The 3 Moves Every New Mom Should Do Before Returning to Running
If you’ve been eyeing your running shoes and wondering when you’ll feel ready to hit the pavement again, you’re not alone. Getting back to running postpartum isn’t just about time, it’s about rebuilding strength, stability, and connection from the inside out.
During pregnancy, your core, pelvic floor, and hips go through massive changes. Before you return to impact (like running), it’s key to rebuild your foundation. Think: reconnecting to your breath, realigning your posture, and reactivating the muscles that support every stride.
At
ABC Fit Collective, we focus on three pillars:
Alignment, Breath, and Core. These are the foundation for every move you make, especially when it comes to getting back into high-impact exercise safely and confidently.
1. Dead Bug
A favorite in our postpartum programming, this move trains core control and stability which is exactly what your body needs before taking on impact again.
How to do it:
Lie on your back with your knees bent at 90 degrees and arms reaching up toward the ceiling. As you exhale, extend one arm and the opposite leg away from your body without arching your lower back. Inhale to bring them back to center, then switch sides.
Why it works:
Dead bugs help you learn how to stabilize your spine and move your limbs without losing that deep core engagement, a skill that translates directly to running form and efficiency.
2. Banded Glute Bridge
The Glutes stabilize your pelvis and help support your pelvic floor during impact.
How to do it:
Place a resistance band right above your knees and keep your knees hip distance apart. Lie on your back and squeeze your butt to lift your hips into a bridge position. Hold for a second and then relax your muscles as you lower your hips back down to the floor.
Why it works:
This move builds glute and pelvic floor strength and coordination, both essential for absorbing impact and keeping your stride strong and supported.
3. Plank
Planks help you rebuild deep core stability, strength and endurance, key ingredients for a confident return to running.
How to do it:
Start on your hands and knees, then step back into a modified plank (knees down) or full plank (toes tucked), depending on your stage of recovery. Wrists should be under shoulders, ribs gently tucked, and hips in line with your spine.
Take a deep inhale through your nose, expanding your ribcage. As you exhale, gently lift your pelvic floor and draw your belly button toward your spine. Be sure to never hold your breath!
Hold for 10–30 seconds, rest, and repeat for 2–3 rounds. You can build up to longer holds as your strength improves.
Why it works:
Planks challenge your entire deep core system, not just your superficial “abs”. When done with breath and control, planks train your core, shoulders, and glutes to work together as a team. That same stability and coordination helps your body absorb impact when you start running again.
This isn’t about who can hold the plank longest. It’s about
quality over quantity. When you focus on breath and alignment, your plank becomes one of the most powerful tools for reconnecting to your core postpartum.
Ask Yourself Before You Run
Along with these exercises to prep your muscles, take a moment to check in with your body:
- Have I given myself enough time to recover post-birth?
Yes, you may be cleared for exercise at your 4 - 6 week postpartum checkup, but that doesn’t always mean your body is ready for running. We hear a lot of people say they want to run to get in shape - but at ABC Fit, we see it differently: you should get in shape before you run. Let’s set a foundation to build upon: start with walks and strengthen your hips and core with the above exercises. From there, you can start sprinkling short jogging intervals into your walks. - Can I do the above exercises pain-free, without abdominal coning, with proper form, while syncing up my breath to my movement?
I know, it sounds like a lot of benchmarks! But trust us, you want to clear all of them before running! Pregnancy takes a major toll on your core, pelvic floor, and hips, all of which are key players in running. Strengthening and re-engaging these muscles first will help prevent injuries and setbacks as well as support your long-term running goals. When you do these exercises, check in with your body during, right after, later that day, and even the next day. Did you experience any discomfort in your pelvic floor or low back, cramping, pelvic floor weakness, etc? If the answer is yes, you are probably not quite ready to run. - Can I perform impact exercises like a jump squat, hopping place, and ice skaters without discomfort or leakage?
Running creates repetitive impact. Being able to hop in place, perform a jump squat and ice skaters without symptoms is a great indicator that your body is ready to handle that impact safely.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t about rushing back! It’s about building smarter and coming back stronger. Use these three exercises, ask yourself all these questions, and most of all, listen to your body. If you want personally tailored guidance on where to start or how to build your strength step by step,
we’d love to help!
Join us for an ABC Fit 1:1 virtual session designed to meet you right where you are and let’s make your return to running feel safe, strong, and (dare we say) fun again!











