Despatches from a mother who started late (and is running to catch up)

Coming soon to a park near you....

Have joined a local exercise class that gets a group of new mums running round the park pushing their babies in buggies as they go. There's nothing like that shared sense of us all experiencing the same pelvic sagginess that the classes are designed to correct. In full formation we make quite a sight. As you might imagine, there's no shortage of comments from passers-by, almost all supportive, if also amused. "Holidays are over, girls," shouted one old lady to us, giggling as we trundled past. Another shook her head as she saw us, turned to her dog, then said: "You couldn't make this up." Someone else yelled over: "Well done!" and I wanted to hug her. New daughter (blog name yet to be decided) was delighted with the entertainment provided and grinned her appreciation at me from her cocoon. When all the mothers lay down on their waterproof mats for floor exercises she became a little fretful, obviously worried the power-walkers had taken mummy hostage, since I was out of sight to her up in the buggy. But she settled again quickly when I took her down from her buggy onto the picnic blanket with me. This is one of the areas where a class like this scores so highly - you can combine it with childcare, no need to arrange babysitting or beg a partner to watch the baby. It's obviously weather-dependent and classes are sometimes rained off (though the instructor was saying they'd been out in Edinburgh's January snow a week earlier) but people get round cold weather by running in gloves, hats, thermals and even leg-warmers. Theoretically, I could save money by running around the park on my own with daughter and buggy and get the same benefits, but I wouldn't have the nerve to do it alone and, in any case, it's more fun with other people. Edinburgh park-goers - you have been warned.

Posted 14 January 2009 16:55

Activities Mother Edinburgh Fun Out and about

Comments

Trish said:

Oh do try to take a photo it must be a sight to behold !! well done all of you it will be much better when warmer if that ever happens.

Trish

Posted 14 January 2009 19:32

guineapigmum said:

Running is so much better with other people! It's much more difficult to find an excuse not to go if you're meeting someone. After you've been for a few weeks, you will have to go and see the film "Yes man".

Posted 14 January 2009 20:18

potty mummy said:

Good luck, and well done for doing it. I never had the nerve - mind you, since my nearest park is Holland Park I probably would have been surrounded by size 10 yummies bemoaning their pregnancy weight gain and would have wanted to go home and top myself...

Posted 14 January 2009 20:56

iota said:

What a great idea. I'm glad to hear you have the energy to do it!

Posted 14 January 2009 21:46

Coding Mamma said:

My daughter behaves much better for everyone who is not me. Possibly because I tend toward being a big softy, and have trouble being consistent about what I'll let go and what I'll insist on. Can't give you any tips for how long it will last, as mine is only two and a half. I imagine, if you can bring yourself to be consistent about what you're happy to allow her the choice on and what you won't budge on, she'll probably get bored with it after a short while.

Posted 14 January 2009 22:42

Coding Mamma said:

Woops! That was a comment from elsewhere. Sorry. Feel free to delete it.

What I had said, but was somehow lost was that I used to see a group of mums doing this in the park on the way to my daughter's swimming class. I was always very impressed that anyone could muster the energy to do such a thing so soon after giving birth. Wish I'd known about them in my post-pregnancy days. They're such a fantastic idea.

Hope you continue to enjoy it!

Posted 14 January 2009 22:46

Christine said:

I meant to say, on my last comment, that it's fantastic you're well & mobile enough now to be running! (For some reason I couldn't load your blog up yesterday to post this).

Posted 16 January 2009 10:21