Ella Peyrard: when motherhood and ultra-trail go hand in hand

After introducing a pioneering pregnancy policy in 2023, the UTMB® World Series has recently expanded its commitment to inclusion by evolving its parental support policy. Strengthened in 2026, this new policy now takes into account the various forms of parenthood and life journeys: pregnancy, medically assisted reproduction (IVF), adoption, and surrogacy. This initiative aims to make welcoming a child easier, while also supporting athletes in their return to competition through options such as race deferrals, refunds in the event of pregnancy-related withdrawal, and priority access to races.

To illustrate the real impact of this policy, we met Ella Peyrard, a passionate trail runner and young mother, who took the time to share her journey and her experience of motherhood and sport with honesty and openness.

Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your sporting journey before motherhood ?

Ella : I’m 31 years old, I live in the Ain region near Lyon, and I’ve been trail running since 2019. Before my pregnancy, I mainly took part in ultra-trail races of over 100 km, several times a year. My first long race was the Échappée Belle, followed by events such as the Diagonale des Fous, Lavaredo, and UTMB. At the beginning, my progression wasn’t very structured, I jumped straight into long distances, but each year I set myself a major goal.

How did you experience the news of your pregnancy in relation to your UTMB 2024 project ?

Ella : I already had this desire for motherhood in mind, but I didn’t want it to hold me back in my goals, because you never know how long it might take. So I told myself: Let’s go for UTMB! I had already heard about the pregnancy policy in place, so I registered without putting any limits on myself and thought: whatever happens, happens. I was completely focused on UTMB, everything was organised around it, and everyone was ready to come and support me in Chamonix. When I found out I was pregnant, at first I thought, ‘It’s fine, I’ll keep planning for UTMB,’ as it was my guiding objective for the year. But I quickly realised that, for safety and performance reasons, it wasn’t reasonable. Fortunately, the parental policy allowed me to make that decision with confidence and to see that it genuinely worked.

How did your interaction with the UTMB teams go, and how was the policy implemented ?

Ella : At first, things were a bit unclear, as in 2024 the policy wasn’t as detailed as it is today. So I sent an email to the general contact address without really knowing what to expect. I received a reply within a few days. Even if everything wasn’t completely clear in the exchanges, I was able to cancel my registration and get a refund. On my account, it simply showed ‘cancelled’, and since a friend was in the same situation, we weren’t entirely sure how it would be handled or whether it had been properly processed. In the end, I was refunded and able to defer my participation, with priority registration for the following year. This year, I emailed again and received an immediate response. I find the system really effective: it allows you to continue being an athlete without having to choose between different life projects or deal with administrative burdens. Not having to go through the lottery again is a huge help when planning your year and reduces mental load. It allows you to focus on training and personal organisation without added stress.

How did you return to trail running after the birth of your son, Noah ?

Ella : I had a high-risk pregnancy and had to stop exercising from the sixth month, so I wasn’t allowed to run anymore. This break left me feeling quite frustrated, and as soon as I could, all I wanted was to start running again. To benefit from the pregnancy policy, you need a valid UTMB Index. Since my pregnancy began mid-2024 and I hadn’t raced since 2023, my index had expired. So I decided to register for Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB in September 2025 to reactivate it. Without the desire to run UTMB, I probably wouldn’t have taken the start, as nine months postpartum was quite ambitious. Fortunately, the UTMB teams were very understanding and offered adjustments, such as an organisational pass to make access to the start easier. These small gestures make a real difference for a young mother and improve the overall experience. I was therefore able to run this 100 km race in September. This comeback gave me new sensations and renewed motivation, knowing that my little one was waiting for me at the aid stations and at the finish line! I’m already planning my participation in UTMB 2026. We would like to have several children, and I don’t know exactly what 2027 and 2028 will bring, so I preferred not to wait and to fulfil this project that has been close to my heart since 2024 rather than postponing it.

What is your view today on combining motherhood with sport ?

Ella : Before becoming a mum, I thought motherhood and trail running were completely compatible, I used to tell everyone I’d still be able to train in the mountains at weekends. But living it is different. Thanks to our family organisation and the adapted measures at races, I can keep running while being fully present for my child. My partner and I are gradually improving our coordination so that we both find the right balance and make parenthood compatible with our lifestyle. The fact that I’ve already returned to racing shows that it’s entirely possible to combine being a mother with a full-time job. It’s really a question of priorities and day-to-day organisation. You have to learn to manage your time differently, but it is absolutely doable. For me, motherhood has actually become an additional strength: I run with even more motivation, because my goal is to see my son at the finish line and to set an example.

What do you think has changed regarding motherhood in sport ?

Ella : I think attitudes are evolving a lot, especially because the topic is increasingly visible in the media. We see more elite athletes showing that it’s possible to continue competing after becoming a mother. That helps change perceptions. Personally, I’ve never received negative comments like ‘you’re crazy to run’ or ‘you should stay at home with your baby’. On the contrary, I’ve been very well supported. Some athletes have also inspired me a lot. For example, Marion Delespierre had just given birth when I became pregnant. Following her journey and experience helped me greatly. Today, there are also more podcasts and content addressing these topics, which allows women to be better informed, to project themselves, and to understand how to organise their lives.

What advice would you give to athlete parents and race organisers?

Ella: My main message to athletes is that motherhood is not a barrier to sport, quite the opposite, it can become an incredible strength. As I said, when you become a mother, you’re no longer running just for yourself. You run because you’ve chosen to be there, because you want to push yourself, and in my case, to get back to my baby as quickly as possible! Personally, I feel it amplifies commitment: you give everything, even more than before. If you trust your choices and stay organised, you can go really far. So I encourage women not to hesitate to keep signing up for long-distance races, even after having a child. I’d also like to thank race organisers who implement these parental policies. It’s not a gift to women, it’s simply a way to allow us to stay in sport without having to choose between being an athlete and being a mother. Recognising pregnancy not as an illness but as a life stage is incredibly important. Looking ahead, I think we should continue developing measures that facilitate the return after childbirth, for example, breastfeeding facilities or support for young mothers at events. In Nice, I had to request a specific pass and explain my situation. These are things that could perhaps be offered more proactively. The most challenging point for me this year was the requirement for a valid UTMB Index. It can push some women to return to competition very early to reactivate it, whereas after pregnancy, you often prefer a gradual comeback. For example, I chose to aim for 2026, around a year and a half after giving birth, to return at my own pace. A bit more flexibility on this point, taking into account the timing of childbirth and recovery, could further improve support for athletes.

What are your future perspectives regarding sport and parenthood ?

Ella : This year, I’m aiming for UTMB 2026 and some intermediate races to return progressively. We would like to have several children, and the UTMB World Series parental policy gives me the freedom to continue competing without giving up my goals. I’m convinced that, thanks to this kind of support, the barriers for women in endurance sports will continue to fall.