Meet Katie Palavecino, a “triathloning” mom who lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, Matias, and two young children: 2.5 year old son, Leo, and 16-month old daughter, Chloe. Katie and I first met in 2008 at a Luna Chix summit and have kept up with each other now and then online since then. Read on to see how this crack-of-dawn rising mom balances family-time, work and training with that other thing we all deal with along the way – mom-guilt! When Katie isn’t training with her current team HPB, she manages to also find the time to keep a family blog (www.thepalavecinos.com) and a training/racing blog (www.katiedavison.net). You can also follow Katie on twitter: @k80gage

What was your life as an athletically, and otherwise, before having children? How has it evolved before and between each of your children?

I met my husband, Matias, in 2007 at a masters swim practice.  We were married in August of 2011 and soon after had two children, Leo (2.5 years) and Chloe (16 months).

Triathlon has become my lifestyle since I did my first triathlon in 2005. It has had it’s ups and downs since then but has always been and will always be a part of my life. The summer before Leo was born after several years of heavy training all I could think was…I wish I had a baby so I wasn’t expected to go on a 6 hour bike ride every weekend!  I needed and wanted  to find more of a balance in my life.

Now as a mother, the volume of training has definitely decreased…while the intensity has increased….quality over quantity!

What has motivated and inspired you to get training and racing again?

Balancing family, work and training is a challenge…but anything worth doing is worth overdoing right?! Managing it all on a daily basis is extremely fulfilling to me.

Since becoming a mom I still have a lot of the same motivation to train…as it has become my lifestyle and a part of me.  And now with a family have added more motivation…I want to set a good role model for my children and I need to stay fit to keep up with my two bundles of energy!

One aspect of triathlon that has somewhat dropped since having a family is the social aspect.  I don’t have as much time to go on group rides/runs/masters practices or happy hours.  I got a coach in August to help with giving my quality workouts that I could do on my own and keep me from overtraining…knowing when I can stop and I have trained hard enough for the day.

Did you “train” during your pregnancies? 

I stayed active through both pregnancies…swimming, spinning, or jogging every day…just got to keep moving.  With both I swam right up until the day I delivered.  I think I did about 500 miles in the pool with each 🙂

What are your current training/racing ambitions for 2015?

After back to back pregnancies and not much racing for 2 seasons…2014 was all about feeling it out at local races…seeing how competitive I wanted to be.  Training and keeping in shape will always be part of my life…but the racing I was unsure of.  My first race back and it was like nothing changed!  I was loving it.

2015…hoping to venture out a bit.  I have always struggled with running.  Hoping to get that more solid and have a successful half ironman, as well as compete in my favorite local races.

How do you balance family/work demands and interests etc with your athletic goals? 

As much as I am motivated and driven to continue in the sport…I still struggle with mom guilt.  Before children I thought it would be about finding the TIME to balance it all.  But I have all the time I need.  I have a super supportive hubby and I don’t like to sleep.  But there is this thing called mom GUILT that gets me!  Or not so much guilt but wanting to be with my kids.  I plan my days and balance of family/work/training to minimize this feeling 🙂  Love hurts!  (in a very good way)

I work at home full-time as a Patent Examiner for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  The job is extremely flexible.   A typical day is getting up before everyone (4:30am) and rolling up to my office to start work.  Once the family gets up (6ish) we all hang out and they are out the door to daycare (7ish).  Then is my training time.  Then it is back to my desk.  Often days I am able to finish early and pick the kids up and do something fun before the evening routine of dinner/bath/bed.

Any tips or advice you would have for other moms with goals of getting back in shape and/or competing again after having children?

Routine and planning!  Making a schedule with your family (hubby) is such a huge help!

Also having the help from a coach…with less time to get in with groups it gives focus and quality workouts and having that accountability to someone.

Incorporating family into workouts is huge too.  Some weekends can be crazy with my hubby and I both trying to fit training in.  Taking kids to the pool with us to play a bit, jogging with the kids in the stroller, riding with the kids in the trailer…all ways to get in workouts while spending time with family 🙂