Fiona English made headlines in 2023 with her open letter to the Boston Marathon, challenging their lack of pregnancy deferral options.
Her advocacy, alongside that of other pioneers in women’s running, led to the Boston Marathon introducing a policy allowing pregnant and postpartum athletes to defer their entry.
Her courage to stand up against longstanding rules, driven by her belief in fairness, is a reminder that no one is too small to make meaningful change.
Fiona is also an exceptional athlete. From completing her first marathon in 5:47 to achieving a Boston qualifying time of under 3:30, her journey exemplifies extraordinary dedication and perseverance.
Just one year after giving birth, she ran the Boston Marathon in an impressive 3:43.
In this conversation, we discuss Fiona’s running journey, her fight for fair policies in marathon racing, and the importance of making running more inclusive for women.
She also shares insights into balancing motherhood and running, showcasing the resilience and determination required to excel in both.
Follow Fiona: https://www.instagram.com/englishruns/
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Mentioned in the podcast:
Running coach Jill Bland: https://www.instagram.com/blandontherun/
SheRaces: https://www.sheraces.com/
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:29 Marathoning as a new mother
05:32 Adjustments to training now with a child
08:21 Setting goals that are unique to you
12:02 The history of women on start lines
15:29 Current inequalities within running
20:18 Why Boston is held to high regard
24:24 Fiona’s journey to a BQ Qualifier
27:43 The insurance policy for pregnancies
35:35 Boston’s claims to be the race for women
37:34 Boston’s Pregnancy policy at the time
42:18 Women advocates the came before
47:34 Fiona’s Open Letter to Boston Marathon
51:54 Reaction, good and bad to open letter
56:17 Boston’s response
58:19 Boston’s new pregnancy referral
01:01:18 Getting other races on board
01:02:44 The privilege in being able to speak out
01:06:08 Supporting female athletes
01:08:11 Why men need to get involved
01:12:14 Getting back into running post-pregnancy
01:20:55 The importance of resetting running stats post-partum
01:22:22 Running Boston 1 year after giving birth
01:29:22 Setting big scary goals