By my latest testing, it seems that my running LT has dropped from about 169 to 160 since I had my first baby 9 months ago. Has anyone else experienced this (or has a mate that has)? Wondering if it might be my not-so-accurate testing…?
-DMG
Well my son is now nearly 7 months and my wife agrees from the stats that my LT has not moved.
I’m getting tested this Friday, my girl’s just 1 year new, so I’ll let you know. I suspect it’s dropped. Keep in mind that running is probably the toughest part to bounce back post-partum (as opposed to swimming or cycling). Are you still breastfeeding?
AP
I look forward to hearing if/how your LT has changed. Yes, still breastfeeding, but down to only once a day. (She could care less, but I’m trying to keep pumping some of my immunity into her through the winter, especially because she goes to a large babysitting program at the Y three day a week while I swim.) My PT actually mentioned this to me a couple of years back–endurance athletes can actually benefit from pregnancy because of the increase in oygen that is carried through the blood due to increased demand from the fetus. (Well he said it in a much more scientific manner than that!) Sorry guys! (Also a great rationalization to skip workouts during pregnancy, telling myself “Well, just being pregnant I’m getting in shape.” That is only believable until you ahve to hop on the scale.)
-DMG
Yeah your VO2Max should be higher than before. I’ll be getting that checked on Fri too, hoping it’s at least where it was 2 1/2 yrs ago, if not higher.
My oxygen uptake definitely feels better, but who knows. I’ll find out soon enough.
My unscientific perception says that my LT for running is about now the same as it was just before getting pregnant (completed a marathon about 2 weeks before conception), but I know I still have room for improvement there. I can feel that the muscular strength in the legs is almost 100% of pre-pregnancy, but that it took the longest to come back (cycling and swimming strength all came back faster, far far faster). Doing squats helped. 
So the results are in, and my VO2Max is higher. Not much, but I am still in the dying throes of a cold ;-).
My O2 volume per breath (not normalized by my weight) is 150mL higher, up at 2800mL/min. My Max HR on the bike is up to 180 (from 172). And my LTHR was 145, is now 153. Granted this was a cycle test, not a treadmill test. But I hope that helps.
On the “I don’t know if that’s good or not” side, my body fat was measured to be 22%. I haven’t had my BF measured since I was, oh, 23 and a real chunky pants (it was 30% then). 22% appears to be on the high end, but the test results were very positive. I know I fit all my old clothes, maybe just need to drop those last 5lbs
Any other ladies out there have some data to compare? How “chunky” am I? Considering my strength to date has been short course/sprints/track, and am moving towards longer events. What’s a good target?
AP