Run Baby Run!!

Many people think if you run marathons, you’re crazy for wanting to embark on such a feat. Months of training, the odds of getting hurt, you’re sore for a week and your feet hate you after the fact.  Every once and awhile, you hear of people who run who are a few months pregnant who didn’t know they were pregnant.  Take Amber Miller.  Amber ran the Chicago Marathon on October 9th pregnant.  If by ran you mean finished in 6.5 hrs with an average of pace of a 14 minute mile.  She was also 39 weeks pregnant and went on to deliver her child 7 hrs after she finished the marathon.  She originally only planned to complete only half and then skip out to the end.  Her husband never thought she would make it to the marathon still pregnant (he expected the baby to be born first).  And, her OB apparently gave her the OK.

Personally?  I think it was a stupid move.  People were pulling out of race due to heat related issues and having issues with fluids.  I’m not doubting that exercise is encouraged during pregnancy, but what if something would have happened to her or the child while on course and not near a medical tent?  Sure, she’s done 8 marathons in the past, but at 39 weeks pregnant, there should be other things to be thinking about.  Even though you have Paula Radcliff and Kara Goucher who both ran while pregnant, they modified they’re running routines towards the end of their pregnancies.

What are your thoughts about this?