I’m not going to lie; it’s been hard to get myself to run lately and, consequently, harder to write about it.
I want to come on here and tell you I’ve discovered the formula that works for marathon training while being a new mom. I want to tell you that I’ve worked up to regular 15-mile runs now, and am on track to crush GRM’s 26.2 on October 16. I don’t want to tell you I reach for a family-sized box of Cheez-Its instead of my running shoes more often than not, but it happens.
Pre-baby and pre-Cheez-It addiction, when I was training for my first marathon in 2016, being able to take time to build a routine that worked for me was doable. My Bri brain was more focused, I had the stride of a young gazelle, the novelty of long-distance running kept me enthusiastic, and I could rely on Da Plan’s run meet-ups (Sundays at 8 am, John Ball Park) to ensure I got at least one long run in every week instead of indulging in margaritas.
Since July arrived, I’ve kicked off each week attempting to re-establish the training routine that got me in shape to run my first marathon and 11 others in the following years before deciding to harbor the weight of a growing medicine ball in my tummy. But it hit me today that re-establishing the schedule I had before isn’t going to work. I’ve been trying to stuff my former routine into the life I have now. The issue is, my former routine was heavily customized for a life that doesn’t exist any more.
As happy as I am with the changes that have occurred over the last six years (moved to Detroit, got a dog, got married, had a baby, and finally figured out how to manage my hair in humidity), I’m surprised to realize how resistant I’ve been to ride this new current. But if I keep fighting it—if I keep trying to do things the way I did before I became a mom and got myself some decent curl conditioner—I’m not going to be able to take my identity as a marathon runner with me.
So, in a kind of epiphany akin to the one Rocky had in Rocky III when he accepted he was going to have to fight James “Clubber” Lang without his manager, Micky, by his side, I’m making myself completely open to whatever this new routine looks like. Hopefully, I’m clocking in enough miles along the way while still making sure I’m not the main subject of Baby’s inevitable therapy when she’s older. I’ll let you know what I discover next week.
In the meantime, join me in learning to give yourself some grace as you train for this marathon. After all, it’s amazing any of us have this goal at all and that needs to be celebrated along the way. Have fun with it, be proud, don’t let the miles get to you, and eat more carbs.
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