Latest news with #ultrarunning
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
How Tom Evans went from never running more than 10k to becoming one of the world's best ultra runners
Have you ever been on the wrong end of a drunken bet? If so, chances are you wound up downing a pint, texting an ex or generally embarrassing yourself. It probably didn't end with you standing on the podium of the Marathon Des Sables – a 251km multi-stage race across the Sahara Desert. But that's exactly what happened to Tom Evans in 2016. The then British Army captain was enjoying a tipple or two with friends who had just finished the race, when he drunkenly suggested he could beat their times – despite never having run more than 10km. Fast forward 10 months and he was good to his word, becoming the first non-sub Saharan male to finish in the top three. In doing so, he stumbled across the centre of a Venn diagram comprising activities he loved and activities he happened to be incredibly good at. So, in 2019, the now 33-year-old left the army to become a full-time ultra runner, and now the Red Bull athlete regularly travells across the globe to compete against the sport's elite. Below he reveals the merits of traipsing around the Lake District's testing topography for five hours, and why the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc remains his white whale. Tom Evans' training schedule When someone quantifies their weekly running in hours rather than miles, you can be certain they run a lot. 'It's a very time-consuming hobby,' Evans laughs. 'Now, I won't really bother going for a run if it's not at least 90 minutes. In a typical week I will be running for around 20 hours, and biking for about 10 hours.' The pro runner's week comprises a version of training every day – even his 'rest' days include one of these minimum 90-minute runs. From Monday through to Sunday, Evans will be running. This is what his training schedule usually looks like. 'I don't really take a full day off unless I really need to, but as a full-time athlete there is so much stuff I can be doing on a recovery day,' Evans says. 'I've started doing reformer Pilates fairly recently, so I do that once a week on a Monday – that's a 90-minute session. Then I'll go to the gym or I might jump on my bike for an hour, so even on a recovery day you're still training for three to four hours.' Tuesday: ' Double threshold day' 'In the morning I'll typically do something faster and flatter, like a fairly standard session for me is six by 2km,' says Evans. 'There's a loop in Loughborough where I live called the 2km loop, and it's where Paula Radcliffe did all of her training when she was up here. It's not a beautiful run whatsoever, it goes through two different housing estates, but it's as close to a closed road as you can get. You might see one car in a 70-minute session. 'Then in the evening, I'll typically be on my treadmill doing something like 20x1min at threshold pace at an incline of 25 per cent, or something similar.' Wednesday: 'A long day on tired legs' ' I'll drive up to the Peak District or the Lake District or Snowdon, then I'll do somewhere between four and five hours, at a very easy pace, just [to practise] running on tired legs.' Thursday: 'Another recovery-ish day' ' This would typically involve a 90-minute run in the morning, then a longer ride in the afternoon – two or three hours on the bike.' Friday: 'Another double run day focussing on longer reps' 'I might do something like five to eight by 10 minutes uphill, at a marathon effort that's still quite hard but sustainable,' he says. 'And in the afternoon, because Friday is normally a double run day, I will go and run another 10-12km in the afternoon.' Saturday and Sunday: 'Long back to back days' 'Again, I'd go to the Lake District or the Peak District, then I'd do four hours on Saturday and four hours on Sunday,' Evans says. 'Normally one of those days will have a bit of a session built into it, so maybe something like five by five minutes tempo or two rounds of 10 minutes at race pace, just to mix things up a little bit. And that wraps up a pretty standard week.' Tom Evans sample workout Complete six rounds of the following sequence: Run 2km at threshold pace (3min/km for Evans, representing a 4:1 work:rest ratio) Rest 90 seconds 'I think it's really important to train both faster and slower than you're going to run on race day,' Evans says. This is an example of a shorter, faster session for him. This might surprise some people, given his propensity for covering incredibly long distances. But there are surges within a race, particularly during the first kilometre, and it pays to keep pace with the front runners. 'For me, one of my strengths is being able to run at a 3min/km pace and have it not cost that much,' says Evans. 'I know in a race, if I put a surge in that's a little bit faster, people will keep up, but it will cost them far more than it will cost me. It might not break them immediately, but we probably still have five, six, 10 hours of racing to do, and eventually it will break them.' The diet of an ultra runner If we went through everything Evans ate in a week to support his colossal training load, we might be here a while. Instead, I pried into what his intra-workout nutrition looked like, and it's certainly interesting. 'At the moment I'm working a little bit on body composition and trying to do a bit more fasted training and really optimise my body's ability to burn fats,' he says. 'Having Red Bull Zero – something that has no calories in but still has 80mg of caffeine – is incredibly useful because it gives me the caffeine I need to fuel these fasted sessions while at the same time allowing my body to use fat reserves and the glycogen that's already in my body. 'That doesn't mean I don't eat carbs at all. I probably do that [fasted training] once, maybe twice, a week. Then everything else is fuelled by between 100 and 120g of carbohydrate. To do that I'll use a mixture of real food, sports drinks and normal full fat Red Bull.' And how does one consume 100-plus grams of carbs while on the go? A potato sandwich of sorts, Evans says. 'For the fast races you can do it off gels and liquids, but in longer races like the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB – a 106-mile race through the Alps) I'm having real food as well. 'One of my favourite real foods would be a flatbread wrap with mashed potato or mashed sweet potato inside. You get a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates, and it's a great way to get tasty food that's easily digestible at the same time.' Avoiding the dreaded 'red line' With his high weekly running volume, Evans says he's 'constantly on the red line' as far as recovery and injury is concerned. For that reason, what he does away from the trails is just as important as what he does on them. 'I do my mobility and my activation stuff in the morning before training, but around that typically if I'm not training I'm not training, so I'll sit on the sofa with my recovery boots on and basically just chill,' he says. 'I think that's one of the great things about being a professional athlete; you have the time to do those things.' Evans will also incorporate strength training exercises into his week such as plyometrics and heavy weighted step-ups to strengthen the tissues in his lower limbs and 'coach the body into recruiting as many muscle fibres as possible'. 'The more workers you have, the quicker the job can be done, so my strength work is very much on trying to recruit as many muscle fibres as possible,' he explains. Sleep is another important tool in Evans' recovery armoury, and thanks to his military background Evans says he can do it any time, anywhere – even while standing up on some occasions. He aims for roughly 10 hours each night, leaving his phone outside the bedroom and donning a sleep mask to improve the quality of his slumber. 'I also try to have a nap every afternoon,' he adds. People say you should get eight hours of sleep per night, but I try to get an extra eight hours of napping over the course of a week. That's a rule of thumb for me, and I've found it works quite well.' However, when we spoke he was weeks away from becoming a father for the first time. His daughter Phoebe Evans arrived on May 13. 'I'm sure with a baby the napping is going to be a little bit more tricky, so I'm banking my sleep now and letting the interest run on it, although I'm told it doesn't really work like that,' he jokes. What's next for ultra runner Tom Evans? The obvious answer to this question is fatherhood – a prospect Evans describes as 'a cause for congratulations and also bloody terrifying at the same time'. But speaking to him, it quickly becomes clear that he has unfinished business with one race in particular: the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. 'We'll have a baby, and from there I'll stay at home for a little bit,' he says. 'Then I guess my big goal for this year is UTMB in Chamonix at the end of August. 'It's been a race that's eluded me so far. I'm very meticulous in race planning and race strategies, and a lot of the time I get it right. Whereas with this race I've never got it quite right. 'It's definitely a big itch to scratch. I'm planning to have a better race this year, and I have a couple of new strategies that we will implement in the race and add into training to try and get the result I'm searching for.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Brit who broke the record for running across Australia by FOUR DAYS faces claims he cheated - as critics raise questions over data gathered from his tracking device
British endurance runner William Goodge completed a remarkable feat earlier this month, crossing the vast, unforgiving expanse of Australia on foot in a record-breaking 35 days. From Perth to Sydney, the charismatic and sometimes combative athlete averaged over 100 kilometres per day through searing heat, rolling elevation and endless stretches of remote highway to smash the previous record by four whole days. It was a performance that, on the surface, seemed to cement his status among the elite in the already extreme world of ultrarunning. But well before Goodge reached the finish line at Bondi Beach, controversy was already swirling over whether the run should have been considered as a legitimate world record attempt in the first place. For years, Goodge's incredible feats of endurance have been scrutinised by fellow ultrarunners and sporting enthusiasts alike. At the heart of the debate are questions surrounding the validity of his performance data - heart rate readings that seem improbably low, instances of suspiciously high speed recorded on tracking platforms - and Goodge's apparent inability to replicate his stunning performances in races alongside other competitors. According to his critics, these anomalies hint at a record too good to be true, with Goodge lapping up plaudits from social media followers while enjoying royalties from a plethora of sponsors. But for his supporters, the anomalies can be put down to digital errors from unreliable GPS technology and wearable trackers - unfortunate discrepancies that distract from Goodge's admirable charitable endeavours and fundraising efforts. For Goodge himself, his controversial world record is the product of a journey born from a deeply personal place of grief. British ultra endurance runner William Goodge recently set a new world record as the fastest person to run across Australia, running from Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia to Bondi Beach in Sydney Who is William Goodge and why is he running ultramarathons? William Goodge, from Ampthill, Bedfordshire, was a model and semi-professional rugby player who turned to running as a coping mechanism following a family tragedy. William's mother, former nurse and committed charity fundraiser Amanda Goodge, succumbed to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer, in early 2018 at the age of 53. She had beaten the disease twice previously, but the cancer's eventual triumph left William and his father Graham devastated. 'Running helped me to deal with my demons,' he told the Mail. 'And I found I liked running on my own, because it helped my mind to process and deal with the things I faced. 'We went through a lot as a family. I thought that if I felt either good energy or bad energy, then either way, I could put it into running and it would help. 'If I felt bad, I would go on a run and by the end of it I'd feel slightly better. It became a coping mechanism and I'd be able to deal with the bad things for another day.' Goodge took part in his first major run on Christmas Day 2018, months after his mother's passing, when he ran a marathon around his home town Ampthill to raise £12,000 for Macmillan cancer, as well as the Primrose unit at Bedford Hospital where his mother was cared for. 'Growing up, mum was a nurse and she and her friends were all nurses too,' Goodge said. 'They would sponsor girls in Africa through their schooling, right through to them getting jobs... I wanted to carry on that legacy of fundraising for her. I wanted to do something she'd still like. That's why I'm so committed to raising money for charity.' The fundraising successes and catharsis derived from running propelled Goodge to a string of major athletic feats, and in turn, social media stardom and influencer status. He has taken on modelling projects, graced the front cover of Men's Health and taken on all manner of endurance challenges, including a West-to-East coast run of the United States known as the 'TransCon', and several ultramarathon races. But the runfluencer's latest scarcely believable feat Down Under has invited a torrent of speculation - and it's not the first time the authenticity of his achievements have been called into question. What are the claims against Goodge? The allegations that Goodge had cheated along the way to the finish line in Sydney earlier this month spring primarily from anomalous heart rate and pace data, the inaccuracy of his tracking methods, and inconsistencies with other performances. Critics say Goodge's average heart rate during his mammoth run was simply too low - and too consistent - to be true, especially when taking into account he was typically running more than 100 kilometres each day in extremely harsh conditions with regular elevation changes. Heart rate zones, often used by endurance athletes to measure output and tracked by platforms like Strava, are split into five levels of intensity. The easiest, Zone 1, sits at roughly 50 per cent of a person's maximum heart rate - a zone of minimal exertion where conversation comes easily and breathing stays relaxed. Zone 5, at the other end of the scale, is breached during intense efforts like sprinting that push the heart rate to its peak and leave little to no room for talking. According to Goodge's publicly available Strava data, he usually spent between 85-90% of his runs in Zone 1 - anything under 123 beats per minute (bpm) - including during segments where he was running uphill with negligible change to his pace. One example of this phenomenon came on May 16 - some 32 days into his cross-country expedition - when Goodge covered 109km in 13 hours, 49 minutes and 44 seconds - a pace of 7:37/km. Between kilometres 74 and 75, he set what was recorded by Strava as a 'Course Record' on a segment known as the Burley Griffin Way Climb - an 800 metre stretch of road with an elevation gain of 41 metres. Despite the rapid elevation gain - and with 74 kilometres in his legs that day alone - Goodge's Strava data showed his heart rate never got above Zone 1, even as he finished the segment in 7 minutes and 24 seconds - quicker than his overall average pace for the day. There were also shocking anomalies when it came to Goodge's speed. In an early run, Strava data showed Goodge clocked a 400 metre time of 23 seconds - a physically impossible feat some 20 seconds faster than the world record. Meanwhile, an analysis of the runner's In Reach data - another tracking service provided by tech company Garmin - by Running Magazine suggested there were brief moments in which Goodge was recorded moving at speeds in excess of 80kph. According to Goodge's publicly available Strava data, he usually spent between 85-90% of his runs in Zone 1 - anything under 123 beats per minute (bpm) - including during segments where he was running uphill with negligible change to his pace In an early run, Strava data showed Goodge clocked a 400 metre time of 23 seconds - a physically impossible feat some 20 seconds faster than the world record The allegations that Goodge had cheated along the way to the finish line in Sydney earlier this month spring primarily from anomalous heart rate and pace data, as well as the inaccuracy of his tracking methods The controversy around Goodge's run across Australia was swirling well before he crossed the finish line. That's because the runner has already faced an outpouring of criticism for his TransCon run across the United States in 2023. In that run, his heart rate and pace data appeared to offer up similar anomalies, leading a fellow British runner and author William Cockerell to openly accuse Goodge of cheating. So perturbed by Goodge's exploits was Cockerel that he flew to the US to join Goodge on part of his run. The meeting was brought to an abrupt end when the pair fell out, with Cockerel claiming Goodge threw a rock at his support car. The critic was unable to detect any anomalies with Goodge's data during their run together and was forced to admit that the Briton ran every step they were together. But he maintained that Goodge's tracking data began returning discrepancies again shortly after he departed. Critics have also asked why Goodge only tracked his run with a wrist-based heart monitor and GPS tracker, pointing out that chest-mounted straps are a far more reliable alternative for a world record. Besides the divisive performance data and tracking anomalies, the other main source of criticism is Goodge's relatively poor performance in official races when competing against other runners. Doubters say his fitness level and endurance capabilities suggest he should stack up well against the best ultramarathoners in the world, but in two world-renowned competitions he turned in less than stellar performances. In October, he placed 11th in the MOAB 240 - a 240-mile (368km) race in Utah, USA, and came in 174th place in the 2022 Marathon des Sables (257km) across the Sahara desert. There is no speculation over anomalous performance data in those races. The concern over Goodge's performances was summed up best by endurance expert and bestselling author Alex Hutchinson, who wrote: 'What's worrying is when the data is internally inconsistent: a given pace should correlate with a given heart rate reasonably well for any given person. 'Goodge's low heart rate while running insanely long distances isn't 'impossible', but it's highly unlikely - especially since he only seems to be able to do it when no one is watching.' What do his supporters say? Despite the questions over the veracity of his data and the suspicious fluctuations in Goodge's solo versus group race performances, the runner has a great many supporters. Chief among those are other ultramarathon runners, including the likes of Ned Brockmann - who in 2022 completed a similar route across Australia - and Chris Turnbull - the man who held the previous record for the Perth-to-Sydney course at 39 days. When asked whether Goodge's feat was physically possible, Turnbull - whose record was demolished by Goodge with four days to spare - told The Project: 'Absolutely, and he's done it. So I think that shows it. 'Very impressive performance from William Goodge - there's not many people that have done such a run like that. If he has done it authentically then I think I'd find it hard to live with myself if I didn't congratulate him. 'I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt and be a supporter.' Brockmann meanwhile wrote: 'Incredible my man. You deserve it all mate. 'What a feat of human endurance, thanks for the daily inspiration and reminding us all we can always do more!! King Goodge!' As regards the various allegations of cheating, Goodge's supporters have justly pointed out that watches and other tracking devices used to measure heart rate and pace are prone to inconsistencies and errors. Others have pointed out that the primary goal of Goodge's various exploits is to raise awareness and money for cancer research, mental health and other charitable endeavours - admirable achievements for a journey that at its core is fuelled by grief. His exploits have inspired people the world over - as evidenced by the torrent of well wishes and positive interactions Goodge has shared with social media users on each of his posts. How has Goodge responded to allegations of cheating? The majority of Goodge's responses to the criticism came in the form of unapologetic, brash and often expletive-laden posts shared to social media, primarily Instagram. In one Instagram Story, he was seen holding a cigarette and a beer with members of his support team with the caption: 'From all of us at the record down under team, to the nay sayers we sincerely say f*** you.' But he also spoke with ABC to brush off claims he had cheated. 'I knew it was gonna come. I was prepared for that and just, it comes with the territory. And you can't blame people for coming at you and questioning your stuff. Like, it's just part and parcel of it. 'Obviously we do everything we can, like, put the tracker up live so if anyone ever wanted to come and see us - and we had a lot of people that wanted to come out and run - just come and find us. 'But there's obviously a limit. I can't live stream the whole event. Maybe that would be something you could do in the future but being on roads like that as well, it's really tough.' He also made a reference to the speculation over his publicly available heart rate data and offered a brief, if vague, explanation. 'There's also just so many other aspects to this that you can't really consider all the time. 'Like, I'm running past roadkill and I'm putting something over my face, or a dust storm has come in, or a road train has come close to me, or I'm literally running along and I'm singing. 'So there's so many variables involved of why my heart rate might go up at a particular point, even though my pace is the same, or go down.'
CBC
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Canadian wins 100-km ultramarathon while stopping to breastfeed her baby along the way
Social Sharing Imagine running a gruelling 100-kilometre trail race through the rugged terrain of northern Wales. Did we already lose you? Well, double-knot your sneakers, because now imagine doing it six months postpartum, stopping to breastfeed your baby at aid stations along the way and still winning the whole darn thing. That's what Canadian ultrarunner Stephanie Case did at the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia on May 17, where she placed first among women with a time of 16:53:22 and made headlines around the world for the viral race photos where she's breastfeeding her six-month-old daughter, Pepper. After taking the last three years off from racing, and starting 30 minutes behind the elite runners, Case says she shocked even herself with the winning chip time. "I couldn't believe it. I think I had to ask the race organizers about 10 times," Case, 42, who was born in Kingston, Ont., told CBC News from France. "Once I crossed the line and they did the calculations, they had to ask me to go back and finish again for the cameras so that I could run through the tape! It was such a surprise." Case, a longtime ultrarunner, had originally considered the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia her "practice race" in the lead-up to the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run, an approximately 100-mile (161-kilometre), high-altitude race in Colorado in July. After her three-year pause, Case says she was nervous about remembering how to race properly and wasn't sure how her legs would respond. "I wanted a chance to shake off the cobwebs," she said. "I also wanted to see how Pepper would do in a race that was only about half the time commitment as Hardrock. At 17 hours, it was still the longest I had been away from Pepper, though." Switching back to 'mom mode' But how did she manage the logistics of breastfeeding during a 17-hour race? There are seven checkpoints throughout the course where runners can drink, use the washrooms and sometimes eat. At two of those — the 20-kilometre and 80-kilometre checkpoints — runners are allowed assistance from a support person. Case's partner John met her with Pepper at those two checkpoints. In addition, Case requested special permission to provide (not receive) assistance to her baby at the 50-kilometre checkpoint. But as the official runner's guide points out, your elapsed race time doesn't pause at the checkpoints, and each one has a cut-off time you have to avoid if you want to keep racing. The 50-kilometre checkpoint was the trickiest, Case said, because John wasn't allowed to help her with refilling her bottles, getting her food or anything else she might need at the aid station. But the volunteers were very supportive, she added. To focus on Pepper, Case says she had to force herself to switch from race mode to "mom mode." "I didn't want to know where I was in the rankings for this reason as I didn't want to rush Pepper," Case said, adding that the baby kept getting distracted by the crinkly noises of her race bib. "It was tough saying goodbye. At one point, I could tell she just wanted a cuddle, and it almost broke me to leave her, although I knew John was doing an amazing job taking care of her all day," she said. WATCH | 10 marathons in 10 days: Why they're running 10 marathons in 10 days across Canada | Hanomansing Tonight 11 days ago Duration 5:43 Don't call it a comeback In a viral post on Instagram, Case wrote that there is no "comeback" after childbirth — only the next phase. And it looks different for everyone. Her own next phase comes after a three-year racing pause as she dealt with fertility struggles, Case explained to CBC News. Her last major race was in 2022 at the Hardrock. Shortly after running it three years ago (placing second among women and 19th overall), Case realized she was pregnant and then miscarried. From there, she had more miscarriages and then IVF implantation failures. "My relationship with running completely changed during this time. There is still so much silence, shame and stigma around infertility, and several people questioned whether running had contributed to my problems," Case said. While there is no science to back that claim, it put a seed of doubt in her brain, she said, and she found herself lacing up her running shoes less and less. "Coming back to running postpartum, I just wanted to discover that joy again and reconnect with the core part of my identity that was a runner through and through." 'We need to work better to support new moms' As people continue to share Case's story and breastfeeding photos, she says that if her performance helps open up more space for new moms to pursue things that make them feel "whole and complete," she's delighted. "Everyone seems to have an opinion about how new moms should be spending their time," Case said. "I think it's hard for new moms to give themselves permission to take time for themselves and to continue to strive for big goals." But at the same time, she said she's heard from other women who worry stories like hers continue to set impossibly high standards most people simply can't reach. And she gets it. (In her Instagram post, she shares that even though she's physically OK after childbirth, thanks to a lot of pelvic floor work, she still lost all bladder control around 95 kilometres into the race). "There's this idea that we should be able to do it all, and honestly, it takes a lot just to keep your head on straight as a new mom most days," Case said. "Ultimately, we as a society need to work better to support new moms in finding their own path in motherhood, and reduce the judgment on what that looks like."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Mother reveals why she decided to run a 100km ultramarathon while breastfeeding her six-month-old baby - and she WON the race
Ultrarunner Stephanie Case achieved a remarkable feat by winning Britain's biggest ultramarathon while simultaneously breastfeeding her six-month-old at stations along the 100km course. Case, a 43-year-old Canadian human rights lawyer, had not raced in three years before the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia race in Wales on May 17 due to her fertility journey which ended with the birth of daughter Pepper in November. Case started the race 30 minutes after the top runners in the field and says she had no expectations about a podium finish. Her partner, John Roberts, met her along the way at refueling stations with her daughter who would breastfeed. 'It was truly like riding a bike - every kilometre that passed reminded me that I hadn't lost a thing over the last three years,' she said. 'In fact, I have gained way more joy and strength from this sport as a mum than I ever did before. 'While it broke my heart to leave little Pepper at the aid stations, I wanted to show her - both of us - how amazing mum runners can be.' Case encouraged other new mums to not be afraid of setting new goals. 'Everyone has an opinion about what new mums should or shouldn't be doing, and that doesn't open up a lot of space for out there ideas like running an ultra,' she said. 'I'm lucky to be physically okay after childbirth (although it's taken a lot of pelvic floor work!). Others aren't so lucky,' she added. 'And let's be real, when I started dry heaving, I lost all bladder control after 95km. 'There is no 'comeback' after childbirth. There is just the next phase. And whatever it looks like, whether on or off the trail, it'll be right for YOU.' As she crossed the finish line, Case had no idea that she had won the race - and says had she been told she was leading, she would have been more competitive. 'Then, someone checked the chip time,' she told Run. 'And the race officials came to me and they were like, "You actually won. Can you run through the tape again for the cameras?" Case did as she was asked - but was still in shock. 'I took the photos and did the finish line victory, but it just wouldn't sink in,' she said. 'I just kept saying, 'I won? I won?' Photos of Case breastfeeding Pepper during the race have gone viral over the last week, but she wants fans to know that she isn't all that different than anybody else. 'I'm not extraordinary,' she said. 'I had a baby, I ran a race. It should be a totally normal thing.'
CTV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Canadian runner wins ultramarathon 6-months postpartum while making time to breastfeed during race
A Canadian human rights lawyer and ultrarunner is hoping her latest racing achievement will inspire new moms do things that 'make them feel human again.' Stephanie Case competed in and won her first ultramarathon in three years this past weekend at the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia race in Eryri, Wales, and she did it while taking time to breastfeed her six-month-old daughter. 'I signed up for this race after I had already given birth to my daughter, Pepper,' Case told CTV News Toronto in an interview. 'I am scheduled to do a 100-mile race in Colorado in July, and because I haven't raced in so many years, I thought I should do a practice run to shake out the cobwebs and make sure that I knew how to put one foot in front of the other and also practice doing the breastfeeding stops for my daughter midrace.' Case was born in Kingston, Ont., and grew up in Toronto and Oakville. She now lives in Chamonix, France and is a self-described 'ultrarunner' a passion that keeps her 'sane and slightly insane' alongside her job as a human rights lawyer. 'I was never very sporty growing up – I was a total school nerd. I remember I did one running race when I was about nine years old, but I was so embarrassed and shy because my face had turned red at the end. I just didn't really have the confidence to keep running after that, so I didn't come back to running until quite a bit later in life,' she said. Despite setting records and reaching the podium at the Hardrock 100 in 2022– the race she's running again this July – Case spent three years away from running after struggling with fertility issues. 'I suffered two miscarriages and then went through three rounds of IVF in order to be able to get to the stage of having a successful pregnancy,' said Case. 'It was quite difficult during that time, because there were a lot of questions from well-meaning people about whether the running had potentially impacted my ability to carry a child, or whether it had caused the miscarriages. While there's no research that shows that [running impacted my fertility], it did change my relationship with it. I ended up feeling quite guilty and was filled with doubt every time I put on my running shoes.' Stephanie Case Case started the 100K race 30 minutes behind the first group of elite runners and ended up winning with a time of 16:53:22. (Stephanie Case) Case said she didn't want to put any pressure on herself to come back to running after having her baby, so she didn't originally strive for any specific performance metrics in the races she signed up for. But her surprise win in Wales has since made Case the subject of international media attention. She was even featured in a story in People Magazine. 'As I started to run again postpartum at about six weeks, I started to get those benefits from being out on the trails again,' she said. 'I realized that actually, yeah, I can set a higher goal for myself. Why not try to do well in these races? Why not try to shoot for something that seems impossible? Why do I have to set the bar low at just participating? If I fail, I fail, but at least I will have tried.' While utilizing her two aid checkpoints to breastfeed Pepper – plus an extra one granted specially to Case solely for breastfeeding with no aid – she finished the 100-kilometre Ultra-Trail Snowdonia race in 16 hours, 53 minutes, and 22 seconds and she did it starting 30 minutes behind the first group of elite runners. 'When you run and you complete races, you get a score – an index – and often, when you are signing up for races, your score will indicate where you can start in the field,' Case explained. 'Because I haven't raced in quite a while, I had no index, so it was like I was starting from ground zero. I was in the third and last starting wave, which meant that there were hundreds of runners in front of me already out on the trail that I needed to pick my way through.' Stephanie Case Case takes a selfie in the midst of racing the 100K Ultra-Trail Snowdonia race in Eryri, Wales. (Stephanie Case) Case says she's still not sure what her plan is for racing the Hardrock 100 next month alongside breastfeeding Pepper, but she's just happy the interest in her recent achievement is shining a spotlight on what new moms are capable of – in any shape or form. 'I'm incredibly happy if what I did this past weekend has helped to inspire other new moms, but I just want to make sure it doesn't feed into this narrative that moms have to and should be doing it all,' Case said. 'Doing it all means keeping yourself healthy and happy and keeping your baby healthy and happy. Whether you are chilling out on the couch or running a 100-kilometre race, it's different for every person. So, I just want to make sure I'm not setting an impossible standard. I think it's important to set big goals if that's what you want to do but also give yourself a break if that's what you need.'
