- Calli Hauger-Thackery finished the Boston Marathon while 22 weeks pregnant in 2 hours 43 minutes.
- The British athlete overcame a trapped nerve and pregnancy-related stops during the race.
- Hauger-Thackery aims to prove that women can achieve elite sports goals while motherhood.
Calli Hauger-Thackery, a 33-year-old elite runner from Sheffield, completed the Boston Marathon recently. Although her time of 2 hours 43 minutes was slower than her personal best, she finished the race while 22 weeks pregnant. She describes this experience as a more meaningful milestone than previous career successes.
The race presented several physical obstacles before the halfway mark. Hauger-Thackery suffered a trapped nerve in her glute at mile 5 and again at mile 11. After receiving medical help to release the nerve and taking two bathroom breaks, she felt flawless during the second half of the run.
This was not her first pregnancy-related victory. She won the Honolulu Marathon in December, discovering she was pregnant only after the race. Later, in January, she won the Houston Marathon at 8 weeks pregnant with a time of 2:24:17, which she considers her hardest race.
The decision to start a family came after a disappointing failure to finish the Chicago Marathon in October. Since there were no major outdoor championships scheduled, she and her husband, Nick, decided it was the perfect time to begin a family before future Olympic goals.
Hauger-Thackery believes that mothers can be elite athletes, citing examples like Paula Radcliffe and Liz McColgan. Despite some online criticism, she relies on medical support and research to justify running during pregnancy, aiming to show her future son what is possible.
The athlete now plans to rest and recover, noting that post-marathon recovery is different when pregnant. She has no upcoming races scheduled, choosing to prioritize her health and her pregnancy after the physical demands of the 26.2 mile course.
