“Hi! My name is Ariel Jenkinson & I am a seasoned triathlete with many Sprint & Olympic distance triathlons under my belt. I’ve also done 9 70.3’s & 1 full Ironman! Racing is my lifestyle. During 2019 I trained & completed Ironman 70.3 Arizona while 25 weeks pregnant with my first daughter, Josie. With the approval of my OB & Coach Michelle’s workouts, I was able to complete the event & had a wonderful time to boot!
I am currently 27 weeks pregnant with my second daughter. In true fashion, you sign up for 70.3’s a year in advance…so there was no way to estimate how (or if) pregnancy will hit in the middle of race season. With luck, Ironman Coeur d’Alene 70.3 (which occurs late June) was right at my 25-week mark again. Lucky for both girls, they would get to ‘complete’ a Half Ironman well before 18 yrs old (the minimum age requirement for a 70.3)!
With Michelle’s coaching, I was able to maintain my pre-pregnancy fitness with targeted, low intensity workouts. Training with Baby #2 seemed way more intuitive & easier than with Josie. And I was much less nervous about doing the workouts. I attributed that to the fact that I had already completed a 70.3 while pregnant AND that chasing a toddler around gave me no time to think about the race!
Unfortunately, leading up to race day my OB & I determined that the cold water temperature created a higher risk for swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE). As a result, I was unable to complete the event. I tried to change my entry to a relay & I had MANY offers from folks who wanted to swim for me. But alas, there were no relay spots available.
There is nothing quite like a tapered, pregnant woman who can’t get in the water to start. Although I knew I made the right decision for my family, I shed a sad tear as the gun went off feeling the full effect of being ready to go, but unable to do so. This was a humble reminder that I’m not always in control of race day. And while I DO believe I would have earned a slot to IM 70.3 World Championships with my effort…I’m not sure I would be able to compete 3 weeks postpartum! 😉
So, what is next? I will be rolling into Spudman Triathlon at 30 weeks pregnant ready to complete the event. After that, I will likely walk/run the Fit One 5k 1 week before my due date!
Training brings me happiness & joy. It is one of the best parts of being pregnant because it is the only time I don’t feel pregnant. So, if you’re wondering whether or not you can train while pregnant, my advice is:
- Listen to your doctor
- Once they give you the green light, do what makes your body & your mind happy!
Happy training!”
If you’d like more info on training, racing & pregnancy, take a listen to my interview with Ariel (during her 1st pregnancy) & triathlete/runner Tanya Turner (during her 1st pregnancy). They have loads of great perspective!