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This fitness enthusiast ran until her last day of pregnancy, and continued a week after the delivery

The longest run Jeanette Wang did was 42.2km at 2,000m+ elevation in Bhutan, while she was pregnant at 16 weeks

By Cheryl Lai-Lim - 

jeanette wang mother runner
Credit: Jeanette Wang
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Growing up, running has been a constant thread winding its way through Jeanette Wang’s life. “My dad has always been keen about jogging and other recreational sports,” the fitness enthusiast and former national triathlete shares. “And as far back as I can remember, we were always doing some kind of sport as our bonding activity.” 

Jeanette began running in races when she was in secondary school, as part of the X-Country and Athletics teams, but she “only became very serious about it in junior college (JC)”. She credits a specific person for sparking the interest: her coach, Leong Chee Mun, who was also a triathlete and member of the first Singapore Everest Team. 

“His passion for running and triathlon really rubbed off on me,” recalls Jeanette. When she was 17 and at the end of her first year of JC, she ran her first full 42.4km marathon (the 1999 Singapore Mobil Marathon).

Since then, the 41-year-old has “done hundreds of races — the furthest being the Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc in 2018, 178km with 10,000m elevation gain.”

Running through pregnancy

Jeanette hiking with her son Malte aged 7 months in May 2020 at Tai Tam Reservoir Park on Hong Kong Island

Being a mother of two has not deterred Jeanette from running. In fact, the passionate runner, who works in digital content in the finance industry, ran every day until the last day of her pregnancy. 

She shares: “I was living and working in Hong Kong from 2011-2020, and [thus I] seldom ran on pavement as the mountain trails were my backyard. During my pregnancy, I was more cautious on the trails to avoid a mishap, kept my heart rate at an aerobic level, and made sure I always kept hydrated. Of course, my obstetrician knew what I was doing and there were no issues throughout pregnancy.”  

Her two children, Marla, who is 9, and Malte, who is 4 this year, “arrived into this world in almost similar fashion”, she reveals. “For both, I found out I was pregnant one or two days after running a ~40 km trail running race. With both, I ran through pregnancy — the longest being 42.2km at 2,000m+ elevation at the 2019 Thunder Dragon Marathon in Bhutan when pregnant with Malte at 16 weeks. 

I ran till my water bag broke — with both I had run over 10km on the trails on a Saturday, baked a cake after, and the water bag broke in the wee hours of Sunday. Even more fascinating, both kids were born at exactly the same weight down to 3 decimal places!” 

Becoming a mother might have forced her to switch up her running regime, but her passion for the sport still burns brightly. 

Here, Jeanette shares more about her love for running, how running has positively impacted her life as a whole, and her advice for other moms who want to stay active despite being busy.

Which part of running do you love the most?

Credit: Jeanette Wang
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Caption: Jeanette hiking with my husband at Tai Tam Reservoir Park on Oct 6 2019 — just two weeks before Malte arrived
Ever since I got bitten by the running bug through Mr Leong, my favourite part of running has always been the freedom that comes with it. Freedom in the sense that you can do it anywhere, anytime, without any special equipment, as well as that it enables you to get into a zone where your mind is free from the stresses and shackles of daily life. Competition and winning races have always been secondary to me.

What adjustments did you make to your running routine after pregnancy?

Credit: Jeanette Wang
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Caption: Jeanette and her husband Matthias at the start of the Thunder Dragon Marathon in Bhutan in May 2019; she was 16 weeks pregnant with Malte when she ran this 42.2km road/trail race at 2,000m+ elevation
After pregnancy, I started very short and gentle jogging one week after delivery for both kids (natural birth, and fortunately no tears so no stitches). I ensured I kept extra hydrated, so that it would not affect my breastfeeding. With the pelvic floor still recovering, the first two months after delivery were really casual — nothing more than a way to get some fresh air and maintain a part of my “pre-mom” life.

How did becoming a mother change your running regime?

Credit: Jeanette Wang
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Caption: Jeanette hiking with Marla 16 months in Oct 2015 at Tai Tam Reservoir Park on Hong Kong Island — just a short walk uphill from their Happy Valley apartment


Becoming a mother has required me to be much more flexible about when and where I can run. As a full-time working mother, time is an absolute premium for me. With responsibilities like cooking, chores, planning family logistics, ferrying the kids to classes (mostly by bicycle, we don’t own a car) on top of demanding work, I can’t just run when I want to.

So this means being content with shorter runs of between 30-45 minutes, lunch runs at work, run commuting to work and errands, running random loops around an uninspiring location or running in mid-day heat while waiting for the kids’ classes to finish, and even running in ballet flats and a dress because a rare opportunity popped up! So overall compared to pre-mom days, lower mileage, lower quality runs. But at least I still get to run!

How did you inspire your children to participate in sports, particularly your 9-year-old daughter?

Credit: Jeanette Wang
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Caption: A family hike at MacRitchie Reservoir Park in April 2022 – the family hiked 10km in the rain
Just like my dad did with me, our bonding time is often some kind of outdoor or sports activity. Since my kids were babies, I would run with them (pushing them in a stroller) or hike with them (carrying them on my back). With Marla, I ran the 2018 Toyako Marathon (42.2km) in Hokkaido pushing her in the stroller all the way!

I also create opportunities for my kids to be active. It could be as simple as taking them to the playground, or cycling to get groceries. Having simple sports equipment at home helps too, like a gym mat and mini trampoline. And I sign them up for fun sports classes like swimming, gym, stand up paddle, floorball and rock climbing.

Finally, by showing them that I exercise regularly myself, it sets a good example and hopefully inspires them to participate in sports too.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your running journey, and how have you overcome them?

Credit: Jeanette Wang
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Caption: On the top of Hong Kong’s second highest peak, Lantau Peak (934m) with Marla aged 15 months in September 2015


I have been fortunate that I have not suffered any chronic running injuries. So the main challenge for me has been motherhood and trying to find the time to run. With less mileage and lower quality runs, and less sleep and more stress, my running performance has greatly decreased. This is mentally challenging for me but something I have come to accept as part of my running journey.

How has running and fitness positively impacted your life as a whole, both physically and mentally?

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Caption: Jeanette racing the 110km Trail Verbier St Bernard 2012 in Verbier, Switzerland. She came in first in the women’s senior (age 23 to 39) category.


Running and sports in general has physically kept me in good health and good shape — I can still wear my clothing from my early 20s. I believe it has also enabled me to have very smooth and easy pregnancies.

Mentally, it has helped me keep my stress levels in check and has kept me sane through life’s ups and downs. It has also allowed me to keep a part of my life that I enjoyed before becoming a mother.

Overall, I owe much that I have through running and sports really — my education path, my early career, my relationships and network of friends, and all the amazing places in the world I have experienced through races and sporting events (running, triathlon, cycling).

Can you share some tips or advice for other moms who want to stay active and fit while juggling their responsibilities?

Credit: Jeanette Wang
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Caption: Jeanette hiking with Marla aged 17 months in Nov 2015 on Lantau Island – this is the route up to Lantau Peak, with the famous Big Buddha in the background
Be flexible with your time and be realistic with your fitness goals and expectations. Small steps or a short run is better than nothing.

Incorporate your daily life as far as possible into your fitness — try running or bike commuting, and find opportunities for family fitness. This way, keeping fit comes naturally and won’t seem like a chore.

Finally and most importantly, find a sports activity you enjoy. Whether that’s running or yoga or spinning, you’ll only keep at it if you love it.

 

Do you enjoy running long distances as well? Meet fellow runners at this year's Income Eco Run (IER), which will take place on Sunday, 11 June 2023. You can join the Income Eco Run Village at the Marina Barrage, where you can explore a wide array of green vendors and their sustainable offerings. With over 20 vendors participating, this is an opportunity to discover and support local businesses that are dedicated to promoting eco-friendly products and services.
As part of its efforts to advocate a Zero Waste lifestyle, Income Insurance will donate S$1 for every 1 km clocked at the IER to the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) in support of the Zero Waste cause.

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