Can you run marathon pregnant

What if I hurt myself or worse my baby? Was a 4-mile run really worth the risk? I also had good days and bad days. My hips hurt… constantly. I tripped on two occasions, falling on my hands and knees — not my belly — and at least once a week for yes, 38 weeks I woke with my calf locked and toes contorted.

Charley horses affected both legs. But I kept going because I could. I know, I know: I said this already, but it bears repeating. From those assessments — plus your input on your lifestyle, mental health, and current exercise regimen — your doctor can help shape a pregnancy running routine that will work for your personal circumstances. Many runners particularly distance runners push themselves.

But pregnancy is a different sort of race, and you need to be realistic about your expectations and give yourself grace. So slow down and, when necessary, stop. Walking is also a good alternative. Did you know dehydration can cause false labor or contractions?

Dehydration can bring on Braxton Hicks. Pregnant people also need more water than the average person, as water plays an important role in the healthy development of your baby and the placenta. So bring a bottle of water with you on every run, regardless of the distance or external temperature, and eat a post-workout snack. My personal favorites included graham crackers with peanut butter and apple slices with cheddar cheese.

Trust me. Your bladder will thank you. Whether this is your first pregnancy or fourth, one thing is certain: Carrying a child is tough. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is nothing at all. Then came the process of gradually dropping my times down. My current PR came around 19 months later. Do you think your experience and base of training helped you in the whole process?

Do you think your running helped you through the post partum and other mental challenges? As an added benefit, exercise in the postpartum period has been shown to decrease the incidence of postpartum depression. How do you work in family? It worked best for me to train early in the morning. I would breastfeed my infant, put him back to sleep and then run before my husband left for work often before he was out of bed. But I often did cross training by attending yoga classes at the YMCA where they had a nursery or by doing exercises at home.

I often had to pause midway through a workout to take care of needs or have a kid crawling on me during portions of a workout. I think if I were to do it again I would invest in a treadmill which can make fitting those runs in a lot easier. If you had to do it all over again would you do it differently? My third son, Liam, born October 1st, I either ran or cross-trained up until the day he was born. Awesome post and interview, Angie! I am currently 30 weeks pregnant with our second baby and being a runner that happens to also be pregnant can feel very isolating!

At least in our area, pregnant runners are rare and running while pregnant definitely carries a social stigma. Thanks Amy! All the best during the rest of your pregnancy and happy running! Hi thanks for the article. I am trying for my 3rd baby, my other two are in high school. I have already run four marathons this year, I recently ran NYC in 3 hours 36 minutes and that was only 8 days after a marathon in the UK Wales called Snowdonia it has a terrible profile!

I really love pacing as I find it very rewarding. If I was racing a spring marathon I would be aiming for 3 hours 22 minutes. For this marathon they have given me 4 hours 15, which is nice and slow for me. I think that even if I became pregnant between now and then I would maximally be 16 weeks pregnant I could still do the pacing. Hi Mary, Congratulations on your recent marathons! It sounds like you have a very strong fitness base and I wish you the best of luck getting pregnant.

As you know every pregnancy is different but with a normal uncomplicated pregnancy you should be fine running an easy marathon at around 16 weeks. Typically this is before your center of gravity shifts too much which can throw off your running form a bit. Your most important goal would be to train for healthy baby but many women are lucky enough to be able to run all the way through pregnancy. What do you think about training for your first marathon when you find out you are pregnant? I am at mile 20 of my training program and just found out that I am preggo, maybe 6 weeks?

Any advice? Congratulations on your pregnancy! It can be a challenging decision to decide whether or not to continue with your marathon training during pregnancy. Pregnancy is definitely not a time to be setting challenging time goals and pushing yourself to the max. Typically during the week period of pregnancy you may notice a lot more fatigue and possibly GI upset due to the rapid fetal growth and changing hormones. So listen to your body and let it be your guide.

Wishing you the best! Trained for a Chicago marathon. But recently came to know that I was pregnant. How was your marathon run when you were 6 weeks pregnant? Please share your experience! Hi Joanne, Congratulations on your pregnancy! Congratulations on your pregnancy Andrea! Best wishes for the race and the rest of your pregnancy!

Hi Angie, Thanks for the post! My OB has given me the okay to run it if my body continues to feel good. Hi Kara, Congratulations on expecting your 3rd baby later this year and running the Boston Marathon in April. Best wishes for a great marathon and pregnancy! I felt good. Congrats on your pregnancy and qualifying for Boston!!! Hi, I am training for Edinburgh marathon which is now 10 weeks away. I have just found out I am 6 weeks pregnant.

I am fit did an Ironman last summer and upto 15 miles already. I feel absolutely fine at the moment, but aware fatigue and morning sickness are probably just around the corner. Hi Sarah, Congratulations on your pregnancy!

It can definitely be challenging to decide whether or not to continue with marathon training or not. Morning sickness and fatigue can certainly provide some complications when it comes to getting your training done. The most important thing if you decide to continue training for the race is to listen to your body and keep the intensity of your workouts a bit lower.

That would still give you a sense of accomplishment but not be as demanding on your body. Either way, best wishes for a healthy and happy pregnancy! I use to be in the best shape of my life, we ran long distance weekly, but last April I broke my femur so I am currently getting back into my long distance running, I am much slower than I was and I understand what taking it slow and not pushing it is all about now.

I am just so torn on to wait or wing it. My advice is to go ahead with your marathon training. Also, ask them to set guidelines like mine did—sharing your running history so they know what your body is used to doing. Related: Pelvic floor exercises for mother runners. Stop doing it. Mother Runners advise not to push yourself hard. This is not a time to do speedwork and long runs.

The comfort zone is the place to be when growing a human. Keep it easy. I cannot tell you how many times I would have to pee or at least felt like I had to pee on a 4-mile run. I got really good at pretending like I was tying my shoe but instead was…well, you get the picture.

Humility goes out of the door in the name of comfort. Related: How to start running after having a baby training plan. A belt worked wonders in taking the pressure off so I could still log slow miles throughout my pregnancies. Also, this is common sense—but make sure you have good supportive shoes. Our Mother Runners said sipping Gatorade on their runs helped calm their queasy stomachs. Cole Hosenfeld of Apple Healthcare recommends dropping your mileage by 10 percent to see if your symptoms ease.

Yes, you are eating for two, but you only need to eat about more calories a day in your second and third trimesters. Betsy recommends eating a mid-morning and late-afternoon snack.

She says every meal should include healthy fats, carbs, and protein. Also, be sure to take your prenatal vitamins. And, hydration is key! Your body needs water to produce amniotic fluid, extra blood volume, new tissue, supply nutrients, help indigestion, and flush out your wastes and toxins.

Drink water all day long. Find people who will run at an easier pace. Or, if you are running with the same people, run with them on their easy days and let them know your limits.

Speak up if the pace gets too fast. Related: 8 clever tips for breastfeeding while running. Your body is working overtime growing a human and chances are your sleep is interrupted by discomfort and having to pee several times a night. Heed those heavy eyes and try to lay down whenever you have the opportunity to rest. Your body is freaking amazing. Click through my Google web story for this here and view my other stories her e. Email me at whitney themotherrunners. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

In fact, in an unofficial poll of mother runners, moms who ran while pregnant stated many benefits: More energy Pin this for later! Can you run while pregnant?