

I usually prefer trail but after falling 2 weeks back during a trail race my husband and I have decided that it would be best for me to stick to tar until he little feet are here.

She opted to do the 21km, and feeling better than I had felt in weeks, I decided I would also go for the 21km.

I woke up the morning with morning sickness… not ideal for my nutrition. I had some future life shake, and prayed it would stay down, Lucky for me it did! I decided to run with my camelback, it could take 2L of water and had compartments for snacks. Seeing as my morning sickness was sticking its head out, I had to be prepared for any situation.

I Packed 2L water, 1x Apple, 1xGU Stroopwaffel, Half a peeled and segmented orange. I knew there would be water points with coke if I needed more.

So nutrition sorted, now I have to figure out the Bladder situation. I struggle with Urine Inconsistence, I’m currently working on it but since I became pregnant it’s like my body wants to pee every 5 minutes!! I realized that I would just have no other option than to stop at those mid run porter potties….

Our race started and there were hundreds of people, I decided to take it easy. It’s suggested that if you run while pregnant that you ensure 3 things,

  1. Don’t dehydrate
  2. Don’t overheat
  3. Always run at a conversational pace.

I ensured that all these needs were met. The run started nice and early so the heat part was sorted and the hydration was also sorted with me having a 2L camel pack on my back. During the run I felt fine, my friend and I chatted a lot and I did find myself out of breath in the up hills. At this point of my pregnancy my belly really started to push out – it was quite uncomfortable and when my bladder filled up it was even worse.

The race had barely started and I found myself looking for a toilet. I felt a little embarrassed, and like a inconvenience for my friend, but I must say when running past a security complex with a visible porter potty, my baby bump came quite in handy when I said –” Please Sir, can I use your toilet!?!”  –  Not ideal situation but it was needed and I was very thankful for it.

After that my pace picked up and I started to get into things, I usually have to do about 5km before I feel like I’m into a run, when we reached the 10km run, I felt a little concerned. My body was getting tired. I realized that I would have to stop for something to eat very soon. I had to stop for a wee again, so I took the opportunity to stop my strava, wait in a short-ish line and get some snacks out of my camel pack. I had a few slices of orange, and coke – then I packed the GU Stroop waffle in my front pouch where it would be easily accessible. The GU Stroop waffle contains about 20mg caffeine which at this point I felt like I could do with.

Finally it was my turn to wee! Afterwards not trying to think too much about the hygienic part of the porter potty and me now eating… I broke the stroopwaffel into pieces and started to eat it piece by piece every 2km. I must say it is quite astonishing what a difference it made in my energy, even the orange did not do the trick as much as this waffle.

Going up hill and chewing was quite the task, I was out of breath from chewing, and out of breath from running, haha like I had to choose between the two. At about 15 km my pace started to considerably slow down, and a few kilometers in I couldn’t hold on to my friend. I slacked off and watched her disappear in the distance. This was a mental moment for me, it was quite a mind shift, there was nothing I could do, and this was just harder than usual.

I just concentrated on the down hills, haha shuffle shuffle up and freeeee down! It did the trick, but at the last 3Km I think my body was just done. At this point I was running without a support band. My body started hurting in the strangest places. I remember my hips hurting allot and my crotch area felt under pressure, my tummy muscles hurt and I needed to pee… again. I kept going towards the finish line, switching between running and walking, It was hard to accept that my body was struggling like this and kept contemplating why this was so hard on my body, and it other pregnant woman would also feel this way?

The last 2Km was a real mental game, and it wasn’t even that far! But when I met with my friend at the finish line she made me feel proud to finish the race. This race made me realize that the changes that are happening are more serious than I thought, and that winging-it would no longer suffice. I ran 30min slower than my usual time. When I you factor in the bathroom breaks and the last 3km walk/run, I don’t think it was that bad. It felt a little intense here close to the end but it was rewarding. Hell I still ran it faster than my first half marathon which I ran with the worst hangover and no race number. (hahaha…)

Here’s what I do the same and differently next time running a half Marathon Pregnant:

  1. I’d definitely pack 2L of water again: Provably looked like such an amateur running with a road race with a camel back…
  2. I’d wear a maternity support band: When you pregnant your muscles are more relaxed and flexible during the babies growth process. This allows for your tummy to stretch. This also means that your muscles are more flexible than what you are used to, so be careful. I would get a support band just to help support your moving belly. Its trial and error, but I write about the best one’s I found in the next post.
  3. I would definitely pack snacks again – maybe even two waffles, but be sure to check the packaging for all the ingredients you still want to make sure Baby is getting something healthy.
  4. I would decide on a pace, and a finishing time: Keep this as an “Estimated” pace and time and maybe have a best version and a worst version, make peace with both, and be content when things don’t go as planned. After all you’re doing something much more important that running a race, your growing a HUMAN!

Protecting your body should be your main priority when you’re pregnant. I think this race taught me this. I was in quite allot of pain the next few days. My tummy muscles hurt a lot and my hips and bottom parts felt like they were under constant pressure. Not to mention how tired I was, it felt like the first trimester all over again, I think I actually took a whole week off before running again after that.

Everybody’s journey is different and everybody’s body grows differently, so take care and do what you can within your limits. Always remember if it’s not really worth it, you’ll get over it.

Here are a few more links to the rest of the series:

Running pregnant: first trimester

Running pregnant: second trimester

Running pregnant: third trimester

RUNNING PREGNANT: SUPPORT BELTS

Happy Running!

Jani

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DreadCare

Dreadlocks Maintenance

Dreadlocks Maintenance – Session 3
Date done: 2016-11 -18
Hairstylist: Mofire – Derrick Adu
Duration: 3hours
Location: JHB, South-Africa
So today I went for some maintenance at Mr.

Nov 29, 2016
Jani du Toit
9 Comments
Healthy Habits

Nissan Trailseeker Trail Run Series #2 Buffelsdrift

Event Name: Nissan Trailseeker Trail Run Series #2 Buffelsdrift

Date Held: 30 June 2019

Distances:
10km

Venue:
Buffelsdrift MTB Park.

Website: https://trailrun.trailseekerseries.co.za/

Photo Credit: Henk Neuhoff 

This past weekend was

Jul 01, 2019
Jani du Toit
0 Comments

Comments:

  • Ngwanathole December 03, 2017

    You’re my inspiration

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Crazies!😜🤪 . Tonight my husband and I just h Crazies!😜🤪
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Tonight my husband and I just hopelessly laughed at the dinner table at how things were just going wrong🤭😅🙄 I think we laughed to keep us from crying 😂 I think we both felt a bit exhausted at the end of today and we just didn’t have the energy to deal 🤦🏽‍♀️
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Paul is at a point were he is CONSTANTLY talking 😵😵obviously my child because he just doesn’t know when to shut up🤭😂🤦🏽‍♀️he just continues, weather you are listening or not😶😶he has also started tapping me on the arm or on the leg now and then he says “Mamma!! Luister jy?!, Mamma Luister, mamma!!” 😐😶😂 and I block him out so well that hé gets sooooooo upset when he realizes I’m not listening 🤭
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So you have two tired adults, and a kid at the dinner table that won’t keep quiet, along with Lily who grabs anything and EVERYTHING!😮😬🤦🏽‍♀️ everything has to be at least 50cm away or she wil go for it! And she is so fast😶😜😣she also refuses to sit stil in her high chair, so much that she climbed over onto the dinner table , grabbed the open jar of mayonnaise 😮🤭luckily I grabbed her and my husband the Mayo so there wasn’t to much of a mess, she then had her dinner sitting on the table, she threw the boiled egg on the floor and at me , stole my avocado samie only to spit it out again, as she tried to grab my mug, I tried to stop her , only to bump over a whole glass of water 🤦🏽‍♀️😂😂😜so then we just laughed 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️😂😅😅
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These kids are crazy but I can’t imagine what else my husband and would have been doing tonight if they weren’t here😂❤️😍🤷🏻‍♀️

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 

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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #runningpregnant #jbrobinblog #breastfeedingrunner #12monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #momlife
Threshold Run ⭐️⭐️ this mornings run was n Threshold Run ⭐️⭐️ this mornings run was nothing short of fun! 🤩🥳 
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Again I was not sure if I should go or not... Being a woman has a few annoying let downs and during certain times of your cycle your body reacts differently and going for a run might not be as beneficial as you might think.🤷🏻‍♀️😕
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So I almost did not go... or I was thinking about that...🤷🏻‍♀️😅 and I’m so glad I went anyway, cramps and all😂 it was such a great run! And I felt like I wanted to fly!🥳🤩 but coach kept pulling me back😂 which is probably good if I’m gonna run 18km Saturday 😬😬😬😮 a bit nervous, these hips of mine are not what they were pre baby...
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Join me at 1pm today for a coffee date with @carlawestfitness on Instagram IGTV about everything Mommy running and running and breastfeeding, or just breastfeeding or just running 😂 ☕️ 🌸🌸 it’s gonna be fun! 🤩

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 

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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #runningpregnant #jbrobinblog #breastfeedingrunner #12monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #momlife
I Did it!🤩🤩🤩 . Small victories! 🤩I did I Did it!🤩🤩🤩
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Small victories! 🤩I did it! I actually got my ass out the house for a solo run😋😋😅it was quite a argument with myself I have to add, after dropping the kids at school and getting back to a oh so silent house it is so tempting to just sit down and have a peaceful cup of coffee...😋☺️ the cup of laziness I call it! 😒😒😬🤦🏽‍♀️ the cup of coffee that delay’s my entire day, makes me feel tired and prevents me from having a amazing day, haha, the lie! That makes me think that if I just sit down for 15min, I’ll be recharged...🙄😒😒uuuuummmmmm WRONG!! 
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The run was amazing, I’ve been doing group runs for a while now, and forgotten how much I love music on my runs!🤩🥰🥰 so we had a little dance party on my run today, Mr @pitbull and I 😍 such a sucker for his music on a run🥳🤩🥰
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Now I feel like I’m on top of the world! Breakfast, shower , nappies and then work😋😋⭐️
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#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 

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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #runningpregnant #jbrobinblog #breastfeedingrunner #12monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #momlife.
Hiiiillllllssss ⛰ . So firstly, I’m surprised Hiiiillllllssss ⛰ 
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So firstly, I’m surprised by how I manage to get up and go for a run this morning and it was probably only because I knew that @virgullesteenkamp  was waiting for me😂😂 and that’s perfect! That is just the accountability I meed at this point of my life 😂🥴
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Lily had a rough night, and I’m not even mad or annoyed, I feel so sorry for her🙁😰 het teething at this point is super intense and I’m also confused weather she had flue symptoms because of flue or because of the teething, anyway, she has such fever spells, her voice sounds funny, and you can see the cuddle baby as she is, those cuddles have just increased 🥰 not complaining, but shame man, the poor thing!😞
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For the first time in weeks I feel myself, And thats weir because my dishwasher is broken, 😂and I’m still coping 🤣 I basically had a pajama day yesterday, looking after the kids and just doing nothing, and my husband comes up to me and says “I like your hair!”😋😋 and I was like huh? I look terrible, dirty shirt, no Makeup, hair super messy, but yes newly dyed at home with some stuff I from from someone, not even blow waved or anything 😂😜
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But I suspect it doesn’t really have anything to do with my hair... maybe its just an outward symbol of me feeling better, and he can see that? 🌸 I dunno, 😅🤷🏻‍♀️
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Ready to get lots of stuff done this week - please let it just not rain...🙏🏻😒coz that might throw me 😂

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 

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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2021 #runningpregnant #jbrobinblog #breastfeedingrunner #12monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #momlife
MotherHOOD😎 . Saturdays run was fun, the last 5 MotherHOOD😎
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Saturdays run was fun, the last 5km was tough I have to say,😅my hips and pelvic floor just isn’t the same after giving birth, and I know I have to keep doing exercises, I know, but flippen hell man!!😩😂that shit hurts...😒😕
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But the run was made much more tolerable for me because of the conversations I had, and it honestly felt like I needed it. ⭐️ the last 7km back was a proper vent and chat session with another Mom that is not the same age as me, we don’t have the same occupation, we didn’t study the same stuff, our lives were pretty much different... but it also wasn’t 😕
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I’ve been talking to allot of other Moms and some are close friends and other are Mom’s I’ve gotten close with over Instagram and haven’t met them at all before! And the discussions are the same, the things we go through are the same, 🥴😅motherhood is hard and we’re all going through it, in different ways, but also pretty much the same same 😕🌸 allot of the times I find myself feeling hopeless, like this is an endless cycle of shit shows😅😒followed by amazing heart bursting moments 💗💗 & then crazy crap again 😂🙄 & in these moments we can get caught up in feelings and emotions, 
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☺️but remember it gets better again - I see you there mama, trying your best. I see you showing up each day, even though you feel exhausted. I see you making tough choices for your family even when your not sure if they are right. I see you working tirelessly, even when it seems never ending. I see you doing an amazing job, even though you doubt yourself. I see you mama, and you are more than enough.💗 and if you see another Mommy struggling, go ahead and remind her of this too!😉⭐️
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Whenever you’re feeling hopeless, hug your child. It’s amazing how they remind us our life is always full of Love! 💗

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 

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Symphony of Cries 🙄 . I feel a little shell sho Symphony of Cries 🙄
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I feel a little shell shocked to be honest 😐😂🤦🏽‍♀️ my afternoon did not go as planned 🤦🏽‍♀️ 
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The plan was- take kids for a run to waste time, make dinner, eat, bath, bed...🤩 easy peasy!
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But then out of nowhere there was Thunder and lightning...so no run🙄🙄 so my afternoon went - no run, get fussy kids in house, out of rain, get AALLLLL the washing off the line while kids cry and moan...🤭 then proceed to try and make dinner - from there on both kids were super fussy 🙄 no flippen idea why, then I had the smart Idea to bribe them to stop crying by giving each a piece of chocolate, 🤦🏽‍♀️Lily freaked out , practically screaming coz she wanted more ...🤦🏽‍♀️ then we had dinner and everyone calmed down, then we played Legos and Lily broke Paul’s house, Paul grabbed the legos from Lily🤦🏽‍♀️, big tantrum. So we went to have a bath eventually everyone calmed down again, 🙏🏻 I managed to heat up my coffee, and then Paul proceeded to spit Lily in the face with water, again, and again... and again 🙄 then more tears..🤦🏽‍♀️
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I dress Lily, give het a book and fetch Paul, I dress Paul and have a huge fight with him, coz he doesn’t want to sleep in a disposable diaper hé wants his ‘Dudu-Doek’ (a cloth nappy) 😐🤦🏽‍♀️ I try and explain that everything got wet in the rain and is not dry yet.😐do you think he cares?!😔😔😣 eventually he just forgot about it.
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Then I pick up Lily for story time, and then as I bend down with her in my arms, Paul jumps up on the bed and they bang heads - Like hard🤭🤭🤭😱😱 like I was concerned hard🤭😐 how do you comfort two hysterically screaming kids 😵😵😵
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Finally everyone is ok again, Story time done, I sit down to breastfeed Lily and ask Paul to lean over and put of the lamp - and then after Lily latches Paul slips off the bed and falls in the dark on the floor and again bangs his head 😲😮😶😶Lily detaches from the boob and also starts crying hysterically 😐😐 WTF...
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Enter Husband  back from his business trip 🙏🏻 Thank goodness 🙄🙏🏻💗
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Everyone is fine now⭐️ and my coffee is cold again...
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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2020 #runningpregnant ##breastfeedingmom #momlife
13 Months of Breastfeeding, 395 Days , 9490,01 hou 13 Months of Breastfeeding, 395 Days , 9490,01 hours 🤍 #breastfeedingrunner 
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Cracked nipples, clogged ducts, engourgment, Running with two bra’s, coordinating runs with feeds, sleepless nights, cluster feeds, leaking, teething, biting spells, nursing strikes, no privacy, pumping, milk shortage, lactation cookies, formula supplementing, Mom Guilt, bonding, cuddles, so much love, and always worth it 🤍🤍
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Some days I wish it would end and others I’m so thankful that we’re still going. 🤷🏻‍♀️🌸😅up and down like a Yo-Yo! Breastfeeding is tough but rewarding and something I’m thankful for being able to experience, two very different experiences with both kids 🤍

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 
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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2020 #runningpregnant #newmom #clothdiapers #plasticfree #jbrobinblog #workingmomlife #breastfeedingrunner #shoereview #10monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #asicstrabucomax #asicsrunning #momlife
First proper Trail run in months, and it was great First proper Trail run in months, and it was great 😜🥳🤩 joining up with a group has been the best so far , #runningworxclub 🤩 I felt like myself again this morning and our morning family routine was also great 😌 I ran with one of the stronger guys in the group and it was nice to have a motivation to keep moving, not to rest to much💪🏻⭐️ I’m very happy, and excited to start next week’s training 🥳🥳🥳
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Although the kids basically destroyed the house while I was gone...🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ not sure if they woke up before my husband and decided to just do their own thing or what, but there are toys everywhere, especially looks like Paul probably woke Lily and threw all the toys and dolls into her crib🙈🙈😂 but everyone was alive when I got home, clean nappies and all💪🏻😅 
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Rest of our day has just been peaceful time at home, playing with the kids, swimming and painting, and now, everyone is gonna nap... so I can take a shower and prep lunch, flippen starving after this mornings run😅🥳 which I’m also greatfull for , because when I don’t run, I don’t always eat, and food like running makes me happy, 😂

#thisisforme #sunrisemind #april100kmchallenge2021 

#ASICS #ASICSFrontRunner #SoundMindSoundBody #ASICSFrontRunner2021 
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True 🤍 Love . I think that what kids are 🥰 . True 🤍 Love
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I think that what kids are 🥰
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Lol amongst other things too, 😅😂🤦🏽‍♀️but thats the part that sticks 🥰

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#runningmom #asicsfrontrunner #asicsfrontrunnerza #noexcuserunner #asicsfrontrunner2020 #runningpregnant #newmom #clothdiapers #plasticfree #jbrobinblog #workingmomlife #breastfeedingrunner #shoereview #10monthspostpartum  #breastfeedingmom #asicstrabucomax #asicsrunning #momlife
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