Running On- the 5 Miler

After an attempt to write several posts over the past 2 weeks, I am starting to think that posting will be a little irregular for a little while.  Trying to type with one hand with nursing/sleeping baby is not as productive as I would like as evidenced below.

Today's 5 miler was both better...yet just as insane as the 5k.  I upped my sleep last night from 2 hours to 3.  I still didn't have time to brush my teeth, but I did get deodorant on this time.  It was a little more hectic trying to feed, pump, and get out of the door by 6:15, but I did it.  (by 6:23 and skipping a few things :)  The benefit to not racing is no warm-up required, so you just have to get there before the gun goes off at 7am.

The main difference, though, was my purchase this week of a new running outfit...that fits!  I refused to wear men's clothes today, so my sweet friend and mommy runner, Meghan at Breakaway, helped me find some post-preggers clothes.  I got longer shorts and a baggy tank for today...very different from my normal wear!  But, I felt much better with a fun outfit, and I am going to send my post preggers running clothes to any new mom that needs them when I am done (size medium for both).  Just send me a message!  Having some "in-between" clothes is important!

My training plan was....run only two full miles since the last 5k.  Yikes!  But seriously I cannot get out of the house.  It was way too hot to go running with an infant this week.  So, another 2 weeks of hardly any exercise.  But, I just view it as two more weeks to recover from surgery.

But still, that didn't help my confidence as I lined up at the start.  From 0 to 3.1 to 0 to 5?  What kind of plan is that?  But I reminded myself that all problems in racing and life can usually be solved by slowing down.  So, if it got too hard, I could just slow down!

Since I am not warming up, my first 2 miles are my warm-up.  I started in the back, made sure to talk to friends, and worked on trying to incorporate good running form, even though I was shuffling.  After the 2nd mile I just tried to find a pace I could hold that didn't stress anything beyond its limits.  I noticed this race I was moving up through the field more so than I did the last race, so even though I have not done anything to gain fitness the past two weeks, I think my body is healing and improving on its own.

Mile 1- 10:57, mile 2-10:22, mile 3-9:40, mile 4-9:42, mile 5- 9:48 Total time=51:06...garmin has 10:05 min/mile pace

Like the 5k, this 5 miler was super hard for me.  I am 15-20 pounds overweight, and it is hard to run with the extra weight and loss of muscle.  I calculated in my head that with no extra fitness, I would probably be almost 1 minute per mile faster if I did not have the extra weight.  And I had this huge realization... it is a blessing that I have extra weight on me.  If I was actually faster right now, I think I would try to race.  I know I would.  I would push my body beyond what it needs to do right now.  The extra weight is life's way of slowing me down so I build slowly...as well as helping me take care of my baby!  Nature knows what it is doing.

 Enjoying the rest of my day with little Spreaglet

I was super duper tired after the race.  I am most cautious about the abdominal area, as it just doesn't feel fully healed yet and is still just a little sore after these endeavors.  So, another few weeks of taking it easy...and definitely no increase in distance at the "race" until I can't feel a thing.  In the meantime, it is TAs and planks for some core strengthening! 

The middle of this upcoming week will mark 6 weeks with Isla.  I can't believe I have to return to work soon.  (pout and cry).  I think I am going to really see time fly these next years.