Running for Two - even the idea of it can make you crazy!
This fall my husband and I found out that we’re expecting our first baby early this July.Â
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As I’m sure most of you veteran parents know. Having a baby can really change your life. What I was shocked about was that even before CONCEPTION this can be the case!
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In the spring we decided that we give this baby making thing a go. Once the gauntlet had been drawn it’s crazy how much the idea of a life inside you can make you crazy with your training.   In that middle zone of are we/aren't we - I would find myself huffing away on a scrambly slope mountain biking, and find my mind wondering if I was sabotaging the chance of a little life taking hold! I remember falling continuously on in the mud fest that was Summer Solstice at Kelso this year, thinking what if I am???? Oh my!
The silly thing that I think I have learned throughout this process is that you can’t let the idea of something -no matter how precious – overtake your life.
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Over the following months we did not get pregnant. You then start to dissect EVERYTHING.  Maybe I shouldn't have went out for that century ride. Maybe I pushed too hard this weekend. Maybe  Syd has spent too much time in the saddle for his multiple Ironmans....  It’ s enough to make you crazy.
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As the summer was winding down and I discovered that I had let the major part of a race season escape me for fear of playing too hard to let a little baby take hold. I was disappointed that not only had I let a season slip by – but we didn’t even have anything to show for it!Â
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A month later, during the most chaotic month of family surprises, hard running, and multiple other side curves we found out that we were expecting!
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I think what I would take away from the situation is that I won’t let the possibility of pregnancy hinder me from playing hard. As a recreational racer, rider, runner, I am not doing any damage if I continue to play hard - before conception anyways. Perhaps if I were training professionally and at that high of a level you would reconsider – but at my level, reigning in the training was really over zealous.
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We were so enthusiastic about having our first baby though it’s enough to make you second-guess this. I hope I have a good enough memory to remember my own advice when we travel down this road next!
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Hopefully someone else might read this and remember to play on the trails while they have time to! Or at least before you find yourself logging training miles with a stroller!
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