Today I’m going to have some real talk about how hard it is to get back into running after having a baby (not running after your baby which I’m doing plenty of too), and how Intel SMS Audio Biosport Earbuds are the coolest invention I’ve purchased in a long time and are helping me do heart rate training for an undecided race later this Spring. Say bye bye chest strap and hello one-device workout accessory for ultimate comfort!
Running after a baby – where to even begin… Everyone out there who ran before having a baby and ran after having a baby understands what I’m talking about. Typically doctors advise you to wait a month after giving birth to run (longer if you had a c-section) – although you always need to get the okay from your doctor before resuming cardio exercise.
As someone who was an avid runner prior to pregnancy I thought running post-pregnancy would be fine. I would just have to start training slowly and certainly after a few months I would be ready to go for running a 10k or maybe even a half marathon.
I was wrong.
The first time I ran after having a baby everything felt weird. I don’t think there is a way to describe it, I think you just have to experience this type of weird. Everything was out of place. My hips felt twice as wide as the last time I ran. Other areas felt disproportionate. I had little to no endurance. And basically I didn’t go far. Over the course of the next few months I attempted to run several times, until I gave up completely.
Fast forward to 9 months and I’ve started running again. Things feel less out of place and it actually doesn’t feel weird at all to run now (so yes women who recently had babies, you will go back to normal-ish). However, I still have no endurance and can’t run for long at all. I’ve made it my goal to get back into shape and to sign up for a late spring half marathon.
Training for a half marathon is clearly difficult when you have a hard time running at all. My husband is a big fan of heart rate training for running and suggested I try it as a way to get back into running. According to him, the reason I can’t run long distances now isn’t because I don’t have the strength in my legs, but because my heart needs to build up strength to be able to endure longer distances. I guess that kind of makes sense. Read more about heart rate training and running in this article.
What’s really turned me off to heart rate training before now is the typical heart rate monitor. My husband wears one that straps around his chest and it looks so uncomfortable. After one race he was bleeding where it rubbed against him. No thank you. I assumed all heart rate monitors were like that but thank goodness I was wrong, once again.
Enter into my life Intel SMS Audio Biosport Earbuds. They are high quality headphones that also work as a heart rate monitor. They come with three different sized gels to make sure they fit comfortably yet snuggly in your ear. These headphones have an ear-wing design for accurate heart-rate monitoring, charge themselves, and are sweat and water resistant. I find that most headphones I use fall out of my ears while running – these actually don’t,which is miraculous. I’ve never had nice headphones before so I didn’t even realize that the headphones that came with my phone have horrible sound quality until I heard the beauty that is the high quality audio with these earbuds. Not to mention, these earbuds look really cool. Not that that’s the most important thing but… it is important, at least now that I have them I think it is.
To use the earbuds make sure you select the right size gel and place them in your ear snuggly before you open the Runkeeper app {the earbuds come with a free month of Runkeeper Premium} or one of the many other fitness apps that SMS Biosport works with. Enter in your statistics and click on the heart within the Runkeeper app when you start tracking your run to connect the heart rate monitoring function of the headphones. From then on it will automatically track your heart rate when you open the app and have the earbuds in place. The number next to the red heart is your heart rate, and it will tell you in what category your heart rate falls at the time.
I was running on a treadmill when I took this screenshot if you are wondering why my distance/pace are so off.
If you are interested in heart rate training, first you need to figure out your maximum heart rate. There are multiple ways to do this from just calculating it based on your age and weight, or by actually running a pattern while tracking your heart rate. Once you figure out your maximum heart rate, you will want to formulate a training plan where you run at a certain percentage of your maximum heart rate There are many books and articles to help you figure out a training plan based on your heart rate and I highly recommend taking the time to study up before you formulate a heart rate training plan.
Has anyone else tried heart rate training for running? Or started running again after having a baby? What are your thoughts?
Girl, I hear ya! Both of my kiddos have been c-sections, and whoah, does it feel weird to work out post-partum! I was never a big runner before kids, I was a swimmer, but let's face it, I can't push a jogging stroller in the pool can I? Heart rate awareness is super important, and this looks like a cool device. Thanks for sharing!
I need to show these to my boys. They are going to get back into running and these would be great for them.
I want one Audio Biosport Earbuds so that I can train also.
These are pretty awesome and I wasn't aware of the whole heart rate training part. It definitely makes sense though and I'm going to get more information because I would like to start running in the future.
These look awesome! I have a heart rate monitor with a chest strap and it looses my heart rate at time. I may have to invest in these.
Earbuds with a heart rate monitor.. I didn't even know stuff like this existed. Thanks for sharing!
We have a pair of these and love how they replace multiple gadgets. Makes preparing for the run easier!
It's so hard to get back into running after taking a break, especially after having a baby! I use a strap when I monitor my heart to keep myself in fat burning zone, but it's distracting! I'll have to give this earbuds a try. Sounds awesome!
I'm glad it doesn't feel weird to run for you. I need to get a mix in my workout, I run on the treadmill most days and it's getting boring.
I haven't tried heart rate training yet, but am looking for new way to step up my game after my 3rd C-section. This Spring I am jumping back in. Thanks for the tips. #client
I ran right after I gave birth to my child, maybe just a few months after. I was experiencing post partum and thought running will be of help because I have used this as a stress reliever from work and it worked pretty well. It worked well as with post partum issues and I wouldnt have it any other way. I was happier and I know my baby can feel happiness too.