Life with a newborn, running setbacks, and moving forward.
I never thought I could be this busy. Ever. I am back to work, back to training, back to everything times two! Â So sorry I haven’t gotten to this blog. Â I am finally able to put the past 4 months in perspective and take a breath. Â The obvious-Â my little man arrived. Â Asher is 16 weeks old and yes, I’m smitten with him. Â I mean to write up a separate post on his birth story at some point. Â Mostly because I learned so much this time around and if helps anyone, then awesome. Â The biggest takeaway for me was learning when it’s best to stop fighting (both physically and mentally) and to let nature take its course. Â In summary, I had a 13 hour labor (quick by my standards), 45 minutes of it was scary as his heart decelerated and a team ready to take me for a C-section hovered around. I gave in, stopped fighting and got an epidural so that he could turn to face the right way (anterior). Â My running mind only knows that feeling when shit is going wrong, to start fighting for the finish. Â But in this case, I had to relax into the pain and lean into something I didn’t want. Â That lesson is one for the books for me- being stubborn is a virtue, but learning to adapt is what makes you live. Â I was happy my doctor, an avid runner, and a patient man, gave me the encouragement to get my son out safely. Â And all resulted in a crying, sweet little boy being laid upon my chest as I cried those tears you never forget when you meet your child for the first time. I quickly got over my plan to go 100% natural and instead was thrilled my son was okay and I left my ego right then and there.
My initial recovery was a little complex- easier than last time, but harder because now I know I can handle more, push harder and my fitness was better throughout my pregnancy.  So when the doctor tells you not to run for 6 weeks, you nod and cross your fingers behind your back.  I began hiking 3 miles a day starting on day 3 after birth.  I ran 7 miles a few days after that and I still had stitches, and my pelvic floor felt like moving rubble.  So I backed off the running and kept up the hard hiking.  Around day 14, I began running with regularity.  3-5 miles most days, some on trail, some on treadmill with Asher in a baby swing next to me.  I kept this up but had continued pelvic floor/low back and hip soreness and just tried to work through it.  By the time Asher was 6 weeks, I was logging a few 50 mile weeks and on week 10, I ran the CIM marathon where the wheels fell off completely.  I had this inkling that maybe it was too much, too soon, but being the stubborn and much too eager runner, I wanted to run.  I started that marathon with a ton of will and determination to maintain 7:15-7:20 pace, but by mile 13, I had to walk, stretch, hit the porta-potty and repeat every couple of miles.  These were all issues with hip and postpartum pelvic floor issues that I realized the hard way.  Needless to say it was a terribly slow (3:54) painful run that really did cause me a setback.  Thanks for embarassing shout out at the finish, Eric Schranz:) I painfully walked my broken body to the car, cried for 10 minutes, slammed a burger while nursing my son and then finally saw the light  I needed to take a different path and so I made a list- .1) getting a coach to guide me or actually micro manage the crap out of what I was attempting 2) moving my ultra plans back a few months and 3)getting back on strength training.
So here I sit, 6 weeks post CIM of which 3 weeks were spent completely healing and the last 3 weeks into serious training. My hips are responding really well to the workload. Â I have long time friend and excellent coach, Jason Koop from Carmichael Training Systems guiding me constantly throughout the weeks. I mean checking in after intense workouts to see if things feel right. Â We both know that taking the proper time to heal is a priority. Â But so far, I am feeling really great. Â I am in physical therapy and pilates every week. Â I put my first A race ultra on the books for end of March at Gorges Waterfalls 100k. Â I think I can be ready for that race, and if not, I will know soon and can adjust.
I really want to race Western States and finish and do well. Â I think it will be on my mind until I do just that. Â I realize this plan may take a few years and I am okay with that. Â Having my little boy is worth the time it may take to comeback. Â But I really hope to make my way to Squaw sometime soon. Â If not, there are plenty of races to keep me excited and going until then! One is AC100 which I am lucky to be in this August. Â So now, its just going as hard as I can with juggling my work and my priorities as a mom. Â More blogs, more regularly I hope!