The very first time I attempted to run postpartum after getting cleared by my OB was around 10 weeks. I was given the green light at 6, but I just didn’t feel up to it until 10. Without getting graphic, recovery from giving birth was rough – to say the least. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck, and regaining any semblance of strength – and most importantly, motivation, took time.
Up until that 10 week point, my life revolved around breastfeeding and trying to physically recover – but without any sleep or rest. I’ve never been more physically or mentally exhausted, and some days I wondered how much longer I could take it before losing my sanity.
At that point, I honestly feared I might never exercise again because I couldn’t imagine how I’d ever find the time, and particularly how I’d manage while nursing, since milk continues to come in constantly, which can get heavy.
At 10 weeks, I finally forced myself out the door. It was hard before I even started. None of my workout clothes fit, so I was really self-conscious about that, paired with low energy – but I set out nonetheless. As I detailed here, that first run was brutal. In fact, it was hardly a run – it was more of a shuffle; mostly walking. I was determined to make it around a loop near my house, which I did – but barely. I’m not even sure how to describe how badly it went, but everything, everywhere ached like hell and I felt about 100 years old.
I hate to admit it, especially now, but it left me feeling pretty discouraged – and angry. Why was my body failing me? I’ve been good to it by exercising my entire life. It didn’t seem fair. After having a pity party for myself the next couple of attempts, I had to get over how badly it felt, and just prayed that it would get better, even incrementally – and it did!
Between 10 weeks and 6 months, I kept at it as consistently as I could. I did the 2 mile(ish) loop around my neighborhood over and over again until I could complete it without having to stop and walk. Then slowly, I added distance a little bit at a time (1 extra mile every few weeks, let’s say). Time passed slowly as I trudged on, but after MONTHS, I finally got to a point where I was running consistently without stopping for 3-5 miles.
I’ll never forget the day I completed my first 5-miler. I was so excited that I was “back,” I immediately texted Coach Cabada and started to train again for the half marathon distance.
Between 6 months and 1 year, I finally got back into the running groove I’d been in before the mid-point in my pregnancy, which meant running 5 days per week, and doing real workouts (interval, tempo and long-distance runs).
I completed a few short-distance races in October and January, just to test my fitness and see where I was at – which was pretty slow, but totally fine! I was so thrilled to be back to racing that I didn’t care how well or poorly I actually did.
In February I raced my first postpartum half marathon, followed by another half in March, only 3 weeks later. Normally I wouldn’t push myself to race that close together, but those two half marathons are my favorite (the Miami Half Marathon and the 305 Half Marathon) and I couldn’t help myself!
Despite how close the two races were, I improved my time by about 5 minutes in the second, which truly astounded me. I couldn’t believe it. Though I wasn’t remotely close to my previous PR (by about 20 minutes), it didn’t matter – I wasn’t a “failed” athlete after all.
1 year to present: I continue to push myself on the roads 5 days per week, while mostly just being thankful that I have the physical capability to run. I’ve gotten a lot better about integrating a stretching routine into my workout, along with light weight lifting to strengthen my core, hips, and back.
Admittedly, all of those areas are still sore most of the time – but I partly attribute that to the physical strain of running on the body to begin with. It’s a difficult and painful sport, and yet I love it more than anything. It’s what I look forward to every morning, and what people say is true: I’ve NEVER regretted going out for a run.
Some days are harder than others, where energy levels and will power waver, but I will never stop trying, and I’ll never skip a run (unless necessary). I love running way too much to quit, and I believe it’s that intrinsic love for the sport that got me through those horrible first days back when I did want to throw in the towel. I’m forever grateful that I didn’t allow myself to give up, and I never will.
How long did it take you to get back to running postpartum?