The Current - Can you run a 100km ultramarathon… while breastfeeding?

Episode Date: May 27, 2025

Running an ultramarathon is hard, but running 100kms six months post-partum and breastfeeding during breaks… Well, that sounds like a scene from an inspirational movie. But, for Stephanie Case, and her baby girl Pepper, it was real life. Why would she do this, and what keeps her running these extreme distances, she shares with Matt Galloway.

Other People's Problems was the first podcast to take you inside real-life therapy sessions. I'm Dr. Hilary McBride, and again, we're doing something new. The ketamine really broke down a lot of my barriers. This work has this sort of immediate transformational effect. Therapy Using Psychedelics is the new frontier in mental health. Come along for the trip. Other People's Problems Season 5, available now. This is a CBC Podcast. Hello, I'm Matt Galloway and this is The Current Podcast.

No one expected the Canadian ultra runner Stephanie Case to finish first in a 100-kilometer race last weekend. She just had a baby six months earlier, she hadn't put on a racing bib in three years. But 16 hours, 53 minutes and 22 seconds later... A short video shot by her mother-in-law shows Stephanie breaking the ribbon at the finish line, carrying it in the air victoriously. Not only did Stephanie win the Ultra Trail Snowdonia race in Wales, she did it while stopping at aid stations along the course to breastfeed her baby girl Pepper. Stephanie Case joins me now. Stephanie, good morning.

Good morning. It's great to speak with you. It is really great to talk to you. Congratulations. Thank you so much. It was a big surprise. Have you recovered? I mean, how are you feeling? This was like 10 days ago. How are your legs and everything else? I feel great, actually.

I've got the glow of just having finished the race and my legs have recovered. How did you feel going into the race? I mean, what were your goals? Honestly, I was pretty nervous not having raced in three years. You have these doubts creep into your head that, you know, will my legs know what to do? Will, how will I go through checkpoints? Am I going to make it past the 50K mark?

That had been the longest I'd done in training. So it was really stepping into the unknown. But all of those nerves kind of went away as soon as I started running and I got out there and I was just excited to be back on a course again. Back on a course six months after you had a baby. Tell me about Pepper. Pepper is just a delight.

She is perfect. I think any mom would say that about their own kid, but I truly believe she is perfect. And she gives me another reason to run well out there so that I can be a role model to her, hopefully. You have documented the journey to Pepper. You had a rocky path to conceiving her. And I mentioned that in part, it's not anyone's business, but your own to talk about this, but you talked about it in part because this is in many ways intertwined with, with your life as a runner. Right? Absolutely.

I'm, I'm quite open about my experience because I think it's important to talk about three years ago was when I last raced. And also when I first found out that I was pregnant, unfortunately I miscarried and then had another miscarriage after that. Thank you. That set me down quite a difficult path of trying to become pregnant through multiple rounds of IVF. And it's just a really stressful and it can be a really lonely time for people. But I was very open about what I was experiencing

and heard from so many women who weren't comfortable sharing their story publicly, but were comfortable sharing it with other women who had also experienced it. And it just showed me that we aren't talking enough about this still. And particularly for women athletes, for women runners, it can be really confusing because after my

first miscarriage, people would question whether it was the running that caused it. And of course, there's no medical evidence to show that, but it did make me doubt myself. And every time I put on my running shoes, it changed that joyful relationship that I had with running. And then when I miscarried the second time after I hadn't been running as much, people questioned whether it was the stress from my job. And I used to use running to deal with the stress. So I felt like I couldn't win. And it's natural for people to want to find a reason for it because then maybe it means

it won't happen to them. But it's so common. And there's often not a reason for it because then maybe it means it won't happen to them. But it's so common, and there's often not a reason. And I think we need more support and more discussion around these issues so that women who are going through it can feel like they're not alone and can also get support to be able to continue to pursue their passions in a way that's safe and healthy and allows them to be full and complete human beings. What do you make of the fact that people would say all these things to you?

That people who, again, it's no one's business, but people would feel free to say, oh, you shouldn't be running because you would post photos of yourself and talk about running. I would, I think there is a lot of scrutiny around women and women's bodies, how we spend our time, whether that's in trying to get pregnant or whether that's when you are pregnant or in the postpartum stage. And I've seen that in some of the comments that have come through since I finished

this race. There's a lot of opinions out there about how women, how new moms should be spending their time. And I think that that contributes to the guilt that a lot of moms might feel in prioritizing themselves and again, activities that make them feel full and complete. But for me, coming back to running, I don't say that this was a comeback because I think that this is just the next phase of my running journey, but I was coming back to the sport. It was so important to reconnect with that part of my identity, to get joy from running again now that I have a beautiful little girl, and to remember that while I've gone through this massive transformation through infertility, through IVF, through miscarriages, through childbirth, I'm still

the same person. That runner core, that's just such a big part of my identity. It hasn't gone away. And that for me was quite stabilizing and quite an amazing experience. Can I ask you about this photo that I'm looking at of you on the course, standing up, eating a piece of watermelon while you were breastfeeding Pepper. Can you tell me about that and what it was like to do all of this in the middle of this race? Lauren Ruffin This photo has gone viral.

And for me, if it's some inspiration to other moms, I'm thrilled about it. But it's strange for me that it has gotten so much attention because in my life, this is a normal thing. During the race, runners were allowed to receive assistance at the 20 kilometer and the 80 kilometer checkpoints. I got special permission to also not receive aid, but to give aid at the 50 kilometer checkpoint. My partner was allowed to pass me pepper, but to give aid at the 50 kilometer checkpoint. So my partner was allowed to pass me pepper, but he couldn't help me with anything else. He couldn't help me with my water bottles or my pack or my food. And that photo there is actually me at the 80 kilometer checkpoint. And so I was nearing the end of the course and I was feeding Pepper and just a little bit too antsy to sit down.

And as any mom who's listening to this will know, moms are great multitaskers. And so I thought I could just feed myself while I was feeding Pepper. How did it work? I mean, it's an amazing photo and it's an amazing moment, but one of the things is you have to then get back out onto the race.

You need to continue racing and maybe Pepper's not on the same schedule that you are. How did that work and how difficult was that? I tried when I came into the checkpoints to get out of race mode and into mom mode. Normally when I'm running, I am in and out of checkpoints as fast as I can be. But I didn't want to have that pressure because I wanted Pepper to be able to get what she needed without me worrying about the clock. So I was running in ignorance. I didn't know

where I was in the pack. And I just tried to help Pepper focus on what she was doing. She was very distracted by all of the things that were going around in the aid station and my race bib was making a crinkly noise that seemed to distract her. But when that photo was taken on the 80k mark, I think she had gotten used to the chaos. And so we managed to just try to set a new normal and make it work. It was over 30 years ago that Clifford Olson first called me. Secret phone calls from Canada's most notorious serial killer. I knew I was killing the children but I couldn't stop myself. Now it's time to unearth the tapes because I believe there are still answers to be found. I'm Arlene Bynum from CBC's Uncovered, calls from a killer, available now.

There are a lot of photos of you smiling on this course, but 100 kilometers is 100 kilometers, and that's hard, hard work no matter what you're going through. What were the hardest parts of the race for you? I had a really tough time leaving Pepper. It was at the 50K checkpoint that I fed her, but I could tell she just wanted a cuddle and her lower lip started to quiver and the look in her eyes just said, mommy, don't leave. And I did not want to leave. And that's where the mom guilt started to creep in. Why am I out here running a race? All

of the negative comments that have come in online, shouldn't she be at home with her baby? I knew ultimately I shouldn't, but in that moment, the reality really hit me hard and it was tough. It was tough to leave Pepper behind. All of the other low moments that happened on the course, I'm used to dealing with. I'm used to dealing with pain and niggles and thirst and nausea, but it was the mom part that I'm still learning. I had one hard moment that hit me at about 95 kilometers. I'd been taking in 80 to a 100 grams of carbohydrates an hour, which was quite a lot

for the system to digest. And when I got to 95 kilometers, it was, it was a bit too much. Is that the photo of you bent over? That's actually after the finish line. Oh, okay. But same, same situation. I started dry heaving and this is where I think

it's good to bring a bit of reality into play here. I'm six months postpartum. I'm still working on my pelvic floor and I peed all over myself on the race course. And that's just how I was going to finish the race. And I just had to slog it to the finish. So the photo you're seeing of me bent over, that was after I'd crossed the tape. It's a real moment. I mean, it happened.

You started 30 minutes behind the leaders. You won this race. You didn't know that you won when you crossed the finish line, is that right? I didn't. The spectators actually weren't sure where I was in in the race because I had started at a different time. So normally when I'm running, I will have people shout out to me what place I'm in. But this time, I got to be totally ignorant of where I was in the pack. And the people the

filmmakers who are following me, my partner, they kept asking me if I wanted to know and I didn't, because I just wanted to have a relaxed time out there. After I finished, I was all smiles, just excited that I was able to accomplish what I did. Then it was after the race organizers calculated the chip time, because it was really close. I think I was only about four or three minutes ahead of the second place women. They told me that I'd won and I had to ask them about 10 times. I said,

I won? I won? And I just, I didn't believe them. And then they had to make me go back and run across the finish line again so that I could break the tape for the cameras. Pete It's an amazing thing. And I like the fact that you had to ask again and again and again. You mentioned a couple of times how people responded to this. And I mean, there has been this outpouring, she's incredible.

She look what she did, the remarkable standard that you set for yourself. But you said that there were negative comments as well, and I've seen those and I've heard them as well. Tell me a little bit about how people have responded to what you've pulled off. There's, it's been overwhelmingly positive.

A lot of moms have said, you know, thank you for doing this. You're inspiring me. You know, now I feel like I can strive for big things. And that's great. I think if we can try to support new moms in setting big goals for themselves, we should do that. But then there's the second camp of the negative comments. And some of them have been from other

women, from new moms, who are frankly exhausted. And they are worried that stories like this, like these, help to contribute to this impossible standard that women feel like they're never going to be able to reach. And I empathize with those moms because I felt like that myself when I was pregnant. I would get stories of Olympians who are competing while seven months pregnant,

while I could barely keep my lunch down. And while I empathize with it, I think it shows us that we need to do more work in making sure that women don't feel like they have to compete, that they don't feel like they have to do it all, and that they have the space to just be, to just navigate motherhood the way that is best for them. Whether it's running 100 kilometers or taking a break and sitting on the couch, it should be okay for moms to do whatever they need to do that moment, that day, that year.

Some of the other negative comments from men and some women just talking about whether I should have been breastfeeding at all. Maybe I should have left my baby at all. Maybe I should have left my baby at home. Maybe I should have pumped. Maybe I should have delayed my race and not tried to do something like this so soon postpartum. And again, it's this extra attention,

this judgment and this scrutiny on how new moms, how women spend their time. You know, rather than assume that I'm doing what's best for me and my baby, it's absolutely impossible to just pump milk ahead of time and then go run 17 hours unless you wean your baby first. Rather than assume that I know what I'm doing and I'm picking the best choice for me, people feel the need to comment. And I'm trying to actually respond to these comments because while I'm not just, I don't want other moms to feel discouraged by those comments and think that they're valid

and that they should stop. As you've said though, and you said this on social media, everyone has an opinion about what new moms should and shouldn't be doing. That people just feel free to say this stuff to you is perhaps not surprising, but still infuriating to many people. I think it's a loaded space,

and we need to really provide new moms with a lot more support and grace. And it's partly why I'm making a film. We're in the final stages of making a film around running and fertility challenges, and it will cover this postpartum period as well. And I think we all need to work together to support New Moms Better. I was going to ask you what running gives you, but you're not a normal runner.

You're an ultra runner. Most people don't run 100 kilometers. Most people drive 100 kilometers or take the train. They don't run 100 kilometers. Most people drive 100 kilometers or take the train. They don't run 100 kilometers. What do you get out of running those long, long distances? Running gives me so much confidence and understanding for not only myself, but for other people. It gives me perspective. Anytime I have a tough moment out there, I know that I've chosen to do this

and I'm privileged to be able to get out there on those trails and to push my body to the limits. And I bring that back into my daily life. Whenever I have a tough moment at work or I'm feeling lack of confidence or not sure how I'm gonna navigate through something, I just remember that big thing that I accomplished out there on the trails.

And it makes everything else seem more manageable. The photos of you midway through this race, you're smiling. I mean, most people again, would be hailing a cab or grimacing and you have a big smile on your face. I felt so lucky. I mean, God, to be able to come back after having a baby, after six months and run 100K, I mean, what's there not to smile about?

It was the greatest privilege, and I am so excited to be able to show these photos to Pepper when she grows up, because she'll know that she's got a strong mom. She's got a story to tell. You, in addition to making the film, you have a charity, you're, you're a human rights lawyer for the United Nations. You have this charity called Free to Run.

Tell me about the charity. I started Free to Run in 2014 in Afghanistan, and it's a nonprofit organization that advances gender equity through outdoor sports and running for adolescent women and young girls in areas of conflict. And what's so unique about it is that it's not, our focus isn't about excellence in sports. It's about actually helping women and young girls to learn confidence, to learn leadership skills, and to reclaim public space in areas where they have been confined to the home, they've been confined to lesser roles and been subjected to discrimination. Because that act

of running outdoors in some places around the world can be an act of defiance, it can be an act of strength, and it can change the views and the perceptions that society has about the roles that women and girls can and should be playing in society. Those girls must be a point of inspiration for you. I mean, again, I've been talking about how great it is that you run 100 kilometers, but that's a completely different achievement if you're running in those spaces where really you doing that, maybe it's just down the street or down the block is an active, as you said, defiance. Absolutely.

I mean, let's be honest. What I did this past weekend, I'm proud of, but it's not really that newsworthy when you think of what women and girls are facing and what they're accomplishing on a daily basis in other areas of the world. I got a chance to run the Marathon of Afghanistan with the first Afghan women to run that race. And the challenges that

she faced and overcame to be able to run those 42 kilometers in the face of men, women, society that said that that wasn't a place for women. It gives me goosebumps just remembering it and talking about it now. What are you going to do next? I am gearing up for my next race, the Hard Rock 100, which was that last big race that I did three years ago that set me down on this infertility pregnancy journey. I'm going back now to that start line and hopefully the finish line with Pepper there as well, which is going to make a really nice circle.

It's a hundred miles with 10,000 meters of elevation and we go up to almost 4,000 meters about a dozen times. So it's a big challenge. I feel tired already. I am not doing it. You're amazing and it's an incredible story, but also how you have handled what's come at you and the way that you are to your point, engaging with some of the people who are raising things that they want to say and you're speaking

back to them and speaking to them is really quite powerful as well. Stephanie, congratulations and thank you for talking to us. Thank you so much. You've been listening to The Current Podcast. My name is Matt Galloway. Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you soon.