- I feel like I'm starting completely over. It's painful.
- I'm slow and I can't go very far. My farthest distance so far is 3.5 miles and I average around a 9:30-9:45/mile pace:(
- My back hurts. My ankles and feet hurt, and the night after my first run, my back and hip pain kept me up. It was like being nine months pregnant again.
- I have missed the alone time running gives me. I had forgotten how I like to get some good thinking done during those times.
- I almost kissed the pediatrician when he told me I could start running with Elsa when she turned two months. [I showed him the literature for the stroller and infant sling we have for it] No excuses now to not get back into shape.
- Speaking of the Chariot, it's totally amazing and unbelievably smooth and easy to push. Until you go uphill, that is, and while your baby is only 12lb.
- Here are the bad thoughts going through my head:
-I hate being slow
-I hate being out of shape
-I hate the way my thighs rub together
-Why is my body so achy?
-I hate having to take walking breaks
-I hate that my clothes don't fit.
-I can deal with a tummy, but I hate my new thighs and butt.
- Here's what I have to remind myself of:
-I JUST had a baby that I grew inside of my body.
-That is more amazing than any amount of running.
-Not only that, I had major abdominal surgery only 10 weeks ago
-I haven't had a full night of sleep in months
-I only got the okay to exercise three short weeks ago
-I stopped running at 31 weeks pregnant, so it's been awhile
-Cut yourself some slack, woman!
-Things WILL get easier, you just have to start somewhere
- I need a few new really supportive sports bras. The ones I have now do not cut it.
- I'm going to register for the half-marathon here in April. I have completed it four times. I don't plan on breaking my personal record of 1:49, but I want to complete it.
- But one day, I will beat my PR.
- Last week I only ran once. This week, I ran three times for 10 miles. Progress is slow, but sure.
- I want to be a good role model for this little girl, and being active is just one value I hope to instill in her.
Other running moms, how did it feel for you to ease back in postpartum? It gets easier, right?
5 comments:
You are amazing! Truly, a warrior woman, I only wish I could run for 3.5 miles straight that fast, and I have never had a baby! Keep on trucking momma.
It gets SO much easier but it does take a lot longer than we'd like. I remember that icky feeling of feeling like my body was no longer my own while running, like making it one little block was a huge accomplishment. Try your hardest NOT to compare your current running shape to the 'before baby' status---I know it's hard but you will get back there in time, I promise.
I ran 3x/wk on my mat leave with Tru and our jogging stroller and reminisce about those days of running with him to get back in shape. And I did a half marathon 7 months after he was born and surprised myself with how fast I was even with very little training. Your body will 'remember' how to be an exercise machine----but you are right to cut yourself some slack right now, too. Hang in there!
And I HIGHLY recommend the Under Armour sports bra that zips up the front and has tons of support for giant nursing boobs. It's hideous but was like gold for me. I laugh when I look at how big it is now, but hope to fit into someday again:)
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3973990&010=7118481&cid=CSE:&cid=CSE:GooglePlusbox&003=3933188
I think you're amazing! Great job Mary!
Reading this makes me feel like a bunch of crap. I haven't run in OVER A YEAR and I'm going to train for the same half marathon as you. I'm scared but I have to start somewhere. I feel terrible about myself and my body and I'm hoping that getting back into running makes me feel better. Knowing that you have similar feelings (although you are probably 50 lbs lighter, in much better shape than me, and you already run faster than I could ever run) makes me feel better. You will be great getting back into the swing of things. I'm so impressed that you ran so long into your pregnancy. You are awesome!
I've been interested in hearing how people get back into running and exercising after baby, and like A&A said: 3.5 miles at that pace is actually much better than a lot of people who haven't had babies.
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