Postpartum Week 3

Week Goals:

• Achilles PT 2x/day
• 1hr of exercise (walking, upper body weights, whatever) each day
• Stick to the nutrition plan
• At least 30min of upper body weights (cumulative) 

Monday

Did: 1.14mi stroller run/walk PLUS Stroller Barre class, 2x Achilles PT

Did a short run with baby in the stroller, and then enjoyed a fun, free FIT4MOM Stroller Barre class, which was more of a workout than I'd worried it would be. Definitely an enjoyable way to get strength training in!

Tuesday

Did: 6.24mi double stroller walk, 2x Achilles PT, 15min weights

Got my 10K in walking the munchkins this morning, and nailed the PT later in the day. Also executed ~15min of weight lifting at home, by myself. 

Wednesday

Did: Stroller Strides class with Fit4Mom, Achilles PT x2 , 10min weights

These Fit4Mom classes are pretty awesome. I've done "Mommy and Me" fitness classes before, but always found them lacking when it came to the "fitness" part; they seemed more social than workout. These classes are different. I'm definitely challenged with the upper body components, and inspired by the Ironman mamas who show up with 3 year olds in tow as well as the SAHMs who do these classes multiple times a week with their littles (especially because all the instructors also bring their children in the stroller). It's a really cool community, to say the least. 

Plus, I really need the group accountability for any sort of strength training... (though I did knock out another 10min of chest/back/arm exercises with my dumbbells solo). 

Thursday

Did: 8mi stroller walk, 1x Achilles PT, 10min Weights
With no daycare dropoff or Fit4Mom classes today, I found myself in need of a way to get my exercise in for the day... and a free morning. So, I loaded the baby up and set off for a leisurely long stroll at the river. We walked for about two hours, covering eight miles, and I've gotta say, the leisure life is definitely agreeing with me for the time being.

Eight Miles on the Riverwalk = Way Too Many Selfies

Friday

Did: Stroller Strides class, 5K stroller walk, 2x Achilles

Another awesome Fit4Mom class with one of my chorus friends and her little one, followed by a 5K stroller walk on the greenway = awesome Friday. Maternity leave is the best; I can just workout all day. lol. 

Saturday

Did: 4.25mi walk, 2x Achilles PT

In-laws visiting = limited time for working out, but I got a stroller walk in this morning with my father-in-law, then did my Achilles PT. 

Sunday

Did: 4.01mi stroller run @ 9:32/mi avg plus 1mi run/walk, 2x Achilles PT

After a week off (with the exception of short jog intervals during Fit4Mom classes), today was the day I'd told myself I could try running. I think the PT I've been doing has actually helped! Not only did I have a pain-free run today (it minimally sore to pressing afterwards, but this is even a slight improvement over what I ran through pregnant in July), but I've also been able to walk around my house barefoot all week (huge improvement from needing wedge sandals). Hooray, Dr. Google!

Total Weekly Mileage: 5.02 (run), 26.3 (walk)

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Hooray, Dr. Google
• I'm proud of myself for being responsible with this injury (time off PLUS rehab exercises)
• Loving the Fit4Mom group and classes-- so grateful for something I can do WITH baby
• While I'm frustrated at the slow pace I'm losing weight post-baby, I have to remember that the pace I'm at is actually pretty ideal and normal, even if it feels slow to me. It took 9 months to put all this on, and I can't expect it to be off in much less than a couple months at a healthy rate... 

Postpartum Week 2

Monday
Did: 2.04mi treadmill walk during conference call


Tuesday
Did: 5.5mi run + 3.14mi double stroller walk
10KTuesday happened! I did some run/walk intervals with my training partner at 4:50am, and then finished up during our walk to school. 

Laps	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
1	4:09.4	0.26	15:59
2	2:33.3	0.25	10:18
3	3:48.1	0.24	15:44
4	2:28.8	0.26	9:33
5	3:40.8	0.24	15:22
6	7:08.3	0.75	9:30
7	3:53.7	0.25	15:43
8	2:31.3	0.27	9:26
9	3:27.5	0.23	14:59
10	2:30.8	0.25	10:05
11	3:57.6	0.26	15:02
12	4:43.5	0.49	9:34
13	3:43.8	0.24	15:18
14	4:48.4	0.51	9:30
15	3:55.3	0.25	15:55
16	4:50.6	0.5	9:38
17	3:53.4	0.25	15:41
Summary	1:06:04	5.5	12:01

Wednesday
Did: 3.04mi double stroller walk


Thursday
Did: 3.04mi double stroller walk

Friday
Did: 3.01mi double stroller RUN (~10min/mi pace on the run) plus 3.04mi single stroller walk
It was 68 degrees this morning, and I just couldn't resist my oldest's request to run to school instead of just walking... so I walked the bumpy part of the sidewalk, and let loose on the new, smooth section. 

Running with the double stroller is no joke. One of my running mama friends described hers as "a chariot"-- that's accurate. I was grateful for the handbrake on the downhills, and wished there were an opposite/equivalent for the uphills. :P While it was tough, there's also nothing quite like running with a double stroller to make you feel like a total BAM. 

oh, and I broke my own "aggregate hotness rule" for shirtless running... again
even 68 degrees is too hot for me to run in a shirt these days
thanks, postpartum hormones :P 

Saturday
Did: ~5K of walking plus chorus coaching session
No real intentional "workouts" today, but I did walk a bit downtown to take my oldest to a kids' 50m dash and then do some dancing at SOA. 

Song of Atlanta Saturday Coaching Session

Sunday
Did: 4.37mi run/walk
Today was tough. I'd planned on running with my husband (while he pushed the double stroller) this morning, but I stopped shy of a quarter mile due to some Achilles soreness. I'm super frustrated that this is STILL GOING ON. There's no ambient pain, just some stiffness from time to time when I walk flat-footed and soreness when I push on the insertion point of the tendon at my heel. 

I let my husband go ahead of me and stopped to walk. After about a half mile, the soreness had abated and I decided to try a jog. If I felt any of the soreness come back, I'd stop. I didn't. I ended up running quarter miles with a 1min walk between them for the rest of the distance. 

Laps	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
1	00:36.2	0.03	19:10
2	01:56.8	0.19	10:29
3	05:30.0	0.35	15:38
4	02:19.4	0.25	9:11
5	01:01.1	0.07	14:45
6	02:16.9	0.25	8:58
7	01:02.0	0.07	14:26
8	02:12.7	0.25	8:59
9	01:00.5	0.07	14:52
10	02:14.5	0.25	9:05
11	01:00.4	0.06	16:18
12	02:16.6	0.25	9:03
13	01:05.5	0.06	16:51
14	02:05.5	0.25	8:30
15	01:00.5	0.07	15:05
16	02:18.9	0.25	9:09
17	01:00.6	0.07	14:32
18	02:13.8	0.25	8:53
19	01:00.8	0.07	13:51
20	02:06.1	0.25	8:30
21	01:00.8	0.07	15:00
22	02:12.4	0.25	8:41
23	01:00.8	0.07	14:08
24	02:13.6	0.25	8:48
25	01:01.3	0.06	15:57
26	02:21.7	0.26	8:55
27	00:43.8	0.03	22:02
Summary	46:53:00	4.37	10:43

Total Weekly Mileage: 6.81mi run plus 14.3mi walked


Week-ending Thoughts
I'm still super frustrated that this hasn't cleared up on its own, so I'm starting to do my own PT for it based on:

1. https://runnersconnect.net/achilles-tendonitis-and-insertional-achilles-tendinopathy-in-runners/
2. https://www.physiospot.com/opinion/treating-insertional-achilles-pain-why-weve-been-doing-it-all-wrong/
3. https://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/ankle-pain/achilles-pain/insertional-achilles-tendonitis

I just can't believe I made it all the way through a pregnancy running with pretty much zero problems only to have this linger postpartum, despite dramatically reducing my running mileage and load on the achilles itself. BLERGH. 

Postpartum Week 1

Week-beginning Thoughts:
Kind of can't believe that I had a baby last week, but I feel so good. 

Monday

Did: 15min strength plus 2.04mi stroller walk

Tuesday

Did: 6.78mi double stroller walk

Had to make 10KTuesday happen, so I walked my older kiddo to/from daycare with the double today. 

Wednesday

Did: 30min strength workout plus 4.05mi stroller walk

Strength workout: https://youtu.be/CIxNJbit9BA 

Thursday

Did: 6.73mi double stroller walk

sometimes I hate my uphill driveway

Friday

Did: 1.52mi treadmill walk

Better than nothin'

Saturday

Did: 4.60mi run/walk (1.52mi run @ 9:07/mi avg)
Woo, I'm back to running a little bit. Took today's family outing and enjoyed a few 400m and 800m runs just to see how my body handled it. So far, so good. 

Sunday

Did: 4.23mi stroller run/walk (2.5mi @ 9:47/mi avg)

Took older one out for our Sunday Runday date. It felt SO good to run :D 

Total Weekly Mileage: 4.02mi run, 26mi walk

Week-ending Thoughts:

1. Hell yeah. I just logged a 30mi week. 
2. Achilles is still a semi-issue. It hasn't gotten any worse, but hasn't gotten much better. It doesn't hurt when I'm active; taping it feels better; and the only issue is some soreness when I press on it at the insertion point. Guess I'll just kind of keep on keeping on since I'm kind of unwilling to not to anything and try giving it complete rest... :P 

40 Weeks Pregnant

Week-beginning Thoughts:
Another Monday...

Monday

Did: 3.13mi @ 10:48/mi avg

This run felt GREAT. Not only was it a nice distraction from being overdue with Baby #2, but there was a great breeze along my route. Here's hoping this is my last run with the Bump... 

Tuesday

Did: 4.08mi walk PLUS labor and delivery of a baby PLUS extra walking to hit 10K steps
Woke up to contractions, and decided that walking part of 10KT was an ideal way to distract myself from them (and hopefully keep things going). I walked the same time duration that it took my training partner to do her 10K, showered, and had the perfect amount of time to comfortably get to the hospital and have my second little one before lunch. :) 

things that go bump in the night

we've shared SO many miles together <3 

Bonus: I felt so good after delivery that we spent the evening strolling around the L+D wing to hit 10,000 steps for the day. 

Wednesday

Did: rest

Thursday

Did: rest

Friday

Did: rest

Saturday

Did: 3.12mi stroller walk

I can't believe our whole family was feeling healthy and conscious enough to get out and about today, but we were. Our older kiddo rode a bike while my husband chased him on foot, and I followed (and sometimes led) with our newest squishy in the stroller. 

Sunday

Did: 3.12mi treadmill walk

I had a little soreness yesterday due to my tear, and a lot of achilles soreness, which confuses me because I've been off for a few days, and dropped ~12lbs, but whatever. I guess that's what I get for not taping myself before yesterday's walk. I taped today, wore normal tennis shoes (for the heel lift), and enjoyed a solid walk on my treadmill. It's amazing to me that, five days after delivery, I both want to be doing this and CAN physically do this. Honestly, my biggest trouble is just finding appropriate support for my post-delivery chest... lol

Total Weekly Mileage: 3.13mi run, 10.3mi walk

Total Pregnant Running Mileage: 1254

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Y'all, I birthed a baby this week. <3 
• Recovery has gone SO much better for this one than it did for my first, and I'm so grateful for that. :D