Airman Mother Pumps Breast Milk While Completing Ironman 70.3

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A 34-year-old active duty Air Force Airman has broken an Ironman 70.3 personal record last month — and astonishgly even found time to pump breast milk during the run portion of the race in order to feed her 7-month-old son.

Jaime Sloan, who had given birth to her second child in March, initially planned to use her breastpump during a brief stop, however realized after completing the 56-mile cycling portion that she was pacing to achieve a personal best.

“By the time I got off the bike I knew I needed to pump,” Sloan, who has also completed two 140.6-mile Ironman races, said to Kennedy News & Media. “But I was also looking at a personal record because I had had a really awesome bike ride. I just thought, ‘I’m going to do it on my run.’”

Sloan, who had worked pumping into her training schedule, said that she was concerned about potential disqualification due to Ironman’s no nudity policy and was using a cloth over her top.

But, the Mom received positive reactions from other racers.

“For the most part I don’t know if people even noticed, I did get some looks from women but they were just big smiles,” she said. “There were actually two men who ran up to me and asked if I was OK. I think it was because I had a cloth over myself, and at first it might have looked like I was bleeding. But once they looked down and saw my pump they were like ‘Oh, OK!’”

Sloan completed the Oct. 21 race in 6 hours, 12 minutes and 44 seconds. The achievement was even more meaningful because she had struggled with sciatica during her pregnancy.

“About five months in I could barely even walk,” she told reporters. “So right after I had him, I waited by six weeks and then was really excited when I got back running again.”

The Mom of two said it was important that her daughter Henley see her complete the race, and that her training helped her cope with post-partum anxiety.

“I hope that it can encourage other women and mothers and really anyone who has a lot going on in their lives,” she said. “There’s always a way that you can make it happen, you might have to get a little creative from time to time. No matter what, if someone believes they can do something, they can make it happen because it is possible.”

Amazing!