Hauger-Thackery's Marathon Journey While Pregnant
Calli Hauger-Thackery secured her first marathon victory at the McKirdy Micro Marathon in New York in October 2023.
For an elite athlete who has represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games, completing the Boston Marathon in two hours and 43 minutes might not appear as a significant achievement, especially since it is 20 minutes slower than her personal best.
However, Hauger-Thackery accomplished this feat while 22 weeks pregnant on Monday and described the race as an "incredible" and "more meaningful" moment in her career.
The 33-year-old from Sheffield had run the same race the previous year, finishing sixth with a time of 2:22:38, and anticipated a more challenging experience this time.
"I'm grateful that I got through that today. 26.2 miles is no easy feat and to do it this far into pregnancy, I'm super grateful," she told .
Like any marathon runner, she faced some difficulties during the race. She required treatment for a trapped nerve in her glute at mile five and again at mile 11.
"I had to dash into the medical tank because I had this crazy trapped nerve. I genuinely couldn't even pick up my right leg properly. I was dragging it and I was like, oh no, this is not good and this is mile five. I was like, 'guys, is there anything you can do?' Luckily they were brilliant and they were able to release it. I had two wee stops, as you do when you're pregnant, you need them more than ever, but this was all before mile 13. The second half felt flawless, like I was in tune with my body. I felt a million dollars. I was like, OK, we're actually doing this. Because there were many times before mile 13, which is the halfway point, I did not think I was going to be finished in that race."
Britain's Calli Hauger-Thackery completes Boston Marathon while 22 weeks pregnant
Pregnancy Discovery and Early Races
Hauger-Thackery is accustomed to physical challenges, having only discovered she was pregnant after running and winning the Honolulu Marathon in December. She experienced vomiting during the race, attributing it to the hot weather.
"I joked to Nick, my husband, and said 'imagine if it is morning sickness'. We just laughed it off, genuinely didn't think anything of it. It was Christmas Eve we found out and we were like 'oh, that makes sense now'. I won the race and I actually felt amazing so I was just shocked."
Her subsequent race was the Houston Marathon in January, during her first trimester, where she won with a time of 2:24:17.
"That was probably the hardest marathon for me just because I was eight weeks pregnant, but I was still taking it very seriously. I just thought, you know what, I'm going to at least go for it and try and see."
Following her decision not to finish the Chicago Marathon in October, Hauger-Thackery and her husband Nick, who also serves as her coach, decided it was the right time to start a family.
"It kind of just made sense this year," Hauger-Thackery said.
Missing out on finishing the Chicago race was a "sad, sad day" for Hauger-Thackery until she and Nick considered their future plans.
"We just turned it into a happy time. I was like, 'wow, are we actually gonna do this? Is this the year we wanna start a family?' Nick and I both agreed that it was a perfect year."
Career Highlights and Future Plans
Hauger-Thackery's career includes numerous accomplishments, such as recording the joint second fastest marathon time for a British woman (behind Paula Radcliffe, tied with Charlotte Purdue) and winning bronze in the women's half-marathon at the 2024 European Athletics Championships.
With no outdoor World or European Championships scheduled this year and having already competed in the Commonwealth Games, starting a family was a logical choice.
"If we do it this year, I'll have a two-year-old for the Olympics," Hauger-Thackery said.
Running marathons while pregnant holds a deeper significance for Hauger-Thackery than her previous athletic achievements.
"It is such a special thing. I think I've been so fortunate throughout this pregnancy so far and and to be able to do this now is just incredible," she said. "It's a different kind of hard, for sure, than what I've ever done, a lot harder than the European medals or these other things that I've achieved. But in a different way, in a more meaningful way, and I think it's just given me more purpose than ever before."
Support and Changing Attitudes
Hauger-Thackery has appreciated the support she has received throughout her journey, from fellow runners, spectators, and those close to her.
Although she has encountered some negative comments from online sources, she remains focused.
"I just try to not let them get to me. I know my body and I know what's right for me, and I spoke to my doctors, they all know my story and they're really supportive. There's been more research than ever before on why you actually should run while you're pregnant, especially if it's all you've known."
Notable long-distance runners such as Paula Radcliffe, Liz McColgan, and Sonia O'Sullivan have continued their careers around motherhood.
"You just see incredible running mums before me who have been there done it and now come back. And they're even better than ever before, after pregnancy," Hauger-Thackery said.
Many athletes now aim to balance family life and sport. For example, Manchester United's Celin Bizet Donnum recently announced her pregnancy, taking time off from football, and England's Rugby World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford is expecting her first child.
Hauger-Thackery believes attitudes are evolving and wants to demonstrate that women can pursue both motherhood and elite athletic goals.
"It means so much to me. We can be a mother and also shoot for these crazy big goals, more than ever. It's definitely not going to scare me away from any goals," she said. "I think, if anything, it's going to push me to show my son what is possible. I just think that makes it even more meaningful for me and I'm just honoured and excited to be a part of that space."
Currently, Hauger-Thackery has no upcoming races planned and intends to rest.
"The post-marathon recovery takes on a whole new level when you're 22 weeks pregnant."
