"Challenging as Both Mother and Athlete": British Runner Completes Full Marathon at 22 Weeks Pregnant

Finished 20 Minutes Slower Than Her Personal Best, But Still Completed the Race

"It Actually Felt Unfamiliar to Live Without a Goal"

A British female track and field athlete who completed the full course (42.195 km) of the Boston Marathon while 22 weeks pregnant is making headlines.

Cali Hougher-Tucker, who is 22 weeks pregnant, crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon held on the 20th (local time) with a time of 2 hours 43 minutes and 58 seconds. Boston Athletic Association

On April 21 (local time), foreign media outlets such as the BBC and People magazine reported that Cali Hougher-Tucker, 33, crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon held on the 20th with a time of 2 hours, 43 minutes, and 58 seconds, finishing in 65th place. Although this was more than 20 minutes slower than her personal best, Hougher-Tucker said, "This race was more meaningful than any previous one." She is expected to give birth in August 2026.

The race was not without difficulties. At around the 8 km and 17 km marks, she had to receive treatment twice due to sciatic nerve compression in her hip. She also experienced pain severe enough that she could barely lift her right leg, and due to physical changes from pregnancy, she had to use the bathroom twice during the race. Nevertheless, she managed to recover her pace in the second half and successfully finished the marathon. She said, "In the latter part, I felt in harmony with my body."

Regarding her decision to participate in the marathon while pregnant, Hougher-Tucker emphasized, "I took sufficient preparation and received proper consultation." She explained, "It actually felt strange to stop training and live without a goal," and added, "After consulting with my medical team and considering my physical condition, I decided to compete." She further stated, "I wanted to show that you can take on challenges as both a mother and an athlete," and said, "In fact, the process of becoming a mother made my competitive spirit even stronger."

However, she noted, "Completing a marathon during pregnancy requires more time for recovery," and announced that she does not plan to enter additional races for the time being, as she will focus on rest and preparing for childbirth.

Through her social media accounts, she also shared, "I have never laughed this much or cried so many happy tears," adding, "People may have different opinions about my decision to run the marathon, but I am fine. I know my body and my limits well."

This is not the first time Hougher-Tucker has run a marathon while pregnant. This Boston Marathon marks her third race since becoming pregnant. In December last year, she won the Honolulu Marathon without knowing she was pregnant, and later, while eight weeks pregnant, she took first place at the Houston Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 17 seconds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.