15 inspiring stories of mothers doing amazing things in fitness

Our fitness columnist Annie Ross talks to the women combining motherhood with a commitment to their fitness
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Annie Ross18 October 2016

The 24 hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week job of parenthood can stop even the most determined of athletes in their tracks. For mothers contending with total lifestyle upheaval and the adaptation to their bodies, getting back into exercise post-children can be seem impossible.

Exploring how female athletes balance work and motherhood with training and racing, we have unearthed 15 inspirational stories of women like you and me who have overcome adversities to succeed in getting back into fitness post pregnancy.

The mothers share their struggles, inspirations and ideas for keeping fit alongside a busy family and work life. The physical and mental benefits of having exercise in their lives have helped these women maintain their strength, identity and self-confidence. The sporting challenges these women have set themselves and completed cannot fail to impress.

Rather than just being another thing to squeeze into an already jam-packed day, physical activity can be just the trick to keep everything else ticking over. Whether you choose to carve it out as quality alone time or incorporate sport into family activities, these stories will show you that if they can do it, so can you – mother or not.

1. Masha Gordon

Mother to: Freya, 9 + Theo, 7

Achievement: World record holding mountaineer

At 7 months and 19 days, Masha has just broken the women’s world speed record for the Explorer’s Grand Slam. To do this she spent around 4 and a half months away from home, climbing the highest mountain peaks in each of the seven continents and skiing to both the North and South Poles.

Masha’s passion for climbing started during maternity leave with her second child when the family spent time in Chamonix. Despite having no strength in sports in her earlier life, mountains turned out to be her forte. She started the high altitude endurance challenges a year and a half ago and from there, took on the formidable feat. Parenthood and her career in finance provided her with the patience and risk assessment necessary for mountaineering.

How does she do it? “Don’t allow others define what you and cannot do! The bravest thing I have done in this endurance challenge was not climbing Everest or being on polar bear watch on the North Pole. It was being a mother of two and woman over 40 and daring to go on this journey.”

2. Nicola Spear

Pembrokeshire Yacht Club

Mother to: Joseph, 9 and Isabella, 6

Achievement: Started with fitness DVDs and ended up rowing in sea races

Nicola’s diagnosis with Crohn’s Disease followed by endometriosis saw her in and out of hospital for several years before having two children. By the time the babies became toddlers, Nicola had forgotten who she was and what made her happy. She started exercising as a way to shift some baby weight, finding that exercise DVDs (“Davina I salute you!”), aerobic and zumba classes could fit in with nursery, nap times and her husband being home after work with the children. After being introduced to sea rowing by her sister, she joined a club and was part of the racing team. Out of this, grew the confidence to follow a dream, and build up slowly into sprint triathlons, and now onto Olympic triathlons.

How does she do it? “The love, faith and support that my husband and children give me is the fuel for my determination to be the happiest, most fulfilled and best person I can be.”

3. Sophie Power

Mother to: Donnacha, 22 months

Achievement: ultra marathon runner

Having taken up running from scratch in 2009, Sophie ramped up to tackle 250km stage running races all over the world, from Bhutan to Iceland. She kept running whilst pregnant, completing 50km of a course whilst 6 months pregnant. After having her son, Sophie had to take 3 months off to recover fully but started gently and ran a 50 mile trail race before her baby was 6 months old (having to breast pump halfway through as her breasts hurt so much). As a working mum, Sophie has perfected scheduling and become more focused and efficient in her training time, and is now fitter than ever. A few weeks ago, Sophie became the ninth British woman ever to finish the Spartathlon – a 153 mile race from Athens to Sparta, with a time limit of 36 hours and in temperatures over 30 degrees.

How does she do it? “Try to fit exercise around your life rather than the other way around – I run to work after nursery drop off and do relay intervals in the park at weekends with my husband as Donnacha plays”

4. Mel Bound

Mother to: Lyla, 6, Raffi, 2

Achievement: founder of This Mum Runs

Before having kids Mel lived and breathed sport, playing hockey, running trail races, doing British Military Fitness, studying sports science and working in the fitness industry. Post kids it was a completely different story – between feeling exhausted, exercise plans clashing with kids’ bedtimes and spinal surgery rehab, Mel was finding it impossible to get back into exercise. Ready to regain her confidence and identity, Mel’s life changed the day she posted on a Mum’s group on Facebook looking for a running buddy - 75 women turned up. Fast forward a year and Mel founded ‘This Mum Runs’ and is now working full time to inspire mums all around the UK to make time for themselves post-kids. This Mum Runs trains mums as run coaches, hosting free women-only runs and a whole programme of running courses for total beginners upwards. Get involved at ThisMumRuns.co.uk

How does she do it? “Getting out the door is the hardest bit, but I never ever regret a run. I love running (and gossiping) with other local mums and always come back feeling sparkly, energised and happier"

5. Claire Meakin

Mother to: Lyla, 8 weeks

Achievement: school teacher keeping up with yoga

Despite continuing with gentle pregnancy yoga, the classes lacked the feeling of being physically challenged. Worried that it would take her forever to get back to her pre-pregnancy fitness (after a complicated labour resulting in an emergency C-section), Claire tried a "mums and babies yoga" class as soon as she had the doctor’s 6-week all-clear. She was petrified about how they would last the class without Lyla needing something. There was nothing to worry about - the class was perfectly "mum" friendly – everyone was in the same boat. Claire was able to participate in the majority of the yoga class with only a brief feed and nappy change in between downward facing dogs.

How does she do it? “The feeling of taking part in a class with other mums (who were also feeding) with young babies (who also needed a cuddle and a cry) was exhilarating. Plus, I was able to enjoy a brief few moments to myself while my baby slept on the front of my yoga mat”

6. Harriet Enoch

Mother to: Florence, 2 + Arthur, 4 weeks

Achievement: GB age-group triathlete

Prior to having children, Harriet competed for Great Britain as a marathon kayaker and rower so it was only a matter of time before she worked out which sport worked alongside children. In fact, it was the flexibility of three sports that she chose - in the form of triathlons. Some of her tricks include working out on her bike trainer in the back garden and running around the track with her children in tow (her daughter can often be found in the long jump pit). One of her biggest challenges has been managing breastfeeding and training. Her solution: keep hydrated, eat well and have a routine, but staying relaxed if life deviates away from plans.

How does she do it? ”I always need a challenge but I make sure I love what I do - when things get tough, I smile. We take a team approach as a family; if something is not working for all of us we re-address. We all need our own time, and try to lead a balanced family life outside of sport.”

7. Lucinda Newman-Jones

Mother to: 3 daughters – 7 ½, 5 and 20 months

Achievement: PT specialising in pre- and post-natal fitness

A fitness enthusiast her whole life, kids have helped Lucinda know what it feels like to sit on the other side of the fence. She gained and lost 9 stone across her three pregnancies, each pregnancy making it progressively harder to get back in shape. Over the last 10 years Lucinda has tended towards heavy weight training and HIIT – disciplines she has found the most effective tools for fat loss and becoming strong and lean after her pregnancies. Running Fitness Runs in the Family, a personal trainer business focused on mothers and the family, Lucinda is an expert at recognising that, as the centre point of a busy household, if a Mum is feeling good, strong, fit and functional - life around her will function more smoothly too and you can enjoy it more.

How does she do it? “The trigger for getting fit post baby was, I guess, quite simple… I was doing it for me. I know that I feel better when I am fit, strong, and functional. I also know being a mum is hard work and when you are fitter and stronger physically, it makes you feel fitter and stronger mentally and more capable of dealing with each day’s dilemmas.”

8. Leigh-Anne Henning

Mother to: Logan + Peyton, 6 months old twins

Achievement: Crossfit competitions

Leigh-Anne’s previous sporting experience in triathlons and ironman events, led her to Crossfit for strength training before children. Now after the birth of her twins, she is back training, through the qualifiers and into the finals of a Crossfit Competition. Luckily the twins have learnt to enjoy the noises, sights and sounds of the Crossfit box but Leigh-Anne has learnt to accept what she is able to fit in around her children. She has her frustrations – her body has been changed by the task of carrying two babies and there are some things she can’t do as well as before. Learning to be easier on herself and to forgive and let go is proving important.

How does she do it? “My favourite quote to keep me going has always been ‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.’ Nowadays, I only have to remember that I have two small human beings watching me at all times, learning and taking it all in, and they give me the energy to succeed and to show them that anything is possible.”

9. Sophie Bubb

Mother to: Rory, 3 + Billy, 1 ½

Achievement: Ironman triathlete

Sophie has always been active, but more focused on water sports until after the birth of her children. Wanting to give herself some fitness goals to help get back into shape post childbirth, she took the decision to launch into extreme endurance. In just over a year after picking up long distance swim-bike-run Ironman events, she is sweeping the scoreboards: finishing 5th overall and 1st amateur at Ironman UK, 2nd amateur at the long distance world championships and competing in the iconic Ironman World Championships in Hawaii earlier this month.

How does she do it? “The only way I can follow my sporting goals is by making my family an intrinsic part of them, be it combining training with family outings or convincing them that events are actually ‘mini-breaks’”

10. Helen Dickens

Mother to: Son, 12

Achievement: a dare became a passion

After returning to work full time after maternity leave, Helen had very little time or energy for sport. When her son was six, her husband dared her to take part in a Cycletta - a cycle event aimed at women. She loved it. Spurred on by watching the Olympics, Helen took up triathlons, adding open water swimming and running to her experience in cycling. Helen now participates in ten events a year across a mix of single discipline and multi-sport events. Keeping active as a family, she also kayaks and mountain bikes, and their next adventure will see them go on a climbing course.

How does she do it? “The key is to be organised, plan your training and use early mornings. It’s important that as a family you all support each other and let everyone have the time they need to train and compete as well as cheer each other on at a race. I find the way to keep motivated is to enter events that give you a definite goal to work towards.”

11. Edwina Brocklesby

Susanne Hakuba

Mother to: 3 grown-up kids, 4 grandchildren aged 11-17

Achievement: oldest British woman to complete an Ironman

Having been inspired to run a half-marathon while supporting a friend running a marathon, Edwina took up running aged 50 and is currently the oldest British woman to have completed an Ironman (aged 72). Edwina has since founded Silverfit, a charity run by older people encouraging the older generation to get more physically active, make new friends and have fun.

How does she do it? “50 years of social work and being widowed at 52 - an awareness that I was the lucky one has increased my determination to make the most of life, and encourage others to get more active, have fun, and be Silverfit. I just signed up for Ironman Hamburg August 2017!”

12. Lisa Davies

Mother to: Evie, 9, Isla, 7 + Edward, Megan + Tilly, 4

Achievement: climbing and triathlons post triplets

Children altered Lisa’s reasons for exercise from the physical to the mental. Since having children, the personal achievement and challenges took precedence over the previous weight incentives. Running provided the flexibility and headspace that Lisa was looking for, and races kept her on her toes. Following the birth of her triplets, recovering from a c-section and a stomach that had “been stretched beyond belief” it took her a while to feel safe to exercise. It was pilates and being introduced to climbing that help Lisa regain her core strength. A sociable and challenging sport, climbing is perfect for toning the whole body from tip to toe. Mother of 5, Lisa also competes in triathlons, completed a 24-hour team relay with other mum friends and she’s taking on Brighton Marathon next year.

How does she do it? “It's simple really, I love being a mum but it’s easy to lose all sense of yourself when all your focus is on your children. Running away and climbing the walls is what keeps me ‘me’, keeps me sane and hopefully a more patient mum and a better person!”

13. Sara Spence

Mother to: two boys, 2 and 10 months

Achievement: hiking for strength

Having been sporty pre-motherhood, Sara found the path to fitness after two births in 18 months slow and bumpy. Due to complications during pregnancy confining her to bed rest, she could barely walk around the block without feeling tired. She’s found hiking and running suit her as a parent though, thanks to their relative flexibility in taking one or more children (plus dog) with her. Though she hasn’t logged many running hours since her second baby, the strength gains from hiking have been impressive. Walking is a highly underrated activity, especially if you are carrying a child or two (hers are currently 25kg combined excluding equipment).

How does she do it? “Motherhood is full of competing demands so cut yourself some slack, take yourself outside and move in a way that feeds your soul as well as your body.”

14. Jenny Malik

Mother to: Noah + Leo, 4 year old twins

Achievement: triathlete competitor

Before becoming a mum, Jenny was no stranger to sport, racing competitively in long-distance/Ironman triathlon events. Sport was a big part of her social life, even meeting her husband through it and she was used to fitting it in around her full-time job. After becoming a mum her routine changed: family comes first, then work and by the time she got to exercise there was no time left in the day. She realised how important exercise is to her and that it is vital for all the family that she find time for it. Though she’s glad she didn't rush back into intense training and lose precious time with the boys in the early years, she’s now aware that there is time for exercise as well. It’s meant a significant change to her routine but by commuting, running with the boys or meeting up with other athletes with family, she’s made it easier. She’s also focusing on her nutrition and hydration a lot as recovery time is lacking.

How does she do it? “I love that my boys are my biggest supporters and that I motivate them to get out and be active”

15. Juliet Good

Mother to: Tash, 28 + Katie, 25

Achievement: cycles with her daughters

Having had children young and with a husband working long hours, Juliet turned to sport (initially) to overcome her feeling of isolation. Sport became a way to meet new friends – it started with aerobics classes and squash at a gym that had a crèche, and developed to include netball and tennis. When her full time job in London meant she couldn’t commit enough time to team sports, Juliet tried her hand at challenging events, keeping the social element going by having training partners. She jumped in at the deep end with the London marathon in 2001 and moved swiftly onto triathlons, buying a cheap road bike and learning to swim ‘proper’ front crawl. From there she moved into long distance cycling: Lands End to John O Groats then to celebrate her 50th, Juliet cycled across the USA.

How does she do it? “I love that I can cycle and run with my daughters. I can't imagine my life without sport, it is an intrinsic part of who I am as a Mum. Sport has given me incredible challenges, great friends and hopefully inspired my daughters to love it as much as I do.”

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