Stopping is part of the process too

«I've had to slow down and listen to myself more.»

You're now seven months into your second pregnancy. How has your training changed?

They've been quite different. In the first one I felt more energetic from the start. In this second one I've been more tired, especially during the first trimester. I've had to slow down and listen to myself more. Now, from the seventh month, I'm feeling better again, and that's allowing me to enjoy the moment once more.

When you go out running, what do you listen to now that you didn't allow yourself to hear before?

There's no conversation. I only listen to my body, to how I feel. No pressure or demands, respecting myself at all times. Stopping if I need to and simply valuing the fact of getting out there. It's a different way of running. More mindful.

«Stopping is part of the process too. I've learned not to get frustrated and to see it as a way of looking after and respecting myself, and the baby.»

«Anything that makes you feel supported and comfortable becomes essential.»

Is there any piece of kit that has become essential?

Comfort becomes essential. Some garments make a real difference, especially as the pregnancy progresses: the right sports bras and tights that adapt well to your bump. Anything that makes you feel supported and comfortable becomes essential. Lurbel supports me perfectly in that.

What's most different about how you're experiencing this second pregnancy?

The main difference is knowledge. The first time everything was new; now I know what to expect, how my body responds and how to adapt. There's also more peace of mind.

After your first birth, how was your return to training?

Gradual and full of learning. The hardest part was accepting that I couldn't get back to the same level straight away. The best part was understanding that the body has memory and that, with patience, everything comes back.