EP 21 | Bridget Brown: Mom-Athlete | Hyrox Elite 15 | Mother's Day Special!

The Competitive Edge Podcast: Fatherhood | Fitness | Focus

This Episode we have a Mother's Day, special episode with an incredible Mom-Athlete of 3 kids that are 4, 6, and 8 with one a soon to be newborn on the way!

Bridget Brown, she is 35 years old and lives in Tampa, FL, also works fulltime as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Her biggest accomplishments 3rd place at the DEKA World Championship last November in Atlantic City

and 9th place at the most recent US North American Championship in Chicago while she was 8 weeks pregnant!

Bridget also placed first overall in the Michelob Challenge Gasparilla race in Tampa while being 10 weeks pregnant, which is 4 races in only 2 days.

Podcast Updates:

• Tom Hogans episode was just released today on Spotify and YouTube

• Mark Gaudet’s episode is scheduled to be released next Thursday March 18th.

• Upcoming interviews with standout elite 15 athlete Dylan Scott and Joe Rivera, OCR legend who owns Gett itt core fitness.

• Top 3 most downloaded episode interviews are with Julius Jeter, David Magida and Erock

Events:

• Deka fit Anaheim just happened, and Lauren weeks and Veejay Jones won that one.

• Hyrox World Championship in a few weeks in Manchester UK

• Deka Fit Carolinas coming in June

• Hyrox NYC in June as well

Bridget Brown!. Happy Mothers Day to you and Thanks for taking the time to come on the show!

What are your biggest accomplishments in business or in your professional career?

Just to be where I am now. I have been a Nurse Practitioner for 3.5 years. If you do the math, that means I was still in school when I had my youngest two. Looking back, graduating with 3 little kids in tow was a huge accomplishment and something I am extremely proud of to this day. Now I am able to help change lives every single day which is very rewarding.

What is your biggest accomplishment as a mother (in regard to your family members)?

Raising kind, respectful and happy kids.

How would you define "Competitive Edge"?

putting in the work to be superior and above average.

When did the competitive side of you begin? and please walk us through the sports you may have played as a kid into an adult.

According to my mom, I have always been competitive. And being a mom myself, I see that same fiery competitive side in all 3 of my children too. I grew up playing all the sports, soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, and track.

What was the dynamic with your parents? who brought you to sports and etc?

I grew up at softball fields with my mom. All my baby pictures are me sitting in dugouts or in the stands watching her games. As I got older, she started playing soccer too. She is still going too. She now plays in a competitive pickle ball league. She is the best.

What is that quote or saying your parents always told you that sticks with you today?

Have fun

What kind of competitive athletic events did you compete in before kids as an adult?

None, besides playing college soccer 😊

What did your training schedule look like before your kids?

Always worked out every day, mostly group training classes, HIIT, orange theory type stuff. I would jump into local 5k and 10ks occasionally. I ran a half marathon when I was in nursing school with a friend, but that was about the extent of my running.

What kind of competitive events do you compete in now as a mother?

I got into DEKA my first year and really enjoyed it. I think found HYROX and also enjoyed that. Because of both of these I started running more, and enjoying that as well.

What does your training schedule look like now as a mother? (hours per week est).

Pre pregnancy? I was training about 1-2 hours per day, 6 days a week. Averaging about 20-25 miles per weeks + strength training. During pregnancy, I am still training 6 days a week but a lot less running, just because it doesn’t feel great. But going back to more of the group training classes. averaging closer to 45 mins – 1 hour per day. Also swimming more, which I really like. Swimming is so humbling for me. I am not good, but I love it.

How have you adapted/adjusted and what changes have you made competing and/or training as a mother?

I workout before my kids wake up. I have always been an early riser, but now that my kids are in school and have a lot of activities after school for their own sports, my window is limited. I also work full time and have to be at work by 8am, so 5am gym time is really my only option.

What are some things or ways you stay present as a mother balancing training and motherhood?

My husband and I walk them to school every morning at 7. And I attend every practice and game that I can, sometimes we have to divide and conquer but they know I will be there. I have had to miss a few of their games due to my own competitions, which I get a lot of FOMO about, but at the same time I am also showing them that you can still do the things you love as a parent as well. My kids are my number one fans and I love when they are able to show up to my events too. It’s fun when the whole family is involved.

Why do you train and/or compete? What drives that bug in you to compete?

I train because it makes me feel good. I compete to continue to give myself something to push for. I have always been competitive in nature, and not sure that fire will ever go away.

What are the most notable improvements you’ve noticed from staying fit and/or competing in fitness events? What changes have you experienced that you would most likely brag about to a friend? What benefits do you get out of training and competing?

Always feeling prepared for life. I was running one time with a ruck, and somebody asked what I was training for… I said life 😊 You never know what type of situation you will be put in, or when your kids are going to need to you scale a fence to grab their favorite ball or help chase a neighbor’s dog that got loose. You got to be ready for whatever.

What kind of time management hacks have you conquered? Training in am or pm etc?

AM is really my only time slot like I mentioned before. This works for me and the family though. My husband is super helpful with this as well, allowing me this time. He usually trains in the afternoons because his schedule is a little more flexible with work.

What advice would you have for those women out there that lost connection with their health when they finished competing as an athlete or as first-time moms that lost touch with their competitive edge and respect for the woman in the mirror?

Don’t just do it for yourself but do it for your family. Little eyes are watching you. Be the person you want them to be. I think ultimately that’s what drives me.

What big races, or events, coming up for you this year?

Labor 😊 and hopefully can squeeze into Deka Worlds post baby, but might be racing age group this year. Either way excited for the rest of this year!

How can everyone find you and follow what you're doing (IG handle, website, etc)? any sponsors or upcoming items you want to share?

@thebrownybunch – no sponsors. Just a regular mom doing life 😊