MOM GOT IT DONE!
I ran my first half-marathon postpartum on Sunday and tl;dr it went a lot better than I expected!! It was a hilly course for a road race—two full loops of Central Park and a third mini loop around the hilliest part, totaling 700 feet elevation gain. (For those who know the park well, that’s three Harlem Hills in one race.) The weather was just plain old bad. Rainy, windy, cold. Boston Marathon 2018 vibes. I tend to run on the treadmill at the slightest bit of precipitation, so the fact that I even showed up at the start line was a win.
It was my first big race back from pregnancy and my overarching goal was to just see what I was capable of. In retrospect, I could’ve gone in with a more ambitious plan but my confidence was low after so many months away from racing, and the fact that my last half-marathon attempt in 2022 was a big ol’ FAIL at breaking 90 minutes for the distance. My plan for this one was to run with the 1:35 pace group and if I felt good, break away and if I felt bad, fall behind. I ended up staying with the group until mile 11, when 90% of the hills had been completed and I felt like I could push myself a bit more. I finished in 1:34:29.
I probably could’ve ditched the pace group earlier but I love a pace group so much. I just settled into the pack and barely looked at my watch the entire race. If you are running a race with organized pacers, find them before you start and run with them. Running on the feet of someone who is going to finish the race in a predetermined time, no matter what, is a luxury. It’s how most world record-breaking times are made—elite runners run with “rabbits” who set the pace for them, they just have to hang on! Also, non-elite rabbits are running at a pace that is quite comfortable for them, so they have the energy to shout encouraging things and talk to distract you. It lessens the mental toll of racing. Whenever the thought “this sucks maybe I should just stop and go home” came into my head, I’d ask my pacer a question to get him talking and then be amazed at how easy he made our pace look.
As I wrote a few years ago, the half-marathon is such a perfect distance. If you’re new to running, it’s a great completion goal to have. If you’re coming back from injury or other time off from the sport, it’s a rewarding distance to work back up to. And if you’re more time-focused, there are lots of benchmark times to go after—breaking 2 hours, 1:45, or 90 minutes—that will make you feel smug. Training for a half doesn’t take over your life and body in the way that a marathon does. My longest training run was 14 miles, and I timed it so perfectly with my baby’s morning nap that I felt like I was only away from her for an hour.
I’ll leave you with this blurry watermarked picture of me. Shoulda worn a rain jacket! And maybe pants.
Baked Good of the Month
Another thing I love about the half-marathon is that it’s a long-enough distance to warrant carb loading. Oh yeah! I carb load in a fun way, not a smart way. In the two days leading up to the race, I got a black-and-white cookie from my neighborhood bakery Orwasher’s, made zucchini pancakes, and stuffed my face with hot pretzels from Fresh Direct whenever I felt snacky. I love love love hot pretzels, even the ones from street vendors that manage to be soggy and stale at the same time. Delicious!
Running Shoe of the Month
I’ve owned a few iterations of the Hoka Mach shoe, and I just bought a new pair of the Mach 5s. I love these bad boys! They’re lighter weight than the more ubiquitous Cliftons, so they’re good for fast-paced tempo runs and recovery runs alike. I don’t think they’re as chunky as other Hokas, but a woman in my elevator did tell me they looked like clown shoes, so maybe that’s just me?
Run of the Month
I’m not going to lie, I went on some bleak runs this month. None of them were notable! They were all in Central Park or on the treadmill, except for two miles on the Las Vegas Strip during a comically bad bizness trip. Two runs this month were with my baby; both ended prematurely as she has so far shown nothing but disdain for the jogging stroller. Gosh, January is such a drag. Onto February!
That’s all for today. See you next time,
Elaheh
Congratulations! I'm so impressed with your determination in spite of all you manage! 💕