ESPN TIMBERSPORTS

This year's STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Professional Series presented by Carhartt first round in Lehi, Utah featured two experienced professionals in the competition with two new responsibilities. Jenny Atkinson and Tanya Fischer just had children in the past year but are back to find out who is the best boom runner in the country.

Atkinson finished second last year in the boom run finals against winner Taylor Duffy. Fischer will be back after missing last year's competition when she took a break to have her son, Donovan. Fischer's drive to get back into a sport she missed seemed to have motivated her past most of the difficulties faced after taking a break.

"I usually am able to go on bike rides more than anything, because we have a bicycle cart thing that hooks onto my bike," Fischer said. "I also have a play-pen that I use when I boom run but Donovan doesn't stay very well in it."

Even though Atkinson didn't miss last year's competition, the birth of her child, Berendt "Bear" Atkinson, in April seemed to have complicated things in the crunch time, with the competition starting less than two months after delivery. She has had to stay on top of her game by mixing things up and adding new twists to old routines after the recent Caesarean section. Minimizing the risk of injury by maximizing the effect of low impact workouts seemed to be essential in getting back into competition form.

"I have spent a lot of time on my stationary road bike with Bear napping in his Moses basket or sitting in his bouncy chair," Atkinson said. "Sometimes I am singing him lullabies instead of listening to my favorite tunes on my iPod."

In the early 90's, Atkinson earned the nickname "Boom Queen" by becoming the first woman to qualify in a men's boom running event. She is no stranger to success with 8 log rolling and boom running world championships to her name in 25 years of competition.

The 24 year old Fischer doesn't have Atkinson's history in the sport, but the two now share a common bond in facing life's new challenge of motherhood.

"[Donovan] made me grow up and appreciate things a lot more," Fischer said. "When you have a child, you really open your eyes a lot more to other people besides yourself."

While both have different training schedules, motivations, and expectations, Fischer and Atkinson seem to have taken lovingly to their new responsibilities as mothers while remaining attentive to the demands of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS competition.

"We have wanted children for over 8 years so needless to say I feel blessed beyond belief," Atkinson said. "I adore kids and am thrilled to finally have my own child."

The two squared off in the fifth and sixth place race in Lehi, Utah, which meant they both qualified for the championship in Georgia. Their different approaches to the sport are aimed at the same goal: a good showing in the finals.

"I will be as ready as humanly possible," Atkinson said. "I know I have the experience and mental edge to prevail. I think I will peak at the end of July and be back to my top level of competition. Early June is difficult."