S.O.B.

Shortness of breath.  It’s a term we use often in the healthcare arena to refer to a plethora of patients with health conditions rendering breathing difficult and laborious.  There is a new category with whom this term can be widely used and that is mothers attempting their first jogs after having a baby.  I’ve never been an elite runner but I do have one marathon under my belt and make the 2.2 mile course around my subdivision a regular part of my exercise routine.  Or made it a routine until the birth of my third child, sweet Gabriel.    With each child it has taken me slightly longer to return to my regular jogs and I’m happy to announce that after 5 months I am finally ready to lace up those running shoes again.  Being a physical therapist I know the importance of a gradual return to activity so I started with a walk/run around my usual path with Gabe (a feather-light 15 pounds in the jogging stroller).  After a  few attempts I was able to make the jog easily without stopping to walk.  The adrenaline rush felt great and did wonders for my ego.  Last weekend I decided to take the two older kids out for a jog so I loaded their combined 60+ pounds in the double jogging stroller and off we set.  As I began the jog I explained to them the importance of exercising regularly.  “Why?” Tyler asked.  Shocking.  “Well buddy, it’s good for your heart,” I said, my breathing growing labored after only a block.  “Why, Mom?” he asked again.  “Well, (huff, huff) when you run (puff, puff) you make (huff, huff) your heart (huff, puff) beat faster (huff, huff, huff) which makes it (huff, huff, puff, puff) stronger.  “What, Mom?” Madelyn asked.  Apparently with all the huffing and puffing she could not hear the answer.  I’ll try another approach.  Deep breath…….”Whenyourunyourheartbeatsfastwhichmakesitstronger” (HUFF,HUFF,HUFF,HUFF!) “What?” they both ask in unison.  “NO MORE TALKING!” I bark out, my heart pounding in my chest, my lungs on fire, my self esteem bruised.  I am two blocks from home.