The Stubborn Tortoise

re: The Stubborn Tortoise

KaritaG — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:02:57 GMT

You are amazing! A friend of mine just did the BolderBoulder on Monday - 10 weeks after a Cesaerean! I don't get you people!

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theresa — Wed, 28 May 2008 06:21:54 GMT

i found this entry so beautiful and inspiring! Keep running!

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knockedup — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:01:53 GMT

Zellmer & LauraLaura - I'm so sorry to make you jealous and that you can't run any longer. LauraLaura, your comment about running and parenting is so true.

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LauraLaura — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:00:09 GMT

Wow - a half-marathon! Go, Oz! Like Zellmer, this post broke my heart a little - I destroyed both knees through years of trail running and marathons, and can't run (cycle, etc.) at all now. I would love to be out there with the baby jogger. But I think running gave me a set of mental-discipline skills that are very useful for parenting: take lots of breaks; don't focus on how fast (or slow) other people are going; focus on the moment-by-moment process; start the race slower than you might want to; and take care of yourself.

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zellmer — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:24:44 GMT

I am so jealous. I injured my knee trying to get back in shape after this last pregnancy and haven't been able to run since. I see people running and it breaks my heart. I loved running, too. Anyway, I'm also very impressed with your post-baby stamina and dedication. Congrats on the half marathon. That is truly quite a feat.

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Kit_n_Kumari — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:49:23 GMT

OS--

Thanks for the inspiration! I've been contemplating taking up running again... walking just isn't "hard" enough and i can't figure out the whole gym thing. It's good to remind myself that all my reasons are really just excuses.

Congrats on the successful run!

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Melissa — Mon, 19 May 2008 17:11:32 GMT

Wow, that is great. Technically, I've lost my baby weight, but what used to be elsewhere is now residing in my stomach! Everyone tells me I look great, but I miss my flat(ter) stomach.

Maybe because I'm an "older" mom, or maybe because I'm just lazy, I just can't even think about exercising. After my long day I'm exhausted. My neighbor who was pregnant around the same time as I was also jogs with her son. She looks GREAT. I don't have the knees for jogging.

Maybe if I did some yoga DVDs after dinner instead of vegging on the couch watching TV...

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knockedup — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:08:20 GMT

Steffmarcusky - you can do it! I think just getting started again is the hardest part but, once you do, you'll have the momentum to keep going. It's really helped me to have a friend to keep me motivated - maybe there's someone you can walk with. You still are the same person that did two marathons!

EmmaVT - people told me the same things about not being able to exercise. I may not be able to take long showers or blow dry my hair, and I haven't been to a movie in the theater since Axel was born, but I've still been able to run. I think it's about what you choose to prioritize - for me, running is more important for my sanity and health than lots of other things I could be doing instead.

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EmmaVT — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:35:37 GMT

Thank you for the very encouraging post! I like to do lots of things, physical and non-physical, and know that many of them will fall by the wayside when the babe arrives. But if I keep just one thing, I want it to be exercise in some form. And mostly I hear doom and gloom- that between work and baby there surely can't be any time for something as frivolous as running. But it isn't frivolous at all. I completely understand what you mean about not feeling like a runner, or maybe like a "real" runner- there is the whole runner-or-jogger debate, and I never did sports in school, and always am in the bottom third for speed in road races- but it means a lot to me to run and be physically capable of something like that. I know I will have to be very creative, but thanks for helping me believe!

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lauren — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:27:09 GMT

Congrats!! That is a great story...I am due in early August and I can only hope that by next spring I am able to accomplish so much phsyically. Thanks for the inspiration!

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Alice — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:29:36 GMT

Very Inspiring! Love the thought of getting out during lunch.

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steffmarcusky — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:23:26 GMT

Oz, I'm in awe. Today is my 33rd birthday, and I feel like a lumpy peace of poop - my son is 11 months old and I've gained all but 5 pregnancy pounds. I would love to even be able to walk 3 miles, but I've let myself go. I've done 2 marathons (more walk than run) in the past, but it's hard to remember that person. But you're inspiring - I really need to get off my a** and get walking. I'm just making excuses that I'm trying to stay home to get my son down for another nap in the afternoons.

Thank you for the kick in the a** I need. Or so I think at 11:15 at night. I think I'll post this on my mirror to look at every day.

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Karen — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:17:21 GMT

Congratulations and keep it up! It's great that you're making time for something that is obviously enjoyable and healthy for you. I want to like running but I can't. I'm a little envious of people who run but I have my own thing going with team sports.

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knockedup — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:54:58 GMT

Beth Louise - apologies for any unintended slight. I honestly don't feel like a runner when I compare myself to those who I think of as "real" runners, people who run far longer and faster than I ever could. I don't think - nor did I mean to imply - that people who don't want to or can't run are inadequate. There are lots of things people who don't run do that I can't do, like rock climb or do the backstroke or knit a sweater that isn't lopsided or finish the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle.

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beth louise — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:43:13 GMT

um... I going to come right out and say that it is completely insulting to start this post with not calling yourself a runner and then continue to talk about running marathons, "only" 2 or 3 miles, and keeping it under an hour.

from those of us who either can't physically or mentally run more than a few minutes or a half mile-- guess what, you're a runner.

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Laura — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:42:06 GMT

Hooray!!!