The first 5 was difficult, over Christmas day and on the back end of recovering from a cold. I had brought along my cousin-in-law (uni fresher but still a teenager!) along to her first Parkrun, and being a real veteran of the event (& first time back) I felt the same nerves as she did to an extent.
Had that surreal feeling when the start beep went off. I know this course only too well. Surely it must be easier without baby on board? In 2015 I have been round Richmond Parkrun with Baby inside me in various stages, twice as a pacer, and a few times as a participant.
But too much has happened downstairs that it is almost a couch to 5k experience.
I completed. With picture featured on Richmond Parkrun Facebook page. Me and cousin Maddie in the middle.
It's the first time I had done a jog (indoors and out) for a month and it hurt for the whole week! My thighs had the half marathon finish feel but it was far from it.
I didn't do any more the week of Christmas and focused on recovery.
Back again on New Years Day 2016. Totally exhausted due to 4 night feeds (2 more than usual, maybe due to baby being excited over new year's?) and an early start. The crisp air got me going.
I was shocked that half the people around me at the start had their hands up to 'do a double' i.e., run Richmond New Years at 9am, then to crane park (4 miles away) to do 10:30am Parkrun, or Kingston at 10am!
In the old days, I would've done it, a great way to train 10 miles with a fast start and a fast end. But times are different now - the times I can make it to Richmond Park at 9am depends on my hubby being happy to take baby along and wait under 45 minutes for the whole thing to be done. Which means a sacrifice of hubby being able to do his morning cycle or run, AND baby being fed and changed all before 8am ready to go.
I spoke to the couple sporting an ironman bob buggy with a 16 month old child in tow, and a few others on the course, and can realistically see that it will be a while before I can be back on saturday mornings.
Today's run was easier but still not quite a walk in the park. My legs were coming back, applying a run-walk strategy in the hilly second half. I know how to, but the stamina was missing after the long absence.
Memories of the heel pain, wearing the night splint to fix plantar fasciitis, and images of the wokingham countryside flashed before me.
Less than 2 months before I will make that starting line. For now, assume, business as usual.
Runkeeper's constant yelling of 6 minutes something per kilometer - way below marathon pace, as I picked up towards the end, waving to hubby, holding baby in a brown bear snowsuit....
I got the 225th token at the finish.
Had a chat with Mr flourescent Tshirt who started with me and checked my targeted time of around 30.
How did I go?
..well, considering first times back since the birth of my 4 month old..
It's a long road, but one must start somewhere.
Happy New Year!
An article to share and reflect :
