By Helen Quirk

Helen is a runner and researcher in physical activity at the University of Sheffield. She has been a Move More advocate since starting her research career at Sheffield Hallam University in 2016. Helen was involved in the writing of the new Move More Strategy and here she talks about running whilst pregnant.

First things first, a bit of a disclaimer: I’m incredibly lucky to have had a smooth and complication-free pregnancy and I was a very active, regular runner before pregnancy. This is just my experience, but one I’m really happy to share with you.

I’ve been a runner for as long as I can remember, so it was natural for me to want to carry on running when I found out I was pregnant in February 2021. I was fortunate not to suffer with sickness in the first trimester. The tiredness and nausea weren’t a barrel of laughs, but I felt at my best when moving. So I just kept moving…

Me and my husband - enjoying the last of our freedom

I turned a corner at around 15 weeks and started to feel myself again - a bit of a honeymoon period of feeling pretty normal. Running had a different focus - miles, speed and time simply didn’t matter. It was actually pretty liberating not to care anymore. I’d have these weird (but wonderful) moments when I remembered I had a little baby on board to keep me company - just the beginning of many adventures we’ll have together. It was about this time that I did my last long run around Ladybower reservoir.

In June, Beat the Streets came to Sheffield, providing a much welcomed distraction and focus as my running and body changed. I threw myself into hunting down those beat boxes, finding new routes and earning points for TeamAWRCsome!

Beat boxing my way through my second trimester!

Beat the Streets was closely followed by the long-awaited return of parkrun in July. Armed with a genuine excuse for a slower post-lockdown pace, I did the first parkrun back, featuring a leafy new route at my local Endcliffe parkrun. I really hadn’t anticipated how amazing it would feel to run with other people again. The atmosphere was incredible - everyone was just so grateful to be back. I got swept away in the moment and forgot all about the heavy pregnancy legs (more about those later). Me looking pretty smitten to be back at parkrun.

Me looking pretty smitten to be back at parkrun.

Towards the end of the summer I was heading into the third trimester still feeling good and running regularly. I was also - ever the diligent student - doing my pelvic floor exercises, yoga and trying to get some strength work in there too.

At the end of September, our 5K Your Way group returned to Endcliffe parkrun. 5K Your Way is a support group for people affected by cancer.

We meet at Endcliffe parkrun on the last Saturday of every month, but we’d been on pause for 18 months due to the pandemic. It’s a simple concept - we meet at parkrun and walk, run, cheer or volunteer. We stick around afterwards for a cuppa and chat (cake optional). Everyone is welcome including friends, family and people working in cancer services. The more the merrier. Get in touch if you’d like more info - and please feel free to join us - we’ll be there on the last Saturday of every month for the foreseeable future!

5K Your Way Ambassadors Lorraine, me and Rebecca with our newest member of the 5K Your Way family, Emma. Photo courtesy of George Carman.

Has it reeeallly been that easy?

Ok, no - all this running hasn’t come without some downsides - so time to get real:

Getting slower - I’ve actually felt fine with this - lockdown (and the lack of any races/events) gave me a whole new appreciation for running that meant I couldn’t care less what the watch said.
Heavy legs - the legs have felt heavier than they did before, especially if I try to run on back-to-back days. A sure sign to ease-off or walk instead.
Hills- the hills!! Hills became instantly harder as soon as I became pregnant. Like a tonne of weight on my back whenever I hit any inclines, which are hard to avoid in Sheffield! I’m now more than happy to walk those hills, thank you very much.
Injury - I rolled my ankle quite badly whilst running at 32 weeks. A combination of getting a bit carried away at parkrun and hormones making my ligaments looser. A bit of a reality check that I’m not the nimble ninja I used to be and probably should reign it in a little.
Swollen feet - one I didn’t expect to be honest! My running shoes became really uncomfortable as my feet expanded. This pregnancy business really ain’t glamorous!
Bladder pressure - The fact that I feel the need to apologise before talking openly about this says it all really. It's a taboo subject, but feeling the need to wee more often is just the reality of increased pressure and a growing baby. I think we really need to normalise talking about this. Ladies, plan your routes near to home, public toilets or just embrace the occasional wild wee. For me, this was a small sacrifice for being able to carry on doing what I love.

So here I am, 35 weeks…

I've taken every day and run as it comes - at ease with the reality that each run could be the last for a while. Thankfully, I’ve had loads of positive support and haven’t experienced any negative comments or judgements. I feel most like me when I run. It’s my morning tonic, coping mechanism and happy place. To have been able to run throughout this weird and wonderful pregnancy journey is something I will be forever grateful for.

If you’d like more information about running during pregnancy - check out this parkrun Research Board seminar on running during pregnancy: https://youtu.be/MEdOOT1Pud8

Follow me on Twitter @hquirky

Email to find out more about 5K Your Way: endcliffegroup@5kyourway.org