Pretend you are reading this on Friday when I started writing this post …
Everything hurts. My calves. My quads. My butt. My abs. My shoulders. My head.
All because I went for a measly 3.2-mile run yesterday. OK, my head hurts because I need coffee or Diet Coke. Everything else, though … all because of a run.
My first post-baby run.
Now, I hadn’t been planning to make my comeback until Saturday so I wasn’t ready. I had no real strategy mapped out. However, Mark encouraged me to to take out the BOB on Thursday morning as he got ready for school (the car seat adapter arrived Wednesday) and, well, you don’t have to tell me to run twice. At least the old me.
So after Miles’ second morning feeding, I got him situated in the car seat, put on my Garmin and Road ID and headed down the street. We walked the first quarter mile and then began a slow jog. And when I slow, I mean S-L-O-W. My focus was just to make it as long as I could before I had to die, walk long enough to catch my breath and go again. I made it about 1.7 miles before walking .15 and going again. There was one more short walk break – a block or so – before I “sprinted” home.
I really wish I could say that the run felt amazing, that it was like riding a bike – coming back naturally – but I felt heavy. Tired. Slow. It was my legs forgot what it was like to move.
As for Miles? He was quite happy with his introduction. Active and alert the entire run, he stayed content as I tried to wash away the frustration of such a poor comeback.
I know that it will take time, effort, patience and miles (and Miles :) ) to get to where I was. I just wish I wasn’t starting so far away.
What are your return to running tips – whether it’s from a baby or injury?