Olympian Molly Huddle Runs Marathon Six Months Postpartum, Says It Was Something She ‘Needed to Do’ (Exclusive)
Molly Huddle running the Every Woman's Marathon Credit: Every Woman’s Marathon NEED TO KNOW Molly Huddle ran a marathon six months postpartum to challenge herself and inspire other mothers Now, she is writing a book offering advice for mothers training through pregnancy and postpartum Huddle emphasizes the importance of individualized recovery timelines and balancing motherhood with personal goals Six months after having her second child, two-time Olympian Molly Huddle crossed the finish line at Every Woman's Marathon . For Huddle, 41, completing the race was something she felt she needed to do for herself and, by extension, for other women. Now, Huddle is working on a book specifically for mothers, where she talks to experts such as pelvic health physical therapists, nutritionists, mental health counselors and researchers studying female athletes who train through pregnancy and postpartum, to offer advice on training.
"They all say it's difficult to advise because it's complex what happens to you in pregnancy and postpartum, and it's very individualized too, like how quickly you can come back or what issues you might face, given what kind of birth you had, what kind of athlete you are, so many things," Huddle tells PEOPLE. "I feel like that has been the excuse for why there isn't much [research] out there, and I feel like that's not a great excuse. " Molly Huddle competing in 2017 Credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images One of the reasons she wanted to write a book of helpful tips was because, oftentimes, "pregnancy and postpartum is one of those phases where women walk away from sport.
" "Athletes who maybe were running every day or racing or having it in their life in such a positive way, often that's when it drops," the long-distance runner shares. "I hope to provide a resource to help you get through this time more easily because I see how running and sport in general are an enriching part of a woman's life. " Huddle notes that, with all the changes motherhood brings, it's crucial for women to find time for themselves to move their bodies.
"Especially in motherhood, for that to drop, that's the last thing that needs to fall out of your life. I feel like it's a multipurpose, beneficial thing in your life. Working out, exercising and running are such easy ways to do it," she shares.
Her goal, she says, is "to make it simpler for pregnant and postpartum women to keep running. " However, she acknowledges that it can be hard to find time for exercise, as moms are often told to "sleep when the baby sleeps. " "I'm probably running when the baby sleeps.
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