r/fitpregnancy • u/Spidermonkey1028 • 2d ago
Marathon while pregnant
I (31F with zero children) have been running consistently for two years now and have done over a dozen halfs and a bunch of other 5K/10Ks during that time. I signed up for the SF marathon a few months ago and am in the thick of training since it’s in 8 weeks at the end of July. My predicted finish time is 4 hours and 30 mins, but the course gives you 6 hours to finish. However, recently I had my fertility tested and my egg count and hormones are in the lower range. The doctor recommended trying immediately esp since we want multiple kids and so we want to begin conceiving this cycle. However, if successful, I’d be 6-7 weeks pregnant during the marathon. Even if we conceived next cycle (July), I’d probably be 4 weeks pregnant during the marathon.
Does anyone have advice on running in the first trimester? I’ve heard there’s a lot of fatigue and nausea and needing to pee a lot. I’d love any advice on whether it’s smart or whether to defer the marathon because it could be dangerous. I could try to walk parts of it to finish also…
I understand I’m not pregnant yet and it can take multiple cycles to try so all of this could be a non issue. However, before trying, I want to make an informed decision. It’s always been a life goal of mine to run a marathon and running has really helped with my mental health struggles so I’m just feeling a bit anxious having to give up distance running in general.
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u/engineerwhoruns 2d ago
Every pregnancy and pregnant person are so different, but I’ve been able to run through my first trimesters, including a marathon at 12 weeks during my first pregnancy!
I’d been training consistently prior to getting pregnant, so my midwives weren’t concerned with continuing, especially since the goal for the race was enjoyment and fun not a personal best. My main concern with running while pregnant is hydration and overheating, so I run with a water bottle, even for short runs, to make sure I keep cool and safe.
Fingers crossed that it all works out for you, and good luck on your marathon!
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u/Spidermonkey1028 2d ago
Thank you! My goal is also really enjoyment/completing and any completion will be a PR since it’s my first one. This is a super helpful take so thank you!
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u/Top_Asparagus7 2d ago
symptoms hit hard for me at 5-6 weeks twice now. I would say 4 weeks you’d be fine though. if your heart is set on the marathon I’d wait at least one more month and then start trying. ttc can be a long arduous journey and when you look back it’s unlikely that starting 1 month later will make a big difference.
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u/Psychological-Log315 2d ago
I have been running since day one. I have been a distance for over ten years and didn’t have much of a problem even feeling “ugh” from weeks 7-11.
I will say I was also on progesterone and I was also building back from zero from an ectopic rupture about 8 weeks prior to finding out I was pregnant.
Just adjust your expectations and go easier than you think you are. I have been using a HR monitor and working to not get my hr over 170 for longer than 60 seconds. I did a half marathon at 9 weeks and one at 12 ( still felt awful here) and have another planned at 21 weeks…
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u/Spidermonkey1028 23h ago
Thank you! Is it bad to have your HR over 170? My zone 4 starts at 172….
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u/Psychological-Log315 21h ago
My ob just said not to hang out in zone 4-5 regularly.
So I just do more short intervals of speed vs a long tempo also I just feel better after too
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u/Tellmimoar 2d ago
I hate to put it bluntly but it’s a tough prediction to make; I was sooooo tired week 5-7; but you could play it by ear and see what you want to prioritize at the time. Wish you the best!!
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u/ash6831 1d ago
I found myself vomiting uncontrollably about 8-10 times/day starting around week 5, so a marathon would've been a no-go even if I had started pregnancy at my peak of long distance training. I did get on Zofran which helped a bit and was able to do some long-ish runs/hikes in the first trimester. Still on Zofran and consistently puking at 25 weeks, so my fitness goals have had to go way down.
I think you should give both a try (if you really want to jumpstart the family planning), knowing you may have to adjust your running expectations. It takes most people several cycles to get pregnant, so this all may be a moot point!
And if you had really bad symptoms and needed to drop out, it'd be a bummer, but distance running is something that will always be there. So many of my loved ones seemed to hit their best doing endurance sports in their 40s and beyond!
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u/Spidermonkey1028 23h ago
Thank you!! Super helpful for reference. Best of luck with your pregnancy!
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u/Ok-Speed-2799 1d ago
I was able to do half-marathons easily up until week 6-7 and then in a matter of days the fatigue hit me and I could barely do 5k and some days struggled to make dinner or go to work to be honest. I actually missed my marathon this weekend at 8-9 weeks due to this. Real bummer.
However, this is different for everyone, and all the medical professionals I talked to said it was completely risk free to run while pregnant, so you might get lucky and have no problems! But I think it's good to be mentally prepared for the fact that some things might be out of your hands.
I'm slowly starting to feel better, I think, so I hope to get back to running in a couple of weeks and am planning for a 30k in week 21, here's hoping!
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u/Spidermonkey1028 23h ago
Oh wow, thank you for sharing and I’m sorry about your marathon. It really sucks as women we need to balance our fitness goals with all of this life planning, but I guess like some of the others said in this chat, the marathon will always be there for when you’re ready! Good luck with your 30K!!
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u/obstinatemleb 2d ago
Theres nothing wrong with running during pregnancy, especially if youre already accustomed to the volume. Typically people are advised not to start new exercise due to higher injury risk from increased relaxin in your system combined with unfamiliarity with the movements. But youre an experienced runner so it sounds like youd be fine
That being said, the last 2 months of marathon training are typically the hardest. Personally I couldnt have run a marathon after 6 weeks due to my symptoms - fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, bloating, and poor sleep. I went from easy 45 minutes runs to barely making it 20 mins. I totally could have done it at 4 weeks though. If you do go for it while pregnant just make sure to hydrate a ton. Personally Idk if waiting 2 months makes a huge difference in the grand scheme of things especially if it means you get to accomplish this life goal before you have kids, you wont really have the same amount of time to train once you have them
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u/Spidermonkey1028 2d ago
Thank you! Fatigue and all the other ones you mention being a symptom of first trimester was what I was most worried about. This next month of training will be the hardest since long runs are anywhere from 18-22 for me before the taper so at least I won’t be doing those pregnant… this is super helpful so thank you!!
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u/jdgetrpin TTC | 1st time, zumba, running, weights 2d ago
What does your doctor say about waiting till after the marathon? It’s unlikely there would be any changes in 2 weeks. Marathons are hard and if you’ve been training for it, you deserve to be able to run it. I would ask your doctor to wait the two months and just start trying the cycle after the marathon so you have no concerns or symptoms affecting you during the race.
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u/Spidermonkey1028 23h ago
My doctor was saying it can be a long journey to conceive so just to start ASAP. my husband is also a doctor and kinda leaning towards the same thing. The chances of getting pregnant right away would be more lucky than anything based on my labs right now… I do want to keep running and working out the pregnancy itself so this is helpful to know to plan for a more chill 1st trimester.
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u/royalnavyblue 22h ago
At 4 weeks pregnant I don’t think you’ll feel much different than usual. You may be slightly winded but most people’s symptoms don’t start full force by then. 8 weeks, running made me feel better, I was tired and had morning sickness but still running a ton and keeping up with my normal training (a bit higher heart rate, a bit lower recovery). I didn’t really start feeling the effects of pregnancy fully slowing me down till ~16 and then at 22 now I’m really feeling it.
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u/je_pense 2d ago
I ran Boston this year at 19 weeks pregnant - the worst part of training was weeks 8-13, so I honestly think you'd be fine either way. The way the math works, if you're 6-7 weeks pregnant, you'll only have known for about 3-4 weeks and might not even be experiencing symptoms yet. If you're only 4 weeks pregnant, then you'll only have known for 1-2 weeks!
I'm not sure where you are to run a marathon at the end of July - hopefully not somewhere too hot (I would never consider it, but I'm in the US).
However, this was my tenth marathon and I was in good shape prior to starting this training cycle. If this is your first marathon, I would make sure you talk to your doctor. While exercise is great while pregnant, most don't recommend doing things you weren't already doing prior to being pregnant.