You’ve probably heard pregnancy described as something like “creating life” or “carrying a baby.” But what if we described it as: the human body operating at the edges of its endurance threshold for nearly nine months? Well that’s exactly what the research shows.
Meet Needed Champion Leanne Hainsby-Alldis, Peloton instructor and women’s health advocate, who is navigating her journey with openness and strength.
“The most empowered thing we can do is give ourselves permission to reimagine Motherhood - to redefine what strength means on this journey of endurance.”
The Science of Pregnancy Endurance
In a landmark study, researchers found that even the most elite ultramarathoners cannot sustainably exceed 2.5 × their resting metabolic rate (BMR). Yet during pregnancy, a woman’s body is estimated to operate at about 2.2 × BMR, placing the body at the brink of human sustainable capacity.
A 2024 study found that full-term pregnancy burns approximately 49,753 calories, more than 20 marathons’ worth of energy expenditure.
Add to that: increases in blood volume, heart workload (pumping roughly 50% more blood), shifts in organ systems and musculoskeletal changes—all sustained over 40 weeks. Pregnancy is a sustained endurance event with no finish line, where physical, emotional, and mental demands continue to compound.
Why Leanne is Our Champion
In 2022, Leanne faced an incredibly challenging year: she experienced a miscarriage of her first, much-wanted baby, followed shortly by the sudden death of her best friend. Amid this grief, she discovered a lump in her breast, which was diagnosed as triple-positive breast cancer. Throughout treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, she focused on protecting her fertility, completing IVF and using ovarian-protective medication.
Leanne exemplifies resilience through extraordinary circumstances, yet complex challenges including serious illness and loss are something many of us face when becoming parents. Her journey shows that endurance is not just physical it is emotional, mental, and logistical. It’s important to champion that most of us face highs and lows and all of us deserve support.
Practical Takeaways
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Pregnancy is high-demand and high-adaptation: fuel your body with nourishing calories, prioritize recovery, and build your support network.
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Redefine strength: slowing down, adjusting goals, and embracing rest is part of the endurance process.
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Acknowledge emotional endurance: grief, loss, or trauma amplifies the pregnancy challenge, seek support when needed.
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Support your nutrition with a balanced diet and a robust prenatal like our Prenatal Multi Powder, which Leanne adds to her smoothie routine to help her thrive.
The Bottom Line
Pregnancy is not just preparation for motherhood, it is about taking care of your body alongside the needs of a growing baby. It is a prolonged endurance feat in its own right.
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 infertility journeys to labor or 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 pregnant with:
