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Runner Rachel Drake on Socks, Residency, and Postpartum Running
I got my first pair of Darn Tough socks for Christmas when I was a freshman in college 15 years ago. They were fun and floral, and instantly felt good on my feet.
I eagerly put them in my sock rotation, and after a few years I noticed they were the only constant pair in rotation. While my other socks had to be retired due to holes in the toes or heels, my Darn Toughs were still going strong.
As a fervent believer in the notion of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” it pained me every time I had to toss out a pair of socks. “I guess they don’t call ‘em darn tough for nothing!” I told my mom who gifted me the socks.
Ideal for a Runner’s Sock Drawer
Since then, I’ve slowly shifted my entire sock drawer to Darn Tough socks, and I’m thrilled that I don’t have to constantly be replacing my worn-out socks.
As an ultramarathon runner, I’m putting a lot of wear on my running socks and am constantly impressed with their comfort and durability.
I’ve competed in races from 8 kilometers on the road (clocking sub-5:30 minute miles) to 100 miles on the trail at the legendary Western States Endurance Run, all wearing my trusty Darn Tough socks.
Navigating Life Changes
Aside from running, I’m also a mom to a wonderful (almost) 2-year-old, and I’m a new doctor starting my anesthesiology residency. Navigating motherhood, the end of medical school, start of residency, and training for my first 100 miler this June has been a whirlwind time of life.
In my return to running postpartum, I got a stress fracture and was forced to take even more time off running. Now that I’m healthy and gaining fitness, I feel so much gratitude to be able to do what I love again, and I relish the pre-race nerves.
Tips for Postpartum Running
Here are some of my biggest takeaways from postpartum running:
- Don’t compare your trajectory to others. We’re all different and what worked for one person may not work for you.
- If you decide to breastfeed, keep your mileage low. Nursing decreases your bone density and puts you at risk for bone injuries.
- Work on your core strength! We naturally lose this during pregnancy, but having a strong core is critical to optimal biomechanics needed for running.
- Consider increasing your shoe (and sock) size. Our feet can get bigger with pregnancy, and this can persist postpartum. My shoe size is now a half size larger than before pregnancy and my sock size is a full size bigger.
Through the highs and lows of the past few years, Darn Tough has been a steady companion in my life.
Becoming a mother while finishing medical school and competing as a professional trail runner has required a lot of adaptability, but I’m grateful for the regular presence of Darn Tough socks on my feet.
About the Author
Rachel Drake is originally from Minnesota but currently resides in Salt Lake City Utah with her husband, 2 year old son and scruffy rescue dog. She is a top American ultrarunner, with top finishes at Western States (8th in 2024), UTMB (7th at CCC in 2019 and 6th at OCC in 2023), and the Golden Trail World Series (2nd in 2020).
She qualified for the past two Marathon Olympic Trials and holds a marathon time of 2:35. She is also a recent MD/PhD graduate and is pursuing anesthesiology residency in Salt Lake City, Utah.
