OOOOH - I totally get that not stretching enough thing! I've learned to bring a baby Mum mum cracker or two along *just* so that I make sure to get stretching time in!
And Lady J, of course you can join in! I was afraid I wouldn't start either. After Miss M was born, I was determined to get back out there, but then there was the c-section, then her colic and reflux and screaming 6-8 hours a day, then by the time I got out there, I couldn't even do 3X 2and1s because the carseat in the stroller was sooooo heavy. So then "getting back to running right away" didn't happen for about 6 months after Miss M was born. But now spring is here, the Olympics inspired me, and I decided to not care about how much or how long I ran. I also decided not to think about my past running ( "but a couple of years ago I did a half marathon!' was a common negative thought that ran through my head). Oh, and I was (am) scared that my gestational diabetes will come back to bite me as type 2, so I kicked myself in the butt and committed to do the absolute minimum running possible. I vowed to get out the door and run for at least 5 minutes once a week. After 2 weeks, this became 6 X 2 and 1's. I won't lie - it took about 4 or 5 weeks, but now I am starting to get the itch back (wanna run, wanna run) and am doing 4 and 1's. I am excited about running again! And Miss M turns 8 months old next week
So you may take off longer than you wish. in the grand scheme of a lifetime (and your child's lifetime) it isn't a lot. Your body will remember how much you loved running (but maybe not right away!)
Or at least this was my experience!!!
RG
"Somedays you just need to do stuff on your someday list. just in case someday doesn't arrive" ~Seuss, as inspired by Spencer
"No matter how slow you run it is still faster than someone sitting on a couch."
"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."
Mary Pickford
Next up:
No Pressure! Run when I want, cycle when I want, swim when I want