Mom Wins Ultramarathon 6 Months After Giving Birth While Breastfeeding

For most moms, racing out the door while wrangling diaper bags and toddler tantrums feels like a feat in itself. But for Stephanie Case, an accomplished ultramarathoner and new mom, that’s just the beginning.

Six months after giving birth, Case took on the 100-kilometre Ultra-Trail Snowdonia race in Wales, breastfeeding her daughter, Pepper, at every aid station. Not only did she start 30 minutes behind the leaders after a three-year break from racing, but she also went on to win it.

“I wasn’t looking for a win,” she told Outside Run. “My only goal was really to shake out the cobwebs, try to enjoy myself and find that love of running again.” Three years away from racing had been a whirlwind filled with infertility struggles, miscarriages, IVF treatments and ultimately, the birth of her daughter.

But in this race, the 43-year-old wasn’t chasing any sort of return to normal; she was rediscovering her love for running while navigating the challenges of motherhood. Her pace may have been slower than in years past, but that didn’t stop her from methodically working her way through the course, all while embracing the new reality of being a mother. At every checkpoint, her partner, John Roberts, was waiting with Pepper for her to take a break, breastfeed, and get back into the race.

"At the checkpoints, it was about Pepper,” Case shared. “I wasn’t really looking for food for me, or concerned about gear swaps—just making sure she was OK.” In fact, her aid station time was less than that of the second- and third-place finishers, despite the breastfeeding stops.

Photos of Case nursing Pepper at the aid stations went viral, and social media users hailed her as a trailblazer for motherhood in the world of sport. Yet, Case is quick to downplay the praise. “I’m not extraordinary,” she said. “I had a baby, I ran a race. It should be a totally normal thing.” For her, it wasn’t about proving anyone wrong, it was about showing that being a mom doesn’t mean giving up on your passions.

Her story isn’t about a dramatic “comeback” either. “There is no ‘comeback’ after childbirth,” she captioned an Instagram post after the race. “There is just the next phase. And whatever it looks like, whether on or off the trail, it’ll be right for YOU.”

Case is also careful to offer a dose of realism about her journey. “I worry that stories like mine, while inspiring to some, can be frustrating or even discouraging to others,” she admitted. “They can paint a rosy picture and set unrealistic expectations—like new moms should be able to bounce back and win 100Ks.”

She stressed that her story is about challenging the narrow expectations placed on new moms, especially in fitness. “If we were more supportive of moms in running in all kinds of ways—whether that means resting, returning to sport, or anything in between—we’d see more compassion and less judgment,” she said. “There’s so much scrutiny over how moms spend their time, and not enough space for big adventures.”