Anyone train for/run a Marathon while PG?

kab1977 · August 2011

So I just found out last week that I am pregnant. I am about 5 weeks along and halfway through my training plan for my first Marathon which is on October 15th (I would be about 14 weeks at that point). I have ran 4 half marathons and just did a 10 mile race last weekend

I will not see my doctor until the end of this month to speak with him about this but in the meantime I was wondering if anyone has successfully trained for an ran a Marathon while pregnant?? I am thinking I may have to defer my registration to next year if it isn't safe!

LenMont · August 2011

I think it's safe as long as you listen to your body and you're willing to slow down. I think there are even a few bumpies who have run marathons while pg.

BUT....I would totally defer until next year since this is your first. I've run two marathons and both times it was a very rewarding, emotional experience. I think running while pg would have made me more concerned about hurting the baby and I would have totally missed all of the joy of actually running--esp my first. I would defer and plan to run the half instead. A half at 14 weeks is totally doable.

2gr8pits · August 2011

I was training for a 25k when I got pg. I ran it around 9 weeks and was fine, just much slower than normal. I also struggled with training because I was exhausted (I usually run before work and couldn't get up). However it is doable. My doctor said to listen to my body, ease up on the pace, keep my HR around 140-160 and have fun. Don't expect to set any PR's. The only thing I have been told not to do at this point is lift more than 15lbs at a time, no outdoor bike riding and no heavy weighted squats.

BayGal18 · August 2011

I ran the Boston Marathon at just over 14 weeks pregnant. It was my second marathon.

I was very careful in the sense that I shared everything with my doctor and deferred to her judgement completely (even showing her my complete training plan). I had already adjusted my time goals (thrown them out the window, really), so she knew I would be running at a comfortable/conversational pace. She had me stop doing any tempo or speedwork, but besides that gave me the green light as long as I stayed hydrated and listened to my body. I drank a lot more than I normally would during a race (and took an embarrassing amount of bathroom breaks), and took it slow when I needed to. It's definitely a personal choice.

I'd say the hardest part was the long runs and weeknight sessions leading up to the marathon while battling "morning" sickness- it started to wear off just around the time of the marathon, so I felt much better during the actual race.

SFAug07 · August 2011

I ran the Boston marathon at 25 weeks pregnant. It was my 30th marathon so my situation is a little different to yours. Obviously I knew really well what to expect in a marathon and my body was used to it. I took it really easy, walked for long stretches, took several long bathroom breaks and it took me more than an hour longer than my usual marathon - I finished in 4:29 (PR is 3:17). I had a great time and really enjoyed it.

laurack · August 2011

If you had run a few of them before it would probably be fine. But I wouldn't advise running your first marathon during your first pregnancy! You just don't know how your body will respond to the distance to begin with, never mind being pregnant. It seems risky.

Can you perhaps do a half instead? See how your body responds to running during pregnancy and maybe save the full marathon until next year.

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