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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Race for life when pregnant?

25 replies

loveandpeace · 05/06/2009 23:08

HI Im due to do the race for life at the end of June and i've just found out i'm 4 weeks pregnant. I'm not used to doing much exercise, infact i'm decidedly unfit!!! Should I do this 10km run/walk or is it to risky?
I thought maybe if it was to risky I could some how find someone else to do it instead as I would hate to have taken the place of someone else who could raise the money for this very important charity close to my heart.
Any views and ideas extremely grateful.

OP posts:

yousaidit · 05/06/2009 23:12

well, my mums workmates daughter (bear with me, it doesn't get too complicated!) ran the london marathon and she didn't know she was 4 months pregnant!!! baby was fine!!!

smallchange · 05/06/2009 23:15

My friend did the Half Moonwalk (13.5 miles at night) with me last year when she was 7 months pg!

Her doctor said it would be fine.

GlastonburyGoddess · 05/06/2009 23:16

your be fine to do it providing you warm up and cool down properly. the risks would be spraining/pulling something if your unfit and with pg hormone lossening up your ligaments/muscles. there is no risk to the baby, high impact excercise is not risky at such an early stage of pregnancy

Original poster

loveandpeace · 05/06/2009 23:31

Thank you for your responses. Looks like I can still take part which is great news for me.

OP posts:

yousaidit · 05/06/2009 23:33

yep, no excuse for bunking off and scoffing cakes! good luck with the race!

Original poster

loveandpeace · 05/06/2009 23:36

Thank you!!! Although i'm sure I will need to scoff some cakes to give me the energy to complete it!!

OP posts:

justlookatthatbooty · 06/06/2009 06:24

hi there

I would definately advise against it. The baby will be fine and you will probably not feel much strain at the time. The effect of stretching your tendons and ligaments whilst your hormone relaxin in flooding your system is however not healthy in the longer term. Most women find that the damage is only felt after the baby is born, with problems like flat feet, stiff ankles and easily twistable joints at the knee and ankle. The pelvic ligaments take quite a hammering with running aswell so road running (hard unforgiving surface) should be avoided at all costs IMO.
Just wanted to share some tips and thoughts (Am a pregnancy and postnatal exercise specialist with over 10 years experience of working with women). I made mistakes with my first pregnancy (I'm a long time competitive runner) which I deeply regretted and am being more sensible this time round but having said all the above I recognise I've always got more to learn so if you decide to go for it let me know your experiences and good luck whatever you decide. And good luck with your pregnancy and birth too! xx

Wallace · 06/06/2009 06:53

If you are not used to running definitely don't run, but you could walk it.

Get in some traing between now and then

pavlovthecat · 06/06/2009 07:02

If you are used to running, it should be fine. But if it is something that you are just taking up for the race, would be better to walk it.

A friend of mine is a runner, and she ran up til quite a way in to her pg, with the advice and guidance of her gp and personal trainer, but her muscles were used to the level of exercise she was placing on herself, and she slowed it right down before stopping.

You are recommended not to take up new exercise (ie exercise you are not usually doing) until 16 weeks pg.

elliepac · 06/06/2009 07:08

I did it at 6 weeks pregnant and was fine but I did walk it. Depends if you are used to running. My advice would be to do it but take it easy.

Thandeka · 06/06/2009 07:14

Just to warn you Wikipedia has a study linking miscarriage to exercise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscarriage
which I thought I should share. If you are unfit I would say definitely don't run it. Brisk walking should be fine.

carrielou2007 · 06/06/2009 09:20

If you are not a runner I doubt you would be able to run the race anyway! The whole event is not a race as such, it's all about celebrating the day and continually raising awareness and support for all our friends and loved ones who have been through the big c.

I am a keen runner, did several races whilst pregnant with dd (now 2) and our race for lif 2 weeks ago, at the time 6 weeks preggers. No-one bats any eyelid at you if you walk the majority of women walk it!! The point is that you are there! Good luck and just walk it and enjoy!

carrielou2007 · 06/06/2009 09:40

Also wanted to say brisk walking is such a FANTASTIC form of exercise, a 20 min walk buildng up to 40 mins 3 times a week then when you have the baby walk everywhere with the pram. I love it!!

hawesmead5 · 06/06/2009 12:07

Hi there
I am currently 4 1/2 months pregnant and am running 3 times a week for about 40 mins (did with my first pregnancy and no preoblems) however I did run prior to pregnancy. I will be 5 months pregnant when I do the race for life here in the lakes. I am really looking forward to it and have already raise just under £100 for cancer care. My Dad has just recovered from bowel cancer after a huge operation and 7 months of chemo, so I will be doing it for him.
I would say if you were previously a runner go for it! Otherwise as the other posters have said walk round and enjoy the day, maybe get some friends to do it with you

olivo · 06/06/2009 12:45

i did it at 7 1/2 mo pg last time - i was the last to finish, with the marshall's clearing up behind me. i got a big round of applause when i crossed the finish line
remeber, you can always walk it. good luck!

angrypixie · 06/06/2009 12:50

Walking it will be fine, but isn't it 5K? I'm doing it in 3 weeks and am banking on it being 5!

devotion · 06/06/2009 15:52

hawesmead5 - i'm glad to hear to hear your dad is doing well. my dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer last august, i took up running last autumn, ran this years london marathon and raised almost £2700 for beating bowel cancer charity. my dad has major op in feb, his body is clear of cancer but he is still having chemo right now to ensure no cells are growing.

since then i love running, i am almost 6 weeks pregnant and plan to run 30 mins three times a week but so far i am too wrecked so i am just listening to my body, hope to start running soon.

loveandpeace - i would do it but mix it up with walking, if you feel at all hot or tired stop for a rest. like someone said its not a race and a celebration for a great cause.

good luck and enjoy it

Original poster

loveandpeace · 06/06/2009 22:51

Thank you for all your responses. I think I will probably go along but just walk and not run. To be honest I think I would struggle to run it anyway!!

Angrypixie- sorry for the bad news but my race is definately 10km!! Maybe there all different!!! Is it in surrey??

I think a celebration for a great cause is a lovely description. My mum was diagnosed with mouth cancer and died 3 mths later so I will be celebrating her life- I like that.

Anyway thank you for the encouragment I look forward to the race and my pregnancy!!

OP posts:

suwoo · 06/06/2009 22:58

The race for life I did was definitely 5k and I was under the impression they all were. Lots of towns do 10k runs as a 'big thing' and the race for life is seen as more of a fun day out, no?

suwoo · 06/06/2009 22:59

Have just googled and it appears 'selected' races are now 10k.

As you were.

LovelyRitaMeterMaid · 06/06/2009 23:04

There are a few race for life that are 10k (think it might be new for this year?) Mostly they are 5k.

Here are the 10k ones

Original poster

loveandpeace · 06/06/2009 23:07

Oh dear looks like i picked the long one then! I thought they were all 10k!!

Am raising lots of money though so its worth it

OP posts:

wonkaland · 06/06/2009 23:09

I ran the 5k race for life at 8 wks prg - it was fine as at the time I was used to running

angrypixie · 07/06/2009 09:22

Phew - mine is 5K. I have run a 10K before am not quite fit enough at the moment!

dinkystinky · 07/06/2009 17:41

Did race for life in 2005 - turned out was already 6 weeks pregnant when I did it! Did race for life last year - turned out I was 5 weeks pregnant when I did it! Both were fine (5ks) as trained before getting pregnant so was used to running - actually wondered if I was pregnant when doing the race for life last year as I found it much more tiring than normal Not doing any more race for lifes for forseeable future as no more space for another baby in our place at the moment...

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