running adventures: 2016 edition.

Sometime last year, as I was pacing the apartment while rocking a fussy 3-month-old Arden to sleep, I recall staring longingly at my collection of Australian running medals hanging on the wall. 2014 had been my year of running adventures - training in small Victorian towns, running my second half marathon, and completing my first marathon ever. I was craving another finish line experience.

And it eventually happened. Twice! It's the end of 2016 and I've completed two races so far... although I'm pretty sure that's all for this year (when you're up several times during the night feeding/rocking a baby back to sleep, voluntarily waking everyone up at 5:30 for an early morning event is far from ideal!).

Growing and birthing a baby is a huge physical and mental change, and nothing is ever the same. Some mothers are actually faster post-partum (like Ben's super-marathon-runner cousin, who had a baby around the same time I did - and she earned her first BQ a few weeks ago! She is also approaching marathon #50... I am in awe, to say the least). But I'm the opposite, and probably in the majority of mommy-runners. I wasn't a fast runner before having a baby (I have friends who kindly consider me a jogger and not a runner because I don't run 7-minute miles), and I'm definitely a lot less speedy these days. But I'm still grateful for the ability to pound the pavement and partake in some fun running events around the city.

Melbourne Marathon Festival 10k

I really wanted to break one hour for my third 10k (not an impossible task - I ran my first two in 57:20 and 56:48), but my main goal for this race was to finish. This was my first postpartum race after all, and I knew I had to adjust my personal expectations.

The Melbourne Marathon Festival is a huge event (home to the biggest marathon in Australia). Its biggest enticement is a memorable finish lap inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia's largest stadium, for all its race distances. However, the MCG was under construction when I ran the full marathon in 2014, and the finish line was at an alternate and less-iconic location. How unfortunate! I really wanted my MCG finish experience, so I decided to sign up for this year's 10k.

I made myself a pretty conservative training plan. Back then, Arden was doing really well in her jogging stroller, so we ran 3-4 times a week in sunshine and rainstorms alike without a problem. Running while pushing a huge stroller is challenging, but I like to think of it as resistance training, or something like that.

The morning of the race was very, very windy, even for Melbourne. But the predicted rain held off until late afternoon, so it was a beautiful and clear day for a 6.2-mile run!

pre-race family selfie!

The festival is indeed a very crowded event. It was hard to go at my own pace during quite a few moments, especially at the beginning and the end of the race (this was also my experience during the full marathon - they're not lying when they say it's a big event!).

I ended up finishing in 1:04:11 - my worst 10k time by a good seven minutes. But I wasn't too disappointed, as I had accomplished my primary goal of completing the race. The finish line inside the MCG was indeed very cool. Plus, it was my first race where I had a little half-clone cheering for me at the finish! It was definitely a day to celebrate.

inside the iconic MCG. finally!

trying on the race bling.

City2Sea 5k

I only signed up for this race because our bank is the official sponsor, and they offered members a really good earlybird price ($30, which is a steal for an Australian race). I ran the City2Sea 15k in 2014, and wanted to check out the 5k course this time... and maybe break my PR of 27:04?

And then after a few failed training runs (Arden was having some major stroller tantrums), I decided to shift my focus from sub-27 to sub-30. A very reasonable goal, even with the lack of training.

the starting area.

The morning of the race was beautiful, sunny and full of energy. I lined up pretty close to the front, so I wouldn't get caught behind crowds of people like I did at my previous 10k. The starting gun went off, and I went out feeling stronger than I had during any of my training runs. After my first mile clocked in at 8:53 minutes, I was a very happy girl - I was definitely going to make my sub-30 goal!

And then, as my GPS watch started nearing the 3-mile mark, I started to question whether or not I was still running the 5k, or if I'd accidentally merged with the 15k race from the same event. The race course for the City2Sea is literally from the heart of the city to the beach in St. Kilda, and the beach was close, but nowhere to be seen. My GPS hit the 5k mark (in well under 30 minutes, thankyouverymuch), but I didn't reach the finish line until half a kilometre later.

I was pretty bummed to cross the finish line in 30:21, especially because I had felt so strong and capable during the entire 5k. But I wasn't the only disappointed racer. The event's Facebook page had more than a few complaints about the 5k's extended length. GPS watches aren't always accurate (a .1 or .2 mile discrepancy is pretty common, give or take), but many people also measured 5.5k, which is a bit more significant and very uncool. (Also, there were a few facebook complaints from people about the road closures, which were apparently not marked well or in advance at all. One person was an hour late to work, while a carload of people actually missed an entire wedding - ouch!)

City2Sea is a really fun race (the City Run series is an Australian-wide event, also hosting Sydney's City2Surf, Brisbane's City2South, Perth's Swan Run, and Canberra's Fun Run), so it's disappointing about the distance discrepancies. When I ran the 15k in 2014, it had been advertised as a 14k until a few weeks before the race - so this isn't an uncommon problem for the series. Hopefully they'll take the complaints seriously and be more consistent about their distances (and also be more considerate about road closures!). But... honestly, I probably won't run in this event again.

I'm a mother runner now!

Being a "mother runner" is definitely something I'm proud of. It's great to have a physical outlet to keep in shape, as well as an activity that helps maintain some mental sanity as well. Training is a little different with a baby in tow, but jogging strollers are an amazing piece of equipment (hopefully Arden will enjoy her stroller rides again soon..!) - and yes, breastfeeding makes things a little more challenging, but it is what it is. And even though I sometimes feel selfish about making time for a run or a race, I like to think I'm being a good fitness role model for my daughter. In a few years I'd love to see her to do a kids' run, or even a 5k. 

Most of all, I'm very grateful for the ability to lace up my running shoes again. Even if my pace is a little slower and my body doesn't quite fit into my old running shorts anymore... I won't ever take running for granted. 

CK