training for London Marathon after giving birth?

[kiltedsheep]

Hello!

This might be completely mad (I suspect it is), but I was wondering how feasible it might be to keep my London Marathon entry given that I'm due to have my first baby on the 11th of September.

To explain further, I was successful in the general ballot for the 2015 marathon, but I stopped training as soon as I realised that I was up the duff in January and withdrew. It turns out that in those circumstances I still get an 'Ill or Injured' entry for the 2016 marathon, and I have until the 20th of this month to decide whether to go for it (and pay the entry fee).

As further background, I ran a half-marathon in 2014 but have never run a marathon before. I've always wanted to have a go at the London Marathon. I would've considered myself reasonably fit 7 months ago and regularly ran around 8-9 miles a few times a week, but that's a long way off 26.2 miles! And in the past 6 months I've been too exhausted to do any exercise. At the moment I can barely get up the stairs without stopping for a break due to the demands of my increasingly blimp-like bump.

I do intend to try and breastfeed when the baby's born, which will probably make going on long runs rather unfeasible...?

Does anyone have any experience of this sort of thing?

Am I bonkers to even consider doing this???

[MrsMook]

Following Ds2 I started C25k at 7m and did a half marathon within a year. I was finally moving properly after SPD so took it slowly, and there were lulls.

I should think that it's possible in 6 months, particularly if your target is to complete rather than for performance. There are programmes that build up from 30 mins running in. 4 months. If you're able to start a C25k programme soon after birth, you should be fine.

A running buggy could be a worthwhile investment. There are nursing sports bras too.

[AnyoneForTennis]

Don't throw away the chance! Pay the fee and see what happens

I ran it this year, it was amazing. After the training running the actual marathon was easy

[oneowlgirl]

I agree - pay the fee to keep your options open & see what happens.

[kiltedsheep]

Thanks guys! I think I'll go for it. At the very least, knowing that I have the entry might give me more impetus to try and get fit again after popping the baby out.

I didn't even know that running buggies existed - or that there are nursing sports bras. I'll check them out.

[pootlebug]

It depends how much the entry fee is - if you are happy to write it off if you're in no fit state, then I'd go ahead and keep your options open.

But I think you really need to wait to see how you feel. Sleep deprivation can be a killer in terms of feasibility to exercise….you might get a great sleeper, you might get a crap one. However keen you are, you should take things very easy in the 4-8 weeks post birth, whilst your pelvic floor, abdominals etc start to recover. Breastfeeding takes up a lot of energy and can make distance exercise hard too.

But given how hard it is to get a place nowadays, I would want to keep options open. But just be aware that you might need to drop out to keep your sanity, and don't put too much pressure on yourself.