Sophie Power made global headlines when she was snapped breastfeeding her baby during the 105-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and it started her on a crusade to get women the opportunities they deserve

Words: Rachel Ifans

Sophie and her famous pic. Because of her experience at UTMB, HOKA ONE ONE asked Sophie to be part of its Time To campaign. Her tagline? Time To Hear Me Roar…

“To be honest, I thought it was normal: I had a goal and a baby and if I could manage both of them why wouldn’t I do that? So when I was asked for permission to use the photo, I had no idea it would go viral! But I thought, if that picture makes the [Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc] organisers change their race rules so pregnant women can defer their entry, and won’t have to go through what I did, that would be a great outcome.”

Sophie is talking about the photo taken of her by Alexis Berg for Strava part way through 2018’s UTMB, breastfeeding her three-month-old baby. A photo which spread round the world like wildfire. “But I then realised it was about far more than that. It wasn’t about me at all. It was about all women getting back to being themselves after having babies and still feeling able to have goals. It gave permission for women to run a 10K after having a baby and to give themselves the time for that.”

Dream race

UTMB had been Sophie’s dream for years but it’s a race so in demand you need to earn qualifying points by doing other tough ultras. “I’d had a place in 2014 and I got pregnant so I lost the place – they defer you if you have an injury, but not if you are pregnant.”

She again got the qualifying points she needed and a place a few years later. But again timing was not on her side. “I ended up having a three-month-old baby at the time. I didn’t think I’d ever actually do the race when I took up the place, but I thought if I had it in the diary, I’d stay strong during the pregnancy and get back to myself more quickly. As it happened, my recovery and training went well ,so I decided to give it a try – against the advice of my friends and coach!”