Comments on: Running toward possibility

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 14:55:19 +0000

In reply to Phil. @Phil- thanks! I'm looking forward to Philly!

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:30:21 +0000

I am grateful that you have had another successful pregnancy and a good recovery! Philadelphia is one of my favorite marathons and I also hope to do it next fall with some friends. It is a good mix of things without the overwhelming crowds and tough logistics of other large city marathons. Keep inspiring us, Laura!

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 18:44:34 +0000

Thanks for sharing!! I love hearing about women being active during pregnancy and after. It is so inspirational to see how you have managed to prioritize your health! All the best with your marathon and the PR

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:46:14 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. More power to you! Sounds like you have enviably sturdy tendons :)

By: Sandra den Boer

Sandra den Boer — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:53:58 +0000

Congratulations on your beautiful baby! I love the photos on Insta and just came across your blog here. I am an avid listener of Before Breakfast and have begun to track my time as a result. You are such an inspiration! Although, being a slow reader–I am fascinated by how you manage to read so much with your family and work responsibilities. I too am a big time reader (in my estimation!) but can barely fit in two books a month (and my kids are grown ups!). This month, my book club crew and I are reading your Juliet’s School of Possibilities. We are meeting this Saturday for brekkie and time management talk. I’ll try and send pics of our group with your book after Saturday. If you have any questions for me to ask them or shout outs to them, please share. Keep up the great work you are doing! And, enjoy those precious, fleeting ‘baby and me’ moments. –Sandra

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:38:17 +0000

In reply to Chelsea. @Chelsea - thanks for your concern, I appreciate it. My time will likely be in the high 4-hours so a lot slower than you! I ran Big Sur marathon at 7 months postpartum with kid #2 and it was fine. I ran a half at 5 months postpartum with kid #4 (so more recently) and then two more within the first year. Everyone's experience is different and yes, we shall see how those 20-milers feel when I start them late summer/early fall!

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:23:33 +0000

I remember being so excited to get back into running after all three of my kids were born! I wish you the best of luck, but I sort of feel like maybe…training for a marathon at less than 1-year PP is setting yourself up for injury. Particularly since your streak running is so different from marathon training (all the speed work, the many super long runs). But I suppose you can always go for it and re-assess later once you do a couple 20-milers :).

I ran 1/2s when all of mine were about a year old (including my standing 1/2 PR from when kiddo 1 was about 11 months), but only did one marathon with a one-year-old (kid #2 – I did another marathon when he was 2 and two weeks ago my 6th marathon now that kid #3 is 2). My experience (and again maybe this because I had C-sections) is that it really took that whole extra year to be strong enough to tolerate the training and finish in a decent (for me) time (about 4 hours, I’m not fast).

I’m not trying to be negative, but I’ve seen people get totally derailed and have to take long breaks because of injuries from doing too much too soon. Good luck to you!

By: Ashley G.

Ashley G. — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 01:43:17 +0000

It is always interesting to me to see the variation on recovery time. I know after my first, a run at 12 weeks was horrible and it took me awhile to get my nerve up. Then after #2 (a MUCH easier delivery), I was happily exercising at 3 weeks. Congrats on both the baby and getting back into running!

By: Cate

Cate — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:09:25 +0000

Glad I’m not the only one working out so soon post partum! Mine is 8 days and I started yoga and light weights yesterday