Elite runner & mother

Interview with elite runner Anna Holm

How has your view on running and training changed since becoming a mother?

Running is still a big part of my everyday life, but there is now something that means more.

In a way, it has become more uncomplicated compared to before, when I had more time to myself, and training therefore naturally took up more space. For example, I no longer go around thinking that I have to run a certain interval. I often look at the day's program first, just before I leave. Running doesn't occupy my thoughts in the same way as before, and I actually think that's an advantage.

En person jogger langs en grussti omgivet af tørt græs på en bjergskråning under en klar blå himmel.

What is the biggest challenge in balancing elite sports and motherhood, and how do you tackle it?

Without a doubt, sleep and recovery – that has been the hardest part. It is something that still affects me because my nighttime sleep is not the same as before. It was also one of the reasons why I took a longer break from elite running, because I chose to breastfeed both of my children until they were a year old.

I remember a colleague I met at the Olympics – a long-distance runner and marathon runner – told me: "If you want to do elite sports and have children, you have to breastfeed for three months and then give them a bottle. Otherwise you won't get your sleep and then you won't be able to train properly."

She was absolutely right, but I wanted to breastfeed longer because it was good for my children. However, it meant that I couldn't recover optimally, and that made it difficult to train hard. I could train every day – but the hard intervals just didn't work well when I was woken up four or five times a night.

After my first child, I was pretty determined to get back in shape quickly, but I had to admit that it was hard to combine with breastfeeding. I actually lost the desire to train hard because it didn't give me the same joy anymore.

So when I had my second child, I thought I would stop running elite races altogether. I just couldn't see how it would work. But when I finished breastfeeding, things changed. I got my sleep back and I could feel that I wanted to train again.

Has motherhood changed your approach to competition and ambitions in the running world?

It has. Especially in the way that I prefer to run competitions where it is possible to bring my girls along. When they are waiting at the finish line, it is a huge joy to cross the finish line and be with them. I still want to run fast and improve, so in that way it has not changed.

"Running is still a big part of my everyday life, but there is now something that means more."

- Anna Holm, athlete and elite runner

En voksen og et barn sidder på en stentrappe uden for en bygning med en lyseblå dør og lyserøde vægge. Begge er iført grå jakker og sneakers. Den voksne smiler, og sollyset fremhæver scenen.

How did you adapt your training during and after pregnancy?

During both of my pregnancies I jogged until I was about 30 weeks, after which I mostly went for walks or went to the swimming pool to exercise. I avoided all forms of interval training as soon as I got pregnant, so training was just about feeling good. The day after both births I went for a walk with the stroller. I have always needed to move, and walking felt completely natural to me.

I started jogging again about six weeks after both births, but I was very conscious about taking care of my body. My abs in particular needed time to contract, so I avoided ab exercises for a year after both pregnancies. I actually only started strength training this year.

En kvinde i brun jakke og sorte leggings løber langs en asfalteret sti ved havet på en overskyet dag. Bølgerne er synlige i baggrunden.

Are there specific exercises or methods that have helped you rebuild strength and endurance?

I have been given a strength program by Thomas Cortebeeck, which is intended to strengthen my body in a gentle way.

Otherwise, I have focused on gradually building up my running training again. When I announced that I was quitting elite running, I only ran every other day and a maximum of 5 km at a time. Since then, I have slowly increased the amount and am now training around 100 km per week. My trainer, Claus Hechmann, has helped me build up my training carefully.

How do you stay motivated on days when it's hard to get out to train?

For me, it's all about desire. When my children were very young, there wasn't enough time or energy, but now that they're a little older, I have more energy for training.

Another thing is that we used to babysit both of our girls at home. My husband was studying to be a teacher at the same time, and I worked part-time, so our everyday lives were a big puzzle to solve in terms of time. Now both children have started a lovely forest kindergarten, and that gives me a little more space in my everyday life – and thus also space for me to focus more on my running.

When the energy and desire are there, motivation comes naturally, even on days when it's hard. I know that it's continuity that makes the difference in the long run, so I focus on completing the training, even when it doesn't feel optimal.

Would you say that you find it easier to accept a bad workout today than in the past?

Yes, I think so. I've always been good at looking ahead, but it's probably become even easier now.

I am also aware that I don't have many years left at the top level. When you get close to 40, the curve starts to break, and I know that I only have a few years left to perform at a high level. So I just want to enjoy the time I have and make the most of it.

En voksen sidder på et sort-hvidt ternet gulv i nærheden af en trappe og tager sko på, mens et barn i flyverdragt sidder i nærheden og også tager sko på. Sollyset strømmer ind gennem vinduet og skaber lyse pletter på gulvet.

Do you have any advice for other women who play high-level sports and are considering having children?

Yes – it can certainly be done, but you have to be open to the fact that your priorities may change.

I thought I would want to do sports full-time after giving birth, but I wanted to focus more on my family. It's important to be open to change and not push yourself unnecessarily.

At the same time, you also have to remember that if the desire is there, you will find a solution. It requires support from those around you, and my husband and my mother are good at supporting me. It is always a great advantage to have family that supports you, and it only becomes even more important when you have children, where there is a major internship that needs to be done. At the same time, it is a fantastic experience to do sports when you have your children with you. For both of my girls, it was a great experience to take the train to Frankfurt, stay in a hotel and come out to cheer, and for me it was great that they were waiting at the finish line.

SHOP ANNA HOLMS WARDROBE

En person i hvid jakke jogger udendørs langs en havnefront med sollys i ansigtet og synlige bygninger i baggrunden.

Who is Anna Holm?

If you follow the world of sports even a little, you probably have no doubt who Anna Holm is. As an athlete and elite runner, she has achieved impressive results in long-distance running, and her passion for training and health is a great inspiration to many.

Her personal record for the marathon was set in Frankfurt in 2017 (2:33.02). In addition, in 2024 she became the fastest Danish woman at the marathon distance.

At Marathon Sport we are incredibly honored to have Anna Holm as our sponsored runner. She is not only a fantastic runner, but also a warm-hearted person who is happy to share her knowledge and experiences.

Source: Berlingske Tidende

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