Lately, we've been hearing a lot about the moms doing extraordinary athletic feats while raising young kids: the one winning ultras at 22 weeks pregnant, the one breastfeeding between legs of a race, the one finishing Boston sub-3 in her second trimester. These stories matter, and the remarkability of them cannot be understated.

But for many women, they also feel impossibly far away. The inherent "that's incredible, but I could never"; superheroes dressed as moms who exist in a class entirely their own. Even the most athletically-driven women find themselves sacrificing their athletic pursuits when they become mothers, if not by circumstance, then by timing. The question then becomes: how do we come back? And, often more quietly: what if it's too late?

For Margaret Gibson, 64, the story is not dissimilar. A naturally athletic kid who competed in long jump and hurdles at the University of Vermont before a groin injury ended her collegiate career. For 40 years, Margaret's identity, purpose, and joy were fuelled through her role as a mother, working professional, and the endorphins of a snuck-in Zumba class. She spent ample time in the stands at her sons' sporting events, drawing the same conclusion a lot of mothers make: it's their time now, not mine.

At 53, her boys grown and needing less of her than ever, she caught a local news story about an 80-year-old pole vaulter and felt a glimmer of something: maybe she, too, could return to the track. Ten years later, she's a national gold medalist in triple jump at the Senior Games, and this past summer, seven years into her return to track and field, hit her fastest 50M sprint time ever.

In honor of Mother's Day, we're sharing Margaret's story for the moms in the thick of it. The one who hasn't left the couch in weeks thanks to first trimester nausea, the mom of young kids whose fitness routine feels forever fleeting, derailed by sick days and soccer practices, the mother of teenagers who is ready for a renaissance of her own.

This is for all the mothers holding the quiet fear that their strongest athletic chapter has already happened.

Margaret would be quick to tell you otherwise.

Can you walk us through your athletic story from the beginning.

I was a very shy child but was naturally athletic which gave me some confidence growing up, from being good on the monkey bars, to kick ball on the playground, and capture the flag in the neighborhood. I learned I might have some ability in the long jump at a middle school field day and with encouragement from my sister, I joined the track team when I got to high school where I focused on long jump and hurdles.

By the end of high school, I was jumping 15’6” which was pretty good for Vermont and we won states my senior year. I also jumped one year at University of Vermont but a groin injury ended that and I never went back…and that was that for 40 years. 

What did your journey look like into motherhood? How was your pregnancy and post-partum experience, specifically in relation to exercise?

As a working mom with 2 kids, it was hard to find the time for exercise other than the occasional short run and a weekly dance class. The boys were active so we were always running around but I wasn’t doing much formal exercise.

How did becoming a mom change the way you think about sport and your own body?

My kids were always active in sports from soccer, to basketball, to little league. I loved going to their practices and games but when my youngest was about 7, I started thinking about all the hours I sat on the bench watching them but not doing anything for myself. So I joined a Zumba class. Dancing is pure joy for me and a fun way to get some exercise. It was another 5 years before I re-discovered track.

How did you find out about the Senior Games, and what made you enter the first time?

When I was 53, I happened to catch a local news story advertising the upcoming Vermont Senior Games featuring Flo Meiler – a Vermonter who at age 80 was doing all kinds of track events, from pole vault to hurdles.

It had never occurred to me that someone my age could do track. I was inspired by Flo and curious to see what it would be like to long jump again, so I signed up for the games 3 months away and got a personal trainer to get ready and to avoid injury.

 

What did that first day back on the track (or your first race back) feel like?  Did it feel familiar or like starting over? Any anecdotes or memories from those early back-on-track days?

I was fortunate that there was a track club about an hour away in Burlington that got together 2 times a week. So I joined and trained next to high school and college kids, but there were also some seniors like me which was great. I felt slow and uncoordinated at first and had to ease into it.

The first time I bent down to try the blocks, I remember saying NOPE, that’s not happening… Through the track club, I met Sandra who was also just starting out and a few years older than me. Here it is 10 years later, and we train together to this day. 

A lot of women lose touch with that part of themselves after kids. What made you determined to find yours again? What did you have to sacrifice to get there?

By the time I got back into track training, my kids were old enough that they didn’t need me as much, and my husband supported me getting back into exercise, which also helped. I had always thought of myself as athletic, but neither my kids or husband had seen that side of me. 

Was there a moment in the comeback where you almost quit, where it felt like too much, too late, or not worth it? What got you through it?

When I first started sprinting, I had a lot of pain in my hips from 30 years sitting at a desk job. I really thought I couldn’t do it – I was googling “how do you know if you need a hip replacement.”

But a physical therapist I was working with gave me hope by saying matter of fact-ly that injuries come and go and you just have to work through them. She was right. I’ve had my share of injuries through the years which are never fun, but I’ve always been motivated to work through them because I want to get back to doing what I love.

Which events do you compete in now, and have those shifted over the years, and how do you train for these?

Since that first year of long jumping, I’ve added events and now I do the 50M and 100M sprints, and long, high and triple jumps. I’ve competed in 10 Vermont games, 4 Nationals, and some master’s meets. Last summer at national’s I got the gold in triple jump, hitting 27 feet, my farthest in the 7 years I’ve been doing that event.

I try to sprint and jump two times a week, go to the gym at least once, and do Zumba for cardio. During the winter, I go to the indoor track at UVM when I can. Today at 64 I am in better shape and jumping farther and sprinting faster than when I started 10 years ago.

 

What do you think your sons took from watching you do this?

The boys always thought they got their athleticism from their dad so now they include me in that, which is fun. My oldest is a personal trainer so I’ve been following workout plans he’s built for me and I get to see him at the gym.

My youngest did track in high school as a triple jumper and hurdler, so having that in common is a lot of fun. I think both boys are proud of their mom. And they tell me that I inspire them which is pretty sweet.

 

Is there anything about competing now that's better than it's ever been?

I’ve never been a particularly fast sprinter, usually placing in the middle of the pack. But 2 years ago, I wanted to see if I could get faster and build my sprint endurance. So I started training more intentionally for sprints.

At national’s last summer, I had my fastest 50M time in the 9 years I’ve been sprinting, placing 8th out of 32. And I cut over a second off my 100M time. I love to jump but I’ve also fallen head over heels in love with sprinting. I can’t say enough about how amazing it feels. Everyone should do it for fitness, athleticism, and fun.

What else?

Being involved in track and field as a senior has added so much to my life and has given me a purpose now that the boys are off on their own. I’ve discovered a passion for sprinting and jumping that I never knew I had, having a competition ahead gives me a goal to push for to keep at it and stay fit, and it’s a wonderful and supportive community. I’ve met great friends including Flo who is still going strong at age 91 (she did a decathlon last year!) and my training partner Sandra.

If you’re curious about track at any age, I would say go for it! I’ve met people of all fitness levels at competitions, from those just starting out, to elite world class athletes - all supportive of each other. With 14 events there’s something for everyone whether you want to throw something, run around, or jump. It’s never too late!

Margaret Gibson lives, works, and trains in Vermont and helps out the local high school track team as the jumps coach. She is looking forward to her 65th birthday this summer, which means she’ll be the baby in the 65-69 age bracket. Learn more about the Senior Games here.