When I found out I was pregnant, I already felt like a mom.

Long before my son was born, every decision I made suddenly had someone else at the centre of it. My priorities shifted overnight, and like so many women, I started wondering whether my own goals would always have to come second.

One of those goals was running my first marathon.

I’d already entered the race, but the event was scheduled just ten days after my due date. There was never really a decision to make—I withdrew my entry. It felt like the first of many sacrifices that motherhood would bring.

As excited as I was to become a mom, I couldn’t help wondering what would happen to the athlete in me.

My Expectations vs Reality

Before pregnancy, I had this picture in my head of what it would look like.

I was going to stay active throughout pregnancy. I’d keep running, continue strength training, and maintain my fitness while growing a healthy baby.

Then the first trimester arrived.

Instead of early morning workouts, I was overwhelmed by exhaustion. I’d get home from work, sit down for five minutes, and fall asleep. I’d wake up for dinner, fall asleep again, shower, sleep through the night, and somehow still wake up exhausted.

The nausea didn’t help either. For weeks, the only foods I could stomach were potatoes, pasta, bread and rice. The thought of many of my usual healthy meals made me feel ill, and exercise quickly became the last thing on my mind.

Pregnancy reminded me that sometimes our bodies simply need us to listen.

The Unexpected Guilt

As my due date approached, people constantly reminded me that “the next time we see you, you’ll be a mom.”

The comments didn’t stop there.

Many people—interestingly, mostly men—would tell me, “You know you can still run while you’re pregnant.”

While that’s true for many women, every pregnancy is different. Staying active during pregnancy isn’t about forcing yourself to stick to a training plan. It’s about respecting your body’s changing needs and doing what feels safe and appropriate.

Then came another layer of guilt.

I was scheduled for a Caesarean section, and even that seemed to invite opinions about what motherhood “should” look like.

It amazed me how quickly society places expectations on mothers before their babies have even arrived.

Can Moms Still Have Fitness Goals?

One question I heard repeatedly was:

“How are you going to keep up with your sport once the baby comes?”

I’ve always found that question interesting.

My son has two parents.

I’m incredibly fortunate to have a husband who is fully supportive of my fitness goals and intends to be an active, hands-on father. Looking after our child isn’t solely my responsibility, and pursuing my own health doesn’t make me any less committed as a mom.

In fact, I hope it makes me a better one.

I want my son to grow up seeing that women can be strong, healthy and ambitious while also being loving, present mothers.

Those things are not mutually exclusive.

Eight Weeks Postpartum

As I write this update, my son is now eight weeks old.

My return to fitness hasn’t looked exactly as I imagined.

Recovery has taken longer than expected, and I’ve learned that postpartum healing isn’t something that can be rushed. There have been days when rest has been the most important thing I could do for both myself and my family.

But the goal hasn’t changed.

I’m still looking forward to rebuilding my strength, returning to running and enjoying movement again—one step at a time.

Right now, many of those first workouts will happen with my little training partner nearby. We’ll learn this new season of life together.

Letting Go of Mom Guilt

If there’s one lesson motherhood has already taught me, it’s this:

Looking after yourself is not selfish.

Exercise isn’t time taken away from your children—it’s an investment in your physical health, your mental wellbeing and your ability to show up as the best version of yourself.

Some days that might be a 30-minute walk.

Other days it might be a strength session, a run or simply taking a few moments to breathe.

Every season of motherhood looks different, and every postpartum journey is unique. Comparing yourself to someone else’s timeline serves no one.

Give yourself grace.

Celebrate the small wins.

Trust your body.

And remember that your children don’t need a perfect mom—they need a healthy, happy one.

If you’re beginning your own postpartum return to exercise or looking to get back into running safely, I hope my journey reminds you that progress doesn’t have to be perfect. It simply has to keep moving forward.