Postpartum Stats

It has been just over 4 weeks that I started running again and I have managed to put up 110 miles (11.55 of those walked), with last week being 45.25 miles!  I also ran my longest run in months yesterday; 17 miles.  My pace is still much slower than where I was at this time last year, but I am trying not to focus on my pace.  My main concern is to build up endurance again so that I can maintain 50+ mile weeks now through my ultra and fall marathons.  I've got a trail 50K in less than 8 weeks and a marathon in October.  I just want to finish both strong, not looking to PR!!

Here is how my work outs have stacked up since I started running on June 30th.

June 30th: 4 miles, 50:59, 12:45 pace (run/walk- first postpartum run)
July1st: 5 miles. 54:52, 10:58 pace w/ hills (couple walk breaks)
Total miles: 9

Week of July 2nd-July 8th
Monday: 4.54 mile walk w/ Anna 1:20:30, 17:43 pace (hills)
Tuesday: 4.03 mile walk 1:05:03, 16:09 pace (w/ hills)
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: 3.57 mile run 41:57, 11:45 pace (run/walk w/ hills)
Friday: rest
Saturday: rest
Sunday: 5.15 mile run 57:16, 10:07 pace
Total miles: 17.29 miles

Week of July 9th-July 15th
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 4.01 mile run 40:39, 10:08 pace
Wednesday: 2.98 mile walk w/ Anna, push ups, lifted biceps, squats
Thursday: 6 mile run 55:34, 9:15 pace
Friday: 4 mile run 35:56, 8:59 pace
Saturday: 5 mile run - treadmill 48:30, 9:42 pace, lifted shoulders, chest & triceps
Sunday: 4 miles total: 2 mile run to the gym 18:16, 9:08 pace, lifted biceps, back, planks, 2 mile run home from gym 17:47, 8:54 pace
Total miles: 23.01 miles

Week of July 16th-July 22nd
Monday-Friday: rest (had a scare and decided to wait to run until I saw my doctor on Thursday.  received the green light!)
Saturday: 10.45 mile trail run (3 loops); loop 1: 2.94 miles 26:53, 9:08 pace  Loop 2: 3.26 miles 28:56, 8:52 pace  Loop 3: 4.25 miles 38:09, 8:59 pace
Sunday: 5 mile run - treadmill 47:00, 9:24 pace, lifted biceps & shoulders
Total miles: 15.45

Week of July 23rd-July29th
Monday: 5 mile run - treadmill 47:22, 9:26 pace, lifted back
Tuesday: 8 mile run 1:12:44, 9:05 pace (first run with my 5am running group since Anna's birth)
Wednesday: 7 mile run 1:03:25, 9:04 pace w/ hill work, push ups 6x10
Thursday: rest
Friday: 8.25 mile run 1:10:30, 8:33 pace (ran on the Illinois prairie path, fastest run since Anna's birth!)
Saturday: rest
Sunday: 17 mile run 2:43:47, 9:38 pace (ran on the Illinois prairie path, longest run since Anna's birth)
Total miles: 45.25 miles

Double digit runs, ultra training and a marathon decision to make

I ran my first post-pregnancy double digit run on Saturday!  not only did I run 10.5 miles with my dad but it was ran on trails!!  It was a tough work out but felt great.  It was just what I needed to prove I still have some fitness level.  Of course, I am not nearly as fast as prior to my pregnancy, but I still was able to knock out the 10.5 miles at a 9:00 pace.  I'll take that!  I followed it up with another 5 miles on Sunday along with some strength training for biceps & shoulders.  My legs are sore today but hoping to get an easy 3 miles in prior to lifting for back and my ab work. 

I am running another ultra on September 22nd.  I have just under 9 weeks to be ready for DWD Hell 50K.  I need to put together some sort of training plan.  I loaned my 2011 training log to a fellow runner so I am unable to look back at last years 50K training.  The good thing about DWD is that there are no expectations when it comes to my time.  The trails are ridiculously hard so my only goal it to finish!   There are also some hard core aide stations that we tend to stop at and rest for 5-10 minutes while refueling.  So that helps as well.  Totally different than a marathon where I want to run hard and fast. 

We also are torn between the fall marathon.  Originally we were going to run Grand Rapids marathon on October 21st.  Now my dad has mentioned possibly running the Red, White & Blue 26.2 in Findlay, OH on October 7th.  Although the GR course would be much nicer (we've heard the Findlay course is boring), the Findlay, OH marathon wouldn't require us to stay the night prior to the race.   It would also allow me to leave Anna home versus bringing her with us to Grand Rapids.  We need to decide prior to the price increase! 

It's been a long time!

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted anything in my blog!! Anna is now 1 month and 3 days old. She smiled today for the first time too! I thought being home with Anna would be so relaxing but its really not. I am constantly doing something around the house or taking care of her. I go to the doctors on the 18th and I hope he gives the green light to start running because.... I started running on June 30th. I've been feeling so good that I just couldn't help myself. I've been going slow and taking walk breaks. Between June 30th and today, I have run 5 times (just got back from a slow 4 miler) for a total of 21.75 miles. Do you know how good it feels to run? I am stil extremely slow, but faster than I ran at the end of my pregnancy. I know some people may think I am nuts to take it upon myself and start running prior to seeing my doctor at my 6 week check up, but I've done a ton of reading on postpartum running and, although I am not a doctor, I feel I can handle it. Again, I am running slow and taking walk breaks. I listen to my body and check for signs of it telling me to back off. If I had not run through out my entire pregnancy including a 3.1 mile run and 5.5 mile walk just the day before I delivered, then this would not be a smart move on my part. But since I have put in high miles with lots of long runs I think I am ok. Plus, I had such an easy pregnancy and smooth delivery. All being free of complications. I can't wait to start running hard, long and fast again. I am sop eager to sign up for races too! I actually filled out my first race registration this morning. Run Clark Lake 12K on August 4th. I may not be "racing" it, but it will be fun to just get out there with others who share the love of running.