Sophie Power had not even laced up her trainers for her first run when she signed up to an ultramarathon.
But what was initially a fresh challenge after being made redundant has manifested into a life-changing passion that has led to positive change for women in sport.
In 2018, a photograph of Power breastfeeding her then three-month-old son during a 106-mile race went viral.
There had been no option for her to defer her place until she was fit to compete and it highlighted what she saw as a major issue facing women and mothers.
Now, many of the world’s biggest events, including the London Marathon, have implemented pregnancy deferral policies and Power’s work has been central to that change.
A starting dilemma
Power signed up for her first 250km (155-mile) ultramarathon at the age of 26, shortly after having been made redundant from her job in banking.
Although she was not a runner and never had been, a friend had recently completed the challenge himself and recommended she try it, as he believed she could have the stamina needed due to her time in the air squadron at university.
“I went for my first run the next day and realised pretty quickly that I loved ultra-running. I love being outside, the breadth of phenomenal people you meet [who] you wouldn’t come across in everyday life,” the 42-year-old, who lives near Guildford in Surrey, told BBC Sport.
“And really kind of pushing my body to the limits in a new way.”
Immediately hooked, Power devoted her time to training and travelling to compete in stage races around world.
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Shortly after the birth of her second child, Cormac, she was faced with a dilemma.
Having given up her entry to the iconic Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) race while she recovered from the birth of her first child, Donnacha, three years before, she was not prepared to do so again.
Like many races, UTMB had no pregnancy deferral policy at the time.
Despite not being able to run so soon postpartum, Power entered the 106-mile event with a view to starting and maybe walking the first 10km.
Yet 43.5 hours after setting off she completed the challenge, that included 10,000m of climbing, inside the cut-off time, walking the whole way except for a short stretch after one of the highest points when she was worried she might get hypothermia. She crossed the line with then three-year-old Donnacha.
That moment is one she looks back on with immense pride, though it was a photograph of her taken with her younger son that day that would inspire what followed.
The image that helped spark change
French photographer Alexis Berg was at UTMB photographing the 2018 race, as he is at many ultra events. And it was at one of the refuelling stations that he saw something he had never previously seen at one of these events.
“I knew it was unusual. At that moment it was impossible to realise the photo would have such an impact, but I just pushed one button that day and everything else that has happened is because of Sophie,” he said.
What he captured was Power sitting down and breastfeeding her baby son during a break from the race.
“That photo has undoubtedly changed the course of my life. I worked out I should never have been on that start line,” she said.
“I should have been given the opportunity to complete that kind of dream race when I was fit and healthy, not three months postpartum, trying to go 106 miles around a huge mountain by breastfeeding my baby. It was crazy.”
