Postpartum Running & Elite Athletes: What We Can Learn from the Pros 👀
1Ever read a research abstract and thought, Wow, that sounds great!—only to dig into the full paper and find a very different story? 😬 That’s exactly what happened with this new study on elite to world-class runners returning to sport postpartum.
The abstract? “56% improved performance postpartum! No statistical decline for those who intended to return to competition!” Sounds like a dream, right?
But read the full paper and BOOM—50% of these elite athletes suffered injuries postpartum. Half. Stress fractures, tendon issues, pelvic dysfunction… all things we need to be talking about when it comes to postpartum return to running.
Here’s what we can learn from these world-class athletes:
⚡ Gradual return matters – The runners who eased in & stayed patient had the best long-term outcomes.
⚡ Training load is key – Those who maintained moderate training during pregnancy (~30-60% of pre-pregnancy load) came back stronger.
⚡ High-intensity work took a backseat – Nearly all cut speedwork and focused on strength, mobility, & endurance first.
⚡ Injury risk is real – Sacral stress fractures, tendon injuries, & pelvic floor dysfunction were common. Ignoring rehab = setbacks.
⚡ Everyone’s timeline is different – While these athletes returned to 80% of pre-pregnancy volume by 3 months, that’s NOT a one-size-fits-all approach.
If half of elite athletes—with pro-level coaching & medical teams—struggled with postpartum injury, what does that mean for the rest of us?! 🤯
It means we need better education, better support, and realistic timelines that focus on long-term health over rushing back to miles.
So tell me—what’s been the hardest part of your postpartum return to running? Have you felt pressure to “bounce back” or are you taking a slower, steadier approach? Let’s chat. 👇
#PostpartumRunning #ReturnToRun #MomRunner #RunningAfterBaby #PelvicHealth #InjuryPrevention #PostpartumFitness #EvidenceBased #WomenWhoRun #MarathonMom #PelvicFloorPT
Darroch F, Schneeberg A, Brodie R, Ferraro ZM, Wykes D, Hira S, Giles AR, Adamo KB, Stellingwerff T. Effect of Pregnancy in 42 Elite to World-Class Runners on Training and Performance Outcomes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 Jan 1;55(1):93-100. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003025. Epub 2022 Aug 16. PMID: 35975937.