I surprised myself so many times this year

I surprised myself so many times this year.

I kept running after giving birth, even though I had plenty of excuses not to do it.

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I got on my bike and rode in a triathlon relay 11 weeks after giving birth.

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I ran one 5K, up hill, up that crazy hill on State Street! — with a stroller! — without stopping to walk, once.

Lissie with my brother, John, in the background. She looks groggy cause she just woke up.

Lissie with my brother, John, in the background. She looks groggy cause she just woke up.

One thing I learned this year that I didn’t know going into it was that it was going to be much harder to keep fit when I had an infant than when I was just pregnant. I’m glad I didn’t know this, because being pregnant is pretty hard in-and-of-itself.

I didn’t make a conventional resolution post last January because I knew that this year, being the birth of my first child, was going to be an unconventional year. But I did say this:

Last year, and the the last few years leading up to it, I’ve spent trying to make myself a stronger, more determined, pragmatic, joyful person. I want to be the kind of person who can be as good a parent as my parents were to me. And while I’m far from perfect, I feel more capable than I ever have.

So this year I will do my best to give my son or daughter the best chance to be a healthy, well-equipped adult. I’ll cook at home, eat vegetables, exercise every day, and make sure to take time for myself.

… and for that, I have a lot to be proud of in 2014.

I didn’t write a race report, but we DID finish the Epic 5K last weekend. The weather was warm and the rain stopped, so I took Felicity with me. I wanted to beat 30 minutes, and we came real close – 30:40. Considering I weigh about 20 pounds more than I did since my last 5K and I was pushing  a 17-pound baby in a 30-pound jogging stroller … I’m pretty stoked.

So on New Years day I got up and I did something which has kinda turned into a tradition – I ran to my parents’ house in outer Bangor from my house in South Brewer – about 8 miles.

Uphill, close to the end of the run.

Uphill, close to the end of the run.

I didn’t think I could do it (the most I had run at one time since having the baby was 6 miles, 3 weeks ago). I didn’t think Felicity would do it (an hour and a half in a cold stroller). Seriously, it was so cold my iPhone shut off. I had my husband on standby close to the house, and my mom on standby close to her house. But she had a great time, and I was pumped on the adrenaline, close to the end, and we did it.

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Later that day, I signed up for the Race the Runways half marathon in the spring. I didn’t want to commit to the training until I knew that I could bring the baby with me on runs.

I haven’t run a marathon since 2012 and I don’t think I will in 2015. It’s still my ultimate dream to do an Ironman one day, but I have too many other things on my plate to commit to running a marathon this year.

So my plan is:

  • A half-marathon (Race the Runways) in the spring
  • Reach the Beach relay in the early fall
  • A triathlon in the fall

It’s kinda weird not trying to do more fitness with this year than I have in previous years. But my big goal this year? It’s actually not really a fitness goal. I’ll write about that, next time, on After The Couch.

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Pattie Reaves

About Pattie Reaves

I'm a new mom and renegade fitness blogger at After the Couch. I live in Brewer with my husband, Tony, our daughter Felicity, and our two pugs, Georgia and Scoop.