It’s official- Jake’s Mom ran a half marathon. While this may not seem like front page news to most people, for a mother of a new baby, getting back on the horse after having a 5 month hiatus from running to 1.) be pregnant, 2.) have said baby, and 3.) recover to actually run 13.1 miles again, was a pretty huge accomplishment for me. Before I had Jake, I was a pretty active runner. My husband and I ran a 5K about once a month for the past 3 years, and running the 2011 Hartford Half Marathon 2 weekends ago marked my third half marathon. I was able to keep up my running up until i was 7 months pregnant. My husband, bless his heart, ran the Madison Turkey Trot with me last Thanksgiving, including one bathroom stop at mile 2.5, and a mix of running and walking, we finished. (and not in last place, by the way!) By that time, running was just kind of laffable. I was slow, clumsy, and frankly, pretty tired. So i hung up my running shoes and resigned to treadmill walking and using the elliptical.
Fast forward to hour 18 of labor. My doctor, who knew i was a runner, kept telling me that I was so close to having my baby. He said, “If you were running a half marathon, right now you’re at mile 12!!” Apparently my doctor had never run a half marathon before, because it would be another hour of labor before Jake decided to show up. Mental note to self- mail a card to him with a picture of Jake and I after the half marathon.
Recovering to your former self after having a baby is never an easy task. Losing the pregnancy pounds is one thing, but reminding your body what it used to be able to do before you had your baby is something totally different. I physically had to re-train myself mentally and physically into believing, and affirming, that I could run 13.1 miles again. I’ll never forget the morning of my first run post-Jake. I ran 4 miles on my treadmill without stopping to pass out. I got a little blister on my foot, and it was the best thing ever. I could actually do this again! My pace was slower, and my breathing was heavy, but I did it. I used to always say running is more mental than anything. Once you set yourself up for success, once you truly believe you can do it, you will. I know it to be true.
My time for my first half marathon post-baby was not my fastest, but it was by far not my slowest. I smiled the entire time, and truly enjoyed every mile marker along the way. One of the best moments was coming around the corner right before I ran under the Arch to see Mike holding Jake up proudly. I know that if he could talk he’d say, RUN MOM RUN!!
CT Working Moms 
[…] learned to cram in my workout into my already crammed day. I even (by the grace of God) managed to train for two half marathons post-Jake. That took the scheduling of the President’s social secretary, let me tell […]
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[…] past Saturday, I ran my fourth half marathon. It was the second half marathon I’ve run since having a kid, and what I am about to tell you about how to train for an endurance run will blow your mind. […]
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Thank you so much for this post, I’d just like to say that is awesome!! My daughter is now 8 months and I am challenging myself to a 5k as my motovations to get steady again. You did a great job. I can’t wait to run throught my first 5k finish line and give my baby a kiss. She is my running buddy;)I love running with her in her stroller.
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I have always been big into running, and ran all throughout my school years. Now that I am an adult with a little child I love it even more. My favorite time of year to run is in the Fall when all the leave are changing and the air is cool 🙂 I put my daughter in the stroller and off we go! Hopefull this year we will get out and do a race 😉
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Congratulations Marie, what an amazing accomplishment!
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Thanks girls! Tara- i never felt so out of breath after the first few runs. i seriously thought i needed to sit down for 10 minutes before making my way upstairs from the treadmill in the basement. and Jillian- My first run after Jake was around the 8 week mark. At 4 weeks my doctor cleared me for light workouts, so i did treadmill walks for a month. (partly because i was, as weird as it sounds, afraid that i couldn’t run. Of course, i got over that and just started running, and well, here i am!) You’re a runner by nature, so you know you’ll be running your next half marathon soon enough after Baby #2!!!!!
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I love this post!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay for running moms!! You are an inspiration Marie.
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Also…congratulations on the half marathon! Truly inspirational. Your post actually made me tear…damn these pregnancy emotions!
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Thanks for the post Marie! I’m on pregnancy two and am continuing to run and do strength training, something I gave up immediately during my first pregnancy. My breathing is definitely harder and I’m a lot slower, but it feels awesome to still be running. I’m going to continue as long as I can and it still feels safe.
How long after you had Jake was that first run?
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Go Marie! It is so mental – thanks for the reminder. It’s easy to forget that there were times when I would run pre-Clara and not think that I would require emergency services. I’m getting back to that point and it’s awesome! – especially with fall upon us and lots of great races. Jake is going to be so proud of you! Go Mom!
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