The League of Extraordinary SuperMoms: Dream smart
While pregnant, I had big dreams. Dreams about my “comeback year”. I was going to use my maternity leave wisely to get fit and crush my 2x deferred Muskoka 70.3 registration at 10 months post-partum.
A month ago I gave notice that I would not be racing and would like my (measly) $75 refund. I was at peace with that decision.
How did I get to this point? Through a lot of hard lessons learned…please learn from my mistakes.
LESSON #1: Your return to exercise journey will look different from everyone else (especially the pros)
I have been incredibly inspired by the many professional athletes who have returned to competition quickly (albeit in hindsight, a few have sustained bone stress injuries…) and with strong showings. I had to undergo an unplanned C-section, which is significant abdominal surgery. For a month post-partum/operatively, I couldn’t stand up straight, get out of bed normally, or ride in the car without wincing in pain. Every laugh and cough would be accompanied by feeling like I was ripping open my incision site (and when your husband is a comedian and says he’ll “have you in stitches”, you just double over and laugh while death gripping a pillow to your stomach). I am still recovering and rehabbing from my surgery (scar tissue, pelvic floor tightness, general deconditioning, etc). Every birth has its physical and mental challenges, so make sure you don’t spend too much time comparing where you are at vs those around you, including professional athletes.
LESSON #2: Watch your body for cues of doing too much, and take at least a day off in between when you first start
At week three, I felt well enough to try the bike trainer for 20min with almost no resistance. I evaluated for any adverse effects, waited a few days, and tried again. After a week of monitoring for any adverse reactions to exercise (bleeding, pain, incontinence, etc), I started tentatively doing more riding. Whenever I noticed some spotting or an odd sensation, I took more days off. This type of graded approach to return to sport can be applied to most athletes who are coming back from injury, illness, etc. Patience is a virtue, but when you are better at giving advice than applying it yourself (guilty), you can end up self-sabotaging.
LESSON #3: Work on strength
This is where I completely dropped the ball. At 6 weeks post-partum, I introduced some run-walks, despite not doing anything substantial in terms of general strengthening. When I ran, I felt like a baby trying to walk for the first time (or I assume that is how it feels. I will have to ask my baby when she starts walking) - wobbly and uncoordinated. But I felt alive! I felt like myself! Despite feeling some minor aches, I pushed through, but it was short lived. I felt an immense amount of self-imposed pressure to get running because the thought of running 21.1k loomed large in my mind. By November, I was having the worst time with my hamstring/sciatic nerve which prevented me from running. Hindsight is 20/20, and now that I am coming out on the other side of this injury after being diligent with my rehabilitation, I know that it would have been completely preventable had I stopped running and focused more on strengthening to build a foundation.
LESSON #4: The real goal is doing what is best for you
I had a big goal. Completing a half Ironman just 10 months after having a baby pulled from your stomach was ambitious, and maybe possible had I followed Lesson #3. But at the end of the day, I just didn’t have it in me. I spend my days hanging out with our ever changing baby girl, and I sneak in the odd workout while she naps or in the evening when my husband is free. Trying to find time to fit in the bare minimum of training for that type of event would come at the cost of me running on fumes while also not spending quality, never-to-be-had-again time with my baby. Plus there would be a high likelihood of further injury with that kind of stress, and I am OVER being injured this year! As this crystalized in my mind, I happily typed up my email to withdraw from the race, and I feel lighter for it.
….but don’t worry. Just because my original moon-shot goal didn’t work out, doesn’t mean I don’t have others on the go. For now, I will be racing the Guelph Lake Try-a-Tri to get my feet wet after years of not racing, followed by the Bluewater Sprint Triathlon down in Sarnia in July. No expectations, just to have fun and get after it!
