I have been waiting to get back into running basically since I finished giving birth. I don't know why it's taken me so long, but I have recently done the first two runs in a 5k training program. It is an immersive zombie adventure 5k training program, so it's a double bonus win! However, running after having a baby is in many ways a completely different activity from running before having a baby. As such, I have taken some of my major insights and listed them out.
1. All my sports bras are woefully inadequate
This tops the list as it's both one of the first changes I noticed and one of the most drastic changes. "Pump or nurse before you run," they said. "It'll be fine," they said. THEY LIED. There was way too much motion and so far nothing seems to contain it. Seriously, how do busty women deal with this? I'm not even that busty, even with mom boobs, and I still am having trouble dealing. Plus, sports bras are expensive so getting new ones is going to be a financial pain. Seriously. This is not cool.
2. Jogging strollers are awesome
My mother, despite any flaws she may have, is the most amazing person in the world for buying us a totally pimp jogging stroller. It may be the greatest baby accessory ever. It takes curbs like a beast and rolls smoothly even through the more deeply graveled parts of the jogging path I've been using. It is seriously amazing how much of a difference it makes in running with a baby to have the right stroller.
3. Running with a jogging stroller, no matter how pimp it is, is really hard
You're pushing a good 50-60 extra pounds in front of you with every step you take. Granted, those pounds are on well-oiled rugged wheels designed for beach/trail/whatever. But still, that is a lot of extra weight. Besides the stroller itself, you have the baby and all their gear, plus any water and/or carbs you may want to have. On the plus side, if I ever get the chance to run without the baby, it is going to be a breeze!
4. You suddenly have to pack before you run
Before, I would put my keys and phone in a pocket and head out the door. If it was a long run, I'd bring some water and a few chewy electrolyte calorie replacer thingies. Now, there's a whole diaper bag involved. Not to mention dressing the tiny human properly and incorporating sunscreen (for both of us!) and making sure you have enough toys that can be secured to the stroller and also amuse him for about 40 minutes of not having face-to-face Mommy Time. It. Is. A. Lot.
5. Running is no longer a luxury
It sounds counterintuitive, but it's true. This is the time when, more than ever, I need some sort of physical exercise. It helps drop the baby weight; it's an amazing stress release; it gets me out of the house; it allows me to set goals that are for me (and only me and have nothing to do with the baby).
Speaking of goals, I have a new running goal. I want to run an ultramarathon. That sounds really impressive, but it's really just any race longer than marathon distance (26.2 miles). So a 50k (about 31 miles) counts. However, being the nutter that I am, I would really like to do a 50 mile race. I've been looking into the training and trying to find a good goal race, so we'll see how this shapes up. But it's something I've wanted to do for a while, and I figure it's a good way to motivate me to really dig in now that I'm back in the game.
Then again, if the Pumpkin continues to insist on letting me get only 3-4 hours of sleep each night, this may not happen any time soon.
*sigh*
Take care, friends, and I'll write again soon!
2 words. Ace. Bandage.
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