5 and a half weeks post birth (before drs orders as I didn’t have my post natal till 9 weeks!). I laced up for he first time since 11/12/18 and that was only a puny 1 miler on a treadmill!
31/01/18... I was so happy... I was getting itchy feet so bad. Everyone was doing RED January and I was so jealous. I just couldn’t wait for the me time to come back, to get my heart racing. Back to the sport I love.
As they always say, the first run back after a long time out is a difficult one and the first mile is the devil in disguise. I planned my route before, due to now living in Tamworth and off I went. It was difficult. I’m not going to lie. First mile came in at 12:10. My first incline was an utter destaster. I knew I was running, but it was like I was in a time warp; not moving anywhere. I had to walk. I knew this was bound to happen. But me a couple of years ago would be so disheartened. But this time, I was just glad I was out, doing what I love the most and taking in the scenery. I don’t know who has had a baby and then just goes out and runs 5km for their first run back. What a looney tune I am. It was never planned it, but I just didn’t want it to end. The realisation that I would go back to a screaming newborn was in the back of my head. I thought... The more endorphins I released. The more patience I would possess. It worked. Let me tell you that!
After doing this. I thought hell, I fancy getting some bling on the go to start my new season of running without a bump! So I signed me and my friend Lizzy up to the MK5K. Milton Keynes, my cousin lives there. It’s not to far, with a fair entry price to. What did I have to lose?
Race day came round very fast. I recorded 30 running miles for February. Running no less than 5ks. My times improving ever so slightly and my lungs conforming to the pressure and consistency. However... I only clocked up 9.8 miles in March, with my first run back being the 21st. I had taken a month off. Back to square one again. Sad face. I’ll never forget what my father in law said as I came back from a sweaty run, claiming that I hope to be as fast as I once was. He said, “Nicole. For Christ sake. Your body has been through a lot, it’s birthed you beautiful daughter. It’s utterly incredible. You’ll get faster again in time”. Nice words. Nice words.
From the 21st February, I gained the flu. Really badly. I was KO’d for at least a week and half. It was horrific. Just as I thought I was feeling better. BAM. I felt crappy again. But the MK5K was 11th March you say, how did you not run till 21st?... but you put a race photo up with a medal. Huh?
And here we go, these are my confessions. *Breaks into the Usher song:
Just when I thought I said all I could say
My chick on the side said she got one on the wayThese are my confessions. * No Coley. Concentrate. Right sorry.
Race morning came. I woke up and stayed awake with my daughter from 3am. I was dressed and rearing to go. If I could go out after 5 and half weeks after giving birth and complete a 5km in a reasonably good time, then what makes it any different if I had again, not ran for a period of time... hell yeah. I got this, well kinda . Let’s wing it.
Lizzy came. I kissed my daughter goodbye and we were on the road. The run was due to start at 9:30 I believe... we left at 8:50 due to me having some pre race digestion issues . Me and Lizzy really underestimated the time it would take to get to Milton Keynes. The sat nav was even saying we’d arrive at 9:15. So we were cutting it really fine. We arrived at 9:20! Due to some congested traffic. As we pulled in after looking for a parking place. I was like. “Lizzy, my stomach hurts so much.”. Ie... the runners trots were back with a vengeance. After announcing that I was gonna have to have to have a poo at the front of lizzys car. The car parking attendant let me use his porta loo( trust me you lose all dignity after giving birth. You do not care!) But I literally had to say, “I’m actually about to poo myself, mate” for him to swiftly unlock the door and say “ do you need any wet wipes!” Hahahaha. Good man. We’d drove out of our parking spot. Because I literally couldn’t walk, I was in so much pain.
After I relived myself, we got back into the car. It was now officially our race time. As Lizzy pulled into a spot. She clipped a woman’s car with her windmirror and it just so happen said owner of the car was casually sitting in the drivers seat. Holy shit. Busteddddddd.
She got out. Lizzy was so apologetic. “I wouldn’t mind” she said, “but the cars only 3 days old!” double shit.
On another note, could this have happened at a more inconvenient time! Hahaha. After details exchanged. Said woman realised that she was parked over two spots, so then quickly thought ahhh maybe I was in the wrong and said, “don’t worry about it Lizzy. I’m sure it will buff out!”
Ha. Win, win! And thank God for people who cannot park correctly.
After this, we ran down. Not being able to find the start. I’m not going to lie to you the start was at least a mile away from the race village. I was knackered before we got there. By this time runners for the half were making their way down.
We asked this gent. Literally right before they set the half people off. “Mate, can we go with these. We’re really late. But we still want to run.” “No sorry guys. The timing mat only operates for the 5km at that specific time.
Extra sad face... bottom lip worthy. So me and Lizzy walked the mile back, joking about everything that could of went wrong which did. Then... we thought. Well we’ve made the journey. We’ll go watch the finish line for a bit. Or try slip in towards the end and run a little. We payed the money to run. So. Yolo. We walked past the finishing mat ever so slightly and then the present over the tannoy shouted “Well Done to Nicole McClelland on completing the race!”
What the actually Fuuuuuuu?
Me and Lizzy were in stitches. To the point, I seen the marshalls giving out the medals and went up to them like, “I’m so sorry. We ran across the line and were that elated to finish, we ran straight past and forgot our medals”. What made it worse is that we actually approached a vulnerable 10 year old in doing so to explain this.
We were quickly given our race medal. Me and Lizzy still in hysterics. Well that was the easiest run I’ve never had to do before! I even got me bling and it was very nice bling too infact. Me and Lizzy further proceeded to take a ‘post race’ selfie and went along with the fact we actually did run this event. However, I did look at my chip time for bare bantz and unfortunately it was empty. Therefore, we didn’t quite fool the chip time company!
So there you have it. A little white lie told. I was completely gutted that I couldn’t race this, as it actually looked really well organised and full of support. Maybe next year MK! Me and Lizzy vowed from that moment on to actually leave a little bit earlier than we planned because both of us are crap with time. Ooo and we also lost the car parking ticket upon leaving too. Feeeer fuuuey sake. We’re useless.
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