Why I run

Why would a new mom run? Because the pain makes the sleep deprivation not feel so bad.

My immediate recovery from Sami's birth was so much easier than Max's. I was astounded at how quickly, you know, things felt normal again. However, my loose ligaments have yet to tighten back up. I still can't open jars, and I'm still not convinced that my pelvis won't take off in two different directions at any given moment. And today it really caught up with me.

It's been cold lately, and we've had some icy weather, so I haven't run outdoors as much as I'd like. I've done some time on the treadmill, which always seems to exacerbate any injuries I may have. Many years ago when I had a knee injury from overtraining, even a few minutes on the treadmill would cause it to flare up again. After a couple of miles on the treadmill the other day, I felt pretty creaky. So like a moron, I went all out today.

What can I say, it was 60 degrees and just lovely; the baby was sleeping, and I had cabin fever. So off I went, with no plans other than to enjoy the day, and throw in a few gliders just for kicks. I started feeling some weird twinges in my back at the halfway point of my out and back, so I had two mostly uphill miles to struggle through before I got home. And no cellphone to call for backup.

Struggle I did. I had a weird twinge in my back with every stride, so I gave up the gliders. Then it settled in and just started to ache all the time, so I walked. I walked a lot. By the time I got home, my back wasn't hurting, but it was stiff, and yes, my pelvis felt like it was about to fall apart.

How timely is it that the latest Runner's World has an article about pelvic stabilization. It features the advice of the awesome Jay Dicharry, who I happen to have worked with once in a blue moon at my old job. Thank you, Jay, I will be taking your advice to heart. I am sucking in my bellybutton as I type!

I am still committed to the 10 miler in April (I don't want to miss it twice in a row!), but I am seriously reconsidering a fall half. Is it wimping out to say that I want to spend my Saturday mornings at the Little Gym with Max, or the pool with Sami, rather than abusing my ligaments in the heat and humidity? Maybe a break will give me time to recover, and I can train in the wintertime (no humidity!) for a spring marathon. It took nine months for my body to get all shot to hell, it's going to take nine months for it to knit itself back together.

I feel like a quitter even considering not doing a fall race. I am Mama Marathon, after all! I ran a marathon when Max was just 10 months old, and still breastfeeding! I did it once, surely I could do it (or even a "measly" half) again. And really, other than the pain, I feel great after a nice run. Mentally, that is. Even physically - my lungs feel bigger, my muscles feel relaxed. But it is a relief to think about not having to pump pre-run every Saturday at 5 a.m. With my childbearing years now behind me, I don't feel the urgency to cram in a marathon in between pregnancies. Those marathons will all still be there when I no longer have a nursling.

And even if I'm not training for a big race, when the clouds break or the humidity relents and it's 60 degrees on a Sunday, I still have permission to drop everything and go for a run.