How Running Has—and Hasn’t—Prepared Me for Pregnancy

In the 14 years that I’ve been running at a high level, it never occurred to me that all the miles I was logging, the lifestyle I was leading, and the mindset I was cultivating might, in a roundabout way, be preparing me for pregnancy. I actually feared the opposite: that an identity rooted in running and an existence structured around training, racing, and recovering would make pregnancy even more jarring and difficult than it already is. Fortunately, as I’ve discovered in the last 36 weeks, it’s a little bit of both. As I approach my mid-December due date, I’m acutely aware of the ways that my running background has made this nine-month initiation into motherhood both smoother and more challenging. With the help of Irish record holder, Olympian, licensed mental health therapist, and mother of three Roisin McGettigan-Dumas, here’s my attempt to make sense of it all. [View in Browser]( [Runner's World Logo]( [SHOP]( [RW+ EXCLUSIVES]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [How Running Has—and Hasn’t—Prepared Me for Pregnancy]( [How Running Has—and Hasn’t—Prepared Me for Pregnancy]( In the 14 years that I’ve been running at a high level, it never occurred to me that all the miles I was logging, the lifestyle I was leading, and the mindset I was cultivating might, in a roundabout way, be preparing me for pregnancy. I actually feared the opposite: that an identity rooted in running and an existence structured around training, racing, and recovering would make pregnancy even more jarring and difficult than it already is. Fortunately, as I’ve discovered in the last 36 weeks, it’s a little bit of both. As I approach my mid-December due date, I’m acutely aware of the ways that my running background has made this nine-month initiation into motherhood both smoother and more challenging. With the help of Irish record holder, Olympian, licensed mental health therapist, and mother of three Roisin McGettigan-Dumas, here’s my attempt to make sense of it all. [Read More]( [How to Do Woodchops With Almost Any Piece of Gym Equipment]( [How to Do Woodchops With Almost Any Piece of Gym Equipment]( Improve your stability and overall running efficiency with this dynamic move. [Read More]( [The 10 Best Yoga Shorts for Men and Women]( [The 10 Best Yoga Shorts for Men and Women]( Comfortable and secure shorts for your stretching session. [Read More](   [8 Wedge Pillows to Help You Get the Rest You Deserve]( [8 Wedge Pillows to Help You Get the Rest You Deserve]( Sleep through the night every night. [Read More]( [8 Best Leggings With Pockets Under $50]( [8 Best Leggings With Pockets Under $50]( We just got rid of your last reason to wear jeans. [Read more]( 4 Days Until #RWRunStreak [Calling All Streakers! The 2021 #RWRunStreak Tees Are In]( [Calling All Streakers! The 2021 #RWRunStreak Tees Are In]( RW+ members get exclusive access to two limited-edition designs celebrating the 2021 Winter Run Streak. Get yours now! [Read More](   RW SHOP The Latest from the Runner's World Collection [Shop Now]( [Shop Now]( [Shop Now]( [Win a Brand New Peloton Bike ($2,000 Value)!]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( RunnersWorld.com ©2021 Hearst Magazines, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019