Race Recap: My First Half Marathon After Baby

So… I DID IT! Last Sunday, February 9th, I successfully completed 13.1 miles at the Miami Half Marathon. The beginning of the race was a little rough, but by the end, I finally found my groove. Here’s how it all went down…

I woke up at 3:30am on Sunday morning. Surprisingly, the sudden jolt of my alarm wasn’t nearly as bad as I anticipated, and I found myself unexpectedly alert. As per usual with an early morning workout, my breast pump was set-up and ready to go. As much as I hate pumping, it’s mandatory prior to working out. If I didn’t pump I’d probably tip right over! Well, not really, but it would be extremely uncomfortable and could lead to a more serious issue like a clogged duct, which I’ve been fortunate enough to avoid up to this point. Anyhow, after 20 minutes of pumping out as much milk as possible (since I wouldn’t have access to either the pump or Ben for several hours), I quickly changed and headed out the door.

I made it downtown by about 5am, just in time for the opening of the corrals. On my drive in, I drank a full bottle of ice water from home, so I figured I was doing pretty well in terms of keeping myself hydrated since it was about 72 degrees out. I’d run the full Miami Marathon 2 years prior and made the dire mistake of not drinking enough water, which I had paid for dearly when I hit the wall at the halfway point – brutal doesn’t even begin to describe how painful the last half of that race was. Anyhow, I stood in a long line to use the porta potty prior to checking into my corral (H), and figured I was good to go from that point on.

The first mile did not go well. In general, you’re not allowed to leave a corral (in larger races) after you’ve gone in, which doesn’t bode well if you need to use the bathroom again before you start (and particularly if there’s a wait). It’s common for runners to use the restroom multiple times prior to any race, given how much water is being taken in to avoid dehydration. I ended up waiting about an hour from the time I entered the corral until the time I started the race (6:30am), so of course I had to go again by the time I started, but by then it was too late (to use the porta potty, but unfortunately not for my bladder). Without giving TMI, it did not hold up in the first mile in time to make it to the first porta potty available on the course. So, that really sucked and of course it was totally mortifying but there was literally nothing I could do to stop it. I was thankful it was still dark and that I was wearing black pants, which I’d done purposefully just in case this happened.

Side note: postpartum incontinence has been an unwanted friend since I’ve gotten back into running, and it’s one of the biggest hurdles I have yet to resolve. It sucks to deal with and maybe even more so to share because it’s physically uncomfortable and really embarrassing. However, in the spirit of transparency, I don’t think it would be fair to leave out since the purpose of journaling my experience here is to be as real as I can be, and to let other moms and/or runners know they’re not alone – because I know I’m not the only one who’s dealt with this.

Thankfully, my spirits were almost immediately lifted. After talking myself down from a DNF (did not finish), I splashed myself with some water, held my head high and kept on going. As I crossed the MacArthur Causeway which connects downtown to South Beach, (and is absolutely breathtaking at 7 in the morning when the sun is rising), a stranger completely turned around my race. A kind gentleman ran by me and made a few kind comments that I’ll never forget. He complimented my running form and how light I was on my feet, even going so far as to say that it was enviable. I’m not sharing this to boast, but rather to highlight how wonderful and kind the running community is. His words meant more than he’ll ever know, and gave me the pep in my step I so badly needed at that exact moment in time. I graciously thanked him for being so nice, told him he made my day, and I was off once again.

From that point until the end, I was basically on autopilot! The only other issue I encountered in the first few miles was shin splints, another joy I’ve dealt with for years, and almost always experience at one point or another during races. Thankfully, they went away around mile 4 or 5, and after the halfway point I was on fire, picking up speed and feeling good.

I’m thrilled to say I exceeded my time goal, which I mentioned in my previous post, and ended up negatively splitting the race (that is, running the second half of the race faster than the first). My official finish time was 2:16:11.

I can definitely say it’s been one of the most meaningful and memorable half marathons to date BECAUSE OF the challenges encountered and overcome, but also due to the fact that my two favorite boys were waiting for me at the finish line: my husband and my son. I hope this experience (and the build up to it) represents an important lesson I can share with Ben someday, in that it’s important to push through uncomfortable experiences you’ve worked hard for, even when faced with uncertainties and unexpected downfalls. Never. Give. Up.

How did your first postpartum race go? Let me know below!