Today I returned to running. Not for very long: I started with just five minutes. But it was a good start.
I signed MJ and Milo into the child care, but Oscar came with me and Leo up to the track. As we headed up the stairs we passed a quartet of women coming down, toting yoga mats. One cooed at Leo. "Oh! So new! How old?"
"Thanks!" I said with a big smile. "He's six weeks."
"Beautiful!" she said as she went down the stairs. From around the corner I heard another of the women tell her, "That's her fourth baby -- can you believe it!" I didn't recognize her -- I must be famous. (Stairclimber sessions at 9 months pregnant -- to turn the baby -- will do that, I suppose.) That comment made my day.
There's a little stretching area in an alcove off the indoor track, with mats and posters of muscular anatomy and a couple of Pilates balls. I had Oscar sit on the mat, and Leo slept nestled on a folded sling in the V of his outstretched legs. "Pick him up if he cries," I instructed him. No worries. Oscar read a chemistry book he'd brought, placidly earning a nickel a minute.
I walked briskly for five minutes, craning my neck to check on my boys at every lap, and then broke into a run. It felt so good for the first couple of laps, all those muscles working the way I remember -- except my sports bra isn't nearly as supportive as I hoped it would be, darn it, there's another errand I have to run this week. The next couple of laps I got winded, and after that I got pretty slow. But I was huffing and puffing and had broken a sweat by the time five minutes had gone by, when I pulled the earbuds out of my ears and went to fetch Leo back from Oscar.
I scooped the baby up, and a white-bearded gentleman from the next mat said to me, "Oh gosh, that was such a great sight. I wish you could have taken a picture of those two boys together. What a great way to make sure you take care of yourself."
I smiled and thanked him as I stuffed Leo into the pouch sling. Then I led Oscar out onto the track for an impromptu lesson in Running Track Etiquette and Safety. The learning never ends, my friends.
Let us know how the bra-quest works out. I still haven't found a solution to the supportive enough vs plugged ducts balance.
Posted by: Christy P. | 16 March 2010 at 09:44 AM
I've heard people say they wear two nursing sports bras at the same time.
Posted by: Tabitha | 16 March 2010 at 01:43 PM
Yeah, the Moving Comfort Fiona was definitely great for brisk walking and worked fine for nursing, but running = no good for this DDD. Too bad.
Posted by: bearing | 16 March 2010 at 10:32 PM