Out with the old, in with the new

Being newly postpartum and not having run for several months does have an upside. I am retraining myself how to run. Since I am heavy and slow these days, I am using the slow-going as an opportunity to really concentrate on my gait. I'm cultivating a spring in my step I didn't know I had. Added bonus - I think once I get my weight down and fitness level up, I will actually be faster than I was before. 'Cause I sure couldn't get much slower!

I'm also making an effort to work some hill repeats and other gentle speedwork into my weekday runs. I haven't done enough of that in the past. I guess I was scared that I would look stupid or hurt myself or wear myself out. I already look pretty stupid with my giant, double-bagged chest; the only nagging injury I have ever sustained was on a garden-variety long run (oh, and that one time walking up the stairs at the bagel shop); and I'm already pretty worn out, so I have nothing to lose and no more excuses. I feel better about a short run when I've pushed myself hard on a hill.

So I suppose my New Year's running resolutions boil down to "train smarter". With the second child, I definitely have less free time than before, so I've got to make the most of the time I do have.

NYD5K09 pic

Mama and her little bandit, just about to enter the chute.

NYD5K09

It was quite the circus getting out of the house with two kids and a husband in tow, but thanks to the Husband's superior navigational skills, we managed to take a shortcut and arrive with plenty of time to spare. Which was not so great, since it wasn't quite 30 degrees when we arrived. I was all layered up, wearing my winter buff and new Nike shell that actually zips up over the girls (thank you, Supportive Husband).

I had three times in mind when I started:
The "just wanna finish" time: 45 minutes
The "I think I could actually do it" time: 40 minutes
The "No way, but it's nice to dream" time: 35 minutes.

And damned if I didn't finish in 36:56 (by my watch - gun time was about 20 sec longer). This included a good long pause at the end to kiss the baby, and have Max run with me into the chute, wearing his froggie rain boots, no less. I know, bad form, but no one was immediately behind us, and I made sure to tell the officials that he had not, in fact, run the whole race and shouldn't be counted.

I'm pretty satisfied with my race. I decided that no matter how good I felt going out that I would run 5 minutes, and walk 1. I kept this up for most of the race, except for about the last half mile where I walked a bunch, and didn't run much at all. I had an 11:53 pace overall, which jives pretty well with my splits. So it was a good lesson in pacing for me.

But most of all, I just feel good about running again, and feeling stronger and stronger every time I go out. Now if those last five pounds would just hurry up and come off...