Back in the, err, saddle

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?

Model behavior

You want to know the darndest thing? I used to be pregnant. Shocker, I know, since I have a little guy just one day shy of his 6-week birthday.

Anyway …

Here are some family photos shot while I was knocked up. I think I was about 36 weeks.

Disclaimer: All photos were shot by Janelle Roberts of Happinest Photo and are published here just for fun (and because my in-laws spent a butt load to get the disc).

  

WAIAW

Move that body: 2.5-mile walk and a planned afternoon bike ride

Welcome, friends, to another edition of What I Ate Wednesday! The Healthy Strides clan has had a busy week – an appointment every day! – but with the car seat adapter set to arrive tomorrow, we should up and running (literally) with lots of new posts in the coming week.

As always, I hope this finds you healthy, active and happy.

And now, onto the food!

Pre-nursing snack

Decaf coffee and a banana

Breakfast

One egg, two slices center cut bacon and brown rice porridge adapted from this recipe to suit my pantry and non-dairy requirements.

Post-walk snack

Apple

Lunch

Greek Chicken Pita and applesauce from McAlisters. This lunch was a fail. Delicious but a fail. I didn’t think to ask for the dressing on the side and it had feta, which didn’t register as dairy to me. The applesauce was sweetened (too much so if you ask me), making it a poor choice; soup or salad would have been better.

Dinner

It was my father-in-law’s birthday so I made beef stroganoff, served with broccoli and bread.

Seeing as my FIL’s requested dinner is loaded with dairy, I had leftovers from Monday – a Thai Chicken Drumstick (MAKE THESE) with brown jasmine rice and broccoli.

Dessert 

Mango sorbet

Evening snack

Kale chips seasoned with salt, pepper and malt vinegar served by my lovely husband. Don’t let that smile fool you – he had no intentions of eating one.

What is your favorite night-time snack?