Emery was 3 weeks old this weekend. I was watching a spotlight on Dara Torres during the Olympics coverage and she said that three weeks after she gave birth to her daughter, she competed in her first postpartum swim meet. I have been itching to get exercising again but wanted to make sure I wasn't slowing my recovery by getting out TOO soon. When I heard about Dara, I figured if she can COMPETE after 3 weeks, the least I can do is get out for a leisurely walk.
So this weekend, I went out for my first real exercise since the baby. I had bought some new running shoes before she was born, and they had just been sitting in my closet taunting me. I was so excited to lace them up for the first time. It was actually a cooler morning, which was an anomaly, given the last couple weeks of stifling heat and humidity we've been having. I should have known that I wouldn't be satisfied with just a "leisurely walk." It slowly turned into a power walk, which eventually turned into a run. I was pleasantly surprised with how good it felt. I thought that running would feel very difficult, since even though I'd been working out my entire pregnancy, I haven't been able to run since about my fourth month due to some serious ligament pain that I get with each pregnancy. It felt great to be out there again. I usually run with my iPod, but that day, it was just me, and I loved hearing the rhythm of my breathing and my feet hitting the road. I had missed being out there and it felt great to be back.
Six months after having Berkeley, I ran the Hartford Marathon. Six months seemed like a decent amount of time to get ready, but between having a husband in grad school, a toddler and a nursing baby, training for that race just about killed me! In the end, I'm glad that I did it, but let's just say, I'm not about to hop back into full on marathon mode just yet. But don't worry-- our family will all be running the 8K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I'm not about to mess with tradition!
13 comments:
Good for you! Love the pics of Emery...
oh i can't wait to exercise --- CAN NOT WAIT --- and to not feel like I am lugging an entire other adult on my front half while doing so....i hope i can bounce back like you --- you look aweseome for just having a little one! thanks for inspiring me.....my shoes are anxiously taunting me too!!!
it feels good to get out side doesn't it. hope you are enjoy little emery she is a doll...love the sleep smiling picture!!
Emery looks so much like Berkeley in that picture! Glad you got to work out again.
emery is a little patrick. i love it.
that blanket is so cute. that must have been made by someone incredible!!
She is soooo sweet!
I sat watching the women's marathon the other night and was DYING to get out for a run! Not that the marathon runners and I really have anything in common when we run, it was inspiring none the less. I'm sure you'll kick bootie at the Turkey Trot. I'll miss being there with you...I'll be thinking of you (unless I'm in labor, which is quite likely at that point). Emery is a doll, btw.
All three of your girls look so much alike! It is so cute. Emery is a doll. I love her dark hair. And- I have no doubt that you will be tearing up the road very soon. You are totally crazy and amazing. Yeah, how could I forget the Hartford marathon when you thought you may have to stop half way through and nurse Berkeley! holy cow! (stupid chip!)
Mere - you are soo inspirational. I applied for the NYC marathon but didn't get picked. If you apply three years in a row you automatically get in the third time so I guess I will keep trying. I know there are others but November is the best month for me and we have lived here too long not to do it in NYC.
Emery is so beautiful. She looks just like the other girls.
xo
hey left you an award on my blog.
man, your my hero. :0)
Meredith--these are the moments when i think that we have absolutely nothing in common. I mean, honestly, jogging 3 weeks after a baby!??!?! and loving it?!?! why do i still think that we're so similar!!:)
You're just tougher than i am, and that's okay. you do natural, i do epidural. you do exercise, i do "relaxing." You do husbandless days and weeks, i do paternity leave. Simply put, I'm a wimp, you're not. :)
Hope you're adjusting to life with 3 girls. And since you're weeks ahead of us, please pass on any useful tips you find along the way :)
Mer,
I've been meaning to comment for a while but been traveling etc. Anyway, Emery is beautiful and you are doing great! What an amazing mom - taking care of yourself in the middle of it all! I'm so impressed.
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