Great leggings, pelvic floors and snap-back culture
MUMISH Meets... Laura Fletcher
For me, exercise has always been a fraught subject. It's been so tied up in weight loss and diet culture and self-punishment. And I’ve never enjoyed it - school P.E. lessons made sure of that.
It wasn't until I had kids that I changed the way I thought about exercise. My first baby was born in winter during a lockdown, so no postnatal classes were running and it was freezing and dark. I hardly left the house, which I think, to be honest, made me a bit depressed.
That first year was a struggle, so when I had my second baby, my instincts were to get myself outside and exercise as much as I could. I went to my local postnatal yoga and pilates classes – which I often ended up feeding my daughter through most of – but they felt very gentle and like a safe-space to approach my pelvic floor.
I also did one-on-one postnatal strengthening sessions with a trainer which has been a very worthwhile investment, helping me hugely with tiredness and anxiety in the new born months. And building-up my lower stomach muscles again, which after two caesareans had taken a real hammering.
Now I find exercise invaluable for managing stress - both parenthood-related and work. And of course it's time away from kids/laundry/emails when I can just focus on myself.
Not to sound over the top, but reframing exercise and feeling like I'm doing it for my sense of peace and happiness - rather than as a chore to endure to make myself thinner - has been quite life changing. And it's made my experience of motherhood feel that bit smoother.
Which is why I wanted to talk to Laura Fletcher, co-founder of OneTrack Club, for my next MUMISH Meets.
Working in marketing for luxury brands including Matches, Roksanda and Harvey Nichols, Laura found running during a period of career burnout when she was 27 years old. In 2019 she switched fashion for fitness and launched OneTrack Club, a running community and coaching service.
I first ‘met’ Laura on Instagram, then did a run club with her husband and co-founder Anthony. Her whole approach to fitness is joyful, kind and accessible - which is mirrored in the club.
In a space where there is such a lot of misinformation, smugness and elitism, Laura is down-to-earth and encouraging. I found her interview very insightful and interesting. I hope you do, too!
So, here we go… MUMISH Meets Laura Fletcher.
FG: How many kids do you have and how old are they?
LF: Two, soon to be three! There’s Theo (6), Heath (4) and next month we will be welcoming Matilda (Tilly!).
FG: Huge congratulations! How has pregnancy felt the third time around?
LF: It’s been a really smooth pregnancy. Part of me wonders whether that’s because my body was in a really strong place before I got pregnant, as I’d just come off the back of training for the London Marathon and had been building my fitness up consistently again the two years leading up to that. It could also just be luck, who knows. It has felt special to be carrying a girl and knowing that this will very likely be our last child, so I’m really trying to savour it. It’s also gone incredibly fast, as I’ve been so busy with the boys and building the business this time around.
FG: You’ve been working on OneTrack Club since 2016, so exercise and fitness has obviously been a part of your life for a while. How has your relationship to it changed since having kids?
LF: Since having kids, movement is how I show up for myself. A lot of the time it’s not even that I feel compelled to exercise, but I know that it’s essential for my mental health, sense of confidence and to remind myself that maintaining a strong, healthy body is crucial. As parents – mothers especially – we often fall to the bottom of the list and exercise, for me, is reminding myself that I am important.
Exercise and fitness has not always been a part of my life though. I was a bookworm at school, studied English Literature at university and worked in fashion (when it wasn’t as cool to be fit, just thin) and never really felt that it was part of my identity until I found running in my late twenties. Someone once warned me that my calves would get too big from running, but since I’ve had kids, I couldn’t care less about how my body looks, it’s about what it can do. Being around for my children as long as possible and being able to keep up with them is everything.
FG: Even though we are having more authentic/open conversations about the postpartum period, I feel there's still a lot of pressure to ‘snap back’ after having a baby; Instagram is full of images of celebrities and influencers looking slim moments after giving birth. I wondered as someone in the fitness space, whether you felt the pressure to ‘snap back’?
LF: There’s still so much pressure. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t conscious of it, but I’ve learnt to focus on my own journey and have become pretty good at letting go of any negative thoughts. With both boys I put on 20kgs, and with both it took me one to two years to “get back” to me. I did so in my own time, when I was ready mentally and physically to do so – and very gradually. So there’s never been a ‘snap back’ for me.
FG: What would you say to women who were feeling pressure to fit back into their jeans?
LF: Now that I am in the fitness space, I’ve also had a peek behind the curtain and it’s important to note that the people who ‘snap back’ within weeks may have a team behind them helping them, which means they more than likely have a lot of childcare support, too. Or they may have completely different genetics or starting off points. They may also be putting themselves under a great deal of stress by over-training and under-fueling and be doing serious damage to their bodies. This isn’t even digging into how images can be doctored very easily now. You’ve got to think about you and you alone.
My main thing would be to look at your ‘why’ for wanting to get back in your jeans and lean more into the reason. Fashion is a big part of how I express myself so I get it, but I train for life and looking after my body is a bigger incentive than putting it through stress if it’s not quite ready. But again, that’s just me. If you’re happy trading off the pressure and the stress to get back in the jeans quickly because it serves your greater ‘why’ then that’s fine, too. I think it’s about being aware of the impact of our decisions. There should be no judgment as no way is the right way.
FG: How did you approach postpartum fitness in-between pregnancies? Are there particular areas you focused on or any targets you set yourself?
LF: If it was down to me, I’d be straight back to running as quickly as possible but there are a lot of steps I need to take before I get there, so it’s always a process. I’ve had pelvis issues in the past and there’s been a lot of rehab-esque exercises from a strength and mobility perspective. It’s not the part of fitness that I love, so I’ve found it does help to set a goal so that I know the running bit will come. I’m already starting to think about a half-marathon at the end of the year as this will incentivise me to do all the foundational work over the summer and get back into it gently. The key thing though is not to get too hung up on the goal. If my body is simply not ready and not playing ball, I’ll be ok with that.
FG: Regular exercise has been hugely beneficial to my mental health since becoming a mum, but it's hard to fit it in when you have kids. I can only imagine your schedule is hectic with two boys and running a business - how do you make time for it? And any tips for the rest of us?
LF: It just has to become a non-negotiable like brushing your teeth or washing your hair. It’s so easy for other things to get bumped up the priority list and it’s very easy to justify not doing it, but it is essential – the work / laundry can wait.
FG: If someone only has ten minutes a day, what could we do to boost our fitness levels?
LF: I’m not a coach and at OneTrack Club we take a highly personalised approach to fitness, so I wouldn’t like to generalise. But, knowing the importance of strength training for longevity and movement outdoors for the mind, I’d think about how I can get more steps in some days and what at-home strength exercises I could do others. This is a perfect thing to speak to one of our coaches about to get a plan bespoke to your body, your life and your goals.
FG: What would your advice be to women getting back into exercise after having a baby?
LF: To slow down and listen to your body. It can be frustrating not being able to do what you did before straight away, which is humbling and shows how much your body has been through. Baby steps! I also think that if you’re able to, investing in personal coaching with a qualified expert will save you a lot in the long run.
FG: Can we talk about pelvic floor? I recently did one of your run clubs (which was brilliant and far more enjoyable than I thought running could ever be) but it was the first time I'd run after having my kids and was a little nervous about my pelvic floor not holding up. For those wanting to get into running after birth, how long should we be waiting and what exercises can we do to help prepare?
LF: I can only speak to my own experience here and I’m very fortunate to have one of the best coaches in the industry for a husband, so for me, I had to focus on building up my overall strength and starting with walks that gradually got longer and turned into brisk walks, then walk/jogs before running was back on the cards. I’m not sure whether my pelvic floor hasn’t been an issue or it’s been addressed in the process (although don’t get me wrong, sneezing and trampolines are still not my friend and require some bracing for!)
Everyone is so different and has a different history of exercise and pregnancy and postpartum journeys, so if there’s a known issue with your pelvic floor then seeking expert advice is the way forward.
FG: Which brands are your go-to for workout gear? And what pieces will we find in your kit? Anything you found particularly good for wearing postpartum?
LF: I have some cooler, statement pieces from District Vision and Satisfy, as well as solid basics from Decathlon (some brilliant shorts that saw me through my marathon training and marathon), and some pieces from Soar, which is known for quality (great socks, merino base layers, running tights). I tend to rely on brands that design for running, as other leggings tend to roll down or shorts aren’t designed to hold a phone and tons of gels, etc. Nike trainers (variants for trail, race day and gym) are my go-to for working out.
For postpartum, I tend to raid my husband’s kit and this time around will be sporting a nursing bra from Natal Active as they’re the only bras I’ve found that are designed for high impact sports like running, but that can also support a feed mid or post-exercise.
FG: Which maternity pieces/brands would you recommend for prenatal exercise?
LF: Natal Active wasn’t around for my previous two pregnancies, but it’s been a game-changer this time. The leggings are super comfortable but supportive (and still don’t roll down at week 36!) and the nursing bra is designed to be adjusted as your body changes during pregnancy. Otherwise, to be honest, for strength work, I’ve been wearing my husband’s kit, which is either Onetrack Club kit tees or Lululemon joggers.
FG: Outside of gym gear, what are your wardrobe staples?
LF: I tend to live in jeans and a T-shirt or shirt. I usually wear my Citizens of Humanity Horseshoe jeans (love a high-waisted jean), Comme des Garcons x Converse beige low-tops and a plain COS tee or linen shirt. I’ll usually layer up with a cardigan and have lived in this one in dark grey from Uniqlo, which has been great with leggings now I’m pregnant and will work for breastfeeding. It’ll also go over a tee and with CoH jeans whenever I’m back there. For rainy days I live in Stella McCartney rubber ankle boots for muddy park trips and walking the dog.
To adapt the jeans/tee look for work meetings, I have a vintage Ralph Lauren blazer (mens, size XL for an oversized silhouette) to throw on over the top.
I don’t tend to buy much but when I do, I literally wear things until they are unrepairable. I’ve got my eyes on some jeans, a shirt and a blazer from E.L.V. Denim this year, so I’m already planning for those as the next investment pieces.
FG: What is your mum bag and what’s in it?
I haven’t needed a big bag for a while as the boys are out of that stage, so I travel as light as possible and opt for functional clothes with massive pockets. When with the kids, I usually add an oversized denim jacket (mine is old Zara x Charlotte Gainsbourg) to pop a few plasters, my phone and keys in.
If I need a few more small essentials (wallet, sunglasses, lip balm, etc) then my handbag is a Jerome Dreyfuss crossbody. And if we’re going on a longer trip and I need to take spare clothes, water and snacks for the boys then I have what we call ‘the squirrel bag’ by Mini Rodini, which is super cute, but I’m happy to wear too! For the new baby, I’ve just bought this bag from Tiba + Marl, which will be on the buggy or thrown on as a crossbody. I basically need my hands free to keep the boys out of trouble at all times.
FG: What could you not parent without?
LF: Sleep. It changes everything.
onetrack.club
The Edit
Natal Active maternity and postnatal leggings, £55
Nike running trainers, £129.99
One more thing…
I saw these the other day and had to share. Cashmere socks! For £15! Imagine the cream pair sticking out of your shearling mules. Or giving an elevating touch to your trainer. The red would also be great with blue denim.
That's all for now. You're doing great, Frankie x
Random one but I bought some natal active medium shorts last year when I was pregnant..... went for one run in them then got too sick to exercise! But if anyone reading this wants them, I'll gladly post them so someone else can benefit. They are great shorts!