As some of our readers may know I became a Mum a year ago and have been whinging about it ever since! I did not know how long it actually took to recover.  I mean, I had been told it does and it was advice I often gave… ‘give yourself time’, ‘having a baby is a major change to your body’, ‘it takes time to heal’.  But I just did not know it. Initially, it was just about getting bits of my body working again and trying to get back into running.

Now I have got back into my trainers and I don’t get any day to day issues with back pain or other post-natal issues. But I am WEAK!! I can’t believe how weak I am.

Just the process of pregnancy and birth literally wipes everything out. I was pretty fit pre-birth with working and teaching my pilates classes, walking, some cycling and running up until I was about 5-6 months pregnant. Then it all just went. No idea where but it just vanished. It could just be dis-use, but I haven’t got back to anything like the level of activity I was doing before.

So, I participate in some of my classes; Physi-go mum, Physi-go run and Plym Pilates but I’m teaching more than doing it myself. I’m running regularly again because I was getting annoyed of being so slow and sluggish when I know what my body can do, well could do, before…

Reassuringly I am getting quicker. I’ve been doing Parkrun (I always forget my barcode though!) and my time has gone from 33mins to 28mins. Having done a fair bit of running biomechanics I do know what should work, which is essentially strength training.

This is me, my dog Nellie, and a regular Physi-go runner Lou at Parkrun

1. Producing more force that means you can run faster for the same energy expenditure
2. Or, you can run at the same intensity for less energy expenditure

So, I want to get back to somewhere near my pre-natal pace and distance (why shouldn’t I just because I’ve had a baby, Jo Pavey and all that…ugh), which was around 1.40 half marathon and a 3.35 marathon. Yes, it might be a bit ambitious as my goal for the Plymouth Half next year, but watch this space!

And, if you fancy the challenge with some expert support then join us at Physi-go run, Wednesdays 7-8pm at the clinic in Plympton. New course starts Wednesday 5th July.

Until next time!

The current Physi-go run team!