Sport / Fitness Inspo

I’m looking to pool some ideas and inspo! So I’m a first time mum to a 10 month old. Returning to work soon 4 days a week. Before my pregnancy I was a big runner and cyclist. My biggest achievements being endurance / long distance. I’ve done many marathons and a few ultra marathons (max 85km). I’ve been back into running for a while but time is SO limited and I’m SO tired all the time! I’ve been training for a half marathon and it’s a real slog. I think mostly coz it’s winter and most of the time I run in the evening after I’ve put my daughter down (I breastfeed). So… my question is how do you keep fit/active and still do the challenges you want to do and be a mum? Is it even possible? I want to do an ultra this summer / autumn, but the actual thought of how tired I’m gonna be and finding the time to train for that long a distance just baffles me! I have a supportive partner who will give me the space and time to do it, but I can’t help but think I need to massively reassess my fitness / motivation goals and aims. I could sign up for a bike race instead, but we live in London and for me to do decent rides I need to get out of London, which again = time (which I do not have)! Trouble is, I get bored of the gym and just working out, I need an aim, a challenge, to really push myself mentally. Are there ultra runners on here who are also new mums? Do you still run or have you changed your path? And for those who don’t run but challenge yourself physically in other ways, what sort of stuff do you do? Sorry for the long post! Struggling muma here who feels a bit down and out about ‘losing’ herself :/

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Have you got a running buggy. I would get my husband to watch our son when I did my long runs but most of my other training was done with the running buggy. I run slower with it but I definitely helped my strength.

I have a 11month old as well as two older children and have got in to running once a week. I'm not a endurance runner but can comfortably do 9km, working to increase this. I find time difficult too as I'm also exclusively breastfeeding. I tend to go in the morning whilst my little one has her breakfast. For evergy I use an energy fizz stick before I go out and that really helps with the sleep deprivation from the nighttime!

@lizzy I ran with her when she was younger in the bassinet but now we just have a lightweight pram which isn’t sturdy enough. Would love a running buggy, just need to figure out space and hunt for a decent second hand one

@Rebecca energy fizz stick before a run is a great idea!

If you are running with them it needs to be a running buggy for safety. I hate to be that person but for anyone else reading this they need to be 6 months old and in a running buggy with a fixed front wheel. Also be aware there are a number of buggies named as running buggies but when you read the spec they are not designed to run with. You can get some that the front wheel so it can be used as your only buggy. The out and about nipper, mountain buggy terrain and Thule have ones that do this.

The tiredness is real! For a little motivation I try to remind myself how good I will feel afterwards and tend to train before husband leaves for work as ebf too. It’s not easy at all so a reminder to be kind to yourself, maybe your path looks a little different at the moment but won’t always be that way xx

@Rebecca which fizz stick do you recommend?? :)

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