Having a baby does some funny things to you (and your body)...

Yes, we're all familiar with the usual things that people talk about, like how it makes you feel like you have to go to the bathroom all of the time, or how your belly button just keeps getting more and more shallow the closer you get to being full term. However, no one told me about something that happened to me last night.

Arya is 2 1/2 months old and last night I decided to give running another shot. I haven't been running since July 19, 2005, so that's nearly 11 months. I remember the date because my cousin got married on July 22 last year and the Tuesday before his wedding, Rajeev and I went running and did 7 miles. We were still planning on trying to run the Chicago marathon at that point, and we were attempting to stay on track with training. But when we finished the 7 miles I threw up. I thought I'd just pushed too hard or run too fast, but it turns out I was experiencing the first of a long bout with morning (or rather all-day) sickness.

Anyway, morning sickness lasted a long time and I gave up on trying to train for Chicago. Then, as my belly got larger, running seemed even less appealing. Then Arya was born and life became pretty busy. And that brings me to yesterday when I finally decided the time had come to give running another try.

So, I put on my shoes and found some running clothes that still fit, and headed out the door. I didn't expect much, but I actually made it all the way around the block, which is about 2 miles. I was tired by the end but actually felt okay. The surprise came later that night and this morning though. I was expecting some sore muscles - legs/calves/thighs, etc. But guess what was the most sore? My lower abdomen. What in the world? They tell you that your stomach muscles get stretched out and lose their tone when you are pregnant, but I didn't realize the extent to which they were talking about. I mean, I never expected (or realized) that apparently my muscles are now completely missing from my abdomen. (I don't remember having them removed.) But how else can you explain the fact that running makes your stomach muscles more sore than your legs? Maybe I'm the only person this has ever happened to and right now you're all laughing about what an odd person I must be. However, I'll choose to believe that this is just another secret post-pregnancy side affect that no one talks about and just be proud of myself for actually giving running another try even if I am slow and muscle-less. :)