BABY ON BOARD

Heather Hilscher did something pretty spectacular last fall.

She didn’t just complete her first ever half marathon at the Eye Q Two Cities Marathon, but she did it while four months pregnant.

“It was a goal I had already set and I really wanted to finish it out and achieve it,” Hilscher said.

Hilscher had no prior running experience before she began training in June of 2008. Originally, she just began running as part of a weight loss program, but seeing her sister Mindy run she became encouraged to run longer distances before she finally committed to run Two Cities.

Slowly but surely, she started increasing her mileage with the constant encouragement of her sister.

“My sister had been running and I really admired what she was doing,” Hilscher said.

It wasn’t until August that she found out she was pregnant with her fourth child, and already focused on doing the half marathon Hilscher continued the training.

“I really wanted to do it,” Hilscher said. “Of course I got the blessing of my doctor first but we talked about everything and it worked out.”

With three kids already, Hilscher said her mornings were already pretty early and there weren’t many Saturdays she was getting to sleep in, so running seemed to fit into her schedule well.

So, with the support and guidance of her sister and the MASH running group, Hilscher was in the best running shape of her life when it reached time for the race. She was able to finish the 13.2 mile race in two hours and 39 minutes. She averaged 12 minute miles something admirable for any runner but ever more so for a pregnant woman of four months.

“The challenge of having the half marathon set out before me and not knowing if I could push myself that far was really exciting for me,” Hilscher said.

Hilscher wanted to continue running but had to stop shortly after she finished the half-marathon because running was causing her to have early contractions.

So, she took nearly five months off and gave birth to Camden in April. After a doctor recommended six weeks Hilscher has picked right back up where she left off in her training.

Prior to giving birth, Hilscher signed up for a few races in hopes it would keep her dedicated to getting back into her training routine.
Last weekend she competed in the Nike Women’s half marathon in San Francisco.

“I’ve been really excited about this race,” Hilscher said. “I had to sign up before my pregnancy based on faith. But I did it so I would stay committed to running and have something to work for.”

The Nike race has only helped to prepare her even more so for her second stint at the Eye-Q race in Fresno November 13th.

Hilscher will be running the half marathon again this year; however, she doesn’t see her future in running reaching the point of doing full marathons.

“Honestly I am not that motivated to do a full,” Hilscher said. “The half for me is a good amount and plenty of a challenge.”

For more information about the Two Cities Marathon, check out their website: www.runfresno.com.

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