Life, work and running update

I’m writing this on my phone while a baby sleeps on my lap after a night of not wanting to sleep in his cot. This is the new normal. I’m four months into motherhood so here’s an update on various areas of life and how it’s going.

Podcast

If you haven’t already found it, have a listen to my podcast. It started by accident a couple of years ago then took a hiatus. But since being on maternity leave, I’ve started it back up again. This might sound like the last time you want to be taking on extra projects, but I’ve found it to be a good fit.

A lot of the conversations I have these days are baby-related, but by doing the podcast I get to spend half an hour listening to someone tell me about their life and adventures. And then I use nap times to do the editing. You can catch up on the 27 episodes here.

Coaching

My running groups return this month and I’ll spending one evening and a Saturday morning each week out in the park with runners. The plan now is to gradually take on a little more coaching work (training plans and online coaching) to ease myself back in. And to find a balance between that is sustainable long term.

Running

I’ve gradually built back up to running six miles. For the first 8 weeks after delivery I didn’t run at all. I didn’t want to, didn’t have time or energy to, and I didn’t think it would be sensible. Then I saw a women’s health physio for an MOT for the ok before easing back in with a run/walk.

I’m now four months post-partum and feeling pretty good. I’d like to race a half marathon this autumn, but am still taking it week by week. This weekend I ran 10k, which is my longest run since last July. I’ve been posting about my rurns on Instagram, so if you’re interested in the nitty gritty, you can find it there.

Mumming

A large part of being able to run again is down to having a baby who is supportive of that. As in, he lets me get just enough sleep to be able to get a couple of miles in without it feeling like the end stages of a 24-hour ultramarathon.

Not every night, but enough nights for now. I’m well aware that babies like to change things up just when you think you’ve got them sussed, so I’m fully prepared for him to refuse to sleep at any point.

Writing

Towards the end of last year, as my belly was reaching maximum capacity, Women’s Running magazine asked me to be a regular contributor. I wrote a few pieces before I went on maternity leave and will be contributing again from here on. Look out for me in the June issue!