I feel slightly bad about being so quick to judge the marathon mom, and have continued the conversation about her decision to run a marathon at 39 weeks pregnant with several people over the past week.   Here is what fellow runner, Sharon, told me:

“I read this story too and asked a few of my doctor friends-their consensus was that since she was well conditioned/trained to run marathons before becoming pregnant that it was completely safe for her during pregnancy and even at 38 weeks […] Basically since her body was in marathon condition, none of her vital signs would fluctuate to unhealthy levels so baby would not suffer any harm.”

Makes sense, although I still think it’s nuts and unnecessary to run a marathon at 38 weeks, even if not unhealthy.

I then stumbled across this article from an old issue of Self, Running While Pregnant.  Now this I can get behind.  Written during her 7th month, this woman toned down her 5-mile routine to a 3-miler during pregnancy, and admittedly paced herself at more of a “shuffle” than a “run”.  I “ran” till around my 6&1/2 month, and by that point it was more walking interspersed with jogging.  Since my body was already conditioned for running, my doctor gave me the OK to keep running, even at that point and despite outcries from well-meaning friends.  However, around that time it just felt right for me to start walking.  So I have concluded that it’s best just to listen to your body. Perhaps next pregnancy I’ll be able to keep running up a little longer.

Though I will never be fully convinced that a pregnant body feels A-OK while running 26.2 miles.  Call me stubborn.

On an unrelated note, why do all pictures of pregnant women exercising involve the women wearing too-small shirts?  I swear athletic companies make shirts that cover a pregnant belly.  I own several of them.  Let’s work on that, photogs.  Thanks.