Champion marathon runner Clara Simal keeps training while seven months pregnant

Champion marathon runner Clara Simal has refused to stop chasing her dream despite being seven months pregnant.

The 32-year-old architect from Madrid has continued to run, lift weights and stretch in the gym. Simal has urged other women to continue exercising while pregnant because “you will feel much better”.

“I can continue running during the pregnancy,” she told Spanish television channel Antena 3. “The doctor told me I can do exercise. Women should be encouraged to exercise during pregnancy because you feel much better…. Make sure the baby is never missing air. Your breathing should be good and you should feel comfortable.”

Simal has continued training for marathons, but has reduced the intensity of her sessions because she would get more tired than usual.

“I would get much more tired and my heart rate would be much higher,” Simal said.

Local media report that the 32-year-old plans to “train to the very last moment” that she can. Simal is keen to keep up the hard work after she won the Spanish marathon championship in 2017 and finished second in 2018.

“Athletic objectives will have to wait this season,” she wrote, when announcing her pregnancy on social media. “We are expecting a new little person in our family this Christmas that will be with us for our new objectives, and of course the rest of our lives.”

American runner Alysia Montano hit the headlines in 2017 when she competed in an 800m race while five months pregnant.

And Serena Williams was pregnant when she won the Australian Open in January 2017.

posted Thursday November 14th
by Joe Miles