I heart running

This time last year I was getting ready to run the San Diego, Rock N Roll half marathon (13.1 miles). And two years ago I was preparing to run the full (26.2 miles!) SD Rock N Roll marathon. When I think about running those races, it blows my mind. Before I did the marathon I was not a runner. I became a runner when I spent 6 months training for the marathon. In the process of training, I fell in love with running.

Running a marathon was great preparation for labor and delivery. They both test your endurance, pain tolerance and focus. But, let. me. tell. you...mile 25 in the marathon was party time compared to that one hour of pitocin contractions I endured. In fact, I'd rather run a marathon, barefoot, over broken glass then have another pitocin contraction!

So anyway, It's been 9 weeks and 2 days since I gave birth and this morning when I woke up I thought...maybe I'll run today. I set the intention, but I was scared and I had totally irrational fears; What if I couldn't do it? What if my body forgot how to run? But then I thought, the only way I can ever get back to running is to start running again.

I fueled up with half a packet of Gu and I left the house. I started with a warm up hike to the Hollywood Reservoir (.8 miles from our house) thinking I'd aim for half a mile or so once I got up there. When I reached the top, I turned on my "running" playlist and hit the road. It felt good. Understandably, my body felt different. My knees, hips and ankles could feel the extra weight I'm currently carrying. But guess what? I didn't forget how to run! Running felt so good that I surpassed my half mile goal and ended up running 1.16 miles. Not a marathon, I know, but it's a start. And more importantly it's enough to build my confidence to keep running. Hey, maybe I'll even train for another marathon...

Sweaty and Happy!