When the Paris Olympics nursery was announced (the first in the history of the Games), there was excitement from Alysia Montaño, former pro runner, Olympian, and founder of the advocacy organization “&mother.” She expressed that this development was going to be significant.
Montaño gained international attention in 2014 when she ran the Outdoor USA Championships at 34 weeks pregnant. In 2019, she made headlines by revealing that Nike stopped paying her when she decided to have a baby, shedding light on the challenges faced by pregnant athletes. Other mother runners like Kara Goucher and Allyson Felix also shared their struggles, leading to changes in contracts and maternity policies within the industry.
Five years later, the running world has changed significantly. Neely Spence Gracey, a former pro and head of running at Guava Family, notes that there is now a notable presence of fast mother runners in every race. Athletes like Elle Purrier St. Pierre and Marisa Howard have demonstrated that motherhood and professional running can go hand in hand.
Sara Vaughn, a mom of four, received her first substantial pro contract at age 35, breaking the barriers faced by mothers in the industry. With support from “&mother,” USATF national championships now offer free onsite childcare for athletes, marking a pivotal shift in the industry. Major events like the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon have also introduced initiatives to support mother runners.
Moreover, initiatives like providing childcare grants for runners and developing protocols for safe postpartum running have made significant strides towards supporting mother runners. Brands like Puma and Saysh are also prioritizing mother athletes, recognizing the importance of their dual roles.
Despite these positive changes, challenges remain, such as the lack of accessible childcare and postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy. However, leaders in the industry are receptive to feedback and committed to making necessary improvements. The hope is that changes in the running space will have a broader impact on societal issues like paid leave and affordable childcare.
