Whew! Well, it's officially been seven weeks since I gave birth to my son. It's also taken six weeks to collect my thoughts and be in the frame of mind to rationally present them to you, let alone think about hitting the pavement for my first post-partum run. For those of you who don't know, I chronicled my efforts to remain fit during my pregnancy with my bi-weekly column, Fit Pregnancy. Now, nine (ten) months later, I am challenged with getting back in shape.

I've gotten back in shape before, sure. There were those years when I ate a little too much, drank way too much and toyed with the idea of being a runner rather than really challenging myself. At one point I realized it was up to me to be as healthy as possible if I wanted to live a long, happy life. When I considered getting pregnant I knew inherently that for me, being fit would help me be a better mommy. During my pregnancy I did everything in my power to stay as healthy and mobile as possible.

The results? My son arrived right on his due date and in perfect health. I didn't develop any of the pregnancy nightmare conditions I'd read up on and been warned about. I didn't gain an astronomical amount of weight. In fact, my pregnancy was essentially textbook in every way. My delivery was as smooth and enjoyable as it could possibly be (at least for me). Did any of that have to do with the fact that I stretched and walked almost every day? Maybe not but I like to think so.

Now I have to face a much, much bigger challenge. Before I got pregnant I'd been training for the NYC Marathon. I ran at least twenty miles a week. I ran half-marathons for fun. While I loved it, I really wanted a baby, too, and knew that once I got pregnant I would choose to stop running and concentrate on the pregnancy, which I did. I knew that I would spend the better part of a year not running and therefore losing a certain level of fitness I'd worked for years -- most of my life, actually -- to achieve.

I feared a year ago as I do now, with the prospect of running dangling before me like a golden carrot, that if I stopped running for any length of time I'd never be able to regain the level of fitness I had pre-motherhood.

Not only that, but, as I re-enter the world of fitness, one well-paced step at a time (and hopefully still with good form!) I now have to consider that I have a brand new baby boy who commands most of my attention and time. Not only will I have to work my butt off if I'm going to train for this year's NYC marathon, but I'm going to have to do it on a very specific schedule. My husband and I, always running partners in the past, will no longer be able to run together. We'll have to switch off so one of us can watch the baby.

No longer will I be able to just run for as long as I want to. Mind you, I wouldn't trade this luxurious problem for anything in the universe -- having a child is the single most fulfilling thing in my life -- so please don't think I am complaining. Rather, I'm trying to work out just how it will work out in my head!

Other things to consider during this experience are concerns such as timing breastfeeding and pumping, figuring out how to deal with my ginormous chest while running, how the additional weight still on my body will affect me -- additional weight = additional impact, after all. The list goes on and on. It's a list I'm interesting in investigating, however, and one I hope you'll consider right along with me.

Thing is, I know I'm not alone in my quest to be a fit mama. I see women -- and men -- out there every day with their jogging strollers, etc. keeping it as real as the real world will let them. I've read thousands of stories of mothers of numerous children who are able to train for and run myriad marathons. I know it can be done, it's just a matter of figuring out how to do it within my life. So, for the next little while -- at least until I run the marathon this fall (or not) -- I'll be trying to figure out just that: what works for me, and for my son. I'll also be asking for your suggestions and feedback.

Whether or not I actually make it through the marathon this fall, I see this challenge as an opportunity for success.