Oct 28 2011
BLOG POST: Giving Birth is like Running a Marathon
We runners know well that running races and especially marathons prepare us well for birth and motherhood. We might dream of being pregnant and giving birth and might imagine how it will happen. And we all at some point, imagine how that perfect race will go too. We can do all the training and research and everything right but we never know quite how it will all unfold.
Some of us are born runners and have it in our blood. And some of us get there through tougher circumstances like via lifestyle changes and weight loss. I’ve been lucky to get to the start line of child birth twice. And like running, I trained and prepared for what might lie ahead not having a choice this time for what “race” I would run in, just happy to be entered and running.
In running, I’ve arrived on race day to run races in the rain and mud, icy-cold of snow and in perfect conditions where everything aligned perfectly. I have run feeling fantastic and Ive had days where despite how I trained, plans did not end as I’d hoped.
And the first time I ran in the race of childbirth, I was given a “race plan” and that went mostly as expected with twins and one baby transverse. But I was left unprepared with how much my body had to recover and how little time I had to do it.
My second “race”, I trained for a marathon to be prepared and hoped for a fantastic finish. But as the race continued, I came to realize this race would be far longer than I had ever imagined or knew possible. And I met some quite perilous obstacles towards the end. I took some unexpected detours to make it to the finish line but arrived in my own allotted time safe, sound and healthy. Like race days that don’t go as planned, it is tough to accept that difficulties occurred and things happened that I could not have changed. I think those that get the opportunity to run the race they wanted should cherish it because everyone is given a different race plan. And those that didn’t should understand that some things are beyond all of our plans. And when we are able to get to the finish line? It is indescribable in a wondrous way. And we are lucky to have a new journey and race awaiting us.
