Running Part II... a continuation of the story

After the first 3 or so months of running, Jason and I began to interact with a local running group that ran on Saturday mornings. We would join up with them and run whatever distance we wanted to at a pace we were comfortable with. It really encouraged me to keep on running, run farther, run longer and even learn how to pace myself.

Then we went back to Romania. We went to a new city and I didn't know the safe routes. So I stayed home and used cardio exercise videos. Several months later I found out I was pregnant, so I tried to keep up the exercising after my doctor okayed it. Once winter set in, we got a gym membership at a small local gym and I would walk and lift light weights. I tried running a few times, but as I grew, it became uncomfortable, so I power walked.

We decided to return to the States and I continued power walking several days a week, with the approval of my doctor. Towards the end of my seventh month of pregnancy, I walked a local 5k (3.1 miles) race. It was the first race Jianna did, even though she won't remember it. :-) It was also a week before she would decide to make her surprise appearance.

After Jianna was born, finding time to run became more difficult. For the first 3 or 4 weeks, I didn't exercise at all. Then, we were able to time our schedule to fit a walk in. She loved the stroller, so we went again the next week... and the next... and the next. Working around her schedule became easier over time. As her feedings became more spaced out, it became even easier.

Once I was able to walk a slightly longer distance (2 miles) and my doctor cleared me, I started running short distances again. I remember getting so excited that I was able to get a full 2 miles in before she started fussing! Then, the distances I was able to accomplish began to get longer and longer. I was able to get 4 miles in running and walking before winter set in. Even with mild winters, we decided not to get Jianna out too much in it. We did bundle her up a couple times when it was 40-45 degrees and ran anyway. It was so refreshing!! Once spring came, we were set and ran through the summer as much as we could. Last winter was hard, since it was again cold. But now, we are running again 3 times a week and enjoying every minute of it.

What is your story? How did having children change your schedule? Are there other things in life that have had an impact on your schedule?