Finishing a marathon in less than three hours is a time most runners would dream of achieving – let alone while 32 weeks pregnant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ali Anderson did both.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old from Oklahoma, who is pregnant with her first daughter, crossed the finish line of the Sydney Marathon<\/a>\u00a0at the Opera House on Sunday in an astonishing 2:59:42.<\/p>\n She said her biggest logistical challenge was not necessarily the 42.2-kilometre distance, but making sure she had enough time for bathroom breaks along the way.<\/p>\n \u201cThe challenges were mostly just the potty stops and factoring that into my time,\u201d Ms Anderson told News24\u2019s Laura Jayes on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel overall pretty good, I felt great during the run but then walking afterwards was hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Anderson had committed to the Sydney Marathon, along with a record 40,000 other runners, before discovering she was pregnant.<\/p>\n She decided there was no reason to abandon the race.<\/p>\n \u201cI had this on the schedule before I found out I was pregnant and so getting to do it this far into pregnancy was definitely a blessing,\u201d the Oklahoma resident said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is what I do, so I am going to continue to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Her husband and coach Jacob Anderson had floated the idea of chasing a sub-three-hour marathon before race day.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said, \u2018Do you think you could flirt with a sub three?’ And I said, \u2018Umm I don\u2019t know, we will see\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely wasn\u2019t holding (on) to that goal, but if I felt good on the day and if she (the baby) was good, then we were going to go for it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is so much a part of my routine and a part of my community.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is how me and my husband met and so just getting to do it in my everyday feels very normal to me.\u201d<\/p>\n While stressing she was not a doctor, Ms Anderson said she believed people should be able to continue activities that are normal for them during pregnancy, provided they listen to their bodies.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is great if that is your norm, if you are used to doing it and listen to your body,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n One of her highlights was the reaction from fellow runners and spectators.<\/p>\n \u201cI loved hearing the comments, people wouldn\u2019t notice at first and then I would pass them and I would hear people go, \u2018oh my god she is pregnant\u2019. It was fun to be out there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Sydney race was her seventh marathon and fourth world major.\u00a0<\/p>\n It was the second marathon she had completed while pregnant.\u00a0<\/p>\n In April, she announced her pregnancy online after completing the Boston Marathon, where she ran a new personal best of 2:41:58.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI carried two very fast beating heartbeats across the Boston finish line at 13 weeks pregnant,\u201d she said at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cTraining through the first trimester, woof.\u201d<\/p>\n For now, Ms Anderson said the Sydney race would be her last marathon until she gave birth.<\/p>\n \u201cI have put her through two marathons now and that is enough for her,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI am hoping to be an inspiration to her, to show that you can continue to be who you are and chase your dreams even if life doesn\u2019t go as scheduled.\u201d<\/p>\n Read related topics:Sport<\/a>Sydney News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Finishing a marathon in less than three hours is a time most runners would dream of achieving 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