By Janice S.
An excerpt from a story originally published in New Beginnings magazine.
Editor’s Note: The first issue of La Leche League News, a bimonthly LLLI publication for members, was published in 1958. The name was changed to New Beginnings in 1985. New Beginnings was acquired by La Leche League USA in 2010 and continued to be published as a magazine until 2014, when it was converted to its current weekly blog format at www.lllusa.org/blog/.
I had been training for my seventh half marathon when I discovered I was pregnant with my first daughter. I stopped running, but really missed it. With my second child, I got back into running again and ran throughout my pregnancy. At 30 weeks pregnant, I became uncomfortable running and decided to keep walking instead. My journey running through pregnancies was quite the experience.
Two weeks after having my third daughter, Amber, I was mentally ready to run again. I greatly missed it. I registered for the Toronto Women’s Half Marathon. I knew that registering for the race would force me to stick with a training program, and I couldn’t wait to hit the roads again. When Amber was eight weeks old, I was ready to go. I bought new running shoes and some new running gear, and I was so excited to get back out there.
In my excitement, I had forgotten about the fact that I was still nursing Amber. How would I be able to find time to run in between feedings? Who would look after her while I ran? Would I still produce enough milk? How would I find the time to train while nursing a baby and raising a three year old and a five year old? I had never trained for a half marathon as a breastfeeding mother before.
Once Amber could hold her head up in the jogging stroller, I got up and ran three mornings a week at 6 a.m. before the rest of my family woke up. This meant that I didn’t need to worry about who would look after the baby or how they would feed her. Amber was a great sleeper and very rarely woke up during that 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. time period.
I will admit that for those first few runs my breasts were very tender. I had to wear a very supportive sports bra that was almost one size too small. Over time my body adapted, and my breasts became less tender. I made running a priority. I fit in running and exercising whenever I could.
Even in the cold, I bundled Amber and her three-year-old sister up well enough that they could sit in the jogger while I ran. My oldest daughter, all bundled up as well, would then ride her bike alongside us. My older daughters enjoyed it so much that they would beg me to run, whether I felt like running or not. I never expected them to enjoy it so much.
Weekends were when I would do my long training runs. I would nurse Amber before her morning nap, then bundle her up and put her in the jogger as I did my long training runs. Her sisters would stay home with their father, but I couldn’t bear to leave Amber. She slept well in the jogger and having her with me meant I didn’t need to worry about who would feed her or how she would be fed. Amber had never been introduced to a bottle.
Finally race day arrived. I had been worrying about the logistics of this day for a month. I had no idea if my husband could successfully feed her or console her while I was gone. I got up at 6 a.m., dressed in my running gear, ate breakfast, and left the house. My mind had begun to get into race mode. Did I have enough water with me? Was l dressed warmly enough? Too warm? Would my running skirt cause chafing? Did I eat enough breakfast to fuel me through the race?
As I lined up for the race, all of my self-doubt disappeared, and this incredible happiness took over. I was me again. I was racing again. I was breastfeeding, caring for three young children, and training for a marathon.
I ran a great race, I didn’t worry about the kids, and I had fun. The first 16 kilometers went well, but the last five were hard. My breasts were engorged because I had missed a feed, and the happiness I felt from racing had caused me to let-down a few times.
My legs felt strong, but my breasts hurt with every step. Finally, after two hours and nine minutes of running, I crossed the finish line. I couldn’t wait to feed my little Amber. When I got home, I learned that Amber had barely missed me. She happily drank my expressed milk from a sippy cup and didn’t pose a problem for my husband.
Since that day, l’ve gone on to train for and complete two more half marathons, including my most recent half marathon where I beat my personal best, which I had set 10 years earlier while I was in my mid-twenties. At 17 months old, Amber is still nursing four to five times each day. I’ve learned that breastfeeding and running is possible. It takes careful planning and additional fuel for me, but it can be done.
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding and human milk feeding experiences. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected]
Further reading on exercise and breastfeeding:
● lllusa.org/running-and-breastfeeding/
● lllusa.org/balancing-breastfeeding-and-exercise-katyas-story/
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
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Last Updated: September 23, 2025 by Yael Breimer
Marathon Training and Nursing: A Look Back
By Janice S.
An excerpt from a story originally published in New Beginnings magazine.
Editor’s Note: The first issue of La Leche League News, a bimonthly LLLI publication for members, was published in 1958. The name was changed to New Beginnings in 1985. New Beginnings was acquired by La Leche League USA in 2010 and continued to be published as a magazine until 2014, when it was converted to its current weekly blog format at www.lllusa.org/blog/.
Two weeks after having my third daughter, Amber, I was mentally ready to run again. I greatly missed it. I registered for the Toronto Women’s Half Marathon. I knew that registering for the race would force me to stick with a training program, and I couldn’t wait to hit the roads again. When Amber was eight weeks old, I was ready to go. I bought new running shoes and some new running gear, and I was so excited to get back out there.
In my excitement, I had forgotten about the fact that I was still nursing Amber. How would I be able to find time to run in between feedings? Who would look after her while I ran? Would I still produce enough milk? How would I find the time to train while nursing a baby and raising a three year old and a five year old? I had never trained for a half marathon as a breastfeeding mother before.
Once Amber could hold her head up in the jogging stroller, I got up and ran three mornings a week at 6 a.m. before the rest of my family woke up. This meant that I didn’t need to worry about who would look after the baby or how they would feed her. Amber was a great sleeper and very rarely woke up during that 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. time period.
I will admit that for those first few runs my breasts were very tender. I had to wear a very supportive sports bra that was almost one size too small. Over time my body adapted, and my breasts became less tender. I made running a priority. I fit in running and exercising whenever I could.
Even in the cold, I bundled Amber and her three-year-old sister up well enough that they could sit in the jogger while I ran. My oldest daughter, all bundled up as well, would then ride her bike alongside us. My older daughters enjoyed it so much that they would beg me to run, whether I felt like running or not. I never expected them to enjoy it so much.
Weekends were when I would do my long training runs. I would nurse Amber before her morning nap, then bundle her up and put her in the jogger as I did my long training runs. Her sisters would stay home with their father, but I couldn’t bear to leave Amber. She slept well in the jogger and having her with me meant I didn’t need to worry about who would feed her or how she would be fed. Amber had never been introduced to a bottle.
Finally race day arrived. I had been worrying about the logistics of this day for a month. I had no idea if my husband could successfully feed her or console her while I was gone. I got up at 6 a.m., dressed in my running gear, ate breakfast, and left the house. My mind had begun to get into race mode. Did I have enough water with me? Was l dressed warmly enough? Too warm? Would my running skirt cause chafing? Did I eat enough breakfast to fuel me through the race?
As I lined up for the race, all of my self-doubt disappeared, and this incredible happiness took over. I was me again. I was racing again. I was breastfeeding, caring for three young children, and training for a marathon.
I ran a great race, I didn’t worry about the kids, and I had fun. The first 16 kilometers went well, but the last five were hard. My breasts were engorged because I had missed a feed, and the happiness I felt from racing had caused me to let-down a few times.
My legs felt strong, but my breasts hurt with every step. Finally, after two hours and nine minutes of running, I crossed the finish line. I couldn’t wait to feed my little Amber. When I got home, I learned that Amber had barely missed me. She happily drank my expressed milk from a sippy cup and didn’t pose a problem for my husband.
Since that day, l’ve gone on to train for and complete two more half marathons, including my most recent half marathon where I beat my personal best, which I had set 10 years earlier while I was in my mid-twenties. At 17 months old, Amber is still nursing four to five times each day. I’ve learned that breastfeeding and running is possible. It takes careful planning and additional fuel for me, but it can be done.
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding and human milk feeding experiences. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected]
Further reading on exercise and breastfeeding:
● lllusa.org/running-and-breastfeeding/
● lllusa.org/balancing-breastfeeding-and-exercise-katyas-story/
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
Follow us on:
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