The No-Plan Plan
By Katherine
I am feeling really sad about this. Not, so much because I really have the desire to heave my five month pregnant self down fifteen to twenty miles worth of trails every week. It is just that I put in so much effort after Jane was born, only thirteen months ago, to build up to the point where I was even be able to run TEN MILES every weekend morning, WHILE PREGNANT. The idea of starting over again, in five months, well – it just sounds like complete hell. When I got pregnant, I was in the best shape I had been in, well, ever. It was hard work to get to that fitness level, and I would be lying when I said I was looking forward to doing it again, and after having a C-section.
Now, don’t get my wrong – I do plan on continuing running. But, I think that my Saturday mornings of 7.8 – 9.8 miles, are over after this weekend. I am feeling aches in places I didn’t know could ache, and after every long run I have this continues muscle spasm somewhere in my gluteus maximus area – which I can only assume is from my body trying to stabilize itself, thanks to my disproportionate girth.
I have no real plan moving forward. I am going to continue my strength training twice weekly, and I will probably be going to continue running throughout the week – a mile or two depending on the day, my mood, the weather. Then on the weekends, when I normally have my long run, I am going to do the entire distance, except I will walk the last half of it. I am hoping that keeping a base of a mile or two for as long as is healthy and possible, will make it easier to get jump started coming out of the gates this next time. If you have any tips, I beg you to tell me. I am entering uncharted territory here, and without a plan.
Tags: pregnancy fitness, prenatal running
November 16th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
It totally sounds like you are doing the right thing. I’m a perinatal trainer- just wrote a blog post about running when pregnant. Here it is-
http://blog.ohbabyfitness.com/2010/10/25/can-i-keep-running-when-pregnant/
Hope some of that is helpful. Let me know if you have any questions!
November 16th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Good luck! I don’t have any experience to share as I’ve never been pregnant, but I bet if you stay as active as possible, within what you’re able to do, it will be a lot easier getting back in shape after.
November 18th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
I bet you’ll have great muscle memory because you’ve already done so much work and are a distance runner now. The next 5-6 months of slowing down isn’t going to blow all of that completely. Don’t fret!
May 24th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Perfect work you have done, this web site is really cool with wonderful info . visit InThePills . net