Here I am, 17 weeks postpartum! It feels like these past four months have simultaneously flown by and gone very slowly. I have learned so much and changed so much since giving birth. One area that has been full of growth is my running! I’m not sure what I expected running postpartum to look like, but it has been much more humbling than I could have imagined. Though every momma’s journey is different, I thought I’d share the 7 lessons I’ve Learned Running Postpartum.
Also, check out my post on “Did Being a Runner Help with Childbirth?“!
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1. Sleep Deprivation
Having a newborn, and a baby, in general, is TOUGH and EXHAUSTING! Unless you have a baby who is sleeping like a champ from day one (and if you do LUCKY YOU), you are going to reach a whole new level of sleep deprivation. I spent months running like a zombie because I was so tired. We’ve all run races when we didn’t sleep the night before, but man it sure feels different to run after no sleep for weeks.
I dealt with this personally by thinking of my runs as moving meditation. I ran slowly and just enjoyed being outside and feeling slightly more alive. Yes, it didn’t feel like running used to feel, but it did feel good to do something that has been such a comfort to me in the past. It was a bit of a shift of perspective, but I am glad I ran in those early days postpartum because I am sure they helped my mental state!
2. More Top Heavy
This was something I had never thought about before. Suddenly my chest was much heavier than I was used to! Having a baby can do that to you. So I had to try out many different nursing sports bras, and ultimately a cheaper one from Target has been my go-to. Take the time to find the right bra (this helps a bit). In the end, I think just getting used to my postpartum body was what helped the most.
3. Being Heavier annnnd the Weight Doesn’t Come Off in a Day
Running with extra weight postpartum was (and is) rough. I gained about 35 pounds when I was pregnant, and I lost 15 pounds pretty immediately after giving birth. Then… I stopped losing weight. In fact, I gained a little weight after my initial loss. Even with the running, I wasn’t losing anything. Running is just harder when you are not used to those extra pounds. It now takes more effort to run. And I was frustrated that I was running and not just shedding all the weight right away.
I am just now finally losing a bit of weight while not really getting too strict about what I am eating. Since I’m breastfeeding I can’t cut calories, so I am making some healthy choices, while also having the occasional splurge (much like I used to eat pre-baby). It just takes time to get back to somewhere closer to your pre-baby self. And I accept that I may never get to exactly what I was again, and that’s ok! I just want to feel good, healthy, and be able to run! Since I am losing some weight, running is getting a bit easier. I just expected that as soon as I started running, BOOM!, I’d be right back where I used to be. Hey, you might be that person! I just was not, and I’m learning to be ok with it =)
4. Chaffing
Y’all… OMG. I have never really chaffed much in between my legs as a runner… but man! My postpartum body is a bit more curvalicious and that rubbing is REAL! So, pro-tip use Body Glide! Do it. It will change your life 😉
5. Have to Pee More
After being pregnant for 9 months, this will come as no surprise. When I first started running postpartum I had to pee ALL THE TIME still. This does get better with time (and Kegels! yea!), but it was something I didn’t realize would hang around for months after giving birth. I think I am now finally feeling like my old bladder again, but it took almost four months!
6. Stay Hydrated!
Something I still have to remind myself about is STAY HYDRATED! And that means electrolytes, not just water. Breastfeeding takes a lot out of me, literally. Add in running, and I must remember to drink both water and something else with those extra hydrating benefits. I now drink either Nuun tabs or coconut water every day. And if I forget I will usually get a headache of some sort. So hydration is key, especially those electrolytes!
7. Make SMALL Running Goals Postpartum and Keep Pushing Towards Them
I kind of thought that a few months after giving birth I’d be ready to dive right into long-distance training. I knew it’d take time to recover, but I didn’t realize how long it would take to build my stamina back up. Once I started running postpartum I quickly realized my “goals” were going to look like “run one mile without stopping”. And that’s exactly what I did. I made small bite-size goals that I could obtain before setting the bar just a tiny bit higher.
A few months ago I signed up for a 10k with hopes that I could run it by November. I recently started a Garmin Coach program using my Garmin Venu watch and Garmin Connect to structure my 10k training a bit more. Stay tuned for that review once I complete my 10k training plan! Having a plan and a goal race are helping me stay motivated and to keep pushing, even though my “pushing” is much more toned down than I expected before having a baby (hey, I already did enough pushing with the whole childbirth thing =p )!
Obviously, each person is different, and you will for sure have your own lessons to learn running postpartum. I think one of my biggest takeaways was to give your body and yourself grace. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else (which is hard to do in this day and age!) and realizing this is just temporary and you WILL get back to running as usual eventually. I know I have to remind myself of this constantly, but I do see progress from 6 weeks postpartum when I first started running. Those marathons and half-marathons are all still there for me when I am ready.
Read more about my Running Journey After Baby here!
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