Holy. God.I decided to join my husband and father-in-law on Saturday for their weekly run, one that I have participated in for years. It had been 5 weeks since baby, and I was so excited to get out and back at it again (even though it was cold as balls outside and I am a complete wimp when it comes to winter weather).
The boys were going to do a 7km loop, which was fine with me- I was just looking to get out for myself and waddle slightly faster than a turtle at medium speed. My goal was to complete four 5-minute run intervals with a 1-minute walk interval in between each, for a total of 23 minutes.
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| This photo was not from the weekend. You can tell because in this photo, I'm 1) wearing makeup 2) skinny and 3) smiling. |
The intervals went a little something like this:
Interval 1 (00:00-05:00): Woo hoo! I'm running again! I feel a little strange, and I'm scared to let go of this giant Kegel, but I'm running again! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Interval 2 (06:00-11:00): My uterus feels strange. Am I peeing? I am running slow. That is okay.
Interval 3 (12:00-17:00): How in F's name is 5 minutes so F'ing long?
Interval 4 (18:00-23:00): Where is the finish line to the ultra marathon that I just ran? I'm going to need the race's team of paramedics to carry me home.
You catch my drift. It was freaking hard.
I've had hard runs before. Times when I was out of shape, feeling
It made me feel exceptionally humble. Picking up an exercise regime is hard enough, and sticking to it is harder. Instead of giving up and thinking "that run was too hard, I'll never do that again!" (which, by the way, I totally get), I need to think "that run was hard, but I have nowhere to go but up!" (which is the annoying fitness instructor deep down inside me).
I challenge you to do the same. When something is hard, it will be even more rewarding once you kick the crap out of it. For example, when I give up eating Mini Eggs as full meals, I will have a hotter bod, I will feel good about myself and wear tighter clothes, and my husband will want to make out.
Wait- that's how I got into this mess in the first place. Shit.
Anyways you catch my drift. Don't give up. Even if you are so sore the next day that you can't sit down; you need one of those old-person travelling seats to walk down the stairs; you need a full-time nanny to watch your child because you can't bend down and pick them up; your gait resembles that of a teenage rapper; and the thought of working out again makes you want to vomit.
Not that I've ever felt that way.
Have you ever had a run where you felt like garbage?
I am just loving your posts!!! You crack me up!!! Yes getting back into the run after baby is hard...wicked hard! I'm 2 months out and it still isn't easy! I remember with my first daughter I would swear weekly at my trainer...she loved me! Stick with it though...you'll be back in no time!!
ReplyDeleteA run that's felt like garbage? That's like my specialty, and I've never even had a child. Good for you for getting back to it!
ReplyDeleteEveryone of them. All 5. My first one was the hardest, especially since my knees suck. oh, and since I don't run and I'm 32. I remember coming home, posting on fbook about my whithered old body and a fitness guru suggested I do the pigeon pose to help my knees. It was a miracle worker and my knees have never been sore from running since. The guru? Was Katy Livingstone, my personal healer. Anyway, after those 5 runs I moved onto lifting a botte of wine for a workout, but not any more! This is as much as I have to offer. You're welcome.
ReplyDeleteOH my!!!!! I never was active till post Logan so I never ran until months after he was born. I can't imagine!!!! CONGRATS can't wait to creep the baby :)
ReplyDeleteBWAHAHAHAHAHA "Interval 2 (06:00-11:00): My uterus feels strange. Am I peeing?"
ReplyDeleteOh my God, you crack me up!!!! Word of advice - AVOID trampolines for about 5 years. LOL The first time I got on one after my girls, I ran off after one bounce. LOL
I just found your blog & I have to say, you are amazing! Great job on getting out on your first run post baby. One of my friends had her baby right around the same time as you, and she is starting to try running again too. Keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteHaha!! I love this post! It made me laugh so many times. It's nice to see a woman who just had a baby that can admit how f'ing hard it is to return to running. I've read so many blogs where the women are running 6 minute miles post baby and I'm like, what kind of freak are you? Granted, I haven't had a baby but I know how hard it is to get back into the groove after an injury, let alone pushing a human out of your V!
ReplyDeleteHaha, great effort! I sooo love reading these posts to see what is in store for me in a few months... Joys! I've totally had numerous crap runs, probably more than I can name on one hand. But you're right, if you get over that and get out for a great run, it's the best feeling!
ReplyDeleteI loved your post. Had me laughing through most of it. I'm a runner and 5mo's pregnant. But not so easy to get out and run these days. I hope to remember your notes after I've had my baby and hating myselt through those first runs. And this gave me the pep I need today to get out and run!
ReplyDeleteHaha great post!
ReplyDeleteHa, great post. Yes, I have had horrible runs. I guess most everyone has, but you're right, there's nowhere to go but up.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny and SO true! But why is everyone forgetting the obvious: all the JIGGLE! When I ran for the first couple weeks after both babies I couldn't ignore how much jiggling was going on underneath all my too tight workout clothes. Belly jiggle, boob jiggle, face jiggle, hip jiggle, butt jiggle and worst of all lip jiggle...no not the lips on the face. Gasp! Yes, I went there. It was awe.ful. Not to mention from minute to minute my boobs would change from soft to completely hard and fully engorged. End of workout.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, it gets better and better each day/workout/run!
Congratulations on your beautiful baby!
You never fail to crack me up! Am I reading my thoughts 5 mos from now?! Efffff! Did you up the ante/support of any of your sports bras? I'm already running out of room!! Help!
ReplyDeleteLove love love it, LOLed. Thanks, and congrats on your first run AWESOME
ReplyDeletePS one of my favorite parts of the post: it being tagged as postpartum fitness hahaa
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job pushing through your run! You're right, it'll only get easier from here. It can't be easy doing your first run after baby!
ReplyDeletePS I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has made meals out of mini eggs.