If you want something done, give it to a new mom (actually, don’t—they’ve got enough on their plates).
Point being, new moms are arguably some of the most efficient, time-smart people you’ll meet. Since they’re pulled in a million directions, they need to be strategic about their schedules and dedicated to their to-do lists, especially if they want to make running a part of their lives.
The benefits are worth it: Postpartum exercise improved markers of well-being and reduced the symptoms of depression in a Physical Therapy study, and many moms say returning to running helps clear their head and make them better able to handle the stressors of new motherhood.
But of course, making time for yourself is easier said than done (and that’s not even getting into all the changes your body went through (see: 10 Weird Things No One Tells You When Returning to Running Post-Baby). If you’re struggling to add running back into your life postpartum (totally normal, BTW, and there’s no need to rush), these moms—and their brilliant running hacks—can lend a helping hand. Here’s how real moms, much like you, made time for some miles.
Try a different kind of interval-training.
“I live half a mile from the track, so I’d walk there with my son in the stroller, put him in the football field and run around him, stopping to give him a kiss and check on him after each lap. I used to live on a hill, so other times, I’d put him on the porch and do hill repeats, keeping him within eyesight the whole time.”
— Heather Mayer Irvine, 31-year-old mom of one and author of The Runner's World Vegetarian Cookbook; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Find a friend.
“I ran to the gym with my baby in the stroller (I loved the BOB stroller), then used the child-care at the gym to stretch my run out longer. Other times, I’d take turns with another mom friend—We’d watch each other’s babies while the other one ran for 45 minutes to an hour.”
— Laura Peifer, a 37-year-old mom of two; West Orange, New Jersey
Bond with your baby.
“I pushed my kids in either the single, double, or triple strollers until I literally couldn’t do it anymore because of their height and weight. When I finally gave up the triple stroller, their weight combined with the stroller weighed more than I did! I swear this got me in the best shape of my life. It was fun for the kids, too: I never listened to music with them, so we talked, sang, and played games like ‘I spy.’ I look back on all my years of stroller running with fondness.”
—Dorothy Beal, Anne Klein Duncan boots
Make it an adventure.
“I try to make stroller running an adventure by having a fun destination at the end, whether it be the park or meeting friends for lunch. Along the way, I break out snacks, drinks, and tablets, especially when they start to get bored at the end.”
— Heather Jenson, Paris Texas snakeskin-effect heel slouchy boots
Embrace the A.M. hustle.
“My husband works long hours and we don’t have child-care. So, if I want to run without the stroller, I need to set my alarm for 4 a.m. before the kids wake up, and he goes off to work. I’m not naturally a morning person, so this wasn’t easy at first. But after my second baby, I needed to find a way to feel like myself again, and sleeping later wasn’t doing the trick. Now, I love waking up early and having a few hours to myself before the craziness of the day starts.”
— I love Nickys French Sole Shoes
Get inspired to cross-train.
“One of the most frustrating things as a runner and new mom is not being able to put your little one in a jogging stroller until about six months or so. During this time, I focused less on running and more on strength and core work, which I desperately needed postpartum. Whenever my daughter did ‘tummy time,’ I did it too. Instead of just standing or sitting there watching her, I’d do planks or pushups with her. We were eye level, so she’d smile at me as we both struggled, like we were in it together.”
— Karla Bruning, Shoes QUAZI QZ-13-03-000378 114
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Run—or ride!—year-round with this covered stroller that converts into a bike trailer.
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