In a truly remarkable display of grit, determination, and the incredible strength of a mother, Team SunGod athlete Stephanie Case has captured headlines worldwide following her triumphant win at the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia (UTS) 100km. Six months postpartum, and navigating the demanding course with breastfeeding stops, Steph's victory is an inspiration, showcasing that elite athletic goals can coexist with the profound journey of motherhood.
Stephanie's return to racing after a three-year hiatus, which included a challenging fertility journey and the arrival of her daughter, Pepper, was always going to be significant. Yet, to not only finish, but to claim the top spot amongst the women, all while prioritising her baby's needs, has redefined what's possible in the world of ultra-running.
Our Community Manager, Will, caught up with the phenomenal Canadian human rights lawyer and SunGod athlete to get her insights on this unforgettable race and what lies ahead.
1. The Win: Your win has made headlines worldwide. Can you describe the moment when you realised you had won? Talk to us about your mentality in the race with it being your first race back.
"Going into my first race back, after three years of break, I was pretty nervous and so I didn't have any expectations on my performance.
In fact, I was actively avoiding making any predictions or estimates of my timing because I just didn't want to set up this standard that I might not be able to reach.
I just wanted to go out, enjoy myself and make sure my legs still worked. That I knew what I was doing and that Pepper and I can get into a good base routine.
It wasn't until I actually crossed the finish line that I knew how well I had done because I had started 30 minutes behind the leaders in the last starting wave. No one really knew what my time was until I crossed the finish line and they could calculate it.
I think I had to ask them about 10 times and I looked to John and people just kept saying I had won. It didn't really sink in.
They then made me go back and run across the finish line again so I could break the tape and that was such a cool moment!"
2. We know you've had a break from racing and have been on this journey of motherhood. What was your motivation to get back on the trails?
"My motivation for getting back on the trails was really just to find that joy and running again. I think I lost a bit of that running identity part of myself during this break during my years of miscarriages and an IVF journey.
And now that I've got a daughter it just feels so different going back out on the trails.
I know that it's healthy. I know that it helps me make me a stronger person and a happy person and that makes me a better mom. So my goal of getting back out to running was to remind myself that everything that has changed in having a kid there's one that hasn't changed and that's the runner part of me. That part has always been there from before I started trying to get pregnant and now as a mum, that's quite stabilizing and comforting."
3. What is your message to new mothers or potential mothers on the balancing act of being a mum and achieving their goals?
"I've absolutely delighted at the response to my performance at Ultra Trail Snowdonia. It has been way bigger than I could have imagined and overwhelmingly positive. I think my message to those new moms or hopeful moms out there is that you don't have to give up yourself. You don't have to give up your life when becoming a mum. Yes, there are big changes. Yes, it's hard, yes there will be time pressures in ways that you've never experienced before but, it doesn't mean you have to give up your dreams you can keep fighting for those big goals.
Whether it's 100k or a 5K or just getting through the day but it's okay to prioritize things that make you happy and whole because that will make you a better parent.
So put aside that mum guilt, don't listen to any of the voices that say that you need to be only one thing because you can be all the things that you want to be with support.
My other message would be to also just give yourself a break. There's been some negative response to my performance at UTS and I think that that's from mums who just feel like when we see story's like this it's contributing to setting this impossibly high standard that we just can't meet that. Mums feel the need to do it all and we don't.
Let's be clear, although I loved my time at Ultra Trail Snowdonia I've been super lucky. I've gotten a lot of support on the health side of things, from my partner. It really takes a village to raise a kid but it takes a Metropolis to be able to run an ultra and it's not easy. I'm still facing challenges so give yourself a break if you need one but don't feel like you have to give everything up either.
4. Hardrock is just around the corner. Does this change your preparation at all or mindset?
" I am down to the final weeks of preparation for hard rock and it is coming up fast. I'm just so excited to be able to return back to the race where it all kind of started. I found out I was pregnant the first time right after I ran Hardrock in 2022. That set me down a pretty challenging path to be able to finally get my daughter Pepper.
To be able to return to the start line with Pepper by my side is going to be amazing no matter what the outcome is.
And you know originally I have just hoped to do hard rock and finish but now I kind of want to see what I can do out there. If I fail, I fail but, I just want to give it all I got and see what's left in these legs and in my heart"
It is a privilege to have Steph as part of Team SunGod and we can't wait to see her take on HardRock and continue her success throughout the summer. Let's go Steph!
