Run baby, Run! Guest post by Catherine Radojcin

Hiya! Candie here. A few weeks back I mentioned that this space would be developing. A by product of that idea is reading about the experiences of others.

Catherine is an original member of RDC and a absolute gorgeous woman. I remember her rocking up to RDC with the most perfect pregnant tummy and banging out the miles like it was nothing. In awe. I had to know more.

Knowing the fatigue/nausea/craziness brings, I wanted the 411 on how best to handle it when it was my turn. So now I hand over to Mama C and baby Remi as they let us know how it is to have a bump on the run!

How long have you been running and what made you begin?

 It wasn’t until a friend told me to get off the treadmill and check out Run Dem Crew in Feb 2009 that I really got into running. From my first session out with them I was hooked. Running with a crew was totally different  - a tough work out but also an amazing  social and supportive group of people that would enable me to run a marathon 18 months later.

What were your average miles per week before falling pregnant?

 I was gearing up for Paris half marathon and it was the hardest I’ve ever trained thanks to my running partner Linda. My week consisted of a long run, tempo run, track and hill sessions, which at its peak was about 23 miles per week. It was lot of running and the winter was freezing but it felt amazing being so fit; I felt like I could conquer anything. That’s what I want to get back to.

Upon confirming your pregnancy did you know that you wanted to continue you running?

I was just two minutes off my target for Paris at 1:42 but I had a great race, made all the better when I later discovered that I was already  3 ½ weeks pregnant at the time. I was high on running when I found out and not ready to give it up, so I was determined to find a way to continue running while staying safe.

Did you seek medical advice before continuing to run while pregnant?

 My doctor said it was fine to run, she didn’t have much advice apart from not to overdo it. The best info I got was from Runner’s World Guide to Running and Pregnancy –written by and for runners, it understood my need to keep running and gave heaps of advice on how to stay safe.

In which trimester did you have the most/least energy?

The first was tough – felt tired and nauseous and because I couldn’t tell people yet, I had to fake a knee injury to explain why I needed to run slower. The second was the best – tonnes of energy and was able to go and  run 10k no problem.  

Do you believe you were able to avoid certain ailments normally suffered by expectant mothers, through the powers of running?

Before I was pregnant I found that running helped me  stay fit, positive, confident and healthy. Thankfully it helped me feel the same when I was pregnant.  I had a fantastic pregnancy and only really felt weighed down by it in the last couple of weeks.

Would you recommend running as a good way to shed ‘baby weight’

I won’t lie to you, childbirth and the first few weeks of motherhood have left my body feeling  wrecked and I feel a shadow of my former self due to lack of sleep, breastfeeding etc etc.  I was lucky that I didn’t put on much weight when pregnant but I am looking forward to is building up muscle-tone and feeling fit again.

How long are you going to wait until you get back into running again?

 I can’t wait to get back to running  - unfortunately though, I had a caesarean so it’s going to take a bit longer before I return and because of the severity of the operation I really do have to follow medical advice to avoid injury. Hoping to start back in March. I am taking inspiration from athlete Jo Pavey – she had a c section but now she’s crazy fit again and on course for some 2012 medals.

What advice would you have for runners who are about to have a ‘ baby on board’?

 Make sure you eat and drink enough, be extra careful where you tread and when crossing roads particularly as you get bigger and less nimble, run with people or take a phone and most importantly listen to your body as it definitely knows best.

What are your goals for 2012 in both motherhood and running?

 I’m already scouting ebay for running pushchairs so that I can get out and run in spring. As well as getting me fit, it will be a great way for us both to get out in the fresh air and around the parks. I’m also looking forward to running with my crew again and will hopefully sign up to a race in autumn.

Do you hope that your baby boy will have a similar love for running?

We already have a Run Dem Crew playsuit for him, which I am very excited about and Santa will hopefully bring some mini Lunar Glides, soI’m really hoping he will.

 Look at Remi! LOOK AT HIM!

We will have him running in no time!

*walks off smiling & feeling very broody*

Perspire2Inspire

xoxo