Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Odds and ends, post-partum


From the department of products that need to exist, baby-industrial complex edition: 
Camelbak nursing vest to alleviate nursing-induced thirst. Has room for boobs, comes with changing pad, pockets for diapers and burp cloths. Put this on and you're never more than a bite valve away from your water.
Strap-on burp cloths for all-day wear, much like a sweatband.
Ice-cooled baby carrier for summer adventures, like those compression sleeves with the pockets for ice packs. Prevents heat rash and miserable sweaty babies.

The truth about postpartum running:
- I'm about two minutes a mile slower than my normal pace...gahhh! My goal for group runs is simply to keep up. And there is, invariably, some sort of leakage. It's a good thing I now have a remarkably decreased squeamishness about any and all bodily excretions and functions. (I pushed a baby out of where?) Hang on, you say. Runners are already less squeamish about bodily excretions than your average normal person.
Exactly. So this is a step up (/down).
- Time for strength work? What time for strength work? HAHAHA. I'll take sleep for $200, Alex.

The theory of why 35-39 and 40-44 AG women are so terrifying: 
Fit and Feminist mentions in passing on Facebook her theory of AG competitiveness: the 35-39 women are all like 'I pushed a baby out of my vagina and then went without sleep for two years! A 70.3? Psh that's nothing.'
The other segment of 35-39/ 40-44 women, the ones who don't have children - they're probably also relatively settled in their jobs and have their love lives figured out and thus have way, way more focus in training.
And that's why those are the scariest age groups in non-professional racing. Truth.
I want to be one of those ladies when I grow up.

From the department of butchered song lyrics, or what to sing to an infant when you don't remember any children's songs:
a) To the tune of 'Everything is Awesome' (LEGO Movie)
Everything is messy
Everything is messy when you have a baby

b) To the tune of 'Part Of Your World' (The Little Mermaid)
I've got diapers and onesies aplenty
Jammies and mittens galore
You want burp cloths? I've got twenty!
Oh but wait, you spit up, I want more...

Edit: And one more thing I forgot to ask:
Please, please give me your recommendations for completely bombproof sports bras, kplsthx. As a former member of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee I find myself in unfamiliar territory. But greater support is now necessary. What do you suggest? 

10 comments:

  1. Hey, sticking with a running group is quite an accomplishment! I'm only just barely sort of back in the saddle finally, and I had mine in November. I didn't have some of those issues, but I still struggle with the side effects of the old slice-and-dice. But I do think the sleep deprivation and all that will someday make me stronger... hopefully.

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    1. You had major surgery! I'd say that's even tougher to recover from. So good on you. I'm with a very laid-back running group for the company and motivation, otherwise I'd be running three miles at about 12 minutes a mile all the time and never do anything different.

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  2. Good for you, back at group runs! That's an accomplishment.

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    1. Thanks! I'm just doing what works for me (ymmv postpartum). My group has a very broad range of paces, so there's always a comfortable spot for me.

      Although...the other day the set was handicap mile repeats, starting off with the first group at 9-minute miles. I snorted. That was optimistic.

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  3. Bras? You've got to go get fitted and jump around in the change room to find out which one creates less bounce.You 'll want wide shoulder straps and I find the cross-back style more restrictive than over the shoulder. And you'll have to get refitted as time goes on and you start to drop feeds. I know of people who've worn a bra then a sports bra for extra security. Oh, and it's always good to have fed recently before running so you're not carrying an extra load around - or making a milkshake.

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    1. I have my eye on the Moving Comfort Juno bra, and I always feed the baby before going for a run - still aches though!

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  4. Glad to hear you're hanging in there & finding some time to get some running in!

    Two bra suggestions:
    1) Moving Comfort
    2) Title IX

    Many, many solid options from both for busty ladies. (I hate going to stores so I did a lot of ordering/trying on at home/returning, but of course it's easier if you can actually physically try stuff on & jump around a bit.)

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    1. I love my Moving Comfort, but I hadn't thought of Title IX - thanks for that suggestion! I'll take a look. I also hate going to stores, so online ordering it is.

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  5. Sounds like you're doing great, and I love your random product suggestions and song lyrics. Can we have more baby pics though? (But it's definitely OK with me if you want to keep your baby off of the internet...) Good luck finding a bra!

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    1. I like to give him a little internet privacy - there'll be time enough for that when he's a teenager... but you asked, and you shall receive! :)

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