On this episode, professional triathlete Chelsea Sodaro shares an honest look at her return to elite racing after becoming a mom, offering a powerful perspective on what it really takes to balance motherhood and high-performance sport.
Chelsea dives into the physical and mental challenges of postpartum training, from rebuilding strength and endurance to navigating shifting identity and expectations as both an athlete and a parent. She also opens up about the role of nutrition in postpartum recovery and endurance performance, along with how her relationship with body image has evolved through pregnancy, motherhood, and elite competition.
Throughout the conversation, Chelsea highlights the importance of support systems for women in sport, advocating for better resources, visibility, and conversations around postpartum athletes. Her story is one of resilience, adaptability, and choosing to lean into hard things, even when the path forward isn’t clear.
If you’re a runner, triathlete, or endurance athlete navigating postpartum training—or simply looking for inspiration to keep showing up, this episode delivers both practical insight and a refreshing, real-world perspective.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Connection
01:30 Postpartum Journey of an Athlete
05:38 Mental Health Challenges and Societal Pressures
09:30 Returning to Competition After Motherhood
13:06 Nutritional Demands and Energy Deficiency
18:09 Surprising Aspects of Postpartum Experience
21:11 Resilience and Mental Strength Post-Baby
23:54 Body Image and Media Representation
29:32 Media Expectations and Personal Identity
31:15 Nutrition Journey: From Early Mistakes to Mastery
34:52 Transitioning to Triathlon: Fueling for Success
37:38 The Low Carb Experiment: Lessons Learned
45:36 The Power of 'Yes': Embracing Challenges
49:17 Motherhood and Endurance Sports: A New Perspective
About Chelsea
INSTAGRAM
Chelsea Sodaro is a professional triathlete, endurance athlete, and mother known for her powerful comeback to elite racing after pregnancy. She rose to international recognition after winning the Ironman World Championship in 2022, becoming the first American woman to claim the title in over two decades and notably, doing so in her first Ironman after giving birth.
With a background in long-distance running and a transition into triathlon, Chelsea brings a unique perspective to endurance performance, combining high-level competition with a deep understanding of resilience, adaptability, and long-term athletic development. Her journey through postpartum recovery and return to sport has made her a leading voice in advocating for better support, visibility, and resources for women and mothers in endurance athletics.
Chelsea is passionate about topics including postpartum training, endurance nutrition, body image, and mental resilience, and continues to inspire athletes to pursue both performance and personal fulfillment, on and off the race course.
This episode of Endurance Eats is brought to you by Alex Larson’s 1:1 Nutrition Coaching.
If you’ve ever wondered, Am I eating enough? Am I fueling this right? Why do I still feel tired? you’re not alone. Alex Larson Nutrition helps endurance athletes cut through the confusion and build a fueling plan that actually works for their training, lifestyle, and goals.
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