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FAIRFIELD, Conn. Fairfield's Lydia Heilmann has advice for women eager to return to racing after having children. Don't. Her experience provides a compelling reason why women shouldn't rush back to racing, she said.
Heilmann, who planned to compete this weekend in the TriFitness Women's Triathlon in Norwalk, returned to competing six months after her son, Lars, was born in 2007. She competed in four events in 2008 and three more in 2009. And she felt it, physically and mentally.
"It's not a good idea when you're breastfeeding full time,'' said Heilmann, 36, who is a yoga instructor. "If you start just six months after having a baby, you've had a year without using your core and abs. You start with a lack of core strength."
After completing the Westchester Triathlon in 2009, Heilmann stopped training. "I didn't feel good,'' she said. "That's when I knew I had to take a break." Her son, Tor, was born last July, and Heilmann took more time off before resuming training. She strengthened her core muscles before working to improve her aerobic capacity.
Heilmann won her age group in her first race in nearly two years at the TriFitness Seaside Sprint Triathlon in June. She started working with Pascale Butcher at TriFitness in Fairfield shortly before the race.
It's still not easy for Heilmann. Two small children can cramp training for any triathlete. "Mentally, you're much stronger, you've just had two babies,'' Heilmann said. "Physically, it's getting your core strength back. And finding the time to run, bike and swim."
Heilmann created time to train for the Seaside triathlon and was looking forward to the race Sunday at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, which has been canceled because of Hurricane Irene. A former field hockey and squash player at the University of Cambridge in England, she also competed in two marathons in 2000. Since 2005, she has competed exclusively in triathlons. "I was looking for a sport where you could enjoy company without joining a team,'' she said.
More triathlons are on the agenda for Lydia and her husband, Per, who also competes in races. Her challenge is keeping her competitive instincts while raising her young family. "I can't help but to be competitive,'' she said. "I try to be relaxed when I'm on the course, but I'm always chasing the girl in front of me."
Heilmann was disappointed to hear Sunday's race was canceled. "I've been looking forward to it,'' she said. "Triathlons are a sport that as you get older, you get better."
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