Athlete of the Month: April Shrum
April Adkins Shrum (36 weeks Pregnant with Twins in Photo) I am a native Clarksvillian. Born and raised.I went to Trevecca Nazarene University where I met my husband, Joe. We got married in 2005 and he joined the Clarksville Police Department.
I met Nicole (maybe I should say stalked) in April 2010. I remember my first day with her (I nearly died). I was about 35 lbs too heavy and had an 8 week old son. She wanted me to run 400 meters. What was that? Like 6 miles? I walked most of that 1/4 mile. She had me do lots of squats. Much to my surprise a squat meant more than bending my knees slightly. I am certain she sat on my head to get my butt parallel to my knees. After an hour of torture I drove myself home, crying the whole way. Even though I felt so far from where I needed to be she had lit a fire inside of me. I was determined. I would give her 3 hours each week. I would go in, do what was asked of me and leave. I did just that.
After 7 months of working out with Nicole and sporadic healthy eating I had lost my exta weight. I had never felt better or stronger. I ran my first race in November of that year. It was a 5 mile turkey trot. I did not stop to walk and even finished in just over a 10 minute per mile pace. This was the same girl that had to walk her 400 meters 7 months before.
By November’s end I found out I was pregnant (again). I can admit that I was dispappointed. First, I had worked so hard and was hoping to enjoy my new found health. Also, my son was 9 months old. It wasn’t my idea of good timing. Most of all, the fear crept in my mind that I would gain another 65 pounds during this second pregnancy. Then it happened……I went to the doctor for my 8 week appointment. After a few jokes about having two kids so close together we got to the ultrasound. I knew I was in trouble when the doctor’s face went pale. She said, “Twins!”. After I gained composure (about a week later) I told myself that this pregnancy would be different. It had to be different. I had no choice but to stay active and bring two healthy boys into this world. So, thats what I did.
Nicole put me on a Crossfit Mom plan and I hung with it until 30 weeks (when contractions started). It was hard because I couldn’t increase my strength and do what everyone else was doing, but I didn’t give way to a pity party. I did a Nutrition Challenge during my first trimester. During that month I gained 1 pound. I gained 37 total pounds. The day before I had my twins I was throwing their 17 month brother around in the pool. I had such a great pregnancy and I give credit to Crossfit and healthy eating! I was able to carry my sons to full term (38 weeks) with no issue. No bed rest. Just a happy, healthy pregnancy.
Three kids later the Crossfit journey has been harder. There are some weeks that I do not get to come to the gym, but I keep getting up, dusting off and trying again. I want my kids to grow up understanding that good nutrition and fitness are important. My goals aren’t the same as everyone else’s goals at Solafide. I don’t aim to be the fastest or strongest (and most certainly not the most coordinated). I don’t even push myself like so many do, but I give it what I have each day and consider that a victory won.
I hope that my story can help encourage other moms or moms-to-be to stay active and healthy. Now IS the time to take care of you. Your children will treat themselves like they see you treating you. We don’t have to be the World’s Fittest (however, after the title of Athlete of the Month I am certain I will be in a magazine – watch out Nicole!). We just need to be healthy!
1 Comment
Leave a Reply
Find Us!
April, you look great. You have inspired me.