872. Emma Bates, Mom-to-Be
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 31 March 2026
⏱️ 65 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"It's a new day, it's a new age, let's learn, let's grow together. That's it."
Last week, professional Colorado-based marathoner Emma Bates broke the running internet when she shared that she had been dropped by her fueling sponsor after they found out she was pregnant. In this conversation, Emma shares her side of the story that has taken the running community by storm. Emma also talks about running a 2:25 at the Valencia Marathon in the fall, about finding out the next day that she was pregnant, and about the realities of being a pregnant professional marathoner.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
- What's making Emma happy today — and some news! (3:10)
- How Emma is feeling at almost 20 weeks pregnant (7:50)
- Emma's reflections on the 2025 Valencia Marathon (10:40)
- What it's like being a pregnant professional athlete, and the pressure of trying to conceive on a timeline (13:45)
- On receiving a hemochromatosis blood disorder diagnosis last year, and what that has meant for Emma (18:00)
- How Emma found out she was pregnant (23:00)
- Emma's thoughts on returning to running and racing after having a baby (29:50)
- How and when Emma told her sponsors she was pregnant (34:00)
- Emma talks about what happened with her fueling sponsor, and what their contract negotiations looked like (37:15)
- Why Emma decided to share the "gel tasting" video last week (42:40)
- What's on tap for Boston Marathon weekend, and Emma's advice for runners headed to Boston this year (55:35)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Allie on the Run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk |
| 0:08.9 | with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond. From professional athletes and |
| 0:14.4 | celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back of the pack runner, we are here to celebrate |
| 0:19.1 | everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the |
| 0:22.1 | run. So whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been |
| 0:26.2 | holding you back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace. My guest today is |
| 0:31.8 | Emma Bates. Emma is a professional marathoner based in Colorado, where she is coached by Joe Bossard and is sponsored by A6. |
| 0:39.9 | This past fall, Emma ran the Valencia Marathon in 225. |
| 0:44.8 | Pregnant. |
| 0:46.1 | Emma found out that she was pregnant the day after the race, and in this conversation, she talks all about it. |
| 0:52.4 | She also talks about this past week, which has been an eventful one for |
| 0:56.4 | Emma. I'm sure you've seen it. She posted a reel on Instagram sharing that her fueling |
| 1:01.1 | company had dropped her after telling them she was pregnant. And boy, did this blow up. It quickly |
| 1:06.7 | became the latest very hot topic in the running community, and so naturally I was eager to talk to |
| 1:12.7 | Emma about all of it. On a personal and professional note, the fueling company Emma is referring to, |
| 1:18.7 | but didn't name, is You Can. You Can has also been a longtime frequent partner of the Allie on the Run show. |
| 1:24.9 | We've done live shows together, and they've sponsored the podcast over the past |
| 1:28.3 | few years. In 2025, our existing agreement was terminated, but Youcan did return to the show this |
| 1:35.0 | month to sponsor two episodes, the second of which was scheduled to come out last week. |
| 1:39.7 | I made the decision, and Youcan was in agreement to pause that episode sponsorship indefinitely. |
| 1:45.4 | As you all know, it is so important to me that the brands I partner with are ones I'm proud to stand behind, |
| 1:50.8 | both when it comes to their products and their principles. |
... |
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