Running With Diastasis Recti Postpartum

By: Greta Stuckey

In June 2014, Professional Runner Stephanie Bruce gave birth to a nine-pound baby boy. While the Hoka One One sponsored athlete began recovering from her first pregnancy, she got pregnant again. Just fifteen months later, Bruce had her second child, an eight-pound baby boy. After becoming a mother of two, Bruce suffered from diastasis recti.

Diastasis Recti is a common condition during pregnancy and for many women, including Bruce, it extends postpartum. During pregnancy, the growing uterus stretches the muscles in the abdomen. This can cause separation at the center of the abdomen, leaving a gap. With loose skin, stretch marks and brown spots on her abs, Bruce did not know how the public would react to her new body.

“I have an occasional pang of longing for my old stomach, my pre-baby body,” Bruce said in a Runners World op-ed. “I used to really like how I looked in swimsuits. In my world—in the professional running world—you’re surrounded by a lot of women who have perfectly sculpted abs. And I’m realizing that’s not me anymore.”

Bruce is now four years postpartum and despite all the work she has put in on the development of her core muscles, she has accepted that her diastasis recti is here to stay. The condition differs for women, some only experience it while they are pregnant, others can have it for weeks, months or years postpartum. The condition does not only affect the appearance of one’s abdomen, but it also causes physical pain in the pelvis when trying to run.

“Women and men need to be more aware of how much the body changes after pregnancy and childbirth—and support moms through all of it,” said Bruce in a Runners World op-ed. “And women, you should support yourselves.”

After giving birth to her two sons and beginning to work herself back into shape to compete on the national and international running stage, Bruce documented her journey on social media. As she posted pictures and descriptions of what she was going through postpartum, other mothers around the world began to share their experiences with diastasis recti and other postpartum concerns.

“After I gave birth to my first son Riley, I was a mess,” Bruce said to People Magazine. “I had a very aggressive delivery and a grade 4 tear with an episiotomy. My first run was seven weeks postpartum and my uterus just about fell out of me during that three-minute jog. The next run, I s— my pants. I laughed and I s— my pants.”

The condition can be complex and dependent on the individual, but Bruce never used it as an excuse in her training or performance. Getting in front of the world stage wearing a crop top and briefs, Bruce has come to accept her loose skin. Although she may look different than other runners on the track or roads, her results speak for themselves.

In 2019, Bruce finished second at the California International Marathon and opened her 2020 season by finishing in a tie for first place at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon. In December, she ran the 5,000m on the track in a time of 31:24.47 and secured the Olympic Standard.

Making herself into one of the most popular and well-known distance athletes of this era, Bruce has started coaching athletes of all ability levels. She and her husband Ben have also created a yearly running camp in Flagstaff, AZ. Bruce is also known for being a co-founder of Picky Bars, a healthy food brand that offers energy bars, granola and other food staples for athletes.

Bruce’s popularity and success is a combination of the work she has put in on and off the track. While she will probably be living with the effects of diastasis recti for the rest of her life, Bruce uses it as a tool to change the conversation of women's bodies postpartum. She allows other women to accept their bodies simply by accepting her own.