Everyone says it and everyone knows it. But it’s still hard to comprehend.

Everyone. Is. Different.

And that is exacerbated during pregnancy and postpartum. Prior to giving birth, I was told I wouldn’t be able to run for 6 weeks postpartum and that’s about all I knew. So after welcoming my baby to the world, I took off the mandatory 6 weeks, was cleared to run, and started that slow rise up in mileage again. But my body was still healing. Some of the best advice I was given and would encourage every pregnant woman: go see a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist or at least get a 6-week postpartum assessment. They can provide you with better information on your body and how you’re healing.

After a long and slow decline of running while I was pregnant, I was ecstatic to get back into building mileage again with racing goals on the horizon. But I was in unknown territory. My body had just done something amazing and now I was trying to balance healing with building. As is typical with a lot of postpartum women, I experienced some pelvic pain and had to back off. I thought my build would be consistent and strong but instead it has been uneven, balancing mileage with building basic strength, and taking a step back many times, which can get frustrating. But I know that I am in it for the long haul.

While I was pregnant, I signed up for the Boston Marathon so that I would have a goal ready for when I could run again. Some may call that presumptuous but I had faith that I could run a marathon 6 months postpartum. And I tried, but my body needed more time to heal. So after working with my PT and talking with my coach, I decided to pass on the Boston Marathon. I love that race and did not take that decision lightly but I know for the long haul, it was the best path forward. And for every “no”, there can be a ”yes”. As a sweet surprise, my “yes” is running Grandma’s Half Marathon with many of my teammates in June. I am excited to come back strong and with the support of my team.

The best advice I can give other women who are either pregnant or postpartum: Do. Not. Compare. Gathering data around when it’s typical to start running postpartum or how each stage of pregnancy should feel is understandable. But every person is different and comparison can be very detrimental. If you want to walk, then walk. If you want to race while pregnant, then go for it (if you are cleared by your healthcare provider). If you want to wait 6 months postpartum before you start running again, go for it.

I want to get back and I’m ready to get back, but I need to give my body more time to heal. I carried a baby for 9 months and I need to be patient as my body comes back, gets stronger, and gains confidence. I will get there. Luckily, I have a team who have been supportive of me on this journey.

Some pregnancy and postpartum advice:

Running belt. I just used a FlipBelt.
Running clothes. There aren’t a lot of maternity athletic clothes out there so I just went up 1-2 sizes to fit the belly.
Running stroller. I love the BOB stroller. There are lots of other good ones out there too.
Make sure to read the information on supplements (i.e. protein powder, hydration mix, etc.) to ensure it’s okay to take while pregnant or breastfeeding

The Fourth Trimester Running Journey