Who is Dr. Alexia McClerkin?
Alexia McClerkin is a wife, mother, doctor, nurse and philanthropist with a passion for fitness and helping others. She went into the medical field so that she could aid in the healing of others.
9 Months of 5K, health, fun and fitness are just a few of the topics we covered with, Dr. Alexia McClerkin. Her unique passion for prenatal health, and determination to inspire everyday moms is one of the few keys to her success. Learn more about this multi- tasking mama and the 9 Months of 5K Organization, in our Q & A:
What is 9 Months of 5K?
9 Months of 5Kis a budding organization that is dedicated to helping women, specifically low income to get access to the necessary resources such as health care and assistance throughout their pregnancy. In addition, we will be doing workshops to teach the women about the importance of maintaining a healthy pregnancy through exercise and nutrition and how to achieve a healthy lifestyle on a low budget. The workshops will also feature speakers that will assist the women with self-confidence, dressing for success, resume writing skills, obtaining employment post-partum and much more.
What was your vision when you started 9 Months of 5K?
Initially, when I first started 9 Months of 5K, the goal was for me to just do a 5K every month during my pregnancy. I had so many women telling me that I was an inspiration to them at the races and when I would post on social media. I would have women contacting me for advice; and I realized there was a bigger picture; there are so many moms that are not sure what they should do and think that something is healthy when it is it not. There are so many young girls that are getting pregnant and not obtaining the proper prenatal care; if they just had someone to take them under their wing and help them without prejudice or judgement it could have a huge impact on their outcome.
What made you commit to the 5K when you were pregnant with your first child?
When I was pregnant with my first son I worked out 5-6 days a week and walked anywhere from 1-3 miles a day. I didn’t do a 5K during that pregnancy until I was 9 months. I was not working and we were living off of 1 salary so I could not afford anything more than that. Also, doing races never crossed my mind; I just wanted to make sure I stayed tone and healthy throughout.
With this pregnancy I had my mind made up that I was going to do a 5K every month until delivery. I ended up really enjoying it and it turned into a few per month and increasing the distances. The first few months I started seeing my finish times dropping and I was hitting PRs. I was so excited, because as a pregnant woman I was running faster than I was when I was not pregnant and even better I was actually running the whole race and not walking.
What challenges did you face due to pregnancy that you don’t think you would’ve if you weren’t pregnant, and how did you overcome those challenges?
In regards to challenges, the hardest semester of nursing school I was in my first trimester of my pregnancy and I was completely exhausted; it was as though someone had come and drained the life out of me. Not only was I running my practice during the week, I also contract for another company 2 days a week and I was at the hospital on the weekends doing my clinical rotations. I had been doing this the first 2 semesters, but the 3rd semester was especially hard; I could not stay awake past 7 or 8 pm. I was missing deadlines and things were falling by the wayside; unfortunately my family got it the worse because they were completely neglected. If I was home and wasn’t sleep I was locked in the office studying.
How did your healthy lifestyle during pregnancy benefit you?
My healthy lifestyle benefits me because I have more energy and I am accomplishing goals that I never thought I’d be able to accomplish. I never saw myself doing more than a 5K, I have completed 2 10Ks, a quarter marathon and a half marathon. When I was in chiropractic school I was training for a triathlon but that only lasted about 3 weeks and it went into the back of my mind. I can proudly say that at 8.5 months pregnant I successfully completed my first triathlon and felt great afterwards.
How does your healthy lifestyle benefit how you handle being a wife, mother, and business woman?
My 3 year old son loves to run me to the finish line and likes to come with my on my runs. In addition, my husband joins us as well in the evenings. It has become a family affair. My healthy lifestyle requires me to be very organized and time conscious. I have to be able to juggle family life, with clinic and training. I like it though because I don’t procrastinate as much and if something has to be shifted; I usually just won’t train and I bring my work home sometimes. My son has a very active schedule as well; at just 3, he’s already involved in tutoring, swimming, tumble bus and swimming. I can’t allow myself to miss those important moments.
How was your pregnancy and labor and delivery different from experiences that you’ve heard about from other women?
I had heard horror stories about labor and Google and watching YouTube videos did not help either. With my first pregnancy all of my friends that delivered in the months prior to me had long labors that ultimately ended up in them having a C-section. Naturally I was freaked out and was adamant with my doctor that I was not having a C-section and we would do everything possible to prevent that; her reply, “good, because that requires more work for me.” I felt so much more at ease, in addition I was planning on a drug free labor. My first pregnancy was easier than this one. I am hoping that my labor is quicker; though my first labor was not very long; approximately 6 hours and about 10 minutes of pushing, my goal is a few hours or less. Those contractions are no joke!
Did people ever tell you that you were doing more than you should? What did they say?
I get that a lot; the most common is, “you need to go sit down somewhere!” I’ve even had people tell me that I was harming the baby. In the beginning of my pregnancy when I’d talk about my races and people would respond negatively I’d just sign up for more to prove to them and myself that I could do it and nothing or no one could stop me, as long as my baby boy was fine and my doctor was ok with it. I spent so much of my life trying to fit into a certain mold and wanting to fit in and for people to like and accept me; this was the time that I could care less about what others thought and if they did not like it, it was too bad. My body, my child, my life. I couldn’t be happier! I will say that I have had more positive reactions than negative reactions though.
What advice do you have for women who are going through pregnancy and want it to be a healthy one?
For women that are going through pregnancy and want it to be a healthy one they should consult with their physician first to make sure that they are not high risk or certain movements would cause issues. Once cleared by their physician depending on their fitness level prior to pregnancy they can start out with 15-30 minutes of walking and or light weights. It is important stay hydrated. When you’re pregnant your body requires more water and nutrients. Lastly, and most importantly LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! Now that I’m much further along I know I have to move a little slower and it’s completely ok, at the end of the day I’m still going to finish the race, may be a slower time but it is completely ok. If it does not feel right, it’s ok to stop.
Your Vitamin Line was one of your go to supplements during your pregnancy, what encouraged you to develop it and what are some of the benefits?
I decided to start a vitamin line because I felt that women could relate more to a small business run by a woman that not only talks the talk but walks the walk. The vitamins contain all of the essential nutrients and vitamins necessary for mom and baby. I wanted something that was my own and I would be proud to promote. Often I get approached by people to advertise or promote a product, but I cannot and will not promote something that I don’t stand behind or believe in.
What advice do you have for women who desire to have a healthy pregnancy but are afraid to eat certain things or do certain activities in fear of harming their baby?
If women are afraid to eat certain things honestly they probably should not eat them. Our bodies and taste buds change so much during pregnancy. I used to love chicken, now I can barely stand it. Certain things should definitely be avoided during pregnancy such as fish high in mercury and caffeine. In regards to activities you can’t go wrong with a light jog or walking. Prenatal yoga and Pilates are also great and they help towards an easier labor. If unsure, consult your physician or a certified specialist; Google isn’t always your best source for information as some of the material is opinion based and not backed by actual research and you don’t want to end up harming yourself or baby.
