A few weeks later I used the adapter to attach my daughter's carseat to my BOB stroller and we started doing short, slow runs around the neighborhood. For the first few months I took it easy and just focused on getting out there and feeling good. I was just glad to be out and moving again, even if I was slow.
At 10 weeks postpartum I did my first race since summer 2012, a 5k on the trail right by my house. Going into it I really didn't know what to expect but set a goal of a sub-30 minute finish...and achieved it with almost a full minute to spare. Much to my surprise, this was good for 3rd in my age group. I know that says more about the field than it does about me but, well, I bet none of the people I beat had just had a baby 10 weeks earlier ;)
I felt fine during the race itself but was really sore for days after. Sore after a 3 mile run...it was humbling for the gal who not so long ago was knocking out a half-marathon every few weeks.
On the first day of registration I signed myself up for the Dallas Marathon this December. 2 years ago when I signed up for the half marathon distance of its predecessor, the Dallas White Rock Marathon, I remember feeling a surge of excitement when I hit the "submit" button and made it real. At the time I had never run more than 5 miles but I had confidence I could train for 13.1. But this year, while my newborn slept at the other end of the house, I signed up for the full 26.2 even though it's fully twice as long as my furthest run to date. Not only that, I predicted a sub-4:14 finish and am hoping to be in position for a sub-4:00 finish.
My official marathon training plan doesn't start till early August but I knew that I needed some base miles before I would be ready to train 4-5 days a week. So since late June I've been doing a "spring training" plan to bridge that gap. Tuesdays-Thursdays I run 2-3 miles/day and do a weekend "long" run of 6 miles or less. It's been tough sledding in the Texas heat but I keep reminding myself that every mile logged in the heat of summer counts extra when the fall rolls around. The marathon may only be 26.2 miles but those are just the last ones. There are hundreds of training miles to bank along the way and every run now brings me a little closer to that finish line.
Maybe it's just the "cold front" that has brought 70 degree temps this week but this has been the first week post-baby that I have felt like I was running strong. Not that I'm fast, but I feel like my legs are back and my lungs are getting there. I ran 4 mornings in a row and felt great doing it. I've still got a lot of work to do but I have 4 1/2 months to do it. I have full confidence that this December I will become a marathoner!
