U.S. Olympian Elle Purrier St. Pierre on balancing pro running and parenthood
"Just because I had a kid, it does not mean I have to end my career," says Purrier St. Pierre
Photo by:
Kevin Morris
On the eve of the 2023 New York City Marathon, U.S. Olympian Elle Purrier St. Pierre spoke on a New Balance panel in front of hundreds of attendees at Columbus Circle in central Manhattan on her return to professional running.
In the past four years, it seems Purrier St. Pierre has ignited the track almost every time she has stepped foot on it, setting multiple American indoor records and earning a world indoor championship silver medal in the women’s 3,000m. However lately, the 28-year-old has spent some time away from the track, following her dream of starting a family in her hometown of Montgomery, Vt.
Six months after giving birth to her son Ivan in March 2023, Purrier St. Pierre returned to where she left off, placing seventh at the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile in 4:23.3 against the world’s best. It was an emotional return to racing, with baby Ivan cheering her at the finish line, along with her husband, Jaime.
“I am thankful to the women before me who have paved the way,” says Purrier St. Pierre. “Female athletes can start a family and take the time they need, away from athletics. Just because I had a kid, it does not mean I have to end my career.”
With ambitions of making the U.S. Olympic Team in 2024, Purrier St. Pierre is motivated by her competitors who have gone through motherhood and returned to track and field. “Faith Kipyegon is someone I look up to,” says Purrier St. Pierre. “It’s inspiring to see what she’s done after becoming a mother.”
Purrier St. Pierre says that she would not have been able to do so without the support of her training group and coaches with NB Boston and her sponsor, New Balance, who have given her time to adapt to motherhood, allowing her to split her time training between Boston and Vermont. “It’s crucial to have this,” says Purrier St. Pierre. “If it wasn’t for New Balance and NB Boston coaches supporting me, I couldn’t have done it.”
Purrier St. Pierre grew up on a dairy farm outside Montgomery. She got into running in her freshman year at Richford High School, located less than five minutes from the U.S.-Canadian border. After school, she’d often run to the Canadian border and back as her training run (about six kilometres total). Her running success earned her a scholarship with the University of New Hampshire, where she became an NCAA champion in the women’s mile. She signed a professional contract with New Balance in 2018.
What also sets Purrier St. Pierre apart is her racing style. You can always spot her near the front, defending the inside lane. She credits her upbringing for her toughness and confidence at the elite level. “I was raised on the belief that hard work is needed to get things done, and it has translated into track,” says Purrier St. Pierre. “The 1,500m comes down to split-second decisions; you need to be confident, otherwise, you won’t do as well as you could.”
When asked about her transition back to being a professional athlete, Purrier St. Pierre says it’s been a challenge, but she’s happy to be doing it while also being a mom. She will run her second race as a new mom at the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 9, before kicking off her indoor season at the New Balance Grand Prix on Feb 4.
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