In partnership with Stayfree.
I turn 37 in 10 days and I just ran my fourth half marathon in the last four years. If someone told me I would be in the best shape of my life at this age, I would have laughed in my twenties – when I was skinny, wrinkle-free and totally innocent to the aging process.
As moms, we put our bodies through a lot! From childbirth to bouncing our bodies back to pre-birth shape and finding a regime to that keeps us looking and feeling good (as I type this out at 5am while everyone sleeps)!
That’s why I had to find something that was going to help me be a little less embarrassed about the walk of shame.
It’s not the walk of shame you’re thinking of – it’s the wet “I peed my pants” walk of shame. The same one my son in kindergarten could potentially endure. But that’s what happens with the gift of children. Your large busty breasts full of milk turn to drained sacks, and you pee yourself. A lot.
I remember the first time it happened to me.
I was just trying to get back in shape after having Max and a few friends asked me to join a fitness dance class, which was all the rage in NYC at the time.
There was a LOT of jumping and raising the roof. Unfortunately, you can’t just run out of class when you realize you’re– YEP! – dripping down there. When the F did that happen???? Embarrassingly after class, I said, “I have to pee!” and ran out before anyone got to the locker rooms. I tried to dry off with the hand dryer (A fun visual: Trying to hoist yourself, and your crotch, up to a wall dryer higher than the counter).
Since then, I never went back to that class. It wasn’t an option for me.
Until now.
Except – the peeing still happens. In fact, at the Pittsburgh Marathon this weekend I was waiting SO LONG at the start line that I actually started the race having to pee. This is NEVER a good scenario. You have a personal record in mind, your body is trained, well-oiled and you’re ready to take off. All of this only to have your mind focusing on where you’ll find the closest port-o-john with the shortest line.
Yes, this is me standing in line for the port-o-potty at 6am in Market Square waiting take my little friend on a run with me for 13.1 miles
It sucks. It drains all of your willpower from focusing on the race and changes it to focusing on not PEEING yourself.
Well, this time Stayfree Ultra Thin Pads with All-In-One protection saved the day! About a week prior, I was introduced to the new pad made with two different types of materials to shield against both periods and leaks. It’s thin, but is designed for those, shall we say, gushes? So many women just use a period pad (which is NOT built to hold pee) when they really need a solution for light bladder leakage (LBL). Now you get it all in one with Stayfree! If you’re a mom you know what I am talking about and you’re like, “THIS IS LIFE CHANGING.”
If you’re 20, you might not understand LBL or this might embarrass you. But once you bear a child, you’ll know what I’m talking about – and this is something that should BE discussed. Because it happens!
Anyways, at about mile 4.5 I felt it. I couldn’t deny it anymore! Luckily Stayfree Ultra Thin Pads with All-In-One protection were there to get me through the 9 more miles ahead. Plus, my friends were there to cheer me on! I wasn’t the only one who had to pee, and we made a team effort to make a pit stop at mile 5.5 to hit the ports quickly.
Clearly at 37, my body is in great shape – I finished that race at 2:13 with TWO stops (we had to quickly say hi to some cute babies)! Also, I paced with my friends! So I know if I had run at full speed, I would have completed the 13.1 miles in 2 hours or less.
So thank you Stayfree Ultra Thin Pads with All-In-One protection, for being there for me every step of those two hours. And for every mile that is still ahead of me. Sometimes you need a friend to get you through. Whether it’s a girlfriend by your side, or a little secret in your leggings.
