How Breastfeeding Moms Can Pump and Run the New York City Marathon

Just because we can run a marathon within a year-ish of childbirth doesn’t mean it is a great idea BUT if you’re here, you’re my kinda gal. NYC Marathon is one of a kind, I’ve run it 3 times and it is an incredible experience. 2024 was the first time I’ve used the Lactation benefits provided by NYRR. Let me tell you – It is seriously so incredible that they offer accommodations for breastfeeding moms. We need every World Marathon Major to follow suit. I was telling runners of all genders about the lactation support that NYC offers, and it continues to be such a game changer for supporting women in sport. You can read an article from Parents Magazine here to learn more about it and the olympian / total queen that started the program, Alysia Montano.

This was the hardest training cycle I’ve ever done with sleep deprivation, a healing body, an unstable pelvis, breastfeeding breaks during training, stroller long runs, etc. So give yourself a huge high five for making it through training and to race day. My child was 6mo on race day, and after 8 weeks of no activity right after birth, it was basically like going from Couch to Marathon in 4 months. Insane.

Ok let’s talk specifics.

What resource are available to pump and run NYC?

• There is a lactation space at the Packet Pickup
• There are 5 lactation tents along the course (As for 2024 this was at the start, finish, mile 8, mile 17, mile 11)
• NYRR provided manual Medela hand pumps
• NYRR provided a hospital grade closed loop Medela pump (**This was either used by another runner or unavailable at the start village, so don’t count on it)
• NYRR provided transportation of your pump for you from start line to finish
• Private porta potties at each lactation space
• Snacks, Gatorade, wipes at the start line lactation space (**Start line yes, snacks not part of subsequent stops)

What you need to know:

• Strollers/babies are acceptable at packet pickup. I couldn’t find information on this and was worried my child would get bounced from the line but she was able to come in just fine.
• Packet Pickup had a table with lactation information but nobody was manning it, making it really difficult to find. I had to ask a few volunteers to locate the table to then take pictures of the information sheets they had left out.
• There is a lactation space at packet pickup.
• You will probably spend 12 hours away from your baby. I left my hotel room at 5am and returned at 5pm.
• They don’t transport breastmilk for you and it is nearly impossible to run around with that yourself. Be sure to bring frozen / pre-pumped breastmilk for your baby to have during the race by your partner or caretaker.
• You cannot run with a hydration pack (check the rules here, some really small ones may be allowed) so you can’t feasibly carry expressed milk around with you, nor can you carry a pump with you.
• Your hydration needs are greater than the average person and you need to be taking as much fluid as you can
• It is ABSOLUTELY acceptable to pause your garmin for pump breaks and restart afterwards and capture the true race time. I don’t count pump breaks towards my NYC Marathon time and neither should you
• Consider maintaining a similar pump schedule to home, if you pump every 3 hours at home, figure out the stops you need to take to follow a similar pump schedule. Doing so is good for your supply and not getting engorged.
• Pumping and dumping is so so so sad, but you’re doing an awesome job maintaining food supply for your kiddo that it is still worth it.
• There is a sense of comradery among the pumping mamas and it is an extraordinary thing to run a marathon and be a breastfeeding parent!!!!

What I wish I would’ve done differently:

• Taken a heavier dose of sunflower lechtin in the days leading up to the race. The manual pump is great but I developed a clog on race day and didn’t want to wake up my baby at 4:50am when I was getting ready go. Instead I ended up running the entire time with a really tight and uncomfortable boob. So painful for a long race day. Do yourself a favor and heavily dose yourself before and during the race on sunflower lechtin.
• Pack a portable pump for before the race. I don’t know why I didn’t do this, and opted to rely entirely on the manual pumps. My hands were exhausted from using the hand pump and I couldve easily pumped a few times before the start line and picked it up at the end of the race.

Here is how I planned my pumping schedule around the NYC Marathon course:

• 1^st Pump at hotel – 4:45am
• 2^nd Pump at the Start Village pump tent – 7:45am
• 3^rd “Panic Pump” at the start village pump tent – 11am
• My wave started at 11:30am
• 4^th pump at mile 17 – 2:45pm
• 5^th Feed – Breastfeeding my child at 5:30pm

Parting thoughts and advice

I know surveys are annoying and I hate doing them, but please sign your name in at the lactation tent in the start village and fill out the survey afterwards telling them what a great program this is. We need more programs like this at races around the US and World. It is something we can easily do to support future moms in the sport of running.

This is arguably the most challenging race you’ve run in your career from a major medical event to now traversing 26.2 miles. Give yourself the insane amount of credit you deserve, beyond the finish time.

Good luck and congratulations to all you breastfeeding moms about to run NYC Marathon!!!!

More articles on NYC Marathon here:

New York City Marathon 2021 Race Recap

What to Bring to the Start Line of the New York City Marathon

New York City Marathon Long Weekend Trip Packing List

How to Train for a Marathon While on Extended Vacation

New York City Marathon Travel Budget to Actual Spending