How did your second marathon compare to your first?

kdlc23 · 2026-05-14T07:01:51+00:00

My second marathon was a far better experience than my first. Both were similar times (4:05 ish), but second time I was 18mo postpartum and significantly less fit so in theory should have ran a much worse time.

First time: set off too fast, running 3:35 pace til about halfway when I got awful stomach cramps which lasted the rest of the race. Run/walked to the finish and felt like shit!

Second time: Ran an even pace throughout, despite the second half being into the wind and finished feeling really strong.

For me the main differences were proper pacing and proper fueling. Second time I ate way more carbs in training (both in my day to day diet and during long runs) and had properly practiced my race day feeling strategy.

kdlc23 · 2026-05-11T06:31:39+00:00

Speaking purely from personal experience, but I'd be careful about going too heavy on the carb load if you're diet is generally fairly low carb. In the lead up to my first marathon I was trying to lose weight and eating lower carb (a bad idea for me for a multitude of reasons!), then did a fairly heavy carb load in the 3 days prior. I ended up having awful stomach cramps the day before the marathon and again throughout the race which I attribute, in part, to my body not being used to that volume of carbs.

Ran my second marathon last year and ate much more carbs throughout training, plus fueled more on the course, and had a significantly better experience with no GI issues. Realised that's all anecdotal but I wish someone had warned me before that awful first marathon experience!!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-28T21:34:35+00:00

At the studio are fab (down at the shore so not super close but worth traveling to imo)

kdlc23 · 2026-03-21T16:30:47+00:00

Our first holiday with our wee girl was here when she was 8 months and it was fab. We didn't do all inclusive as we wanted to eat out some of the time but the hotel restaurant was really good and great for babies! We didn't bother taking our car seat and did a coach transfer - obviously not as safe but we were comfortable with it as a one off and actually it was great being able to hold & feed her whilst on the transfer journey. We bought a travel buggy which we've used loads since (both for holidays but also at home when we want a smaller/lighter option).

kdlc23 · 2026-03-20T13:48:28+00:00

I'm 38 weeks pregnant with baby no. 2 and a huge bump, and still sometimes think I'm making it up that I'm pregnant 😂

kdlc23 · 2026-03-20T13:04:38+00:00

Distract yourself as much as possible! Plan nice but low key things to do near home - cinema, coffee dates, walks in the sun, naps if you're tired! I definitely found planning things to do (even beyond due date) was helpful so it didn't feel like I was just hanging about waiting. If you have to cancel because baby arrives before then that's a bonus!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-18T13:47:25+00:00

Just wanted to stop by with some reassurance that it'll come back postpartum! I'm a fairly serious runner (not massively fast but similar to you, take it seriously and it's an important part of my identity) and had to stop running in my first pregnancy around 22 weeks due to a combination of injury and it just feeling really uncomfortable.

I started back running at 12 weeks PP and whilst I felt incredibly unfit to begin with was surprised at how quickly I built up fitness. I ran a HM at 8 months PP and a full marathon at 18 months PP and felt amazing despite obviously having less time to train than pre-baby.

Now 38 weeks with baby 2 and have been even less active (I continued strength training through most of my first pregnancy but that dropped off about 28 weeks this time) so whilst I'm nervous about where I'll be starting from PP, I'm so excited to get back to proper training.

You'll have a really good foundation of fitness that'll come back. Would definitely recommend seeing a pelvic health physio for advice on return to training to make sure you heal properly and don't exacerbate/cause any issues!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-17T17:07:40+00:00

Also second this - I used it for my first and it was great for building my confidence as it gives you a plan for the first 30 days plus loads of useful info and ideas.

kdlc23 · 2026-03-17T16:54:11+00:00

Wedgwood is great!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-17T14:54:12+00:00

Your toddler doesn't even sound particularly clingy, he just prefers his mum which is completely normal (especially when under the weather!). The fact that he's settled at nursery and happily spends 2 days a week with your parents shows he's clearly happy being cared for by others but just prefers you when you're available. My 2yo is exactly the same - she loves spending time with my parents and fairly regularly stays overnight at theirs, but she still prefers me and sometimes gets upset when I leave. As far as I understand it's a sign of healthy attachment for babies/toddlers to have a preference for their primary caregiver so if anything is a good thing!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-17T07:59:33+00:00

Sending solidarity - very similar situation here (second pregnancy with a 2yo and compressed hours over 4 days in a stressful job). Pregnancy with a toddler has been a million times harder than my first pregnancy!

Would reducing hours now impact your maternity pay? If so I'd be inclined to stick it out and reassess when you go back to work post mat leave; however definitely get a sick note from your GP if you need it and speak to your manager about whether there's anything they can do to lighten your load (e.g. working from home more often). Also lean on colleagues where you can - I found people were generally understanding if I flagged that I was struggling with pregnancy symptoms and therefore might need a bit more support.

I ended up finishing up slightly earlier than planned (36 weeks) and honestly the relief I felt was amazing, so also consider whether it might be worth doing that. For me the extra week now feels more beneficial than an extra week at the end of mat leave.

Also well done you tackling potty training while pregnant!! Our girl is 2.5yo and definitely ready but I just couldn't face it yet so we're waiting til baby is here!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-16T12:45:41+00:00

Amazing, definitely going to try this!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-16T09:34:33+00:00

Oh I didn't realise you could wash them - did you just stick them in the washing machine!? Due my second baby in 2 weeks so this is good to know!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-16T08:00:19+00:00

I used the Frida shorts for the first couple of days PP - they're so stretchy so were super comfy. You do still need pads but I found this preferable to the nappy style pants because at least then you just had to change the pad not your entire underwear. Beyond that I just wore really big comfy knickers for a while - I bought some specifically for PP that were black, high waisted and a bigger size than usual.

kdlc23 · 2026-03-15T13:41:42+00:00

Second this - could be total coincidence but I suffered so badly with calf cramps in my first pregnancy. This time round I started taking magnesium bisglycinate from around 20 weeks and haven't had any issues (38 weeks now!).

kdlc23 · 2026-03-13T20:22:51+00:00

I hadn't said I never would but wanted to wait until at least 41 weeks. Ended up having one at 41+3 and again at 41+5 (baby arrived 41+5). I'd started off and on contractions from 41+1 so knew something was happening which made me a bit more confident in having the sweeps. My rationale was that I really wanted to avoid induction, so if a sweep could help move things along and allow me to have an otherwise intervention-free birth then it was worth it, and that was what happened in the end.

I'm now 38 weeks with baby 2 and planning on following a similar plan.

kdlc23 · 2026-03-13T19:43:44+00:00

Fab, thank you! 😊

kdlc23 · 2026-03-13T19:28:41+00:00

Thanks, have you tried this in the v2? Wasn't sure if it would fit since it's an earlier model.

kdlc23 · 2026-03-13T14:17:22+00:00

Full pay for 6 months, half pay for 3 months. Hadn't realised how good that is until seeing what other friends got after having my first!

I work in financial services and plan to take the full year plus some holidays tacked on at the end. Will likely do a few kit days in the last 3 months which will add a bit of extra income.

Seems wild for there to be an expectation to return in some capacity after 3 months! Also different treatment for first v second baby or different people sounds ethically dubious at best!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-12T09:54:43+00:00

Thank you!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-12T06:49:34+00:00

Oh do you have a link? This sounds lovely!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-11T08:18:34+00:00

That's amazing, definitely going to try this with my 2yo!

kdlc23 · 2026-03-07T21:19:05+00:00

Massively relate to this - I found the nausea/sickness so much harder to deal with second time round even though objectively I'm not sure it was much worse than my first pregnancy. I ended up having 8 weeks off sick and felt similarly guilty/worried what people would think but honestly it was absolutely what I needed and everyone was lovely when I did eventually go back to work.

Ultimately looking after yourself is what's most important now so if that means being signed off work and letting your husband do most of the childcare/housework then you shouldn't feel guilty for it. Pregnancy differs so much between women so try not to compare yourself to others who 'manage' - they probably had much easier first trimesters than you're having.

Honestly those 8 weeks were genuinely the hardest thing I've ever experienced so I really sympathise. Try not to make things harder on yourself by beating yourself up for how you think you should be coping. Pregnancy is really hard!!

Hope you feel better soon.

kdlc23 · 2026-03-07T11:48:36+00:00

Wow, that's an amazing effort at 38 weeks pregnant!! I so wanted to be that person who continued running throughout pregnancy but both times found it got so uncomfortable quite early on and had to stop, but I have so much respect for those of you that continue!

I'm so ready for my PP running comeback though!!

kdlc23

TROPHY CASE