From pregnancy to PRs: Former Olympic triathlete still crushing it
MELBOURNE, Fla. (BVM) — Once upon a time, Kaitlin Donner was on the USA Triathlon National Team competing in Olympic trial races. Now, she’s a physical therapy business owner and mother of a 1-year-old son. But something hasn’t changed throughout all of these years. She still competes and performs at elite levels that only the best athletes can.
In January, the Satellite High School and University of Florida alumnus raced in the We Are Houston 5K, finishing with a time of 16:15. In the 5,000-person event, Donner’s time was good enough for first in the women’s division and sixth overall. In February, she followed up that performance with an even better one at the Eye of the Dragon 10k in Melbourne. She broke the course record and finished with a personal best of 35:11.
Then in March, at the Clermont Sprint Triathlon Panamerican Cup, considered an elite event, Donner’s impressive run became even more solidified.
The super-athlete placed third, finishing just six seconds behind the pace set by first place winner Renee Tomlin. Tomlin isn’t just your average racer by the way, as she is hoping to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. The only other person to complete the event before Donner was Dominika Jamnicky, another Olympic hopeful representing Canada.
After being incapable of training for nine months due to her pregnancy, Donner admits that she is surprised to see herself competing at this level. Four months after the birth of her son was when she returned to racing the 5K. It was with friends and family, just for an easy-going, fun experience. But now, she’s setting personal bests each time out. She attributes this success to her new outlook on racing.
“Before the birth of my son, I put a lot of pressure and stress on myself for competing but now there’s so many other things going on,” Donner said. “I have to make sure he’s fed and taken care of. I’m looking for him while I’m on the course…I have no race anxiety anymore. I’m just going out and having fun.”
And while this new mindset may play a big factor in her recent success, Donner also made sure to stay active during the pregnancy. Although she couldn’t train specifically for triathlons, she continued running until she reached the later stages of childbirth. Even in the later stages, she stayed active by swimming. In fact the day before she entered labor, Donner and some friends went for an open swim and came to a disagreement: Nobody wanted her swimming longer than 30 minutes, and of course, the workout junkie wanted to swim for an hour.
“We bargained that if I got out at 30 minutes, we’d have to stop for some ice cream on the way home,” Donner said.
However, despite the fact that Donner can’t stay away from competition and is still capable of Olympic-style performances, she says the ship has most likely sailed on her opportunity to make a U.S. Olympic team. The time-factor it would take between training and travel is just too much at this juncture of her life. Though she likes to think that physically she’d still be capable, she isn’t willing to make the sacrifice of being away from her family or business.
This doesn’t mean she’s done competing in triathlons, though. Donner says that she simply loves getting out and pushing herself to be better. She loves running in the dark early in the morning when people are still sleeping. It’s all that she knows.
“It’s become a habit. I’ve been competing since 8 years old, and I ran in high school and college,” Donner said. “It’s not just about the race for me. It’s about getting out and being active.”
And one day when her competitive career does come to an end, Donner’s business will surely keep her a part of the triathlon community. Her physical therapy business, New Wave Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation, has teamed up with a Brevard County racing organization called Space Coast Runners. Most recently, Donner coached a camp that hosted 53 participants.
Donner says that she will always stay involved with the triathlon society, giving back to what has been so good to her.
“I’m flexible. Whatever athletes need, I can make it happen,” Donner said. “Whether I provide the help, find a way to make it happen or find someone who can fill that void.”
