After having two kids, Sheree was ready to get back into running long distances. With her sights set on a half marathon, Sheree enlisted Chris as her Coach to help her gradually build up her distance and speed, and keep her accountable to her training. Now she’s set herself another challenge – to run 2020km in 2020 – and she wants others to join in! Here is her runner story…
I’ve always enjoyed running. At the age of six, I won my first school cross-country, and you could say this was the start of my ‘’running career’’. I ran track and field through high school, getting to state level. I loved the freedom of running. I loved that my mind would just wonder on long runs, but also loved the training I did through school and the thrill of competitive running.
When I finished school, and no longer had the structure of school training and competition, my running definitely took a dip. I continued running more for enjoyment than competition, and dabbled in the odd fun run, but nothing serious. Through university years and into my twenties I started doing longer runs and realised that I was definitely built for endurance rather than speed.
I completed numerous half marathons and in 2013 completed my first full marathon., then in 2014 I became pregnant with my first child. While I stayed very active during pregnancy, I had experienced an early miscarriage only a couple of months prior and was nervous about running. Many women can continue running during pregnancy if it’s something they previously were doing, but for me it didn’t feel right and I had to listen to my body. I had a natural delivery with no complications.
Approximately 10 weeks after Asher was born I went on my first very short run – more like a run/walk. I eased back into running further over the coming months, but admit it was difficult finding the time and energy to run for several months after.
My first fun run back was the Run for the Kids in April 2016 and that was probably the longest run I did before becoming pregnant again eight months later.
Fast forward to October 2017 – two kids later and not a whole lot of running over the past three years! HELP!!
The current recommendations for returning to running after having a baby are waiting 12 weeks and then a gradual return, especially considering I’d had so much time off running during pregnancy. I returned to walking and Pilates, and at three months began some very gentle run/walking.
With two children, it was a real juggle finding the time to run. For several months all I would manage was one to two runs during the week, and a far cry from running half or full marathons where I used to be. I did enjoy doing the odd 5km parkrun but had a thirst to run another half marathon. I was far off being able to run much more than 5-10km though so enlisted the help of coach Chris.
What I loved so much about Chris’s coaching was that he started off very gradually and eased me back into both distance and speed work. I loved the accountability, and the fact that having a program meant I actually did interval training, fartlek and speed work which I would never make myself do alone. He accounted for my busy schedule and also adapted my program when I complained of odd niggles. One thing I know about myself, is I’m definitely a fair-weather runner.
I trained well up until the Great Ocean Road half-marathon in 2019, scoring a half marathon PB!! However, after that success, I became lazy again over winter. I’m pretty good at making excuses up, so in 2020 I’ve decided to set myself a goal for the year – one that will hopefully make me accountable to running throughout the year!
My goal is to run 2020km in 2020. That’s just under 40km a week, which is very achievable on a good week, but will hopefully push me to keep running even when I don’t feel like it and through winter. I hope I can motivate some of the awesome GoRun community or some of my clients at work to join my challenge as well. The more the merrier!
Sheree is a Founding Director and Physiotherapist at Port Melbourne Physiotherapy and Pilates. We thank her for sharing her story!