I Don't Know Running

The Pregnancy Penalty: Did Running Brands Ever Really Change? | Episode 205

Lewis Hayden and Mitch Brouwer Season 5 Episode 205

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0:00 | 20:37

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In 2019, it felt like women in sport had forced a turning point.

When Alysia Montaño, Kara Goucher, and Allyson Felix spoke publicly about pregnancy-related sponsorship penalties, major brands promised change.

Contracts changed. Protections were added. The sport moved forward… or did it?

In this episode, we unpack the “Pregnancy Penalty,” the recent controversy involving Emma Bates and UCAN, and a bigger question:

Did this problem go away… or did it just move into the fine print?

This isn’t just a conversation about one athlete or one brand.

It’s about what the sport values, what contracts protect, and whether pregnancy is still treated as a risk in professional running.

👇 What do you think?
Should sponsors be required to protect athletes through pregnancy, no matter the circumstances? Let us know in the comments.

#RunningPodcast #EmmaBates #AllysonFelix #KaraGoucher #AlysiaMontano #WomenInSport #RunningNews #Marathon #TrackAndField #PregnancyPenalty

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