Becoming a new mum has given Becky Aitkenhead a new lease on life when it comes to her running career.
"It is a forced break that’s quite nice," Aitkenhead said.
"I think just some time away from the sport makes you appreciate it more when you can get back to it.
"It’s kind of like a rebirth."
Aitkenhead, who described herself as a "sub-elite" athlete before her pregnancy, has been a regular on the national circuit for years, including winning the national 1500m and national mile titles, and pulling on the black singlet.
She returned for her first race in 13 months in August when she finished fifth at the national cross-country championships.
"I did better than I thought I would do.
"It’s kind of nice to know that despite my training looking totally different now . . . your body kind of remembers a lot of stuff, especially with racing.
"Your racing instincts don’t really go."
Motherhood had given her a chance to step back and relax, find new ways to train and provided new perspective to her running.
"With being a mum now, a lot of the pressure is being taken off, so I enjoy the racing a lot more. It’s just kind of great for me to be out there.
"It’s different now. You can’t overthink training or overthink racing.
"I’m probably a bit less of a perfectionist when it comes to training. Just a lot more grateful for running because you can get out and do it and it’s something I can do with him."
Running was one of the last exercises women were encouraged to start after giving birth due to changes in the pelvic floor, she said.
After visiting a pelvic floor specialist, Aitkenhead started going for small walks and runs when her son was seven weeks, and she slowly built from there.
Aitkenhead — who is also a running coach and helped start the running group, Femmi, in Dunedin — built her way to joining the O3 Run Club at the Esplanade before competitive racing again.
"I was surprised to be racing so quickly and to be wanting to race so quickly.
"I used to think I really liked racing, but now I realise I like it a lot different."
She has already ticked off one of her goals for the year after being selected to represent New Zealand at the world cross-country championships in Tallahassee in January.
She counted herself lucky to have a strong support network with both her, and her husband’s, family helping out.
Motherhood in sport had become far more normalised in recent years.
"It used to be that it was you had your sports career and then you had kids. But now there’s so many inspirational women out there, especially with running.
"They seem to get — if not faster — they get a lot stronger."
Sport had always been a big part of Aitkenhead’s life and there was no reason she could not be a mother and chase her running goals.
"I guess it is your identity a wee bit when you become a mum, so it’s a really cool way to be able to feel more yourself again.
"Especially with running, or any sport that you’re passionate about. I suppose it’s really good for your mental health too, which can be pretty massive in those first few [months].
"It gives you an appreciation for what your body can do as well."
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