The Race Towards Equity and Accessibility for Pregnant/Parenting Runners
Carleton University: Health & Wellness Equity Research Group x For All Mothers+
RUNNING EVENTS ARE GENERALLY NOT PARENT- FRIENDLY, creating a barrier for entry or reengagement for pregnant and parenting runners.
These events can serve a critical function for parents who need to focus on maintaining their health and well-being through activities that center their identity, remind them of their strength, and connect them with communities that help combat common feelings of isolation.
Our research study identifies the primary barriers and presents solutions that running event organizers can implement to support and market to pregnant and parenting runners.
“Obviously, the sport of running is very near and dear to my heart, but you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to know that the running community can change people’s lives, especially mothers’.”
Alysia Montaño, founder and CEO of For All Mothers+
The overwhelming majority of participants prefer to support races that offer family provisions, even if they don’t personally need them.
Of the survey participants that are parents:
(85% of respondents)
Runners with young kids struggle most:
27.8% have kids aged 3-5, a crucial time for childcare needs
TOP 3 BARRIERS
to parents participating in running events are:
Lack of on-site childcare or stroller options
No accommodations for breastfeeding and pumping participants
Inflexible deferral policies for women on various points of their maternal journey, including pregnancy, postpartum, fertility treatments, or miscarriage
SOLUTIONS
Vetted onsite childcare, childcare grants, and/or a running stroller category so that both parents have the option to participate
Clean, warm, and private spaces for mothers to nurse or pump (ideally with pumps provided, electrical access, and pump and milk storage and/or transportation)
Policies that allow women to defer their registration/qualifying times without penality if they become pregnant, are within a year of postpartum, undergoing fertility treatments, or recovering from miscarriage
Ways to Help the Race Towards Equity
Interested in the full research paper? Share your email and we’ll send you the full report.
About Carleton University: Health & Wellness Equity Research Group
The Health & Wellness Equity Research Group is dedicated to advancing health equity through physical activity. Founded by Dr. Francine Darroch – an Associate Professor and expert in qualitative health research, inequities in pregnancy and physical activity, and public health – our team conducts feminist participatory action research to co-create inclusive, trauma- and violence-informed physical activity programming. Our work focuses on improving access to sport and movement for pregnant and parenting individuals, families, and communities facing systemic barriers. Working alongside For All Mothers+, athletes, organizations, and policymakers, we aim to reshape the landscape of physical activity and sport so that all individuals—regardless of gender, parenting status, or background—can participate fully and equitably. Dr. Darroch, her Research Manager Sydney Smith, and their team are continuing to explore the intersections of parenthood, athleticism, and gender equity at all levels of sport, including through initiatives such as The Race Towards Equity and Accessibility for Pregnant and Parenting Runners as well as Breaking Records, Not Budgets: Taking on the Motherhood Penalty in Women’s Professional Sports. We invite you to check out our website and follow us on Instagram as we push the boundaries of inclusion and advocate for meaningful change in sport and beyond!
About For All Mothers+
For All Mothers+ (formerly &Mother) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit on a mission to eliminate the motherhood penalty – the phenomenon by which women face economic, social, and health disadvantages after becoming mothers. We are breaking the barriers that limit mothers and building a world where they thrive in pursuit of health, career, and personal ambition. Through the public lens of sports, we are championing the needs of all mothers by demonstrating the efficacy of family-first infrastructure and trailblazing a path for other industries to follow. The organization was founded on Mother’s Day 2020 by Olympic Medalist, seven-time U.S. Track and Field Champion, and mother of three, Alysia Montaño. Follow us on Instagram to learn more about our work and how you can support our mission.