Postpartum: Week 12

Week-beginning Thoughts:
Erm, well, it's Sunday...

Monday

Did: 1.91mi of stroller running @ 8:02/mi at Strides 360, 3.5mi double stroller walk

Tuesday

Did: 6.33mi @ 9:50/mi avg, 3.7mi double stroller walk

Wednesday

Did: 3.91mi stroller run @ 9:38/mi avg, 0.83mi walk

Incredibly frustrating morning = hill run with the littlest to get Starbucks

walked to the playground after school... and then up this hill with the double :P

Thursday

Did: 3.5mi double stroller walk, Strides

Friday

Did: rest

Saturday

Did: 10.03mi run @ 9:35/mi avg, Big 5

Took advantage of grandparents' proximity and interest in watching the kiddos to have a date morning at Atlanta Track Club's annual Halloween training run. Fun fact: green body paint will stay on for 10mi! :D

Sunday

Did: 5.8mi stroller run @ 9:54/mi avg, Big 5

Let my kid pick our route today at the river... Kind of cool. We went to the "hand with the fish" statue, and then down to the "end of the bumps" and back. ;)

Total Weekly Mileage: 27.98

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Super proud that I was able to run 10mi with the track club yesterday at such a baller pace
• Stroller running = happy :D
• No Achilles issues this week!!! :D :D :D I'll keep it easy through Thanksgiving and then try to find a good goal for the first part of 2020... 

Postpartum: Week 11

Week-beginning Thoughts:
Kinda feeling like I need a goal race.. or a goal something... but not really wanting to commit to anything or train for realz. 

Monday

Did: 3.2mi double stroller walk, Strides 360 = 1.97mi run total @ 8:07/mi, calf stretches
Didn't really feel like executing at 360, but make it happen, and I'm glad I did. 

Tuesday

Did: 2x anti-inflammatory gel, calf stretch x 2, 6.26mi @ 9:52/mi avg, 10mi weight lifting

Did a little bonus lifting in the afternoon... but probably should have stretched my calves instead.

Wednesday

Did: 1mi WU, 4x400/400, 0.5mi CD = 3.5mi @ 9.24mi avg, 1x AI gel, 2x calf stretches

Planned on Stroller Strides 360, but class was rained out. Opted for a treadmill run instead (hooray for having one of these-- baby happily played next to me while I ran), and decided to try some intervals to mix it up a little. Hooray, first post-partum "speedworkout". 

Splits: 2:08, 2:04, 2:03, 2:01

Nothing faster than an 8min/mi, but still glad to have pushed a little for a bit. :)

Thursday

Did: 3.13mi @ 10:09/mi avg, 1x AI gel, 2x calf stretches, Stroller Strides

Got up to join some teammates at the YMCA hill (didn't do any repeats myself, though) and enjoyed a brisk morning with capris and arm sleeves! Followed it up with Strides and, wait-for-it, FOUR calf stretches. Considering I've been prescribed 6-8/day and averaging under 2/day, this is progress.

Friday

Did: Stroller Strides, Calf Stretches x 2

Oops. Regression...

Saturday

Did: 10.4mi @ 9:48/mi avg, Big 5, Calf Stretches x 2

Finished up this run juuuuust before the rain started-- win! 

Sunday

Did: 3.02mi stroller run @ 10:08/mi avg, Calf Stretches x 2

Didn't super feel like running this morning, but opted in for a short run with my oldest... because it's fun to run with my kiddo. Nice and easy, and enjoyable. 

Total Weekly Mileage: 28.29mi

Week-ending Thoughts:

• I suck at stretching. The one perk of pregnant running was having the relaxin hormone assisting in relaxing the muscles around my pelvis for me, without stretching. :P
• Achilles is still doing relatively fine, though I need to be grateful for this and keep up with my exercises if I want it to stay that way.
• I've had a little PF in both feet, probably just from mileage and, obv, not stretching like I ought to

Goals, Lack Thereof

For someone as goal-oriented as I am, it's odd to find myself just "going through the motions" in regards to working out these days. Sure, I'm consistently doing something, but not for any real purpose, other than to check the "workout" box on my mental, daily "to-do list"... and to be able to eat a bit more and still hit my MyFitnessPal goals for the day.

All of my teammates are currently dealing with their own versions of this. Some of us are injured, others just not feeling it for different reasons, and a couple of us are coming back from second babies. We're all kind of in the "what's next?" mindset, though, and it got me thinking my running goals/focuses of years past:

2011: Couch-to-5K
2012: run first 10K
2013: run first half marathon
2014: run first marathon
2015: run through first pregnancy
and then I got serious about training
2016: Marathon
2017: 5K, Mile
2018: 10K, followed by Half Marathon
2019: have another baby...and run a marathon while pregnant
2020: ???

For the first time in awhile, I really don't know where I want to go from here. I'd really thought I'd want to do another marathon to comeback from Baby #2, but I think running one while 5mo pregnant filled some of that desire. Plus, with my chorus competing at International Contest in Fall 2020, I'd either have to dive into a spring marathon (which means starting to train in, like, a month and a half) or opt into the stress that a fall marathon + fall international would bring (I did this with Chicago and it was not ideal). 

Of course, there are plenty of other distances besides the marathon, but I can't seem to get motivated for any of them. I feel like I'm nowhere close to being able to train for speed (or pain, in the case of the mile/5K), so why bother? I'm hoping to take the rest of 2019 "easy", enjoying Stroller Strides workouts, 10KTuesday, and a couple weekend runs. Maybe if I use Thanksgiving as a "time trial" to see where I'm at with zero training, it'll motivate me to pick a distance and get to it once the new year arrives...

Postpartum: Week 10

Week-beginning Thoughts:
This'll be a light week for Stroller Strides due to some other morning commitments, so maybe I'll make up for that with run mileage? 

Monday

Did: 3.3mi stroller running @ 8:52/mi avg (total) through Strides 360 class and partial daycare run

Ran one mile of the daycare dropoff route with the double, and got the rest of the mileage through the warm-up, cool-down and 4x4min runs at Strides 360 with the single.

Tuesday

Did: 6.3mi @ 9:52/mi avg, Big 5

I need to be better about stretching... :/ Felt slugging today during the run, and ended up sick that night. 

Wednesday

Did: 3.3mi walk with double, 20min weights

Took it easy in the morning, skipped Strides, and walked in the afternoon after some YouTube upper body.

Thursday

Did: 3.01mi stroller run @ 9:06/mi avg, Big 5, calf stretches x 6

Celebration run. Life is improving. :D 

Friday

Did: Stroller Strides with the Double

Took a day to enjoy maternity leave to the fullest, keeping both kiddos home with me an and enjoying some serious family bonding. :) It absolutely warmed my heart to have the older one pull out my resistance band when we got home and tell me he was "exercising like mommy to get strong muscles like her". One of Fit4Mom's "slogans" is "always watching", and the kiddos sure are-- watching and emulating. 

Saturday

Did: 10.05mi @ 9:56/mi avg, Big 5

After a rough night with a sick baby, I felt surprisingly awake at 4am when I got myself ready to meet my teammate for some miles. We've been doing the same route for the past few weeks, which gives me an opportunity to stop between 6-7mi while she continues for the rest of her long run. I felt super awesome today, though. So, fueled by great conversation and excellent running weather, I knocked out my first double digit run postpartum. :D 

Sunday

Did: 4.63mi stroller run @ 10:00/mi avg, calf stretches

This run ended up being an epic rain run, where I was completely unprepared (no visor/hat, no long shorts, and, ugh, no weathershield for munchkin in stroller)... but it turned out great. I spent the whole time smiling and laughing in the delightful 61 degree rain.

Total Weekly Mileage: 27.27

Week-ending Thoughts:

• Creepin' up on 30mpw again + 10mi long run = I'm starting to believe I could actually do a half marathon on Thanksgiving again. It wouldn't be pretty, but I could do it as an LSD without hating myself or getting injured. 
• Achilles is still "there", but SO much improved. Now, if I could just remember to put my anti-inflammation gel on twice a day. You'd think this would be easy, but it's not. :P 
• If I want to do Flying Pig, I'd need to start an 18w plan at the end of December. I feel like that's kind of achievable. It'd be the fastest zero-to-marathon I've done (I was 10.5mo pp for Chicago, and would only be 9mo postpartum for FP), and I wouldn't be going for a PR-- just a comfortable finish. 
• I've also thought about "waiting" for a fall marathon, but, with my chorus going to International Contest next fall, I'd be putting myself in the same chaotic situation I was in post-baby #1 with conflicting major events that require preparation. Add in work and a second kid, and I'm not sure that's a good idea. (Real talk: it's definitely not a good idea, but might not qualify as a bad idea either)

Postpartum: Week 9

Week-beginning Thoughts:
I should really delete this section... 

Monday

Did: Strides 360, 3.3mi double stroller walk

baby loves Strides 360

Tuesday

Did: 6.23mi@ 10:41/mi avg, 3.2mi double stroller walk

Wednesday

Did: 4mi double stroller walk

Thursday

Did: 3.3mi double stroller walk, Stroller Strides

Friday

Did: 3.12mi double stroller run @ 9:20/mi avg, calf stretches, Stroller Strides

Saturday

Did: 7.31mi @ 9:53/mi avg, Big 5

Suuuuuuper tough to get up this morning after baby wake-ups at 10:30, 12am, and 2am, with really zero sleep after that since I couldn't get back down... but I'd promised a teammate (who also has a newborn) I'd meet her for some early miles before our older kids woke up. It's easy to bail on yourself; it's impossible to bail on someone else. 

Within a mile, I was awake (still tired, but awake). I gave myself the option to back out at a 5K or a 10K, but found that I actually wanted to continue. I think I could've gotten through ten today if I'd had to, but, considering my lack of distance/consistency when it comes to running lately, figured 7 was a good stopping point. 

Sunday

Did: 5.62mi stroller run @ 9:59/mi avg, Big 5

Went further today than I had originally planned. :) 

Total Weekly Run Mileage: 22.28

Week-ending Thoughts:

• SO pleased that my Achilles is improving with the night splint + anti-inflammatory gel! I haven't KT-taped it at all this week, and have had mild issues only :D
• Cooler weather finally hit this weekend, but I'm not feeling as much of a boost as I'd hoped I would from it. Still not really feeling like I'm in any shape (mental or physical) to train for anything. We'll see if Flying Pig 2020 happens... I do have three more months before I'd need to start training. 
• After considering family and costs, we've decided against doing the Atlanta Thanksgiving Half that the track club puts on every year. Neither of us registered early, and I'm not sure I'll be up for a "full half" (lol) by then. We did, however, opt into continuing our family tradition of doing a race every Thanksgiving (well, except that one year where I was literally having a baby on race day). 
• I've found a cheaper and more convenient option close to home that also offers our visiting family the option of friendly spectating: https://www.fivestarntp.com/races/Five-Star-Turkey-Trot. 
• With lots of distance options (5K, 10K, 15K, and half) AND the option of running with either the single or double stroller at whatever pace/seeding we want, this is a home run for us.
• Bonus: since we did one of their races earlier in the year (the day before my due date, actually), Thanksgiving will be FREE for us. 

Postpartum: Week 8

Week-beginning Thoughts:

• Writing on Thursday... lol

Monday

Did: 3.5mi double stroller walk, Stroller Strides 360

Tuesday

Did: 6.31mi @ 9:35/mi avg, Big 5, 1.7mi treadmill walk, Stroller Strides

Wednesday

Did: Stroller Barre, 1.5mi walk

Thursday

Did: 3.5mi double stroller walk, calf stretching, doc visit

Had an official doctor's appointment for my Achilles today, since it's still lingering after almost three months. Dr. Google and my experience were correct: I've got insertional Achilles tendinitis, and have been treating it properly. I've also been prescribed a night splint and topical anti-inflammatory gel to help. Best part: I'm clear to keep running, but just avoid heavy hill work/speed work, though the doc isn't concerned at all about the risk for rupture. Hooray, peace of mind. 

Friday

Did: 3.5mi double stroller walk, calf stretches, Stroller Strides

Saturday

Did: 6.73mi @ 10:05/mi avg, Big 5, calf stretches

This run was hard. I feel pretty defeated when I'm only running about a 10K and wishing it were over after 5K... What happened to my marathon mama mentality? 

Sunday

Did: 4.5mi stroller run @ 10:00/mi avg, Big 5, calf stretches

This run was hard too, and I had to break it into segments to get through it. Blergh. 

Total Weekly Mileage: 17.54mi run

Week-ending Thoughts:

Maternity leave is great, really, but I'm struggling to feel satisfied each day. While I'm enjoying this "floating in limbo" feeling to some extent, it's also really frustrating to not feel any forward progress towards anything. I'm kind of ready for this Achilles thing to heal up already so I can get into some sort of training, maybe a 6 or 8 week program for the Thanksgiving 5K? 

Postpartum: Week 7

Week-beginning Thoughts:
Whelp, again, I'm writing this on Saturday, so... yeah. 

Monday

Did: 3.5mi double stroller walk, Stroller Strides 360 (2mi running @ 8:41/mi avg), 3.5mi double stroller walk

Another day living the maternity leave dream. Strides 360 involved four speed/agility/quickness circuits, each separated by a 2min out/2min back run. It's a fun way for me to get a HIT-ish workout in, because I would not do any of this myself (except the running). 

  

side shuffle slalom 

Tuesday

Did: 6.3mi run @ 9:55/mi avg, Big 5, 3.23mi double stroller walk, 3.13mi double stroller walk

today was exhausting
(in a good way)

Wednesday

Did: 3.25mi double stroller walk, 3.5mi stroller walk

Had a few professional org calls today and needed the baby to be quiet, so I took them from the road and literally walked the stroller to/from the grocery store to triple-use that time. It was a little awkward taking my running stroller into Kroger as a cart, but we made it happen (good thing I didn't need more than a few items). 

Thursday

Did: 4.13mi run @ 10:04/mi avg, Big 5

I had a few appointments today that conflicted with Strides, so I got in an early morning run with my training partner before the day began. It's nice to have that still feel normal. 

Friday

Did: 3mi double stroller run @ 10:21/mi, Stroller Strides, 1.9mi stroller run @ 10:00/mi avg, 0.45mi stroller walk
Munchkins wanted to run to school this morning, so we made that happen with the double. For the past month, I've needed to shower immediately upon returning home, even though I've only been walking. Today, I was able to leave the shower until after Strides class despite running the whole way (well, except this monstrous hill in my neighborhood). Hooray, 60s! 

Followed up Strides with another run with my other teammate and her little one, and a cool-down walk around. 

full house at Strides

Saturday

Did: 4.08mi run @ 10:41/mi avg, Big 5
Had a lot of SPD pain when I woke up this morning, probably because I've logged over 20mi in the past seven days. I'm doing some targetted exercises to help this, but have also accepted it's just a part of postpartum running. With my last pregnancy, it lingered for about a year (I remember waking up at 4am after running the Chicago Marathon at 10mo postpartum to trek down the hotel hallway for ice to put on). It's nowhere near as bad this time around, but still a nuisance. No trouble on the run, though, with the SPD, calf, or Achilles. 

I ran solo this morning due to some family stuff during the day, but really enjoyed the solitude (well, besides the constant anxiety need to be aware of my surroundings at all times).

Sunday

Did: 4.51mi stroller run @ 9:58/mi avg, Big 5
Just a nice, easy run with my running mamas this morning. Always a good time when you get to bust out the sleeves/blankets for the first run of "fall". 

Total Weekly Mileage: 22.87mi run (first over 20mpw since delivery)

Week-ending Thoughts:

• While my Achilles is definitely improving, I'm still probably going to schedule something with a doctor... just because it's gone on so long
• I'm eager to start more normal training soon (hill day, track day, long run day, etc), but can't see it really fitting into my schedule until I'm back at work and no longer doing daycare dropoff/pickup walks and Fit4Mom conditioning. I think I'll train for a 5K to just see where I'm at, and then we can go from there. I know I mentioned wanting to do a spring marathon next year, but I don't know that I have the motivation for that right now... We'll see what happens in a few months.