Episode 55 | Sophie Power on Returning to Running Postpartum & Empowering Mums to Keep Chasing Their Athletic Dreams
by Nikki Parnell — May 7, 2021 — 📸: Alexis Berg
This week we had our first international guest, Sophie Power from England! Sophie is well known for being the mom who ran UTMB three months postpartum, stopping to nurse and pump along the way. In this episode we get to hear the backstory behind the infamous photo of Sophie nursing her son at the Courmayeur, Italy aid station, including UTMB’s policy on not letting women defer their spot in the race due to pregnancy. She explains her desire to experience this iconic race that she had been working towards for years and we hear all about how she built up her training to prepare for it. She called it “the anti-race” where instead of going as fast as possible, she went as slow as possible in the hopes of protecting her pelvic floor and staying on top of nutrition so she could keep up her milk supply. She ran as smart as any mom could in her position and she was able to have her well-deserved finish line moment with her two sons.
She says, “There was a real sense that I was back to myself and that I’d achieved my goal. I was still me and I had done something for my kids. I think I felt that as much as anything else. Looking at how proud my son was, how happy he was, how he was going to grow up…” (by seeing his mom conquering the world, he will know women are capable of anything, and he is too!)
We also got to hear about Sophie’s beautiful recent film made with HOKA ONE ONE called, “The Journey from Pregnancy to Performance” in which she shows the honest and real side of a mother returning to running after having a baby (though of course, each pregnancy and postpartum is different!). She displays a slower progression back to sport after her third baby (AKA not running UTMB three months postpartum) and the work that went into regaining strength. Sophie shares how she worked closely with a pelvic floor physical therapist, how she was diagnosed with prolapse and rehabbed that while keeping the big picture in mind that postpartum is for life and that this recovery must be taken seriously if she wants to run ultras years down the road. She talks about the other people in her corner helping her achieve her goals and addresses topics like how we can reframe mom guilt by remembering that a mom continuing to care for herself and go after her athletic dreams positively effects her kids (encourages them to be healthy and active) and has the power to transform society as well. She also gives practical tips on how mothers can prioritize their mental and physical health.Â
Sophie is doing so much for women in our sport by shedding light on places that have been in the dark for too long – like the gaping holes in health care for new moms and the many barriers that keep women from going after their goals. Well, change is coming, thanks to people like Sophie! To listen to this inspiring episode click the link below or search “Run Hard Mom Hard” on all podcast platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast, share it with your running community and watch Sophie’s film (linked below)! Thank you!
Show Notes:
***Big thanks to this week’s podcast sponsor, XOSKIN! They make awesome running apparel that protects athletes from chafing, blisters, hot spots and odor. Shop around and use code “treeline” for 20% off your purchase!
Follow Sophie on Instagram
Trustee of the charity, Women in Sport
EVB shorts – Irish pelvic support shorts!
Coach: Edwina Sutton
Physio: Emma Brockwell
Read Emma’s book: Why did no one tell me?
Sophie’s film: “The Journey from Pregnancy to Performance”
Sophie’s favorite race: Spartathalon
Sophie’s favorite meal: Recipe boxes from local restaurant, “Hawksmoor” – with British things like steak, chips, garlic mushrooms, creamed spinach, sticky toffee pudding. Love it!
That’s it! If you enjoy this podcast, please share this episode with your mom tribe and consider supporting us by becoming a patron through Patreon for as little as $2 a month! Thank you!