PBPRs

If only I knew....hindsight is 20/20....  I think we can all look back at different times in our lives and say that.  So, what do I wish I knew as I new mom and athlete that I know now?  I wish more people had told me that it might be 15 months post baby that I would see some real progress athletically.  15 months, I said.  

We see so many outliers in our sport- the women that are running the day before they deliver, the women doing ironman months after delivery, the women that are winning races and qualifying for events within that first year as a new mom.  And after a very short 15 months as a mom, I am here to tell you, they ARE outliers.  We will never know what resources other people have in the form of support, type of child, recovery from birth (vaginal or c-section), sleep, hormonal recovery, or training time.  So, when you flip through mommy blogs, be very cautious and discerning when taking another mom's athletic timeline and applying it to yourself.  It doesn't matter WHEN you get there, just that you take the first step and keep running.  

And, let me be that blog for you that shows you that while yes, your journey may take a little longer, it is still there for the taking.  Finally, after a bunch of personal worsts (PW) this year in all disciplines, I finally had a post baby PR (PBPR)...not an all-time PR, but something solid post baby....that was actually worth something.  I ran a hard and hilly 10 miler this weekend and was finally satisfied with my effort, my physical stamina, and my mental stamina.  I knew the course, and my desire to run in a certain way matched my ability.  I was able to stay in contact with some other females that I respect as runners, and I am starting to see some transfer from my tempo runs to my racing.  My goal for the day was to care at every mile and to not stop caring at any point.  (you know how sometimes in a hard race, you just don't care where you place and you shut down?  that was me a few times this year).  I finally did this- no giving up- total caring from start to finish.  

I am also having some success with my back.  It still hurts, but it hurts a ton less than it did 2 weeks ago and my joints are showing some increase in stability.  All of my PT work paid off in another PBPR this morning in the pool with a 100yd time that I haven't seen in 2 years. 

So, yea for PBPR- more than a year later.  Keep them coming!  And new mommy friends, it may take some time!  You heard it from me.  :)