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Juggling a newborn and training for a marathon was already a monumental task, but Jacqueline was also completing her Master’s degree! While many believe running a marathon is challenging, pursuing a degree while navigating life with a newborn? That’s a marathon on a whole new level.
Only moms who’ve been through it can truly understand the unique challenges of recovering from a C-section - throw in sleepless nights, diaper changes, and feeding schedules, and it feels like running a marathon just getting through the day.
So, when I heard about Jacqueline, a runner from Australia, crushing her first marathon less than a year after giving birth, I had to know - how did she manage to fit in marathon training amidst the whirlwind of new motherhood?
“I’d run before or after my husband’s workday, and on weekends,” she shared. “I’d even run with the pram (stroller)… though that didn’t always go as planned. Sometimes she’d sleep through the whole run, other times I ended up carrying her for 1 to 3 kilometers, or I’d have to cut it short if she was too upset.”
But Jacqueline was determined. Having dreamt of running a marathon for years, she signed up for the 2023 Sydney Marathon a year in advance, all while hoping to expand her family. When she got pregnant, she decided to put the race on hold and deferred to 2024.
In December 2023, she welcomed her baby girl via an emergency C-section. Just six weeks later, she was back out there, pounding the pavement with a mix of sheer willpower and a stroller in tow.
Running became her escape—a way to find herself again amidst the chaos of motherhood. “I’d time my runs just after feeds, hit the gym when I could. It wasn’t easy,” she says.
And as if balancing a newborn and a marathon comeback weren’t enough, Jacqueline was also wrapping up her Master’s degree! Some people say running a marathon is tough, but chasing a degree while figuring out life with a newborn? That’s an ultra-marathon of its own.
So, how did she do in the 2024 Sydney Marathon? Well, Jacqueline started off strong and was on pace for her goal time of around 5 hours and 15 minutes. But by the 25-kilometer mark, she realized her training hadn’t included enough long runs. Knowing that pushing too hard could lead to injury, she adjusted her plan and walked most of the last 10 kilometers.
Her goal shifted from finishing in a specific time to simply crossing the finish line under 6 hours—and she did it! It may not have been the race she envisioned, but it was a victory all the same.
“Next time, I’ll improve my time by a lot,” she says with the same fierce determination that’s carried her through every challenge. And honestly? There’s no doubt she will.
Jacqueline’s journey reminds us all that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, our goals are never truly out of reach.
And if you have your own inspiring running journey to share, post it on Instagram or TikTok with #CarlethsRunnerStories and tag me @carlethkeys !
