Favorite Things

I've been listening to a new podcast recently, Run Hard Mom Hard, hosted by Nikki Parnell and Stef Wenninger. It's nice listen on my long runs.  I appreciate getting to hear ultrarunning moms chatting with one another, since my runs nowadays are either with the baby or by myself.  Listening to this podcast while on my runs almost takes the place of getting to run with friends who are moms -- almost.

Nikki and Stef begin each episode of the podcast by naming their current favorite things.  I like hearing what running gear the hosts are finding helpful, and it made me think about what my favorite running things are in this season of my life.  Here's what I have come up with (in no particular order). I've provided links for each.

1. The toys I keep clipped into the jogging stroller
Right now I have two toys clipped into the stroller, to help keep Teddy, my 6-month-old, happy during runs.  Well, maybe not happy, but at least mildly entertained. They are a soft, crinkly version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and a llama teether.

2. Aquaphor
Nothing fancy, but Aquaphor has been saving me when I wear sports bras that aren't necessarily the best fit for me.  A little on my chest where the band rubs is enough to prevent nasty chafing.

3. Brooks Dare Racerback Run Bra
As a nursing mom, I currently have a bigger chest than I've ever had before.  For several months, I continued to run in my old compression sports bras, and I just lived with the inevitable chafing I got from every run.  When I finally acknowledged that I deserve to be comfortable when I run, I didn't have a clue what my actual bra size was anymore, so I tried several different bras from Lululemon and Brooks.  I had to return a couple before I finally found a winner.  It was the Brooks Dare Racerback Run Bra, in an embarrassingly large cup size.  It doesn't chafe, even on a 22-mile run without lube.

4. Lacrosse ball
My feet have felt pretty tight lately, so I've been using a lacrosse ball to help release tension.  It feels really good to stand on it, hit different tight spots, and raise and lower my toes while on the ball to loosen things up.  A lacrosse ball is nice and hard, and it seems like a good size to provide pressure.

5. Old Smartwool shorts
These shorts must be five years old, but I only wore them a handful of times over the years -- until these last couple months.  For whatever reason, I tried them out again on a long run, and ever since then, they have been my go-to shorts for all my long runs.  I haven't had any chafing from them, and I like how they are nice and light, with a zippered pocket in the back.  Unfortunately, they no longer carry the exact short, but these ones look similar.

6. Headphones - Trekz Air
I have Trekz Air headphones, by Aftershokz (disclaimer - they are a Team TROT sponsor). I listen to podcasts on almost all my runs, and these ones are great because they are bone-conducting, meaning they do not sit in the ears.  This leaves me free to hear traffic noises, bicyclists, etc.

7. Salted watermelon Gu
My husband Joe says his favorite Gu flavor is strawberry banana.  I can't imagine how that could be anyone's favorite! But to each their own.  Mine is salted watermelon lately.  I had an epiphany a couple weeks ago -- when I fuel properly, my long runs go a lot more smoothly.  Gee, what a concept!

8. RunCool Ice Convertible Gaiter by Nathan
I tried using a regular buff as a face mask one day a few weeks ago, since the greenway trails are so crowded now, and it was way too hot and scratchy.  Then I tried using the RunCool gaiter by Nathan (disclaimer - they are a Team TROT sponsor), and it actually felt cool and breathable. Now I bring it on every run. (Pro tip: I wash it in the shower after each run so it's clean for the next day.)

9. Skechers GOrun Razor 3 Hyper
Just like with my running bra situation, I put off getting new running shoes for a long time, despite getting notification after notification from Strava that it was "time for new shoes." Part of the reason for this is that I was buying so many things for Teddy (mostly in vain attempts to find that "one thing" that would keep him happy and prevent him from being so darn irritable 24/7) that I felt guilty about also buying anything for myself.  Anyway, due in part to the foot soreness I was experiencing (see #4), I broke down and bought a new pair of shoes.  This is the pair I chose. Bonus is that the red ones are discounted! They've been great on the roads, although I must admit I have slid back down a couple hills in them when I've ventured onto mountain bike trails. They have little traction, so best to stick to roads in these.

10. Nike sheer running shirt
In San Antonio, the highs have been in the 80s or 90s since March. My Nike sheer running shirts are super old, but they look like this one available on Amazon. They are super light, and I love that they have a little bit of shoulder coverage (as opposed to a tank top), since I get sunburned on my shoulders super easily.

That's it!  I'd love to hear what other gear people are finding useful lately.  Leave a comment and let me know!

A week in the life

Updates

Our little one is 4.5 months old, and my postpartum running journey is still in the base-building stage.  I'm trying to do about 6 miles of running each day, with a longer "long run" on the weekend.  It's been a little tricky lately, as our always "high need" little guy is especially irritable from teething.  Here's a snapshot of a "typical" running week for me right now.

Monday 

At 11am, I took Teddy on a stroller run in the Thule Urban Glide 2 my parents very generously bought us.  I clipped in a teething toy and a crinkly cloth book to keep Teddy occupied, and put on some children's music on my iPhone.  It kept him entertained for a few miles, but then he started crying (and screaming) about 1 mile away from the house.  I only take him on runs within a 1-mile radius of the house for this reason.  Unfortunately, it still made for 10 or so minutes of screaming for the neighbors as I hustled him back as quickly as I could.  Total: 4.6 miles.  Later in the day I also took him on a 2-mile walk in the other stroller, in which he got a decent nap, and two 1-mile walks in the carrier.  Some good "time on feet" at least.

Tuesday

At 8:45am, we had a very successful stroller run!  I put on the children's music, and after a few miles, he got fussy, so I switched over to a lullaby on repeat.  He fell asleep, so I kept on going until he woke up and got 7 miles.  Also did two <1 mile walks with him in the carrier in the afternoon.

Wednesday

We did our stroller run at 8:24 in the morning, and used the same technique as on Tuesday.  It worked again, and we got 6.2 miles done.  We also took a 1-mile walk in the carrier in the afternoon.  The carrier walks seem to calm him down and get him ready to take a nap, which is nice.  Plus it's extra exercise for me -- like wearing a 20+ lb weight vest!

Thursday

We got a later start to our stroller run today, as Teddy took his morning naps in the bedroom.  We left at 10:22, and only did 1.7 miles (with mild amounts of fussing) before Teddy started crying very loudly.  I had the same toys clipped in with him, and tried the same tricks of children's music and then the lullaby on repeat, but he wasn't having it.  So 10 minutes or so of screaming as I hustled us home again.  I took him on a 2-mile carrier walk at 11:30 to much greater success.  Then I waited until after dinner to go on a 3-mile run by myself while Joe watched the baby.

Friday

It seems to be the trend that stroller runs are more successful earlier in the morning.  However, we left for a stroller run at 10:45 today, and it was just as successful as Tuesday's run.  We did 7 miles again, with Teddy sleeping from miles 4.5 to 7.  There were a ton of people out walking and running in the neighborhood, thanks to the "stay at home" mandate.  It's kind of nice to see so many people out and about, although it also makes for a bigger audience for Teddy's crying at times.

Saturday

I wanted to get in a long run today of about 15 miles.  But Teddy was pretty irritable in the morning.  I was up with him 4:30-5:30am, and then got him back to bed for a while.  Then Joe took him for an hour so I could get extra sleep, and I awoke to Teddy crying inconsolably, despite a healthy dose of Children's Tylenol.  Poor Joe couldn't find a way to make him stop crying.  After calming Teddy down by nursing him, I was skeptical that he would be okay while I went out for a run that might be almost 3 hours long.  So I decided to do the run in loops (which is what I did last Saturday as well).  I did 6 miles, came back and checked in, and Joe was with Teddy in the front yard.  Teddy was perfectly fine, so I left for another 6 miles.  When I came back, Teddy was in his swing, swaddled and supposed to be napping, but wide awake and fussing.  I took him out, nursed him, and then did the last 3 miles with him in the running stroller.  He fell asleep in the stroller, and I finished off my 15 miles, just in time for a Zoom call with Joe's family in Houston.  I was able to keep Teddy asleep in the stroller during the 40-minute call by pushing it back and forth constantly.  He seems to like motion.  We also did a 1.5-mile carrier walk in the afternoon, which got him nice and sleepy for a 2-hour nap before dinner.  Joe and I took him on a second carrier walk after dinner.  

Sunday

In the morning, I focused on getting Teddy to take two naps, with a bath in between.  Then we live-streamed a Mass with the girls.  So I didn't get out for a run until the afternoon.  I did 6 by myself, which is always a treat.  There's a nice 6-mile loop I can do along Leon Creek (from our house), that involves a couple miles of trails.  The really nice thing is I got to chat on the phone with my parents for 4.5 miles of my run.  That's how we've been doing our weekly calls lately, and it makes my run much more enjoyable! I use my Aftershokz Trekz headphones, which allow me to still hear traffic, mountain bikes, etc. 

Weekly Total - 63.2 miles (52 miles running, 11.2 miles walking)

(30.7 of the miles run or 59% were with the stroller, 21.3 without)

I'm blessed that all my runs felt good -- no aches or pains, so I'll keep on staying this course, maybe aiming for a 17-miler next weekend.  

Postpartum running: How it’s going

Our little Teddy is 11 weeks old today. Here’s a quick update on how it’s going trying to be a runner again after taking about 6 months totally off (plus 4 months of preggo-paced jogging).

I started jogging/walking again when Teddy was 4 weeks old, and was happy with how quickly I progressed to jogging 5k without walking. Then I started bleeding again at 5.5 weeks, so I stopped running and only walked, thinking maybe I was doing too much too soon after my c-section. (My midwife definitely felt like I was.) 

Eight weeks or so postpartum I started jogging again, and I’ve settled into a nice 4.5-mile route from the house. I usually take one or two 2-minute walk breaks, and my pace is somewhere in the 11-minute per mile range. It’s a good day when I take no walk breaks.  

It feels great to get out of the house for an hour each day. Joe is great about encouraging me to leave for a run and telling me kind affirmations about my progress. I generally feel so tired and slow on my runs that it doesn’t feel like I’m getting anywhere, and I’m definitely rethinking my dream of doing an ultra distance at Brazos Bend in April. But the consistency of getting out there every day for a run and doing my strength/mobility exercises is helping me feel stronger and more like an athlete again, anyways. 

The big challenge for me going for a run every day is that, since the little guy is too young to take him in the jogging stroller, I have to wait until Joe is home (after late meetings, picking up the girls, attending basketball games, etc.) before I can leave for a run. This means most of my runs come at night, after a long day of taking care of a fussy baby. I find it really hard to get myself out the door, although I’m always happy that I did it once I’m out there. 

Another challenge is that Teddy is so fussy, and won’t take a bottle or pacifier. So poor Joe has few tools to keep him happy when he decides he’s hungry while I’m on a run. I usually come home to a crying/screaming baby, which makes me feel super guilty about leaving. As Teddy approaches the 3-month mark, I’m hoping this gets easier and easier. 

It’s been years since I’ve been at the top of my game worth ultrarunning. I really believe I can get back to where I was in, say, 2017, but I feel like I’m probably years away from getting back there. Once Teddy is older and I can get away for longer stretches, and I have had time to rebuild a strong base, I believe I can get back. At least that’s what I’m telling  myself!