Saturday, July 28, 2012

Usually the optimist, today the pessimist (not really)

I'm usually the one who always sees the "silver lining" as my husband says. And I am still seeing the silver lining in everything right now, I mean, I'm getting ready to welcome my first child into the world. How could I not see the silver lining? But, that doesn't mean that there aren't things in life that are frustrating. Things frustrate me just as much as anyone else, I just normally tend to see the brighter side because it's a waste of time and energy to let things get you down. Things could be so much worse, and that's what I tell myself when I start to feel sorry for myself.

Here's my frustration today, and then I'm done with it.

I stopped running at about 34 1/2 weeks because it was unbearably hot and I was running so slow that I may as well have been walking anyway. Obviously, I've gained weight through this pregnancy, along with slowing down. My frustration is that everyone around me is still running and can still run. I miss running. I miss being able to go out on a Saturday morning and have a long run with my running friends. It's like I've fallen off the radar and I can't get it back for at least another month or so.

I don't want to have to start from scratch. I don't want to never gain my speed back. I want to be able to run another half marathon and have it be a PR. I'm scared to death that I'll never have that back. People keep telling me that it will be fine, that I will be able to come back even stronger. I try to tell myself that everyday when I can't run, while everyone around me can.

So, that's my soapbox for the year. I know that no one likes to read things like this, but I had to get it off my chest, and I feel better.

A question...

Have you ever had to take a long break from running, not by choice? If so, how did you make it back to where you were before?

5 comments:

  1. I completely understand where you're coming from, but I'm only 16 weeks pregnant with my first. I'm worried about not being able to run and then not being able to get back into it. I'm guessing this is normal, so we'll be fine. I hope.

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  2. My personal story is that I got better and faster after having both of my kids. I was more determined, organized and managed my runs well. I qualified for Boston after my 2nd baby. ( he was 2). I am considering having a 3rd baby just to get even better! :-) I am mostly joking about that. My first run post pregnancy was not good. I ran 1 painful mile, but you ran up to 34 weeks...I made it to 28 and 30. I still exercised, but did not run. Take it slow when you start to run, it will all come back to you naturally. Congrats to you!

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    1. Thank you so much for your thoughts! I will never qualify for Boston, but it would be nice to be as fast or faster than I was before. You make me feel better about it! Thank you!

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  3. I'm childless and I've only been running for a little over a year so I'm probably not the best person to offer advice here but I feel like I read so many blogs of women who run faster after having children and picking up their training again then they did before. You'll be fine!

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