My Postpartum History
My postpartum return to running after having my second baby has not gone as smoothly as it did after my first. I have had to start and restart walk-jogging so many times at this point. I started my first attempt at a return the week before going back to work at the end of December and since then it’s been an on-again-off-again affair.
I even decided to take a small hiatus from trying to walk-jog because I kept peeing myself and even started to have some increased rectal pressure and hemorrhoid irritation. I know, TMI, but it’s the truth.
So I took about a three-week break, started pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT), took some time to do some indoor biking, and completed my home exercise program 3-4x/week while working and taking care of my girls.
It has been an eye-opening experience. I did PFPT after my firstborn, but it seemed that my pelvic floor bounced back so much quicker than this time. I have really had to work at it and am still struggling with some of the simpler exercises such as differentiating between core activation and a kegel as I seem to only like to activate them at the same time.
Although, if I am being honest, I had occasional leaking after my first and just ignored it because it didn’t happen all the time. So I may have cheated myself a bit the first time around with PFPT; but not this time.
I am so hell-bent and determined to get back into sub-3 hour marathon shape that I will put in all the foundational work to make it happen.
To Walk or Run?
Fast-forward to this morning, my husband decided to go for a run first thing. So as he was about the jet out the door, I decided I would go for a walk with the girls in the B.O.B. While in the back of my head recalling that my physical therapist recommended being able to complete a 40-minute walk before trying to run again. Maybe, I would try for a 40-minute walk, but I was not sure if the girls would last that long in the chilly Colorado morning air.
So I got the girls dressed and all together in the stroller. I started flipping through my Garmin exercise selection trying to find the walk setting, but to get to the walk setting I had to pass the run setting and something clicked. The run setting was screaming my name.
I decided that since it was pretty chilly this morning I was going to try another walk-jog to get the most bang for my buck while also keeping the girls from freezing. I didn’t have a set time, distance, or even a specific walk for this time, or run for this time set in my head.
The Results
I just went for it.
I ended up completing a 21-minute walk-jog. Although, in reality, it was more like a 19-minute walk-jog because when I got back to the house I forgot to stop my watch (which also slowed my overall pace) until I was working on loading my toddler in the car after already clicking the baby into her carrier holder; but regardless, I had completed 5 one minute running intervals at 8:30-9:00 pace with the last run being uphill and boy did it kick my lungs in the rear.
I felt SO GOOD!
The cool air filling my lungs felt so refreshing. By the end, my lungs were even burning a little bit and my legs were a tad tired.
However, I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet!
I DIDN’T PEE AT ALL!!!
I am not entirely sure how I was so successful, but I focused so much on my breathing and slowing down when I felt any increase in pelvic pressure as I am trying to be more patient with myself and my postpartum return to running.
I know, I know, I didn’t walk 40 minutes first as my physical therapist recommended, but something in me told me to try anyway. Maybe it was a fluke, but I will let you know tomorrow.
Although, I think my physical therapist might have recommended rest days in between runs. I don’t remember that one as clearly as the 40-minute recommendation so I will decide based on how I feel tomorrow!
I haven’t felt this good running since May 2022 when I was around 11 weeks pregnant with my second.
It’s crazy to me how I can convince myself with each pregnancy that I constantly feel good, but it’s not until afterward that I realize how uncomfortable I was running, working, or simply just existing.
Truly our bodies – male or female, do amazing things and most days I am extremely grateful for how well my body moves; but today, I am extra grateful as I feel like myself again!
Postpartum return to running is a journey of ups and downs, but it is important to celebrate the wins and today was a huge win!
