In Training

Since Violet was born, I have been trying very hard to keep up my workout routine. Up to, and throughout my pregnancy, I worked out four days a week at the gym doing everything from Pilates and power yoga to cycling, weights, the elliptical machine, stairmaster, and running on the treadmill. Since Violet isn't really old enough to take to the childcare at my gym, I have been trying to go at night when Neil gets home, in the morning on his days off, and any other time I happen to have an hour or so free for myself. I haven't been able to do any of my classes since they are all during the day. I just wasn't getting it in as much as I needed. So, I borrowed my friend's double jogging stroller and decided I would take the kids out in the mornings around the neighborhood on the days I couldn't make it to the gym. I did it a couple of times right after we borrowed the stroller. The third day we had the stroller, we went to the park for a playdate. I ran into another Mom I knew from the gym who had a baby a couple weeks after I had Violet. She was there with a few other women who are in the process of a 12 week training program for a half marathon. They invited me to join them. They were just starting the third week of training and meet 6 days a week. I didn't commit, but said I would think about it. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was so intimidated because I am not a distance runner. I like to run because I know it burns calories and I know I will get results fast, but that's pretty much my only motivation. But, I kept coming back to the idea. I decided to go to the next training session and just see how I did. If it killed me, I'd know I wasn't ready for it.

I met them pretty early in the morning. There are six of us, and a total of 11 kids. That first morning, we did three miles of fast sprinting and then recovery time in between the sprints. I was able to easily keep up with the group. We were done by 9:00 and I had plenty of time to get Hayden to swimming, and still go about my semi-usual routine. So, I decided to continue. The next morning, we did three and a half miles straight running. I was initially afraid of the distance, but it ended up being easier than I thought it would. Then, we moved on to our day of cross training, followed by a 5 mile run the next day. Our 5 mile run was actually a 6.1 mile run when we clocked it later. I would never have tried to run that far alone. So, in the last seven days, I have run almost 18 miles. We are doing a 10K next weekend. So far, it has been a really good fit for me physically and emotionally. It's really challenging so I know I will see improvement and physical results, it's something I can do with the kids, the women I met are really cool and fun to hang out with, and Hayden has a bunch of new friends to play with. I am completely committed now. So, of course I had to get a brand new bad ass double stroller and $200 running shoes.