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Pippa Middleton's rare interview about motherhood and how she keeps fit

Photo credit: Ricky Vigil - Getty Images
Photo credit: Ricky Vigil - Getty Images

It's not often that Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa Middleton, gives public interviews about her life, but the mother-of-two has spoken out about the challenges of keeping an exercise routine while raising her children, Arthur and Grace, and how she manages to stay in shape despite having such a busy day-to-day.

Revealing a love for running in particular, Pippa divulged how her passion for exercise and sports (somewhat of a shared obsession for the Middleton family) has taken a backseat over the past two years due to motherhood, and how running has helped her to keep a clear head during times of stress.

"I grew up in the countryside so being outdoors and involved in sport [is] in my blood," Pippa explained during the chat with running shoe brand, Hoka One One. "Like us all, I've faced different hurdles and challenges, but with running as part of my routine... It has brought clarity when I have felt muddled, a safe space before I make any big decision and a sense of freedom when life’s pressures weigh me down. Running and sport in general has been a constant light in my life."

Pippa also said that having a love of running has also been beneficial when pushing her body to the limits while partaking in other sporting challenges.

Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images
Photo credit: David M. Benett - Getty Images

It turns out she's quite the adrenaline junkie, having participated in a 3,000-mile ultra-distance road cycling Race Across America (RAAM), climbed Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, alongside joining in with a ski mountaineering race, the Patrouille de Glacier, organised by the Swiss armed forces. Phew!

However, after becoming a mother (Arthur is now 2-years-old and Grace is almost five months), Pippa - quite understandably - says it's harder to find the time for such intense challenges and workouts.

"More recently, over the past two years, family life and motherhood has consumed much of my spare time and unsurprisingly the challenges I thrived on have taken a back seat," she confessed. "Running and fitness still form part of my weekly routine but not to the level it was before. My running has been more after babies and toddlers than crossing finish lines, which I’m fine with — for now!"

Pippa also paid homage to the many benefits she experienced by staying active throughout both of her pregnancies, with a focus on keeping 'fit and strong', as well as boosting her mental health.

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images
Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

"Being active with my two and a half-year-old son in the park or playground, transporting him on the back of my bike, and buggy running when he was a baby have been ways in which I have been able to include outdoor exercise whilst being a hands-on mummy," she said, when explaining how she managed the juggling act of parenting and self-care. "It’s helped manage my weight, is time efficient and gives us both the chance to enjoy the fresh air and explore the great outdoors."

Pippa's love of spending time in the great outdoors has also rubbed off on her children, she said – something that her sister, The Duchess of Cambridge, has previously discussed as being an especially happy part of their childhood. While speaking on a parenting podcast in 2019, Kate even described being outdoors with family as her 'happy place'.

"As children, we spent a lot of time outside, and it’s something I’m really passionate about," The Duchess commented. "I think it’s so great for physical and mental wellbeing and laying foundations. It’s such a great environment to spend time in, building those quality relationships without the distractions of 'I've got to cook' and 'I've got to do this.' And actually, it’s so simple."

It's clearly an ethos that Pippa agrees with too, as she added in her interview, "Being such an active family has rubbed off on my son, he loves nothing more than running wild in the woods, parks and fields with our two dogs, even if it’s howling a gail and pouring with rain."

Anyone else feeling inspired to lace up their trainers now?

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