Marathoner Amber Miller ran/walked the Chicago Marathon on Sunday in 6 hours and 25 minutes. Rah, rah, congrats!
Then she gave birth to a baby girl, June Audra, just a few hours after finishing the race. Miller started having contractions during the last miles of the marathon.
“I got the OK from my doctor to run half, and my husband ran with me and supported me along the way,” Miller told WGN-Channel 9 from her bed at Central DuPage Hospital. “I ran half and walked half, that’s how I finished.
Amber was 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant at the start of the Chicago Marathon.
Miller’s husband ran/walked the marathon with her but couldn’t keep up the last few miles and finished a short distance behind her.
“But I think just from running throughout the pregnancy, I’d usually get a contraction here or there anyway,” she said. “But then, a few minutes after I finished, I started feeling the contractions and they were coming every five minutes. So I think we waited an hour or so just to kind of make sure it was real labor. They were pretty consistent at that point.”
The worst thing that will happen from Miller’s ‘feat’ is that other women, that are addicted to running, will ignore the risks, doctor’s, and common sense in trying to do the same thing at future running events. All women and all pregnancies aren’t equal. I’d hate for anyone to lose a baby attempting such a selfish endeavor.
“Is this normal? Obviously not,” said James Pivarnik, a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology at the University at Michigan State University who wrote the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy.
But he said he applauds her doctor for allowing her do it. “Generally what we say is let the woman’s symptoms and history dictate what she can do,” he said. “She is obviously just one of those freaks who was able to do it. Most people wouldn’t want to.”
It’s vital, as athletes, to listen to our bodies and common sense when trying to reach our goals or finish a race.
In the same race, Will Caviness, a firefighter from North Carolina, died in the last 500 yards before the finish line. Will was an experienced runner and marathoner.
Sermon aside, congrats to Amber and her husband on the birth of June.
Related Chicago Marathon Stories:
- RIF Condolences to Will Caviness Who Died During the Chicago Marathon
- 2011 Chicago Marathon Medal
- 2011 Chicago Marathon Results
- Elite Runners at the 2011 Chicago Marathon (list)
[photo: l.a. times]
Wow, I struggle with that story a little. I’ve heard stories over the years of elites running to the end and having some serious issues such as problems with hips.
I believe that a woman should run as long as she can while pregnant. I really do. But, with my history, I just can’t imagine run/walking 26.2 miles at the end of a pregnancy. It’s definitely not for everyone.
I think because she ran throughout her entire pregnancy, had the doctors okay and followed docs orders, it was just fine. I would have been a little more concerned actually if she had been maybe 35 weeks pregnant and the race induced labor too early. But I don’t think she was being dumb or naive, it was a thoughtful decision and one approved by her doc. Can’t say that I would do it, but more power to her!
I think it was too risky. I am glad everything seems to have worked out for her-but with the higher temps, that late in her pregnancy, I feel it was a risky choice. I agree women should stay as active as they are safely able throughout pregnancy-but for the average athlete this seems extreme.