N ear the end of a minute conversation on Thursday from her home in Vermont, Olympic middle-distance runner Elle Purrier St. Pierre apologized for feeling a bit tired. The holder of the American record in the indoor mile and indoor two-mile, Purrier St. Pierre, 27, announced that she was pregnant last September. In the past, many female athletes, particularly in track and field, felt like they had to choose between starting a family and pursuing their sporting dreams.
Purrier St. Pierre and her husband, Jamie, also work a dairy farm in Vermont, where they both grew up. She spoke with TIME about why she wanted to start a family while continuing her athletic career; why she only stopped running a few weeks ago; and the challenges of training while pregnantβespecially when nosy strangers give you those looks. This conversation has been slightly edited for length and clarity. TIME: So today is really your due date? Pierre: Yes.
So thank you for this opportunity to do something new. The biggest challenge is just trying to relax and not be so anxious. The unknown is what drives me nuts. Running has been different.
At the same time, I have such a greater appreciation for my body, going through this process and being able to bring life into the world. So you only stopped running a few weeks ago.
What is the hardest part of running while pregnant? Progressively getting slower and feeling worse on your runs. I felt fine enough to not know that I was pregnant. So it really does take a toll on your body.
