Here we are at 1 year postpartum. I feel very fortunate to say that things are going really well for my running! I continue to put in the miles, gain speed, and feel stronger each week. My last update was at 10 months postpartum, and I’m now back with a 12 month update.
I’ve continued to build my mileage over the past couple of months and hit a high of 78 miles at the end of September, right at the 12 month postpartum mark. This is the highest mileage in over FOUR years. The last time I hit that kind of mileage was about 18 months postpartum with Cullen, which was the fittest I have ever been.
I have been doing a track workout each week and a couple double workouts each week. I have been able to hit some pretty decent paces on my track workouts and am feeling stronger each and every week.
11 months postpartum
55 miles (August 3 – 9)
65 miles (August 10 – 16)
58 miles (August 17 – 23)
64 miles (August 24 – 30)
12 months postpartum
70 miles (August 31 – September 6)
62 miles (September 7 – 13)
64 miles (September 14 – 20)
78 miles (September 21 – 27)
13 months postpartum
61 miles (September 28 – October 4)
48 miles (October 5 – 11)
I ran my third in-person race of 2020–the Zombie Half Marathon this past weekend. It didn’t go as well as I had hoped, but it is one race, and I know it doesn’t show where my current fitness is. I’ll have a full recap coming in a few days.
While things are going really well for my running, there are things about my postpartum body that are still healing or forever changed.
Today I did an Instagram post that I want to share here as well. I want people to remember that there is always more to the pictures you see on social media, so this is your friendly reminder of the things you don’t see in a picture.
Now that I am a year postpartum, I can honestly say that I feel pretty similar to one year postpartum with Cullen. I’ve gone back to compare some stats here and there and sometimes my fitness seems ahead of where it was after having Cullen and other times it seems behind a bit. While I am five years older now, I am grateful for what my body has allowed me to do, and I am very happy to be where I’m at. I am willing to continue to put the work in to get to my big, dream goal of a sub-3 hour marathon. Who knows when I’ll have a chance to try again, but I’m looking forward to the journey and sharing more here with you all!
