Every athlete knows this truth: the race begins long before you cross the start line. For a woman preparing to try for a baby, the most important training isn’t in the gym, it’s often in the quiet work of nutrition, hormonal balance, emotional resilience, and rest.
Meet Katie Hoff Anderson, three-time Olympic medalist turned IVF champion. She knows what it means to push her body to its limits. Now she’s using the same mindset to prepare for motherhood.
“Motherhood is an endurance sport because endurance requires patience, resilience, and empathy for yourself. I’m in the very beginning stages of creating life and becoming a mom, and I’ve already drawn upon all of those qualities.”
The Science of Pre-Conception Endurance
Before a baby is conceived, a woman’s body is already entering an endurance phase. Studies show that more than 90% of women in the pre-conception stage have low or marginal levels of at least one critical nutrient, like folate, vitamin D, B12, or omega-3 DHA.
According to a 2024 analysis in JAMA, women of reproductive age are consuming fewer vitamins A, C, and iron than they did two decades ago, raising concerns about nutritional adequacy for both maternal and fetal health. In other words: many women are starting the motherhood marathon already running on empty.
Why Katie is Our Champion
Katie’s elite-athlete background gives her a unique vantage point: she knows discipline, recovery, and the mental stamina it takes to perform at a high level. Now, she’s openly sharing about a new journey in an area where patience, uncertainty, and self-compassion are essential. Her voice helps normalize the idea that preparing for motherhood is not just about conception, but how you work through what is often not an easy process for those hoping to get pregnant both mentally and physically.
Practical Takeaways
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Treat the months before TTC as preparation, not just waiting. Think of it like a training block.
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Prioritize foundational nutrition: folate, choline, vitamin D, DHA, iron, because depletion is widespread.
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Sleep, stress mitigation, movement and support matter just as much as supplements. Endurance is as mental as physical.
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For body and mind: use small markers of progress (sleep improved, nutrient labs better, mood more stable) rather than fixating on “when will I get pregnant?”
The Bottom Line
If motherhood is the ultimate endurance sport, the starting line often comes before the baby arrives. Katie reminds us that the training matters: building reserves, cultivating resilience, and showing up for yourself both physically and emotionally. Because once the race begins, you’ll be glad you started strong.
Our “Motherhood Is an Endurance Sport” campaign kicks off alongside the NYC Marathon, celebrating the unmatched strength, stamina, and resilience of mothers everywhere. The visuals spotlight the many faces of endurance with champions from IVF and fertility journeys to labor or the everyday marathon of motherhood. Reminding the world that moms deserve the same recognition, recovery, and support as any athlete. At the heart of this initiative is Every Mother Counts (EMC), a nonprofit improving maternal health worldwide. To further their mission, we’re releasing a limited-edition “Motherhood Is an Endurance Sport” shirt, available online and at Happier Grocery, with 100% of proceeds supporting EMC’s vital work.
Fight Depletion when you are trying to conceive with:
