I know that this is a VERY touchy subject and I don’t want this to be a controversial post, I have read other posts on this site about training while pregnant, but I am newly pregnant (taking a blood test this week to make sure) and I am signed up to race in Ironman AZ in November this year. If the tests are not lying and I am pregnant, I will be about 5 months along come race day.
I have looked into the deferment program that IM has started this year and I would have to transfer my registration to an event for the year 2014 only which obviously will not work for me. I am going to try and see if IM will work with me and maybe let me register for next year’s race as I could probably race in that (while raising a newborn….pray for me)
Has anyone ever raced in an Ironman while that pregnant? I have read all about the dangers and I am not even sure that I would be able to make the cut off times for the race at such a slow pace, but I am asking because I paid almost $800 dollars for the registration and while I am not trying to sound selfish, I would hate to eat that amount of money.
getting kicked in the stomach during the swim would be worst case scenario. It seems like your body being under that much stress would not be good for baby. I have heard of women running marathons.
$800 sounds like a small price to pay considering what a worst case scenario would look like. Bike crash? Kicked during the swim? That is a lot of stress to put a normal body under, let alone one trying to grow another human.
I think with things like this you have to think of the worst case scenario. There is the potential to be knocked/kicked during the swim as mentioned above and the potential to come off your bike. Then there is the massive strain and possible dehydration that you may suffer during the race, even at a slow pace. Is it really worth the risk for the sake of $800?
Besides the obvious dangers which everyone has stated, like kicked in the swim, falling off a bike, etc, I would consult a doctor.
Just from my own experience, the risks of such a long race while pregnant are the unpredictable factors…I once got a black eye during a swim (got kicked by someone doing the breast stroke), and I once ended up in emergency for 4 days from a combination of certain medical condition I was not aware of. Never in my mind did I think either of those would happen.
Two questions: do you really want to put a fetus through training for and participating in an IM? Also, when it comes to allocating resources, your body is going to prioritise the baby’s healthy development. This could put you into a recovery hole that could last for well into the baby’s first year, which won’t be to anyone’s benefit.
I think humans are much, much tougher than contemporary society believes, and we’re actually built to adapt to this kind of thing and survive. That said, mere survival mode isn’t the best way to start out a new life. A deferment really seems like the best way to go, and if you don’t get it, use to the loss to make you hungrier when you’re in good shape to train and race.
With all do respect, you don’t need any tips or advice, you need a wake up call. I’m quit sure you know this yourself too. If you don’t, you will in a couple of months.
I say definitely not. Others have already pointed out the dangers of being kicked in the swim, bike accidents, etc. Besides that I’d just be worried about effect of the overall dehydration, heat, and exertion on the baby (and you.) It can be hard enough getting your nutrition issues dialed in on your own and now you’ll have another human onboard calling the shots.
I would definitely wait, not to mention I can’t imagine any OB supporting the idea.
“Lose” 800 vs the risk of your newborn. Wow, not even a thought on the answer.
This stuff is a hobby, not a life. You are now having to watch over a life, for the rest of your life. Lots of things you wanted to do will now have to be second to your family.
Sometimes, it isn’t always about a “risk”. What my wife and I use to ask ourselves (and yes it is a partnership and your partner should have a say in it) what is the actual benefit of what I am doing to the unborn child. There will be other IM races. Get the paltry refund they offer and move on.
I’m not going to advise you one way or another because I don’t know you & most people here are being overly conservative/cautions. I have seen women who went on 9 months of bedrest & still had serious complications and other women who were running marathons right up to the week before they delivered healthy babies. You know your body better than anyone. With the help & guidance of your spouse & doctor, you need to make the right decision for you. Don’t rely on a bunch of faceless people with wikipedia medical degrees on an internet message board.
If you do decide to bail on IMAZ, call up WTC (don’t write or email…call them & talk to a person) & explain the situation. Tell them that you would like a refund or a deferment until 2015. I had a friend who injured his back & was told to not train for 10 weeks. He called WTC & got a full refund with no questions asked, even though it was not the policy. Pile on the sugar when you talk to them. Joke that the baby wasn’t part of the training plan & that you shouldn’t have deviated. If you are a past IM or HIM athlete, mention that. Above all, don’t get an attitude. Go to them with hat in hand & as for them to help. For every story I have read here about WTC being a bunch of letter of the law rule abiding jerks, I have heard word of mouth stories from people saying how cool they were for a one-off situation. And what’s the worst they can do to you? Say no? That’s where you are already. They won’t ban you from the sport for life or anything.
Congrats on your new obstacle to training (trust me, I have two!) and good luck with whatever decision you make.
