Skip to main content

SoNo Half 2022 (less than 3 months postpartum)

What a journey it was to get to the start of the SoNo Half in 2022. After what was anything but a straightforward journey to a positive pregnancy test, I had a beautiful, uncomplicated birth in July (shoutout to doulas everywhere and especially mine).  

I was fortunate enough to resume running less than 2 weeks after welcoming my daughter to the world. However, I sustained a minor injury to my butt (literal pain in the butt) when rushing home to breastfeed her. I had to laugh at myself! As a result, I spent about a month exclusively speed walking as I recovered. 

Just as I gained confidence to run again, I felt something wasn't quite right. An ultrasound showed that I had retained a tiny piece of placenta...for 8 weeks!! I promptly scheduled my surgery. I recovered incredibly quickly, and picked up running right where I'd left off. I impulsively signed up for the SoNo half marathon. Logistically, the start/finish is less than a mile from my house, so, why not!?

I got a little nervous after I signed up for the SoNo Half, so signed up for another half marathon 2 weeks prior as a practice--the Sam Elpern Half Marathon (the last race in the Lightfoot Running Club summer race series). It was pretty hilly, and I ran a strong race/successfully covered the distance, so had a bit more confidence going into the SoNo half. I just ran 13.1 miles 2 weeks ago, so know that I can do it again. 

At this point postpartum, we weren't even sleeping through the night yet, so needless to say I had no time goals. I didn't even look at my watch (my preferred race method). I just wanted to run what my body felt was "fast" that day. 

Feeling happy after the finish!

I was completely shocked that I ran about 8 minutes faster that day than in my practice half marathon 2 weeks prior...finishing at 1:38, a 7:30/mile pace. 

I truly believe I've only becoming stronger, mentally and physically, since entering motherhood. That was true after having my son, and I have seen this become only truer after having my daughter. I am so grateful for the constant that running has been for me through it all. 
 

The Run Down 


  • Type: Half Marathon
  • Course Distance: 13.1 miles
  • Location: Norwalk, CT
  • Terrain: Rolling hills
  • Hydration/nutrition: Yes (water, Nuun, UCan gels)
  • Bathrooms: Yes
  • Other conditions to consider: Great small town (for me, now hometown!) vibe
  • Recommended? Yes

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Scenic Drive - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

To celebrate the new year, my husband and I made our first trip to the west coast. We landed in the Monterey airport well past sunset, got our rental car, and made our way to the hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was pitch black, as if we were in a forest--no streetlights, nothing!--so, we had no idea of the beauty that surrounded us. Our nighttime arrival made the following morning's run along Scenic Drive that much more stunning. One of the beautiful beaches we looked down upon from Scenic Drive.  We ran down a steep hill from the hotel (oh-so-fun to run back up later!) directly to Carmel Beach and did a full out-and-back before heading back up to the road. We took the Scenic Drive loop, staying on the road as it was mostly one way with minimal traffic, plus it seemed there was an unspoken rule that the pedestrian path was for walkers only (most runners, like us, were in the streets). Usually I'm quite a conversationalist when I run (or actually, make that all the tim...
1 comment
Read more

Southport Thanksgiving Day Race (First Postpartum Race)

The last race I'd run before giving birth was the Lightfoot Runners' Mother's Day 10K --3 months prior to becoming a mom--and now here I was, lacing up my sneakers--3 months after becoming a mom. I was one of those people who ran my entire pregnancy (including the day before giving birth!) but I gave up racing, enjoyed the slower miles, and above all else was grateful to my body for its ability to run comfortably while carrying precious cargo. I set no expectations for myself for this race. I hadn't trained, typically ran longer than 5 miles (it was an odd distance for me), and didn't know what "race pace" meant for my body postpartum. I decided I'd just ran fast, not look at my watch, and see what happened. The day was clear, cool, and windy. My husband and 3-month-old son jogged around with me to warm up and saw me off to the start--they were my motivation! Feeling ambitious, I wedged my way up towards the front of the pack. A father told his you...
Post a Comment
Read more