Running a Marathon VS Having a Baby

When I got pregnant, I started hearing that childbirth was comparable to running a marathon, both physically and emotionally. I actually read a lot of articles and blog posts about it and it intrigued me. It also frightened me a bit because despite running numerous half marathons, my one and only marathon experience was not all that great. 

And now having done both (marathon in Jan 2015, Baby in Feb 2016), I thought it'd do a little comparison. 

Marathon

vs.

Childbirth

Let's start from the beginning...

Registering for the Big Event

In both cases, I voluntarily signed up. Not entirely sure what allusions of grandeur were going through my mind when I signed up for the marathon, but I was well aware of what I was getting into when I got pregnant. ;) In both cases, I had the foresight to also sign up some support in the form of my husband. He wasn't totally on board for the marathon, but he was all for the baby. 

Training

Training is a crucial part of preparing for both big events. It's the time to learn and prepare as much as you can, so make the most of the time! Coincidentally, I had about 9 months to prepare for both the marathon and the baby. 

Let's talk marathon training. Ideally, you'd prepare a training program that you follow religiously, ramping up in mileage slowly to prepare you for that 26.2 miles. I said, ideally. That totally did not happen for me. Most plans train up to at least 20 miles with long runs in 2 mile increments on the weeks prior. Let's take a look at how my training went: 

8 miles- 20 weeks prior

9 miles- 11 weeks prior

13 miles- 9 weeks prior (Wine & Dine Half Marathon)

13 miles- 8 weeks prior (Avengers Half Marathon)

11 miles- 5 weeks prior

18 miles- 3 weeks prior

Yup, only one run over a half marathon distance. I got in short runs of just a few miles 2-3 times per week in addition to those longer runs, but this is not good marathon training. This kind of bare bones training may get you through the marathon, but it is by no means a path to making the race great.

Along my 18 mile training run

Jumping to childbirth training- I'm not entirely sure there is any kind of training you can really do to simulate childbirth. There is a ton of literature you can read, friends who will share their experiences, exercises you can do to prepare you, but nothing is going to fully prepare you for it. It's all more mental prep than going through the motions.

Staying fit by running the Disneyland 10k @ 16 weeks pregnant

My prep consisted of trying to stay in shape and being mentally prepared. I ran one race during the pregnancy- the Disneyland 10k. I continued to jog until about 26 weeks and then stayed consistent with prenatal yoga and the elliptical. I didn't gain a ton of weight, about 25 pounds, which also helped.

Through out both "training" experiences, I had similar feelings. At the beginning, I had a sense of excitement and I could eat more food (yay!). I did all that I could to stick to a good health/fitness routine. By the end, I was just ready and counting down the days for the big event. I was nervous in both cases and had a "ready or not here I come" mentality.

Phases of the Marathon/Labor

I like to think of gathering in the corrals at the start of the race as the start of labor. There's excitement in the air, the adrenaline is flowing, and all thoughts lead to "let's get this party started!"

Early labor is like miles 1-17 of the marathon. It lasts a long time, but you're keeping a good pace and going with the flow. There's an "I can totally do this" mentality. Things aren't too difficult yet, but it's getting increasingly harder. You may even decide to stop for a few photo ops. ;) Unfortunately (or fortunately) for me, I sort of skipped this phase. Labor started hard and fast, no leisurely intro for me.

All smiles at the halfway point of the marathon. Things were still fun at this point. It helped that we rode a roller coaster. ;)

Hard contractions are like miles 18-24: this is when sh*t hits the fan. You start to question your sanity and wonder why anyone would willingly put themselves through this. The only thing that carries you on is putting one foot (or breath) in front of the other. You'll probably start to snap at your support person. I had been awake for almost 30 hours at this point and lack of sleep really took its toll. (Sorry hubby. I know you had the unfortunate experience of being my support person through both events.)

I may look like I'm resting, but I was definitely questioning if I could make it through labor.

During the marathon, I remember very distinctly running through what felt like the never ending maze of the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex thinking that this was the end of the marathon for me. Just as in labor, my husband encouraged me to continue and we pressed onward.

Almost there!

The push to the end is very similar in both cases. You're in tons of pain, exhausted, you still have thoughts of giving up, but you also have hope! You know the end is SO close, you can see it! You push through those last moments of pain and cross that finish line... 

and the end result is wonderful. There is this overwhelming feeling of joy. Runners high, if you will.

First photo as a family

There's also a sense of relief and all that pain just melts away. At least for the next 15 minutes or so. Then your body realizes what it just went through and the aches and pain begins. ;) 

In both cases, you'll be famished after and want to eat everything. Sadly, there is no celebratory beer after you have the baby. :(

A tasty "recovery" meal at WDW.

Recovery
Do we really need to compare the two? Unless you had some horrid injury, recovery from childbirth is definitely harder. With the marathon, you can sleep it off and be back to normal in a matter of days. After labor, there is no sleep, your body it healing, and you've got this tiny human that needs your attention 24/7. Literally. I'm also holding the baby as I type this. ;)

So which would I rather go through?

At this point, I'm not entirely sure. Yes, having a baby was painful (I opted for minimal IV drugs, so I guess it could have been different), but it wasn't that bad. There were moments that I doubted I could do it, but staying focused on the end goal really helped. As for the marathon, I still remember the 7 hours of running torture. In my opinion, the marathon is more mentally difficult, probably because you always have the option of dropping out of the race. Obviously not an option with having a baby. ;)

No medal, but he's pretty cute.

All in all, I expect to go through both again. I'd love to run another marathon (I promise to train better next time) and I hope we're blessed with another baby. But in a few years. The newborn weeks are proving harder than both child birth and the marathon. ;)

What do you think? Is running a marathon harder than having a baby?

Running while Pregnant- My Experience

Running while Pregnant - My Experience

Ariel runDisney New Balance shoes- my motivation for post-baby running

When I first found out I was pregnant, I had lofty dreams of continuing to run my entire pregnancy. Not only would it keep me in shape (and maybe give me some extra wiggle room to eat more ice cream), but it would also lead to a faster recovery after the baby was born and an easier time getting back into running.

Off to a rocky start...

I admit I wasn't starting off my pregnant running at a great point: after the WDW Marathon in January, I really lost my mojo and desire to run. I struggled with marathon training and I had a lot of anxiety going into the race. I did finish, but just barely. It was one of the hardest things I've done, both mentally and physically, but I am so glad I did it. I had the post-marathon burn out. 

After the marathon, I continued to run, but very infrequently. I think I ran maybe 10 times in 3 months? One of those times was the Santa Cruz 10k that I ran with my friend and her almost 5 month old. We ran the race non-stop and kept a pretty good pace, only stopping at the end of mile 6 when the baby got fussy. Inspiration right there!

I continued to run infrequently, a couple miles here and there, but mostly focused on strength training. For me, the key to easier running comes with a stronger core. Then I found out we were expecting. As you can see, not a very strong baseline to start with.  

The bad...

As everyone knows, your body changes a lot with pregnancy. I never realized how much of an impact it would have and how soon it would affect me. Almost immediately my running changed. Maybe it was the first trimester exhaustion or all the extra blood my body was pumping, but my pace was slower and I couldn't run non-stop anymore. I switched to intervals and was able to continue doing my 2-3 mile runs a few times a week. I suppose I could have stopped and done something else, like prenatal yoga, but I had the Disneyland 10k coming up!

15 Weeks

16 Weeks in my For Two Fitness maternity tank top

The good...

The Disneyland 10k was amazing. I was nervous that I was going to be swept- I averaged a 14 minute mile (Disney cut-off is 16), but I never got past a 4 miles on my training. That extra 2 miles was really haunting me! I asked my friend and fellow running blogger, Lena, if I could run with her. She has the experience- she ran the Dumbo Double Dare (both the 10k and half marathon) pregnant just a couple years ago. My brother was also along for the ride to keep an eye on me. With these two for support, I knew I'd make it to the finish line.

I also finally met Krissy in person! Yay for pregnant Ursulas!

She was about 2 months ahead of me AND she completed both the 10k and half!

I also made a new running friend- Heather!

17 weeks and baby's first medal!

Seeing all my friends run the Disneyland Half while I sat on the sidelines stung a little. I really wanted to be out there and to earn that medal (the DL 1/2 holds a special place in my heart as my first race and first half), but I knew it wouldn't be safe. I would have pushed myself too hard and probably been more disappointed if/when I got swept. All in all, I still had a great time. Looking forward to the diaper dashes in the future! :)

A little hiatus...

After the Disneyland 10k, life got busy! We bought a house and moved- exercise was the last thing on my mind. I managed to get in yoga here and there and some evening walks. As I packed, I reminisced over past races. 

I think part of the reason why I stopped running was that it just wasn't the same. Like eating your favorite ice cream and suddenly it tasted different. (Can you tell a pregnant woman wrote this?) I was frustrated running had become so difficult, discouraged that I would never get back to where I once was. As I got bigger and the scale showed a number I've never seen before, I pushed running more and more out of my mind.

Pretty much how I felt.

Turning point...

The weeks ticked by. As usual, I'd eat my breakfast by the front window and see people in the neighborhood running or jogging. One morning I realized that I really missed running, no matter how slow or pokey I was. Was my mojo was back?! :D

So at 23 weeks, I put on my Running for Two tank, my favorite Sweaty Band (from Wine & Dine aka Splash n' Dash 2014), and laced up my shoes. I didn't go far, just a mile and a half, and my pace was slow, but I enjoyed every moment of it. 

23 Weeks

I would have gone farther, but I started to get really itchy. Legs, feet, belly, the whole deal. This used to happen to me when I didn't exercise for a long time- something about the sudden increase in blood circulation makes me itchy. It goes away after a week or so, but it's still annoying. Has this ever happened to you?

(I know itchiness can be a sign of issues with pregnancy, but it goes away within 15 minutes and I've talked to my doctor about it.)

Running again!

I tried to get out everyday and the itchiness is cleared up. My pace was still slow, but at least I was getting out there. Even got a few stares from people in my neighborhood.

24 Weeks

The final break...

Around 26 weeks, I started to get some cramping when I would run. It wasn't painful or intense, but more like all my stomach muscles were tightening up. After talking to my doctor, she said they could be Braxton Hicks contractions and recommend that I switch to more low impact exercises. Since then, I've been doing prenatal yoga (great for aches and pains in my back) and the elliptical. 

I'm convinced that staying active right up until the day I delivered really aided in how short my labor was and how quickly I'm healing. My body is returning to pre-pregnancy pretty quickly. At about 2 weeks post partum, I'm just 3 lbs away from pre-pregnancy weight and my belly is pretty much gone. Granted, I didn't have wash board abs to begin with. ;)

This "forced" rest period/break has given me a lot of inspiration and motivation to get back out and run. I'm eager to get back to training and push myself more than I had in the past. I'm holding off until my 4 week post partum appointment to get the all clear from my doctor. We have a BOB jogging stroller and I can't wait to take our little guy running when he's big enough. :) 

Did you run during pregnancy? How was your experience?

What's on my Race Calendar: 2015

I've got 4 races set for 2015... and none of them are half marathons.

Surprised?

After the WDW Full Marathon in January, I need a break. I know for sure that the marathon was one-and-done. I struggled so much with sticking to my training plan (my own fault) and it made me more anxious than excited about the race. Even though I finished, the race was physically too hard on my body and I'm still paying for it.

2015: the Year of the 10k!

I have 3 10ks on the book, along with a 10 miler.

Santa Cruz 10k - April

You might remember last year (recap here) that I ran my local half marathon- the Santa Cruz Half. We've moved away from Santa Cruz, but it's still close enough to visit. I ran last year with a friend who had just found out she was pregnant. This year we're running the 10k together. It still has gorgeous ocean views and a finish on the beach.

Disneyland 10k - September

I'm headed back to Disneyland to participate in the 10th anniversary weekend! This race weekend holds a special place in my heart- I ran my very first half marathon here in 2011. I really wanted to do both the 10k and Half (not for the Dumbo medal, personally I'm not a huge fan), but for financial reasons, I knew I could only register for one race. I was on the fence for awhile, but in the end, I chose the 10k because I knew I could run it for the photos and not worry about not finishing. I can't wait to see what the theme for this year will be! You can read my previous race recaps from 2011, 2012, and 2013's 10k & half.

Pumpkin Run 10k - October

This race currently holds my 10k PR. I ran this two years ago at the peak of my running and completed the 10k in less than an hour. The course is nice and flat and cool temps make it great for a PR. My goal is to PR again this year!

Sirena 10 Miler - November

This 10 miler takes place in San Francisco and you get to run over the Golden Gate Bridge! I'm running this with the same friend from the Santa Cruz 10k.

I know 2016 will hold some half marathons for me- I'm eyeing Star Wars at DL in January and I really want to take a ladies's trip for the Princess half in February. Anyone interested?! :)

What's on your race calendar this year? Any Disney races?

Costumes: Tuesdays on the Run Link-up

This is my first time with the Tuesdays on the Run link-up. Let's hope I did it right!
A big shout out to the hosts of this link-up: Patty at My No-Guilt Life, April at Run the Great Wide Somewhere, and Erika at MCM Mama Runs.

This week's topic is Racing in Costume!

When I started my running journey in 2011, I didn't even consider running in costume- I was more focused on finishing! It wasn't until my 3rd runDisney event that I wore a costume, but since then, I've been hooked!

C3PO & R2D2

Disneyland 10k, 2013

As my first costume attempt, I wanted something easy. My husband didn't want to be a prince, though he did suggest we go as Jasmine and Jafar. Haha.

I purchased my R2D2 tank top and hat. I decorated my husband's gold C3PO shirt with a sharpie, some black tech fabric, and some colored elastic cording.

We definitely have the height difference down!

Hipster Disney Princesses Jasmine & Snow White
Neverland 5k, 2014
My friend and I planned to walk the 5k, so we didn't have to worry about it being runner-friendly. She came up with the idea to go as Hipster Disney princesses, complete with signs. Everything was regular clothing, which was helpful in the cold morning!

Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell 10k, 2014
The Tinker Bell 10k was the first race I've run alone. I was a little nervous, so I figured a costume was in order! I went with a super easy version of Tink, mostly because I already had a green running tank. Plus it fit the race theme! I made a skirt from green confetti dot material (same stuff as the Sparkle Athletic skirts) and wore the official white and green runDisney Tink Sweaty Band.

Simple Snow White

Tinker Bell Half Marathon, 2014

Being my 3rd race of the weekend, I kept it simple with a nod to Snow White. I wore a red Sweaty Band, my Team#runDisney shirt, and a yellow Sparkle Athletic skirt.

I don't think I'll ever go back to non-costume running, at least for runDisney events. Even if it's something simple, like my nod to Snow White, it definitely adds to the fun! 

I've got some fun costumes coming up.

 I love me some wine, but I went with a "dine" theme for Wine & Dine.

At the request of my 5k friend (same one who did with Neverland 5k with me),

I'm tackling my most adventurous sewing project for the Avengers 5k! I'm super excited to reveal them in November! :)

I'm still debating what to do for the Avengers Half. Any suggestions?

Do you run in costumes?

{repost} Disneyland Half Marathon Packing List

In honor of the folks attending this weekend's Disneyland Half Marathon events, I thought I'd repost my packing list from last year. Can't wait to read about everyones' experiences! :) 

*Originally posted on August 8th, 2013*
____________________________________

As part of my race/vacation preparation, I compile a packing list. I start months in advance and add to it as I remember things. Why such a detailed list? Let me tell you a funny story...

Our first runDisney trip, my husband forgot his fuel belt. Thank goodness for the expo! Our second race we were traveling separately and I was leaving a few days before him. As a precaution, I took all of his running gear with me, so he wouldn't have to remember as much (and if I forgot something, he could grab it). Pretty sure the TSA guy gave me the side eye when he saw I had men's size 12 shoes in my bag. Haha. Anyway, a good list *should* help me not forget anything, right?

With 3 weeks before I need to have my bags packed and ready, I've already started packing and putting things aside for the trip. 

For runDisney trips, my list is broken down into 4 main parts: running stuff, regular clothes, toiletries, and Disney/misc items. I'll just share the running and Disney portions of my list as I'm sure you can handle the rest. :) 

Running Clothes
- shoes
- tops (tank top & short sleeve, just in case)
- bottoms
- socks
- sports bras
- arm sleeves
- running costumes and accessories
- compression sleeves/tights/socks for recovery
- cheap blanket/sweatshirt for before the race, but to toss after it starts

* If you are participating in the Dumbo Double Dare, don't forget to pack two of everything! Shoes, too, if you can. You never know what might happen on your first leg of the challenge (puddles, water station mishaps, Grizzly River Run, etc).

Other Running Items

- running waivers (you can print them at the expo, but that means less time for shopping) 

- fuel belts
- Garmin or other pacing device & charger
- sports bra iphone holder (for me)
- iphone arm band (for my husband)
- ear buds
- safety pins (just in case your race packet doesn't have them/they get lost)
- travel kleenex (never know about those port-o-potties...)- hair ties/bobby pins
- sunscreen & Chapstick
- deodorant
- sunglasses/hat/visor

- Motrin/aspirin 

- band aids for blisters
- KT Tape/brace/stability item, if you need it
- foam roller/tennis ball, etc for stretching

- Road ID
- pace chart

- proof-of-time from a more recent race if you want to change corrals (this will not apply to any 2014 races as proof of time requirements have changed)

Food

- breakfast items (raisin English muffins, peanut butter & bananas)
- race fuel (I use Clif Shot Bloks)
- hydration drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, Nuun, etc)
- recovery food for post race

Misc & Disney Items 

- travel documents (flight/hotel confirmations, park tickets, gift cards, etc)

- Disney Visa (if you have one)
- chargers (phone & camera)
- camera
- Disneyland Shirt Tote Bag (for the expo)
- Ear hats/other Disney attire you like to wear at the parks

Packing Tips:

When I fly, I try to get away with taking just a carry on bag. It can be a pain when you have to go through security, but if you've got everything organized and ready to go (like your bag of 3oz or smaller liquid items packed in an easily accessible place), it can be a breeze.

I'll be packing all of my stuff into my new Vera Bradley bag. Can't wait to take it on its inaugural trip to Disneyland. :) 

-In the event that TSA feels the need to search my bag, I'd prefer that my "unmentionables" weren't being manhandled and tossed about. I have a little fabric pouch, but you can keep them all together in a Ziploc bag.

-When packing your running clothes, lay our your entire outfit (including fuel belts!), just like you would the night before race day, to ensure you have everything. 

-Since I'm going the "carry-on only" route, my running shoes will be in my bag, too. You can keep them off your clean clothes with a shopping or grocery bag. I have another zippered pouch (can you tell I got bored one day?).

-If you are flying, pack your essential running gear in your carry-on. It may be a pain to lug around, but you will be thanking your lucky stars if your luggage gets lost. Don't want to break in brand new shoes/clothes on race day. :)

Training Tuesday

This past week, runDisney released the new medals for the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend taking place this Labor Day weekend in Disneyland. I am so bummed I will not be running this year. I'm a Lilo & Stitch fan, but more so I love the Hawaiian theme!

This week's training has been just okay for me. I still can't seem to get into real training mode and I'm just running to get out there. I really need to get things into focus and start on my marathon training.

Weekly Recap

Tuesday: 2 miles

Wednesday: rest

Thursday: 2 miles

Friday: 2 miles

Saturday: rest

Sunday: 2 miles

Monday: rest

June squat count: 800

This past week was also my husband and I's 4th wedding anniversary. We haven't seen each other in about a month and won't see each other again for another 6 weeks. I've been pretty sad about it and I think it's had a lot of affect on my running. On the upside, he did send me these gorgeous flowers at work.

How do you motivate yourself to get into training when life gets you down?

Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend: Trip Recap

What better way to recap our 4 day trip to Disneyland for the Half Marathon Weekend than through photos. :) 

If you're looking for race recaps, here are my recaps for the Inaugural Disneyland 10k, Disneyland Half Marathon 2013, and my thoughts on the Dumbo Double Dare.

We flew down to Orange County on Friday morning.

We went to California Adventure first to hang out with my cousin's kids while they rode Radiator Springs Racers.

A little afternoon snack. Beer not recommended before a race, but hey, it's Disneyland! :)

Toy Story Midway Mania. I beat Dearest every time. ;)

I got my fried green tomato sandwich w/ sweet potato fries at the Hungry Bear Restaurant! So yummy!

 One last photo in the Court of Angels at Disneyland. We took a very similar picture on our first visit to Disneyland together. The court is such a peaceful and quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of the park. It's super romantic, I'm sure tons of people have gotten engaged here. Sadly it's going to close as the area will become part of the private Club 33 when it expands. I'll definitely miss coming here.

 Some of the souvenirs I brought back!

Magical Fireworks

My 2013 Grad!

Dearest was so great with our little cousins. I just know someday he's going to be a great dad. :) 

Mickey and the Magical Map. Fun show with great music, but not quite as good as previous shows or the Aladdin Musical in California Adventure.

Our flight out of Orange County was delayed for 3 hours, so we passed the time with beer, wings and fries. I just ran a 10k and half marathon, so I need to replenish, right? :) 

Orange County has a city noise ordinance stating that planes cannot take off past 10pm. We boarded the plane around 9:45 and all the flight attendants were quick to tell us that if we were not "wheels up" by 10pm, we would be staying the night. There was one passenger that kept fiddling with his bag in the over head compartment and I'm surprised no one jumped up and forced him to sit down. As we taxied out on the tarmac at 9:55p, we had to wait for four, yes FOUR, planes to land. Time was ticking by and everyone was getting antsy. Finally, the engines roared and we began our take off, even though it was past 10pm. Thank you, Southwest! :)

My hubby surprised me with this ornament! He was acting all weird, saying he was looking for something in a store, but wouldn't tell me what it was. After running around Disneyland, he finally found it and surprised me with it. He was going to wait until Christmas (we add a new ornament to the tree every year), but he couldn't wait. We are both terrible at holding back surprises. ;)

My favorite ride is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- so perfect!

Hope you enjoyed the recap! :)